Little Free Libraries in Maplewood + South Orange, NJ

Who doesn’t love a #littlefreelibrary attached to a tree stump?! Nobody! ❤️ What exactly is a Little Free Library, you ask? All info can found here. We have several Little Free Libraries in Maplewood and South Orange, NJ for kids and families to visit any time they wish.

This particular location (@maplewood_littlefreelibrary) - corner of Richmond & Baldwin in #Maplewood is the sweetest thing EVER.

A little reader choosing books on a snow day at the corner of Richmond + Baldwin in Maplewood

There are many others around Maplewood + South Orange, NJ! According to our Instagram followers, look for one at these other locations around town:

• South Orange Country Day School on Vose/Montrose (South Orange)

• Marshall School (South Orange)

• Charlton Ave near Irving Avenue (South Orange)

• Irving Avenue off Center Street (South Orange)

• Girl Scout Troop 22856 put one up at @prospectmaplewood (Maplewood)

• Arcularius Terrace near Headley Place (Maplewood)

• Maplewood Ave between Durand and Beach (Maplewood)

• Valley Street - at the first house as you pass the gas station heading towards SO.

  Thanks to all who put them up and maintain all of these Little Free Libraries!

CHS Prom Shop Creators are #SOMAWESOME

We’re back with #SOMAWESOME tonight and I’m so excited about this incredible group of women. 🙌🏽 They had an amazing idea and ran with it two years ago: Jill Abramson, Rhea Mokund Beck, Susan Bergin, Heidi Davis, Amy Forman, and Jane Perry (Rhea & Jane pictured here), all from Maplewood and South Orange. 🌟These selfless women started The Prom Shop at Columbia High School two years ago so all students could have access to beautiful prom dresses. 💃🏿

Rhea Mokund Beck + Jane Perry, CHS Prom Shop Volunteers

The shop began as a small collection of shoes and accessories and has grown into a beautiful boutique with hundreds of new and very gently used gowns, tuxes, suits, shoes, and jewelry. 👗 Students “shop” for free for the perfect look for the prom, and are aided by volunteer “stylists.” 👛 Last year the Prom Shop gave away over 130 dresses- in January over 200 dresses were “sold” at the sneak peak shop!! 👠

These amazing women solicited donations and recruited an awesome team of volunteers to set up and assist the shop. Everything in the shop was free, and included new handbags and cosmetics too.

Local donors included @perchhome, @retailtherapy_maplewood@colemanstuxedos @lesliesfinds, and @bobbibrown. #Gleasonscleaners provided free dry cleaning and a drop off spot for locations, and many of YOU donated items as well. 👗 The CHS Prom Shop is part of SOMA Justice's COUGAR CARES program at CHS in partnership with The Parenting Center, CHS HSA and @soma_action, which provides financial assistance to students to pay for school events such as prom, and help address food insecurity.  Last year, Cougar Cares raised over $9,000 enabling 90 students to go to prom and installed snack stations throughout CHS.

For more information, please contact chscougarcares@gmail.com 

Shop Local - Sadie's Boutique and Kitchen A La Mode - South Orange, NJ

These two shops in South Orange, NJ are simply amazing: Sadie’s and Kitchen A La Mode.

Occasionally I walk into a store and want everything. OK maybe more than occasionally. This happens EVERY SINGLE TIME I’m in both of these shops.

Sadie’s

Sadie’s, 65 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ

Sadie’s has beautiful clothing for both men and women, home accessories, jewelry, and gifts. And my FAVORITE part is that many of the items have a socially conscious connection - money either goes to charity with a purchase, or many of the brands are environmentally conscious. (Check Sadie’s Instagram for hours).

Kitchen A La Mode

Kitchen A La Mode, 19 South Orange Ave, South Orange, NJ

Kitchen A La Mode (KALM) has everything from kitchen and cookware to tons of cool gifts and home accessories. Anything and everything related to baking, cooking, coffee, drinks, tea towels, mugs, cutting boards, candles, pots, knives, you name it. Popular brands like Corkcicle and La Creuset. Did I mention I want all of it?! (Check KALM’s Instagram for hours.)

And, Cat Fischer, a very engaged South Orange resident, is the owner of both of these beautiful stores (pictured below).

Cat on the left, me on the right ;)

Baker Street Yoga | Maplewood, NJ

Kicking off our small business series (#somasmallbiz) is the amazing Baker Street Yoga! @bakerstreetyoga 🙌 Led by the dynamic team of Lisa Moser and Blake Henry (pictured below) in just a tad bit of holiday flair 🎄), BSY is THE perfect place to let go of stress during the holiday season AND regroup in the new year. 🕉 

(Stay tuned for a HUGE DEAL ONLY FOR @LIVELOVEMAPLEWOOD FOLLOWERS coming Dec 21!)

Blake Henry + Lisa Moser, Owners and Yogis, Baker Street Yoga

BSY’s 12 Days of Yoga began Friday Dec 14th with tons of giveaways!
They had a very popular Instagram contest that gave away a beanie & sunglasses from @virasun (I have a pair and they’re awesome). 😎 Tons more cool stuff, including giveaways from @iheartsprout @meusshop@greennectarjuicery @brave_floral, bring-a-friend days, discounts on yoga packages, and a kick-butt yoga class on Christmas Day! 🙌

Check @bakerstreetyoga for the full calendar and complete list of giveaways. You don’t want to miss their 12 Days of Yoga. De-stress and recharge at Baker Street Yoga in Maplewood, NJ.

12 Days of Yoga!