Around Town
Revenge Travel Safely with Treat
Have you heard the term “revenge travel”? This travel trend is about making up for time at home during the pandemic. People are planning trips, and expanding their budgets to make these vacations extra special. Our newest partner, Treat, is bringing together travel, health and wellness via virtual care, curated products, inspiring content, select airport wellness centers and much more. Download their app now at treatcare.com to help plan your healthiest trip on the go, from your phone (and most importantly, while you’re traveling).
Meet Annabella
Mom to three boys, Annabella began mocking up product ideas when too many daily routines (like washing your face and hair, or applying sunscreen) turned into battles! As the co-founder of Daily Jungle, she recently launched her first product – the Rush Brush – a Paint-On Face Wash & Balm that kids can use by themselves, and LOVE! Annabella is Scandinavian born and raised, and spent time living in 6 countries and California, before settling on the East Coast. She believes wholeheartedly in kids spending time outdoors (rather than on screens), and loves sleep, Finnish Panda licorice, and all things travel! As we all struggle with our kids’ daily routines, we can thank Annabella for helping make some of the big things feel a little bit easier!
It Feels Good to be Prepared!!
Summer is winding down and the new school year will begin soon. The start of school can be both exciting and a bit nerve-racking for both kids and parents alike.
Now is a good time to get a jump start on preparing for the new school year. Below are a few simple, yet helpful things from local mom and Learning Specialist, Danna Aussenberg, regarding what you can do with your children over the next couple of weeks to get them feeling confident and comfortable about the upcoming school year.
Summer Citurs Salad – Your Welcome!
This recipe from sisters Barbara and Carolina of Host to Perfection is, well, close to perfection. On hot summer nights, we’re always looking for recipes that don’t require us to turn on an oven—and this Summer Citrus Salad hits the spot. A nice alternative to a green salad, it’s full of immunity-boosting vitamin C. This simple and delicious salad is perfect because it’s not only refreshing and full of flavor but also looks beautiful, colorful and eye-catching!
Divorce During COVID: The Effect on Parenting Plans
In many cases, COVID has or will have an effect on Parenting Plans for families where the parents are already divorced and for those who will be divorced going forward. A Parenting Plan is a document that sets forth when the child(ren) will be with either parent. Often it is specific as to days and times, school vacations, and holidays. Carole Orland of Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC shares some important things to consider during this complicated time.
Meet Olympic Softball Player and Inspiration, Cat Osterman
When softball star Cat Osterman competed at Athens in 2004, she was the youngest athlete to win a gold medal for Team USA—in fact, she was still a student athlete at the University of Texas. The pitcher won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and she came out of retirement at age 38 to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. While the host team of Japan took gold this year, Cat’s legacy as an inspiration to young girls was cemented by the message she shared after her team’s second place finish. We interviewed her about her experience, and all she’s learned!
A COVID Vaccine for Kids May Overlap With Annual Flu Shots. Is It Safe to Get Both?
Right around now, between soaking up the end of summer and racing through your family’s back-to-school checklist, you’re probably trying to schedule your child’s yearly well visit with their pediatrician – including that old standby, the annual flu shot. But this year, there’s a twist: A COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 12 could be ready soon, too. Should you try to space out your child’s vaccinations? Plan them together? What’s safe, and what’s even possible? For answers, we turned to Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP, physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children’s.
Playland 2022 Registration is OPEN!!
Camp Playland Summer 2022 registration opens tonight at 8pm through their website. The “Day Camp with the Away Camp Atmosphere” offers door-to-door transportation in Westport. If you are interested in visitng, Playland offer tours by appointment 7 days a week. Register today for a summer of fun, friendship, and memories to last a lifetime!
Back to School Find from an Entrepreneurial Mom!
Just in time for back-to-school shopping, we’re sharing one of our favorite new mom-owned brands. StyleChild is a fashion-forward line for kids, founded by Jade Sklaver, mom to Liv, 4. After building a career in corporate fashion, she became a wife and mom, and then, like many women, found herself going through a divorce. We spoke to this inspiring single mom about starting her own business, offering entrepreneurial opportunities to other moms through her Kick Starters program, her favorite must-haves for Back-to-School shopping, and more. Use code LOCALMOMS for 15% off your first purchase at stylechildbyjl.com.
Portabella Pizzas- YUMMMM!
