Ideas on how to feel good, look good, and even keep your family safe and sound this holiday season.
By Lisa Ballou
Andante Music
Music enriches the lives of both the young and the young-at-heart. Not only is music an escape for many seasoned students, but it is also is a useful educational supplement for children. “Musical training has been proven to help left brain development, the side of the brain responsible for language and reasoning. Music lessons stimulate creative thinking and problem solving,” says Alicia Mott. Perhaps the most obvious, music education provides children with a means of self-expression– something that’s very important to an adolescents! andantemusicny.com
Aurora
As part of the downtown re- tail community, Dawn Green- berg, owner of Aurora, knows people are eager to make connektons and to feel a part of a community. “As a global citizen myself, I sleep better at night when I know I’m making a contribu- tion, however small, to someone else having a meal or an extra blanket on a cold night,” explained Dawn. She has enjoyed meeting the people who have lived in town for 30 years as well as those just arriving into Chappaqua.
aurorafair.com
Dr. Maria Briones
The holidays are filled with parties, gatherings and lots of food. But with a little help from Dr. Briones, you can avoid gaining weight during the season. “I tell my patients during holidays or any special occasion, always eat normally on the day of the event. Don’t skip breakfast, have a light lunch, then a high protein snack before the event, and you will notice less appetite when you see the food at the party.” She also encourages people to take the focus off the food and be very social during the parties. “Be more active with friends and family. Play games, dance, or just talking will help you forget about the food and still be a lot of fun.”
brionesweightloss.com
BMW of Mt. Kisco
Run-Flat technology has been around for a while, however, BMW is the first and only manufacturer to have Run-Flat tires implemented on its entire product range.
“These special tires have reinforced sidewalls, which retain stability and lateral support in the event of significant air pressure loss, such as a blowout due to hitting a pothole or running over a nail,” explained Clinton Ma, Sales Manager at BMW Mt. Kisco. “The driver is then able to travel up to 100 miles without having to stop or change the damaged tire.”
“You no longer have to stop on the side of the road, and wait for a tow truck, or change to a spare by yourself.”
bmwmtkisco.com
Breeze
Breeze helps its customers live well by helping them entertain well. They offer a unique selection of table- top and gift items to make your party a memorable one. From Artisan Salt blocks to bake on, to fun wine bags from Scout Breeze also offers fun gift ideas for the Host and Hostess. “We are reviving color- ful entertaining with vibrant table linens, artisanal serving pieces and unique decorative accessories for the Tabletop. Whatever your entertaining needs are, we are here to help,” said owner Susan Maher.
breezegifts.com
OUTUREDossier
“I love making people happy by helping them find what they have been looking for.” COUTUREDos- sier established its reputation nation- wide by offering people gorgeous coats by her own design, limited edition Chanel purses, Alexander McQueen and Cavalli dresses and true gems right from the runways. Recently, BRAVO offered Yulia a part to be featured on the BRAVO show “Fashion Hunters,” which airs Tuesday nights 10:30 p.m. beginning October 4th.
couturedossier.com
Eye Designs of Armonk
Eye Designs of Armonk is focused on providing personalized care in order to fulfill each patient’s individualized visual needs. Whether it’s assessing eye diseases or fitting contacts, a complete approach is taken to provide quality eye care. When it comes to eyeglass fittings, the latest in optical technology is used to suit each person’s lifestyle. “Patients do not need to have their wellness compromised by symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches or dry eyes. We make the appropriate recommendations to get patients’ eyes seeing and feeling better,” explained Dr. Stefie Ribeiro.
eyedesignsarmonk.com
Family Britches
Family Britches, a Chappaqua mainstay, has been in business for 41 years. Their friendly, personal service is what they are famous for. They also have a strong sense of community and believe that giving back is part of living well. Last year, Family Britches launched a Holiday Event with Twigs and Northern Westchester Hospital. This year,the event, which will be held November 27-December 4, is offering staff and supporters of Northern Westchester Hospital 10% off any purchase. A 10% donation to the Twigs Thrift Shop, which benefits the hospital, will be made.
Familybritches.com
ICD Contemporary Jewelry
ICD’s enchanting collection of fine jewelry from international designers has made it a premier destination for holiday shoppers. Since opening in 1976, ICD’s inspired designs, affordable prices, and warm atmosphere have attracted a bevy of regular customers. Founder and owner Varda Singer hails from Israel, where she served as a lieutenant in the Israeli army. Today she travels the world in search of unique treasures for ICD’s discerning customers, designs jewelry lines exclusive to ICD, and creates custom pieces for clients. icdjewelry.com
Jamie Kilgore Photography
jamiekilgorephotography.com
Jodi’s Gym
Healthy habits start young. Jodi’s Gym has been providing New York kids with fun, friends and fitness for 30 years. Its programs introduce the fun and importance of movement and exercise at an early age, instilling healthy habits to last a lifetime. Most recently, Jodi’s Gym introduced the MOTION EVOLUTION program, which incorporates fitness nutrition, and wellness at an early age. “This program is a great start to a healthy and active lifetime!”
jodisgym.com.
