Meet Your Westchester County Mom Team
Michelle :: Owner & Editor
Michelle is the Owner and Editor of Fairfield County Mom and Westchester County Mom. She has spent her entire life in Fairfield County, growing up in Norwalk and now residing in Fairfield, CT. Michelle married her husband, Chris, in October 2008. Before motherhood, she thought she was busy, but now life with her son Shane (March 2011), twins Blake and Brynn (June 2013), Hank the Lab, and Bruce the Frenchie, the meaning of hectic has been redefined! Michelle is also a working mom, teaching third grade at a local public school. When she’s not making lists, chauffeuring the kids, and doing laundry, Michelle enjoys standing along the sidelines cheering on her kids, lounging with a good book, eating dark chocolate, and sipping on some tequila.
Melissa :: Sponsorship Coordinator & Senior Contributor
Melissa is a Bronx native who moved to Westchester County after she and her high school sweetheart got hitched in 1997. She and her husband live in Mount Kisco with their son Corey (2004) and daughter Mia (2007). Melissa spent many years working in Human Resources and currently works in enrollment and marketing for a childcare organization. Melissa is a two-time survivor of Postpartum OCD. She initially became interested in writing to raise awareness for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders but has discovered that writing is a newfound aspect of her life that she thoroughly enjoys. Melissa is excited to write with the Westchester County Mom team and hopes you’ll enjoy her stories of the trials and tribulations of a born-n-raised city girl raising teenagers growing up here in Westchester.
Erin :: Contributor
Erin is the mother of one sweet, rambunctious toddler and wife to a talented chef. Professionally, she is a former special educator and preschool teacher and is currently a cognitive neuroscience researcher and Ph.D. candidate in Cognitive Science in Education with specializations in neuroscience, cognitive development, and neurodiversity/autism. She holds master’s degrees in cognitive science and neuroscience in education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and undergraduate degrees in special education (with an additional concentration in elementary education and a minor in English) and early childhood education. As a chef’s wife, food is a huge part of her family culture, and she enjoys both cooking and baking. Some of her other hobbies include hiking, traveling, jogging, meditation, animal rescue, playing piano and guitar, crafting, reading, and of course, writing. You can follow her parenting journey and pick up tips on great kids activities on her website www.themindfullyscientificmama.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest accounts.
Fran :: Contributor
Fran was born, raised, married, and still lives in Mount Kisco, NY. She has four kids, including a teenage daughter, two precious grandsons, and the cutest granddaughter, whom she babysits a few days a week. She also works part-time as an accounting clerk helping to run her husband’s excavation business. She aspires to finish writing her memoir one day. Despite her crazy, busy schedule, she cooks almost every night for her big family and tries her best to keep up with the dishes! She truly believes spontaneity is the spice of life, and sometimes the very unexpected happens, but it’s usually all for the best. Enjoy her many tales of raising kids over 20 years; what an amazing journey!
Christine :: Contributor
Christine was born and raised on Long Island and now calls Westchester home. She and her husband Marc have lived in Hawthorne since 2014. With a background in PR and Marketing, she’s now a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom of two. Christine loves to travel, read (when she has the time!), practice yoga, and try out new recipes (that she hopes her kids will actually eat).
Laura :: Community Engagement Facilitator
Laura was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Bronx. She is a single mama to Julian, who is five years old. She studied Social Work at Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and then pursued a Master’s in Special Education at CUNY Hunter. Laura was a Special Education Teacher for eight years, teaching high school, middle school, and elementary school. She recently transitioned to Human Resources and is kick-starting a new career! Although Laura is a Bronx native, she spent five years living in San Antonio, TX, and has finally returned! Laura is bilingual and super passionate about bilingual education. She also loves to craft, she might not be great at it, but after a stressful week, she enjoys busting out her Circuit, attending a paint and sip, or scrolling TikTok for a new recipe to try!
