The Martini Glass Every #JerseyGirl Should Have…Cheers To Being A #JerseyGirl!

Looking for the perfect gift for the Jersey Girl in your life? Then look no further then the Jersey Girls Martini Glass by Designs by Lolita ($24 value).

The glass has Jersey Girls written right in the middle of it (shown above) and has cute little Jersey sayings around it like a ferris wheel with Atlantic City, the parkway sign, hairspray, and more. Oh yeah I can’t forget it says that we don’t pump our own gas! I love how fun, cute and creative it is!

It also comes in the signature Designs by Lolita gift box and a recipe for the “Jersey Girls” Martini (shown below).

This glass is an ideal gift for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or any celebration!

Cheers! 😀

*Disclaimer: The PR team sent me this product. I was not required to write about these experiences and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Sandy may have hit but we will stand #JerseyStrong

Last night, I’ll admit I watched Restore the Shore on MTV. No, I’m not a fan of the show Jersey Shore but I love where I grew up and it was the only way I could see some of the damage. I held back tears, the beaches may be gone but my memories will always have a special place in my heart. But it’s not just the beaches that have been hit, up where I live in Bergen County, Moonachie & Little Ferry have been flooded. Traffic and what used to be normal commutes have not been the same.

First, I want to start with good news! I hosted a Sandy Fundraiser mentioned in this post with fellow Bergen County blogger Boozy Burbs. Thanks to all the local vendors who graciously donated to our raffle and brought food to the event. You can see the full list & event details, here. View pictures taken by Bergen.com, here.

I’m proud to announce we raised a total of $4,216 that will go to the Moonachie Relief.  Thanks to all who attended & donated to help with such a great cause! It was great to be part of such a great, successful event in the county I reside in!

But places still need help, so here is my handy guide of ways to help those affected by Sandy:

DINE LOCAL

I can’t stress it enough! Many businesses lost power which means they lost a ton of money, especially those in areas hit the hardest. Go to local restaurants & dine, don’t forget to tip well too!

DINNERS, EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

“Sing for Hoboken” tomorrow night at Las Olas Sushi in Hoboken starting at 7PM. There is no cover but all proceeds that night will go to the Red Cross to help those affected by Sandy.

Interested in attending Brother Jimmy’s Hurricane Relief Party?
YOU MUST RSVP to vip@brotherjimmys.com 

The Manzo brothers will be guest bartending at Village Pourhouse Hoboken this Tuesday and donating their tips to relief efforts! See more information in the flyer above!

On Thanksgiving Eve, Biggies Clambar will be donating a $1 from every purchase of any signature item to the Moonachie Fire Department.

The School of Rock Montclair will perform music from the classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Unitarian Church of Montclair (67 Church Street) on Friday, November 30, 2012 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Sponsored by Fairway Market, the live concert, originally planned for Halloween but postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, will benefit Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry that serves low-income residents in the area. Each ticket buyer at the show will receive a goodie bag that’s filled with promotional items and special offers from such local sponsors as Proponent Federal Credit Union, Best Friend Photography, and Ah Pizz.  There will also be prizes for the best “Rocky Horror” costume provided by The Bellevue Theater and a free raffle for a $50 Ah Pizz dining card. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door on the night of the show.  For more info, contact School of Rock Montclair at 973-337-5296 or visit Montclair.SchoolofRock.com.

In addition, Fairway Market will hold a shopping night on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 in its Woodland Park store (1510 Rt. 46W) from 4 pm to 10 pm, with 25 percent of proceeds from registered shoppers also going to Toni’s Kitchen.

Session Bistro in Maywood, will be holding a Sandy charity dinner on Wednesday, November 28. It’s $30 a person, 3 courses beginning at 6:30pm. $5 of each meal will go to those affected by Sandy, there will also be a donation box at the restaurant that night.

RESTORE THE SHORE IN STYLE

The Jersey Strong design (above) represents how New Jersey is in our hearts and gives a little shout out to our beloved beach towns. We need to stick together and do whatever we can to help those in need! 100% of the profit will be donated to restoring and reviving our communities.

DONATE…

Those are just some of the many ways you can help those affected by Sandy in my home, the Garden State. Stay posted by following me @smchickbigdeals  and stay updated & become a fan on Facebook!

Happy Donating 🙂

Sara Monica, Founder

At the young age of 23, Sara is the founder and head editor of Smallchickbigdeals.com aka #SCBD. Sara is a Jersey Girl raised by the shore, currently residing in Northern New Jersey. When she is not working, she is finding something new to post and share with her readers whether it be a new food product, recipe, restaurant review or another interview. Read her full bio, here. Read the full story behind #SCBD, here.  When she is not writing for #SCBD she also contributes to Jersey Bites,Carter Int’l Concierge, & New Fork City. Follow her @SmChickBigDeals!

