Health & Beauty
High-Risk Pregnancy: What to Do and How to Cope
If your pregnancy is high risk, it’s natural to have a mix of emotions ranging from joy and anticipation—to fear and even sorrow. Even though every woman’s high risk pregnancy is different, you’re not alone. As a trained, certified fetal care coordinator for women with high-risk pregnancies, Jennifer Humphrey, MSN, RN, supports families facing some of the most challenging fetal conditions at the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s.
Update – Health Insurers No Longer Required to Cover COVID-19 Tests
Effective May 12, 2023, public and private health insurers are no longer required to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing (including over-the-counter tests) at no cost to consumers, according to a blog post from the United States Department of Labor. As a result, consumers may be required to pay all or part of the cost of COVID-19 tests and vaccines depending on changes to individual health plan policies.
Meet Kristen Glosserman
Mom to four and newer to Westport, Kristen is a life coach of over 20 years, who achieved her lifelong goal to write her own book – “If It’s Not Right, Go Left” – during the pandemic, which is entirely centered around community, family, and wellness. Kristen has loved the calm of the suburbs, seeing simple things like daffodils on the drive to school each morning, and treasured the family time the COVID years forced upon us all. In another life, Kristen might have pursued a career in politics, always interested in bettering the world (and her community!), loves French fries and sushi, values sleep tremendously, and still treasures her annual trips with her high school friends! As we all strive to balance the many demands of work, self-care, and motherhood, Kristen has helped many stay on track – and find their way. Learn more about this dynamic momma and the many lessons that got her to where she is today.
Meet Julie Kucinski, co-founder of Wile
Meet Julie Kucinski, the founder of Wile, a supplement brand changing the way we think and talk about midlife and perimenopause!
Prior to founding Wile, this inspiring mom spent years working with natural brands like Mrs. Meyers to Aveda, as well as other big names like Levi’s, Target, and L’Oréal. Our interview with Julie focuses on Wile, Julie’s founder story, and more. Head to the link in bio to read, and use code LocalMoms20 for 20% off sitewide.
Meet Shonda!
If you ever wondered who the creative genius was behind shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Station 19, and most recently the acclaimed, Bridgerton and Inventing Anna, it is Westport’s very own, Shonda Rhimes. Mom to three daughters, Shonda was a storyteller from an early age, whose long-time interest in hospitals and the medical field were ultimately her inspiration for Grey’s, currently in its 19th season! Shonda is currently most excited about the launch of “Queen Charlotte,” (the prequel to Bridgerton), debuting on Netflix on May 4th. Her own favorite shows include “Yellowjackets” and “Dark,” as well as “Abbott Elementary” when she wants something lighter! She can not live without herbal tea or her iPad, and while she plays many instruments (including the oboe, drums and xylophone), she hopes to be able to sing in her next life! Though Shonda is constantly creating, she values her time with her children more than anything, and has loved being part of the Westport community. In a town so focused on arts and education, how lucky we are to have her!
Kristin Cavallari’s Salmon BLT Salad with Spicy Tomatillo Ranch
Kristin Cavallari’s Salmon BLT Salad with Spicy Tomatillo Ranch just might become your favorite healthy, easy meal for this Spring and Summer. The Hills star and Uncommon James founder just published her new cookbook, Truly Simple, which is chock full of weeknight meals, but Kristin says this recipe is one of her go-to’s for lunch and dinner.
Keep Moms Moving! 5 Common Orthopedic Conditions We See and How to Manage Them
At OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics, we’ve seen first-hand what a toll motherhood can take on your body. As Mother’s Day approaches, we want to extend our appreciation for all the hard work you do in the best way we know how — offering some quick tips on the most common orthopedic conditions we see in moms, including how you can prevent and treat them. From the new moms, the veteran moms, the active moms, and every mom in between, we appreciate you!
Meet Mary Dobson
A Fairfield native, Mary and her husband returned back to the area over 15 years ago, and haven’t looked back. After her initial career balancing private-practice counseling with her role as an executive on the corporate side of mental health, directing nationwide treatment programs, Mary found her way to her true passion (after becoming a mom!) and over the last decade, birthed what her children call “her third baby” – LIFT Wellness, a comprehensive counseling, psychotherapy, psychiatry, and nutrition company, employing a team of 25 healthcare specialists, with a flagship campus in downtown Westport. LIFT combines the many needs of families and children into one – featuring integrative, multidisciplinary care, family support/coaching, daily therapy and peer support groups after school and evenings, in the kind of warm, welcoming environment that instantly makes all who enter feel safe and at home. In her spare time (which is rare these days as she’s often jotting down ideas at 3AM!), she has enjoyed watching Shrinking, loves any and all time with her family, and views her heroes in life as the clients she treats who are finding their own strength, confidence and purpose. Mary and LIFT are a true gift for us here in Westport, and we look forward to featuring more of them both in the coming months!
Simple Chic Easter Tips
Easter is around the corner, and whether you’re hosting extended family or just creating an intimate brunch for your crew, there are easy ways to make it feel special. Here, the talented duo behind Host to Perfection share four tips to try.
