8 ways to save on your taxes

Keep more of your money this April with these tips from a local expert

Timothy Kelley

Shop Local Leader: Raising the bar

The Bar Method Mountain Lakes is a fitness studio that teaches The Bar Method, a workout program now popular in studios around the country. Owner Jennifer Curtis was a Bar Method student in Summit, and she opened her own Mountain Lakes franchise in March 2009.

Kristin Colella

Have it all & zen some

Achieve balance in style with our fave activewear and gear for yoga and pilates

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Nestled in the New England countryside in the idyllic town of Washington, Conn., lies a place of perfection, The Mayflower Inn and Spa. The luxury hotel offers a serene respite for those looking to get away from it all.

Marisa Sandora

Water conservation-online!

“Greening” your home is easier than ever thanks to itseasybeinggreen.com, a site that lets you outfit everything from your sink to your shower, your windows to your weather stripping, for maximum energy savings.

Poor Cat Designs jewelry

A cat showed up on the deck of Joseph Romanowski’s house while the designer was planning his line of handcrafted charms, so the animal lover did everything he could to locate the feline’s owner. No one stepped forward, so Joseph adopted the “poor cat,” named him Felix, and used the kitty’s likeness for his logo.

Physical therapy meets pilates

Whether you’re treating an injury or just keeping healthy and strong, Kelly says Pilates is a great low-impact exercise that can be tailored to work for anyone. And she’s not the only PT who’s turning to this popular fitness practice.

Brush up for National Children’s Dental Health Month

A healthy smile? It’s easy to achieve, especially if you “remember to brush and floss every day!” That’s the message from the American Dental Association this February in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month. But as any parent knows, getting kids excited about oral hygiene isn’t exactly easy. To the rescue: fun activity sheets and posters you can download and print

The birth of a family business: Karl's Appliance

Family-owned since 1941, Karl's Appliance was started by Schwartz’s father, Karl, and grandfather, Barnett, as a tire shop in Belleville.

Environmental drive: Volkswagon Touareg

Love the space, power and handling of an SUV, but hate the environmental impact? Starting now, you can swap your gas guzzler for a 2011 Touareg, Volkswagen’s first hybrid, and because it’s an SUV, you can still hit the road sitting high. How does it spare the environment?

Combat stress with meditation

Boost your immune system, improve concentration, enhance creativity and decrease stress by meditating, suggests Kellye Davis, author of The Bliss Principle (theblissprinciple.com). To find your inner bliss, here are Davis’ step-by-step instructions:

Art’s at home in Boonton

Among the long-standing antique shops and boutiques along Boonton’s Main Street, a cluster of art galleries has formed, creating buzz about the town’s emerging art district.

Retreat into Serenity

Give your bathroom the feel of a sumptuous spa with these new products

Eco-friendly sipping

Today’s organic and biodynamic wines aren’t just good for you and for the planet, they’re also delicious

Glorious grapefruit

Tart and tangy in flavor, this citrus fruit has health benefits that are pretty sweet.

Food for thought

These days, many restaurants are preparing dishes in a way that is seasonal, lighter and more health-conscious than ever before—without sacrificing flavor. Here, a few of our favorites

Marisa Sandora

Habitat for Humanity 25th Anniversary Gala

Shop Local Leader: Raising the bar

The Bar Method Mountain Lakes is a fitness studio that teaches The Bar Method, a workout program now popular in studios around the country. Owner Jennifer Curtis was a Bar Method student in Summit, and she opened her own Mountain Lakes franchise in March 2009.

Kristin Colella