Around Town
Meet Carrie Copeland, Owner of Birth Partners!
Did you use a Doula or are you pregnant and considering using one? Read our interview with Carrie Copeland, a Connecticut mom and owner of our new #partner Birth Partners, a full service birth and post-partum care business. We chatted with Carrie about the specific offerings of her business, as well as why pregnant women should consider a Doula.
Meet Diana
If you are looking for some fall or holiday photos, or just someone to capture what this amazing local photographer calls “your love story,” Diana Haskell may be just who you are looking for. After starting her lifelong journey caring for animals at the Bronx and London Zoo, she got her MBA at Columbia and worked in the corporate world until Lyme disease and time in bed forced her to realize she had a deeper purpose and needed to serve the world in a more meaningful way. Mom to a 9 year old daughter, Diana captures your story. She loves the small moments, the animals of course, and just celebrating what matters to you. As a fun fact, she is also a martial artist and teaches Tai Chi, but behind the camera, she is truly at home.
WestportMoms Fall Family Festival is THIS Weekend, Saturday, 10/2!
Come join us for the 1st annual WestportMoms Fall Family Fun Festival THIS Saturday, October 2nd from 10AM-2PM at Greens Farms Academy. ALL ARE WELCOME! There will be activities for everyone, including a ninja course, bouncy house, pumpkin decorating, music, art, steam and more! We will have food trucks, RISE coffee, and other fun treats! See you Saturday!
Essential Questions to Ask a Family Law Attorney in the Initial Interview
Consulting with an attorney about a divorce case may seem overwhelming. If you have never been through the process, you may not know what questions to ask or what information may or may not be relevant. In addition, emotions are often high since it may feel like so much is at stake. For these reasons, it can be helpful to be prepared with specific questions during your first meeting with a divorce lawyer. Ferro & Battey LLC shares some great questions to ask….
Meet Lisa
Local mom of two, and a highly respected pediatric speech-pathologist, Lisa Cloherty has ALWAYS loved reading and writing, and dreamed of being an author one day! She is launching her debut children’s book, Katie Spector the Art Collector, this month and will be hosting a reading an live event with art, music and reading on 9/25 at 1pm at Wakeman Town Farm! Lisa credits her daughter – and her experience with art in Kindergarten – for the idea behind her book! Lisa loves any book by Adam Rex, is ironically not artistic at all despite her first book being about art, and in a next life would love to own an independent book store. Huge congrats to Lisa for following her lifelong dream; we can’t wait to get our hands on this book!
Roast Chicken Recipe for The Holidays (or any night!!)
Happy Holidays to anyone celebrating! This Roast Chicken with Thyme and Honey, from Leah Koenig’s The Jewish Cookbook, is one of those go-to meals that works as well for holiday dinners as it does for family meals all Fall long. Says Leah: “Flavored with sweet honey and an herbaceous hit of thyme, this roast chicken dish is simple enough to make for a weeknight, and special enough to sit center stage on your holiday table. Don’t sleep on all the veggies underneath – they get coated with savory chicken juices during cooking, and are truly delicious!”
Yale New Haven shares Tips for Getting Kids Active Again!
Dr. Samantha Smith, pediatric orthopedist, at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital provides tips on how kids should approach becoming active again for fall sports through stretching and slowly increasing their exercise levels.
Save the Date – Westoberest is BACK!!!
Meet the Rockstars of THINGSILOVE203 – Dori and Terri
With five kids between them, It took a pandemic to slow these two rockstar moms down and give them the time and space to finally pursue a longtime dream to start a business together. ThingsILove203 is the brain child of two women who had former careers in fashion, jewelry and design and wanted to bring beautiful clothing, furniture, and HAVE TO HAVE pieces from around the world to their customers here in the US. They love cheese (Dori) and Peanut M&Ms (Terri), time traveling or at the beach with their families, and attribute their mothers to being their inspiration in life and as people. If you are looking for something fun and new to feel good this fall, check out ThingsILove203- Dori and Terri have you covered!
5 Reasons why Moms Should Play Sports!
As we head into Fall, many of us are signing our kids up for Fall sports—and reminiscing about our own childhood sports careers. What we should be doing? Signing ourselves up, too. Experts say sports aren’t just for kids, and moms especially should stay in the game to have a happier, healthier life. For whatever reason, dads are more likely to keep up with their favorite form of competitive exercise, from tennis to golf—so let’s try to join them if we can. Here are 5 reasons why we should all be staying in the game.
