Northern Highlands, NJ May 2026

VOICES. BIG IDEAS. INCREDIBLE WOMEN.

OUR WOMEN’S ISSUE CELEBRATES THE ENTREPRENEURS, CREATIVES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD, CREATE AND INSPIRE ACROSS THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS.

The Beauty Women Create

I can always count on two things on Mother’s Day: my girls getting me Reese’s Cups as a gift—they know they are my favorite—and then eating them all before I get one. I should probably start hiding the candy, but at this point, it feels like part of the tradition. That is motherhood. It is never just about you, even when it is supposed to be. Still, I would not have it any other way.

Our cover story this month features Michelle Fleischer of Embroidery Babes, whose journey turns heartbreak into something creative, healing and deeply community-centered. Turn to page 18 for a story that reminds us how often women build beauty out of difficult seasons, creating space not only for themselves, but for others as well. Her work feels especially fitting this time of year—a gentle reminder that sometimes healing begins quietly, with your hands busy and your heart slowly finding its way back.

Also in this issue, turn to page 24 to meet Dr. Ada Liberant, a forensic psychologist whose intricate crocheted handbags prove that creativity can flourish even in the busiest and most demanding seasons of life. Through House of Ada Couture, she blends artistry, craftsmanship and imagination into pieces that are as personal as they are beautiful. Her story is such a wonderful example of the many layers women hold with grace—professional, creative and endlessly resourceful.

May also has a way of inviting us to gather a little more, and this issue gives us plenty of reasons to do just that. Find a Spicy Mango Margarita on page 16, festive enough for Cinco de Mayo and pretty enough for Mother’s Day, the kind of recipe that makes brunch, book club or a backyard evening feel just a little more special. And if you have been hearing about Mah Jongg everywhere lately, page 22 takes you into the world of the game everyone seems to be talking about, where strategy, laughter and a good excuse to gather around the table all come together.

However you are celebrating this month—whether you are sharing your candy, mixing margaritas or gathering around the Mah Jongg table—I hope you feel appreciated in all the ways that matter.

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Jake Slowinski | jake.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

CO-PUBLISHER

Tiffany Slowinski | tiffany.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Jessie Fernandez | jessie.fernandez@citylifestyle.com

Rose Balisi | rose.balisi@citylifestyle.com

INTERNS

Riley Burns | riley.burns@citylifestyle.com

Matina Manganello

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Allison K. Lim, Patti Zielinski, Carly Mac Manus

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Frank Veronsky, Ivy Dash Photography, Allison K. Lim, Elements Psychological Services, Megan Curren

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad

LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

inside the issue

Strong From the Inside Out

How Alyssa Kievit of Expecting Well PT Is Changing the Conversation Around Pregnancy and Postpartum Recovery

Threading Hope

How Michelle Fleischer Turned Heartache Into Community With Embroidery Babes

Learning the Game Everyone Loves

From

After navigating infertility and loss, Michelle Fleischer turned embroidery into healing. What began as a personal outlet became Embroidery Babes, a growing creative community

city scene

1: Northern Highlands DECA competed at the NJ State Conference, and 64 students qualified for ICDC in Atlanta. 2: Immaculate Heart Academy honored four seniors with National Honor Society second-quarter pillar awards. 3—4: Northern Highlands Regional High School students brought Little Shop of Horrors to life with impressive performances. 5: Northern Highlands Regional High School was recognized twice in Varsity Yearbook’s Best of Portfolio for design and cover concept. 6—7: Ho-Ho-Kus Police officers participated in Climb With A Cop at Gravity Vault, supporting Special Olympics New Jersey.

business monthly

A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Garden State City Lifestyle earned the City Lifestyle Juggernaut Award

Garden State City Lifestyle earned the City Lifestyle Juggernaut Award in 2025, outpacing more than 240 publications nationwide for the highest total contract value across the franchise, a milestone celebrated at the City Lifestyle National Conference. The award highlights exceptional sales growth, strong local partnerships and the magazine’s influence in luxury print and digital marketing. Publishers Tiffany and Jake Slowinski are pictured with founders Steven Schowengerdt and Matthew Perry.

Scan to read more

Kayal Orthopaedic brings expanded care to Allendale

Kayal Orthopaedic, Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Center is opening a new location in Allendale, New Jersey, expanding access to comprehensive health care services. The center will offer orthopaedic surgery, chiropractic care, physical therapy, rheumatology, pain management and on-site medical imaging, providing an integrated approach to musculoskeletal treatment and patient recovery in the community.

