Meet a Mom: Meet Annie!

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Bergen County? 

 

 I am a Bergen County lifer.  I was born and raised in Glen Rock, along with my two older sisters.  My parents still reside there. Aside from going away to college, and tearing it up in Hoboken, My roots have always remained here.  My husband and I moved to Oradell about 5 years ago.

 

Child(ren) and Age(s)? 

Yes I have three 🙂  Owen 7, Rosie 3.5, Nora 2 

 

One thing people would be surprised to know about you… 

One thing?  I’m going to give you a few…

I married my High School Sweetheart.

By trade, I am a Clinical Social Worker, that is currently employed as a School Social Worker, but have worked in group homes and residential facilities prior to that.

I have two very funny, and incredible older sisters.   They each have four children! Giving My parents 11 grandchildren.  While we are on family, My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year! Another fun fact, one of my older sisters runs one of my “sister” local moms network sites! It is called theshorelinemoms.com, out of the Connecticut shoreline.  

I have met some of the best friends of my life in college and when I moved to Oradell.  One of those besties is Karianna. We joke that we are like sister wives, but there is some truth to that.  She lives a few houses down from me across the street. We bonded the instant we met. Our husbands are bests too 🙂  There are many days when we co parent, trade kids, go for walks, and even literally borrow a cup of sugar. I am a very lucky person. 

Last but not least, I am a “roots” person. What I mean by that, is that the relationship that I have with my friends from childhood is so incredibly important to me.   Although at the moment, we reside all over the globe, I speak to them every single day multiple times a day through an app called Marco Polo.  Its the BEST.  

 

Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?  

My Village! Haha! But seriously,  I have a fantastic husband who is my partner, and understands that I like to take the lead when it comes to our children.  He is wonderfully supportive and helpful. My family, and my husband’s family, for always loving and caring for my children. My own parents, for their guidance and support and for showing us how to love and support our children.  My sisters, for their infinite parenting wisdom, and for bringing so much laughter and light to my parenting world, and always encouraging me to keep my faith while raising my children. And of course, my ladies, MY TRIBE! I love them all to pieces. The women that I have met at each stage in my life have really been amazing guides for me. 

 

 

Favorite things to do with your kids? 

If you know me, you know that my family is just my absolute favorite part of life.  I just love to watch them play, laugh, create, read, try new things, do almost anything in the yard, snuggle on the couch or just become people.  Also, we have some killer dance parties in the Kitchen.  Right when we walk in the door almost every Friday, we turn up the music and just, dance. I plan on doing this for the rest of my life. So if you are in to dancing, swing by on a Friday afternoon, haha!  

 

 

Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!

 

As my day job, I am a Licensed Social Worker that works in an elementary school in Northern Bergen County.  I received my Master’s Degree with a Concentration in Clinical work with Children and Families. I love my day job.  While it can be challenging, I work with some of the most creative, supportive and amazing teachers and Child Study Team Members.  And the children in my school are incredible little human beings.  

 

How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?

 

This community has everything to do with where I am, as an adult today.  It is where my sisters and I grew up, where I met and married my husband, where I chose to find a job, and where I choose to raise my own family.  It is where my mother was an Emergency Room Nurse for over 35 years. It is where my husband’s grandmother, mother, sister, and sister in law have all worked as teachers.  This is where I have chosen to raise my family, meet my friends, where the teachers are, that take care of and teach my children, where the pediatrician is that cares for their health.   This area really means the world to me and is why I have dedicated my time to sharing information, giving moms the gift of time, and sharing positive, good stories about other women and business owners with you.  Because this is a SPECIAL place.  

 

Favorite Date Night spot in Bergen County?

 

There are SO MANY great places in Northern Bergen County.  The Hill in Closter has been a favorite. Great food, excellent atmosphere, and a cool bar.  I love sitting on the patio when the weather is warm. Cafe Anello in Westwood is so AWESOME.  Fresh and delicious Italian food. Honestly, it is outstanding. Stern and Bow in Closter is also a great spot.  We go to Esty Street in Park Ridge or The Saddle River Inn for celebrations. Bacari Grill in Washington Township and Varka in Ramsey are also excellent!  I love the vibe of Ridgewood as well. I also have to give a shout out to Biddy O’Malleys in Northvale.  Great family spot with top notch food.

Favorite Girls Night spot in Bergen County?

 

We love going to Casual Habana in New Milford.  Their spicy Margarita is my favorite! Almost anywhere is a great girls night spot for me.  As long as there is dancing at some point, it’s a good night for me! Also, Karianna has a great bar in her backyard.  I have spent plenty a girls night dancing there as well 🙂

 

 

One last thing….

  I am a helper, its just in my blood.  I am a champion of trying to stay positive when life gets dark.  I guess that is at the heart of why I became a social worker. As a part of this journey, I’d like to bring awareness to two very important issues. It seems that the older I get, the more I am hearing about rare diseases, or cancers. Sometimes, I think when you are a parent and you hear about these things, they strike nerves that you didn’t even realize that you had.  I want to do something to help.

One of my best friends, Stefanie, has a two year old nephew that has been diagnosed with a rare disease called NGLY-1. He is a beautiful sweet boy that is 1 of 63 individuals worldwide that is affected with this disorder. To learn more or donate to this cause you can go to https://gracescience.org/ .  This organization is working to find ways to treat and cure NGLY-1 and many other rare diseases. 

 

Additionally, there are three relatives of very close friends and family that have recently been diagnosed with different forms of cancer.  This shouldn’t be common place. We shouldn’t be hearing about cancer diagnosis so frequently. We can help to hear more success stories by donating to help research on better treatment and cures. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is doubling donations right now.  Here is the link MSK Doubling Donations

 

Thanks for getting to know me.  Thank you for following along on this journey with us.  Thank you for your support and follows and likes. Believe it or not they all count.  Thank you to the small business owners, the amazing restaurant owners and workers, those that work in Parks and Recreation, and for the moms and dads out there that make this such a great place.  

 

XO- 

 

Annie