Blog
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!
See How Closet Factory Turns An Extra Room Into A Closet
Struggling with adequate storage space in your home? Learn how Closet Factory can help with a custom solution.
5 Tips for Packing Lunch for Kids
Making a school lunch every day can be a time-consuming task. That’s why our Moms are loving @skoutorganic, a line of organic kids bars that are plant-based, made with 7 or fewer simple ingredients, and come in kid-friendly flavors like Apple Pie and Blueberry Blast! 😋 Use code LOCALMOMS for 20% off, and keep reading for five tips that can make lunch-packing a breeze.
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.
The White Shirt Round Up!
Fashion and function intersect at the white button blouse. That’s why this staple is so appropriately called a wardrobe workhorse. Classic and chic, the white button shirt exudes calm, cool and collected. Spring is a great time to put this staple at the forefront of your closet. Get it back into rotation with these six picks from The Local Mom’s Network.
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.
Meet a Dad – Peter Shankman
Is there anything Peter Shankman hasn’t done? This intrepid professional is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author of six books, and the Futurist-in-Residence at BluShark Digital, a Marketing and SEO firm in Washington, DC. He’s also a NYC-based single dad of a 9-year-old daughter, Jessa. A licensed skydiver, he has 500 jumps so far—and is a 2x Ironman Triathlete. For this week’s Meet a Dad interview, we asked Peter about his wonderful new book for kids, how he views his ADHD as a superpower, and more.
6 Things to Look for in a Tick & Mosquito Spray Company
Have you hired a tick & spray team to keep your lawn safe from pests this season? We asked the pros from Mosquito Squad to share a bit more about what to look for when you’re making this important decision. Founded in 2005, Mosquito Squad has protected over 300,00 backyards–and are ready to do yours next! Try Mosquito Squad and mention Local Moms for $50 off a season of protection. Call 203-299-2381 to schedule a service.
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.
Spring Break Camps – April 2023!
Looking for some spring break fun for your kids? There are some great camps running during April break, ranging from art to theatre and sports! Check them out!
Meet Lauren Good
Meet Lauren, mom to two toddlers, who came to Westport mid-pandemic after leaving her career in Healthcare Hospital Administration when the NYC hospital environment got a bit too scary for a new mom! After attending the National Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN), Lauren became a certified health coach, working now with pre and post-natal women in Westport, and loving It! Fun Facts – Lauren met her husband in a writing class in HIGH SCHOOL, she loves to sing (though her daughter asks her to stop often=)), and she highly recommends AppleTVs, Shrinking! If you are looking to focus more on your general health and wellness, and are looking for a mom who really gets It, Lauren may just be the person!
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.
Seussical at BMS!
Get tickets for Seussical at BMS March 24th-26th!
Lucky Charm Ice Cream Sandwiches
We just might skip green beer this year and swap in these instagram-worthy St. Patrick’s Day-inspired Lucky Charm’s ice cream sandwiches from South Orange County Moms! Don’t have Lucky Charms? Use any colorful cereal you’ve stocked up on!
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!
Meet a Mom – Full House’s Marla Sokoloff
Marla Sokoloff’s resume reads like a hitlist of 90s classic television, including memorable roles on iconic shows like Full House (and more recently, Fuller House), 7th Heaven, Boy Meets World and Party of Five. She gained a new set of fans during her six-year stint on The Practice. Sokoloff’s personal life has also garnered attention, with a previous five-year relationship with James Franco, and current marriage to Deadsy drummer Alex Puro, with whom she shares daughters Elliotte (11), Olive (7), and Harper (1). Today, despite being a working mom of three, she looks younger now than when she played Gia on Full House opposite Jodie Sweetin and the Olsen twins. In an interview with her, the LA-based actress shares details of her favorite role, her beauty secret weapon, and her transition to directing.
Homemade Granola Recipe
Granola! Crunchy, delicious, and now, handcrafted by you. Make it as is or add some special touches (see below for inspiration) and watch your family gobble it up. You’ll wonder why you didn’t try making this versatile treat (for breakfast over yogurt, for lunch on an açai bowl, for dessert with ice cream) sooner.
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!
Are Phone Recordings Legal in a Divorce Case?
Recording family events and interactions may be all in good fun, but when one spouse starts recording another without his or her knowledge or consent, there can be major implications.
Many people considering or going through a divorce ask whether they can make or use recordings, either audio or visual, as evidence in their case. These recordings can be useful. With the advancement of technology, however, the question of whether these recordings are legal is increasingly more complicated. Â