27

July
2010

Summer Fit Tips

category: Pre / Postnatal Fitness
by Farel Hruska, No Comments »

Summer is HERE! I don’t think I am alone in feeling like summer is a time for celebration; warm weather, outdoor fun, school’s out, I could go on and on! One of the things summer is known for, however, is the tendency to drop your routine because of trips, vacations, family visiting, etc. While we don’t want you to miss out on the fun, we also don’t want you to take steps back in your fitness journey. Here are some Summer Fit Tips to get your workouts in:
Schedule your day with your workout in the plan-know when and where your workout will take place and honor that commitment to yourself.
Keep it simple-Your workout doesn’t have to be an overly planned event; simply get to your Stroller Strides or Fit4Baby class (or take a class in the town you are visiting on vacation), put your shoes on and get outside.
Look at the movements of your day with an athlete’s perspective-everything you do throughout your day can be part of your “workout”. For example: deep squats when picking up the laundry basket/infant car seat, take the stairs two at a time (and fast), calf raises while washing dishes, glute squeezes in the car on the way to the beach, core rotation while digging a hole in the sand with your toddler…you get the picture!
Prepare for the unexpected-Summer brings with it a relaxed and fluid energy. Try not to get too stressed if the workout didn’t happen when it was supposed to or for as long as you would like. Just make up for it somewhere else.
Most importantly, stay active this summer…you deserve to play and parent in a fit healthy body!

21

July
2010

BabySunX Parasols on Sale!!

category: Franchise
by Summer Hixon, No Comments »

Keep your child cool and protected from the sun this summer. The BabySunX Parasols are the perfect solution. Fashionable, colorful and fully adjustable to fit most every stroller! Get yours today, sale $37.99 and free shipping!

15

July
2010

Are you hormonal?

category: Eco Mom Tips, Lean Mommy, Mom on a Mission
by Stephanie Ramirez, No Comments »

Periods. Pregnancy. Menopause. As a woman, we know that hormones play a big part of our lives. But do you really know how hormones effect your body? Hormones are chemicals that control how your body works. Pregnancy causes incredible changes in your hormones, many of which can last well after the birth of your child. Estrogen acts as a natural mood booster for women and helps stabilize the brain. Progesterone however is more of a depressant. These two hormones exist in a delicate balance with one another. Both of these, among other hormones can become imbalanced in a woman’s lifetime.

Symptoms of hormone imbalance can include any of the following: Depression, fatigue, endometriosis, hair loss or facial hair growth, headaches, low sex drive, osteoporosis, PMS and more. The amounts of the hormones that your body produces can vary based on stress, nutrition, exercise, exposure to artificial hormones and chemicals, and ovulation (or lack of it).

After childbirth, levels of estrogen, progesterone and other hormones plummet causing many physical changes. It helps the womb shrink back to normal size and helps blood volume normalize. However this dramatic drop can also cause depression, also known as the baby blues. You may feel anxiety, irritability and sleep difficulties. In most cases, this resolves on its own, but many women will need to work with their doctor to normalize their hormones.

We are now finding that women are experiencing new imbalances in hormones due to xenoestrogens in the environment. Xenoestrogens have been implicated in a variety of medical problems. Xenoestrogens are industrially made compounds that have estrogenic effects. These can be found in household chemicals, pesticides, food additives and even in the hormones used to grow meat and produce.

We often say that we are “hormonal” but now you know that it goes well beyond your monthly cycle. If you feel like you are suffering from hormone imbalance, talk to your doctor. Take steps to reduce stress, exercise and reduce exposure to chemicals and artificial hormones.

14

July
2010

Finding Flexible Jobs for Working Parents

category: Business4Mom, Mom on a Mission
by Stephanie Ramirez, No Comments »

Summertime and the livin’s easy? As working parents, summer schedules actually tend to significantly increase the strains between life/work balance as we juggle childcare issues, camps and activities, recent upticks in workloads, and also the desire to relax and take time for ourselves.

When Allison O’Kelly, founder of Mom Corps set out to alleviate these same strains she felt as a new mom, she was torn between her fast-track career and her two small boys. O’Kelly saw the need for a niche staffing service that supplied companies access to highly-educated, experienced professionals that were not available through traditional employment channels, and in turn allowed women like herself to work in challenging but flexible roles that provided them life/work balance.

With summer now officially in full-swing, the job market too is finally beginning to heat up again as well. This summer may be one of the best times to find a flexible work arrangement that suits your schedules’ needs, or to begin preparing yourself to start searching for a flexible career this fall.

Here are some tips from Mom Corps for heating up your job search and finding a flexible career:

1. Make it a family decision. Your return to work is going to have a major effect on your family members’ lives as well. It is critical to have the support of those around you to be successful in getting back to work.

2. Set yourself up for success. Establish the support network you need to be able to make this a successful transition. Get childcare, get help around the house if necessary, and prioritize other activities such as exercise, a hobby, or volunteering in order to best adjust to your new work schedule.

