Around Town

2021 Minuteman Race!! New format April 25th – May 1st!
This sun shine has us thinking about beach days ahead! The 2021 Minute Man Race is on! Run safely anywhere between April 25th through May 1st for the Westport Young Women’s League 42nd race fundraiser!

An Autism Spotlight…from Gena Mann
April is World Autism Awareness Month, a time to listen and share and learn to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, particularly within our own communities. We had the incredible opportunity to connect with Gena Mann, a local mom of four and co-founder of Wolf and Friends, a community for special needs parents to find connection, inspiration and expert recommendations. Gena has two children with Autism (a 17 and 18 year old boy – Jasper and Felix), and in addition to being a rockstar mom, human, and educator, she is helping people every day better understand the world around us and providing a lens into a world we all will be kinder and more inclusive for having known. Thank you Gena; we are eternally grateful.

Kitchen Fun with Ring’s End!
Raise your hand if you spent more time in your kitchen during the past year than ever before! The meal and snack prep is never ending and our kitchens have been challenged to keep up with the excessive use and extra traffic. If you are finding your kitchen is in need of renovation or replacement, Ring’s End can help. With 8 kitchen showrooms designed to inspire and help guide you in making decisions for your kitchen project, plus the talent and expertise of their Kitchen designers, you can feel confident you’re doing the best for your family.

Expert Tips for Managing Toddler Tantrums!
Anyone else feel like their toddler’s tantrums have gotten more frequent, and more intense during the pandemic? We’re not sure if it’s all the extra time at home, less time at preschool or Mom’s fuse being shorter these days, but we’re hearing from a lot of friends that tantrums are getting real. So we turned to the toddler expert—Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block—and asked him why they’re happening and how to stop them!

YUMMM! Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls!
These Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls from Maegan, the talented mom behind The BakerMama, will do double duty as a fun holiday activity and a delicious Easter breakfast. And while you can certainly make your rolls from scratch, Maegan says store bought are perfectly acceptable. “Store-bought cinnamon rolls are so handy and make for such a quick and special breakfast.

Meet Chloe
A lifelong venture capital investor turned a recent love for working with her hands into a cookie baking company, selling her gluten-free cookie dough on Instagram (@cookiesandsteak). Having left NYC officially when the pandemic hit, Chloe (mom to eight month old Beau!) has never looked back, believing Westport to be a little slice of heaven she feels so fortunate to have found. In her free time (while not baking!), Chloe loves a good beach run, a glass of red wine, and laughing with family and friends. She was a lacrosse player in college, and now spends her days having coffee with some of the top tech entrepreneurs in the world, and her nights with her family and the cookie Dough! Nothing could be better! Welcome to Westport Chloe; we’re so thrilled to have you – and your cookie dough!

Carrot Spice Cake…you’re welcome!
Fall may have Pumpkin Spice, but this Spring, we’re all about this Carrot Spice Snacking Cake. Thank you to our contributor, CatwithaK Cooks, for sharing this gluten, butter and oil-free healthy treat!

Save the Date: Join Terrain Health on April 6th at 7pm to learn about The Gut-Brain Connection!
Join Terrain Health on Tuesday, April 6th at 7 pm EST for our Gut-Brain Connection Webinar! You don’t want to miss this fascinating discussion with Q&A on the gut-brain connection and its impact on emotions, mood, and even how we perform (on the field, in the office, or classroom)!

Passover Recipe Roundup!
Need some inspiration for your Passover menu? We’ve rounded up a few recipes from some of our favorites. Below, find traditional dishes (brisket, matzo ball soup) and some new twists on classic flavors (vegetarian matzo lasagna…and Manischewitz Jello Shots?!).

Why we Love Fox Pest Control
This past year more than ever, we’ve been looking for ways to simplify life and save time. One of those ways is by hiring people we trust and who care about their clients. One company we have used that meets these important criteria is Fox Pest Control—they proactively keep critters away from our home and quickly fix any problems that pop up. Use code LOCALMOMS for $75 off!

