Health & Beauty - Westport Moms

Health & Beauty

How to Get Amazing Holiday Photos!

How to Get Amazing Holiday Photos!

Holiday photos are one of the great end of year traditions. Sending out festive cards and updating framed photographs in your home is always lovely and nostalgic. The process itself, however, can get a little tricky (very tricky if you happen to have one or more babies or toddlers, ha!). To help us make our family photos as perfect (and painless) as possible, we asked Rachel Wasserman, Lead Photographer at Shoott, to give us her tried-and-true advice on the topic.

Meet Courtney Prussin!

Meet Courtney Prussin!

If you are looking for inspiration in any capacity right now, look no further! Meet Courtney Prussin, mom to Camryn and two adorable dogs, who went to her first mammogram after turning 40 and was shockingly diagnosed with Stage 0 DCIS (the earliest form of breast cancer). This led her down a path to a double mastectomy and many weeks and months of managing and living with a cancer diagnosis. She shares her immense gratitude toward the village of friends and family that has surrounded her on her journey, and how she stumbled upon Pink Aid, an incredible organization which has enabled her to help others battling cancer who don’t have the resources many of us do, and life on the other side. Most recently, Courtney walked the runway at Pink Aid’s Pinkchella event as a “warrior” with her daughter and husband, a proud and strong mom and woman who reminds us that if you stay on top of your health, anything is possible!

Meet Today Show’s Dylan Dreyer!

Meet Today Show’s Dylan Dreyer!

Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer is a familiar face on morning television, as an anchor on the TODAY show’s 3rdHour, as well as a regular fill-in for Al Roker and Carson Daly on the first part of the program. Recently, after welcoming her third son in September 2021, she decided to leave Weekend TODAY, to spent weekends with her family — a choice many working moms can relate to. We spoke to her about life as a working mom, and the hard choices we all have to make!

Meet Sarah!

Meet Sarah!

Meet Sarah! New-ish to Westport – and mom of two – Sarah is a 15+ year veteran in the pilates, yoga, aerial and coaching industry having led teacher trainings, owned studios and performed aerial with artists like Lady Gaga and Lil Kim. She works with clients locally in her private studio and virtually worldwide. She recently restructured her offerings from the health industry’s standard of hourly sessions to leading 30 day Personalized Transformational Programs that focus on curating your dream lifestyle through movement and mindset work. After recovering from her own addiction, Sarah is as focused as ever on finding things that bring her – and her clients – joy – and is the biggest cheerleader imaginable, despite being a natural introvert! Sarah loves all things Bravo, wishes she could sing, and has a weakness for peanut butter! Sarah’s methods of transforming people’s bodies, minds and lives is truly unique (trust us!!), and she has a gift we are so lucky she has decided to share!

Lesser Evil – 5 Reasons We Love this Snack Brand for our Families!

Lesser Evil – 5 Reasons We Love this Snack Brand for our Families!

As moms, feeding our kids can take up a lot of our time and brain power. If you have picky eaters or constant snackers, it can feel like half of your bandwidth is taken up by monitoring what your kids are (or aren’t) eating. That’s why we love Lesser Evil Snacks, a company on a mission to make healthier and less processed snacks kids and parents will love. Click here to learn more about this amazing brand, including its superior ingredients, eco-friendly packaging and more! Use code LOCALMOMS20 for 20% off your first purchase, or head to Whole Foods to check out their selection!

Water Bottle Roundup!

Water Bottle Roundup!

We all know that great intentions can sometimes lead us astray. Case in point, plastic water bottles!  Of course, staying hydrated is a huge priority for us and our children. With fall routines – and lunchbox packing – around the corner, we rounded up eight great reusable water bottle companies you have to check out. We realize that reusable water bottles aren’t cheap.  But if you consider the cost per use, the investment makes sense!

Top 5 Lunchbox Tips from weelicious

Top 5 Lunchbox Tips from weelicious

It’s a common pain point of the back-to-school routine: packing lunches. Though we might typically dread this step on a busy morning, we’re sharing some mouth-watering inspiration – and easy hacks – to help you reimagine the process.  (Think: sous chefs and make-ahead options!) We’ve enlisted Catherine McCord, the talented founder of Weelicious, to help.  The California mom of three is on a mission to make sure kids enjoy healthy food through beautiful presentation. 