3. Get training. Research the critical skills for today’s workforce and figure out what you are missing. Take a course online or at a local community college in order to brush up on the computer and technical skills that have changed in your field since you left, or learn new skills that you feel are important to the new role you want to attain.

4. Update your resume. Your resume is your first impression. Be sure to address any gaps in your resume and to include any activities, leadership positions, or volunteer roles that may have utilized your previous professional skills and helped to keep them fresh. Mom Corps offers a resume writing service through the company’s Expert Resumes program – click here to learn more.

5. Consider contracting volunteer. Instead of re-entering the workforce as a full-time employee, working on contract is an effective way to prove your skills and abilities and show you can get a job done, according to O’Kelly. It also goes on your resume as recent experience and could lead to permanent work. Volunteering is also a great way to build your skill set – pick a program or a role where your former experience is utilized and keep a record of your volunteering “milestones” whether you raised a certain amount of funds or coordinated and promoted a big event.

For more on Mom Corps or to see a list of current jobs, please visit www.momcorps.com. Register and apply to a job in your area today in order to find part-time permanent, full-time flexible, contract, or temporary professional level work.

Allison O'Kelly

Article courtesy of Mom Corps. Allison O’Kelly, a Harvard Business School grad, CPA, and awarded entrepreneur, launched Mom Corps in July 2005. Celebrating its 5^th anniversary this summer, the awarded and highly-publicized company has grown to include 10 franchised locations that serve Fortune 500 and small to mid-size companies and over 50,000+ candidates nationwide.

07

July
2010

Are you a working mom?

category: Business4Mom
by Susan Glosby, No Comments »

ALL moms need inspiration on those hard days with kiddos and our many responsibilities! Being a working mom, adds another ball in your juggling act. Here are a few of my favorite websites for inspiration and sanity.

What are your favorites? Please share in Comments!

www.worklifefit.com Twitter: @caliyost
www.hotmommasproject.org Twitter: @ChiefHotMomma
Sloan Work and Family Research Network Twitter: @SloanNetwork
Wall Street Journal Blog: The Juggle Twitter: @thejuggle
www.workingmother.com Twitter: @_workingmother_

“If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” - Milton Berle

07

July
2010

Introducing the Aquabag!

category: Eco Mom Tips, Favorite Products
by Summer Hixon, No Comments »

I never go anywhere without my water bottle! But I have to say, keeping it cold and carrying it are sometimes a challenge. I was approached by a local Stroller Strides member in San Diego who had the same experience as a breastfeeding mom, you can never get enough water! Well, she came up with this brilliant product: the Aquabag. This insulated bag fits comfortably over your shoulder, or easily over the stroller to carry your water and keep it cool. It even has pockets for your cell phone, keys, and a built in wallet, so you can carry it instead of your purse! I am an active mom and this bag is perfect for hiking, stroller outings, and especially day trips to theme parks, the zoo, etc. I love that I can hold all my personal items on my safely, including my water, and I still have 2 hands free to chase my children! Mom’s come up with the best products!
Get your Aquabag today! Only 29.99.

05

July
2010

I needed fat and I bet you do too!

category: Favorite Products
by Lisa Druxman, 2 Comments »

I have been complaining about some skincare issues for longer than I would like to admit. Here I am living a “healthy” life but my skin is screaming that something is wrong. Ok, If I dissect my body, I also have dry/brittle nails, an ongoing battle with PMS…Ok, enough about me. My friend Carrie, a nutritionist, asked if I’m taking an essential fatty acid (EFA)? Wow, I used to. Totally forgot about this! In a day and age of low fat diets, it’s more important than ever to consider this supplement in your diet. EFA’s are called essential because our body needs them but can’t produce them. We have to get them from dietary sources!

Omega-3 and omega-6 are families of essential fatty acids used to make local hormones that control the local functioning of tissues throughout the body. We need to have a balanced intake of mega-6s and omega-3s for optimal health.

Where can you get Omega-3’s?
- Walnuts
- Fish liver oils
- Human Milk
- Organ Meats
- Fatty Fish (albacore tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines)

Where can you get Omega-6’s?
Corn Oil
Peanut Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Soybean Oil

Deficiencies in EFA’s can range from impaired vision to mood swings to edema to skin problems. Sounds familiar. So, I went to the store and picked up one of Barlean’s oil products. I like this line because they are organic and committed to freshness. I can tell you that in just one week my skin has improved dramatically! I am not a nutritionist or a doctor so check with yours before trying any new nutritional product. But I think this one is worth looking in to!

02

July
2010

Technology Detox

category: Lean Mommy
by Lisa Druxman, No Comments »

I am going on a staycation for one week. And for one week, I am going to turn off email, facebook, twitter, my blog and texting. I’m not usually one for diets but this one is much needed! We are constantly in sensory overload. In fact, while I’m writing this blog, I am getting an I.M. on Skype, a text on my phone and a slew of emails in my inbox. You can’t even veg out when you watch TV. Even they have a stream of additional information going along the screen just so you don’t miss any other news. Talking about short attention span! All these things we do just do be more efficient? Hardly! I think we are missing out. Your brain needs space in order to regenerate and to create new ideas. It needs quiet. I’m pretty sure our children will never know what it is to drive in a car without TV, to sit and read a book without checking text or just to simply write a letter. I know I need to keep with the times and that this is our future. But I for one am going to test out a vacation from it all. I encourage you to do the same at some time!

