As a Jersey girl from way back, who remembers when Parkway tolls were a quarter and still reads the instructions on the pump when I get my own gas in other places, I've seen a lot of my home state. I hit Route 17 the day I received my driver's license in Lodi, and I've been behind the wheel ever since. The next several weekends will be different, as I've traded car keys (and beloved flip-flops)  for serious walking shoes. The Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge is just what is sounds like, a chance to walk about 100 Jersey miles across the East Coast Greenway.  A free program, the walks are …

As parents, we sometimes focus all of our attention on our children’s needs and forget about our own. What do we like to do? What are our hopes and dreams? Turning to a coach for help is one way to get clear on our life’s direction and to commiserate with others in our same situation.      Maplewood mom of three daughters, Lucila McElroy is Chief Inspiration Officer of a coaching company called MOMentum. “We help mothers who want to go after their goals and who are also realizing that they need tools to feel more joy and fulfillment and less stress, anxiety and questioning,” said McElroy.   …

Being able to spend an evening escaping to a Broadway show and dinner in the city is one of the reasons some of us enjoy living in New Jersey. However, such an escape can also set you back upwards of $500 for two orchestra seats, dinner, and parking. Not to mention dealing with New York/New Jersey logistics like traffic, taxis, and the general potential hassle of getting in and out of the city.  So if your escape of choice is dinner and a show but you’re just not up for dealing with—or paying for—Broadway, consider Millburn. The Paper Mill Playhouse is currently partnering with two local …

I need help. A lot of help, especially in the kitchen. Of course, I do know the basics, like fruits and vegetables have a lot more nutritious value than pizza. However, as a working mom juggling a family, home and career, many days I’m at a loss as to what to prepare for a healthy meal. Thankfully, there are many others in town who know their way around a kitchen and are able to share their knowledge with others. And they know how to transform meal preparation from a chore to a joy — an escape, if you will. Maplewood’s Randy Rabney, teacher, chef and founder of The Conscious Plate, loves …

With its fast paced moves and music that would make anyone want to shake their booty, many locals are finding that Zumba — the Latin-inspired dance fitness program — is the perfect way to get exercise and release pent up stress and frustration.  Sonali Ganti of Maplewood has been taking Zumba classes at Lifetime Fitness for the past two years. She loved the class so much she decided to become a certified Zumba teacher. “I love the fact that it’s such a great workout yet you don’t feel like you’re working out," said Ganti. “It’s energetic and fun.” Ganti did want to offer some advice to Zumba …

Most everyone has heard the positive benefits that meditating can have on your health, both physically and mentally. It can calm your nerves, help reduce stress and anxiety, and increase serotonin, which has a positive effect on your mood. If you are a stressed-out mom, these are sure to sound pretty good to you. However, starting a meditation practice can seem intimidating. Thankfully, there are many teachers around town that can help guide you to a state of relaxation and bliss. Paige Continentino is a Maplewood mom and certified personal coach who has been meditating for over 16 years. She…

Week in and week out, parents in town spend their waking hours registering, outfitting, cajoling and transporting their progeny to various enrichment activities. Local youngsters are learning the violin, speaking foreign languages, swatting at tennis balls, fencing with foils and dancing hip hop. But what of mom and dad? We think grown-ups need a little enriching as well — an escape, if you will, from tending to others' needs and a time to remember that they have something to offer the world beyond their own family. This week, we're highlighting the escape of writing. It's a good match for …