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Sook Pastry Shop celebrates grand reopening in Ridgewood

Sook Pastry Shop in Ridgewood celebrated its grand reopening in March, marking the bakery’s 15th anniversary under new owners Rumbi Mufuka and John Thompson. The event featured a ribbon-cutting with the mayor, live music, a caricature artist, a make-your-own macaron station, and pastry and chocolate demonstrations. The celebration welcomed the community to enjoy Sook’s signature treats and festive atmosphere, honoring both a major milestone and a new chapter in the bakery’s history.

STRONG FROM THE Inside Out

HOW ALYSSA KIEVIT OF EXPECTING WELL PT IS CHANGING THE CONVERSATION AROUND PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM RECOVERY

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY

For generations, women have been told some version of the same message after childbirth: You had a baby. What do you expect?

Leak when you laugh. Accept back pain. Assume your core will never feel the same.

Alyssa Kievit, founder of Expecting Well PT, is working to change that narrative.

“Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal,” Kievit says.

FROM ORTHOPEDICS TO OBSTETRICS

A graduate of Quinnipiac University and Kean University’s doctoral physical therapy program, Kievit did not initially plan to specialize in pelvic floor therapy.

During one of her final clinical rotations, she was assigned a pregnant CrossFit athlete who wanted to safely complete a Memorial Day workout without compromising her pregnancy—or experiencing incontinence.

“There was nothing in grad school that really prepared me for that,” she shares.

Determined to help, Kievit immersed herself in independent research. The experience sparked an interest she could not ignore.

After graduation, she worked in general orthopedics and sports therapy, treating post-surgical patients, runners and youth athletes. But when another pregnant patient presented with significant low back pain, she realized there was more she could offer.

She pursued advanced obstetric coursework through the American Physical Therapy Association and completed pelvic floor training through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

In May 2021, she launched Expecting Well PT.

WHAT PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY REALLY MEANS

Pelvic floor therapy is often misunderstood. Kievit describes it as an umbrella capable of addressing a wide range of

concerns—from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to menopause and beyond.

Her specialty lies in supporting women during pregnancy and after birth.

Two services define her practice: birth preparation and return-to-exercise rehabilitation.

Birth prep is something many women do not even realize exists.

“We talk about everything that happens in labor and delivery,” Kievit notes. “How to push properly. How to reduce tearing. Pain relief options. What to expect afterward.”

It is the “afterward” that often leaves women feeling unprepared.

From navigating those first postpartum bathroom trips to safely getting off the couch without straining healing tissues, Kievit walks her patients through the details few people openly discuss.

“The things no one tells us,” she explains.

For second- and thirdtime mothers, birth prep often becomes an opportunity to approach a new pregnancy with more confidence and control than they felt the first time.

“But it doesn’t really work like that,” she shares. Drawing from her extensive fitness background—including weightlifting, Pilates and performance training—she guides women through a structured progression from early postpartum weeks to full athletic return.

She works with clients at three weeks postpartum, six weeks, 12 weeks and beyond, helping them rebuild core strength, restore pelvic floor function and reconnect to breathing mechanics.

“I’ve had clients tell me they feel stronger postpartum than they did pre-pregnancy.”

— Dr. Alyssa Kievit

BEYOND THE SIX-WEEK CLEARANCE

On the postpartum side, Kievit focuses on helping women safely return to exercise.

Too often, she says, women are told at their sixweek OB appointment that they are “cleared” to resume normal activity.

“I’ve had clients tell me they feel stronger postpartum than they did pre-pregnancy,” she says.

That transformation, she explains, can be deeply empowering.

COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY

Expecting Well operates within FORM in Ridgewood, where Kievit collaborates closely with orthopedic specialist Raffaele Lagonigro. Their co-treatment approach blends orthopedic and pelvic floor expertise, offering patients comprehensive care under one roof.

As a Bergen County native and mother herself, Kievit values seeing her patients long after their sessions end—running into them downtown, welcoming them back during a second pregnancy or receiving messages celebrating personal milestones.

Many return. Others refer friends.

“It really does take a village,” she emphasizes.

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

Perhaps the most important shift Kievit hopes to inspire is cultural. For years, pelvic floor dysfunction was brushed aside as inevitable.

