I’ve been celebrating Halloween with my kids for over a decade now, and as a result, I’ve got a few Halloween hacks for parents to share. 1. Go to the pumpkin patch early. Some might take this advice a step further and skip heading out to the over-crowded pumpkin-slash-apple-slash-pony-ride-slash-corn-maze extravaganza entirely, but not me. Those fall pumpkin photos with the kids are just too amazing to miss. But go early. Most farms are pretty empty the first few weekends in October, but not so much as ...

When researchers at Northwestern University reviewed 80 previous studies involving more than 25,000 people looking into the effects of the stress hormone cortisol on health, they found that when it remains consistently high throughout out the day, instead of fluctuating as it normally does, it is associated with inflammation/immune problems, obesity, fatigue, cancer, depression and other mental and physical health issues. Original journal article abstract: http://www.psyneuen-journal.com/article/S0306-4530(17)30265-2/fulltext Article ...

Jenny’s Hope Rescue was founded in honor of Jenny, an adopted adult puppy mill rescue dog. As a puppy mill pup, bred over and over again, her health was precarious.  Her owners knew Jenny was very sick, but there was a great chance of survival and a very happy life filled with the love she never knew. With some care, dollars spent, and lots of love, Jenny lived a healthy, wonderful life. The founders of Jenny’s Hope Rescue hope to provide other dogs with the care and love that Jenny received. Through their work they hope ...

STAFFORD, NJ - This column is to recognize Southern Regional athletic accomplishments and college commitments. College Commitment Abigael Coughlin has recently committed to Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ to continue her academic and swimming career. Coughlin is having a tremendous senior year on the Southern Regional Girls Swim Team.  She is pictured with her coaches Dan Dreher, Head Coach Bill Entrikin and parents, Cindy and Chris.            Athletic ...

My first and last visit to Nashville was about 15 or 16 years ago with my boyfriend (now husband), and I’ve been craving a return trip for a while, especially since I’m such a big fan of the Nashville TV show on ABC. Luckily, we were able to take the kids on a fun trip there recently, and we wound up flying into Nashville and turning our excursion into a mini-road trip with stops in Chattanooga and Atlanta. After landing at BNA and picking up our rental car (through Costco - always the best deal I can find), we took the 2-hour ...

STAFFORD, NJ - Creative Click Media has announced the start of “Lunch n Learns,” a series of monthly informational sessions designed to help small business owners stay on top of current digital marketing trends.  Each Lunch n Learn will be held on the first Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at Creative Click Media’s office, located at 20 N. Main Street in Manahawkin, NJ. Lunch n Learns will combine networking, lunch, and business advice in a small group setting in order to give participants the opportunity ...

Many of you are sending your kids off to college soon, and maybe for the first time. I’ve been there, twice.  And now my daughter lives overseas!  Most of the time I’m okay with it… you get used to it, you know?  But sometimes when she sends me little notes, or we chat on Skype, I miss her again. She’s clever and loving and generous, and so very courageous — and you really can’t do hugs on Skype.  And then, when we actually visit, it hits hard.  It sounds strange, but I don’t ...