Meet Louisa
Mom of three, Louisa left the world of finance and hedge funds to pursue her entrepreneurial itch after having her daughter and realizing there was an opportunity to make ear piercing both a safe and celebratory experience. She shares how studying malls and recognizing the meaningful role Claire’s played in so many of them helped trigger her own idea to do something innovative and fresh! Rowan recently launched in Westport as the 2nd stand-alone studio in addition to Rowan’s presence in over 250 Targets nationwide! They offer piercings done by nurses, and sell only hypoallergenic earrings! In her spare time, Louisa loves yoga, all things French (including – and especially – French Fries!), and has a passion for helping others in the community who need It. Rowan is a special place that helps safely celebrate a special milestone for so many kids (young and old); we are proud to have you in Westport!
Can I Travel with my Children during Covid when my Ex-Spouse Objects?
Recently, the Family & Divorce Law Firm – Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie had a case where their client, the Father, determined it was necessary to travel with his children to a European country which the CDC designated as a “Level 4 Risk: Avoid Travel” due to COVID. The purpose of the trip was for the children, ages 11 and 15, to be with their octogenarian grandmother, whose health was rapidly declining. Learn more about how Broder, Orland Murray & DeMattie helped the Father manage this situation and how you can seek support if needed!
Let’s Hold onto Summer with this Yummy Cocktail!
Cheers to the last few weeks of summer with this Grilled Peach & Bourbon Smash cocktail from Camp Cocktails: Easy, Fun, and Delicious Drinks for the Great Outdoors. Mixologist, author, and mom of two Emily Vikre says she created this to go with her family’s favorite BBQ food—ribs. “This grilled peach smash is the perfect accompaniment. Grilling the peaches brings out their sweetness and concentrates their flavor, while just a hint of char pairs beautifully with any barbecue,” says Emily.
Our Pups deserve some Back to School Training too!
Back to school time for kids is the perfect time to start homeschooling your pup! Active Dog offers several levels of training packages; ranging from a basic recap to those more difficult problems, and our trainer Sarah is here to help! Head to our website to set your pup up for success!
I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!
Start off the school year right with a free ice cream cone at Embrace Orthodontics!
Introducing Rockets of Awesome (which is pretty awesome)!
Anyone else a bit overwhelmed with back-to-school shopping this year, or reluctant to spend a lot of time at the mall with your kids trying on clothes? We’re right there with you, and that’s why we’re partnering with Rockets of Awesome, a mom-founded kids brand that allows you to shop through a subscription service (customized to your child) or simply make a la carte purchases online. All of the clothes are super fun, as unique as our kids, and not cheesy at all. We spoke to Rockets of Awesome Founder and CEO Rachael Blumenthal about her amazing brand, back-to-school picks, being a dual-entrepreneur family (her husband founded Warby Parker) and more. Use the code LOCALMOMS20 for 20% off your first order!
What’s New at Stepping Stones This Summer & Fall
Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk re-opened in a limited capacity this Summer, and is planning a big Fall re-opening, with updated facilities and programming! Learn about opportunities to experience Stepping Stones!!
Meet Dana!
As we all get ready to kick off the 2021-2022 school year, knowing our kids are supported in their learning is as important as ever! Dana Aussenberg is a local mom of two boys and a Private Learning Specialist with a focus on teaching children Executive Functioning skills – skills and strategies to work smarter, not harder. In her spare time, Dana loves hiking with her family, gardening (in another life she may have been a landscape architect!), and of course beach nights with friends! Dana is approachable, warm, and customizes all of her learning plans to each child with the utmost care. It is people like her who make getting through these tough few years manageable for so many kids- and their parents! Thank you Dana for all you do!
Creating a Love of Lifelong Learning
It’s every mom’s wish for her child to be excited to learn. At St. Luke’s School, teachers and staff go Above and Beyond to connect with students, craft a strong academic curriculum, and create experiences that spark a lifelong love of learning. Andrea Klein, a mother of three, shared her family’s experiences in this interview with Ginny Bachman, Director of Admission and Financial Aid at St. Luke’s School.
Back to School Event at Athlete!!
Come join us at Athlete next Wednesday for a BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING EVENT! Get 20% off one full price item plus they will be giving away a FREE pair of Athleta Girl tights to one lucky winner!