Travel Thursdays.

DeMarco's Sub- Holmdel, New Jersey

Last week I was fortunate enough to head back East to New Jersey and spend some quality time with my family. So obviously given the chance, I would love to teleport myself back there to soak in some more of the Garden States glories. I know NJ gets a bad rap, but seriously almost everything is bigger and better in Joisey. Here are just a few bullet points to make my case.

• The people are larger than life and the accents are to die for. What we in the Midwest consider gaudy, those in Jersey consider FAB.


• Even their food has attitude. There are sub shops around every corner (my own personal nirvana), the gravy (pasta sauce) is homemade, and the wine flows like....well, wine (jugs of red to be exact). Ugh Eggplant Parm, Hard rolls with butter, My Aunt Shelley's famous Lobster macaroni....I could seriously go on for days about the food so I'll just stop myself now.


• Everybody migrates to "The Shore" for the summer- where juiced up gorillas reign supreme.


• People pump your gas for you. TRUST me- this is awesome.

Throw in my hilarious family and and it's just the cherry on top of the already phenomenal Guido cake.

If you've been to Jersey, you echo my sentiments...if you haven't, then 'whatsa matta witchu!!'

Chocolatey Peanut Buttery Goodness.

An editor at work did me a huge favor recently, and so I figured there was no better way to show my appreciation than warm, peanut butter/chocolate cookies?! Of course I headed over to old trusty, and found these fun treats within a click or two. Miss Martha's Piped Peanut Butter Cookies are just as fun to make as they are to eat. Martha recommends piping the chocolate with a ziploc bag, but I melted some chocolate chips in a bowl and painted the strips on using a toothpick. It's a little time consuming, but it's less messy and a fun way for you to get your Picasso on!

Thin-spiration.

OK, I am not usually a fan of Jennifer Aniston. But I'm sure one thing we can all agree on is that girlfriends body is rockin. Her new ad for SmartWater makes me want to drink my body weight in the stuff in hopes of replicating her abs.

Word on the street is that Jen is a devotee to the house of Yogalosophy- Her trainer Mandy Ingber's yoga regiment. Lucky for us peasants, Mandy has come out with a DVD version of Yogalosophy and TRUST- you follow that program religiously and you will see results a la Jen.

Yogalosophy

Charitable Chew.

I have always heard people say that gum is an 'impulse buy', but in my book that statement is completely false. Lets be honest, gum is sometimes a necessity, and needs to be on hand at all times to avoid potentially epic post-meal issues. However, I understand the impulse factor because I typically remember I need gum whilst in the checkout line. Recently while waiting to pay at Whole Foods, I reached for my standard pack of Extra sugar free and noticed a new face in the gum crowd- Project 7. These chicles are not only, tasty...they serve a greater purpose. For every purchase of a Project 7 product, the company donates 50% of its profits to 7 areas of critical need in the world. Bonus rounds?? The sticks pack vitamins B, C and green tea....and the packaging is made with 40% post consumer recycled material. So next time you grab for gum- reach for a pack that will eventually give back.

No Brainer.

Not to get all judgy, but I HATE when people text and drive.....and eat and drive for that matter. It's like easy porky, you can wait 15 minutes until you get home to stuff your face with a Triple Bacon Whopper or whatever else it is. A little off track, but I do have a point. I live in a city that does most of its commuting by automobile and I see crashes related to texting and driving more than I would like to. Please, please take the No Phone Zone Pledge over at Oprah.com. Whatever call/text/email you are receiving can wait....it could save your life and/or someone else's.

$$$$

Staying on the How To Make It train...their soundtrack is phenomenal. Aloe Blacc kills it in the opening track- I Need a Dollar...and his other cuts are just as fresh. He is reminiscent of a John Legend/Marvin Gaye/Common hybrid.

Download asap:

Take Me Back

One Inna

Caged Birdsong

Everyday I'm Hustlin.

How to Make It in America is truly a great show. I was hooked after one episode....actually I was hooked after the opening, which is crazy cool. Its a compilation of video and still photographs that truly evoke the essence of New York. The open is a great prelude to an even better show, which follows 2 guys (Ben and Cam) as they hustle their way into the NYC fashion scene. How to Make It is also produced by the Entourage crew, so there is that hilarious and gritty feel to it. Bonus points too for casting Kid Cudi.....he is the ish.

How To Make It In America is on HBO but Season 1 is over, but never fear... you can catch it now On Demand.

*Photo from HBO.com