Donia :: Contributor
Donia is a stay-at-home Egyptian archaeologist who majored in Egyptology. Egyptology had always been her passion since childhood. But family is her biggest passion. She lives in Mount Kisco with her husband Ayman, their daughters Dania (2005) and Mirette (2012), their cats Tiger and Drogo, and their German Shepherd Max. She is also a stepmom to two girls Nada (1991) and Malak (1995). When she is not busy taking care of her big family, she enjoys anything Sci-Fi and fantasy, watching cooking and baking competition shows, playing the drums, playing tennis with her husband, video games, and DIY projects. According to her girls, she particularly enjoys event and travel planning for her family and always goes all-out and prepares too much for an event. She is excited to join Westchester County Mom to share her experience as an expat and mom.
Jen :: Contributor
Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and is a full-time writer. She is currently working with a publisher on her first book, which is a personal project she holds very close to her heart. She is also an active member of the International Association of Professional Writers and Editors (IAPWE). Jen resides in Westchester, NY with her three young children.
Nicole:: Contributor
Nicole is a proud mother to her three children, Reagan, Johnny, and Tristan. She and her husband keep busy with their two fur babies, Henry and Teddy. Nicole lives in Somers with her crazy crew, and when she’s not wiping noses, serving snacks, and reading “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” she’s writing for her blog, Mama Explains, which offers relatable parenting tips and stories. You can find her on Instagram @mamaexplains or visit her blog at www.mamaexplains.com. She’s also a huge lover of Nutella, nineties music, and her Peloton bike, which she rides mainly for the ’90s-themed classes.
Danielle :: Contributor
Danielle is a wife and mom of three boys living in Yorktown Heights in Westchester County, along with her rambunctious Boston Terrier Marty and hairless cat Gilbert. Danielle is a former special education teacher turned local real estate agent who works part-time coaching others in nutrition and wellness. Danielle enjoys spending her free time reading, cooking healthy meals, working out, volunteering, and spending time with her family. There’s never a dull moment juggling a career and living in a house full of boys, so if you see her running around, know she’s fueled by her favorite cup of organic coffee!
Joanna :: Contributor
Joanna was born, raised, and still lives in Mount Kisco, NY with her family and Golden Retriever. She comes from a large Italian family, and it’s important to her to instill those old-school values and traditions into her life. Her main job and joy in life is being a SAH mom and dog mom, but she is also a Realtor®, has a nutrition and wellness certification, and loves to write. In 2011, she started a lifestyle brand called Healthy Italian. The brand highlights her Italian culture and how to live a healthy lifestyle based on its principles. She hopes to be a published author one day. When she can sneak in some time for herself, she prioritizes her health and wellness. Spending time with her family and friends over a glass of wine and good food is her favorite pastime. She truly believes the simple things in life feed the soul.
Lauren :: Contributor
Lauren A. Tetenbaum, LMSW, JD, PMH-C, is a writer and social worker specializing in supporting millennial and young women through life transitions. She is also Mommy to Luke (2016) and Eva (2018). Lauren grew up in Manhattan and moved to Scarsdale in 2020, her first-ever venture into non-city-living (and she loves it!). Through her counseling practice (The CounseLaur), Lauren provides therapy in NY and CT, facilitates groups and workshops to empower postpartum and other women in corporate settings, and contributes to media on topics like maternal mental health, gender equity, and working parenthood. Lauren’s additional interests include early aughts pop culture, movie theater snacks, and the color pink.
Jess :: Contributor
Jess is a stay-at-home mom to her three children and a personal trainer. She loves to combine motherhood and exercise and help moms be the best version of themselves physically and mentally. Jess and her husband, Mike, moved from NYC to Westchester almost ten years ago. You can usually find them on some sort of youth sports field or doing something active. Jess also loves spending time at home reading, eating anything sweet, and watching Bravo reality shows. You can follow her journey on Instagram @jquickfit.
Drew :: Contributor
Lawyer turned ad woman turned boy mom turned performance artist, and writer Drew Kramer is a cat with nine lives. With a Masters in Transformation, she’s writing her own script. Her current work, The Lady & the Floofs, is a cross-platform story encouraging parents and their Floofs to try things.
