FIND YOUR FAIRYTALE; FIND

FIND YOUR Fairytale. FIND YOUR Community.by Sorboni Banerjee, IG @sorbonified

Once upon a time… you trusted in happily ever after. Swords slayed dragons. Magic saved the day. True love’s kiss healed evil. We tell our children fairytales, but when was the last time you told yourself one—and believed it?

At the beginning of the pandemic and at the height of the lockdown, I filled the evening hours researching fairytales for my next novel. Original fairytales are dark and twisted. Yet somehow these cautionary tales where you can dance to your death in hot iron shoes/have your eyes pecked out by birds/be poisoned by an apple morphed over the years into sweet promises that dreams really do come true. Yup. We hijacked those fables and slapped on a “happily ever after.”

But what is happily ever after? Being a news anchor and reporter by day, I did what any good journalist would do. I asked.

I decided to start a live Instagram series called "Find Your Fairytale." I invite authors, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, chefs, influencers, therapists and more to tell me their fairytale. What are the dragons of doubt they had to slay along the way? Are they living their happily ever after? Is there such a thing?

After almost a year of interviews, the parallel advice is clear. Whether from a courageous female war correspondent, lacrosse world champ, Black activist breaking down racial tension or TikTok star, there are common themes about how to find your fairytale.

BLOCK OUT THE NOISE. STEAL TIME.

My first interview was with a young adult author who had just We are parents. We have to chase time like it’s a toddler who gone viral over a passionate explanation of race relations in ate too much candy zigzagging just out of reach in a crowded America. Kimberly Latrice Jones told a story from when she was room. Every person I interviewed had to claw back time from a development assistant on “Being Bobby Brown” and blew in the day. Author and father Jeff Zentner told me he wrote his all excited to tell Whitney Houston to read a glowing arti- books on his phone, on his commute on the bus, with his cle. Whitney told Jones, “No baby, I don’t read any thumbs. It takes commitment and being ready to of it. If I believe the good, then I also have to use every moment at any given moment. believe the bad, and I don’t want to believe anything that’s exterior to me.” EMBRACE CHANGE. The advice stuck with Jones. Ever since, she has said that to find your Just ask Maggie Rodriguez. The former FIND YOUR COMMUNITY. fairytale, “the power is within you, anchor of CBS’s Morning Show stepped away I did this all virtually, never exand you cannot allow things, from her network television career to be with her pecting to find such an amazing good or bad, exterior to you, to kids. Rodriguez says that to find your fairytale, em- group of teachers, mentors and tell you who you are and what brace the different seasons of your life. “I don’t believe now, friends. I de-cluttered with you’re capable of.” in regret at all. It’s such a wasted emotion. What about local minimalist couple Lauren right now? Just either live in the moment or be actively Davenport and Daniel Fernanworking towards a goal.” Now that her kids are older, she’s dez. I cooked with Master Chef back on TV in Tampa. And the fairytale plot changes, again. Jeff Philbin. I learned how to DON’T FEAR FAILURE. To find your fairytale you have to know when it’s time for paint watercolors with local Singer and comedian Sheena Melwani said the same. “Be yourself. I wasted so many years trying to be what I thought people wanted to see from me, just hiding certain sides of me.” She sings online. Her husband interthat change. Tampa entrepreneur Melanie Griffin shifted from law to founding Spread Your Sunshine motivational stationary. She pointed out that when you’re bored, you start dropping balls. But when you’re chasing your passion, even when it’s hard, you’re focused and committed. Listen to those feelings. artist and mom Katie White. I found my community—and my fairytale. I live happily ever after every day when I find kindred spirits interested in exploring ways to better connect and live our best lives. My co-author on my next novel, fellow rupts and heckles her and comedy ensues. Tampa mom Dominique Richardson, She has millions of followers she never saw summed it up perfectly on a text the other day. coming. “You have to find your own version of what “For some it’s activism, some it’s finding beauty your ‘happy’ fairytale is.” and joy and sharing it. For others it’s going out on a limb You cannot compare your happy to someone else’s or to a definition you used to hold. Because guess what? A fairytale can change. And that’s okay. and putting your art out there and being surprised by the response. It’s leaning into the things you care about and finding ways to help others with the same passions you have.” Nurture your dream like it’s your child. Tell yourself a fairytale… about yourself.

JUST

ONE

One sister. One brother. Mother. Neighbor. Cab driver. Restaurant chef. Delivery specialist. One nurse. One physician. One video call. One person to just listen. Or hold a hand. One virus. And one year. A whole year that drove us apart while bringing us together. To fight an uphill battle as one. So that we could protect those who depend on us even when they felt like all was lost. In each one of us, lies the power of many.

