and South Orange are blessed with a very diverse and talented community  and the month of July is the South Orange Wednesday music series at Floods Hill.  This year it’s been extended through August 7th, for the fifth annual Rock the House concert(where my husband’s band is playing) Hope to see you there!

Those who aren’t familiar with Sagamore Road, to me it’s a beautiful country road, nestled up against the South Mountain reservation, with over 2000 acres of trees and streams, but still conveniently located in walking distance to Down Town Millburn!

We’d always liked Modern design as architectural statements, never thinking we’d depart from our traditional roots, but when the opportunity came, we grabbed one (by the skin of our teeth). I can’t say we knew what it all meant at the time, but after living in our Jetsons styled home, it’s hard to imagine we could have ever lived anywhere else!

It’s not that traditional homes aren’t wonderful with their classic charms, but mid century modern homes call to a contemporary sensibility that’s very different and special in it’s own way.

Mid Century modern homes are rare here, but can be found in Millburn/Short Hills, Maplewood, South Orange, Warren, Mountainside and the surrounding towns.

These gems, or diamonds in the roughs, don’t come up every day.  Call  973-464-9129 or drop me an email, if you want me to keep my eye out for you.  

Also, check out our web site for more info http://www.adlerbenjamin.com/

Few of us have been left unscathed by the economic meltdown all around us. The losses and uncertainty have touched us all, and even if we are fortunate enough to be stable, we all know neighbors, friends, and family whose lives have been affected severely.

While the retail sector will see the worse holiday in recent memory, there is a common silver lining that I see more and more. People are considering family charitable contributions instead of person to person gifts. Many of our friends are rejecting stocking stuffers and ‘things’ that are really not needed, and are creating pacts with their friends to not exchange grown up gifts, and instead just give to children. A family tradition we have enjoyed for years is to sit around the computer and make a donation, as a family. One year we bought a cow for a village in Africa, another we bought goats and chickens. We see this more and more with our friends.

Perhaps seeing our own vulnerabilities helps us empathize with others. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly share my 9 year old son’s desire for stuff (video games for him, shoes for me).  it’s just that in these tough times we have the choice to either feel sorry for ourselves and our losses, or find gratitude for all that we do have.

I bet you will find relief from your friends, if you suggest that instead of giving you a gift, they buy chicks for a tribe in Africa. You do the same. it will cost less, do more, and make you feel a lot better than another ‘thing’. I won’t even mention how green this is.

Here are a few sites you can consider and suggest for your friends:

www.Heifer.org
www.Habitat.org
www.charity-charities.org/charities/NJ.html
www.njshares.org/aboutNJShares/press/101403.asp
www.njcares.org/resources.htm
www.Wish.org
TheWomensAlliance.org
njshares.org
www.secondharvest.org/
mcifp.org/
www.foodbanknyc.org/

Things are definitely happening right here, in our back yard. Just off the center of town in Millburn exists a gem of creativity, art and unique home furnishings at the Stewart Leshe Collection . It opened just a year ago is creating a local beat unto it’s own for us all to share.

Stewart Leshé Collections is hosting a book party and poetry reading for The
Notebook Poets in celebration of their new book, “OPEN DOORS”. on Saturday, October 25th, from 5pm – 7pm.
StewartLeshé Collections, LLC
105 Main Street
Millburn, NJ 07041