Momma's EASY Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli

I love hearty soups any time of year, especially if they're easy to make. This pasta fagioli recipe is SO simple and the ingredients are not over-the-top hard to find. This is similar to Olive Garden's famous pasta fagioli recipe, but dareIsay...better? It was also a family favorite, which surprised me because there are vegetables and beans in it, so you never know. But I can safely say that everyone loved it. Read on for the easy recipe.

Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights Returns With New Offerings for 2025

Get ready, my spooktacular friends, because Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights is back for the 2025 season, with eight fun weekends featuring new haunted houses and scare zones, dark coaster  rides, and exclusive culinary and retail offerings. These immersive experiences will run from Friday, Sept. 12th through Nov. 2, 2025. Read on for more details and all of the spooky highlights!

New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center New Jersey: A Mom's Honest Review & Quick Guide to Visiting

New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center New Jersey are o-FISHally two of my favorite places at American Dream in East Rutherford! They both have so much to offer for children and parents alike, so read on and I'll tell you what they're all about. 

*this post has been updated for 2025!

A Review of ABCmouse - Is It Worth It?

ABCmouse's Black Friday Sale is live! 

Before I tell you about ABCmouse.com, let me just point out that this is my honest review from a mom's point of view.  I was not  asked by ABCmouse to review their service and I paid for their service just like anyone else!! This post has become very popular, so I try to keep it updated with accurate information and suggestions.

*Added note: Be sure to read the comments left by my readers at the bottom of this post. Their experience and advice is just as helpful as mine! And feel free to add your own comments about successes (or failures) with ABCmouse. I update this post often and try to answer all questions. 

**Note that I do not approve comments regarding billing or credit card issues. I do not feel this is a safe forum to discuss those matters. Thanks for your understanding! 

** I always try to update this post with the most recent sales - usually around the holidays. Their latest sale is in celebration of the brand new ABCmouse 2. You can get a year's subscription to ABCmouse 2 for $45 a year (until cancelled) plus a year of ReadingIQ free. Sale runs now through 9/7/25. Link to sale here.  

Transitioning Back to School with Creative Lunch Box Notes

Going back to school is not always easy for kids. I loved school as a child, but The Jersey Momma's Boy doesn't hold the same affection for education! I'm a former teacher, yet the teacher's kid doesn't like school. Figures! Anyway, my daily lunch box notes actually help make the transition a little bit easier. Read on to see how.

Momma's Famous Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce: Easy Crowd Pleasing Pasta Sauce

If you’re looking to make your own tomato sauce and are tired of buying store-bought jars, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you! This recipe is easy, fast, and your family or guests will be talking about it for days to come! It’s always requested around this house and it’s always a favorite. The best part is that you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. It goes right in the slow cooker so there is no slaving over the stove. If you double the recipe you will have leftovers to freeze.

Me and You With Wings on Our Feet: Answers from The Great Beyond

-A Beyond Momma post in honor of a friend-

Once upon a time you wrote me a letter, back when people sent real words through the mail and addressed actual envelopes with stamps. I still have the letter in a box with my college memories.  "I think you should send every story you can to publishers," you wrote. "You're talented. It made me proud to read your work in Schmidtberger's class." It's hard to find others with an appreciation for writing and literature. You understood those things, like the other English majors in our small friend group in college. We thought we were pretty cool, didn't we? Sitting under the trees with Dr. Conlon, talking about Cervantes. I loved that you appreciated my weirdness. You once wrote down the lyrics to 'The Land of the Lost' TV show theme song, just because I asked you to. "Marshall, Will and Holly on a routine expedition..." I don't even think you questioned why.

Fast forward years later, we met up at a garden center, looked at flowers and talked about The Cloisters. I was grateful for your friendship. There weren't many like you- kind and funny and thoughtful, interested in growing vegetables or flowers, or whatever we were looking at together that day. 

