Arts + Culture

Practice Makes Perfect

Martta Kelly's iPhone Photography Article by Angelina Silvester | Photography by Martta Kelly When Martta Kelly started photography in
2003, she mainly stuck to pictures of her cats or her garden- but that all changed when she discovered the site Pixels At An Exhibition. Looking further, she was pleased to discover that all the photography was done with none other than an iPhone. Spurred by this new artistic venture, Martta began to find her own style.  Martta’s art features nature...

Arts + Culture

Diving Into Local Delights

Creativity Uncovered at the CoLab in South Orange Article and Photography by Kate Dawson   Stepping into The Co-Lab at South Orange is like entering a jubilant jaunt of local creativity. This incubator nurtures small businesses while offering a dynamic mix of artisanal treats and handcrafted decor, weaving the community's vibrant pulse into each piece. During my last visit, I discovered Grá, Christina Hurley’s enchanting store within The Co-Lab, showcasing rare finds from around the...

Education

New Patterns, New Love

How Building Self-Love Changes Your Life Article by Angelina Silvester With all the pressure of spending Valentine's Day with a partner, it’s easy to forget the most important relationship you can have: the one with yourself. We sat down with Cynthia, namesake of Confidence With Cyn, to talk about her work and how she helps women find their self confidence, inner beauty, and a new chance at love.  Cynthia operates as a relationship therapist or relationship coach, and uses a combination of...

Arts + Culture

Treat Yourself Right

Self-Care and Quality Time This Valentine's Day Article by Angelina Silvester While Valentine's Day is known for its celebration of all things romantic, this holiday isn’t just for couples! Share the love with yourself and your friends this year by visiting some of our favorite spots for good food, good reads, and self-care.  Spending the day solo? West Orange’s public library is a great way to spend an afternoon. Whether you’re a fan of romance novels or are looking for your next holiday...

Home Services

Acts Of Service

Showing Love Through Community Care Article by Angelina Silvester Spreading the love this Valentine’s Day also includes showing some love for your local small businesses, like Schneider's Hardware. Started in 1923, the business has been passed down through generations of the same family, and sees customers from eight different towns in the area.  One of the draws for local businesses like this one is their attention to the needs of their community. The towns that frequent Schneider’s are home...

Life + Culture

Brain Power-Renew Your Thoughts

Happy New Year! Start the New Year by Strengthening a New Muscle Article by Amy Cox-Martin, LCSW   As the new year approaches many of us set resolutions to accomplish in the new year,  attending the gym to build up your muscles is one idea, however you can build up another muscle in the body without having to pay a dime to a facility.   The muscle you can build and strengthen is your brain!  Our brains have what is called neuroplasticity and we can rewire our anxious brains If you have...

Fitness

Fitness beyond the Horizon

Embracing New habits: One Step at a Time Article by Angelina Silvester With the new year comes resolutions, and within a few weeks of 2025, many of us will be wondering how to get our goals to stick. With this in mind, I sat down with Dr. Christina Hector, the medical director of West Orange’s Onyx Aesthetics and Sports Medicine, and asked how to start getting fit in the new year.  Aesthetics and sports medicine don’t seem to have much overlap, but the one thing that links them together is...

Home + Design

Beautiful “Tune- Ups”

Helping Seniors Redesign Their Kitchens for Both Beauty & Safety Article and Photography by Martta Kelly If you ask 10 people what features they would like to see in the kitchen of their dreams, you will probably get 10 different responses, although there may be some overlap. At the top of many lists are adequate lighting, spaciousness, plenty of cabinets and additional storage areas, an island that includes informal barstool seating in addition to a more traditional dining area, and...

Fitness

Glide Into 2025

Jojo Starbuck on Skating, Training, and Where to Start Article and Photography by Angelina Silvester When I slid across the ice into the hockey box at the Codey Arena, I felt starstruck. It’s not every day you get to sit in on a class led by a former Olympian! Her love for the sport was evident, if not in the class itself, then during the answer to my first question: what drew her to figure skating? She recalls the first time she stepped into a rink. “It had a high, arched ceiling, and...

Shopping

One-Stop Shopping

West Orange City Lifestyle's 2024 Gift Guide Article by Angelina Silvester Struggling to find a gift for your loved ones this holiday? Look no further! The items in this guide are inspired by gifts my own family has loved, as well as help from our partners at West Orange City Lifestyle. With gifts for him, for her, and for your fur babies, there is sure to be something here to spark your inspiration.    It can be hard to find a gift for the man in your life. What could you get that isn't the...