“You had a baby. What do you expect?” she notes, referencing the outdated mindset. Her response is simple: Expect better.

Expect education.

Expect support.

Expect strength.

Looking ahead, Kievit plans to expand her team and grow Expecting Well’s educational offerings, including workshops and group birth prep classes that make this information more accessible to women across the community.

Because for her, this work is about more than rehabilitation. It is about helping women feel informed, confident and strong—from the inside out.

For more information, visit expectingwellpt.com or call 201-497-0117.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 ounces tequila (blanco works best)

• 1 ounce fresh lime juice

• 1 ounce orange liqueur (such as triple sec)

• 2 ounces mango nectar or mango puree

• ½ ounce agave syrup (optional)

• Tajín or chili-lime seasoning for rim

• Ice

• Fresh mango slices and lime wedges for garnish

MAKE IT A MOCKTAIL:

Skip the tequila and orange liqueur and replace with sparkling water or mango juice for a refreshing alcohol-free version. Shake the mango nectar, lime juice and agave with ice, pour into a Tajín-rimmed glass and top with sparkling water for a bright, citrusy sip everyone can enjoy.

For more recipes like this, follow us on Instagram @gardenstatecitylifestyle

Spicy Mango MARGARITA

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY CARLY MAC MANUS

Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse to gather with friends, enjoy vibrant flavors and celebrate the start of warmer days. With Mother’s Day arriving just after, it is also a lovely time to raise a glass to the women who make life sweeter, stronger and a lot more fun. Here in New Jersey, May signals the return of patio season, from backyard barbecues to breezy evenings down the Jersey Shore.

This Spicy Mango Margarita delivers the perfect balance of sweet citrus and heat. Fresh mango and lime bring brightness, while a chili-lime rim adds just enough kick to make every sip memorable. It is colorful, refreshing and festive enough for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, yet pretty enough to serve at a Mother’s Day brunch or backyard gathering. Pair it with tacos, grilled seafood or a simple bowl of chips and guacamole for an easy sip that feels like a little celebration of spring.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass and dip the rim into Tajín or chili-lime seasoning.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

3. Add tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, mango nectar and agave syrup.

4. Shake well for about 15 seconds until chilled.

5. Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.

6. Garnish with a slice of mango or a lime wedge.

A bright, tropical cocktail perfect for spring entertaining.

Hope THREADING

How Michelle Fleischer Turned Heartache Into Community With Embroidery Babes

Michelle Fleischer did not start Embroidery Babes with a five-year plan—she started it with a needle, a rainbow and a broken heart.

“I’m a control freak,” she says candidly. “The idea of wanting something so badly and not being able to have it—and realizing there was nothing I could control—was a huge struggle for me.”

Six years ago, Fleischer was navigating secondary infertility and pregnancy loss. While undergoing IVF, she found herself searching for something steady. Something quiet. Something hers.

She picked up an embroidery kit and taught herself through YouTube videos. Her first project was a small hoop stitched with a rainbow—a tribute to the baby she lost and a symbol of hope for the one she prayed for. Today, that piece hangs in her daughter’s room.

“She’s my rainbow baby,” Fleischer explains. “Embroidery became my safe haven. It was the one place where I felt in control in an environment that felt completely uncontrollable.”

What began as therapy became transformation.

A BUSINESS BORN ON THE STREET

Fleischer started by stitching her daughter’s name onto old denim jackets and sweatshirts she had saved from her son. One afternoon, someone stopped her on the street.

“That jacket’s so cute. Where did you get it?” the woman asked.

“I made it,” Fleischer replied—almost surprised at her own answer.

She created an Instagram account. There was no formal business plan. “I literally thought of the name Embroidery Babes in the shower,” she says with a laugh. “I really did not put much thought into it. It was like, let’s just see what happens.”

What happened next was momentum.

An invitation to vend at Haworth Day led to craft shows. Craft shows led to 20 orders at a time. Word of mouth spread quickly throughout Bergen County.

“I was dragging my husband out in the freezing cold with bins of denim jackets,” she shares. “It was chaotic and exciting at the same time.”

But success brought a new challenge.

“When you’re rushing through 30 orders on your couch, you lose the outlet part of it,” she explains. “You start to resent it.”

She knew something had to change.

