The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

lifestyle

Top 10 Reasons to Love CBD

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Courtesy of The Pharm Stand

The Pharm Stand is your source for the latest and most reliable CBD products from around the country. We are here to share our passion for CBD with our communities.

1. Relief from aches and pains

2. Reduces inflammation throughout the body

3. Aid in achieving a proper night’s rest

4. Relieve anxiety naturally

5. Maintain a state of homeostasis throughout the body

6. Aid in increased focus and productivity

7. Relief from skin conditions such as rashes, acne and dermatitis

8. Muscle recovery and reduction of fatigue following exercise

9. Overall supplement for an active and healthy lifestyle

10. CBD is not just for people; it could help your pet’s pains and anxieties as well!

Visit us at thepharmstandco.com

Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes: November 22 and 23

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The Ossining Children’s Center (OCC) will be the beneficiary of the Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes, Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23, 2019. The event is produced in partnership with Holbrook Cottage, a lifestyle shop located in Briarcliff Manor.

The Festive Stroll, founded 21 years ago by Sue Taub of Holbrook Cottage and of Briarcliff Manor, will feature decorating traditions from around the world that will be displayed in three Sleepy Hollow homes. In addition to the magnificent decorations, the Stroll will highlight the rich history of the Philipse Manor neighborhood.

Two of the classic homes, both built in the 1920’s, will whisk strollers away to countries around the world through creative table settings, unique floral displays, and Christmas trees decorated in styles representing various cultures. Guests will travel from the British Isles, to Scandinavia, to Latin America, experiencing a rich tapestry of global Christmas traditions.

Thanksgiving will also be celebrated along the Stroll in a home that will become the true expression of a harvest bounty. Abundant displays of flowers and gourds will give visitors wonderful ideas to take home for their very own Thanksgiving celebrations the following Thursday!          

Guests will also experience Hanukkah through children’s eyes, in a whimsically decorated playroom featuring games and songs. The room will be punctuated with an eclectic display of menorahs, encompassing many styles and traditions.

On Friday, November 22, there will be a Festive Stroll Benefit Luncheon at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, located in Scarborough, NY. Throughout the weekend, small festive touches will entice guests into the holiday spirit. Victorian carolers and a jovial holiday display will greet shoppers as they enter Holbrook Cottage to browse through the distinctive decorative items available for purchase. “The Stroll is an immersive holiday experience attracting revelers from as far as Eastern Connecticut and Southern New Jersey,” said Festive Stroll committee chair Clorissa Gioscia of Briarcliff Manor. “This year promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

All Festive Stroll proceeds will go to the Ossining Children’s Center’s Tuition Assistance Fund. OCC’s tuition program provides quality educational child care to children here regardless of their families’ incomes. Each year the Center enables more than 100 low- and moderate-income parents to maintain steady employment and to model a positive work ethic for their children. During their time at OCC children gain the skills and tools they need to succeed in school and in life. OCC instills a strong foundation enabling every child to reach their full potential. For more information about tour times and destinations and ticket purchase options for the Festive Stroll of Holiday Homes call the Ossining Children’s Center at 941-0230, ext. 22. Also be sure to visit ossiningchildrenscenter.org

A Fresh Take on Spring Fashion with Stile

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With candor, impeccable taste and a ready smile, Julie Root is adept at helping customers put the “I” in style. Nestled in the heart of Armonk’s Main Street, her shop, Stile, is a lifestyle boutique that offers “fun, delicious” items for everyone. Having opened only three years ago, the shop quickly found its niche in the Armonk fashion scene and cultivated a strong following. Describing Stile as a shop that has something for everyone, Root says, “My customers don’t just come to us for one thing. They come for the fabulous bags, chunky knits, beautiful candles and diffusers, wardrobe staples and trendy pieces. Everything we offer has a special twist and our inventory is ever-changing.”

Stile offers a dazzling array of swoon-worthy products including accessories, home goods, women’s apparel and J. Hillburn menswear. From the stunning Baobab diffuser to the one-of-a-kind Rolling Stones sweatshirt to the custom costume jewelry adorned with vintage Chanel buttons, the selection challenges clients to narrow down to just a few purchases. It’s no surprise that the boutique was the winner of the “Best of Westchester 2017” in the category of “Place to Find a Hostess Gift.” Stile specializes in exclusive, one-of-a-kind items and under the radar designers. Root says, “I have cultivated strong relationships in the industry over the past decades that provide me with access to items that no one else has–our lines are hard to get. You simply won’t find many of them on Amazon or in the major department stores.”

