Around Town
Meet Audrey…another survivor story!
Like so many other local “breast cancer warriors”, Audrey Symes was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year after a routine mammogram and sonogram, both of which her OBGYN conducts regularly. Though she somewhat privately ventured along her journey of surgery, radiation, chemo and more, she recently shared her story, providing a tremendous source of support and strength to others, and finding herself amazed by the support she and her family received along the way. With an 8 year old daughter, and cancer being somewhat of a “part-time” job, life has changed, but Audrey has found ways to stay active, loves reading and the “You’re Dead to Me” podcast on BBC, and truly sees her oncology team as her real life heroes. Audrey’s story is a reminder to stay on top of our health, and that anything is possible.
When is Enough NOT Enough? Just ask Tom and Gisele…
When is enough not enough? Ask Tom and Gisele. Fame, health, wealth, family, looks….seemingly everything anyone could wish for. But for Tom and Gisele, that is not enough. Carole Orland, partner at Family Law office, Broder, Orland, Murray & DeMattie LLC shares some thoughts….
Transform Your Mudroom with Closet Factory!
Kathryn O’Brien, Senior Designer for Closet Factory shares her process for creating a more usable and organized space for this important spot in the home.
Girls Weekend in Nashville!
Dust off your cowboy boots and grab your girlfriends; Nashville is hotter than ever. With so many new hotel openings and a fun music and food scene, it makes for the perfect moms weekend away!
Meet Kaile Zagger, Westport mom making groundbreaking change in the infant health space
Did you know that 9 out of 10 babies in the US are born without a critical strain of bacteria (EVC001) that improves immunity, cognition and metabolomic health? Today we are speaking with Kaile Zagger, Westport mom and CEO of Infinant Health, a company working to replenish this bacteria in newborns, setting them on a trajectory for improved lifelong health! After years spent working on groundbreaking late-stage breast cancer research, she is now focused on revolutionizing the infant health space, and has been hailed by her peers as a “Warrior for women and children.” We are so lucky to call her ours!
How to Get Amazing Holiday Photos!
Holiday photos are one of the great end of year traditions. Sending out festive cards and updating framed photographs in your home is always lovely and nostalgic. The process itself, however, can get a little tricky (very tricky if you happen to have one or more babies or toddlers, ha!). To help us make our family photos as perfect (and painless) as possible, we asked Rachel Wasserman, Lead Photographer at Shoott, to give us her tried-and-true advice on the topic.
Meet Courtney Prussin!
If you are looking for inspiration in any capacity right now, look no further! Meet Courtney Prussin, mom to Camryn and two adorable dogs, who went to her first mammogram after turning 40 and was shockingly diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS (the earliest form of breast cancer). This led her down a path to a double mastectomy and many weeks and months of managing and living with a cancer diagnosis. She shares her immense gratitude toward the village of friends and family that has surrounded her on her journey, and how she stumbled upon Pink Aid, an incredible organization which has enabled her to help others battling cancer who don’t have the resources many of us do, and life on the other side. Most recently, Courtney walked the runway at Pink Aid’s Pinkchella event as a “warrior” with her daughter and husband, a proud and strong mom and woman who reminds us that if you stay on top of your health, anything is possible!
Meet Today Show’s Dylan Dreyer!
Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer is a familiar face on morning television, as an anchor on the TODAY show’s 3rdHour, as well as a regular fill-in for Al Roker and Carson Daly on the first part of the program. Recently, after welcoming her third son in September 2021, she decided to leave Weekend TODAY, to spent weekends with her family — a choice many working moms can relate to. We spoke to her about life as a working mom, and the hard choices we all have to make!
5 Reasons to Join a Music Class with your Little One!
Thinking about joining a music class with your little one? Music Together gives us 5 reasons why you should!
Halloween Cinnamon Rolls from The Baker Mama
We love a good mom hack, and these Halloween Cinnamon Rolls from The BakerMama definitely will be our go-to this spooky season. We’re *totally* on board with pre-made shortcuts like canned cinnamon rolls, so we can focus on making memories (not dough). Check out the full instructions here.
