I recently interviewed Melissa and Kirk Reed, the owners of CrossFit 203 of Danbury to find out why their gym in Danbury is so popular.  I might have to take them up on their Free Trial Class too!  

There's a big difference between most gyms in Danbury, CT and CrossFit 203 of Danbury.  For example the Fitness Edge of Danbury is where most people to go not to work out!  They pay their $20 membership and head to the gym when they feel motivated.  At CrossFit 203 of Danbury it's not just a gym to belong to so you can say you "I belong to a gym".  CrossFit 203 of Danbury is a community of people who have made their fitness a priority in their lives.

They have many different kinds of classes including Bootcamp Style Fitness Classes that involve no barbell work and are an excellent way to get in shape without lifting the heavy weights that CrossFit is known for.  CrossFit 203 of Danbury also has endurance classes that involve a ton of different endurance based exercises without the heavy weight lifting.

If you're into the heavy weight lifting they have an Olympic barbell class that meets weekly!  The most popular classes at the gym are their CrossFit Classes.  They have a healthy schedule of class times that is convenient for the working families.

CrossFit 203 is located in Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut at 16 Beaver Brook Rd, Danbury, CT 06810.  You can find their gym on the map below.

We recently expanded outside of of the Danbury area into Fairfield, Westport and Norwalk.  This week we interviewed Mel Schwartz, a Marriage Counselor out of Westport, Connecticut.  He really impressed us with his professional accomplishments and the fact that he was featured on a Ted Talk! 

Mel talked to us about many different things, but most importantly we interviewed him about his therapeutic services.  Mel Schwartz offers a variety of different therapies including:

• Couples Counseling
• Divorce Transition
• Pre-Marital Counseling
• Parenting
• Family Counseling
• Individual Issues
• Overcoming anxiety or depression
• Creating Authentic Self-Esteem
• Mentoring Adolescents and Young Adults

You can contact Mel Schwartz Marriage Counselor directly at 203-227-5010 or look at his website.

I find that being wed to a single therapeutic approach—psychoanalytic, Jungian, or cognitive behavioral therapy, for example—would be limiting. I tailor my therapeutic engagement in a more customized, bespoke way by integrating multiple disciplines, which provide me many tools in my toolbox. I trust that we’ll find the most effective method for you early in our work together. My perspectives have been very greatly influenced by innovative thinkers from outside of my field. My orientation is toward systems thinking, philosophy, and the emerging sciences, which allow me to facilitate cutting edge methods into my practice.

I don’t diagnose my clients other than for insurance requirements. Diagnosing tends to turn people into objects, We all struggle at times and I resist the practice of labeling and pathologizing people. My intention is to connect with empathy yet offer insight, and guidance when helpful. I invite you into a co-participatory yet compassionate process and help clarify and facilitate your path forward. I use all of the skills, experience, and knowledge available to me to ensure that you’ll achieve your goals.
I believe in everyone’s potential and devote myself to helping people manifest their possibilities. My work isn’t truly work—it’s my most passionate calling. I am proactive and share any part of my own journey that may be helpful in assisting others.

Unlike many therapists, I don’t simply focus on your childhood and past. Although we need to appreciate and frame your life experiences, I focus more on providing you with the tools to become the master of your life. Freeing yourself from the experiences and imprint of your past is altogether achievable.
​
If you have a goal you wish to achieve and have the willful intention to do so, there’s no reason we shouldn’t succeed.

Mel Schwartz - Marriage Counselor and Therapist in Westport CT
246 Post Rd E Suite 275
Westport, CT 06880

Helpful Links:
Mel Schwartz, Marriage Counselor in Psychology Today
Mel Schwartz, Marriage Counselor at Good Men Project
Mel Schwartz, Marriage Counseling at The Couples Expert

Our Westport Interviewing team was super excited when they got back to the office after sitting down with Mel Schwartz for an hour on that Thursday afternoon.  One thing that they learned more than anything else was how to put things into perspective.  Interviewing Mel Schwartz Marriage Counselor was like interviewing a professional athlete, but of the mind.  He had so many tips, tools and tricks that he shared with our team that we are forever thankful for his time and energy!

Contact Mel Directly at 203-227-5010.

This week we interviewed Newtown Landscaping Pro located in Newtown, Connecticut.  They have been in business for the last 3 years and work with over 30 homeowners across Sandy Hook and Newtown.  Newtown is the biggest town in Connecticut in terms of acreage!  Chris the owner of Newtown Landscaping Pro tells me that they haven't scratched the surface when it comes to how many clientele they provide property maintenance for.

