New Canaan-Darien Magazine, May/June 2020

LIVE WIRE // HOW BRAIN MAPPING COULD CURE ANXIETY

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contents MAY/JUNE 2020 vol. 20 | issue 3

features

departments

36

8 EDITOR’S LETTER 10 PRESIDENT’S LETTER

HAPPY PLACE 13 STATUS REPORT

A light and bright beach abode in East Norwalk

BUZZ A look at how our communities respond to a quick change in daily life.

GO We drive the Mercedes AMG GLC 63 DO Feeling Zen; Brain mapping EAT Maikana, Nit Noi Provisions and TOASTs deliver creative culinary excellence FINANCE FIX You are more than your portfolio

b y m a l ia mc k i n non fr ame

42

UNDER THE INFLUENCE We’re following these local lifestyle bloggers. Are you? by e m i ly l i e bert

29 PEOPLE & PLACES

56

Fairfield County Community Foundation Blossom Hill Foundation

A MOMENT IN TIME

Darien Depot

Photographer Andrea Carson captures local families in quarentine during the COVID-19 pandemic

Shakespeare on the Sound 63 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

by ju l e e k a pl an

64 LAST WORD

22 Healthy and delicious bowls from Maikana.

NEW CANAAN • DARIEN & ROWAYTON MAY/JUNE 2020, VOL. 20, NO. 3. NEW CANAAN • DARIEN & ROWAYTON (ISSN 1942-1028) is published bimonthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St, Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to NEW CANAAN PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. U.S. Subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues), $32.95/2 years; Canada and Foreign $40/1 year, $66/2 years. newcanaandarienmag.com

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BEST OF THE GOLD COAST .

And because you love your town most of all, we also share the Best of Town winners. Did your favorites, win?

We will all know soon.

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VOLUME 20

ISSUE 3

MAY/JUNE 2020

creative director Amy Vischio

publisher Jonathan W. Moffly

editorial

sales + marketing

executive editor Cristin Marandino editor Julee Kaplan

Jonathan W. Moffly

market editor Megan Gagnon

publisher, athome, greenwich, fairfield living

advisory editor Donna Moffly

jonathan.moffly@moffly.com

assistant editor Joey Macari

Gabriella Mays art art director Kim Gilby senior art director Venera Alexandrova senior art director/status report Garvin Burke contributing art director/Farifield Living Tim Carr production director Kerri Rak design assistant Taylor Stroili

publisher, westport

gabriella.mays@moffly.com Karen Kelly-Micka publisher, stamford

karen.kelly@moffly.com Jennifer Frank

contributors editors

account executive

jennifer.frank@moffly.com

Elizabeth Hole - editor, custom publishing Rick Johnson

Diane Sembrot - editor, fairfield living; westport; stamford

account executive

writers

rick.johnson@moffly.com

Liz Ariola, Liz Barron, Emily Liebert, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick, Malia McKinnon Frame, Chris Hodenfield, Kathy Satterfield

Hilary Hotchkiss acount executive

hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com

copy editors Terry Christofferson, Kathy Satterfield

Jennifer Petersen

editorial advisory board

acount executive

Robert Doran, Sue Frelinghuysen, David Genovese, Nancy Helle, Claire Hunter, Robyn Kammerer, Rita Kirby, George McEvoy, Julianna Spain, Amy Wilkinson, Torrance York

jennifer.petersen@moffly.com Kathleen Godbold partnership and big picture manager

kathleen.godbold@moffly.com

digital digital media manager Amber Scinto

Rachel Shorten

digital editor Diane Sembrot

events director

rachel.shorten@moffly.com

business president Jonathan W. Moffly business manager Elena V. Moffly cofounders John W. Moffly IV and Donna C. Moffly

published by 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880 phone: 203-222-0600 fax: 203-222-0937 mail@mofflymedia.com Publishers of FAIRFIELD LIVING, GREENWICH, NEW CANAAN - DARIEN, WESTPORT, STAMFORD and athome Magazines advertising inquiries Lamuel Bandala email advertise@mofflymedia.com.

TO SUBSCRIBE, renew, or change your address, please e-mail us at subscribe@ncdmag.com, call 1-877-467-1735, or write to New Canaan - Darien magazine, 111 Corporate Drive, Big Sandy, TX 75755. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues); $34.95/2 years (12 issues); $44.95/3 years (18 issues). Canada and foreign, US $36/year. Prices are subject to change without notice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. Š2020 New Canaan - Darien magazine is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media.

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6

HOW DO WE FACE THIS CRISIS TOGETHER?

editor’s letter

MAY/JUNE 2020 / JULEE KAPLAN

FOR THE BETTER

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @NCDMAG

newcanaandarienmag.com

8

faces you see on our cover, photographed

by Rowayton-based photographer, Andrea Carson, were so striking to me. This image (and the images you see in the “A Moment In Time” feature) is exactly how we are feeling. We are all safe at home. Bored, at times, yes. But we are safe. And many of us are lucky enough to be able to go outside, get some fresh air and even maybe play in our treehouses. Life goes on, and things will get better. Guaranteed.

In that vein, we are hoping you will connect with us by emailing some of your most favorite photos of home during this time. Send photos of your rainbows, teddy bears in windows, signs you see thanking our local heroes. Send us photos of your neighborhoods and what you’re seeing that makes you happy these days. We are hoping to collect some real gems to showcase in a future issue.

While I personally cannot wait to have dinner in a restaurant again, shop without fear of getting sick, see friends at less than six feet, travel again, meet in the office again, in the end, I hope all of us will remember the importance of this time we spent with family during this pandemic. And continue to remember what’s most important.

Stay safe and be well,

julee.kaplan@moffly.com

PHOTO BY KYLE NORTON

T

his hasn’t been easy. Here we are, sitting home, waiting and hoping for everything to feel normal again while trying to stay well. This is so far from normal.

But as I sit home on an early April day, I can’t help but realize how much better we all will be after the pandemic of 2020 is finally over.

Our communities have already become more charitable. Even when we are experiencing personal financial hardships, we’ve rushed to help—grocery shopping for those who are in a high risk category, providing our first responders and health care workers with meals to help them get through these tough days and nights. We throw birthday party parades for friends, order curbside from our shops and restaurants to keep them going.

We are all doing the best we can. All while social distancing so that we can be part of the reason why all of this comes to an end.

We are better parents because we have the time to be home with our children, helping them to learn, cooking with them, crafting, spending more time in nature with them, tucking them in at night since we can’t meet our friends for dinner. We may not be able to physically attend religious services, but instead we went on Zoom to meet up with our friends, family members and/or congregations to celebrate.

This May/June issue wasn’t the easiest to put together. Having to work away from colleagues was a challenge for some of us.

Also, it was originally going to look quite a bit different before the world changed. The

Home is where your healthcare is with Virtual Visits There’s promise in getting care anywhere Your place. Your time. Your peace of mind. Connecting to a primary care, urgent care or specialty doctor or clinician has never been easier. Whether you have allergies, cold/flu symptoms or need a follow-up appointment, Virtual Visits are a convenient way to get the care you need, wherever you are. It’s just one more way we’re here for you.

New and existing patients can start at

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president’s letter

MAY/JUNE 2020 / JONATHAN MOFFLY

hank you. Together, in this crisis, we can adapt, change and become something new. Our lives are altered.

Our community is straining to accommodate the realities of disease and economic distress.

The outlook is uncertain. We want it to be over.

Desperately. And when it is, we will be different.

The most valuable lessons lie in our power to come together and help each other.

Our priorities are to stay healthy, doing our duty to stop the spread so that friends, family and strangers alike stay safe, and to keep our homes and workplaces financially afloat. Then, do whatever extra we can.

I am proud of my community. Small acts of kindness break the quiet and isolation.

Executive Editor Cristin Marandino going for a socially distant walk and talk with my 84-year-old mom. Production Director Kerri Rak making 246 joyfully designed equipment tags as gifts to our first responders. My wife, our business manager, tripling her EMT volunteer hours to be on the front lines. Our friend, Ariana, dropping off groceries for my family.

Economically, it is dire for so many.

Businesses are in distress, and staff and vendor reductions are the consequence. Small local businesses are particularly hard hit, often lacking the resources to weather a long storm.

Our restaurants, the heart of our community, where we connect with each other, are trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy for us by offering takeout and delivery. They struggle to take care of as many employees as they can on so much less.

newcanaandarienmag.com

10

Moffly is a small family business, too. As you see with this, much thinner May/June issue, we are also being impacted by the crisis.

My priority is to take care of our team and our customers. We are as resolute as ever to help people live life better and help businesses thrive.

Our partners—your retailers, restaurants, businesses and professional services—are feeling the economic slam. The necessity of social distancing makes Amazon more than a temptation. Yet our retailers, with their unique offerings and personal services are what make our area special. Reach out to your favorites for delivery. Connect. Support. Keep us strong.

A personal thank you to Cristin Marandino, too, for putting up with her boss overshooting the deadline for this page, while dealing with a suddenly complex workload, with less resources, while working from home. She brandishes a kind lash.

Most importantly, thank you. We are grateful for your support as readers, as partners and as customers. We believe in the indomitable spirit of our community.

Lastly, with gratitude, I ask you to take action and help the most vulnerable in our community.

This group has grown exponentially in just the past few weeks. Please make a donation to Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Resiliency Fund at fccfoundation .org. The FCCF will ensure your donation reaches the right hands for greatest impact.

One action taken by many has an indelible impact. Together we have the character to work through this crisis.

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PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY by julee kapl an

PHOTO BY VENERA ALEXANDROVA

O

kay, so we have to stay home. Our communities, clearly, are making the best of it.

“I am absolutely blown away by New Canaan’s response to this pandemic,” says Tucker Murphy, president of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. “The town is closed but we are still functioning and doing so much for our residents. It’s truly been amazing to see.”

