Around Town
Oula provided by Stamford Health: Midwifery-led maternity care, now in Norwalk
Families across Connecticut and Westchester now have access to Oula provided by Stamford Health, a midwifery-led maternity practice offering comprehensive support before, during, and after pregnancy.
Your Baby’s first Skincare Routine- A Science-backed guide to Gentle Care
Just like you have a skincare routine, your baby should have one, too—although it may look a lot simpler than yours! A gentle skincare routine helps protect your baby’s skin microbiome and barrier, preserving that fresh baby softness. And just like your larger bath routine, it becomes a sweet moment for bonding between you and your little one. The best news? Our favorite non-toxic diaper brand just launched a science-backed skincare line made specifically for little ones It’s never been simpler to find the best products that actually work. Because when it comes to baby care, it’s not about more products—it’s about the right ones.
8 Years Later: Still Eloquent, More Enraged
In the spirit of entrepreneurship, having a voice, and sharing the power of local moms right here in Westport, we wanted to highlight two women who grew up in Westport – Emma Shannon and Isadora Hudson. The two moms recently started Let’s Go Postal to encourage disheartened citizens to stay in the fight, and keep fighting for a voice at the table through their words – via letters and postcards. Learn more about their mission and how you can help…
Meet Sarah Hanna
Mom to two girls, Sarah Hanna is a gem of a person, and an exceptionally talented decorator and designer. Her career began with 20 years as a fashion executive for global luxury brands, but It was after furnishing her first home in Westport that she found herself increasingly drawn to the intersection of architecture, fashion, furniture – and the impact of our surroundings on daily life and happiness. In 2022, after getting her Masters in Design, she founded Sarah Hanna Design. Her goal is to create thoughtful, unique spaces that reflect her client’s various lifestyles. She recently read and loved Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reed, fears heights, swears by eggs with salsa, and loves traveling to unique places and finding boutique properties! In another life she might be a doctor or even a singer, but for now, she is having fun helping others feel at home in their homes, and Westport is so very lucky to have her!
Weeknight Baked Chicken Parmesan!
Looking for a weeknight dinner that will have your kids asking for seconds? This baked chicken parmesan from Kathleen Ashmore, creator of this recipe and author of the best-selling cookbook Big Bites, is your answer. While traditional chicken parm can be heavy and time-consuming (the last thing any of us need on a Tuesday night), this lightened-up version delivers all the crispy, cheesy goodness without the mess or guilt.
Meet Abby Dixon
If you (or anyone you know) has experienced postpartum after having a child – or the loneliness that can come with motherhood early on (and over time), Abby is someone you should know! After losing her own mom in early twenties, she experienced the isolation and challenges that can come with giving birth and not knowing how to navigate all that comes next. As a result, Joywell was born to give moms facing similar challenges a space for mental health support and connection in a safe way. Over time, Joywell grew and evolved, and most recently, Abby (mom to three here in town) launched the New Mom School Westport, providing local moms with the perinatal and postpartum support, resources, community, and education they genuinely need. She loves avocados, swears by her Retinol, and her greatest indulgence is needle pointing while watching reality TV (not commonly done, but thoroughly enjoyed!). Abby is an incredible resource for so many, and her New Mom School here in Westport is a treasure for all of us to enjoy!
What Keeps a Landscape Looking Effortless
The best landscapes don’t scream for attention; they’ve earned it through the details. The beds are sharp, the plants are thriving, and even weeks after the mulch goes down, it still looks fresh. It’s not forced. It just works. This year, LaurelRock is celebrating 50 years in business. After five decades of designing, building, and caring for landscapes across Fairfield County, we’ve learned that success isn’t about doing one thing perfectly. It’s about doing a hundred small things well, season after season. Learn more…
6 Water Bottles that make Hydration Easy (for moms and kids!)
Choosing a water bottle for your family can turn out to be surprisingly complex. To save you time (that’s what we do!), we polled our network of moms across the country for their tried-and-true favorites. 💧The winners have survived being dropped from highchairs, forgotten in hot cars, and tossed into already overstuffed diaper bags (without creating a soggy disaster).
My/Mochi: A Mom Treat Kids Love Too
This sweet treat is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up for moms.
Your Sleepaway Camp Questions Answered (in light of Camp Mystic’s tragedy)
In light of the tragic floods that took the lives of 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic in Texas, many parents of sleepaway campers are on edge. The Local Moms Network asked Alicia Skovera, Executive Director of the American Camp Association, NY and NJ, to answer questions about quelling parents’ anxiety around this event, as well as advice on upcoming visiting days and re-entry.
Swimmer’s Ear: 7 Things to Know and How to Treat It
Ah, summer—the time when kids love jumping right in the water for lots of swimming. Then, ouch. Or, double ouch. Sometime later, the ear pain sets in, maybe with some other unpleasant symptoms. Connecticut Children’s ear, nose and throat specialists, Chris Grindle, MD; Amy Hughes, MD and Katherine Kavanagh, MD, teamed up to explain what swimmer’s ear is, how to get relief and how to prevent it all together so there are no dampers on summer fun.