In both Newtown and Sandy Hook we offer a complete variety of lawn services for your every need including:

• Property Maintenance
• Lawn Mowing & Edging (think about that weed whacker you used to own)
• Spring & Fall Clean Ups
• Bed Mulching
• Bed Maintenance
• Pruning of Shrubs and Small Trees
• Hedge Trimming
• Weeding
• Aeration & Overseeding
• Tree Removal (dead tree removal - we are not a tree service)
• Grass Trimming
• Landscape Design
• Patio Design
• Backyard Design & Installation
• Hardscaping
• Sod Installation
• Brush Removal
• Mulching & Edging (similar to bed maintenance)

We absolutely do!  Free Estimates is the name of the game for growing our Lawn Care Company.  We offer a 100% free and non-obligatory estimate on any lawn related service that you need.  One of our crew will come to your home to look at the lawn work that needs to be done.  You'll get an estimate on the spot for said lawn work and if you'd like to think about it - just give us a call.

We never employ high-pressure sales tactics to get you to buy.  That's the wrong way to do business.  We're in the business of creating relationships, not trying to make a quick buck.  So get a few estimates and get to meet other landscaping companies to see which one you'd like over your home.

You can visit Newtown Landscaping Pro's website at www.newtownlandscapingpro.com or give them a call directly to get your free estimate at: 

https://goo.gl/maps/6xs7Kp3kKMiUW3PJ8

Today I met with David from Kent Lawn & Landscaping in Kent, Connecticut to learn about his new lawn care business.  David is a younger guy who's been working his tail off for a larger company for years.  David's father works for the landscaping company as well.  His whole family depends on having enough work to put food on the table.

The problem is - sometimes there isn't enough work.  

David decided to start Kent Lawn & Landscaping that focuses on providing quality lawn services to the homeowners in Kent, Connecticut.  The lawn services he offers includes:

• Lawn Mowing
• Spring & Fall Clean Ups
• Bed Mulching & Bed Maintenance
• Pruning/Hedge Trimming
• Weeding
• Aeration/Overseeding
• Tree Removal
• Grass Trimming
• Landscape Design
• Patio Design
• Backyard Design & Installation
• Hardscaping (for that outdoor fireplace your husband always wanted!)
• Sod Installation
• Brush Removal
• Mulching and Edging

The biggest different between Kent Lawn & Landscaping and other lawn care companies is our attention to detail.  We're a newer company and looking to make a name for ourselves.  Every single blade of grass is perfectly cut to make sure your lawn looks amazing.  The next time that you have your friends over your house we expect that they'll be asking you who does your lawn care.  

That's how our business will grow!  Quality work breeds quality referrals - that's how I look at it.  

You can visit Kent Lawn & Landscaping's website at www.kentlawnlandscaping.com or call David directly for a free quote on your next job at 860-265-4742.

I met with Mr. Tree Service of Fairfield which is located in Fairfield Connecticut in the Fairfield County area and talked about his new tree service.  He recently moved up Fairfield Connecticut after running a successful tree company in Naples, FL for 25 years.  One thing that separates his Tree Service Company from the other companies around the Fairfield area is that he's 100% lisenced and insured.  

Many homeowners don't realize that after Hurricane Sandry ripped through Connecticut that everyone had a get rich quick scheme of becoming a tree service.  Many regular contractors with little to no experience felling trees became "tree services" and got into tree work.

You can visit his website at www.treeservicefairfield.com or give him a call directly at 203-242-7510.

Removing Trees is one of our specialties.  We have a highly trained and experienced tree cutting crew that handles tricky removals from many homeowners throughout Fairfield Connecticut.  Doing a tree removal yourself is one of the most dangerous things we see people do.  

​Take tree removal seriously and hire a professional!

Tree Stump Grinding is one of our core services at Mr. Tree Service of Fairfield because after you cut down a tree you'll still have the stump sticking out of the ground.  I like the call the stump, the second half of the tree because it's like doing another job.

We bring this big machine in, the stump grinder and hover it over the stump as it slowly chips away at the stump.  You'll certainly get a lot of wood chips as we remove the stump.

I sat down with Dr. Glenn MacFarlane of WiltonDentist.com on Friday to learn about the new dental office located in Wilton, Connecticut.  There are many different kinds of Dentists in Wilton from Cosmetic Dentists, Pediatric Dentists, Orthodontists, but never had I heard before about Sedation Dentists.

Apparently, this new form of dentistry - sedation dentistry has been around for a long time.  They simply give you a little pill and do the procedure then you wake up when the work is done.  No laughing gas, no needles (I can't stand needles) and no stress.