And that it has. The list seems almost endless. As Mike Handler, New Canaan’s emergency management director sent residents daily updates, our local nonprofits worked hard to step it up and help those who need it most. Staying Put, a New Canaan Based nonprofit, helped residents to team up with local senior citizens to help them by running errands like grocery shopping and providing them with daily check in calls.

Voices of September 11 chimed in to provide much-needed mental health support and tips for talking to children about COVID-19.

And, Grace Farms Foundation dove right in to make meals for a range of Fairfield County based organizations like Person 2 Person and Open Door Shelter, among others. And, they also launched a relief fund to provide local hospitals and first responders with more than $2.5 million in personal protective equipment.

“It is clear that pressing humanitarian issues can be solved when the public, private and not-for-profit sectors collaborate locally and globally,” stated Sharon Prince, Grace Farms Foundation CEO and founder. “At this pivotal moment, we coalesced networks and leaders ranging from local businesswomen to kindred

The Grace Farms Foundation has been making and sending meals to those most in need. Here, a look at its lush gardens.

“If there was any a time we need people to use local business ...this is it.”

—susan cator, darien chamber of commerce

innovative foundations, global corporations and our local government to earnestly identify, source and land legitimate PPE supplies in real time.”

In Darien, the Corbin District, run by Baywater Properties, quickly launched its Corbin Cares initiative which works with local organizations like The Darien Foundation and The Community Fund of Darien to provide meals (crafted by Darien restaurants like Baldanza Bistro, Ten Twenty Post and Four Forks) to those in need and to hospital and healthcare workers. In its first week alone, the organization was able to provide 600 meals to those in need.

MAY/JUNE 2020 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN

13

Murphy said that in New Canaan it has been important to keep the restaurants going and supporting their takeout and delivery efforts was always the plan.

“The supply chain has to be beyond what our grocery stores, like Walter Stewart’s, can handle,” she said. “So we love that people are helping our restaurants stay in business during this tough time.”

New Canaan Moms, a Facebook group turned charitable organization led by two local moms, Monica Capela and Allyson Mahoney, have been collecting donations in order to purchase gift cards from local businesses like Elm Street Books, New Canaan Chicken and

buzz Elm restaurant. Once purchased, the gift cards are donated to local families in need and first responders. This organization has not only provided food to those in need, but also kept our locally run businesses afloat during this tough time.

And, it’s not just larger organizations working to give back—even when their own businesses are suffering. Coco & Lala in Darien owner Shannon Doherty and her young daughter Leontine “Lala” came up with an idea to “Spread Love, Not Germs” by designing T-shirts and donating proceeds to children in need through No Kid Hungry. In just over two weeks they sold over 500 shirts and provided 25,000 meals.

above: Coco & Lala’s shirts for charity. below: SONO 1420’s homemade hand sanitizer.

Gray Barns’ pantry boxes are filled with fresh ingredients, ready for cooking.

newcanaandarienmag.com

14

“Having to explain social distancing was a little hard at first,” Doherty said of explaining the current climate to her children. “The t-shirt idea really helped them feel connected to friends on social media and feel as if they were doing something to protect their family and keep everyone safe.”

Joe’s Pizza in New Canaan has been donating pizzas to hospitals. SoNo 1420, a distillery based in Norwalk, turned their alcohol into hand sanitizers, and gave them away for free to first responders and members of the community.

Gray Barns launched dinner boxes and pantry boxes with tips directly from the Tavern’s head chef on how to cook something amazing from the ingredients of the week. Elm in New Canaan created Birch Box By Elm which are complete family dinner boxes made to order and delivered locally to residents of New Canaan and surrounding towns. Proceeds from Gray Barns and Elm boxes go directly to the restaurant’s employees, many of whom have had to lose out on work.

Next up, Murphy said she and her team are working on ideas to ramp up business once everyone opens again.

Susan Cator, president and executive director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, is also on it.

“If there was any a time we need people to use local business for any needs, this is it,” Cator says. “That is what we will be promoting after this.”

go LET’S GO, LORD VADER THE MANY FUN MOODS OF MERCEDES GLC 63 by chris hodenfield

behave more unreasonably.

Coming from the manufacturer’s performance wing, it features a turbocharged V8 producing 469 stomping horsepower, which in street terms may be defined as “a helluva lot of temptation.”

Ah, but there's a dial on the dash to change the modes of its personality. It was delivered in sport mode, which produced that hilarious drag-strip soundtrack.

But with clicks of the dial, the character moved toward more civilized states of being. It grew quieter and more polite. The suspension moved from tough to creamy. The shifting points on the nine-speed automatic became more relaxed. The inner racehorse

became a pleasant pony.

The cabin is a sumptuous and regal setting for touring the galaxy, being composed of the sleek design and cool leather of any upscale Mercedes. The Burmester Surround Sound system could go clean or bombastic, depending on your mood. In all, it costs a pretty penny, but delivers a gorgeous vehicle.

The same gorgeousness can be had in the GLC 43 model, which features a lesser but still strong V6 engine, better fuel mileage and a $14,000 discount.

Still, there was no forgetting that our GLC 63 was a highperformance brute. In any mode, pushing the throttle meant

newcanaandarienmag.com

16

holding on tight. After a few days driving, it becomes apparent that back-country corners can be taken at harrowing speeds in the utmost confidence.

It’s the last car you’d entrust to a teenager. But if it should transform a seasoned, mature driver into a teenager, well, that’s the risk of riding with the hooligans.

STATS

MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GLC 63 Base price: $73,750. As tested: $79,705 Drivetrain: 469 hp 4.0-liter V8. AWD EPA mileage ratings: 16 city/ 22 highway

CONTRIBUTED

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hen the metallic black Mercedes GLC 63 arrived in our driveway, bellowing and snorting like Darth Vader on a hot date, it seemed immediately to fall into the category this reviewer thinks of an “HUV.” That is, Hooligan Urban Vehicle. But, unlike the dark lord of the empire, this one has a dial to turn down the aggression.

Mercedes-Benz has several other crossover models that provide the desired basics—four pleasant seats, all-wheel-drive, a modicum of prestige—and most are priced more reasonably. The GLC 63 is geared toward the driver who likes to occasionally

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How to do it effectively, anywhere you are. time & place Grounded Meditation helps you learn to relax and find your inner calm.

Find a setting that minimizes outside stimuli so you will be able to focus. Close your eyes or just let your lids become heavy.

WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY AT AN ULTIMATE HIGH, MEDITATION CAN HELP US NOW MORE THAN EVER by liz barron

A

s we sit in our homes and wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to come to an end, we couldn’t help but think of ways to help us get through this time and manage our daily anxieties.

Enter Diane NickelbergBarnett, owner, founder and seasoned meditation guide of Grounded Meditation, part of Pryority Wellness at 45 Grove Street in New Canaan. NickelbergBarnett began her meditative journey at 18 with a course in transcendental meditation. Years later, she found herself looking to find balance after focusing on her career as a real estate attorney.

Her passion for mindfullness and desire to help others led Nickelberg-Barnett to teaching and she has now been working to help her students find their own balance in both corporate and private settings.

At press time in early April,

Grounded Meditation was still closed, but Nickelberg-Barnett was doing the next best thing to being in the studio—providing virtual mediation sessions via Facebook Live. Making mediation “userfriendly” is one of NickelbergBarnett’s main goals; she explains that students don't need prior experience in order to start an effective meditation practice.

While it may be difficult for some to be still with themselves, it gets easier with time and more effective with practice. If a student has difficulty sitting still, she might suggest starting with short periods of mediation—five minutes at a time—twice a day and gradually build up. Walking meditation is another method used to help some students get started. Ideally, meditating every day for at least 20 minutes is most effective, she says.

Grounded Meditation offers group classes, private sessions,

single classes, packages, memberships and workshops.

Services range between $18 for a single class to $199 for two private sessions and two months of unlimited classes.

Students of meditation will begin to notice subtle positive psychological and physical shifts in their daily lives, NicklebergBarnett says. Meditation helps lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol which causes weight gain and many other medical issues. Scientific studies have shown that meditation helps increase focus and clarity and can help with performance at work, it can reduce memory loss, promotes better sleep, relieve anxiety and leave individuals feeling overall lighter.

“It’s not magic; it’s not hocuspocus; it’s just about allowing yourself to be open to something different,” she says.

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Use your breath as a point of focus. Pay attention to the inhale and exhale. We breathe approximately 20,000 times a day and mostly just ignore our breath, notice what the breath feels like traveling through your body.

stay out of the rabbit hole As your mind wanders, notice your thoughts and distractions. Observe them like you’re watching a movie—something appears on the screen and then it’s gone. Don’t latch on, don’t follow, don’t “go down the rabbit hole” with them.

notice & observe When you realize you are thinking, don’t try to force thoughts or feelings away— just notice, observe and gently return your attention to your breath.

be kind to yourself Don’t beat yourself up if you’re having difficulty sitting still or finding a moment of inner peace.

It’s a process that requires practice—just like playing an instrument.

PHOTO BY © CHESTERF - STOCK.ADOBE.COMW

FINDING ZEN

focus on your breath

2020 HONORING COVID-19 HEROES This year we are focusing Light a Fire on those who rose to the challenge during the COVID-19 epidemic. We are thrilled to celebrate the individuals, nonprofits and businesses that showed us the true meaning of kindness and philanthropy.

HONOREES WILL BE FEATURED IN THE NOVEMBER ISSUE AND CELEBRATED AT A SPECIAL AWARDS CEREMONY.

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Nominations being accepted in the following categories.