Meet Dr. Tracy Brenner
If your child is at – or considering sleep-away camp, Dr. Tracy Brenner is a local mom to know! Mom to two kiddos (and two sleep-away campers!), Tracy is a clinical psychologist who launched a summer camp consulting business as “The Camp Counselor” three years ago where she works with camp directors, parents and nervous campers to maximize social and emotional wellbeing at camp. This work stemmed from her own experience as a camper, camp director’s daughter, and parent of a camper. She shares incredibly valuable content on her Instagram (@drtracybrenner) and is a tremendous asset to so many of us! In her spare time, Tracy loves family swim nights in her backyard, travel, pizza and French fries, and makes a mean spicy margarita! Thank you Tracy for keeping so many of us parents sane- and for reminding us what camp is really all about!
Sip More, Stir Less: The Summer Cocktail for Busy Moms!
From boat days to BBQs, here’s why SipMARGS will be your new go-to summer cocktail.
The Nantucket Club’s Family Membership: The Most Fun Your Family Will Have On Island
The Nantucket Club’s Family Membership including an exceptional kids club is the ultimate ACK mom hack
5 Reasons your Backyard needs Mosquito Squad this Summer!
Already using Mosquito Squad for tick and mosquito protection? Try their new pest control services and consolidate your home care!
Candlewood Lake: The Perfect Summer Day Trip!
Nestled in Northern Fairfield County, Candlewood Lake is an easy and adventurous summer day trip! This summer we’ve partnered with Lakeside Watersports to share the best the lake has to offer.
Meet Eric – Founder of Recess
Looking for a new workout option? Or wondering what Recess Performance Fit is, that new sleek looking gym on the Post Road? Meet dad of three and Recess Founder, Eric Johnson, who wanted to create something that combined his passion for being strong, healthy and being near family. Before founding Recess, he spent over a decade coaching clients from all walks of life—from Oscar winners and A-List celebrities (including Scarlett Johansson and Charlie Puth) to entrepreneurs and performers, helping them stay strong and healthy through demanding projects. He was part of some major films, coordinating training and nutrition on set for movies like Avengers: End Game, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and The Matrix: Resurrections. While he loved his work, he realized he didn’t want to miss major family milestones anymore, and thus, RECESS was born! In his free time, he loves Pizza Lyfe and beach nights with his family, and shares that much to people’s surprise, he was actually overweight as a kid, so he really understands the importance of being healthy, strong, and fit in the way that works for you. We love having you back here Eric!
Meet Billy Mann
In honor of Father’s Day, we wanted to feature a rockstar dad (literally!)…Weston dad of 4, and Grammy-nominated American songwriter, music publisher and entrepreneur, Billy Mann is truly one of a kind. He shares that after living in his car as a traveling musician for two years, he worked his way up to recording studios and boardrooms, and says his work has always had a four corner approach: music, new media, storytelling and advocacy. He has written and produced songs with P!nk, Celine Dion, The Backstreet Boys, The Jonas Bros, Josh Groban, Ricky Martin and many more. Most recently, he has reconnected with an old classmate – Shawn Stockman of BOYZ II MEN, and while bonding about being autism dads they began singing and writing and will release their album this Summer on Green Hill/Virgin Records. Billy speaks of the challenges – and beauty- that comes with raising a family with diverse needs, asserts that his wife Gena is the coolest person he’s ever known (we agree!), and asks that people be kind in this crazy world we live in. Billy loves the Philadelphia Eagles, Compo Beach nights, and Jamaica. He is funny and creative and tells It like It is. He encourages us as parents to embrace and advocate for whatever passion our kids ultimately find because that is what will make them (and us) happy. Thank you Billy; you rock.
The Summer Sneaker Edit: 6 Stylish Picks for Busy Moms
Summer calls for footwear that can keep up with playground adventures while still looking polished enough for impromptu coffee dates and weekend errands. This season’s standout sneakers pair with everything from casual denim to flowy summer dresses, proving you don’t have to sacrifice sophistication for practicality.
Ultra-Processed Foods and Kids_ How to Choose a Healthy Snack
Recently, the term “ultra-processed foods” has become a red flag for parents trying to feed their families healthy foods. In the last few years, studies have linked ultra-processed foods (UPF) to everything from dementia to diabetes. But those UPFs are, unfortunately, staples for many parents feeding picky eaters. Kacie Barnes MCN, RDN, LD is Mom to two picky eaters herself, as well as the creator behind Mama Knows Nutrition, and advisor to Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon a Farm baby & toddler food brand. We asked Kacie to help us cut through the noise and share the facts about ultra-processed foods—what they are, whether and how strictly our families should avoid them. Plus, some easy and healthy snack choices.