Banana Bread Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Slow cooker meals are a lifesaver for busy nights – but we also are beginning to use them on busy mornings. Before school during the week or before early sports games on the weekends, meals like this hearty Banana Bread Oatmeal from recipe creator and Tik Tok star Kathleen Ashmore will get your team fed and out the door, quickly.
Homework Time: 6 Steps for a Successful Routine
Drowning in kid’s homework, especially after all of their activities when they seem exhausted? Check out this wise advice from an educational psychologist.
Learn How Your Child Can Prepare to Thrive
St. Luke’s invites everyone considering or curious about private school to join us for an upcoming admissions event to find out how St. Luke’s prepares students to thrive.
Do your kids love computers? Check out this new educational coding app!
Do your kids love computers? That’s a rhetorical question, of course—we haven’t met a child who *doesn’t* love devices. Codespark App is an educational app channeling this generation’s tech affinity into an enriching learn-to-code experience for kids 5 to 9. The word-free platform is incredibly engaging, teaching critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative learning using curricula adapted from MIT and Princeton. Click to learn more, and get a 30 day free trial using coupon code LOCALMOMS30!
Brochu Walker Fall Event THIS Friday!
Meet Sarah!
Meet Sarah! New-ish to Westport – and mom of two – Sarah is a 15+ year veteran in the pilates, yoga, aerial and coaching industry having led teacher trainings, owned studios and performed aerial with artists like Lady Gaga and Lil Kim. She works with clients locally in her private studio and virtually worldwide. She recently restructured her offerings from the health industry’s standard of hourly sessions to leading 30 day Personalized Transformational Programs that focus on curating your dream lifestyle through movement and mindset work. After recovering from her own addiction, Sarah is as focused as ever on finding things that bring her – and her clients – joy – and is the biggest cheerleader imaginable, despite being a natural introvert! Sarah loves all things Bravo, wishes she could sing, and has a weakness for peanut butter! Sarah’s methods of transforming people’s bodies, minds and lives is truly unique (trust us!!), and she has a gift we are so lucky she has decided to share!
Meet Cara Zimon!
For those involved in any of the last few years of major Westport school decisions and improvements, you likely know and are grateful for Cara Zimon! Mom of three girls (and a Fairfield County native), Cara was a tenured educator in the Greenwich Public Schools for many years, and is currently back in school for her doctorate in Organizational Leadership, all while being active in the Westport community. During COVID, Cara was very involved in supporting home schooled and quarantined students, and most recently, in getting the “Where’s My Bus” app up and running in the Westport district, something many of us are exceedingly excited about! In a past life, Cara danced and performed professionally, and is an advanced open water scuba diver. Today, she swears by her homemade peanut butter, Nordstroms, and loves to travel. Cara’s passion for education, the Westport community, and continued progress is unmatched, and we are truly so very lucky to call her ours!
Lesser Evil – 5 Reasons We Love this Snack Brand for our Families!
As moms, feeding our kids can take up a lot of our time and brain power. If you have picky eaters or constant snackers, it can feel like half of your bandwidth is taken up by monitoring what your kids are (or aren’t) eating. That’s why we love Lesser Evil Snacks, a company on a mission to make healthier and less processed snacks kids and parents will love. Click here to learn more about this amazing brand, including its superior ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and more! Use code LOCALMOMS20 for 20% off your first purchase, or head to Whole Foods to check out their selection!
East Coast Nanny Agency Highlights Long-time Nanny Erin for Nanny Appreciation Week!
It is already September, kids are back to school, and cooler weather will (hopefully) be coming soon! In the midst of changing seasons and new routines, East Coast Nanny Agency wants to take the time to recognize all of our amazing nannies. This month we want to highlight one of our incredible East Coast Nanny Agency nannies, Erin! Erin has been a nanny for over 13 years and we have had the awesome opportunity to help her further her career in nannying by placing her with one of our amazing families.
What? I will hardly see my kids if I get divorced?
Despite historic paradigms of dads getting less time with their children after a divorce than moms, things have shifted tremendously and many parenting plans result in a 50-50 parenting time split. Learn more from Carole Orland at Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC about this shift and the support they can offer