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WHAT LIES BENEATH

RESEARCH CLAIMS THAT BRAIN MAPPING AND NEUROFEEDBACK CAN HELP MANAGE SYMPTOMS OF INJURY, MENTAL ILLNESS AND EVEN AUTISM AND ADHD by beth c o oney fitzpatrick

WHO’S TRYING IT

There are some common challenges, many of them psychological ones, which compel patients to seek Gray Matters' qEEG brain mapping services. They include: attention deficit disorders A recent teenage patient diagnosed with ADHD whose scan revealed brain

biomarker that says, ‘Here, this is what you have,”’ says Silver. “And there are a million different things that can cause people to exhibit these unfocused symptoms and behavioral issues.” In the case of ADHD he notes it’s not unusual for his scans to reveal anxiety disorders, which should not be treated with stimulants.

Still, Silver stresses he doesn’t consider himself an alternative practitioner intent on proving other experts wrong. “The work I do puts me at the convergence of where a lot of other disciplines meet. It’s personalized medicine that’s about helping people to clarify a diagnosis and get the right help.”

A typical session at Gray Matters begins with a detailed symptom history taken followed by a brain mapping scan. The imaging, which takes about eight minutes, is done first with the eyes open, and then again with eyes closed. Patients relax in a comfortable semi-reclined position while wearing a beanie-like cap fixed with 19 electrodes.

The data gleaned from these scans is then

activity related to anxiety.

Silver worked with the teen’s psychiatrist who switched treatment from stimulant ADHD medications to a mild anxiety drug combined with neurofeedback treatments.

concussions “Often, the person in front of you will be talking about their challenges with mood injuries, but the question we’re asking is are those mood injuries the result of a concussion?” says Silver.

He is working closely with his Gray Matters colleague, concussion expert Dr. Audrey Paul, on a study

related to head traumas.

emotional trauma “It’s incredible to see what severe psychological trauma can do to a brain, even years after the event that caused it has passed,” says Silver, who has worked with sexual assault survivors and war veterans suffering from PTSD.

autism spectrum disorders Silver often uses brain mapping, followed by neurofeedback treatments, to support patients with autism-related disorders.

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Brain mapping could be the path to recovery.

compared to a data of millions of other scanned brains. Normal patterns are compared to abnormal ones, helping Silver offer insights into his patients’ struggles. “Done right, qEEG mapping can yield data that’s gold in terms of helping us understand what’s going on and why.”

Follow-up therapy often includes Silver working with psychiatrists to prescribe or modify a patient's medication, recommendations for lifestyle changes and sometimes, neurofeedback treatments. Also known as EEG (electroencephalogram) biofeedback, neurofeedback is a computerbased therapy system that uses sound or visual signals to retrain the brain.

Silver is one of 150 practitioners in the United States who holds qEEG diplomate status because of his intensive training in the field. Silver often receives referrals from other medical practitioners, including pediatricians, psychiatrists and physical therapists to help patients who have reached frustrating crossroads in their efforts to feel better. “I don’t get patients who are doing well with treatment. I get the ones who are still looking for answers,” he says.

PHOTO BY © MILLETSTUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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nthony Silver describes the practice of qEEG brain mapping as the art of “making the invisible visible.” At his Westport medical practice, Gray Matters, Silver has spent more than a decade using diagnostic brain imaging—often combined with neurofeedback treatments—to address a variety of complicated psychological and health issues.

During that time, Silver has mapped more than 10,000 brains, looking beneath the skull to investigate and address challenges ranging from attention deficit disorders (ADD) to the lingering effects of concussions, sleep disruptions and mental health issues.

A marriage and family therapist by training, Silver first delved into the somewhat controversial field of brain mapping out of personal curiosity. Someone close to him was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder several years ago and he suspected something else might be going on.

“With something like ADHD there’s a lot of subjectivity in the diagnosis. There’s no

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eat above: Healthy, colorful bowls are always on Maikana's menus.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT W

ho doesn’t like new food options?

How about having someone set up an impressive spread for a dinner party? Lucky for us, these special food businesses have sprung up to deliver fresh, delicious food to your door.

1 Maikana

For Jamieson Van Loan, who has lived all over the world and loved cooking from a young age, she was destined to be in the food business.

She grew up in Fiji, moved to Darien for high school, attended college in North Carolina and planned to go to law school. “Food was always a passion for me. I grew up reading Gourmet magazine and eating amazing meals cooked by my mom, but I never thought you could be a chef and actually make a career out of it,” she says.

Van Loan ended up going to culinary school in NYC instead of law school and never

THREE LOCAL CULINARY GROUNDBREAKERS NOT ONLY NOURISH, BUT THEY ALSO KEEP THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND AS THEY DO IT

looked back. The next several years brought her success as a caterer and personal chef, before moving to Costa Rica in 2011 where she opened, owned and operated a restaurant for five years. “Organic and farm-to-table food is a way of life there, and in my beach-fusion restaurant we served everything from eggs Benedict to fish tacos,” she remembers.

When Van Loan moved back to Darien in 2015, she had to run from store to store to source the best of everything. “I had never struggled to eat healthy, but it was so inconvenient to go to several different places to find what I needed. I thought others must be struggling too, so why can’t I build a business that combines healthy food with convenience?” Not long after, she founded Maikana.

“At Maikana, we’re believers in conscientious, mindful eating,” she explains.

Van Loan is an avid yogi and incorporates newcanaandarienmag.com

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a mind/body/spirit attitude in her business.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of people count calories and make eating a very stressful process,” she says, referring to the pervasive fearmongering about food these days. “My goal is simply to provide clean, organic balanced meals. Eating well makes you feel better, which affects every aspect of your life,” she says. Besides eating in a way that fuels your body, Van Loan encourages people to enjoy their meals. “Mai kana” means “come and eat” in Fijian. “Fijians love mealtime, and this is an invitation they use frequently,” she says.

Menu items stay seasonal and change weekly. Van Loan designs the menus and nutritionist Katie Kiehl is on-staff to make sure meals are balanced. “When you use Maikana, you get your own experienced chef, a personal nutritionist and through my blog there’s a spiritual aspect as well,” says Van Loan.“Nothing makes me happier than being able to share a wholesome, happy approach to eating.”

Offerings change, but choices like pulledpork tacos with pineapple-broccoli slaw and harvest healing bowls with turmeric-roasted cauliflower and a lemon-tahini-ginger dressing are just a couple of the offerings.

Place an order on maikanafoods.com.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered as a one-off (roughly $10 per meal), or you can purchase weekly ($40) or monthly subscriptions which include 15 meals per week. Orders must be received before 3 p.m. for next-day delivery. Maikana offers free delivery to Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport, Wilton and Greenwich.

Delivery to other towns incur a fee.

CONTRIBUTED

by malia mckinnon fr ame

2 Nit Noi Provisions

Nit Noi Provisions, a broth company that offers organic vegetable broth, pasture-raised chicken and pasture-raised beef bone broth and other Thai-based menu items, was started by North Shutsharawan and his wife, Jillian. Shutsharawan grew up in Bangkok and later owned a Thai food catering company in New York.

When he moved to Norwalk several years ago, he noticed that people and businesses ordered take out a lot. “I wanted to bring that convenience to people by delivering healthy food to their doorstep,” he explains. With the idea that his company could be a big fish in a small pond, he began selling at the Westport Farmer’s Market. In no time, Shutsharawan garnered a big following, with customers waiting in line to buy his broths as well as dumplings and other popular dishes including guay teow gai, known as GTG. “It’s like the chicken sandwich of Thailand, featuring one of our broths combined with rice noodles,” he says.

Everything on Nit Noi’s menu is either made with, or comes with, a side of broth that he makes from his mother’s recipes. Try the tradional guay teow gai with rice noodles, baby bok choy and organic chicken ($12) or a paleo version with veggies instead of noodles and your choice of chicken or vegetable broth ($14) among a slew of other options.

above: Everything on the menu comes with broth.

above: Nit Noi's signature broth can be added to recipes or taken as a healthy supplement.

“I believe that sampling ethnic food is important, and experience has shown me that while people may not make a full Thai dish, they use a little bit of our broth or condiments to enhance the flavor of their current recipes,” he says, noting that Nit Noi means “a little bit” in Thai. He adds, “Eighty percent of people we surveyed at the Westport Farmer’s Market say they drink our broths as a healthy supplement, and some add them to their current recipes to improve flavor, but we want to encourage people to incorporate broth with every aspect of their meal.”

In addition to providing delicious healthy meals, Shutsharawan’s main mission is to be a sustainable food company, from the sourcing of the product to the packaging. “We want to be educators on how we can change the way people buy, package and consume food. We need to be more cognizant of how we treat the planet,” he says. Currently, Nit Noi uses paper MAY/JUNE 2020 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN

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“We want to be educators on how we can change the way people buy, package and consume food.“ —north shutsharawan

soup containers for packaging but hopes to move to metal cans, a more sustainable option, in the future.

You can find Nit Noi’s products at the Westport Farmers’ Market, Walter Stewart’s Market in New Canaan, Village Market in Wilton, Mike’s Organic Market in Stamford, Double L Market in Westport and Myx Kitchen in Greenwich. Pre-order online the night before at nitnoiprovisions.com for delivery to Norwalk, Westport, Darien and downtown Stamford. Or visit them at their kitchen in South Norwalk to grab and go.

eat

3 TOASTs

Christine Naylor and Stephanie Sisk have been good friends for over a decade. In 2017, the two moms found each other at an event that helps bridge the gap between motherhood and the workforce. Naylor and Sisk left with the idea that they wanted to get back to work together and on their own terms. “Neither of us wanted to do our previous life’s work—Steph was in finance, and Christine owned a frozen baby food company—and we knew we brought different strengths to the partnership—a yin and yang of sorts,” explains Sisk. She holds a master gardeners certification, which helps her better understand the connection between gardening and food, and Naylor graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and brought an entrepreneurial vibe, plus both women love to cook. After much discussion and deliberation on how best to satisfy their creative outlets and serve our local area, TOASTs was born.