Dr. Mac who's originally from New Jersey has been performing cosmetic dentistry and sedation dentistry for a number of years.  He's got an extensive background in the field and a wealth of experience fixing smiles for pageant winners.  

You can reach their dental office at 203-567-4866 or visit them online at WiltonDentist.com

For the past 20 years, Glenn MacFarlane has been the official Cosmetic Dentist to the Miss New Jersey and Mrs. New Jersey America pageants
Glenn MacFarlane, D.M.D., referred to as “Doc Smile” by his pageant winners for his award winning cosmetic dental work, is an aesthetic focused dentist.  He has dedicated over 32 years to brightening smiles across the country.
 
A lifelong New Jersey resident, Dr. MacFarlane was born in Newark and grew up in Belleville and North Arlington. He attended the Seton Hall Prep School in South Orange and later earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Fairleigh Dickson University in Madison.  His Doctor of Dental Medicine degree was obtained from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1985.
 
Dr. MacFarlane now performs expert cosmetic dentistry in Wilton, CT and his other office in NJ.  Using the latest technology available combined with cutting edge restorative dentistry materials, he is able to offer complete smile restoration.
 
Dr. Glenn “Doc Smile” MacFarlane is part of several prestigious dental organizations including:
American Dental Association

• The Academy of Laser Dentistry
  
• The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  
• The Academy of General Dentistry
  
• The American Academy of Facial Esthetics
  
• The Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics
  
• The American Academy of Implant Dentistry
  
• The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

 
​Besides working on aspiring pageant contenders, Dr. MacFarlane is proud to say that working class people who simply want to impress their friends and family constitute the majority of his clients.  Little known fact - Dr. MacFarlane has lectured in over 16 countries for a prominent dental laser company while authoring smile enhancement articles in National Dental and Leisure Publications.
 
Dr. Glenn "Doc Smile" MacFarlane has been featured in many publications including:

• Dentaltown
  
• Dental Products Report
  
• Dental Economics
  
• New Jersey Monthly
  
• New Jersey Life
  
• Wedding Bells
  
• New Jersey Bridal Magazines

 
Outside of recreating wonderful smiles, meticulously placing dental implants or treating sleep apnea, Dr. MacFarlane spends time with his two daughters, Perri and Christina, who have all grown up in the blink of an eye.

Today I met with Rick from Family Martial Arts Center, a local Martial Arts School in Brookfield, CT 06804.  Their studio offers kids classes for a variety of disciplines including Taekwondo, Karate and much more.  I'm not an expert in throwing punches or kicking, but after sitting down with Rick for an hour I learned that FMAC is much more than that.

Family Martial Arts Center or FMAC has been a part of the local Brookfield Community for years.  They regular have Karate Classes for Kids, Teens and Adults.  

Karate Classes, Martial Arts Classes, Taekwondo Classes, the list goes on and on.  I learned during our conversation that many times the words karate, martial arts and taekwondo mean the same thing to many parents, but those different arts are much different in the world of martial arts.

I thought that Karate and Martial Arts was simply the same thing, but that Taekwondo was something completely different, similar to Muay Thai.  Rick, the owner of FMAC corrected me many times during our conversations about this martial arts dojo (as I called it) that there's a big difference between the different kinds of techniques. 

I asked him repeatedly what term is used the most frequently for this martial arts school, because like the terms taekwondo or karate, the words school, dojo and studio often mean the same thing.  He explained that many people are looking for "Martial Arts Schools in Brookfield" but often the same people search for "Taekwondo Academies in Brookfield" or "Karate Dojos in Brookfield".  

Our conversation was long and confusing, but what I learned is that Rick really knows his stuff.  He's been working with kids at FMAC for a number of years and has a great group that he works with on a regular basis.

Often times kids will enroll in their very first martial arts class and work with FMAC until their teen years.  He says it's a wonderful thing seeing kids he's worked with as toddlers grow up with the help of martial arts discipline. 

Family Martial Arts Center is conveniently located on 14 Del Mar Dr in Brookfield, CT.  It's in the same plaza as John's Pizza, Computer Trouble Shooters and Massage Mend Me.  Del Mar Drive is off of Federal Road in Brookfield.  

Rick explains that many of the kids from New Milford, Bethel and sometimes Danbury attend his classes as well.  It seems that parents will drive a little ways for a good instructor like Rick.

You can learn more about FMAC's Class offerings, Class Schedule or Try a FREE Martial Arts Class by visiting his website at www.family-mac.com or calling 203-441-0808.

I sat down with Luke Huizinga of Mechanical Detail Plumbing in Southbury, CT for our interview.  Luke is a straight forward, warm, friendly individual who is loved by many.  He's a competent business owner, and Luke Huizinga won the Commit To Be Fit Challenge over at Prime Time Fitness which is actually how we got into contact.

