Where are you from originally?
I’m from Atlanta, GA – a southern belle surviving Connecticut winters!
What made you choose Darien over other towns in the area? How long have you lived in Darien?
We moved to Darien four years ago from New York and haven’t looked back. My husband’s sister lives in Darien as well so we loved coming out on Sundays before we had kids to play with our nephews and enjoy being outdoors. Once we had our second child, we wanted to provide our kids with a similar lifestyle while still commuting to jobs in NYC and didn’t look anywhere else. It has been awesome to have family in town – we even bought a house a mile away from them.
How many kids do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have three kids – a daughter who is 6 and two boys who are 4 and 1.
What are your favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
Every spring, I feel like we wait with baited breath (think small over-energized preschool breaths that leave sweet nose marks on my windows) for the first warm days when we can head to Cherry Lawn park and Pear Tree Point beach. There is nothing better than feeling the sun on your arms on those first warm days or my first outdoor run along Gorham’s Pond. We also love so many of the spring festivals in town – especially the Toy Boat Regatta at Tilley Pond.
Three things in New Canaan or Darien that you can’t live without:
A weekly workout at Joyride, the parenting wisdom of the speakers at Darien MOPs and dinner pick-up at Four Forks for busy days.
What’s the best way to relax and unwind in Darien and New Canaan?
I definitely love a good massage at Lanphier, but nothing beats a shopping day in downtown New Canaan followed by brunch at Rosie’s. I just took my daughter on our first mother-daughter shopping day and it was the best.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? Night out with friends? Romantic evening? Why?
Our family favorite is Tequila Mockingbird in New Canaan. My husband is from Texas so he is on a mission to find the best Tex-Mex spots in Connecticut and this fun spot definitely meets the needs of our loud crew. We get there right at 5pm to grab a table – margs for adults and queso for kids, not to mention their many delicious specials.
What are a few of the most recent things you’ve pinned on Pinterest or who do like to follow? Please provide links. OR who do you love to follow on Instagram?
I am seeing so many moms create amazing businesses on social media and love following all of them. Obviously, @newcanaanmoms & @darien_moms is a top pick as is @themomedit for shopping inspiration – I literally order some of their fashion picks right off their feed to save time. And I have to give a shout out to the Mather Homestead’s amazing volunteer, Sarah L – a mom of soon-to-be four (go girl!) – who does all of Mather’s social media and is so creative! Be sure to follow @matherhomestead on Insta and Facebook to see her historical fun facts about the Homestead and Darien.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
The threes! In the words of a very wise local pediatrician, the terrible two’s are well-advertised so you’re prepared, but it’s the F*ing Three’s that no one tells you about. Am I allowed to say that here?! And patience really is a virtue – taking a deep breath is the best way to get through most parenting challenges, at least in the young years.
What was your career before having children?
Oh ladies, I could talk about careers and babies for hours! My career since having kids has been an evolution — from full-time working mom at American Express with my first to work-from-home mom with my second to a very flexible leader of a local non-profit with my third. I am at my happiest when I have ample time with my children but also can apply my skills to something larger, but it’s always a juggling act and I don’t want to pretend it isn’t. My one piece of advice on this subject is do what works for you and don’t be afraid of the adventure whether that’s in the office, at home or somewhere in between. And ask for help or outsource what you need to – it’s a sign of a good leader – which is what your family needs most.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the Executive Director of the Mather Homestead which is on the New Canaan-Darien border at the corner of Brookside and Stephen Mather. Darien is known for its beaches, sports and beautiful homes but one of the coolest parts of our town is its amazing history. I am excited to bring that to life with the new Mather Homestead. The house was a built in 1778, was raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War and was later the home of Stephen Mather, founder of the National Parks Service. After remaining in the same family for eight generations, the home was passed to our foundation last May so that it could be opened as a museum. Come visit or check out our upcoming events at matherhomestead.org/events.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
This community literally provided me very unexpectedly with my current role. I was talking to a friend one day about how I would love to learn the non-profit world and do something entrepreneurial and, long story short, here I am. Learning has certainly been the key word in this adventure – learning from other non-profit leaders in town, from the amazing volunteers and small businesses willing to help us and from our dedicated boardmembers – all of whom are giving their time and resources because they believe in the value of preserving this property for our town.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
My guilty pleasure is Chick-fil-a. Did someone say chicken biscuits and an indoor playspace?