“We know you taste with your eyes first, so

we wanted healthy, beautiful, environmentallyconscious food that we love to eat,” explains Naylor. Over time, the company evolved into what others wanted, too. TOASTs’ most popular items are their grazing tables, which start at four feet by 18 inches, are customizable and as beautiful as they are delicious. Sisk and Naylor personally arrive at your venue and in about an hour “build” a feast atop your favorite table, kitchen island or other surface. Amidst an artistic layer of fresh fruit, veggies, cured meats, cheeses, crackers, chocolates, bread and freshly made dips, Sisk tucks in seasonal flowers or other flora, making the end-product look like a gorgeous painting. TOASTs offers themed tables, too, like its Wellness Table with smoothie shots, fruits and veggies, and a Spring Grazer that includes a subtle pastel palette, to name a few. In the summer, TOASTs has requests for outdoor grazing tables to be delivered everywhere from back yard to marina to country club.

The company’s Culinary Boxes ($60 to $165) are another big seller. Its popular Charcuterie newcanaandarienmag.com

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CONTRIBUTED

above: One of TOASTs' grazing tables, set up on an outdoor deck in New Canaan. below: Details of a grazing table include sweet and savory snacks.

Box includes a selection of cheeses, meats, grapes, and dried fruits. “We started to do these for happy hour and now businesses order them for meetings, people have them for cocktail parties, and during holidays like Thanksgiving some families use them as a pre-dinner course,” says Naylor. Also on offer are their Salad, Skewer, Steak, Chicken and Dessert boxes.

Sisk and Naylor source and buy all its food locally, and hand-prep and deliver everything in glass containers or washable mesh bags from their local kitchen in Darien. All TOASTs' serving pieces are made of paper or bamboo and can be reused or recycled.

“We really think about ways to reduce environmental waste,” Sisk says. As far as cleanup, it’s a non-event. “With our boxes or grazing tables, roll up the butcher paper or close the box and throw it away or compost it,” says Sisk.

Everything is fresh, made to order and customizable, and the TOASTs ladies love to help people plan their perfect event. “We, ourselves, have been entertaining for so long, that we’re always thinking of how to make hosting easiest on the host,” explains Naylor.

After all, the duo named their business “Toasts” because they want others to celebrate meals and be inspired by special occasions as much as they are.

For more info, check out toastsct.com, and to place an order, email order@toastsct.com.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY COVID-19

RESILIENCY FUND This crisis is hardest on our most vulnerable. Our nonprofits are serving their basic needs: Safety. Food. Shelter.

PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM LEARN MORE & DONATE: FCCFOUNDATION.ORG/COVID19RESILIENCYFUND

fınance fıx

MONEY / BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

A NEW LOW

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FINANCIAL STRESS, OR DOW AFFECTIVE DISORDER

F

ebruary 12, 2020: The stock market reaches a record high. And many of us here in lower Fairfield County, checking our investment accounts and 401(k) balances, feel like Masters of the Financial Universe.

At the day’s end, Barron’s asks, “Can anything stop the rally?”

Yes, as a matter of fact.

Coronavirus can. But we didn’t know that yet. Soon enough, we certainly would.

Not even a month later, the market has tumbled 20 percent, the beginning of a freefall. For some, the move triggers Dow Affective Disorder (DAD), an affliction coined by Fairfield County psychologist Dr. Martin Klein, whose clients include many investors.

“In a bull market they feel elated and invincible,” he says. “In a bear market they feel depressed and stressed to the point of irrational panic. They feel a sense

and lost your money or your client’s money, but now you’re also worried you’re going to lose your house or your job.”

But for those with Dow Affective Disorder, tumbling markets caused psychological pain that can lead to panic attacks, gastrointestinal distress, back or neck pain, insomnia, change in appetite, decrease in libido, poor concentration and even suicidal ideations, the doctor says. It can destroy families and careers.

You don’t have to be rich to suffer from DAD, Klein says.

“If you’re middle class and have $200,000 or you’re a billionaire, and you lose a third of that, I think it affects everybody equally,” he says.

So why are some people more vulnerable than others? “Family history. No matter how rich they get, some people don’t have enough money.”

One client, a physician with about $9 million in assets at the beginning of the year, suffered a full-on panic when his portfolio dropped to $6 million, even though he was young, confident, had health insurance, a good job and significant savings, Klein says.

He hopes that the coronavirus helped some people put things in perspective. “It’s a reminder that money is not the most important thing in life. You can have a Honda Accord rather than a Lexus. You can buy a smaller house. You want to thank God you have your health.”

MARKET FLUCTUATIONS OBSESSING IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO GET HELP Don’t look at your stock portfolio. It’s only numbers on paper.

Turn off the TV and get some exercise.

Connect with others to avoid feeling alone.

Try meditation or hypnosis to reach relaxation.

Focus on positives, such as enjoying healthy family meals to re-connect with them meaningfully.

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HEADSHOT, CONTRIBUTED; FAMILY PHOTO BY ©LUCKYBUSINESS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Dr. Martin Klein

of despair, and fear the worst— financial apocalypse. It becomes a mood disorder.”

Klein practices in Fairfield and Westport, home to Bridgewater, the world’s largest hedge fund.

Our county is unique, he says, in that many people here are not only heavily invested in the stock market, they also work in the industry. “They live and breathe this stuff, sometimes to the point of obsession.”

As market turmoil heats up, investors tend to react in one of two ways. Some accept that markets go up and go down, and they don’t look at their portfolios.

“But others,” Klein says, “watch the market day and night.”

Net worth becomes a daily scoreboard of their of identity, sense of self and self-worth—a rush when the market rises, a crush when a rally dissipates.

“Then they become irrational and make bigger mistakes,” he says.

“They feel like they’re a failure, then they sell at the bottom and torture themselves for not being smart enough to divest before the downturn occurred. They fail to see their losses as temporary and fall into despair.”

When COVID-19 first struck Connecticut, many here “felt a lot of fear, and a lot of it was not irrational. Bonuses wouldn’t be there. Lifestyles would have to change. It became paralyzing. Not only could you have bet wrong

We’re in this together The Shantz Mantione Group is proud to support the UBS Optimus Foundation’s partnership with Americares to help combat the spread of COVID-19

The UBS Optimus Foundation is working to fight the spread of COVID-19 with the aid of Americares, a trusted partner organization with 40 years of experience responding to disasters including disease outbreaks and pandemics.

Funds will provide personal protective equipment and help alleviate suffering in the most heavily impacted communities in the US.

The Shantz Mantione Group UBS Financial Services Inc. Private Wealth Management 750 Washington Boulevard 11th Floor Stamford, CT 06901

All UBS client and employee donations will be matched 100% by the firm.

To learn more and find out how you can get involved, contact: Andrew Shantz 203-705-4223 andrew.shantz@ubs.com

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The UBS Optimus Foundation is a grant-making foundation that offers UBS clients a platform to use their wealth to drive positive social and environmental change. The Foundation selects programs that improve children’s health, education and protection—ones that have the potential to be transformative, scalable and sustainable—as well as programs tackling environmental and climate issues.

UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. © UBS 2020. All rights reserved.

people&PLACES PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE, MARILYN ROOS PHOTOGRAPHY 1

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION / Pinstripes Norwalk

A Really Good Day

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airfield County’s Community Foundation kicked off Giving Day with a delicious breakfast at Pinstripes Norwalk. Twenty-four hours of philanthropy followed, on February 27. In all, more than 12,000 community members came together to raise $1.7 million for their favorite local charities. Nearly 400 charities in the region received donations crucial to carrying out their mission. Fccfoundation.org »

1 Edwin Ford, Joel Green, Martha Olson, Briggs Tobin, First Selectman Jim Marpe, Juanita James, Bill Tommins and Charlie McCormack 2 Ainsley Novin, Brian Bish, Nora, Rita and Krista Watson and Kristi Novin 3 Paola Murphy, Sara Tucker, Juanita James and Rob Fried 4 Steven Soyland, Kevin Begley and Sean Schillo 5 Emily O’Connor, Juanita James and Marcella Rooney 6 John Breunig 7 Juanita James with Mayor Harry Rilling MAY/JUNE 2020 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN

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1 Julia Stewart, John Paterson, Shiva Sarram 2 Katya Rynearson and Helen Ramos 3 Lauri Posner, Shiva Sarram & Pat Caffray 4 Renee Bea, Alyssa MacKenzie, Ann Reed, Charlesanna Ecker 5 A table setting at the event. 6 Elsa Sykes, Michelle Riley, Nichole Heath, Mary Himes 7 Author Don Brown, Janet Hartwell, John Hartwell 8 Susan Barr, Tara Coniglio, Tricia Bresnahan and Drew Pearson

BLOSSOM HILL FOUNDATION / Woodway Country Club

T

he Blossom Hill Foundation held its annual luncheon in February at Woodway Country club. Supporters of the nonprofit gathered together to celebrate its good works.

Don Brown, award-winning author-illustrator of The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees was the guest speaker and shared personal stories and photos of his research in getting to know Syrian refugees. Blossom Hill was founded by New Canaan resident, Shiva Sarram, a former child of war from Iran, who fled Tehran with her family in the 1980s. The organization is committed to investing in social entrepreneurs to help children affected by conflict in the Middle East. Blossomhill-foundation.org Âť

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARIOLA CAMACHO

Business Lunch

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An Evening with Laurel House

Honoring 2020 Champion for Recovery Anthony L. Rostain, MD, MA Co-Author, The Stressed Years of Their Lives Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Cooper University Health Care Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Emeritus Professor, University of Pennsylvania

Also honoring Town Champions, who make their towns better places in which to live and work: Lily Genovese

Penny Johnston-Foote

Leo Karl

Genevieve Eason

Darien

Saturday, June 13, 2020 6:00 PM

New Canaan

Delamar, Greenwich Harbor

Greenwich Wilton

For more information, please visit www.bit.ly/laurelhouse2020

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True Blue

D 1 John Vivenzio, Charlie Hannigan, Megan Hannigan, Jenny Tarleton, Michelle Robertson and Julie Genovese 2 Jenny Tarleton, Janice Marzano and Catherine McNear 3 Mike and Carol Bishko with Kathy Arrix 4 Debi McGaren, Marla Chandler and Kaitlyn Troy 5 Jean Oh and Sue Hardigan 6 Lauren Ryder, Curt and Angie Polk and Doug Ryder 7 Amy and Rob Walton and Jodi and Stephen Sorrells 8 The Darien Depot Board newcanaandarienmag.com

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arien Depot’s winter fundraiser, Blue Jeans and Blazers, drew an enthusiastic crowd to the Country Club of Darien. Guests enjoyed cocktails and a variety of food stations, and bid on live and silent auctions.

