EMBRACE YOUR INNER IRISH

Can’t make it to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day this year? Being here in Monmouth is the next best thing. Don your best sweaters and tweed hats, raise a glass of Guinness and head over to one of these parades to celebrate all things Ireland:

• Asbury Park, Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m.: The city’s eighth annual parade follows Ocean Avenue alongside the Boardwalk before turning onto Cookman Avenue, so there are plenty of prime viewing spots. Info: asburyparkstpatricksparade.com.

• Freehold, Sunday, March 12, at 12:30 p.m.: The borough’s annual parade is in its 11th year and fills the streets of downtown Freehold with festive floats, music, dancers and more. Info: downtownfreehold.com.

• Highlands, Saturday, March 18, at 2 p.m.: Nearly 100 marching units, bands, dancers and floats will be a part of Highlands’ 19th annual parade, which kicks off at Waterwitch Avenue and travels along Bay Avenue. Info: highlandsnj.com.

• Rumson, Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m.: Thousands of spectators will gather for Rumson’s 10th anniversary parade. Bagpipers, bands, marchers and floats will make their way along the route starting at Allen Street and River Road before ending at Carton Street and Forrest Avenue. Info: rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org.

Puppy Love

Dog: Pepper, 3-year-old half goldendoodle, half schnauzer

Owners: Jess and Bill Christie, Little Silver Hoping to add to their growing family, Jessica and Bill decided that a four-legged friend would be the perfect fit. They searched far and wide for the ideal pooch and found Pepper through a friend’s recommendation. “We feel like she chose us!” says Jessica.

“Her personality is all golden retriever,” Jessica says. “Pepper is the yin to our yang—we are type A personalities in the house, and Pepper’s No. 1 goal is relaxing and living her best life.” In fact, Jessica jokes that Pepper sleeps about 23 hours a day. “Pepper lacks all pep!” Besides getting plenty of rest and relaxation, Pepper gets all the toys and treats she wants (including Puppachinos from all the coffee shops). She also goes to her favorite places in Monmouth County, such as Sea Bright Beach, Sickles Park and Yappy Hour in Asbury. “She has literally been the perfect addition to our family,” says Jessica.

Want to see your pet in a future edition of Monmouth Health & Life? Send a photo and details to rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.

GEAR HERE!

Working out isn’t easy, but there’s a fun part to that resolution: getting new gear! Below is a collection of items that, while they won’t do the work for you, will make you feel tiptop while you’re sweating away at the gym.

• Fitbit Charge

5 Advanced.

A user-friendly interface and reliability make this one of the leading fitness trackers. It records all your stats—steps, distance, heart rate, sleep pattern, etc.

• On Cloud X. Whether you’re running outdoors or high-stepping in an aerobics class, these lightweight trainers provide plenty support and stability.

• Bose Sport Earbuds. These Bluetoothenabled buds are comfortable, sweatresistant and secure, so you can enjoy your tunes without worry or distraction.

• Athleta Salutation

Tights. These leggings are made of lightweight fabric that not only allows unrestricted movement and has two drop-in pockets for your phone, but also passes the squat test.

• Lululemon Pack

It Down Vest. Layer this vest over a running jacket for your outdoor jog or simply over a tee during the drive to the gym. It’s lightweight but filled with down material to keep your core warm.

Kudos

—Congratulations to the Long Branch public school district, which received Sustainable New Jersey’s “Sustainability Champions” award. Students at Long Branch Middle School and Long Branch’s George L. Catrambone Elementary School were honored for growing and raising crops at the schools’ gardens, then sharing them free of charge at their lunchtime farmers’ markets. The kids’ produce included tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and zucchinis.

—While Long Branch kids are growing, Manalapan 11-year-old Pranav Boddu is having success coding. The Pine Brook School student invented the Buddy Finder app, which helps parents connect their kids with others who have similar interests in an effort to build new friendships. Boddu is now a finalist in Byju Future School’s Silicon Valley Challenge. (The school is a program of the India-based educational tech company Byju’s, founded in 2011 by Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath.)