How to Manage Family Travel and Holiday Stress

By Shirin Yadegar

shirinIt’s that time of year when the excitement of having our college kids home mixes with the relief of pressing pause on routines, finals, and sports schedules. If we’re fortunate enough to plan a holiday getaway, that’s another layer of joy, and let’s be honest, another layer of stress. Coordinating travel that keeps parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and kids happy is a multigenerational miracle, but also a logistical minefield.

As a mother of four and a journalist who has survived and learned from many chaotic family travel seasons, I recently navigated our 25 year anniversary trip, a celebration that included nearly ten families across three generations. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, but it also taught me a powerful lesson. You don’t have to do everything yourself. In fact, research shows you really shouldn’t. (more…)

How Happy Do YOU Want to Be?

By Kim O’Hara
kim I spoke with a leading business coach for working moms who guides her clients take the strength out of stories like “I should be farther along in my career” when comparing to other women, or “I am ruining my kids” when you pick up your child at 3:30 PM at the day care instead of 3 PM. She admitted most of her clients forgot what it takes to make them happy. It often becomes a glass of wine after the kids are in bed and Netflix.

Our personal happiness and self-kindness are a choice. A daily choice, and sometimes an hourly one. Women, especially in the “sandwich generation” are exhausted and have lost their way to finding small moments of joy amid all they are doing for everyone all the time. A thought: “I am not doing enough” can become a self-deprecating mantra to the point where it feels real. We are then in a self-fulfilling prophecy that we should, as women, should be able to fix all the wrongs that happen to the people we love in the world. When in fact, we are just human beings who need time for joy too. (more…)

Grateful Through It All

By Shirin Yadegar

shirinIt’s 4 a.m., and once again, I’m awake sweating, restless, and wondering why my body seems to have a new routine of its own. I reach for a tall glass of ice-cold water, change into dry clothes, and try to settle back into sleep. But instead, my mind begins its familiar drift.

I think about my 22-year-old daughter living in New York City, navigating adulthood and the uncertain world around her. I think about my 20-year-old, who’s in downtown L.A. right in the chaos of fraternity row. And then, my two teenage girls, still under my roof (thank Gd), growing up in a generation that’s constantly bombarded by TikToks, polarized narratives, and endless noise. (more…)

The Terrible “Toos”… Again

By Carrie Salvatore

Carrie Salvatore You made it through the Terrible Twos—the tantrums, the power struggles, the overwhelming sense of “What now?”; only to find yourself, years later, staring down the next developmental storm: Middle School. And what a storm it is, hopefully this will help you navigagte this voyage.

Welcome to the Terrible “Toos,” Part Two.

Middle School—whether you call it Junior High, the tween years, or simply grades 6 through 8—is a time of profound transformation for children and parents alike. It’s second only to the astonishing growth of the first four years of life. Think back: From birth to age four, your child went from total dependency to walking, talking, and asserting independence at every turn. Now, brace yourself, because you’re about to experience that all over again—only this time, with hormones, identity development, and social dynamics layered on top amidst growing challenges academically at school. (more…)

2 Years Post October 7: What We Learned as a Community and What We Must Continue to Instill in Our Children

By Shirin Yadegar

Shirin YadegarOut of the most devastating event of our lifetime, we have not been broken. We have become stronger. As a people, we have risen from unimaginable pain with a renewed sense of purpose and unity. Across the globe, the Jewish community has shown resilience in the face of hatred.

On college campuses, more students are finding their home at Chabad and Hillel, seeking strength in each other and in tradition. Jews who once considered themselves non-observant are turning to Jewish studies, longing to understand the depth of our 4,000-year-old heritage built on values, ethics, and the unshakable belief that light can outshine darkness. (more…)

Becoming Loud and Proud: My Journey as a Jewish Mother After October 7

By Suzie Stern

SuziesternOver time, after October 7, I heard the voices of Jewish community leaders in the diaspora (thank you for your advocacy and leadership) urging me to be a loud and proud Jew. But I did not feel loud. I felt helpless, weak, and wordless. Proud Jew? Yes. But, what did my Jewishness actually mean to me? I wanted to be a loud and proud Jew, but I didn’t know how – or even fully why.

So, I embarked on a journey of Jewish learning. Thank you to Jewish authors such as Sarah Hurwitz, Zibby Owens, Alan Morinis and others. Thank you Rabbi Leder, Rabbi Hirsch, Rabbi Brous, Rabbi Cosgrove, Rabbi Stutman, Rabbi Buchdahl, Rabbi Wildes and others for your books and podcasts. Keep speaking, keep writing– we need and are counting on you. I have found comfort, wisdom, and guidance in your words. Beyond that, I have found the pathway I was searching for after October 7 as a mother of two wonderful girls. (more…)

Ready. Set. School!™

Elizabeth Lutsky, MA BCET and Lainie Donnell, MA ET/P

Co-Founders of LiLa Learning, LLC.

LiLa Learning After a long, hot summer of lazy days that bleed into night, getting back into a routine at the start of the new school year can feel overwhelming for students and parents alike. Fortunately, we have some tips and strategies to help ease this inevitable, yet exciting, transition.

PICKING YOUR WORKSPACE: It all starts with a well-stocked, functional workspace. We highly recommend getting started before the school year begins. (more…)

How to Nourish Your Body While on a GLP-1 Medication

Elissa Goodman

Elissa GoodmanGLP-1 medications have become one of the buzziest tools in the health world, and for many of my clients, they have been life-changing. They’re helping regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and finally shed stubborn weight that’s been resistant to diet and lifestyle changes. I’ve worked with countless clients who feel more empowered in their bodies than they have in years thanks to GLP-1s. But I’ve also seen what happens when the medications are used without a proper nutrition and lifestyle foundation… and let me tell you, it’s not the kind of “weight loss” we want.

So if you’re using a GLP-1 (like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro), here’s how to support your body, preserve your muscle, and stay nourished—because how you lose weight matters just as much as if you lose it. (more…)

Fruit Pizza with Strawberry Compote and Cream Cheese Frosting

By Sarah Reed

Sarah Reed Prep Time 30 minutes
Cooking Time 20 minutes
Calories 195 kcal

A fresh and delicious summer dessert that everyone will love! You can customize this with your favorite fruit and even change up the compote if you’d like. This recipe makes two fruit pizzas which can both be made at once, or you can make the second one later! (more…)

City Roots, Coastal Life: A New York Mom’s Guide to Raising Kids in The Hamptons

By Randi Ball
Randi BallAs a lifelong New Yorker and a mom, I never imagined a place where I could slow down without giving up the rhythm and energy I love. But that’s exactly what I found in The Hamptons. What started as summer weekends eventually turned into a full-time move, and raising my children here has brought balance, beauty, and an unexpected sense of ease to our lives.

Finding Harmony Between Hustle and Hamptons

I still carry that New York hustle—strong coffee, tight schedules, big goals—but here, I’ve learned to move through it with more grace. My days are packed—real estate deals, school runs, client calls—but there’s something about doing it all under a watercolor sky with the sound of the ocean never far off that shifts your whole mindset. (more…)