The fashion veteran is excited about spring as the new season’s inventory begins arriving. Here’s the forecast as Root sees it:

Pinks & Patterns

Root predicts that a specific color scheme will take over spring wardrobes, saying, “There will be a lot of color. I expect hues of pink like blush, coral and rose to be huge. We are also seeing patterns like camo, animal print and florals injected into designs. Take part of the trends by adding it in pops with a soft sweater, yummy wrap or a fun handbag.”

Luxurious Materials

“Luxury is back,” Root proclaims, adding, “Materials like cashmere, lace, fur, silk, velvet and leather are so in. Layer a little shearling vest or a lace cami into your outfit to infuse this trend.”

The Feminine Persuasion

Femininity will influence the spring looks. Dresses will be big, but the good news is that every length is acceptable. She says, “It’s high/low with maxis, midis and minis–anything goes this season! We’re also seeing designers do fun things with sleeves–big sleeves, off-the-shoulder, one shoulder, cut-outs, etc. And, don’t forget those cute rompers, which are still having their moment!”

Bag Lady

As Root talks about handbags, she becomes animated, saying, “I am bag-obsessed. There are so many fun bags coming to Stile this spring! I do a lot of smaller brands made in NY and California. We’re doing metallic, fringes, bouclé that’s reminiscent of Chanel, fur accents, sumptuous Italian leather and more. And, there are so many options from knapsacks to cross-body to clutches. The cross-body iPhone cases are so functional and popular right now!”

Denim

Denim continues to have its moment in the sunshine. Stile features an assortment of all styles at all price points including pull-on bell bottoms, striping up the sides and uneven rough-hewn hemlines.

Custom Creations

Stile truly thrives in the one-of-a-kind arena. As Root says, “Everyone wants what no one else has. I offer denim jackets with custom messaging and embellishments, the cutest, fun rock-n-roll t-shirts and unique vintage and custom jewelry.  Shirts with messages of female empowerment are huge–I have them specially made for the store.” Sweatpants, sweatshirts and tees can also be customized according to personal tastes, featuring specific colleges, sports teams and favorite branded logos like Louis Vuitton or Chanel.

Regardless of trends and evolving fashions, there is one constant at Stile. High-end customer service is paramount as Root says, “I know what my customers are looking for and I always provide approachable, honest feedback with a smile. I will tell you if that dress looks awful and the pants don’t fit. I’d rather have the customer return because they love what they bought than buy something they regret and not return to us. And, I have the most wonderful style team who each share the same sensibilities and have their own loyal base of clients. It’s that personal touch that makes shopping local such a joyful experience. It’s something that internet shopping can never replicate.”

Learning to Love My Dad Bod

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So apparently having a Dad Bod is now a “thing.” You can certainly Google the term or drop it in a conversation. Most likely someone will chuckle and refer to a loved one who can be described as such. A Dad Bod, essentially, is a physique of middle-age that can been described as masculine, reasonably muscular and slightly overweight. What is intriguing and, counter-intuitive, are the positive connotations almost universally associated with this common and easy to achieve body type. Putting aside years of denial, I’m prepared to admit to having a Dad Bod but also to realizing that the concept is some kind of odd societal rationalization that is in reality just vaguely insulting to men and women.

Personally, I’ve had my weight fluctuate over the years for many reasons. I can say, first hand, that being too thin or too heavy can be really unpleasant. Of course, I’d like to be as fit-looking as possible but eventually one realizes that certain physical ideals may never be fully achieved. For me, probably the best personal state of my body is to be a few pounds heavier than I’d actually like to be. Aesthetically, believe me, this is not a thrilling state of existence but with maturity (Ha!) I’ve realized that the way I look is secondary to being as healthy a person as I can reasonably manage. What’s particularly galling about the Dad Bod movement is that while I’m strenuously trying to accept myself, it somehow makes this effort more difficult by making me feel slightly patronized by an entire culture.