These Portobello Mushroom Pizzas are a kid-friendly choice for meatless Monday, and a great way to get kids to eat more veggies any day of the week. Experts say that putting new ingredients into familiar shapes or dishes (for instance, making mushrooms the base for “pizza”) can help even the pickiest eaters try something the first time. Worth a try, right?!
Introducing TREAT, a new app you don’t want to miss!
After over a year and a half of being primarily homebodies, we’re experiencing serious wanderlust. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce you to our newest partner Treat, an innovative new brand that’s set to launch their app this month and offering a holistic approach to travel, health and wellness through virtual care, products, content, select airport wellness centers and more. Learn more!
The Westport Book Shop presents STORY TIME with children’s local author and mom!
he Westport Book Shop presents STORY TIME with children’s local author Sivan Hong on Saturday, August 14th, 2021 @ 11am! Join us for a craft activity after the story. Snacks will be provided by Sweet P Bakery | The Porch! This event will be outdoors — Please bring a blanket or beach chair.
Strive For Sustainability In Your Next Home Project
Green Construction is at the heart of every project that the Tarzia Group takes on. They strive to ensure that all of their homes are on the cutting edge of sustainable building practices and technology. Learn more here!
Mexican Street Corn Salad Recipe!!
This Mexican Street Corn Salad is the perfect summer dish to serve at a backyard BBQ. You can pre-make the mayo mixture so when the corn is cooled, it’ll be ready to serve quickly. Thank you to our food contributor Kathleen Ashmore of Cat with a K Cooks for sharing another of her amazing recipes!
Stay Sharp in the Kitchen!
Read about the two dads that launched ChopSwap, a new subscription service that sends you a chef-grade knife AND swaps it out for a freshly-sharpened knife on your preferred frequency. Learn about their mission and how their kids inspire them!
Meet Julie
Meet Julie! Mom of two (and recent transplant from Southern Cali to Westport), Julie created Modern Pop when she couldn’t find a simple ingredient frozen fruit bar for her teething son. She subsequently pulled our her blender and started making them herself, and fruit bars at home moved to a push cart in Laguna, and Modern Pop is now in 3,000+ retailers nationwide! Julie couldn’t function without her morning coffee, might be a professional matchmaker in another life, and she and her family are amazed by the incredible restaurant scene in Westport! It is always fun to learn about the incredible entrepreneurs right here in our neighborhood, and we are so glad Julie and her family now call Westport their home!
Let Seagull Speech Help You!
Parents everywhere are trying to achieve a new sense of normalcy with their children as we slowly exit the pandemic, but nagging concerns about their speech and language development remain. Are my kids where they need to be academically and socially? My child didn’t qualify for school-based speech therapy, should I hire a private speech therapist or will my child grow out of it? Should I supplement my child’s school speech services with private services?
These questions and so much more can be answered by Seagull Speech Services! Contact them today for a free initial consultation!
Baby-Proofing Your Smarthome: A Room-by-Room Guide
In 2021, it seems as though technology is everywhere: and that includes your home. Smart devices in your home are making things easier than ever. Whether that’s using voice commands to control your home’s lighting or automatic vacuum cleaners, the days of manual home labor are slowly fading away. For families, one of the most tedious tasks to tackle in your home is baby proofing. Prior to the rise of home technology, installing hardware in every square inch of your home was a baby proofing necessity. Now, thanks to smart devices, it’s easier than ever to babyproof your home in a new, modern, and technologically advanced way.
Not sure where to start? Here are some tips for baby-proofing each room in your house.
Playgrounds at Home: Virtual Field Trips to Beaches, Parks and More
As summer has continued along, and we continue to search for creative ways to keep our children entertained- and to show them the world, the world around us has gotten exceptionally creative! Check out some amazing ways to “travel” the world and have some fun at virtual playgrounds, zoos, parks and more from the comforts – and safety of your own home!
Summer Reading to Kids Entering K – 3rd Grade
While summer is an ideal time for children to relax, explore the outdoors, visit new places, and spend extra time with family and friends, it is also a critical time for children to maintain and build upon literacy skills. To help get your children excited about reading over the summer, we have shared a list of books for children entering kindergarten through third grade with tons of kid appeal, thanks literary specialist and mom Rosemary D’Urso, aka the “Library Mom”.