Meet Fabalish, a plant-based line of falafels and sauce, and their amazing founder!
Deciding what to make every night for dinner is one of the never-ending tasks of parenthood. Then, finding the time to cook whatever we decide to cook can also be a struggle. Finally, getting our kids to eat what we’ve made is hit or miss…That’s why we love Fabalish, a plant-based line of falafels and sauces! They’re premade and ready to heat, making them an instant meal-starter and time saver. They’re also super kid-friendly! We spoke to Jessica Gebel, founder of Fabalish, about her growing brand.

The Impact of Social Media on Divorce
Social media can provide you with a platform to share whatever you want about your life, including family photos, weekend plans, and job changes or promotions, or even to reconnect with those with whom you’ve lost touch. In most cases, you might not give much thought to the latest picture you post to Instagram or the last post that you were tagged in on Facebook. However, during a divorce case, it is not uncommon to feel as if nearly every move you make is being watched. For this reason, you should be extra cautious about how you use social media. Hear from Ferro & Battey LLC how you can most effectively protect yourself!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Farfel Cups!
This is the easiest and tastiest no-bake chocolate Passover treat of all time! There is nothing easier than a dump-and-stir recipe, and this is one for Passover the whole family will enjoy. Matzo farfel (broken bits of matzo that you can buy in a box or canister at the grocery store) is mixed with melted chocolate chips and peanut butter and then set in paper candy cups. The size of a mini muffin but packed with big flavor, these Passover dessert bites are as delicious as they are easy to make. In fact, this is the ideal “cooking” project for little kids.

Gardening with Kids – Fun for All Ages!
Spring is finally here, and we couldn’t be happier to be shaking off the winter doldrums and getting outside again. Since we’re planning on still spending more time at home this spring and summer, gardening is at the top of our list. We found a fantastic new book, Gardening for Kids: Learn, Grown and Get Messy with Fun STEAM Projects, which has a ton of ways to get your kids into the dirt this season. We spoke with Washington-based author (and mom) Brandy Stone, about her book, background and her favorite tips for turning your kids into green thumbs!

Leftover Brisket Taco Recipe! YUMMM!!
When you make brisket, there is almost always leftovers! Check out these great ideas from Angry BBQ for brisket tacos!

Children’s Book Reading & Signing with Local Mom (and Author), Sivan Hong!
The Westport Library is very pleased to present Westport Mom, author, and illustrator Sivan Hong sharing her two new children’s books (virtually!!) on Saturday, April 3rd!

DIY Rainbow Art
Nothing like a rainy day art project! Check out this easy and fun DIY Rainbow Art project any kid would love!

Meet Melissa!
Westport Mom of six and co-founder of the world famous Melissa & Doug Toys, Melissa (and her husband Doug) followed their dreams in their early twenties to build something that made them want to get out of bed each morning. Decades later, this superstar mom has founded a different, yet equally life-changing company, Lifelines, to help those facing anxiety and depression have a community to be part of. After coming to terms with her own existential depression in recent years, she has dedicated her life to supporting others in need. Melissa loves time with her family, in another life may have been an R&B singer, and is terrified of cocktail parties, although she can speak in front of thousands without flinching! While Melissa has changed the world of children for the better for years, she is invigorated by now helping grown adults find their way. Thank you Melissa; your bravery knows no bounds.

Meet Jess!!
While the last year has made some people want to run away from the kitchen, Jess Larit – mom to three girls here in Westport – has found the kitchen, cooking, and sharing her beloved recipes – a safe haven during this time. Whether It was cooking an easy dinner her family looked forward to, a sweet treat, or a yummy cocktail, Jess loved creating in the kitchen, and finally launched A Sprinkle of Sweet as a way to share her recipes with her friends, community, and whoever might be interested! Some fun facts – Jess was born in Holland, was a D1 tennis player in college, reads two books a week, and has her masters in school counseling. She can’t live without pizza, and is currently spending a lot of time creating other can’t live without recipes you may want to try! Check It out – we promise you will not be disappointed!

Easton Country Day School Is Accepting New Students
Easton Country Day has been open since September and continues to accept new students! We are operating under all government standards for safety.