Brrrrrrrr

For prices that are really cool...the new Five Below store just opened up at the Somerville Circle shopping center on 202 in Raritan (same block of stores as Petco, Staples and Panera). Reminds me of the old 69 Cent Shop (boy am I dating myself!) where nothing was priced higher than 69 cents. In this case, every item is priced Five Below (get it?!) I couldn't resist a pair of black ballet flats for that amount (also came in pink and olive). Quel bargain!

Knit Wit

Few sounds are so instantly soothing as the click-click of knitting needles. Frankly, the only problem I ever found was that many knitting stores have an air of, shall we say not the friendliest atmosphere and leave it at that? Well, found the exception and wouldn't you know it is on the street I raved about some time back?! 41 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge is home to Down Cellar. You won't find attitude here but you will find a slew of distinctive yarns, notions and accessories cozily displayed among cupboards and vintage treasures. The perfect rainy day store! Classes and workshops in all fiber arts (what better time than winter for learning a craft like knitting, crocheting, rug hooking and the like?) Friendly approachable staff, great step by step support for novices and longtime knitters alike. Time to finish that sweater you started 12 years ago!

Given the Royal Treatment

(subtitled "This is why I shop at Kings")

I am a healthy-eating-conscious/label reading/scratch cook/as close to the source food consumer as you can get (no this doesn't conflict with the other side of me, the side that is starting to lose the battle of craving a banana-flavored Twinkie! Balance is my byword). Given that background, I have been buying a wonderful no salt/no filler turkey at my local Kings Supermarket (the Bedminster location). They were out of it the past 2 days. I called yesterday to inquire if they'd gotten in their shipment and got Joe, deli manager. He checked, they were still out, put me on hold for a few moments, got back to me and said, "I just called around. Mendham has the turkey. I will send a refrigerated van to pick up some. Come here after 4 and your turkey will be waiting." Sure enough, I did and it was. Customer service still exists. I repeat: This is why I shop at Kings.

May I have some more please

Reader Andy Potter points out...

More than Meals is one of ~1500 of these 'meal assembly kitchens' across the country. If you are outside of NJ, you can search for similar kitchens in your area at www.mealassembly.net.

The Meal Thing

Finally someone's come up with a solution for the most time-consuming least fun part of cooking, namely, the planning, shopping and prepping. And you still end up with a home-cooked meal! It's More than Meals,a new concept in meal preparation that's put the joy back in cooking.
Here's how it works: you choose entrees from a rotating monthly menu (October selections include Double Sauce Chicken Stuffed Shells, Fabulous Feta Fish, Beef with Gorgonzola, Orange Pecan French Toast). Each entree serves 4 to 6 people. Schedule a time that works for you; meal prep gatherings are held weeknights and weekends. Once you arrive at More than Meals you work your way through the entree stations--like a buffet line!--while following the recipes. All ingredients are prepped and ready for you to assemble, pack up, take home and serve.
Group sessions can be booked--it's a pretty neat different activity for ladies--or gents--night out, birthday parties and other get-togethers. Call for more information (732-271-1686). This is a concept whose Time Has Come! At 1966 Washington Valley Road in Martinsville.

Spahhhh continued

Again my thanks to reader Wildsnowflake who wrote,

Don't forget that SpaWeek is happening soon... Oct 15-21. You can get great facials and other treatments for $50 at various top-notch NJ spas (tip on what the treatment SHOULD have been).

http://spaweek.org/spa_listing.php?city_id=2

That's how I found Stress Solutions in Watchung a few years ago (not participating this year) but here's the link to a coupon http://www.stresssolutionsspa.com/coupon/

Spahhhh!

Well I can't get away to Canyon Ranch but I can get in my car and drive a couple of miles to a spa that's newly opening in Bernardsville. All the promise of a happy healthier and more relaxed me at Spa Rejuv: Grow Younger with Us. Nosy person that I am, I happened to stick my head inside after visiting the farmers market across the street at the train station this past Saturday (quick aside here: the weekends are rapidly vanishing so if you want to visit a farmers market now is the time--at Bernardsville I always make pitstops at Baker's Bounty, Picklelicious, Suemac Farms Herbary and my favorite--Valley Shepherd Creamery, those cheeses--mwah!). I was very sweetly greeted by master aesthetician and proprietess Bozena Polinska who gave me a tour of the facility. Beautiful immaculate and tranquil are the words that come to mind, from the welcome at the door to the treatments rooms to the change facilities. Services include a smorgasbord of facials, face and body treatments, massage therapy, hair removal, nails, make-up and more. In addition, a plastic surgery office has just been established on prem. What I also like is the brochure details very clearly what to expect if you first visit a spa (clothing on under robe? clothing off? what to bring, what to leave home, gratuities policy, etc). Anyway, this Thursday night are grand opening festivities; a more casual celebration takes place this Saturday. Spa Rejuv is at 59 Mine Brook Road, tel 908-630-0007.