These two ladies are no strangers to Fairfield. They are the brains and beauty behind Fairfield Magazine; Robin Phillips (left) “Editor of Fairfield Magazine” and Camille Giacomazza (right) “Advertising Account Executive”. Fairfield Magazine reaches almost 40,000 households bi-monthly and if you are like us you love when you get the magazine in the mailbox! There is also the holiday issue and the town guide so these ladies definitely stay busy!
We bring them to you on the week leading up to Taste of Fairfield, an event that sells out every year, bringing in over 40 local restaurants to the Delamar Hotel. If you don’t have your tickets get them today, it usually sells out a few days before! Also this year bring the kids and drop them off in the kids area equipped with babysitters, bounce house, crafts, face painting, entertainment and more!
Where are you originally from and how long have you been in the area?
(R) I grew up in New Hampshire and Providence, RI and have been in Fairfield for 14 years.
(C) I am originally from California (San Francisco Bay Area) I have been on the East Coast for 20 years.
Children / Age(s)
(R) Lily is 17 and Owen is 13
(C) I have 3 kids – 18 year old boy Nick and girl Bella twins and a 15 year old son Vince
One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
(R) I love health and medicine and at one point, thought about becoming a doctor until I realized all that schooling, blood, and guts wasn’t for me.
(C) I had my own radio show in college.
One thing you wish someone would have told you about motherhood?
(R) I always tell new moms to trust their gut on decisions and issues–as much as they feel they are clueless and desperate for advice and guidance from others. So much of being a mom does come naturally if you listen to your inner voice. It took me a while to figure that out. Sometimes you just have to tune out other people’s opinions.
(C) I think a lot of people told me a lot of things about motherhood and I didn’t listen because I was determined to make it work no matter what. I am sure they were all right.
Favorite local things to do in Fairfield?
(R) My family and I love the traditions and events in Fairfield – like the Memorial Day parade, Halloween on the Green, the Pequot Art Show, and of course, Taste of Fairfield.
(C) Go to the beach, walk the neighborhood with my dog and get together with friends at the local hot spots.
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Fairfield?
(R) The schools, the schools, the schools! We have the best teachers, principals, support, Board of Ed., and community anywhere.
(C) My favorite thing about raising a family in Fairfield is that there is something here for everyone. Its amazing that through all of the activities your kids end up participating in you create connections with families that continue to come back. Also, as my kids are grown I am realizing how much more there is still to do for my husband and I.
Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant? Date night?
(R) We love Hub & Spoke and the Black Rock area, and my kids new current fave is Birdman Juke Joint. Date night is usually at Artisan or Grey Goose.
(C) Our favorite family go to is Brick and Wood and date night is The Chelsea, we love to sit at the bar.
What is your go-to activity for your family? For yourself?
(R) We love to go to to museums and to the theater. I like to hang out with my dachshunds and a read great book or a pile of magazines.
(C) We always enjoyed skiing together but I have to say that our activities have changed as our kids have gotten older. Now that they are away at college we really enjoy anytime that we are all together with our extended family. My favorite go to activity is running outside and watching the seasons change.
Funniest part that you’ve learned about parenthood?
(R) That no matter how much you plan ahead, one of the kids is usually going to be 1) running late, 2) complaining or 3) in a bad mood and that you just have to roll with it and try to make people laugh along the way.
(C) That my kids remember everything.
Best mom hack that makes your life easier?
(R) Food prep delivery services like Green Chef and Hello Fresh are the best–and teaching your kids to cook them is a life-changer!
(C) Going to Sport Hill Farm in Easton. I always know everything I buy from there is grown with love and tastes amazing without having to do much to the food.
Name one thing you regret when learning the ropes of parenthood and what you have learned from it?
(R) All moms (and dads) lose it sometimes–they blow up and have meltdowns as big as some toddlers do. I learned pretty early on that kids model your behavior and if YOU find ways to manage stressful situations better you are showing them how they, too, can get through a bad day or cope with stress and problems.