MORE THAN A CRAFT—A CONNECTION

Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Fleischer worked in corporate training, traveling for sales conferences and leading

development sessions. She missed teaching. She missed bringing people together.

So she asked herself a simple question: What if I taught embroidery instead?

“We treat every workshop as if no one has ever threaded a needle before,” she notes. “It’s not technical. It’s not intimidating. It’s supposed to feel good.”

Embroidery Babes workshops are intentionally low-stress. Participants learn one or two stitches, choose from dozens of stencils and thread colors and create something entirely personal—from denim jackets and pouches to baby gifts and sweaters.

“We don’t just give you a project—we give you a skill you can take home,” Fleischer explains. “I’m basically telling people, don’t pay someone to do this—you can do it yourself.”

Guests often arrive unsure. They leave empowered.

“Almost every single person says, ‘Wow, this is easier than I thought,’” she smiles. “And I always tell them, even if your project comes out terrible, I’m proud of you for showing up.”

A CREATIVE RESET FOR WOMEN

At every event, Fleischer shares a 30-second version of her story. And every time, someone approaches her afterward.

“Without fail,” she shares. “Even at a 10-person event.”

Women share their own experiences with infertility. Cancer patients attend workshops looking for an outlet. Mothers and daughters come for quality time. Best friends treat it as their night out—instead of dinner reservations.

“EMBROIDERY BECAME MY SAFE HAVEN. IT WAS THE ONE PLACE WHERE I FELT IN CONTROL IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FELT COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE.”

- MICHELLE FLEISCHER

SCALING WITH INTENTION

“When I was struggling, I felt so alone. I don’t ever want someone else to feel that way.”

- Michelle Fleischer

“If you’re not open, you don’t realize how many people it impacts,” Fleischer emphasizes. “When I was struggling, I felt so alone. I don’t ever want someone else to feel that way.”

She describes the workshops as a creative reset—a space to put phones down for two hours and simply be present.

“You don’t even have to be creative,” she laughs. “You just have to not use your phone for two hours.”

In a world of constant notifications and digital overload, that invitation feels radical.

Now averaging multiple events per month—including private baby showers, corporate team-building sessions and large-scale International Women’s Day gatherings—Fleischer is thinking carefully about growth.

She recently trademarked Embroidery Babes and launched “Stitch Like a Babe” kits—at-home embroidery boxes complete with materials and instructional videos. The kits allow customers outside New Jersey to experience the brand and offer a more budget-friendly option for private gatherings.

“I love doing every workshop myself,” she says. “But growing means letting go of some control.”

Her vision for the future includes training additional instructors, expanding corporate partnerships and continuing to build creative community events that bring women together—not just to stitch, but to connect.

Because at its core, Embroidery Babes was never just about thread.

It was about healing. It was about honesty. It was about creating something beautiful in the middle of uncertainty—and inviting other women to do the same.

To learn more about upcoming workshops, private events or Stitch Like a Babe kits, follow along on Instagram at @embroidery.babes or visit embroiderybabes.com

LEARNING THE GAME EVERYONE LOVES

FROM GIRLS’ NIGHTS TO LUXURY RETREATS, THE CLASSIC TILE GAME IS BRINGING A NEW GENERATION TOGETHER.

In Bergen County, Mah Jongg Is Having a Moment

For the past several months, my group of four friends has been learning the game with instructor Carole Blancato. What once felt like a pastime of an older generation is now showing up everywhere—from living rooms to social gatherings. Today, Mah Jongg feels less like a niche hobby and more like a social staple.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ALLISON K. LIM

At its core, the game blends strategy and pattern recognition. Players work to match tiles in their hand to combinations on a card before someone else declares Mah Jongg. While the rules can feel complex at first, the challenge is part of the appeal. Once it clicks, it’s easy to get hooked.

A SOCIAL REVIVAL

Blancato learned Mah Jongg as a child, watching her mother play. Like many, she returned to it later in life—just as the game began to gain new momentum.

Historically, Mah Jongg was associated with more traditional gatherings. Today, it has evolved into a centerpiece for social connection. It fits just as easily into a casual night with friends as it does a brunch or holiday gathering. The game has become less about formality and more about experience.

“Mah Jongg is at the center of it,” Blancato says, “but everything else is part of it—the socialization, the refreshments.”

That shift has helped fuel its popularity. New accessories, including colorful mats and modern tile sets, have given the game a fresh, stylish appeal that resonates with younger players.