L3 Couture
Living well means feeling good about the way we look. “I know when I walk out the door and have a put together look, I hold my head a bit higher and feel good inside,” said Michelle Stangarone. The new boutique in Briarcliff Manor specializes in putting together a new wardrobe or updating an existing one. “Whether it is a casual everyday look or shopping for that special outfit we are here to help. Our personal shoppers love the fact that we cater to them at their convenience. And what better way to start the new season then with a stunning new wardrobe.” For more information visit
l3couture.com.
Levitt Fuirst Associates
Insurance company Levitt Fuirst has some simple recommendations to help ensure a wonderful and safe holiday season. First, what seems to be the obvious: holiday lights should be UL approved and checked each year for fraying wires. Candles should never be left burning in an empty home and not placed near anything flammable like a Christmas Tree. Christmas Trees should not be near a fireplace. Next, the less obvious: If your home is going to be vacant, put some lights on timers, have someone collect your newspapers and mail, and let the neighbors know you will be away. With a vacant home during the winter, you should also have temperature sensors on your alarms and water flow alarms to protect and alert you for frozen and burst pipes in case you lose heat.
levittfuirst.com
March Boutique
MarchBoutique.com
Desires by Mikolay
If you want to live well, celebrate the moment! Life is busy, and we all get caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities. Staff at Desires by Mikolay, now housed ever more elegantly in their “fifth avenue style” store along King Street, helps customers take the time to pick out a piece of jewelry to help them celebrate special moments such as a milestone birthday or anniversary.
desiresbymikolay.com
New Castle Physical Therapy
newcastlept.net
Prescriptions For Fitness
Today, just about everyone understands the importance of exercise, but most people just don’t know how to reach their fitness goals. For more than 15 years, owner and trainer Scott Reilly and his staff have been helping clients live well by getting them the best results in the shortest time possible. “We help them to reach and achieve their goals through individually tailored exercise programs. It’s not some generic class were 25 people are all doing the same thing even though those 25 people all have different needs and goals. Our professional staff really cares and wants to see our clients succeed,” said Scott Reilly. Whether our clients goals are to lose weight, improve their golf, or tennis game, or just to look and feel better, we can help them reach those goals.
prescriptionsforfitness.net
ROCKS by Jolie B. Ray
Jewelry makes everyone happy, but even better is to have jewelry with great power and spiritual fulfillment. One of Jolie B Ray’s top designers, Rachel Brown, creates jewelry based on the Kabbalistic meditations composed of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each piece is engraved with Hebrew letters expressing different meditations such as, dissolving negativity, creating miracles, healing and prosperity. Original Jolie B. Ray creations also include many gemstones with meaningful properties.
“Our favorite stone is Labradorite, which is known as the gemstone of destiny because it opens up your psychic abilities by connecting you to the Universal flow of energies that permeates our universe. It is an excellent gemstone for those seeking to bring your diet, health and exercise habits under control because it regulates your metabolism and jumps starts your energy levels!” explained Marjorie Troob.
Another part of living well is giving back to the community. This past October, rocks hosted its first monthly charity event for Chappaqua’s A Cure In Our Lifetime. They had a special designer showcase featuring Anahita and Leslie Greene. Their designs were 10% off and we donated 15% of the profits from the two-day event to the charity. In addition, they raffled off a Jolie B Ray necklace, of which 100% of the profits were donated to the charity.
rocksbyjoliebray.com
Squires Family Clothing
You don’t want a cold to derail holiday plans. Dressing properly for the weather is vital during the winter. Squires dresses customers for the cold with some of the most popular brands. “We carry Ugg Austrailia products including the iconic Ugg classic boot, which is made from premium sheepskin,” says owner Michael Kushner. “The brand actually promotes barefoot usage and a healthy environment for the feet as sheepskin naturally breathes minimizing fungal/bacterial issues.” Squires also sells The North Face, which for many years has set the mark for quality and comfort for the whole family.
squiresny.com
Steffi Nossen School of Dance
The enjoyment of dance is universal and also develops body, mind, and spirit. In a supportive, non-competitive environment, Steffi Nossen offers everything from Modern Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Hip-Hop to Moving Wheels & Heels adaptive classes for special needs dancers. “While improving fitness, health, and the expression of creativity, dancers come away with such lifetime skills as poise, kinesthetic intelligence, and problem solving abilities,” explained owner Judy Ross. She is holding an Open House Free Week of Dance, Jan 9-14; dancers may try unlimited age and level appropriate classes.
steffinossen.org
Lisa Ballou lives well by staying present. “I try to fill each day with the things I love–spending time with my family and friends, practicing yoga and writing. What keeps me sane is finding the humor in it all.”