Local country band Jump the Gunn, a Best of the Gold Coast winner, got the crowd jumping. This year marks the Depot’s thirtieth anniversary, and a few teens spoke about its important role in their lives. Ed von Schmidt and Carol Bishko, who were instrumental in founding the Depot, were honored at the event. Dariendepot.com »

PHOTOS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/BOB CAPAZZO

DARIEN DEPOT / Country Club of Darien

WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD?

DREW KLOTZ

KINETIC SCULPTURE DREWKLOTZ.COM

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SHAKESPEARE ON THE SOUND / Wee Burn Country Club

All That Jazz 1 Patrick and Sarah Wayland, Ziad and Laura Mantoura, Amanda and Chip Duggins 2 Jamie and Angela Lineberger, Nina Lawrence, Leslie Lawrence, Mugs Zales, Bobby Lawrence 3 Nicholas Urda, director of educational outreach; Claire Kelly, artistic director; Colin Liander, company manager 4 Sophie and Paul Sevigny 5 Rachel Ranieri, Lisa Melland, Lorinda Proctor, Cynnie Thunem 6 George, Elizabeth, Shiela and Tim Pettee 7 Peter and Bettina Drummond-Hay; Ezra Barnes, founding artistic director 8 Founders Kevin McAllister, Melissa and Andrew Woolford, Megan McAllister 9 Chris and Deb Jaroch, Milan and Diana Galik, Matt and Mariko Lebaron, Mark and Anna Danchak

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PHOTOS BY LORAH HASKINS

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hakespeare on the Sound’s Speakeasy Gala was the bee’s knees. In addition to jazz and gin—and a soliloquy from As You Like It— 150 flappers and gangsters enjoyed a roaring good time at this year’s twenty-fifth anniversary party, held at the Wee Burn Country Club. Founding members Ezra Barnes, Megan Crowley McAllister, and Melissa and Andrew Woolford attended. Lorah Haskins, Claire Kelly, Catherine McElaney, Maria Mendoza-Smith, Leila Shields and Patrick Wayland cochaired the event, which raised nearly $100,000 in net proceeds, funds that will help keep ticket prices low and support education programs in area schools. In summer 2020, Shakespeare on the Sound hopes to honor twenty-five years of open-air theater tradition by bringing the bard to life; look for updates www. shakespeareonthesound.org.

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M O F F LY M E D I A

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happy place A TALENTED DESIGNER MOVES TO NORWALK TO BUILD A THOUGHTFUL, COLORFUL ABODE

from left: A banquette was on the list of must-haves for Thomas’ dream kitchen; a clean white kitchen with blue stove and marble stone is open to the living space in the home; Thomas says she knew this house was going to be her future home when she saw the cozy front porch. opposite: Kris Thomas in the entry of her Norwalk home.

b y m a l ia mcki n non fr ame

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ph ot o g r a ph y by jane b eiles

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bought the house for the front porch,” laughs Kris Thomas, grinning from ear to ear. The petite, friendly Southern-born mother of two and self-taught designer of Kris Thomas Designs was on the hunt for a property she could transform into her ideal home, when she stumbled upon this cozy craftsman near Long Island Sound. Thomas bought the home in October 2015 when it was uninhabitable and in foreclosure after Hurricane Sandy. “This was quite a project—1,300 square feet with a few tiny rooms and no garage,” she remembers.

In addition, she was facing her own challenges: Her two children had recently left the nest for school, and her husband was battling cancer. Thomas’ goal was to build a home in a safe, friendly neighborhood that she could eventually manage on her own. Knowing a major renovation was eminent, she called in architect Jeff Kaufman, principal at JMKA architects in Westport, and A. Pro Builders to help execute her vision.

Downsizing from 5,400-square feet to 3,000 was no easy task, so major purging ensued and only favorite items were kept. “Being a mom that has moved 12 to 13 times with my husband’s job, I learned what works for a family,” she says.

To that end, every space was designed with a specific purpose—often storage-driven—from below the window seats to the space underneath the stairs. In her two kids’ rooms, for example, each has a window seat the size of a single bed for guests.

In addition to being functional, Thomas knew exactly what she wanted her home to look like. “After renovating within existing floor

I wanted a happy beach cottage with an open floor plan and a great place to host my kids .

—kris thomas, homeowner

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The open living room is furnished in neutral shades with colorful, easy-tochange accents.

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A striking blue Le Cornue stove is the focual point in the kitch en. below: The large master bathroom was created to be an escape for Thomas to relax and recharge.

plans year after year, I learned what I would do if I ever got to start from scratch,” she says. One of her must-haves included a bright, spacious downstairs that would be fun for entertaining.

“I wanted a happy beach cottage with an open floor plan and a great place to host my kids and all of our friends,” she says. Her family is one that loves an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, so Thomas insisted on a bi-fold sliding glass wall on the back of the house that opens onto an outdoor deck with a fire pit, TV and a grill that’s used year-round. “By opening-up this wall we extended the living and social area of the home, bringing the outside in and vice versa,” explains Kaufman.

In the kitchen, Thomas’ daughter chose the focal point: a striking La Cornue blue stove that’s as jewel-box-pretty as it is useful. “I cook a lot, and the blue in this cooktop reminds me of the beach,” says Thomas. Perimeter countertops are a bright, sleek white Glassos, and on the island Calacatta Gold. Other special accents include a

I love a modern home where everything is clean and white with pops of color.

—kris thomas

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Having a neutral backdrop makes it easy to change a room by simply switching out pillows or a throw blanket .

—kris thomas

above: Thomas’ daughter’s bedroom was designed with a beachy feel, with clean white walls and linens, serene art and a basket-weave chandelier.

tall, dramatically arched Waterstone faucet that looks like a work of art, as well as a backsplash made from large format porcelain panels that look like marble and won’t stain or crack. Pale, white oak flooring emits a light-as-air quality throughout the home, and elegant horizontal shiplap is omnipresent, surrounding the walls of the family room and kitchen, wrapping around the three-story staircase and appearing in the white spa-like master bed and bath upstairs.

Despite these glamorous accents, Thomas is a self-proclaimed minimalist, a trait reflected in her home’s predominantly white palette, open kitchen shelves and clutter-free surfaces. “I get

bored of things, but having a neutral backdrop makes it easy to change a room by simply switching out pillows or a throw blanket,” she says.

One of Thomas’ design strategies is to use artwork to infuse bursts of vibrant color. “I love a modern home where everything is clean and white with pops of color,” she says. “I’m also very blessed because my husband was the art buyer between us,” she says, referencing a favorite royal blue painting in the family room that was purchased from a street artist in NYC. Other beloved works include a blue, orange and red splashy painting in the foyer from a gallery

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in Westport, and a whimsical floral piece the couple bought at their daughter’s school auction.

As she discusses the paintings, Thomas gets reflective about her journey to this home, knowing that although her husband never got to see the finished product he’d be proud of what she created for her and their kids. “Life is short and I want to love where I wake up every day,” she says. “Not only do I want to bring this philosophy to my clients, but I want my home to be a casually elegant fun space where I can be with friends and family. Quite simply, I want it to be the happy spot where everyone wants to gather.”

by emily liebert sidebars by diane sembrot

under the influence LIFESTYLE BLOGGERS WE’RE FOLLOWING (AND SO SHOULD YOU) What do these ladies have in common?

They’re smart, stylish, savvy, and they’ve transformed their passions into professions.

Very successful ones at that. They’re also called influencers, which means that— via their blogs and social media outlets— they have the clout to impact the decision making, and often purchasing power, of their followers and beyond.

We sat down with this particular group of women, not only because they each represent a different town in Connecticut, but also because we find them aspirational and inspirational…and we hang on to their every word (and gorgeous photo!).

Elizabeth Ariola @mrsnipple_

new canaan

Liz Joy

@purejoyhome

fairfield

Julia Dzafic

@lemonstripes

PHOTO OF JENN AND MORGAN BY JULIA DAGS; ELIZABETH ARIOLA BY CARTER FISH; OTHERS, CONTRIBUTED

westport

Jenn Falik @jennfalik

westport

Stephanie Trotta

@stephanietrotta darien

Morgan Matkovic @lilies.and.lambs greenwich

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Elizabeth Ariola new canaan

Born and raised in Ridgefield, now mom to two boys (Charlie, three, and Ford, two), the former pharmaceutical executive and medical sales representative for Johnson + Johnson started her blog in November 2018, while spending countless hours registering online for her first born.

“I thought I was going crazy. I was over-analyzing strollers and car seats, even changing pads,” she laughs. “Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that during your motherhood journey, you really can’t control much.”

Still, as she continued to dig around the internet for the best of everything child-related, she recognized that there was no personal connection behind most of the websites she landed on. This realization was her impetus to launch Mrs. Nipple, in order to provide other moms with resources accompanied by the human touch she felt was missing. “I envisioned a space where women could come, not

BUILDING A COMMUNITY WITH

TOP 20 A STRONG PERSONAL IDENTITY Understanding who you are in the big vast world HASHTAGS of bloggers and people on Instagram is going

TIPS

to help attract followers to you. Here’s what Elizabeth shared about her focus.

ultimately, just not feel alone.”