#SCBD & Boozy Burbs Bergen County Sandy Relief Fundraiser

Please join Small Chick Big Deals & Boozy Burbs to support those affected most by the Super Storm Sandy in Little Ferry & Moonachie. All proceeds will be going to the Borough of Moonachie Relief.

Tuesday, November 13th from 7-9:30pm
At Rockleigh Country Club
26 Paris Avenue, Rockleigh, NJ

Cash Bar (portion of proceeds being donated to relief efforts)
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants and caterers
Raffle (entire proceeds being donated to relief efforts)
$5 Suggested Donation/Entry Fee

RSVP via Facebook here or here.

Interested in donating or helping out?

Email #SCBD at smallchickbigdeals@gmail.com or Boozy Burbs at info@boozyburbs.com

#Sandy hits home in many ways for #SCBD

Sandy has hit home for me in many ways. My hometown, Howell is about 15 minutes from the Jersey Shore’s well known beaches such as— Belmar, Manasquan, Lavalette, Seaside Heights. These beaches gave me childhood memories with my family, moments of peace throughout my young adulthood and were a haven for me constantly. I can’t even tell you how many times I used to go to the Manasquan inlet just to think and take a deep breath of the ocean and relax. It was my getaway that wasn’t too far from home and now it’s gone. I also met my boyfriend and shared numerous memories at the Point Pleasant boardwalk which is now destroyed. It breaks my heart in so many ways.

My best friends & I on Manasquan Beach before Hurricane Irene last year. 😦

The Mansaquan Inlet post-Sandy

Point Pleasant boardwalk post-Sandy

Sandy brought me home. First off, I haven’t been home since I’ve moved out officially into my apartment which is actually 4 months ago this weekend. Due to the loss of power in my new apartment in Bergen County after four days of surviving on gas & hot water (which we were fortunate to have) with my boyfriend Jason, his dog Aby, and my roommates we decided to come home. I’m now safe in my hometown Howell which has power, visiting my grandma’s who weren’t doing too well, and trudging through trying not to cry. My boyfriend is now home still waiting for power in his town in Somerset county now. As far as I know one of my roommates is safe somewhere with power while the other also waits in Northern Monmouth county.

Sandy hit my other ‘homes’– NYC & Hoboken. As you may know I am constantly commuting into the city and/or Hoboken constantly. I was actually supposed to go do an interview with the owner of Sweet Revenge in NYC the Sunday Sandy hit but due to high winds I had to re-schedule. I’ve seen so many posts of New Yorker’s pulling through and it makes me which I could I #DineOutinNYC in a flash but I am so far away and have no way in. I actually just got a haircut for a deal I will be telling you about when appropriate in Hoboken last Friday. The salon is now damaged and will need to be rebuilt. Hoboken has it the worst in North Jersey. It saddens me so much, I’m lost for words.

Hurricane Sandy’s toll on Hoboken

PATH station destroyed

The waiting game. As I wait for power to come back to my apartment and fortunate to have power where I am at home. All I want to do is help but I don’t know where to start, there are so many options which I will mention in my next posts or two. It’s uplifting to see so many people coming together in the area in a time of need.

Gas lines. The gas lines are crazy up in Northern Jersey especially near my apartment,  the gas lines are ridiculous and were long before the rationing even begun. It’s also bad near my school in Morris county. Rationing has effected all the counties I have and/or currently reside in. I never imagined this happening but I know it’s effective.

This post is very personal for me, this is just a local’s point of view on Sandy’s destruction to the places that mean a lot to me. Take this post however you’d like but it comes from a deep place.

The bright side. The bright side is that there are ways to help whether it be a donation, volunteering, eating local, giving family/friends a place to stay warm and charge up or even a warm meal. It’s so great to see residents of New Jersey & New York come together.

Before I start posting multiple ways to donate the easiest and most effective way is through the Red Cross, you can see this link on the side of my page & throughout my next few posts. If you can afford to donate, please do, anything helps:

On that note, please look out for my posts regarding Sandy within the week, ways to donate in New York & New Jersey which are hurting bad. I will resume my normal reviews, recipes, interviews, etc in a few weeks when I feel appropriate but until then look out for post- Sandy dining destinations both locally & nationally, organizations to donate to, post-Sandy recipes for those of us who may no longer have anything in the fridge (like me), comfort food recipes, and more.

Be well, stay blessed & strong…after every dark night there is a brighter day.