Mid-Month Class & Playgroup Update

Many of you may have already received this news via your email Inbox but I want to make sure you're all getting the latest info so here it is again...

Hello Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh Members & Class Pass Holders!

This is a quick mid-month update to keep you all in the loop...

• Fall Schedule Changes: We're adding a new class time/location in late September! To accommodate a growing group of moms and varied sleep schedules for the little ones we're going to open a 10am class on Mondays and Wednesdays at Shelley Lake. The start date and exact location where class will meet will be forthcoming soon... stay tuned! Meanwhile, North Hills classes will continue to meet MWF at 9am. After Labor Day (Oct 6th) the NCMA Museum Park classes will move to a 9:30am start time on T/Th.

• Found: 2 New Playgroup Captains!: Sharon Morris will stay on to serve as Playgroup Captain for another 6 months and will be joined by 2 new Co-Captains; Krista Welty and Amy Ruetz. A big thank you to Nora Bray, who is stepping down at the end of this moth, for serving as our inaugural Playgroup Captain for the past year. We owe a year's worth of fun and friendship to your time and efforts- thank you for your service!

• 5K Training Program: Our "Midtown Moms on the Run" 5K Training Program will start Oct 4th and culminate in the Jingle Bell Run (5K) on Dec 3rd. Group training runs will be on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 8:30am in the Midtown/N.Raleigh area. Strollers, beginners and experienced runners welcome! There is a discount for active Stroller Strides Members & Class Pass Holders! Click HERE for more information and to access the registration form.

~ Team Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh ~

The Cinderella Project Dress Giveaway Day!

Our Luna Moms Club playgroup (sponsored by the makers of Luna Bars and by Stroller Strides) generally meets for fun activities for either the kids, the moms, or both. In addition to our fun activities we take a little time every quarter to do a service project and call this portion of our playgroup "Moms with a Mission". In the past we've done charity walks/runs and collected canned goods but this year our group has gone above and beyond- all thanks to the tireless energy and creativity of our Moms with a Mission Coordinator, Jennifer Anderson!


Most recently we donated formal wear to an annual event: The Cinderella Project. The dresses were collected by the Meredith College Fashion Association who organized the event to provide free prom dresses to high school students who might not otherwise be able to afford to purchase a new dress for the big night. This weekend was the culmination of The Cinderella Project- the dress giveaway and Jennifer was there at North Hills to witness all of the excitement! Below are Jennifer's observations and a few photos taken during the giveaway on Saturday, March 19th.


I stopped by The Cinderella Project dress giveaway at North Hills this morning and snapped a few pictures. There were over 50 people waiting for the doors to be opened, and they had a really good turn out.





I think they collected 240 dresses, which includes 20 from us (the Midtown Raleigh Stroller Strides moms) and 12 from the Raleigh Stroller Strides moms.



Angela's poofy electric blue dress was a huge hit and the girl who ended up getting it was so cute!




I was really glad I stopped by, since it was fun to see the girls' excitement, and to know that we helped contribute to their special day! ~Jennifer


If you want to get involved with our next Moms with a Mission project we'd love to have you join us. Our group will walk for The March of Dimes on April 30th at the March for Babies in Durham, NC on "The Bea Team". Click here for more info or email me at missycurrin@strollerstrides.net.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Take time to volunteer in your community with your family. Find activities the whole family can do, such as:

• Visit an elderly neighbor
  
• Visit a children's hospital
• Deliver Meals On Wheels
• Work at a food bank

What do you do to give back to your community? And how can you involve your family?

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: The chemicals in institutional cleaning products can cause a wide range of major health problems for children, including respiratory irritation and increased risk of cancer.

Action: Make sure that your children's schools and child care centers are doing everything they can to protect your children from harmful toxins, just like you do at home.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: The EPA states that toxic chemicals in household cleaners are three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified 150 chemicals common in homes linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities. Some of the most common culprits include household bleach, all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, and dish detergent.

