Health & Beauty
Sleep Better Tonight!
What parent doesn’t want a more restful night’s sleep? And yet many of us are struggling to fall and stay asleep. According to statistics from the CDC, one in three individuals in the U.S. doesn’t get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night they’re supposed to. There are quite a few common misconceptions that could be messing with your sleep. Learn more!
Terrain Health Special Offer on “Immune Package” for Westport Moms!
A huge thanks once again to Dr. Robin Rose from Terrain Health for her insights shared on our Insta Live on Tuesday night! Terrain is offering WestportMoms a special offer for their “Immune Package” (see below), and Dr.Robin has shared some great links to supplements she likes which are included!
You’re Invited: How Children Learn to Read!
If you are wondering what steps to take in order to help your child learn to read (and have fun while they’re doing it), our friends at Vivvi have a virtual program for you. Learn more about “How Children Learn to Read” and register today!
Corri Neckritz Shares her Story
As many of you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so we are interrupting our regular “meet a mom” interviews to feature a local mom (and celebrity!) in town – Corri Neckritz – the owner of Groove store for kids and women, who has so bravely shared her recent journey finding out she had breast cancer, taking proactive steps to keep herself strong – and sane – and the opportunity this experience has provided her to help her family – and others! Thank you Corri; you are an inspiration to us all.
The Season is Changing and so should Your Daily Skincare Routine!
As we say goodbye to summer, we also say goodbye to the hydrating moisture levels in the air. That may not be such a bad thing, as many of us are happy not to deal with frizzy hair 😊 – but the impact on your skin from seasonal changes should not be ignored. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Here are 5 tips!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
