This week’s Meet a Mom interview is with Natella Khaleel, co-owner and founder of Bingbong events, a kid’s event company. This mom of two recently moved to Miami after living 9 years in Manhatten. She is also working on the Coconut Grove Moms Club, which is dedicated to women in the Grove and around. We spoke to Natella about her career, family life and more. Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town? I’m originally from France, but I moved to the States 10 years ago. I just moved to Coconut Grove with my husband and kids a year ago after spending 9 years in Manhatta ..read more

This essay on parenting through different perspectives was shared by The Local Moms Network contributor Reon Baird-Feldman, PhD. It’s summer and many of us are taking on travel again! Some of us are headed to road trip destinations closer to home and others are headed further away. When approached to write this article on strategies to manage different parenting experiences or philosophies, I literally laughed out loud! I’m currently writing from Sydney, Australia, where my two girls and I are vacationing while my husband dives the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns as part of a monument ..read more

When Elizabeth Rietz’s daughter was eight, she was an “early bloomer.” Like many preteens, she wasn’t quite ready for a bra, but started wearing a second layer under her shirts to feel more comfortable. When Elizabeth scoured stores to find a next step solution—a comfy cami with a shelf bra—she wasn’t impressed with the options. “That became my first idea: to create a super soft, cami with a shelf bra to add more coverage and help girls get used to wearing a bra,” shares Elizabeth.   A few years later, the mom of two says she needed a better solution. “When it came time to her moving t ..read more

  Celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser is known for her impressive client list (including buff moms like Kelly Ripa and Sarah Jessica Parker) and her amazing fitness studios, offering cutting edge instruction in NYC, East Hampton and CT, as well as virtually. But she also loves bringing clients to the beach for workouts, and since many of us will be hitting the beach this month for family vacations, we asked Anna to share some of her beach workout tips, below. Why is the beach such a great place for a workout?The beach is such a beautiful place to connect to the earth and sea while getting a g ..read more

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      Late summer is prime tomato season, and this BLT Panzanella Salad from Habitual Hostess is a perfect way to use up your garden’s harvest or farmers market haul! BLT Panzanella Salad 1/2 loaf of sourdough bread, cut into 1” cubes (about four cups) 6 oz slab bacon, (about three thick cut strips) 3 beefsteak or Campari tomatoes, cut into 1” cubes (about three cups) 3 large handfuls of arugula Dressing: 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon of whole grain Dijon 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise (we love @sirkinsington) 1 garlic clove, grated Salt and pepper t ..read more

Although it may feel like summer has just begun, back to school is right around the corner! Whether your little one is heading to a half day of daycare or a full day of school and extracurriculars, they’ll need a bag to schlep their things back and forth. We’ve rounded up six great backpacks for the kids, from fun carryalls to sturdy book bags, that are sure to get the job done. Skiphop’s Zoo Backpack The Skiphop Zoo Backpack is both fun and functional for your toddler to wear to daycare, school, or on a trip! The easy to use zippers are perfect for little fingers to help fill the main com ..read more

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

  Ashley McCormick is a Greenwich, CT-based jewelry and fashion designer whose Asha by Ashley McCormick line is carried in places like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. Known for her chic and preppy style — with a twist of global influence – Ashley documents her far flung travels with her husband and daughter to gorgeous destinations on her social media. “Two of my favorite travel destinations are Nantucket and the South of France. I love how Nantucket epitomizes American laid back summer and I’ve grown up going there every year since I was a child. I also love St Tropez for its b ..read more

  Across the country, teen suicide rates are soaring. In 2021, the CDC has reported that ER visits due to suspected suicide attempts are up over 50 percent in girls. Before the pandemic, depression and anxiety was already at all-time highs, and the isolation of shutdown and the stress of the pandemic has been like lighting a match in a gasoline filled room. So how can you recognize if your child – or one of their friends—is struggling…and what should you do if they are? We spoke to Today Show psychology contributor Dr. Michele Barba, author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons That Some ..read more