If you’re looking for something to do in March, the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival takes place in Somerset, NJ between March 12 and the 14th. This festival is a great way to see more than 250+ artists. Not only will you get to see some incredible art in all different types of mediums, but you’ll also be able to enjoy demonstrations, entertainment of of course great food too!

If you’d like to know more about this event at the Garden State Exhibit Center, you can go to their official website here: Sugarloaf Crafts Festival

I’ve recently taken up running - and have been at it since about October. I signed up for my first 1/2 marathon which is about 5 weeks away. In the course of signing up for races - to stay motivated - I’ve found a couple of neat marathons, 1/2 marathons, 5k’s and more.

Right now I’m currently signed up to run in Disney for my first race - with other races coming behind it. I’ll take it one at a time and move on from there. Fitness and weight loss is a big piece of this equation for me personally.

If there are other runners in NJ looking for places to race - I did find some some neat races worth mentioning here:

In May - there is a 1/2 marathon and full marathon in Long Branch. You can find info on the 1/2 marathon here….the full here. These are scheduled on May 2nd.

Another 1/2 marathon I found is a new one called the Super Hero Half and is to raise money for the Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve Foundation. This one is being held on May 16th, and you can find information on this NJ half marathon here.

There’s an 18 mile run in LBI held by the Saint Francis parish. This one is usually held during the fall…their website is not currently updated with 2010 info as of yet, so if you’re interested check back later at the link above. On the sidebar is a tab titled 18 mile run…

If you’re looking for more information on running in NJ or races in NJ - there are two sites that offer good information - RaceForum.com and Active.com — I’m sure there are many more, but that will get you started.

This Jersey girl has gone down the shore. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. It looks like it will be windy, though sunny and right around 70 degrees. It’s still early, so I’m sitting here and am watching a lovely view….

The ocean is just steps away, and the sun radiates like diamonds on glass off of the ocean this morning.

There’s no where else I’d rather be. I grew up looking out at the Atlantic on our weekly vacations “down the shore”.

We stopped over at the Dark Star Cafe for a sandwich– oh my gosh, if you’re anywhere near Long Beach Island, this is a must needed lunch spot…needed as in, I NEED ME ONE OF THOSE SANDWICHES!!! I stopped in one time last year, and had to go back the very next day.

Then when my husband and I came down together, I told him we had to go there…now it’s our first meal on the island…and may become tradition! We unpack the cars, and head to the Dark Star for take-out…bringing it home to sit and look out at the ocean.

The owner, Tony, uses only the freshest products, and basically, if it isn’t made there, it isn’t served there….I had an incredible roast beef and cheddar hoagie (oooh, are you a sub person? yeah, funny how different areas say different things)…any way, that damn hoagie was fresh, on freshly made bread which is out of this world.

We’ll probably fit in a little bit of miniature golf today and wander around town. I’ll be taking some video and pictures so that I can load them over onto my LBI website next week. Want to check out my Long Beach Island website? It’s right here.

May is Arthritis Awareness month. Did you know that Juvenile Arthritis affects over 300,000 children in the United States?

Kelly Rouba was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at the age of 2. Kelly decided to write a book on arthritis that kid would read, and features teens with arthritis. The book includes resources, and gives perspective from multiple individuals who are faced with the disease.

You can visit Kelly’s blog here

You can find Kelly’s book here

Meet Kelly and other people featured in her book:
Arthritis Walk on Sunday May 3rd at the Princeton Forrestal Village.

You can help out be participating in the annual Arthritis Walk across New Jersey

There will be walks all through out the garden state during the month of May. Full details for your area can be found on the above website.

NJ wedding?

There are two bridal shows you’ll want to check out. The first takes place in March. Wildwood is having a “Spring Bridal Fair” on March 22nd from 12-6. With over 100 vendors, you can visit the Wildwood Convention Center where you can check out bridal gowns, tuxedos, get information on honeymoons, limos, spas, photographers and more. You can even do some menu sampling- so if you’re in South Jersey and will be getting married soon, this is an event you’ll want to check out. More info: 800-992-9732, ext. 2661

You can get lots of Wildwood information here: Wildwood Summers, along with searching for available hotels, seeing what’s going on, and more.

Another place you’ll want to visit is Long Beach Island. It’s a favorite place of mine, as you can tell if you read my blog. They’re having a Wedding Road Show that lets you check out venues, shops, and much much more. If you’d like more information about an LBI Wedding, they have a website at WeddingsOnLBI.com.

Here’s a list of participating businesses for April 19ths’s Wedding Road Show:

Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts:
SeaShell Resort
Daddy O
Holiday Inn of Manahawkin
Drifting Sands
Sea Horse Motel
Sandcastle Inn
Minervas B&B

Other vendors:
Freedom Surf and Spa
Ann Coen Photography
RB50 Photography
StoryTale Video
Artistic Flowers
Camilles Floral Designs
By the Beach Events
The Boat House
Ocean Acres Country Club
Sea Oaks Country Club
Pearl Dress Shop
Brant Beach Yacht Club
Country Kettle Fudge
Uniformity
Tammy’s Cake Walk
Just Bead It
Creatively Yours Dayna

Bonnet Island Estate and Mallard Island Yacht Club which are right by the causeway, as you exit the island

Be sure to visit NJwedding.com where you can sign up to win a romantic getaway to LBI.