Strength. Resilience. Hope.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Together As One Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine • The Johns Hopkins Hospital • Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Howard County General Hospital • Sibley Memorial Hospital • Suburban Hospital • Johns Hopkins HealthCare • Johns Hopkins Home Care Group Johns Hopkins Medicine International • Johns Hopkins Community Physicians MAY 2021 TampaBayParenting.com • Johns Hopkins Children’s Center 15

Design + Function: Shopping Local

by Kylie Ponton and Laura Frasor

For more than two decades, interior designers and home organization experts Kylie Ponton and Laura Frasor have helped keep Tampa Bay homes as organized as they are beautiful. Both transplants who love their new hometown of Tampa, they are enthusiastic about finding local sources for design inspiration and organizational bliss.

Kylie Ponton Laura Frasor

PONTON is the principal designer and CEO of Ponton Interiors, a boutique design firm that specializes in luxury residential and sophisticated commercial projects. Her passion for travel and adventure brought her from her native Australia to the United States, and she now calls Tampa home. FRASOR owns Neat Method Tampa. Her passion for organization and a clean design aesthetic has allowed her to establish a growing client base in the Tampa Bay Area. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Laura has called Tampa home for the past 13 years. She loves watching her son play sports and her daughter ride horses and enjoys the incredible weather year round.

THE STORES:

BLOOM GARDEN SHOP: 3005 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa bloomtampa.com; (813) 805-2151

CLAYTON GRAY HOME: 2021 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa claytongrayhome.com; (813) 250-3663 SCHILLERS ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN SALVAGE: 1002 N. Rome Ave., Tampa schillersalvage.com; (813) 443-4641

CANDLE POUR: Hyde Park Village: 734 S. Village Circle, Tampa thecandlepour.com; (813) 284-0621

CONTAINER STORE TAMPA: 4720 W. Spruce St., Tampa (813) 774-4060

WE ASKED PONTON AND FRASER TO SHARE

INSPIRED HOME FURNISHINGS SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS: clayton gray home

When Ponton furnishes and styles projects, she often looks to Clayton Gray Home for beautiful accent pieces and fab furnishings. The Tampa shop is an extension of Clayton Gray Home’s website, which carries over 8,000 products sourced from unique creators. In addition to larger furniture pieces and options to create custom items, the store carries smaller gifts and accessories, perfect for grab and go occasions.

NEAT METHOD

“NEAT Method has recently developed our own line of products that have become a personal favorite and my new go-to,” Frasor says. From quality craftsmanship to gorgeous clean lines and function, you can’t go wrong with products like the acacia line in kitchens and the grid and perforated baskets. Find them at www.neatmethod.com and also in select Bloomingdales across the country.

neat method

THE CONTAINER STORE

The Container Store is the backbone of the organization game. The Tampa store has thousands of staples for functional and maintainable organization. “A few of my personal favorites are the OXO storage containers for your kitchen and pantry and the weathertight totes for garage storage,” Frasor says.

bloom garden shop

GREENERY

The right indoor tree adds a little drama, brings in the outdoors and connects us to nature. Indoor greenery can also promote a positive mood and add the value of air purification. “Indoor plants and trees aren’t just part of the biophilic buzz; we’ve used them in our interiors for years!” Ponton says. “We love Bloom Garden Shop for a fresh plant pick up as well as local knowledge on how to care for your new addition.”

KIDS ROOMS

c h i llers architectural and d When organizing kids’ rooms and playrooms, it’s fun to play off the style and decor of the room to make the organization an extension of the space. Frasor likes Pottery Barn Kids & Teen along with Restoration Hardware Kids & Teen for easy sourcing of gorgeous esign salvage baskets to store frequently used toys, crafts and accessories. s

UNIQUE CONVERSATION STARTERS

Schillers Architectural and Design Salvage is a fantastic local resource for quirky finds, reclaimed flooring and unusual antiques that are environment-friendly and make for great conversation starters. “We love stopping by Schillers for inspiration and historical remnants,” Ponton says. “We have found unusual cabinetry hardware, interior doors and gates and unique materials to create table tops for custom projects.”

the candle pour

CANDLES AS ACCESSORIES

Candles make the perfect host/ess gift and also become a wellplaced accessory. We love The Candle Pour in Hyde Park Village for simple and elegant vessels you can fill with your own custom candle pour scent to create a truly customizable accessory that appeals to multiple senses.