BEYOND TRADITION

While Mah Jongg has long been a way for women to connect, its audience is expanding. Men are joining games, and children are learning alongside their parents. What was once generational is now cross-generational.

Blancato teaches with Stacy Mah Jongg, a group of instructors serving Bergen and Rockland counties, led by Stacy Budkofsky. Over the past 15 years, Budkofsky has taught thousands of players, building a structured approach that introduces the basics over several lessons before advancing to strategy and defensive play.

The annual game card, which outlines all possible hands, changes each year—giving even experienced players a reason to keep learning.

But for Budkofsky, the real draw goes beyond the game itself.

“It’s more about the social connections you make and the relationships that are formed at the Mah Jongg table,” she says.

PRACTICE MAKES PLAY

Mah Jongg is played with four people, making it ideal for small, consistent groups. While lessons are a great starting point, regular play is essential to improving.

Budkofsky suggests learning with friends when possible. “If you don’t continue to play, your game will not evolve,” she says.

Equally important is aligning expectations—whether the group is playing casually or more competitively.

For those looking to sharpen their skills, online platforms can help, but in-person play remains the heart of the experience.

LET THE TILES LEAD

For new players, Budkofsky offers simple advice: Stay flexible.

“You have to let the tiles guide you,” she says. “You’re making decisions, but you also have to go with what you’re getting.”

And one final tip: Know the card. Familiarity builds confidence, improves strategy and strengthens overall play.

As Mah Jongg continues to grow across Bergen County, its biggest draw may be its simplest one—the joy of gathering around a table.

And for those ready to join in, classes, events and more information are available at stacymahjongg.com

Hooked on Handbags

Upper Saddle River’s Ada Liberant finds balance through the art of crocheting designer-inspired handbags.

Meet Dr. Ada Liberant, a forensic psychologist by day and handbag crocheter by night.

Born in Moldova, Ada recalls a childhood where imagination often took the place of toys. At age 10, her fourth grade teacher, who felt more like a close friend, taught her how to crochet an intricate doily. It took months to complete, and Ada still carries it with her as a reminder of where she came from.

Two years later, her family moved to the United States. Young Ada shared a practical fallback plan in case the family ever needed extra money: she would crochet doilies.

Time went on. Ada graduated from high school and college and eventually earned her doctorate. Today, the Upper Saddle River mother of three, plus a dog and cat, juggles several demanding roles. She works with child abuse cases and other forensic evaluations, runs a small private practice and reviews Social Security claims for several states.

"Forensics is hard because you see things that no one should see," Ada says. "Going to court to testify is not my idea of fun. You need a creative outlet."

For Ada, crocheting became that outlet.

"People have other coping skills," she explains. "This is what I do."

When the world shut down during the pandemic and nearly everything was difficult to source, Ada returned to her childhood fallback plan. But this time, she was not selling doilies. She was crocheting cotton masks.

ARTICLE BY ALLISON K. LIM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY MAC MANUS

"There was nothing else," she shares. "You couldn't buy them, so I just made them."

Soon after, Ada came across an image of a crocheted bassinet on Instagram. Her mind immediately switched gears.

"Wait a second, I can make this," she remembers thinking.

A few weeks later, she gifted a delicately crocheted bassinet to a friend. That project opened the door to creating custom everyday pieces for friends and family.

Then, in 2021, the Instagram algorithm delivered another moment of inspiration when images of crocheted Prada bags filled her feed. House of Ada Couture was born.

Ada prides herself on her unconventional process. She never follows a pattern. Instead, through trial and error, she challenges herself to create using two top-quality materials: genuine leather and silky raffia. Crocheting with genuine leather is time-consuming and hard on the hands, so few artisans work with the material.

This detailed work requires patience and skill, but according to Ada, "if you can make a blanket, you can make a bag."

For Ada, crocheting is a form of stress relief.

"You have to sit there, count stitches and be present," she explains. "Otherwise the bag won't turn out the way you imagined."

That happened once, in fact. After countless hours, the design began to take shape and Ada realized she had reversed the color pattern. She had to undo and redo the work until the design matched her exact vision.

Over the past four years, Ada has crocheted handbags both from her own imagination and those modeled after designer styles.

"People will see a Loewe, Prada or Dolce & Gabbana bag and ask me to recreate it," she notes.