Meal Planner – Trader Joe’s Edition
Ask any mother – working woman or stay-at-home mom, contented chef or takeout pro – busy families need meal inspiration. Use the Local Mom’s Network meal-planning guide to get breakfast, lunch and dinner on the table simply and easily. In this installment, we look to Trader Joe’s for their delicious, cost-effective, and quick food choices.
What It’s Like to be a Parent of a Child with Down syndrome?
Maria and Danny Kalageropoulos are parents to 14-year-old Constantine who was born with Trisomy 21. Maria established North County Moms (a part of the Local Moms Network) in the San Diego, CA area. Here, Maria and Danny share what their son Constantine’s life with Down Syndrome has taught them in the hopes they can break barriers and share what matters most — love.
Healthy Eating Made Easy!
There are plenty of reasons to love a fun, family getaway, starting with letting go of the reins a bit when it comes to food. Moms typically swap the shopping and meal prep for restaurant reservations, copious amounts of daily snacks and dessert for the kids, and perhaps that extra glass of wine or two for themselves. If you’re looking to dial in the nutrition after a few vacation splurges, Contributor Sarah Wragge has tips for getting back on track.
4 Reasons to Travel with Other Families
Make no mistake—family travel, particularly with small kids, feels more like a work trip than a true vacation. As you head toward Spring Break and get deeper into planning August travel, consider aligning your plans with family friends. Focus on families with kids the same ages as yours and whose parents you like. Cousins and extended family work well, too. Read on to see why traveling with another family can increase the fun, make more memories, and even decrease the stress levels for all the adults—and kids!
Daylight Savings Time Tips – to prepare you and your kiddos!
This Sunday, March 12th at 2am we “Spring Forward” which means we lose an hour of sleep. Daylight Savings can get a really bad rap and is blamed for a lot of babies and toddlers’ sleep problems. But, if you know how to handle the time change and can ride out a little time to adjust, your little one will be back to sleep in no time. Luckily, we connected with local mom, Andrea Wilson, a Pediatric Sleep consultant and owner of Sleep on Cue, and she shared some great advice on how to get your kids – and household – ready in advance!
7 Ways to Reduce Screen Time
As parents, all of us often wonder – “Are my children spending too much time in front of screens?” The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommends a variety of things depending on the child’s age, and provide recommendations for ways to help balance the screen time. Given screen time IS a reality for kids of this generation, we turned to Connecticut Children’s whose developmental pediatric experts share 7 ways you can help your child reduce their screen time…in a realistic way!
Meet Jessica Talley!
Mom of three here in Westport, Jessica always loved nature, art and science. After time spent as an artist and then working on projects like Hudson Yards post grad school, Jessica found her love for architecture, which she describes as the place where art meets nature. Jessica loves the idea of helping people create spaces that are beautiful, sustainable, and instill a newfound sense of well-being. While her business Spring Architecture & Design is her main focus, Jessica is launching an innovative class, called Springboard, a 6-week course beginning on March 20th, for those curious about design and perhaps unable (or not wanting) to hire an architect for a project or space! In her free time, Jessica listens to books on Audible, loves to cook, and still paints and sculpts in her rare free time! In another life she’d be a doctor, would love to visit Iceland, and loves what she does! We are lucky to have such a talented and creative person in this community, who is supporting many local town projects as well!
OrthoConnecticut Coastal Orthopedics is Here To Keep Your Kids Moving
Because children are still growing, they require specialized orthopedic treatment. The experienced team of specialists at Coastal Orthopedics is dedicated to helping your children reach their full potential. They use the latest techniques and technologies to diagnose and treat a variety of pediatric orthopedic conditions to help your children return to their normal activities as quickly and safely as possible – while providing long-term support for optimal growth and development.
5 Ways to be more Present with your Child
We all want to be present with our kids—but some days, nothing can be tougher. You’ve probably read about ways to stop looking at your phone. And while putting your phone away (and having your kids do the same) is a big part of being present, we are sharing five more proactive ways to be mindful and truly dial into your kids.
Meet Peloton’s Robin Arzon!
Robin Arzón is the definition of a fit mom. As the Vice President of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor at Peloton, as well as a professional ultramarathon runner, she’s not afraid to work hard to be her fittest—and is inspiring other moms to get out there and do the same. She’s also a two-time New York Times Bestselling Author, and her newest book, Strong Baby, is available for pre-order and comes out in February. Finally, she’s working on a brand new project – she just announced that she’s pregnant with baby #2, so her 2-year-old daughter Athena will soon have a younger brother or sister! We spoke to Robin about her fitness tips, family life, and more!
Smoothies 101!
Smoothies have been a tried and true favorite among nutritionists and busy moms for some time now – and for good reason. They make a quick and portable breakfast for hectic mornings and you can sneak in the good stuff easily (think: spinach, berries, cauliflower rice, flax seeds). Time saver and picky-eater proof? Win-win. We asked Stefani Sassos, Registered Dietician and Deputy Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, for her best smoothie tips—and she even shared her go-to Banana Protein Smoothie.
