One of Westport’s new, stylish residents is influencer Julia Dzafic. While you may not know how to pronounce her last name on the first try, her blog moniker, Lemon Stripes, easily rolls off the tongue.
Julia began blogging in 2009 and the name, LemonStripes.com, came from her love of healthy food and preppy fashion. Four years ago, Julia left her corporate role in marketing to be a full time influencer. As her life evolves, so does her content.
She covers a myriad of topics, still preppy fashion and healthy food, but also began including topics like motherhood when her daughter, Amalia, was born. “I love talking about motherhood; what I’ve learned and even learning from my followers,” Julia explains, “I love talking about wellness, navigating life with anxiety and cooking in a way that is healthy but doesn’t cost too much or take too much time, sharing palatable recipes and easy to follow tips.”
Whether you’ve read her blog or have seen her bright smile on Instagram (@LemonStripes) you know Julia’s open and honest perspective. With an influx of influencers in the social space, it’s hard to know who is authentic but Julia feels very strongly about keeping the lines of communication open especially when it comes to sponsored content. “I'm very open about when and why I take on paid partnerships and only work with brands and products that I truly love and believe in. I want my followers to know that they can trust me."
Like many of us, Julia is ready for a detox by the time January rolls around. “After the holidays, I am so ready to reset. I eat so much sugar during the holidays- I’m just over it and want to take a break.” She’s regimented in her approach but knows how to avoid burnout, which often happens with rigid resolutions. “Don’t make a New Year’s resolution: make rules for January and don’t make them impossible.” Julia recommends starting small, “cut out something that doesn’t make you feel good. Add more protein, drink more water. It all depends on you and your body.”
Julia’s secret sauce to getting back to feeling her best are three local businesses you probably already know. In the beauty department, she recommends the IndiGLOW facial at Indigo Acupuncture & Wellness. This facial stimulates production of elastin and collagen on a cellular level and finishes with acurolling to release tight muscles in your face, reducing puffiness and leaving your skin glowing.
To stop the sugar cravings, she enjoys the Green & Tonic 5-Day reset. Unlike a traditional juice cleanse, this reset includes juice and seasonal, vegan foods to get your body back to healthy.
To purify her home, Julia swears by products from Open Heart Apothecary. She uses the Purification Crystal Mist to encourage clarity and transformation: perfect for kicking off the year 2020.
While these small businesses are an added plus to Julia, Westport has always been her dream town. Julia, her husband Anel and daughter, Amalia, moved into the community last September and they couldn’t be happier. “We love the sense of community here, the food scene, and proximity to the beach." Quite simply, “the first time we visited Westport, it felt like home." Julia’s favorite thing about living in Westport? That’s easy. “Compo Beach. I find the ocean so calming and we love to pack up dinner and picnic on the beach.”
