Working Moms and Career Burnout
We’ve all read the stats about moms leaving the workforce in records numbers during the pandemic. But most working moms, aside from the pandemic, can relate to feeling burned out at times (or all the time), by work, responsibilities at home, and the simultaneous push and pull of both. Working from home has only intensified that tug of war between the office and family. So what are the signs of burnout—and how can you fix burnout if you’re dealing with it?
Board Games Your Family Will Love
Having a few good board games on rotation is a great idea whether your kids are toddlers or teens. Too cold to spend much time outside? Kids home sick? Need to enforce a screen time break? Board games are a solution to all of these. Plus, they teach important life skills like taking turns, math, reasoning and reading! Of course, they’re just fun to do as a family, too. Below, we’re sharing some of the top picks from families from around The Local Moms Network!
Meet-a-Mom: Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is one of those rare celebrities who has this innate ability to inspire women decade after decade, with her resilience, intelligence, and of course, natural beauty. Her career has endless highlights, from the 1980s hit Blue Lagoon to Suddenly Susan, which she received two Golden Globe nominations for during its 1996-2000 run. She’s conquered Broadway, in Grease, Cabaret, Wonderful Town, Chicago and, most recently, The Addams Family. But what has truly distinguished her was her courage to be one of the first celebrities to bring postpartum depression to light.
Meet-a-Mom Monday: Colleen Tola Dopkin
Meet Colleen Tola Dopkin Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town? I grew up in Hamilton Square, NJ and lived there until college. I moved to Manahawkin in 2011. Child(ren) and Age(s)? I have two amazing sons: Jamison (8) and Lukas...
Valentine’s Day Spin Art
This Valentine’s craft is not only adorable—and a perfect gift for friends or grandparents—it’s a ton of fun for kids of all ages. Thank you to Ximena from Create with XnD for sharing this wonderful idea!
Date Night Guide 2022
Love is in the air here at Ocean County Moms. We have created for you a complete date night guide that cannot only be used over this Valentine’s weekend, but anytime of the year! Nights don’t work for you? That’s okay many of these can be made into day dates. We hope you enjoy these unique places, delicious restaurants, and so much more with your special someone.
Valentine’s Day Books for Kids
Valentine’s Day is almost here and I have the perfect read alouds focusing on love, kindness, and friendship that are packed with kid appeal!
Wellness and Fitness Guide
New Year, New YOU! That’s the saying, right? This year Ocean County Moms decided to kick off 2022 with our first of an annual guide filled with local places to fuel our mind, body and spirit! We are pretty lucky to have these incredible businesses to help us reach our greatest potential.
Heart Shaped Pizza
Want an adorable Valentine’s Day activity to do with your kids? Make-your-own Heart Shaped Pizza! This delicious recipe is from Greenwich Moms Asya Geller and her husband Mike Geller of Mike’s Organics.
Meet-a-Mom Monday: Heather Walsh
Heather is a local mom from Bayville. Not only is she an amazing mom and pet owner, but also a “mompreneur”. Heather took her skills of being a nurse to the next level. Read all about how she started this amazing business!
Game Day Nachos
Take your Game Day eats up a notch with these crowd-pleasing nachos! “Everyone gets excited when you pull out a warm tray of cheesy nachos!” says Alston Calabrese, who, along with Leigh Hansen, creates recipes and shares entertaining tips on Habitual Hostess.
Binge Worthy TV Shows
Need a new show to binge-watch? From Netflix, to Hulu, to HBO and now even Apple TV, Westport Moms has rounded up some shows you’ll be sure to love! Click the links to learn more and find your new guilty pleasure, revisit an old classic, or catch up on a series you may have missed!
Winter Coats
This story was contributed by The Local Moms Network contributor Kristin Koch, executive editor at Seventeen magazine, blogger behind closetfulofclothes.com and mom of two (with one on the way!). For more mom-friendly fashion inspo follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/kristinmkennedy/.
Winter Board Books for Kids
This story was contributed by The Local Moms Network Contributor Rosemary D’Urso of librarymom.com. Follow her on instagram @librarymombooks. Winter is here and we are celebrating with our favorite picture books showcasing the magic of snow-filled days! Grab some hot chocolate and enjoy snuggling up while reading these whimsical winter reads!
Meet-a-mom Monday: Kelly Krzeczkowski
This week’s Meet a Mom is Kelly Krzeczkowski. Kelly is a mom of two and brings every bit of heart and soul in everything she does. Kelly is the definition of survivor, warrior and faith. This mom has a story worth reading and a business worth supporting. She’s been a nurturer her whole life, from working with the elderly to her new philanthropy work. Learn how Kelly turned an extremely hard time in her life, surviving domestic abuse and leaning on God to bring her joy back. Kelly took the most difficult time in her life and is now using it to help others through Boho Bites Food Truck. We are so honored to share Kelly’s story of strength, determination and hope!
Rosemary Garlic Parmesan Popcorn
Upgrade your Family Movie night (or Date Night!) at home with this gourmet popcorn recipe. It uses fresh rosemary and garlic for a sophisticated take on a classic, but mix it up with any herbs you like! Thanks to Katie Witten, the talented mom behind Witten...
Foods to Eat to Fight Anxiety
They say you are what you eat, and research shows that eating certain foods can help control anxiety symptoms. Of course, if you're struggling with anxiety, you should speak to a professional about treatment options. Then, consider adding these foods to your diet to...
4 Tips for Doing a January Whole30
Mom of one and Whole30 founder and CEO Melissa Urban says a January Whole30 requires a little planning, and prioritizing. “It’s January, and lots of folks are still under the incorrect assumption that making multiple New Year’s resolutions it the best way to create change.
Blueberry Superfood Smoothie
One of the easiest way to load up on all the good stuff—vitamins, fiber, protein, and antioxidants—is to blend them into a smoothie. Plus, you can share it with your kids, and they won’t even know they’re eating veggies. This blueberry version from contributor Kathleen Ashmore has the unexpected addition of cauliflower rice.
Top Your Own Oatmeal Bar
Did you know that January is National Oatmeal Month? It’s a perfect family-friendly breakfast, because everyone can add their own mix-ins and toppings. You can even make it in the slow cooker overnight for an easy weekday breakfast. We love this version from The BakerMama. We asked Maegan about this beautiful board, her kids’ favorite toppings and her plans for 2022.