Have you heard of these? Sunsweet Boosters are a new juice that’s being distributed in the New Jersey and New York area. I was given the opportunity to check it out, and tasted 2 of the flavors. I tried the Apple and the Grape, but they have other flavors also. Here’s the thing, it’s not really about the flavors. It’s what’s packed into each bottle of Sunsweet Boosters. Each bottle packs a punch of antioxidants, or maybe calcium. It depends on what type you get.

Here’s the scoop, the juice has added nutrients in them. There are different versions of the boosters, five in all. There’s Antioxidant Booster, Calcium Booster, Fiber Booster, Heart Booster and Immunity Booster.

You can currently find them in local stores like A&P, Superfresh, along with others. I was surprised Whole Foods wasn’t on the list, because they remind me of something I’d find there.

The only issue I see is the pricing. While they contain great nutrients in them, the price for a 16 ounce bottle will set you back between $2.99 and $3.49. A little steep when people are trying to cut back on expenses.

Their website is at SunsweetBoosters.com if you want to check them out.

The Enable Walk ‘n’ Roll Charity Walk will take place on February 8th. No need to be concerned with the chilly weather, as this event takes place indoors. Did you know you can even bring your child, and walk with a stroller too? There is no commitment to how long you’ll walk…it’s just a good time event, which helps promote a great cause.

The Enable Indoor Walk, called “Walk N Roll” is an event being held in Ewing. Ewing is just outside of Trenton, so if you’re in the surrounding area, and you’d like more information please make sure to contact the group. The event takes place at 1pm at the PEAC Health and Fitness Center. (Feb

Enable is hoping to find people who can not only participate in the walking event, but also help raise pledges for the walkers.

If you’d like more information: email- walk@enablenj.org, website- www.enablenj.org, or you can call Kirsten Yard (609)987-5003 (extension 124)

What is Enable, Inc? They are a non-profit group that helps people with disabilities. They also help the families of those with disabilities. They are based around serving and supporting the Central New Jersey area. You can learn more about this organization at www.enablenj.org

From their site: “Enable has grown through the years and now offers a variety of community based programs that promote inclusion, independence, safety and improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities in our communities.”

Chocolate Week will be celebrated just in time for Valentin’s Day on Long Beach Island. From February 8th through the 15, multiple businesses will be offering special deals, goodies and more. Take your sweetie down to enjoy a spa treat, a great meal, or a weekend away!

You can see a list of participating sites here:
Chocolate Week Participants

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is struggling. This year, there’s been an increase as high as 30 percent in a need for food. WIth the economy, and people losing jobs, more and more people are turning to the food bank. The problem is, the foodbank is facing a shortage. The winter time is especially rough, because between people needing food, people are struggling to pay for their rising heating costs. The Community FoodBankof New Jersey needs help.

Over 100 New Jersey bloggers are working to bring awareness to this shortage of food. Let’s make a difference, and help support the foodbank. This is a state wide crisis, so that means the foodbanks in your counties need your help.

Did you know New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen is also helping in the fight against hunger by lending his voice to the cause. It’s a statewide issue, and we need to come together to help our own.

Imagine the foodbank having to ration food, or turn people away because there’s not enough food to go around. It’s a grim and scary thought.

If you’re able to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, please reach out and help. Even if you can’t give money or food, spread the awareness, and reblog about this, reaching out to others who may be able to help. Food is a basic need, and if the shelves go bare at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, that means there will be people in New Jersey going hungry, and that’s just not okay. The foodbank needs the public to step up and help them keep food on their shelves.

If you can help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)

The Community Foodbank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) distributes food and grocery items, helping charities in need. Did you know that since their incorporation in they’ve distributed 300 million pounds of food and groceries. Please help them in their time of need, so they can continue helping those in need. They are a distributor of food, so what that means is they accept large quantity donations. Smaller donations should be brought to your local shelter or food pantry. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey also accepts monetary donations, which they use to buy very large food purhcases. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 908-355-FOOD (3663).

This year in New Jersey, more than 250,000 new people will be be asking for help. With this increased demand, comes more need for increased donations, but unfortunately, since so many families are struggling right now, donations are actually on the decline. That means not enough food to go around. Empty shelves don’t feed people.

“At the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), requests for food have gone up 30 percent, but donations are down by 25 percent.” - CFBNJ

The Community Foodbank of New Jersey is the state’s key distributor of food to local banks. What happens when there’s not enough food to go around? People go hungry…right here in New Jersey.

Please reach out and help: www.njfoodbank.org or 908-355-FOOD (3663)

Here’s how you can help:

You can either make a monetary donation. To do that, you can go to their website at www.njfoodbank.org.