Action: Use non-toxic cleaners (i.e. Shaklee, Seventh Generation, Method, Ecover brands).

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: One in seven newborn babies could be at risk for brain damage and learning difficulties due to mercury exposure in the womb. Women and children are exposed to dangerous levels of mercury when they eat certain fish.

Action: Eat small fish and use the mercury calculator at www.gotmercury.org to find out how much is safe for you.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: An amazing variety of toxic substances find their way into carpet, including metals (such as arsenic, lead, and mercury), pesticides, pet dander, fungal spores, bacteria, dust-mite droppings also seep into carpets. New carpet can off-gas for weeks releasing such harmful substances as formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene in a mix of up to 200 different chemicals.

Action: Clear out the carpet and use washable rugs instead or install hardwood floors.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: Toys made out of PVC plastics (also called vinyl) often contain additives, such as lead, phthalates, and cadmium, which can leech out increasing your child’s risk for brain damage, cancer, and hormone disruption.

Action: Purchase toys made out of wood or cloth.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: Bottled water is less regulated than tap water and can contain chemicals leached from the plastic.

Action: Bottle your own water and use a stainless steel or aluminum reusable water bottle.

Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck...

Last Wednesday was a our big event with the WRAL blog for moms, "Go Ask Mom". After a free Stroller Strides class at the North Hills Mall, our Luna Moms Club playgroup was treated to a visit from the North Hills Fire Engine! The firemen were so friendly and welcoming and the Chick Fil-A cow even made an appearance in his fireman uniform! The kids got to sit in and on the engine and each one got a bright red Fire Chief hat to take home. Thank you North Hills Firemen for being so sweet and generous to our families!

Here are some photos of the fun we had with the Fire Engine:

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: In a recent warning about lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifically recommends that shoes remain outside the house. According to a report called the Door Mat Study, lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes, and it notes that wiping shoes on a mat and removing them at the door cuts lead dust by 60 percent.

Action: Leave the dirt at the door. Wiping our shoes off and leaving them at the door reduces the amount of contaminated dirt tracked in. Think about this, your babies and kids are the ones who spend the most time on the ground in your home – crawling and playing.

Photo Tips for Busy Moms

Last Thursday our Luna Moms Club playgroup took a field trip to the Raleigh Rose Garden. Deb Wright, a local photographer, met us there among the lush late-summer blooms. She schooled us in some basic photography tips and sent us out into the garden to put them into action with our sweet kiddos as subjects. Now I need to mention here that it was HOT... SO INCREDIBLY HOT that morning. Therefore it was a brief picture-taking session for us all. But we managed to snap a few good ones. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see some of my attempts at photographing Monty!

Here are a few tips, courtesy of Deb Wright Photography, that we'd like to share with you! Thanks Deb!

Photo Tips for Busy Moms
1. Read your manual... you may find that your camera does a lot more than you think, and it tells you how.
2. Get down on your child's level... put baby in a chair, on the couch, or be prepared to lie down and roll around with the kids (much more fun)!
3. Use a flash! Outside in the sunshine a flash will reduce dark faces and shadows under eyes. Also use it inside when the subject is backlit by a lamp or sunny window.
4. Don't wait for the perfect sunny day... cloudy day lighting is beautiful and much better for portraits.
5. Don't insist on "cheese". Some of the most memorable photos are those that tell a story- a giggle, a pout, a sleeping angel.
6. Stay away from a busy background to allow for more focus on the subject.
7. Play with your camera's modes- portrait, macro, and sports modes.
8. Shoot lots of photos... and print the ones you love and delete the ones you don't.
9. Stay out of the middle... place your subject off center. Focus on their face, press the shutter button halfway down and move the camera slightly, and press it the rest of the way down to take the shot.
10. Keep your camera close by and carry extra batteries and memory cards. Frequently recharge your rechargeable batteries so they are ready for action when you are!
11. Have fun!