One client asked her to recreate a YSL bucket bag.

"I studied the bag and counted the stitches to make it identical," she explains. "I obviously can't, and wouldn't want to, recreate their logos, but the look is the same. If you held the bags side by side, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

Some would even say Ada's crochet work surpasses the designer originals. While small imperfections may escape the untrained eye, Ada spots them immediately.

"I can glance at a designer bag and see where the joining is slightly off," she emphasizes. "Crocheting comes naturally to me. The tension in my stitching is really perfect. I'm not a perfectionist in other areas of my life, but I am with crocheting."

As one of Ada's discerning clients shared, "House of Ada Couture bags look so high-end and unique. You can't find them anywhere else. Bottega could take lessons from Ada."

While Ada will recreate requested designs, she prefers to create her own.

Her favorite design is a white bucket bag crafted from genuine leather cords.

"It's really dainty and perfectly sized," she shares. "There's nothing on the market like it."

She even had custom grommets made featuring her House of Ada Couture logo.

With a jam-packed schedule, Ada crochets after work while watching TV or listening to an audiobook. She can even be found crocheting between breaks at her daughter's volleyball tournaments. Each order typically requires 20 to 40 hours of dedicated work.

The most time-consuming piece she ever crocheted was the Lichtenstein Bucket, which took nearly a year to complete with stops and starts. The bag incorporates multiple colors, requiring constant switching.

"I adapted a friendship bracelet technique with an alpha pattern," she explains. "Every pixel is a stitch. You have to change the color of the yarn and build layer by layer like a mosaic."

The Lichtenstein Bucket and Marilyn Icon Tote, inspired by Marilyn Monroe, are not for sale. These wearable works of art are on display in Ada's Upper Saddle River home.

For those interested in owning a House of Ada Couture bag, Ada invites them to visit her website and Instagram page.

"I can replicate a design you see online," she shares. "Or if you let my creative juices flow, I'll create something you'll absolutely love. You can customize the size, shape, color and material, as well as the insert color and material."

As for the fourth grade teacher who taught young Ada to crochet, inspiration has come full circle. The two have stayed in touch, and Ada has inspired her to begin crocheting again.

"I love it," Ada says with a smile. "It's not financial. It's about people seeing my work as art, wearing it and really loving it. If I could crochet all day, nothing would make me happier."

Visit Ada online at houseofadacouture.com or follow her on Instagram @house.of.ada.couture

ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”

She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.

Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?

A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.

Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?

A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.

Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.

Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?

A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.

This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.

“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”

— Becky Hillyard

ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN CURREN

The ADHD Gap

Why many women are diagnosed later in life and what they can do to regain control of their health, focus and daily routines.

Dr. Jessica McCarthy, founder of Elements Psychological Services, with offices in Montvale and Chatham, wants women to feel comfortable talking to health care providers and to feel heard.

Over the years, McCarthy has noticed how often women bring their children to be evaluated for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, only to realize the diagnosis might also apply to them. Here, she discusses why women are often diagnosed with ADHD later in life and shares expert advice on steps women with ADHD can take to improve their quality of life.

Why are women often diagnosed with ADHD in their 30s and 40s?

What ADHD and autism looked like when we were younger is much different than what we know today. Think back to when you were in school. The disruptive boys would present for treatment before the girls, who were quieter, more rule-governed and did not want to upset anyone. Sure, their lockers and backpacks were a mess, they were more likely to day-dream during class, were more

anxious and chatty, were more sensitive, and were more perfectionistic (which is not as helpful or functional as one would think), but they got good grades and didn’t act out. However, nobody knew it took them two or three times longer to get assignments done. They flew under teachers’ radars until their grades began to drop or they started having emotional outbursts when their hormones fluctuated during puberty.

Now consider this. Perimenopause, which also causes hormonal fluctuations, is like a second puberty. According to a 2025 study published in the journal "European Psychiatry", perimenopause begins up to a decade earlier in women with ADHD, who report more severe perimenopausal symptoms than women without ADHD. Women are often able to hold it together until their late 30s or early 40s. Then they hit perimenopause and everything falls apart.

How does ADHD present in women?

In women, ADHD looks like a duck floating peacefully on the surface of a pond while paddling frantically underneath.

It is hard enough for someone with ADHD to function when loved ones dismiss their struggles with comments like, “You’re fine. Just get the assignment done.”