Adventure Academy Review: One Mom's Honest Opinion

Adventure Academy is a brand new online learning platform from Age of Learning (the experts who brought you ABCmouse and ReadingIQ). I was given the opportunity to beta-test it, and I have the scoop for ya! It's geared towards kids ages 8-13 (so for all of you who loved ABCmouse but felt your kids 'grew out of it,' this one's especially for you!). Read on and I'll tell you what you can expect, and if it's even worth your time and money.

*Note that this post is continuously updated and I try my best to respond to all comments in the comment section! 

** I always try to update this post with the most recent sales - they usually happen around the holidays (stay tuned to see if they have a Labor Day sale). Check my sidebar ads for the latest deals, too! 

The Hotel Hershey vs. The Hershey Lodge - Which to Choose? (part 2)

If you're planning a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania and you're not sure which hotel to stay at, The Jersey Momma is here to help! Are you wondering what the difference is between The Hotel Hershey and The Hershey Lodge? Read on!

This post has been freshly updated for 2025!

How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Basic Guide

If you ever thought about raising butterflies with your little ones at home, I have some basic tips for you!  As I'm sure you've figured out, I am not a butterfly expert.  If you want all of the best information from the experts, feel free to visit them at MonarchWatch.  I have raised and released over 300 monarch butterflies in my lifetime, so my tips come from what I've read and my own experience.

East of Wall: A Spoiler-Free Review of this Must-See Docu-Fiction Film

I can’t say enough good things about East of Wall. In a (very brief) nutshell, East of Wall is about a horse trainer who wrestles with financial issues and unresolved grief while hosting a group of wayward teenagers on her ranch in South Dakota. And here's my take: this movie is real. I’m so tired of perfect Hollywood, where every actor and actress has a flawless face and sculpted body (I’m looking at you, Taylor Sheridan, with your 1833 and 1923 families and their perfect white teeth and porcelain skin in the middle of the wild west). East of Wall is a docu-fiction film- it’s reality, it’s raw. The movie is like getting a peek into the ‘characters’ lives as opposed to watching a movie. Tabatha Zimiga was outstanding as the lead, believable and raw, while Porshia Zimiga delivers a beautiful narration and heartfelt performance. Read on for more info about this unique movie and watch a trailer of the film. 

Easy Ways to Visit The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from New Jersey

Ready to visit The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? I have the perfect, easy trip planned for you. Liberty State Park (right here in New Jersey!) is the gateway to two of America’s most iconic landmarks: The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Liberty State Park in Jersey City serves as the perfect destination for families in the tri-state area and beyond looking for a fun-filled day trip and with a new, free pilot shuttle service running on weekends through the end of September, the Park and all of its amenities are more accessible than ever.  We took a fun and very stress-free trip from Liberty State Park to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island thanks to Statue City Cruises. Read on for more details, and see how to plan an exciting trip of your own.

A Minecraft Movie: A Mom's (Spoiler-Free) Honest Review

Have you seen A Minecraft Movie? Enter a wonderland where creativity and teamwork is essential to survival, much like the game we all know and love. Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems in the real world, when they are suddenly pulled through a strange portal into the Overworld (a cubic landscape that thrives on imagination). To get home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil mobs like creepers and zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an expert crafter named Steve (played by Jack Black). From director Jared Hess and starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, A Minecraft Movie is the first-ever big screen adaptation of Minecraft, the single best-selling video game of all time. Read on for my (spoiler-free!) review of the film, and to see the latest trailer. 

New Jersey Boardwalk Bucket List: 10 Jersey Shore Treats to Try This Summer

One of the best things about visiting the Jersey Shore is hitting up one of its many fabulous boardwalks. Rides, games, entertainment, and...food!!  There are so many snacks, treats and specialties to choose from. Everything just seems to taste better at the shore, doesn't it? So I'm making my own 'Boardwalk Bucket List.' This includes some of the best boardwalk (and general NJ shore) treats to try before summer ends. I realize the list could be infinite, so I've tried to narrow it down to ten+ of the most scrumptious goodies I could find from boardwalks along the shore. Are you ready?

(*Note that since this post has become so popular, I decided to add new treats to it every year. So be sure to Pin it for future use!)