Lori Levine
- How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have two ladies- Caley, 14 and Emma, 11
- How long have you lived in Short Hills/Millburn/Livingston and what made you decide to live here?
We’ve been in Short Hills for just over a decade! Having moved from Hoboken, we wanted something close to the city, with great schools and a great downtown!
3.Tell us about your business and what other local things you are involved in! And how did you get started?
ENVIE is a tween and teen partywear consignment company. We started this business after our girls had their Bat Mitzvah’s and attended their friends’ as well. We had many unworn or barely worn dresses hanging in their closets and thought other people could use these! I have been very involved at my girls schools both on the PTO as well as being a Girl Scout leader for 6 years!
4.Favorite thing to do when you need “me time”?
I love to head to the beach, hit the mall looking for a good bargain, take a dance class or head to any bookstore!
5.Favorite place for dinner with kids?
We love the Hat Tavern in Summit, Boxcar in Short Hills and Panevino in Livingston.
6.Most enjoyable place to hang out?
We love going to the movies, being at the boardwalk and hanging at the mall.
7.How do you balance your career and being a mom?
Part of the reason we started the business was to have the flexibility of being able to still be there for our children. After being a stay at home mom for the last 14 years I felt the need to have something for “me” as well still being active in their lives.
8.Proudest mommy moment(s)?
My eldest daughter Caley was diagnosed with kidney disease at a very young age. She was then diagnosed with chronic daily headaches and gluten intolerance last summer. She has handled all of her medical issues without fear, and doesn’t let it stop her – she amazes me.
9.Can’t believe that happened mommy moment!
During my daughter Emma’s preschool graduation, she decided she’d had enough and decided to walk off the stage. I’m assuming that counts as graduating! She is still just as fierce and strong minded.
10.Best advice you have gotten from a mom?
If your child apologizes for something they’ve done – move on – it’s done and don’t harp on it.
11.Best piece of advice you can give other moms!
Let your kids come to you with their problems, and always listen. Let them know you’re always there but trust your gut and ask the tough questions when they need to be asked.
12.One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I absolutely love to dance- Zumba, hip hop, jazz- I secretly wanted to be a fly girl like J.Lo
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Lisa Angelson
1.How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
My son Holden is 17 and my daughter Brielle is 14.
- How long have you lived in Short Hills/Millburn/Livingston and what made you decide to live here?
I have lived in Short Hills for 22 years (wow crazy!). My husband and I moved here because of the proximity to New York City for our jobs, to be near our families and because of the wonderful community and school system.
3.Tell us about your business and what other local things you are involved in! And how did you get started?
*Lori and my response re ENVIE can be combined here. I have been an active volunteer for the Diabetes Research Institute, as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In such capacity, I served as a mentor to newly diagnosed families, a member of the JDRF Gala committee, and assisted in organizing and participating in numerous fundraisers. I served for 6 years as a co-leader of a Girl Scout troop and volunteered over the years in many capacities for my children’s schools.
4.Favorite thing to do when you need “me time”?
Grabbing a beach chair and just relaxing on the sand, listening to the waves and reading whatever.
5.Favorite place for dinner with kids?
Sunday nights at our house when we do “Dinner and a Movie”.
6.Most enjoyable place to hang out?
My “happy place” is LBI (Long Beach Island).
7.How do you balance your career and being a mom?
It’s never an easy one because you feel you can’t be 100% at either, but all you can do is just try your best and remind those around you of that as well.
8.Proudest mommy moment(s)?
Both my children have Type 1 Diabetes and have been very involved for years as ambassadors/volunteers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Diabetes Research Institute. Every time I watch them participate at an event my heart swells in awe and pride.
9.Can’t believe that happened mommy moment!
My son loves baseball and had been playing in Little League at the time. I had spent countless hours of my “mom” life sitting in the stands watching his team’s games. During one particular game, I was chatting with another parent saying how of course the one time either I can’t be at a game or need to leave briefly I’ll miss his first home run. Well my daughter, who had been sitting next to me at this same game, suddenly gets a bloody nose so I run her to the bathroom quickly to grab some tissues. And you can guess the rest….
10.Best advice you have gotten from a mom?
Nothing has to be permanent, what works for you and your family today may change tomorrow. And that’s OK…
11.Best piece of advice you can give other moms!
Don’t be hard on yourself, be kind. Surround yourself with positivity and make sure to get rid of any toxicity in your life.
12.One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I absolutely love to travel all over the world and have a bucket list of places I want to visit!