Around Town

Are 40s The New Tween Years?
Did you know that perimenopause has its own developmental stages just like adolescence? This “prelude to menopause,” which may include shorter menstrual cycles, sleep issues, mood changes, changes in libido and a whole host of other lovely symptoms related to hormonal changes, usually starts in the late 30s into the 40s.

Postpartum in America
Experts note that postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety (PPA) affect between 20 to 25 percent of women. Postpartum psychosis, on the other hand, is relatively rare, affecting only .2 percent of women but is an emergency. Natasha K. Sriraman MD, author of “Return to You: A Postpartum Plan for New Moms” discusses the differences.

Rainbow Cheesecake
We love this colorful cheesecake for St. Patrick’s Day, an alternative to a birthday cake or any time you need to mix up a little cheer. It does need to chill overnight, so grab these ingredients below and click through for the full instructions from food blogger and mom, Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt.

Leprechaun Snack Board
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We love a good snack board, and one that’s cute enough for a party and gets our kids to eat more veggies? That’s like finding a pot of gold. The BakerMama’s Leprechaun Snack Board is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

Lucky Charms Ice Cream Sandwiches
We just might skip green beer this year and swap in these Instagram-worthy St. Patrick’s Day-inspired Lucky Charm’s ice cream sandwiches from South Orange County Moms! Don’t have Lucky Charms? Use any colorful cereal you’ve stocked up on!

Pot of Gold Cookies from The BakerMama
These Pot of Gold Cookies from The BakerMama just might be your lucky charm for a fun, festive St. Patrick’s Day party. “Chewy chocolate thumbprint cookies are filled with a little icing and some yellow chocolate candies to create that pot of gold look, and then more icing is used to make clouds that hold together a candy rainbow for the full effect,” says Maegan Brown, the mom of four behind The BakerMama site and Instagram.

St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails
Cheers to the Irish and to you, Moms! Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day we’re sharing a roundup of 8 delicious cocktails and mocktails to serve and sip on March 17 (or any time!). And thankfully, there isn’t a green beer in the mix…

The Best Travel Bags — From Budget to Bougie
February and early March can get a bad rap: you’re fighting the winter doldrums and seasonal affective disorder, but alas, the remedy comes in the form of our dear American Presidents, saving us from a full month of the blahs with a weekend off (or for the lucky ones, a full week of school vacation), and hopefully a mini-break to a fun locale.

The 9 Mom Friends Every Mom Needs in her Life
Mom friends are the glue that hold us together when %#@! hits the fan, and motherhood’s fan is being in a wind tunnel while you’re going 100 mph in a convertible. In other words, you’re going to need some good glue. Here, seven moms you need in your crew.

Meet a Founder — As Seen in the Fair Play Documentary — Emily A. Hay of Hay There Social Media
Without a doubt, social media has changed the way people communicate, helped brands grow and businesses market themselves. While it’s nice to be active online in their personal life to keep in touch with friends, it’s crucial for moms who are considering the next steps after having kids, looking to rejoin the workforce, or launching a small business to understand how a social media skill set can directly position them for success.