Favorite Things

Load your Christmas list with some of our favorite things from NJ My Way:

For your tween: Bskinz (www.bskinz.com) from two Mountain Lakes moms, where cool patterned leggings were hot before this fall’s footless fashion blitz.
Buy them Anything from Gotham in Millburn (http://www.gothamcityclothing.com/). Or from the Sally Miller store in Milltown (http://www.sallymiller.biz/).
For mom-- bling-encrusted bags and belts, not to mention all kinds of BIG jewelry, check out Nita Ideas (www.nitaideas.com) in Millburn.
There’s the Lucky Me Tee (www.luckymetee.com) that proudly proclaims the size of your brood brought to you by Hillsborough’s Marlo Moleski.
Give someone special a visit to  www.aquamedicaspa.com  in Long Branch. Mention “NJ My Way” when you book your gift card and you’ll get 30% off any card. Plus, if your purchase exceeds $150 you’ll get a free revitalizing or bio hyrdrating cream, worth $41.
And your peacenik friends will love anything from The Hippie Shop in Fairfield (www.hippieshop.com).
Give the greenest gifts from Terracyle.  The Trenton-based eco-extraordinaire company just opened a brick and mortar outlet in Princeton. Or place an order from www.generationgreen-gg.com run by Jill Markham of Short Hills.


Keep reading all week for more of our favorite things, and some cool discounts for New Year’s Eve.

Teen Queen Wannabee

Nothing like Juicy Couture to make your little girl feel as hip as her big sister,

Peace, Love & Bloomie's velour hoodie, $84 (sizes 2-6), $108 (sizes 7-14)

Bloomingdale's

iKnow What to Buy

Looking for good buys at the grocery store? No need to look through the recycling to find Shoprite's sales circular, now you can find it on your iPhone (yep, there's an app for that!).

Jersey Crafters On Line

ETSY is an amazing online community of sellers offering handmade and vintage items. Plenty of these talented  Etsy artisans live and work here in En Jay. 

This holiday you can support your local craftspeople and shop their Etsy stores for one of a kind items, and never leave the comfort of your computerDiscover unique jewelry designed and hand fabricated from precious metal and stone at South Jersey’s Barron Design Studio , Marlton’s DiBeauDesigns has a great handcrafted sterling necklace with a silver disc and crystals. Gathering Stars in Hazlet offers lead free soldered stained glass jewelry pendants and sun catchers, that have a hand-crafted look and an elegant feel - Find wonderful prints and papergoods featuring the fun 1920's flapper doodle characters at Princeton based  Flapperdoodle.  Ragsnehali from Jersey City specializes in unique hand-crafted Paper Crafts, office stationery sets and handmade gift items -  House of Le'Moore is your chateau for cool vintage fashion from the 30's to the 80's  -  Custom Buttons from Hudson County’s The Angry Robot can be made into magnets, zipper pulls, earrings, necklaces and much more!  Princeton’s Kate Gabrielle offers prints to give your wall a sense of humor -  At Hopewell’s Outer Knits you'll find beautiful warm, cozy, and classic hand knits for children and adults, featuring sweaters and mittens - Every vintage button, postcard and poster at Princeton’s sinatrafan103 was made before 1989! 

Vervain Savonervain Savon of Stratford specializes in natural soaps and body care using essential oils natural colorants and fair trade oils - never any synthetics -Deepshade's handwoven chainmaille jewelry  of Clementon is as bold and eclectic as you are!
Our thanks to Sue Doctor, crafter of nifty retro- bracelets and other jewelry made of typewriter keys from HauteKeys.

In Search of the Perfect Cupcake

We  sought out three purportedly delicious cupcake spots and sampled them in order to guide you, our readers, towards a more perfect pastry experience. 

Cupcakes by Carousel  in Ridgewood has a variety of cupcakes beautifully displayed in the fun little shop, and evokes child-like enthusiasm for dessert. The cheerful staff happily answered my queries about flavor and ingredients, chatting welcomingly. The vanilla-on-vanilla cupcake I selected had dense cake coated in a generous layer of thick, sugary frosting. The cupcake prices ranged between $2.25 and $3.75, depending on how elaborate the flavors. On my way out, I grabbed a free colorful magnet and complimentary temporary cupcake tattoo. Cupcakes by Carousel offers a very kid friendly environment and provides a great post matinee snack, since it is located beside the Ridgewood movie theatre.

The Silver Spoon, (385 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell), provides an ideal lunch and an after-lunch cupcake. The place is clean and the service prompt, but the environment does not encourage lingering. If you are looking to grab lunch and a cupcake to savor in private or enjoy on the go, this is your cupcake place. The $2 cupcake has a fluffy base, contrasted by the creamy, buttery frosting. The Silver Spoon does not have a website, but does offer catering and can be reached at (201) 483-8191.

For a slightly more sophisticated experience, try ArtKitchen, located at 61 Halsey Street in Newark. The little restaurant has a funky, vintage vibe, offering food, ordered at the counter, a few aisles of art supplies, and a desk where you can have something framed while you snack or shop. The display presents cupcakes with three types of cake; vanilla, chocolate and red velvet, and vanilla or chocolate frosting. All cupcakes are priced at $1.50. The cake is moist and crumbly, while the moderate dollop of frosting has a thick, almost yogurt-like texture. The place offers a welcome relief from protocols and process for many state employees in the area as relaxed service is provided by likable, artsy young staff. 

While all the cupcakes tasted were indeed delicious, the variations in texture and taste were noticeable, and the different atmospheres affected our overall cupcake sampling experience.  

NJ My Way contributing writer P. Shagin authored this story. 

ONE-OF-A-KIND

Nothing ordinary for you...or your friends!  If only extraordinary hand-made goods will do, then the One-of-a-Kind Show is the place for you.   The four day show will feature work from more than 200 artists, artisans and designers from across America in a wide range of media including painting, sculpture, glass, photography, ceramics, jewelry, wearable art and furniture. New Jersey is represented by nearly 20 craftspeople including jewelry artist, Sheila Ferneke, whose dynamic and colorful necklace is pictured above.
SHOW LOCATION DATES AND HOURS:
Pier 94
12th Ave. at 55th St., NYC
Preview Night December 10, 5-9 PM
Friday December 11, 11 AM- 8 PM
Saturday, December 12, 10 AM-7 PM
Sunday December 13, 10 AM-5 PM
Tickets, $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors
$12  online at www.oneofakindshowny.com

Lady In Red

Be RED-y to stand out and leave your basic black in the closet..try it, you'll like it!

Marc by Marc Jacobs coat, $528; Jill Stuart Dress, $198; both exclusively at Bloomingdales