If you'd like to schedule a photo shoot with Deb or reach out to her with comments or questions you can find her through her website: http://debwrightphotography.smugmug.com/ or visit her Facebook fan page through this link.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: Personal care product companies are not required to test their products for safety prior to selling them and can put in virtually anything they want. Not surprisingly, there are many ingredients that have been found to be harmful.

Action: To reduce exposure to carcinogens, neurotoxicants, and reproductive toxicants, purchase products that do not contain:

* Parabens
* Formaldehyde
* Triethanolamine and cocamide DEA
* PEGs
* Isopropanol
* 2-phenoxyethanol
* Benzethonium chloride
* Talc
* Phthalates
* Fragrance

Skin Deep safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products (brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group) is a great resource for what type of chemicals are in over 25,000 products – you can search by product type, by brand etc. Find out more at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Feeding the Family: Salmon Veggie Patties

In July our Luna Moms Club group met for a Moms Night Out at Kitchen & Bath Galleries at the North Hills Mall. There were beautiful kitchens to ogle, munchies, wine, and lots of fun new mom-friends to hang out with- and no kids! And we were treated to a brief lesson and informative Q&A session on feeding our children courtesy of our local Happy Baby rep.


One of the Happy Baby products caught our eye and yet no one could find them in a store near us... Salmon Stix. Why salmon? Two words- brain food. So I stumbled upon a recipe in Parenting magazine and added more veggies... Monty had it for dinner tonight and here it is for your toddler's enjoyment! Let me know if you try it- and what your little one thinks!

Salmon Veggie Patties
Ingredients:
*1 can (7.5 oz) boneless, skinless pink or red salmon (drained)
*2 T of finely diced onion/shallot
*1 egg, lightly beaten
*1/4 cup plus 2T panko bread crumbs
*3-4 T finely diced veggies (I used carrot & zucchini)
*salt & pepper sparingly
*2 T canola oil
*Unsweetened applesauce for dipping

Directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl flake the salmon and combine with the onion, egg, veggies, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper.

2. Using your hands, roll mixture into 6 little balls and flatten slightly.

3. Dust lightly with remaining bread crumbs.

4. In a pan, over medium heat, warm the oil. When hot, add the patties and cook until golden brown on each side (approx 1-2 min/side). Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly.

5. Let them cool, dip them in applesauce and enjoy!

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, organophosphate pesticides (OP) are now found in the blood of 95% of Americans tested and levels are twice as high in blood samples taken from children than in adults. These pesticides are linked to hyperactivity, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays and motor dysfunction.

Action: Use non-toxic methods to manage pests and weeds.

Tuning up your stroller...

After class on Wednesday, our Luna Moms Club playgroup activity was a Stroller Tune-Up Clinic courtesy of the folks at the North Hills REI store. The kids were really well-behaved and we were all able to get our strollers tuned up and even catch a few educational pointers too.

I'd like to pass on some of what the Bike & Stroller Technicians shared with our group... Thanks, REI!

* Tire Pressure
Periodically check your tire pressure and re-inflate to keep things rolling smoothly! Tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended on the wheel (if there is one) as opposed to the pressure recommended on the tire.


* Water-Repellent Lube
Don't use the WD-40 in your garage to lube up those squeaks... grab a bottle of water-repellent lube from your local bike shop or hardware store instead. Spray a little on the squeaky parts and enjoy your quieter ride!


* Suspension
Some strollers, like the BOB jogger, have knobs on the side that you can use to adjust the suspension to more evenly distribute the weight of your growing child over the frame of the stroller.

Many bike trailers that convert into strollers, like the Chariot Cougar, also have adjustable suspension that you can adjust for the weight of the occupant. Additionally, if your bike trailer/stroller combo is a two-seater you can adjust it to ride more evenly if your riders are different weights or if you only have a single occupant. Check your stroller/trailer's manual for more specific instructions or pop into your local REI to get some tips!