Help Your Kids Prepare For The Upcoming School Year and Fall Sports Season With Coastal Orthopedics

Help Your Kids Prepare For The Upcoming School Year and Fall Sports Season With Coastal Orthopedics

Can you believe summer is coming to an end? With your children going back to school and the fall sports season beginning, there is a lot that you can do to help them be prepared. Watching your children succeed in school and on the field playing their favorite sport, as they smile with their best friends is truly one of the most joyous feelings. Hear from Coastal Orthopedics how to best prepare your kids for the fall and upcoming season!

First Day Jitters!!

First Day Jitters!!

Summer is winding down and the first day of school is quickly approaching. Students may have a whole range of feelings to grapple with as they begin thinking about heading back into the classroom. Here are some great tips from local mom and M.S. Ed., Dana Aussenberg, for managing all of the emotions that come with back to school to help both parents and students alike feel prepared and confident going into the new school year. Let’s do this!

Backpack Wearing: Do’s and Don’ts

Backpack Wearing: Do’s and Don’ts

It’s hard to believe BACK TO SCHOOL is around the corner! In the spirit of always keeping you in the know, did you know that backpacks – when not worn properly, can cause short- or long-term problems in kids’ muscles, joints and—well—back? So what’s the right way to wear and carry a backpack? And what else should you know so we can keep our kiddos in good physical health? Dr. Phil Mack, orthopedic surgeon with Connecticut Children’s, has answers.

Honey Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs

Honey Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs

This summer we’re grilling non-stop. It’s a no-brainer – enjoy the outdoors with your family while skipping the hot kitchen and cleanup. This recipe from Jo Keohane, the mom of three and recipe developer behind The Family Food Kitchen, is perfect for meal prep. Grill up these versatile, juicy thighs and use them all week long in salads, sandwiches and more!

Meet Bluet Girl

Meet Bluet Girl

When Elizabeth Rietz’s daughter was eight, she was an “early bloomer.” Like many preteens, she wasn’t quite ready for a bra, but started wearing a second layer under her shirts to feel more comfortable. When Elizabeth scoured stores to find a next step solution—a comfy cami with a shelf bra—she wasn’t impressed with the options. “That became my first idea: to create a super soft, cami with a shelf bra to add more coverage and help girls get used to wearing a bra,” shares Elizabeth. Fast forward a few years later, and @bleuetgirl was born, a line of first bras that are comfortable for all children, even those with clothing sensitivities. We spoke to Elizabeth about her age-appropriate, size inclusive line, what separates it from other training bras, and more. Head to the link in our bio for the full interview, and from July 27-August 17, go to Bleuetgirl.com and receive a 20% discount.

Weeknight Recipe – Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos!

Weeknight Recipe – Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos!

If you’re dealing with a picky-eating situation in your home, tacos can be a lifesaver. They’re one of the most easily customizable meals, so every taste, dietary restriction or other variation can be made without creating a totally separate meal. Babies and young toddlers can be served mashed ingredient components, while older kids can assemble their own tacos from bowls of ingredients. Fillings can be made ahead of time so weeknight dinners come together in just a few minutes. We love this version with sweet potatoes and black beans from Tik Tok Star, recipe developer, mom of two and Contributor for The Local Moms Network, Kathleen Ashmore.

5 Ways to Cook Healthy on Hectic Summer Days

5 Ways to Cook Healthy on Hectic Summer Days

Slow days of summer? Not in my house! I am the mom to five boys, ages 10-18 (my “walking stomachs”), I work full time as Whole30’s Coaching Program Manager, and I run my blog Whole Food For 7 part time. Yes, summer is (wonderfully) less scheduled –  yet it also feels scattered as I try to keep my boys entertained, prepare for or recover from various trips, enjoy holidays and friends…and of course, keep everyone fed. As a busy mom, I need recipes that are tasty and easy, which is why I started Whole Food for 7 – a free place I create and share no-fuss, gluten- and dairy-free family recipes that are easy, delicious, and nutritious. 

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