- Dr. Jessica McCarthy

You see fewer overt behavioral symptoms like hyperactivity and fidgeting and more difficulties with executive function, emotion regulation, time management, and starting and sustaining tasks. Many wait until the last minute to complete a task because time pressure increases stimulation and urgency, and tasks that have a delayed payoff (because they are too far ahead in the future) don’t

signal the dopamine-based reward-response system that the brain needs to start a task. Stress hormones (like norepinephrine) also kick in and help with seeing a task through from start to completion. These women tend to be high achievers with high IQs, but what does their quality of life look like when they are getting these tasks done?

How can health care providers better help women navigating undiagnosed ADHD?

Primary care providers, mental health providers, and OB-GYNs are not always trained to detect ADHD. They often assume their patient is a stressed, anxious “supermom” and do not ask the right questions. These women are drowning, and no one has thrown them the right life vest.

Women should seek out physicians and mental health providers who are ADHDinformed and who understand that perimenopause can exacerbate underlying ADHD symptomatology. The professionals on our team, doctoral-level psychologists and master's-level specialists, ask the right questions and help women understand that the challenges they have experienced since childhood are related. They are not simply disorganized, messy or stressed out. ADHD, anxiety and depression are often diagnosed together. ADHD in women can present very differently than what we typically think of in terms of hyperactivity and behavioral problems (although women can certainly have these as well), and the more visible manifestation of symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, are what often lead women to seek help. We ask questions to help determine whether ADHD may be part of the picture

and clarify the diagnosis so patients can receive the right treatment.

The most important fact about ADHD that both health care providers as well as patients need to understand is that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition - meaning that the symptoms needed to be present from childhood. The idea of “adult ADHD” is misleading - it’s more that it was simply misdiagnosed or ignored in women, due to both the atypical presentation as well as the masking or camouflaging of symptoms that often occurs with women - and this, unfortunately can even start in childhood as well.

What

is the best course of treatment for ADHD?

Medication can work well, but medication is meant to bring you to a baseline so you can function and actually begin to engage in the behavioral treatments and skill building that works best with ADHD in children through adults. Our team teaches children and adults how to better understand their executive function and emotion regulation needs and provide strategies to improve those areas. We also teach techniques for emotional regulation. Time and task management skills are an important part of the process, but we

also focus on helping people manage feelings of overwhelm and dysregulation so they can complete tasks more efficiently.

How can family members best support loved ones with ADHD?

Validate their experience and support them. It is hard enough for someone with ADHD to function when loved ones dismiss

their struggles with comments like, “You’re fine. Just get the assignment done,” or “I don’t understand why you’re getting so upset. Just calm down.” If someone is having an outburst, do not yell at them. That is like pouring gasoline on a fire.

Learn more at elementspsych.com

IHA is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders by challenging our impressive young women to develop their God-given talents for a future filled with endless possibilities. Register at ihanj.com to be a Blue Eagle for the Day and find out why our extensive curriculum, artistic offerings, athletic teams, and Christian service programs are second to none.

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MAY 3RD

Ramsey Farmers’ Market Opening Day & Home Show

Ramsey Farmers’ Market, 2 W. Main St., Ramsey, NJ 07446 | 9:00 AM

The Ramsey Farmers’ Market launches its new seasonal hours in May, running Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Opening day also features the second annual Ramsey Chamber of Commerce Home Show, where visitors can browse local produce, artisan goods and meet area home improvement professionals. More information at ramseyfarmersmarket.org

MAY 9TH

Hello Spring! JC’s Arts & Crafts Pop-Up

The Hermitage Museum Grounds, 335 N. Franklin Turnpike, Ho-HoKus, NJ 07423 | 10:00 AM

Celebrate spring at this marketplace featuring 60 exhibitors on historic grounds. The program includes handcrafted works, collectibles, and nature interpretation at this National Historic Landmark. Families can enjoy live music and gourmet food trucks. Visit the official site at jcpromotions.info

MAY 17TH

Peak Migration: Hour on the Tower

Pirie-Mayhood Tower, The Celery Farm, Allendale, NJ 07401 | 8:00 AM

Experience a premier birding event during spring migration at this 107acre wetland preserve. Expert naturalists lead participants on the observation tower to identify migratory species. This family-friendly program offers scenic views and seasonal nature interpretation. Check the schedule at fykenature.org/trips.php