Luke is a local plumber, father and often takes time to work in the community.  His small plumbing company has just grown to 3 employees as he does the right work for the right people.  He can be found fixing ac units, repairing heaters, troubleshooting boilers or simply turning on the water for someone who thought their washing machine was broken.  Although Luke will shy away from Appliance Repair he certainly will help anyone that needs anything repaired in their home.

He's a member of PCNG, a local networking group and the other members swear by his handyman skills.  He's a millennial, but a hard working smart one at that.  Hopefully we'll see a new breed of hard working millennial in the upcoming years.. Hopefully.  

Need help with Plumbing?  Contact www.eliteplumbersct.com/danbury-plumbing today.

Many people are searching for Landscape Designers in Connecticut especially in the lower Fairfield County towns such as Ridgefield, Westport, New Canaan, Wilton and Fairfield.  It seems like every landscaper out there is now calling themselves a landscape design specialist.

I sat down with Chris & Paul of Growing Solutions Landscaping & Design to get their expert opinion on finding the right landscape or garden designer to work with.   Their Full Service Landscaping Company services all of Fairfield County and is located in Ridgefield, CT.

Honestly, it can be a troublesome task finding the right landscape designer near you.  We're often speaking with a prospective homeowners who've already talked with half a dozen "designers" who have remarked that they've never even sat down with the designer on staff.  We've got a full-time landscape designer, Brid, who works with us and collaborates with all our clients.

First and foremost you'll want to make sure that if you're talking with a landscaping company that they have a full-time designer on staff.  The second thing I'd watch for is their certifications.  It's expensive to maintain these certifications and most lawn care professionals don't keep theirs up for that very reason.  Paul and I are both NOFA accredited organic land care professionals.  I'm also a Connecticut State Licensed Arborist and Paul is a Accredited Turf Manager.  Paul also carries a Connecticut State Custom Grounds License.  Our Landscape Designer, Brid Craddock is a Connecticut Master Gardener and is serving as the president of the Connecticut Chapter of the Association for Professional Landscape Designers. 

Often times you'll see landscape companies without the slightest bit of certification.  It's unfortunate to see homeowners get taken advantage of by smooth talking lawn maintenance guys.  It's not rocket science to lay down a set of new patio pavers, but when a heavy rain storm comes you'll find out who is an irrigation expert.

I'm not at all surprised by that question!  We actually field many questions about landscaping ideas or garden design ideas on a weekly basis.  Often times people aren't 100% sure what they want.  We always suggest to hop on pinterest to find some inspiration or sit down with our Landscape Designer.  Many homeowners throughout Connecticut wonder the same thing, but often don't get a chance to find those answers.

You can find Growing Solutions Landscaping and Design online at www.growso.com or call them directly at (203) 423-3626.  You may also visit them at the link below:

Today I met with Corby from Pro Landscaping of Brookfield.  Their Lawn Care Company offers many services including mowing, trimming, pruning, mulching, bed maintenance and much more.  He was right on time to the interview unlike most of the other landscapers I've had the pleasure of sitting down with in the past.  

​He helps many residents in Brookfield, Southbury, Newtown and other Fairfield County towns with their property maintenance.  

I started Pro Landscaping of Brookfield two years ago and we're rapidly growing due to the hard work our team has been putting in.  One of the best choices I've ever made was handpicking my staff.  I'm lucky to have such a great team to work with on a daily basis.  Landscaping Companies make or break depending on how good their staff members are.  Many of them reside locally in nearby towns such as Danbury, Newtown and Oxford.

Opening up any business is difficult.  There's always hoops to jump through and often unexpected obstacles.  We've been more fortunate than most Lawn Care Companies in Connecticut because of my personal business experience.  Having business experience in the past definitely gave Pro Landscaping of Brookfield a distinct advantage over the competition.  

Corby was a great guy to get to know.  He and I traded laughs as he explained the humble beginnings of Pro Landscaping of Brookfield.  Not all Landscapers are full service.  He explained that Full Service meant that he not only offers mowing and trimming like the other landscapers in Brookfield, but he always offers mulching, pruning, weeding, mosquito control, property maintenance, tick spraying and much more.  See all the service offered at www.prolandscapingbrookfield.com!  If you're a resident of the Town of Brookfield you should definitely give Pro Landscaping of Brookfield a call.  They've got the one stop solution for all your lawn care needs. 

Pro Landscaping of Brookfield
24 Farview Rd
Brookfield, CT 06804
​(203) 769-9835