I’d love to be writing this as an exotically rare middle-aged Dad with wash-board abs, 20:20 vision and a fast metabolism but I most definitely have to check none-of-the-above on those. From that super-fit perspective, I imagine it would be so easy to be enthusiastically supportive about the Dad Bod thing precisely because I wouldn’t be stuck in one. However, living in this body, as I must, I refuse to smile politely if someone wants to essentially say that the very same body I am regularly struggling to learn to accept is now, (drumroll please) objectively attractive. I just don’t buy it. There is some kind of passive-aggressive condescension connected with the embracing of Dad Bods.

As for the female members of our culture, I can only imagine how they must feel about the acceptance and celebration of Dad Bods. It’s something of a cliché but I’ve heard women confirm the difficulty in dealing with their own aging process in comparison to men. You know, men become more distinguished, the lines on their face only add character, etc. This is a societal reality. Look at movie stars. Clooney & Pitt will be leading men for decades to come because they’re perceived as only getting better looking as they age. Leading ladies of the movies hit the age of 40 and abruptly must decide between character parts, plastic surgery or professional oblivion.

Why is there no female version of the Dad Bod? The closest thing I can think of is Mom Jeans and that association is quite the opposite of the now sexy Dad Bod. Why are we, culturally, not prepared to embrace women with a female version of the Dad Bod as universally attractive? Obviously, in 2018, there’s still a lot of work to be done on gender roles in society. If Dad Bods are, presumably, built upon men who have worked hard professionally and, perhaps, parented as well, then why aren’t women afforded the same leeway in how their bodies evolve? Especially considering how child-birth can affect one’s physical being. It just doesn’t seem fair.

I suppose what really irks me with the whole Dad Bod phenomenon is the reality of analyzing someone’s physical appearance and imparting a judgement upon that particular bodily state. There is an impermanence of one’s physicality that is just a fact of human existence. I question why we assume that being kind about chubby Dads is any more appropriate than telling a woman she looks sexy or criticizing someone for being too fat or thin.

Don’t get me wrong. I know attaching the Dad Bod moniker to a middle-aged gentleman is essentially a way of saying we love you just the way you are. That’s a great lesson. We should all learn to love acceptingly as best we can. However, as a reluctant member of the Dad Bod club, I implore you to think about what you are actually saying when you label your slightly corpulent loved one as such. Might I suggest a karaoke dedication of Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” instead? Just not Dad Bod. Please.

Welcome to Platinum Drive Realty

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Editor’s Note: Platinum Drive Realty introduced residents to its new Northern Westchester office at 27 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua during a February Open House/Ribbon Cutting and a Family Day that featured a visit by Frosty the Snowman. Both events drew dozens of residents to our downtown.

New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein leads a ribbon cutting during Platinum Drive Realty’s First Open House celebration in early February.
New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein leads a ribbon cutting during Platinum Drive Realty’s First Open House celebration in early February.

“We have brought together a team of talented and energetic Northern Westchester real estate professionals,” said Platinum Drive President Zachary Harrison, who together with his wife Heather, founded Platinum in 2006 with offices located in Westchester county, Connecticut and New York City. “This area has spectacular scenic beauty and provides wonderful value to buyers seeking a great lifestyle and beautiful properties.”

Seth Keslow, Platinum Drive’s first agent when the company was founded and a top producing broker featured on HGTV, and Northern Westchester resident Dana Goldman–another long time, top performing Platinum Drive agent–are managing the office. Keslow said Platinum agents are trained to make real estate “an enjoyable, rewarding and first rate experience …

“The new office will give our clients an opportunity to sell and search for properties in a comfortable atmosphere with the latest technology.” Agent Dana Goldman said Platinum chose the location for “its amazing community involvement” and “as an area boasting some of the best restaurants and shopping in the suburbs.”

Agent Sari Shaw Chappaqua, in her blog, “Living Chappy Happy,” explains why her own family chose and loves Chappaqua:

“We are not in some remote area, cut off from amazing restaurants, lively nightlife and stores that carry every brand and every color within a three to four town radius! We have the trees, the backyard, an easy express train to Manhattan, amazing preschools, exemplary schools, and a community which is so globally conscious and active.”

For more information, please visit platinumdr.com