Lifestyle
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!
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.
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.
What Homeowners Should Know Before Starting a Design/Build Landscape Project
When planning a luxury outdoor renovation, many homeowners don’t realize just how complex these projects can be. From grading and drainage to material selection and long-term maintenance, there are dozens of details that must align to create a truly exceptional space. That’s where the Design/Build model shines. Learn more about how LaurelRock can help with all of your renovation needs!
Whole 30 – Thai Inspired Coconut Lime Chicken Skillet
A great weeknight meal is fast, healthy, and tasty. This Whole30 Thai-Inspired Coconut Lime Chicken Skillet checks all those boxes, says Whole30 co-founder and CEO Melissa Urban. “This recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep, and is quite versatile. Use kale instead of spinach, serve over cauliflower rice (or Jasmine rice in your food freedom), or add hearty veggies like broccoli, cabbage, or sugar snap peas for extra fiber and nutrition,” says Melissa. She doubles the recipe so she has leftovers for lunch the next day, saying “The flavors meld together even better overnight.”
9 TV Shows to Watch (or Rewatch) Right Now
As a busy mom, there are few easier ways to unwind quickly than a great post-bedtime TV show, accompanied by a glass of wine (or mocktail, snack, or all three!). We polled our moms nationwide, and these are nine shows they’re loving right now. Dive in where they are or start one that’s between seasons and catch up over some TV date nights.
Youth Sports – Expert Advice on when to start Travel, Dealing with Disappointment and more!
Your most pressing Sports Mom questions, answered, from when (and if) to start your kids in travel to what to say when they get cut from a team. ‼️Plus, the *only* thing your kid needs to hear after every game. 🤯 We asked these questions and more of Kirsten Jones, former D1 athlete, mom (including of two D1 athletes) and the author of Raising Empowered Athletes
Make a Splash with these Important Water Safety Tips!
As we prepare for summer, the swim and water safety experts at Goldfish Swim School are sharing key water safety tips with us in honor of National Water Safety Awareness Month.
5 Things your Child Should know before Going to College
Before your child goes to college, you want them to be 100 percent ready—but not just academically. Head to the link in bio for a list of what life skills they should know—and an amazing new program in Canada, Next Step, that is filling in the gaps for teenagers this summer.