While Liz’s goal has always been to help women emotionally and mentally survive pregnancy and motherhood, and it was never her plan to become an influencer per se, she does wear the title well, as she encourages her followers to push through those tough periods of time

only to find answers, but to stay. That’s why I created a community made up of mothers from all around the world. A community where moms can share their own stories and journeys, where they can chat about questions they might have at two o’clock in the morning, when the rest of the world is sleeping, and,

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“Pick a niche theme for your brand. Mine is motherhood.

The more niche the better.”

“Be true to your brand and yourself, nothing is worth quick money.”

“Invite your community to join you in the spotlight.”

“Vulnerability is always a good thing.”

“Don’t take yourself too seriously.”

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PHOTO OF ELIZABETH BY JULIA DAGS

Her name is Liz Ariola, but online, she calls herself Mrs. Nipple.

identity,” she muses. “So when I decided to dive headfirst into the motherhood space with Mrs. Nipple as my brand, he loved that I was finally embracing our name. He always encourages me to stick with it.” That’s a good thing, because Liz considers her job full time and has no plans to slow down.

She says her greatest blogging achievement has been building a group that is so supportive and open, it’s drastically changed her own outlook on motherhood. “My second born, Ford, was a very uncomfortable baby. I knew something was up, but it seemed no one could nail down what it was until a mom in the Mrs. Nipple community diagnosed him with a lip and tongue tie. All of the specialists we’d seen had missed it, but this mother on Instagram caught it,” Liz recalls.

Elizabeth Ariola posts regularly to support, and connect with, other busy moms.

when they don’t know how they can face another round of bad news, another stomach bug or another dirty diaper. She understands that not all women have a solid support system or

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When things are tough, Elizabeth does what wise moms do: She helps her family productively focus on the big wonders and simple joys in life and plan for the good times to come.

i was torn about leaving my full-time job.

I went back and forth for a year, not knowing what the right decision was.

My husband was supportive of the decision to focus on Mrs. Nipple.

That sticks with me every day.

PHOTO ON STEPS AND OF FAMILY BY CARTER FISH

WORDS TO LIVE BY

even a close friend to experience life alongside them.

“My husband used to call me out for trying to mispronounce our last name, because I was embarrassed by the new

“After an early morning visit to our doctor, he said she was correct. A short and relatively easy laser procedure later, my baby—who was always in pain—was suddenly healthy and happy. I will be forever grateful to my community for taking the time to join in these important discussions.”

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westport

When Julia Dzafic first started blogging in 2010, Instagram didn’t exist, and the modern incarnation of the word influencer had yet to be born. Julia was working in marketing at the time and launched her blog on Facebook as a side hustle because she wanted to share healthy recipes and cute outfits with her friends. “I never expected it to turn into a real business,” says the New Hampshire native. But then something unforeseen happened. Her friends sent the posts to their friends, who also sent them to their friends and

BALANCE

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Plan ahead to find time for work and family.

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“Blogging full time looks fun and care-free, but there are many factors to keep in mind if you’re considering a jump.”

“I had my blog for six years before I made enough money to quit my job and focus on Lemon Stripes.”

“Hustle day in and day out. While it’s fun, sometimes the fuzzy line between work and life can feel overwhelming.”

“Put systems in place so that you’re able to be present with friends and family while also sharing daily content.”

“Time-blocking helps me stay on track and lets me focus on my husband and daughter at night.”

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CONTRIBUTED

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Julia Dzafic

brands started to take notice.

At first, Julia’s mission was to stick to recipes and fashion, to keep things simple and inexpensive. “My husband, Anel, a personal trainer, and I were dating when I started Lemon Stripes, then called Lemons & Loafers. He’s been my number one supporter from day one. For the first five years, he even took all of my photos.”

Although Julia soon realized that the blog had a life of its own, and was growing with her, she admits it took about two full years to even begin to turn her hobby into a profitable entity.

Her first real break came in 2012 when clothing and accessories brand C.Wonder paid her to do a blog post and then promoted it for her. Julia couldn’t believe all the publicity she received or that she was able to monetize what she’d previously considered a little project.

Fast-forward to 2015, when Julia made the decision to quit her steady job and pursue her blog exclusively. They knew that Anel would have to take on the financial burden of their household, which he did with no complaints. (Anel loves what Julia does, but sometimes feels weird when people come up to him in public and say they recognize him from her Instagram account.)

Julia also knew that she had reached a turning point and was ready to open up to her followers about much more personal

When isolated from her friends during shelter-in-place, Julia wrote a blog post for @thehappilyeva about meaningful friendships.

moments. In fact, it was a post she wrote about enduring a miscarriage that she considers her greatest achievement to date. The post went viral and, to this day, she receives emails and messages from women all over the world telling her that

IN THE CRISIS

she helped them get through their own miscarriages. “The fact that I’m helping so many people makes all the hard work worth it,” Julia says.

Now, five years later, she covers topics that matter to her most, like motherhood,

Finding the silver lining in the quarantine, Julia made the most of mommy-and-daughter time, including playing, learning about makeup and styling and cooking at home.

PHOTO ABOVE BY JULIA DAGS

WORDS TO LIVE BY

sustainability and mental health, in addition to recipes, fashion and her absolutely awesome holiday gift guides.

The mom to daughter Amalia (almost three)—the light of her life—and a fur baby, a pit-mix named Boots, spends forty to fifty hours each week on her blog and Instagram account.

Julia loves the flexibility that her career of choice offers, noting that she’s able to spend quality time with Amalia without having to answer to anyone. Often, she wakes up early and works late so she can have some fun during the day.

“Two of my favorite activities are hiking and running on the beach with my dog. Taking thirty minutes each day to be outside in nature makes me feel like a different person.”

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My husband, Anel, has been my biggest supporter from day one, before blogging was even a thing. he would take my photos all over the streets of manhattan and when people made fun of what i did, he stuck up for me and believed in me. To this day, he gets excited about every partnership and campaign I take on and cheers me on from the sidelines. I couldn’t do it without him.

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WORKING WITH BRANDS

Jenn Falik

1 “Make sure you work with brands you truly love and, ideally, brands that you have used organically many times on your social platforms.

This makes the content creation piece of a partnership easier, and your audience will be more receptive to the sponsored messaging.

No dollar amount is worth jeopardizing the years I spent building trust with my readers and followers.”

westport

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divulges lifelong Westporter Jenn Falik about her often frenetic vocation as an influencer. “Brian is very private and doesn’t always love the overshare moments that I’m prone to,” she adds, “but he’s smart and gets the business.

As such, he tries to be good humored about the shenanigans I partake in.”

experts not tied to a magazine and wanted a “home base” online where producers could find her for bookings and viewers could follow up on things she’d covered during segments. That’s when she launched her blog out of her apartment in Madison Square Park, which—over the last decade—has transformed in lock step with her life. She explains, “I write about the things I’m shopping for/worrying about/ curious to learn.” In 2009, before kids (she’s mom to Alexa French, nine, and Goldie Nora, five) it was a lot of hot-pink heels and lip glosses. Soon it evolved to maternity style, then when she had Alexa in 2011, baby gear entered the equation.

Parenting insecurities and

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3 “A rate card—make it in Canva—lays out the basic ways in which you can work with a brand. Don’t get into the details, because when it comes down to it, most programs end up being customized based on what the brand wants to achieve and what they want to spend to achieve it. Having a rate card sets the tone.”

PHOTO OF JENN BY JULIA DAGS

“My husband thinks I’m nuts, but he lets me do it,”

Shenanigans aside, one might say Jenn’s career began in kindergarten, when she schooled her classmates on the merits of Bonne Bell lip balm (she attended Coleytown Elementary and Middle, graduating from Staples), but, instead, Jenn credits her ten-year stint as a publicist at Alison Brod Marketing & Communications in New York City, where she developed strategies for major beauty and lifestyle brands. Before work in the morning, she would appear on local and national television shows, sharing her favorite finds and trends with viewers. She recalls, “I had an excuse to get my hair blown out by a pro and could still be at my desk by nine.”

Jenn soon realized that she was one of the only on-air

“Being professional and easy to work with will go a long way. My follower count is not massive, especially compared to many of the influencers in my space, but my extensive background in public relations is such an advantage when it comes to brand collaborations. I really know what the brands want on the other side of the conference call.

I go above and beyond to deliver it, without unnecessary back-andforth emails or diva-like requests. It can be as valuable as followers.”

editorial email every Thursday,” she outlines. “Honestly, I can’t believe how quickly it’s grown.”

Of course, success doesn’t materialize overnight. Jenn is typically at her desk (or the Westport Library) five hours a day, five days a week, solely focused on creating blog concepts, shooting social content and studying things like SEO and how to enhance the functionality and UX of her site. She confesses she’s still figuring out how to work smarter, not harder.

But there are a couple of things that make it all worth it: “When I hear from followers and readers that they are madly in love with a product I recommended or related to a venting post I wrote, which I was likely scared to press ‘publish.’

Also, I truly appreciate having a reason to spend time making thoughtful purchase decisions for myself and my family all in the name of ‘work.’”

Falik family time means being equal parts silly and fabulous.

discoveries, a move to suburbia, and everything that came along with that, and now she says, “I’m so excited when I discover a sleek looking stand to hold my Dyson cordless!”

As far as being labeled an influencer, this self-proclaimed SoulCycle junkie isn’t reluctant, but the term definitely didn’t exist when she was starting out.

Her goal, she says, has always been to have an excuse to ask questions, find things, try things and share things. And share she does via her “Better Basics” Today Show spots, and her blog

IN THE CRISIS

In one of those “Only Jenn” moments, during the hoarding emergency of shelter-in-place, Jenn hauled out a bunch of pretty bamboo toilet paper that she had hoped to promote.

PHOTO OF FAMILY BY JEN GOLDBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

WORDS TO LIVE BY

and Instagram account.