(C) I learned that there are no regrets and that if you are trying your best your kids will know they are loved.
Tell us about Fairfield Magazine, and the reason you love working for the magazine.
(R) I didn’t start Fairfield Magazine, but am proud to have been its editor for seven years. I love bringing the people, the homes, and businesses to life in the pages of the magazine — the first and original magazine for Fairfield. We also started Taste of Fairfield to celebrate local chefs, restaurants, and the food scene–at one of my favorite places–the Delamar Hotel–and we’re so thrilled it’s as popular as it is.
(C) I started working at TownVibe 2 years ago. I had come from having my own interior design business and Fairfield Magazine was an ideal way to continue to meet new people and be creative. I am able to merge my sales, media and design backgrounds into one job and that is why I started there.
How do you market Fairfield Magazine?
(R) One of the main ways I try to build the Fairfield Magazine & TownVibe brand is through our events and also by collaborating as a media sponsor with local non-profits like Norma Pfreim Breast Center, Center for Family Justice, Operation Hope, Fairfield Museum, and others. Collaborations with advertisers—spearheaded by our marketing & sales manager Camille Giacomazza—are also terrific brand building strategies. I worked for years for national magazines and we do what they do, just on a hyper-local scale.
(C) Thankfully TownVibe works hard to promote all of their magazines which include Fairfield, Norwalk, Wilton, Ridgefield, Litchfield and Berkshires. I work closely with Robin Phillips to market our platform as well as all of the events we participate in. Instagram and Facebook are great because we are able to go behind the scenes of a lot of our projects.
If you hadn’t been in this business, what do you think you would be doing today?
(R) I might have been a DJ – something I loved doing in college.
(C) I actually have no idea.
Was it hard to start building your career while you had children?
(R) Not really — my job is really flexible and I can do so much of it remotely that I find a way to juggle it all.
(C) When my kids were little I did freelance marketing for Happy Family Brand. My friend started the company in Brooklyn and I would work from home coming up with ideas to grow the company. When we moved and I was in charge of renovating our home I got into interior design. I never thought about a brand (FairfieldCountyCamille) until I started at the Magazine. So clearly it was hard for me because I didn’t really do it until my kids were older.
Best advice for moms who experience the inevitable MOM GUILT handing a career and a family?
(R) I think it is so important for women to have a career IF that is their passion and so they should never feel guilty for using their talents/education/skills at a job or even in volunteer work. I do think it is important to carve out special time for the husband and each child, though. I am a big fan of quality over quantity. And again — if kids see happy, fulfilled parents–whether mom is working or not— there is something really healthy about that.
(C) I am beyond guilt at this point. My best advice is to be realistic with yourself and only compare you to you. If you make progress, even if it takes years that is something to celebrate.
Who has influenced you the most to be the mother that you are today?
(R) My fabulous mom who taught me to cook and showed me, among other things, how important it is to make healthy, good food and make time to eat and talk. And my kids who both are proud of me and impressed by the work and jobs I have, and who both seem to expect of me what they want for themselves: passions to follow, and talents/skills being put to the best use.
(C) My own mom has influenced me the most however, I am really lucky to also have an amazing mother in law. They are so different from each other but have taught me so much.
What advice would you share with a new mom?
(R) Never forget who you were before you were a mom…soon enough you will be looking at an empty next. If you are fulfilled and have more than just being “mom” to make you happy, then you will find joy at every stage of your life.
(C) Best advice is to be patient because family always finds a way in.
Tell us about your upcoming event Taste of Fairfield? What should we expect and where do we buy tickets?
Taste of Fairfield is going to be awesome as always! Robin has secured so many amazing restaurants. We have some great surprises this year including brides and jewelry too! Tickets can be purchase on-line HERE!
Hair and Makeup done by Gavali –
Gabriella Travali and Alyssa Gonzales
245 Black Rock Turnpike 203-450-1581 www.gavalisalon.com