* Spokes/Pin Tightening
You might notice that over time your front stroller wheel becomes a little wiggly or that your stroller pulls to one side or the other. If your stroller has spokes (like a bike wheel) you can have a bike mechanic tighten your spokes for you and that should help. On the BOB jogger (which does not have spokes) there is a knob on the front wheel that you can tighten (see photos on the left).

The folks at REI also showed us the basics of fixing a flat tire too... but if I ever have one of those I think I'll just take it to the guys at REI!

Post-Pregnancy Challenge #10: Baby Blues

I've taken a 2 week hiatus from writing about "Post-Pregnancy Challenges" because I really wanted to do this topic justice and I just couldn't focus on it until now.

I don't have a deep personal story about postpartum depression- and for that I am SO thankful. What I can tell you is that after Monty was born I experienced what is commonly known as the "baby blues" and I'm not alone- it affects up to 80% of new moms within the first 3 weeks of having a baby. I cried for no reason, felt overwhelmed by new motherhood, and worried anxiously about every ounce gained and lost by my new baby, among other things. Sound familiar?

Up to 20% of new moms experience more severe symptoms (than those associated with the baby blues) of depression, anxiety, and worry. And an even smaller percentage may experience an even more serious mood disorder that includes obsessive, panicked behavior and possibly even psychosis. If this is what you're feeling then please get help. If you've entertained thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby- please get help NOW! Call your OB's office and tell them you need to be seen as soon as possible for postpartum depression. If you need even more urgent help call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Unsure if you need to seek help? If your symptoms interfere with your daily activities, disrupting your ability to sleep or eat, or if you are feeling hopeless or helpless then it is time to contact your doctor.
**Please also note the following resources at the end of this post.

More severe forms of postpartum depression require medication and therapy. But what can you do if you got a case of the relatively mild and very common baby blues? Here are some tips from Stroller Strides Founder, Lisa Druxman:

1. Chronic sleep deprivation and sheer exhaustion don't help- so nap when your baby naps and ask a family member or friend to take over the childcare for a few hours so you can get some uninterrupted rest.

2. Exercise! It has natural mood-boosting effects!

3. Get out of the house and socialize with other moms and babies. Find a moms group near you and get involved- try a Luna Moms Club playgroup, MOPS, or search for moms groups on Meetup.com. Even better when you can get your socializing and your exercising in at the same time at a Stroller Strides class!

4. Make nutritious food choices- fruits, veggies, and lean proteins!

Resources:
*Your doctor's office, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room
*In Raleigh: contact the Moms Supporting Moms group
*Elsewhere in the US: use the website at Postpartum Support International to search for a contact near you

If you have a story to share about your experience with this topic please feel free to comment- your experience may provide the glimmer of hope another reader desperately needs today!

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Educational Tip of the Week:

Fact: Plastic baby bottles are often made with polycarbonate plastic that can leach Bisphenol-A. This chemical disrupts proper hormone functioning, alters genes and disrupts normal physical and behavioral development.

Action: Use bottles made of glass or polypropylene plastic. Two companies who make these safer baby bottles are ThinkBaby and Born Free.

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week:

Fact: According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental health concerns. Given that people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, it's important to do what you can to reduce indoor air pollution.

Action: One of the simplest things you can do is open a window. Even if it's chilly outside (we should be so lucky!), you should open a window for just five minutes a day to significantly decrease the concentrations of indoor air pollutants in your home. Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Open a window and start breathing cleaner air.

And play outside more!

Luna Moms Club Tip of the Week

Fact: Laboratory tests of eight industry-leader baby foods reveal the presence of 16 pesticides, including three carcinogens.

Action: Buy certified organic baby food (Plum Organics and Happy Baby are great flash frozen organic brands). Or make your own baby food from organic, pesticide-free fruits & veggies!