Most recently, Jenn launched her Ultimate Edit newsletter, featuring her top must-have items, which she identifies as one of her greatest achievements to date. “It’s an evolution of the blog that I feel really speaks to where my audience is right now.

They’re busy, busy, busy! They don’t necessarily have the time to sort through all the ‘swipe ups’ and content overload on a daily basis, so I simplify it for them by delivering five truly amazing finds to their in-box in the form of a succinct, shoppable

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Brian is great at coming up with clever caption ideas for my photos. technically, i am the writer in the family, but he has a way of concisely getting a point across with a touch of witty humor. Also, he has a knack for coaching me on how to pose for ‘impromptu’ photo ops. I sometimes just want him to snap the shot, but when I see the final image, I am grateful!

in 2009, while working in human resources. She loved the “people aspect” of her job but not the corporate setting.

She was desperate for a creative outlet and knew she would be happier pursuing other interests. “I was dreaming about beach homes from within the glass windows of my office,” she says, “so I decided to start writing about them.”

It wasn’t until four years later that her focus turned from beach houses to being a new stay-at-home mom, when her first son, Brian Jr. (now six), was born. She started writing about things she was cooking, clothing she was finding, how she was decorating on a budget and all things motherhood. At that time, she says there wasn’t really any money involved with blogging, so she leveraged her graphicdesign skills to design wedding invitations until Pure Joy Home became a solid source of income.

It was her goal to become an influencer, even though it’s a term she’s still getting used to.

“I decided that if I could choose to do one thing on top of being a full-time mother to a baby and a toddler (daughter Grace, now four), it would be the blog,” she

4 Liz Joy

fairfield

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THE POWER OF INSTAGRAM AND BLOGGING TO CONNECT

explains. “There were no real deadlines, and I could share as much as I was able to. It was also forgiving to my life as a mom and, eventually, I figured out more and more of a balance.”

Liz says her big career break came when she was accepted into the rewardStyle network, citing that you had to prove the success of your business, even if your revenue was minute.

Regardless, it sparked a fire in her that convinced her she could make it in the “crazy online world.”

Flash-forward to the present. Not only can the Stamford native support her family financially, but also her husband, Brian, has joined her team. (He was a VP of sales for iHeartMedia in NYC.) “We’ve always dreamed of a freer lifestyle, and I’m proud to say that after years of hustle and building this brand from the ground up, we were able to make that dream a reality.

He helps me with absolutely everything, and having more time together as a family is life-changing.”

The couple, who’s expecting their third child any day, have watched their IG account attract more attention than the blog.

Liz says that her audience prefers to consume quick snippets of content when they can, and Instagram gives them that immediate fix. “I love my blog and value its importance for longer-form content, but for getting the everyday moments

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Ask Questions For example, Liz posed: “What do you say I up the ‘home’ content around here?” Then ask followers to tell her what they want.

Cross Promote Liz shared new outfits and told followers that she would post them on her blog.

Make Mentions She shared that she loves strawberry smoothies, then dropped in a dairyindustry website link.

Share Moments Liz posted on Instagram about her blog post on seeing “quarantine as a gift for family time.”

Be Real Liz shares vulnerable moments of her pregnancy. Moms relate to it.

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, CONTRIBUTED

It’s been over a decade since Liz Joy launched her blog Pure Joy Home,

and random thoughts out, IG is king,” Liz details. “I would say we spend about six hours a day between the two. That doesn’t include the backend work, so we’re looking at a total of about eight solid hours. I message with probably fifty to 100 of my readers daily. The best part is that I can spread everything out according to our family’s schedules.”

When they’re not caught up in the regular grind, Liz and Brian love to travel as a family and take complete advantage of school vacations. Their top spots are Block Island, Charleston, and joining Liz’s parents in Florida. “This summer we’re excited to visit Nantucket, but we may slow down a bit in 2020 with our new addition.”

Liz regularly shares beautiful family shots with her followers

IN THE CRISIS

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Under quarantine, Liz was pregnant. Her posts asked for people to take the reality of the situation to heart and to think of the responsibility they had to not only themselves, but also to others. She implored people to just stay home.

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This is the guy I met at a bar in 2007. I knew from that night he was someone special, we stayed up talking in my parents’ kitchen until 4:30 in the morning!!! #whoami He took me out to dinner the next night, and we’ve literally been inseparable since. Sometimes I wonder what if I didn’t go out that night? So funny how life works.

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Morgan Matkovic greenwich

TIPS

STARTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH BRANDS

worked in retail for several years post-grad—everything from buying, to managing and styling. After that, her career took a turn toward substitute teaching, while she pursued her master’s degree in education.

But, ultimately, she pushed the pause button on that to face her battle with infertility and to undergo IVF after roughly a year of fertility treatments.

During that time, from 2010– 2012, she dabbled in writing a blog that never really took off and eventually dissolved. Still, she missed it as a creative outlet. So, in early 2015, halfway through her pregnancy with her first daughter, Morgan, she decided to launch Lilies and Lambs with the intention of sharing her life as a new mom: cute baby clothes, recipes and décor inspiration.

Then a funny thing happened.

What she had envisioned as a lifestyle blog ended up as a very therapeutic space for her.

“Between my struggles with

infertility and a bout with postpartum anxiety, entry into new motherhood was not easy for me,” Morgan explains. “I found it so cathartic to tell my story with all of its gritty, raw and real musings and to bond with others that felt the same way through both social media and my blog.”

That said, one thing she is clear about is that her goal was never to become an influencer. In fact, she doesn’t even refer to herself that way. “I can’t believe the direction this journey has taken me in.

I never, ever thought it would become a lucrative business that I could do as a stay-at-home

mom,” she reveals. “In many ways, I feel like the ‘Accidental Influencer.’ I’m so lucky that what I have to say has resonated with people and that they want to be a part of it. There are so many ‘pinch me’ moments.”

Some of those moments have come from partnerships with major brands, such as Olay and Pampers, and a long list of mompreneurs. She also fairly points out that there are a lot of people who take for granted how much work goes into her job, especially with a husband, two young kids (Madeline, almost five, and Lila, not even one yet), and

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“Create a media kit and really familiarize yourself with your audience.

Who are they? What partnerships will resonate with them?”

“Reach out to brands that make sense for your readership.”

“Be social and seek to forge long-term relationships.”

“Create meaningful, authentic content that benefits both your audience and your brand partners.”

“Know your worth as a creative person, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.”

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PHOTO OF MORGAN BY JULIA DAGS

Before Lilies and Lambs was even a glimmer of a thought, Morgan Matkovic

Life isn’t perfect, but Morgan does share sweet family moments

IN THE CRISIS

was no more money to be made as an “influencer,” she says little would change for Lilies and Lambs. You would still find her posting photos of her family and providing the same content with the hope that just one person out there would read and connect with her words.

Morgan isn’t all work and no play. For pleasure, she and her husband (they both grew up in Greenwich but didn’t cross paths until she moved back in 2012) love to travel as a family, go out to dinner and have their friends over for BBQs and pizza night. She’s also a huge fan of SoulCycle, her Peloton Tread, and watching Bravo. “Give me all the Bravo!”

During shelter-in-place, Morgan shared on Lilies and Lambs the way she was supporting her children, from comfy clothes and familiar camp activities to good food and a drive around town to enjoy the scenery. She highlighted her family’s uncomplicated, happy moments.

BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTO OF MORGAN BY JULIA DAGS; OTHERS, CONTRIBUTED

WORDS TO LIVE BY

two crazy dogs running around.

“This year, I’ll do biweekly photo shoots, IG stories throughout the day and blog during the kids’ naptime or when they’re asleep at night,” she outlines.

“Furthermore, if there’s one thing I’ve learned through my experience with social media, it’s that in order to succeed you must, in fact, be social. With that, comes hours of interacting with other accounts, businesses, readers and so on, both virtually on socialmedia platforms and in person through events and meetings.”

She believes that her passion for writing is what led her to this career and what feeds her soul. However, if the industry changed tomorrow, and there

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My husband is definitely Lilies and Lambs’ longest and biggest fan. Without his support, I’m quite certain my readership wouldn’t be anywhere near what it is today. he’s been beyond supportive and is the consummate coach. He encourages me to step outside my comfort zone, motivates me to continue to write and always, always makes me laugh until i get that perfect shot for instagram.

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GROWING YOUR BUSINESS BY DOING WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.

Stephanie Trotta

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In fall of 2010, Stephanie Trotta was so inspired by her fashion career at Ralph Lauren that she

started a blog, The Girl Guide, so she could share her own voice via a unique creative outlet.

Two years later, she decided to take a break. “I do wonder where I’d be today if I’d stuck with it back then,” says the striking blond, born and bred in Ossining, New York, and mom to Luke, five, and Harrison (Harry), three. “I believe the universe had a different plan and I trust that.

I know now that I still needed time to grow and to experience.”

When she revisited The Girl Guide in 2016, Stephanie was a different person. She’d transformed into a woman— she was a wife and a full-time working (and nursing) mother with seemingly zero free time for an inspirational side project. Yet she needed that—it was her happy place. “I’ll never forget driving home from the hospital after giving birth to my second son, Harrison, and thinking, This is it.

I’m going off on my own to make a career out of this. I wanted to be my own boss. Thirteen months later I quit my job.”

Originally, The Girl Guide was almost 100 percent fashion.

Then she partnered with one of her good friends, a chef in San Francisco, who created

2 Try New Campaigns Stephanie launched “The Sunday Section” to share her personalized mix of fashion, beauty, news, cooking and more.

“Every week I search the internet for articles, recipes, podcasts and fashion finds, looking for information and inspiration,” she notes.

“It is truly a labor of love. As we approach the one year mark (I can’t believe it), ‘The Sunday Section’ has become the thing I never knew I always wanted.”