P.S. – If you see other blog postings while I’m gone, realize it’s because I pre-posted them. Let’s face it. One week of not blogging, tweeting or facebooking could lose me followers! G-d forbid!

30

June
2010

Something Has To Give

category: Business4Mom
by Lisa Druxman, 1 Comment »

No matter what your stage in motherhood, it really is a full-time job. I don’t know a single stay-at-home mom who feels she has extra hours in the day. Now, add running a business to that never-ending job, and it’s easy to see how it’s a formula for becoming overwhelmed. Nevertheless, so many of us hit the trenches each day as both mom and entrepreneur. Personally, I’m on a never-ending journey to make the formula work.

You’ve heard it before. We all have the same 24 hours. So, if we are filling those hours with business and motherhood, something has to give. I asked women all over the country what they have given up in order to be a mom in business, and here’s a sampling of what they said:

•Sleep, time with husband, housecleaning (Marianne S.)
•I have given up all extra time commitments that don’t pass a very simple test: How is this benefitting:
1. my kids
2. my husband
3. peace.
No extra committees or commitments. (Carey F.)
•I don’t give up anything. I just prioritize and focus on what’s most important. (Mindy C.)
•I have given up TV, and I don’t miss it a bit. (Lindsey S.)
•I think the biggest thing I realize I have given up is daydreaming time. However, my life is a wonderful dream with kids adding happiness and joy all of the time that I almost feel that I am living the daydream. (Jamie F.)
•I have given up time with friends. At the end of the day, I want to be with my family. I hope my friends are still around later. (Teresa R.)
•I have given up trying to do it all. My husband is having to step it up. (Amy T.)
•I have given up long exercise sessions. I still get them in, but they are more intense to make up for lost time. (Anne S.)
•I have given up book club. Too much pressure. (Susan K.)
In conversing with these women, I heard guilty confessions of watching too much television, getting lost in Facebook or spending too much time chatting on the phone with friends
. Life is supposed to be fun and rewarding, but make sure those things are truly energizing you and not just sapping your time. If our time is so valuable, we should spend it wisely.
Instead of feeling like I’ve given something up, I feel like I’m maximizing my time. I am very focused on the best use of every day. I am very careful not to schedule in-person meetings, especially if I have to travel to them. I use e-mail first and phone second. I delegate anything I don’t have to do myself. And every day I focus on getting done what will make the biggest difference for my business or my family vs. what just seems urgent.

So, when you say that something has to give, realize that you may be giving yourself a very purposeful life.

——————————————————————————–
Lisa Druxman is Entrepreneur.com’s “Mompreneur” columnist and the founder and CEO of fitness franchise Stroller Strides. Druxman is also a nationally recognized speaker and author, and is considered an expert in the field of fitness, particularly pre- and postnatal fitness. She hosts a free monthly webinar during which she answers questions from fellow mompreneurs. If you are interested in participating, contact her at lisa@strollerstrides.com.

30

June
2010

STRIDE Everyday Panty Party – a hit!

category: Favorite Products
by Stephanie Ramirez, 1 Comment »

One of Stroller Strides’ new partners is a company named STRIDE Everyday. ™ They make an amazing product for active and/or pregnant moms. The product is called STRIDE Femme ™ and it’s panties with built-in light leak protection (think of it as a pantiliner replacement!). Naturally, we were intrigued when they approached us for a marketing partnership. As an all-mom organization whose clients are also all active moms, this is a topic of conversation often! Let’s face it, when you are pregnant, a leaky bladder is something most of us have to or had to deal with. And, if you are active and enjoy running it’s a double wammy! The underwear wick away moisture with a technology called OQUOS ™, a multi-layer absorbent permanent liner that absorbs and deodorizes and keeps you dry. Bonus: they are totally machine-washable. As a mom, who has experienced this personally, I was eager to try the product. I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived in the mail. The underwear are fashionable, made of high quality fabric and the built-in pantiliner is virtually undetectable. No more disposable liners! Pregnancy, coughing, laughing, exercise and even aging all contribute to light leaking, but with STRIDE Femme, you don’t have to worry. We wanted to see how the product would fair among our franchisees so in certain markets around the country our franchisees are hosting “Panty Parties” and are sampling the product to local moms. Sounds, funny, but at our first panty party at the Knoxville, TN franchise, the product was a hit. Well, the moms were giggling of course, but the conversation that followed proved that there are a lot of moms in need of such a product! I only wish I had known about it when I was pregnant with my son! I used to joke that he was exercising on my bladder the entire time I carried him! No more pity party over your leaky bladder!

The products are available online or at various retailers around the country. Visit www.StrideEveryday.com for more info.

Disclosure: We received the underwear at no cost to facilitate this review

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