Lifestyle
5 Tips from Academic Approach to ensure Your Child Gets the most out of this Year
It’s only October, but this has already been a challenging school year for students, parents, and teachers. At Academic Approach,
even as students and teachers work remotely, we continue to offer one-on-one tutoring and school programs that empower students from all backgrounds to increase their scores, skills, and confidence on and beyond standardized tests. Here are five tips from our team to help you ensure your middle schooler gets the preparation they need to tackle their next challenge.
St. Luke’s Virtual Open House THIS SUNDAY, October 18th!
It’s a challenging time for families—particularly when it comes to school. If you would like to find out what your child’s school day would be like at St. Luke’s, please join them this Sunday, 10/18 at 12pm for the Middle School Virtual Open House. Hear from Head of School, Head of Middle School, teachers and students who have been back on campus since August. The team at St Luke’s looks forward to meeting you!
Meet Melissa – a true hero!
In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to feature rockstar momma and breast cancer survivor, Melissa Levy. After 15 years running her own company, declutter + design, helping people maximize the value of their space, she was faced with an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis which began with her first mammogram, and led her down a road she had never expected to travel. As she continues her own fight, Melissa is working to create an online space for people going through the journey she has to share, to support each other, and to heal together, and could not be more excited about its potential. In another life, she will return to her acting and singing roots, and looks forward to a time when we all can travel once again! In the meantime, she continues to fight – with her husband and eight year old son by her side – and looks forward to empowering other women to do the same! Melissa’s story is extremely real, raw and inspiring, and we are so grateful she has shared It with us! We are sending her – and all those fighting this fight – all our positive energy, love and strength during this time!
reminds us all how precious each moment is, how much stronger we are than we often even know, and that we need each other to get through! Thank you for sharing; you are an inspiration!
Wondering about CBD? Welcome New England Hemp Farm!!
Wondering about CBD? Meet New England Hemp Farm – a new Westport company, committed to delivering only the highest quality, thoroughly tested, CBD products to their customers. Not only are the founders two local Dads but the VP of Sales- Colin Bannon is the coach for the Staple’s High School Lacrosse Team! Use the discount code “MOM15” for 15% off your first purchase.
WeekDays are Kid Days at Pinstripes!
Pinstripes has begun a new promotion for their Kids Club Program. Monday through Thursdays, up to 4 Kids are able to enjoy $5 Kids Meals and/or $5 hour of Bowling or Bocce including shoes with each adult meal purchase.
Pinstripes has lots of activities coming up for children 12 years and under, including fun special parent / children events beginning around the middle of October to help safely celebrate Halloween this year.
Why Cerebelly means you can stop making your own baby food!
As moms, we all want to give our kids a healthy start, and that’s why so many of us have made our own baby food. From those adorable first bites to enticing picky toddlers, feeding our kids can be rewarding, a struggle, or (in most cases), both. That’s one of the reasons we love Cerebelly, a new brand of baby food developed by neurosurgeon and mom Teresa Purzner. Learn more about her story, and why Cerebelly might be the right choice for your family!
Meet Samantha!
Mom to 13 year old Sadie and formerly the fashion Editor at Vogue, O Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Hamptons and Gotham Magazine, Samantha is new to Westport and couldn’t be happier to be here! A branding and marketing expert, she has her hand in many projects including launching her own agency (Samantha Yanks Creative) and serving as the VP of Marketing for Fashwire – a fashion marketplace for discovering new designers! Samantha and her family love museums, visiting local farmstands (follow her at @curated_for_you) , and eating delicious food. Fun facts: Samantha still doesn’t know how to ride a bike (though is open to being taught!), might be a lobbyist in another life, and is a daredevil at heart. By those closest to her she is often described as fiercely loyal, confident and caring – and her creative genius is bar none. We are thrilled to have her here in Westport, and look forward to all the amazing things we know are ahead with her in our community!
NEW Nurtury Montessori School in Rye!
Did you know that our partner Nurtury Montessori School offers full time daycare for infants (0-9 months and 9-18 months). The Nurtury keeps infants in a dedicated space to help them develop naturally in their own way and at their own pace. Their newest location in Rye Brook has its Grand Opening set for October! Click through to learn more and call 914-632-6200 to set up your tour today!
Blue Light Glasses: Are They A Necessary Part of Back to (Virtual) School Shopping?