If you have food that you can donate, please bring it to your local food shelter…you can even organize a food drive through work, maybe your church or another organization you belong to. (http://www.sefan.org) -for locations

“Check Out Hunger” are coupons you can get at the grocery store. When you’re paying for your groceries, include a donation to the food bank. You can usually find these right near the register.

Here are a few statistics on hunger:

* The number of families coming to churches and food banks trying to get help to feed their families has increased approximately 20 percent. - National Anti-Hunger Organizations, 2008 Blueprint to End Hunger

* One out of every five New Jersey families does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities – housing, food and child care – although 85 percent of these households have at least one family member who is working. – Poverty Research Institute, June 2008

Please take a moment to watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_aBJKcE4

What can you do to make a difference?

Participating Bloggers for “We Can’t Let This Bank Fail” campaign

1)JerseyBites.com

2) RedBankGreen.com

3) Jersey Girl Cooks.

4) Simply Sable

5) John and Lisa are eating in South Jersey

6) Padma’s Kitchen

7) Chefdruck

8.) Life Lightly Salted

9) My Italian Grandmother

10) Cook Appeal

11) Crotchety Old Man Yells at Cars

12) Mommy Vents

13) This Full House

14) Paper Bridges

15) Motherhood Avenue

16) The Kamienski Chronicles

17) Down the Shore with Jen

18) Fits and Giggles

19) House Hubbies Home Cooking

20) Nourish Ourselves

21) Partybluprints.com

22) Tommyeats.com

23) Off the broiler

24) Mrs. Mo’s New Jersey Baby

25) IamNotaChef.com

26) SimplyBeer.com

27) HistoryGeek.com

28) Savy Source Newark

29) Momlogic New Jersey

30) SurvivingNJ.com/blog

31) SurvivingNJ.blogspot.com

32) JerseyGirlGuide.com

33) Best of Roxy

34) Citizen Mom.net

35) Lynetteradio.com

36) Jersey Beat

37) Pop Vulture Phil

38) JerseySmarts.com

39) LongBeachIslandSummers.com

40) WildwoodSummers.com

41) Mike Halfacres Blog

42) Somerset08873

43) Family, Friends and Food

44) KateSpot.com

45) NewJerseyMomsBlog.com

46) JCRigister.com

47) New Jersey Real Estate Report

48) Riverviewobserver.com

49)More Monmouth Musings

50) Man of Infirmity

51) Another Delco Guy in South Jersey

52) SweetNicks.com

53) Average Noone

54) Cleary’s Notebook

55) Welcome to my Planet

56) The Center of New Jersey Life

57) Sharon’s Food Blog

58) Morristown, Chatham, Summit, and Madison NJ Real Estate

59) Midtown Direct Real Estate News

60) New Jersey Real Estate

61) BlowUpRadio.com

62) LazlosDen.com

63) The Ridgewood Blog

64) Book a Week with Jen

65) Banannie

66) Cartoongoddess.com

67) Matawan Advocate

68) Take Back the Kitchen

69) The Joy of Toast

70) Route 55

71) Montclair Kids.com

72) SaveJersey

73) Stompbox

74) Joe the Blogger

75) Environmental Republican

76) Stacey Snacks

77) Subversive Garden

78) New Jersey Pathfinder

79) Cooking With Friends Blog

80) Triple Venti

81) Read All About It

82) Rich Lee on Media

83) Likelihood of Success

84) Cape Cuisine

85) The Business At Hand

86) NewJerseyTaxRevolution

87) Figmentations

88) MiddletownMike

89) Caviar and Codfish

90) A Day in the Life

91) Mack’s Journey Through Life

92) Alice’s Restaurant

93) Tiger Hawk

94)Politics Patrol, The Bob Ingle Blog

95) The Food Chain

96) Henson’s Hell

97) Cranbury Conservative

98) Baristanet

99) New Jersey: Politics Unusual

100) Jersey Shore Blog

101) Plainfield Today

I was contacted by Deb over at the Jersey Bites blog and asked to be a part of an effort to raise awareness about the needs of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. On December 15th, 100 NJ bloggers will be coming together to bring as much awareness as possible. Right now, we’re looking for more NJ bloggers who would be able to help out. This is a call to all NJ bloggers…please consider participating in this event to help make a difference.

The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is in desperate need of donations.

On December 15th, we’re going to launch a “This Bank Can’t Fail” blogging campaign. The goal is to have at least 100 New Jersey bloggers on board. Can you help out? Do you have a NJ blog? If we come together, and work as a team, we can help build awareness and make a difference. There is an increased demand being put on the food pantries in New Jersey, and by combining our efforts, our voices will be louder.

If you are a blogger in New Jersey, please join in our efforts. Also, if you know of a NJ blogger, please drop them a line and let them know about our efforts to reach as many NJ bloggers as possible.

To understand the serious need for donations- take a minute to watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXH_aBJKcE4

If you are a NJ blogger and able to help out, please contact Deb at her email address of: jerseybites (at) gmail (dot) com, She is coordinating the effort, and we’re still in need of more bloggers. Please consider this call for blogging help if you have a NJ blog.