Anita :: Contributor
Anita is a Registered dietitian and fitness professional. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in women’s health and overall lifestyle wellness. Her goal is to help people achieve their optimal set-up with an intuitive and balanced approach. As a mother of two young boys, Anita has been through various life cycle phases. She is passionate about helping women, especially those in their mid-30s and above, find their healthy balance! Anita recently launched ARM NUTRITION, a nutrition telehealth platform that accepts insurance. Anita has contributed content to MBG (mind body green), The Skimm, Romper, Women’s Health, and more. She writes and offers her expertise as needed and loves to be a trusted resource.
Cat :: Contributor
Cat is a Westchester County native. She briefly lived on Long Island during college. Now, along with her loving husband, she is raising her two kids in the Fleetwood section of Mt. Vernon, where she grew up! She is an RN turned stay-at-home special needs mom. She loves baking, hiking, kickboxing, and crafting. Her goal is to give special needs moms hope, resources, and encouragement.
Alexa :: Contributor
Nationally recognized for her syndicated television show, podcasts, and speaking engagements, Alexa is always tuned in to our connection with each other. Online, she is known as ‘Ask Alexa Therapy’ across all social media platforms. Followers flock to her Facebook LIVE each Sunday to ‘Ask Alexa’ everything. When she is not on-air, Alexa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist with her private practice. She works with individuals, couples, and families. Alexa holds an undergraduate degree from Pace University and she received a Master of Social Work from Fordham University.
Lisa :: Contributor
Lisa is a Brooklyn transplant residing in Croton on Hudson with her husband and two kids. She is the founder and owner of Brooklyn Embodied Pilates, a virtual Pilates studio with an in-person outpost in Croton on Hudson. Lisa and her teaching staff specialize in prenatal and postnatal pilates, diastasis recti repair, and c-section recovery. After the birth of her first son, she became a birth doula as she wanted to fully support birthing people throughout their pregnancy journey. She loves empowering women by educating them about anything and everything relating to motherhood. You can find her on IG at @brooklynembodied, trying to figure out how to make a reel. She loves anything spa or self-care related, hiking, coffee, and is new to writing but very excited to join Westchester County Mom!
Shikha :: Contributor
Shikaha’s journey as a Physical Therapist began in 2012 after completing an MS in Health & Rehabilitation Services from the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, she has dedicated her efforts to assisting individuals grappling with various orthopedic conditions, including postural impairments, joint pain, post-operative rehabilitation, and sport-related injuries. In 2016, she graduated as a DPT from Arcadia University, sharpening her manual skills through evidence-based treatment strategies. Her life took a transformative turn in 2020 when she experienced the joy of giving birth to her beloved son. While she cherished the precious bond formed with her son, she encountered numerous challenges ranging from nursing difficulties, anxiety, pelvic pain, leaks, Diastasis recti, and lethargy to a loss of self-awareness. This mix of experiences left her feeling overwhelmed. Today, three years into postpartum, she takes great pride in her ability to be a fit and content mother. Achieving this state necessitated significant dedication, hard work, and the unwavering support of her family. All this wouldn’t have been possible without a clear understanding of the pelvic floor and its role in helping women return to a prior level of function and poise. Equipped with expertise in orthopedic and pelvic health conditions, Shikha reaches out to women, inviting them to embrace an active lifestyle with unwavering confidence under her guidance.
Jennifer :: Contributor
Jennifer is a former special education teacher working on a career transition. She grew up in Westchester and lives in Valhalla with her husband, Dean, and daughter, Annabella (2021). She enjoys reading, trying out new restaurants, and summer days by the pool (when she actually gets to sit for a few minutes!).
Professional photos courtesy of Justine Knight Photography. Justine is a family and portrait photographer based in Larchmont, Westchester. She photographs across Westchester and Manhattan and loves to capture families the way she photographs her own! To view Justine’s work, please visit justinesknight.com.