Whether we’re homeschooling, doing virtual school, or simply giving more TV/tablet time in order to get 15 minutes to ourselves, many of us are allowing more screen time than in years past. But how bad is extra screen time for kids’ eyes? And are tech-y accessories like blue light glasses a good idea? Here’s what we learned when we spoke to experts from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and NY Presbyterian-Columbia.
Meet Jenae
If you are looking for a truly spectacular fall family photographer – or someone whose presence just makes you feel calmer immediately- Jenae may be a perfect fit! Mom of two, and formerly a Creative Producer and Event Director, Jenae followed the creative itch she felt pushing her toward photography a few years ago, and never looked back! She loves the beach in Westport, wishes True Food would come here one day, and in another life (one where she was a morning person!), she might be a Today Show news anchor! For now, she is excited about capturing the beauty of fall, studying to be a spiritual director, and trying to make some artistic sense of the chaos that is today.
Salmon Chipotle Tacos – YUMMMMM!
Trying to change up your Taco Tuesday routine? Try these salmon tacos from a mom who is crushing dinner time these days!!
Fall “Covid-Friendly” Kids Activities!
With the world a bit upside right now, our kids could all use some fun this fall! Many programs are operating outside with new protocols, or inside with many new restrictions to ensure they are being safe! If you are trying to figure out what to do with your kids this fall, here are some great things being offered!
Meet Candice!
For anyone with a child in the Westport school system, Candice (aka Candi) Savin has become a household name, and someone whose dedication to the Westport School System – and all things education – goes nearly unmatched. In addition to being a prominent and vocal member of the Board of Education (BOE) since 2016, Candi runs her own Real Estate Law Firm and just saw her oldest child graduate Staples in June! As a CT native, she loves beach nights followed by ice cream, is an avid paddle boarder – and skier – and would love to see a true “seafood shack” come to Westport! As we venture into the most unique school year yet, we are incredibly lucky to have Candi at the helm, and are so grateful for all she – and the BOE – does! Thank you, Thank you!
A Booming Real Estate Market in Westport
If you are looking to buy or sell a home (or know someone who is!), Jillian Klaff is a great resource for all things real estate! As we all know, Westport is as popular as ever, and finding the right person to navigate this process with is key! Thank you Jillian for all of this great info!
Join us for a Fitness Expo in Downtown Westport on Saturday, September 12th!
Get ready! On Saturday, September 12th from 10am – 4pm, the Westport Downtown Merchants Association is holding the first Fitness Expo on Main Street. Sign up for outdoor classes with JoyRide, RowHouse, Pure Barre and Athleta. Learn more, and sign up today!
Check out the Newest Color Palette to Hit the World of Design!
There are many elements to design; with the ability to transform a space and evoke emotion, one could argue color is the most important and vital in creating a unique space. Enter Curator Paints.
Music Together comes to you this Fall!
With Music Together Fairfield online, your favorite music class will come right to your living room. Your whole family will have a blast singing, dancing, and jamming along to songs from our award winning curriculum during weekly live online/ interactive classes. Our program offers unlimited bonus and makeup classes; register for one class and attend as many extra classes a week, pending space availability. You also get 3 pre- recorded mini classes, weekly family fun activities, and a beautiful songbook, CD, and download code to use for at home play. Learn more today!
Meet Jane Rosen – Author of our first Local Moms Network Book Club Book! (A perfect Summer read!)
We’re thrilled to launch The Local Moms Book Club with Eliza Starts a Rumor! The book revolves around Eliza Hunt, a mom who created the Hudson Valley Ladies’ Bulletin board when her twins were in preschool. Cue the mom forum drama (a la today’s social media groups) and you have a funny story that reveals the power of moms coming together, which we of course love. Katie Couric called it “the perfect summer read” and we have to agree. We spoke to author Jane Rosen, herself a mom of three, about her inspiration, writing career and summer reading list.
Breastfeeding Tips & Resources thanks to The Parent Collective!
In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we reached out to our friends at @theparentcollectivetpc for resources that will help get you off to a good start with breastfeeding.
How to Survive the New Normal…
None of the past few months makes much sense, and if you’re like us, you’re getting pretty darn tired. And not the kind of tired a solid 8 hours can fix (even though yes, that would be lovely anyway). It just isn’t normal to….