3 Trust Your Inner Voice One day after leaving friends, Stephanie was having what she calls the Sunday scaries.

Then she noticed it was beautiful outside. “The sun was just starting to set and I immediately said to Frank, ‘Let’s go down to the beach for a few minutes.’ It always seems to calm me, helps me refocus and shifts my energy.”

PHOTO OF STEPHANIE BY JULIA DAGS

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Encourage Others People ask Stephanie if the market is oversaturated or if it’s too late to start blogging or styling. “As long as you have passion, drive and most important a unique voice, it is never too late. There is only one you, and there is enough room in this world for all of us to carve out our own little space and be successful.”

and photographed recipes for Stephanie to feature and the blog started to evolve into the lifestyle arena, including topics such as music, travel and her personal favorites, whether a new coffee shop, a boutique or a lip balm she loved. “My dream is to inspire my readers to look their best, but even more important feel their best. That is my hope when someone reads my posts or watches my stories,” says Stephanie, who spends about thirty-five hours a week on her blog and IG combined, in addition to extra time on emails and interacting with clients.

Despite her success, the term influencer doesn’t resonate with her. Instead, she refers to herself as a stylist and blogger and says

IN THE CRISIS

During the national crisis, Stephanie noticed a personal shift. With fewer emails to return, fewer meetings and other demands on her time, she learned how to slow down.

CONTRIBUTED

WORDS TO LIVE BY

says, is incredibly special.

What else does she appreciate about her job? “The first thing that comes to mind is flexibility. After working for a large corporation for the better part of the past ten years, it’s pretty amazing that I get to set my own schedule now. That never gets old. Flexibility means getting to spend time with my boys during the day and be there for them in ways that I wasn’t when I was working full-time.”

With a husband who’s very supportive of her career (he takes her photos on the weekends and when they travel), Stephanie feels like she has the freedom to spread her wings—and to take fifteen minutes a day to sit with a cup of tea (usually loose leaf) and reflect on life.

there was never really one big career break for her, more like smaller wins that added up, for which she credits her “slow and steady wins the race” mentality.

Like in February 2019 when she was highlighted as a stylist on theeverygirl.com and got to share a week of outfits. She garnered a significant number of new followers and readers from that.

Still, numbers aside, what really moves her is being a resource for women. For example, when she receives a message from a fellow mom saying that Stephanie encouraged a trip to a farm with her kids and they had the best time or that Stephanie helped her look and feel good going back to work after having her first child. That, she

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These extra days, hours and minutes we get to spend together—I will not take them for granted…I try to remind myself that I have them with me, and I know how lucky I am. We can only do our best for our children.

They could never understand what is happening in the world and they won’t remember all of this...maybe only the way that they felt...so I’m doing everything in my power to make it love.

A MOMENT IN TIME WE FOLLOW ALONG WITH A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER ON A MISSION TO CAPTURE ROWAYTON FAMILIES IN QUARANTINE DURING THE PANDEMIC OF 2020

b y ju l e e k a pl a n | ph ot o g r a ph s b y a n dre a c a r s on

R

owayton photographer Andrea Carson isn’t used to shooting when she’s bummed out. Known for her typically colorful, cheery portraits, she almost never reaches for her camera in times like this.

But, the newly homeschooling mother of two girls, quarantined at home like so many of us, decided she wanted (and needed) to do something different.

So, as her daughters sat in the back seat of her car, Carson showed up at some of her neighbors’ homes, without too much warning, on a quest to capture their families at home, in the moment.

“I wanted these photos to feel authentic and genuine,” Carson explains. “I didn’t want people to shower or change their clothes and put on makeup. These are moments in a time that we will never forget. And I was on a mission to capture them just as they were that day.”

Practicing safe social distancing while shooting, Carson says that most of the children were generally happy when she was shooting them. But everyone was instructed to keep a straight face for her lens.

“At one point a mom told her child ‘you can have a lollipop if you don’t smile,’” she recalled.

“The adults, on the other hand, had no problem keeping a straight face.”

Carson chose a wide range of people for this shoot—a friend recovering from cancer, children playing in their treehouse and well-known local doctor Shieva Ghofrany with her family who chose to wear masks for their portrait.

“I was picturing our kids, 60 years from now looking at these photos and being like wow,” Carson explains. “This project started a personal journey to help me through this tough time. And it really has filled my heart.

It felt so good.”

LEFT Eleanor, Bobby and Jack Griffin

LEFT Tessa, Chris and Blair Gorman BELOW Dr. Shieva Ghofrany and Charly Sahlia with their children.

LEFT Nash and Leah Rose Funke; Randy Funke and Katherine Stuart Funke (peeking from the window)

RIGHT Brent Arnold reaches to Jane Seymour and Billie Armour in the window below

ABOVE Jamie, Brooks and Chrissie Karper

ABOVE Catherine, Maura and Abigail Igoe RIGHT Carson’s daughter, Lily Ricciardi, was one of her first test subjects for her Quarentine shoot.

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ABOVE Nicholas, Ethan and Luella Rolfert BELOW Rosie, Phoebe, Louella and Amy Strickland

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BOB CAPAZZO, KRISTIN HYNES, MELANI LUST & MARSIN MOGIELSKI

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CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING

ART & ANTIQUES

Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������33

BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT

Grand Entrance Gates ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 JMKA Architects ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 3

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Cummings & Lockwood LLC ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Davidson, Dawson & Clark LLP ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 UBS Financial Services Inc./ The Shantz Mantione Group �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������27

DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS

Serena & Lily ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Cover 3

ENTERTAINMENT

The Ridgefield Playhouse ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17

EVENTS

A-list Awards ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 An Evening with Laurel House ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Best of the Gold Coast Online Store ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������35 Light a Fire 2020 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Live Girl She Is Rising Art Exhibit ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15

FASHION

Roundabout ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31

LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS

Evergreen Lawn & Tree Services, LLC ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 Homefront Farmers �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1

NONPROFIT

Breast Cancer Alliance ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 The Carver Foundation of Norwalk, Inc. ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 7 The Elephant Sanctuary ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 28 Fairfield County's Community Foundation Covid-19 Resiliency Fund ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������25

REAL ESTATE

William Raveis ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Cover 2

MISCELLANEOUS

Big Picture �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 62 Hollow Tree Self Storage ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Westy Self Storage ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 MAY/JUNE 2020 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN

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Nuvance Health �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 Paul D. Harbottle, D.D.S �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 The Residence at Selleck's Woods ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 The Residence at Summer Street ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 The Residence at Westport ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 Stamford Health ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Cover 4

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs.

Weddings should have a current New Canaan, Darien or Rowayton family connection and must be submitted within three months of the wedding day. Regretfully, we are unable to run every wedding submitted.

Send Information to: weddings@ncdmag.com New Canaan • Darien Magazine 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880

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HOLD THE PHONE W

hen it comes to screen time, most parents, including myself, seem to be focused on both hours in front of the TV and time on an iPad or iPhone. Though limiting screen time with children is important, are we overlooking our own addictive behaviors? The long-term damaging effects that our addictive behaviors with our cellphones can have on our little ones is very real.

Nomophobia, which is also known as “no-mobile-phone phobia “ is a telling sign of the struggles we face today. It’s the feeling of anxiety when you run out of battery, have no network coverage or lose your phone.

Sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. have nomophobia, and it’s a number that’s only rising.

BREAKING THE HABIT

I’m the first to admit I’m too distracted by my phone when I’m around my kids, and it’s something I continue to work on as I strive toward balance. If you are feeling the same, here are a few things you can do to break the cycle:

Technoference refers to the interruptions in face-to-face communication caused by the attention paid to one’s cellphone or personal technological device, basically the way in which any form of technology can disrupt our human interactions.

Technoference can not only negatively affect parenting but also can affect our well-being, personal relationships, work productivity and even intimacy.

When your little one is playing and looking up at you for recognition or asks you a question only for you to be distracted and not hear them, that interaction, or lack thereof, is called technoference. When you are playing with your child and get a text that turns into 15 minutes on Instagram, again, that

is technoference. It can happen as early as only a few days old when your infant is gazing into your eyes and you turn away for a moment to check email.

Let’s face it. Parenting can feel mundane and boring with hours filled with an extreme lack of stimulation. It’s easy to pick up your phone and escape into another world, but when do these behaviors become addictive?

It seems like parents are part of this perfect storm and here we are telling our babies, toddlers, children and teenagers to turn off the TV, put down their phones and experience the world around us, but can we say with a straight face that we are doing the same?

A study in Pediatric Research examines the role and impact

1. Bond with other moms and schedule play dates when you are most likely to reach for your phone.

2. Track your screen time.

3. Set boundaries with tech-free times for everyone.

4. Get outside with your kids phone-free.

5. Set up automatic messaging a few hours each day,

digital devices play in parenting and child behavior. Parents who spend hours on their phones during meals, playtime, and bedtime could influence their long-term relationships with their children.

“Parents who have children with more externalizing problems become more stressed, which may lead to their greater withdrawal with technology, which in turn may contribute to more child externalizing problems,” the study reads.

“Children may be more likely to act out over time in response to technoference as opposed to internalize. The child’s bad behavior often escalates in an effort to get the attention of their parents using mobile devices.”

LIZ ARIOLA is the creator of Mrs. Nipple, a lifestyle blog to inspire and connect women through practical motherhood advice.

She lives in New Canaan with her husband, Ray, and two sons, Charlie and Ford. mrsnipple.com, @mrsnipple_

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PHOTO BY JULIA DAGS

HOW I’M WORKING TO BALANCE SCREEN TIME WITH FAMILY TIME

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FINDING A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR IS EASIER THAN EVER. Stamford Health Medical Group believes primary care is important for keeping you and your loved ones healthy. With more than 130 primary care physicians and specialists across Fairfield County, we make it easy for you to find a doctor close to home.

We offer flexible hours that fit your schedule, and we accept most health insurance plans.

To make an appointment, visit StamfordHealth.org/PrimaryCare or call 888.898.4876.

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