Our May Mom of the Month

In less than a week we will celebrate ALL moms... but for the month of May we want to highlight one special Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh mom for the strides she is making in fitness, motherhood and life! Our May Mom of the Month is Ashley Collins (aka Beatrice Kate's mom)- pictured below with her husband and daughter at the March for Babies!



Congratulations, Ashley! You're a super-mom and a wonderful example to our group in faith, fundraising, friendship, fitness, and of course- motherhood and we want to celebrate you! Ashley's most recent hobby has been raising money for the March of Dimes via the March for Babies walk that took place on Saturday in the Triangle. Under her leadership our team raised nearly $3500 in honor of her daughter, Beatrice Kate, who was born 11 weeks premature and is now a healthy and happy 1 year old!

We had Ashley answer a few questions so that we could get to know her a little bit better and this is what she said...

Hometown : Lincolnton, NC but I went to high school in Durham at the NC School of Science and Mathematics
Education : B.A. in Chemistry from NCSU
Stroller Strides Member/Participant since: September 2010
Members of your Family: Myself, my husband, Casey and our daughter Beatrice Kate (13 months)
Current Career : Mommy (and I LOVE IT)
What was your childhood ambition? To be a paleontologist (I even went on a fossil dig in high school!)
What does motherhood mean to you? Motherhood to me, means knowing a love like no other. From the moment I first saw Beatrice Kate's tiny, postage stamp-sized hand in the delivery room, I knew that my life was now bigger than just me. Being a mother means living everyday for someone else.
What is the furthest you have been from home? Cusco, Peru. We hiked for 4 days to get to Machu Piccu and it was well worth it!
What has Stroller Strides done for you? First- Stroller Strides provides a fun way to get in daily exercise. It's the only exercise class I've ever taken that I don't constantly check the clock! Secondly, Stroller Strides has given me a sense of community and a place to connect with other new moms. It's something that I look forward to every day and I love that Beatrice Kate also gets to meet new friends!
What is your favorite exercise? Hiking or Kayaking
What is your proudest moment? My most proud moment was the day that we took Beatrice Kate home from the NICU. We waited six long weeks to feel like a "real family" and I was so proud to finally have our daughter at home with us (even if none of us got any sleep for the next 3 months!). I remember drinking a cup of coffee the morning after she came home and thinking, "Wow. We did it!"
What are three of your favorite things (besides your family!)? Our dogs, Cooper (9) and Arnold (15); baking for friends and family; going to the movie theater (especially movies in IMAX)
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us or makes you unique. I can read books really quickly. It's really nerdy, but I read the entire Twilight franchise in two days and the Sookie Stackhouse novels in two weeks (all ten of them!).
If we asked your spouse what they think your best qualities are, what would they say? I asked him and he said, "You always put other people's needs ahead of your own." I would say that I try to, certainly- unless one of those needs is the last chocolate chip cookie- and then all bets are off.

Fundraising Yard Sale this Weekend!

On April 30th our moms group will walk in the March for Babies- a local event that raises money for and awareness of the work of the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes' mission is to "help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies". To help raise money for this worthy cause we are hosting a fundraising yard sale THIS SATURDAY in North Raleigh. All proceeds will go towards the March of Dimes.

How can you help? Please consider helping out in one of the following ways:

• Donate your sale-able items (email Missy for info)


• Volunteer your time to working the yard sale (Fri pm/ Sat am)


• Shop the yard sale- starts @ 6am at 4004 Sherlock Ct, Raleigh


• Going to be out of town this weekend but still want to help? Donate online using this link: I HEART BABIES.

Thank you for your support!

~The Bea Team & Team Stroller Strides~

Feeding the Family: Chicken, Red Grape & Pesto Pizza

Chicken, red grapes and pesto? Weird, right? No... amazing! Gina suggested this recipe to me weeks (or maybe even months) ago and I've been meaning to try it out ever since. My parents are in town this weekend and always up for trying something new so we made it for dinner tonight and it was SO good! (Thank you, Gina!) The recipe dates back to a 2009 issue of Cooking Light magazine... enjoy!

Ingredients
1 can refrigerated thin-crust pizza dough
Cooking spray
1/3 cup refrigerated pesto
1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
8 ounces shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast (or the pre-cooked "short-cuts")
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (we left this out since our pesto was extra garlicky to begin with)
4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced (we used shredded mozzarella)
3 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup sliced green onions

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425°.

2. On a lightly floured surface, pat dough into a 12-inch circle; gently place dough on a pizza pan coated with cooking spray. Spread pesto evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around edges. Arrange grapes evenly over dough; top evenly with chicken. Top with garlic and mozzarella; sprinkle with Romano and pepper. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with onions. Cut into 12 wedges.*

*We followed the directions on the pizza dough and set the oven at 400 degrees, pre-baked it for 5 minutes before added toppings and ended up cutting the cooking time to 10 minutes... do what works for you!

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2 wedges)

CALORIES 364 ; FAT 14.4g (sat 4.8g,mono 6.3g,poly 1.4g); CHOLESTEROL 55mg; CALCIUM 191mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.6g; SODIUM 562mg; PROTEIN 22.6g; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 2.5mg

Fit4Baby Prenatal Exercise Classes start this weekend!

And its not too late to join us for Spring Session 1! Pregnancy is the perfect time to commit to you and your baby's health. Exercise is an important component to your pregnant well-being, as well as your strength as a new mom. Our instructors want to help you be FIT FOR MOTHERHOOD!

What is Fit4Baby?

Fit4Baby is a prenatal fitness program that teaches women how to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy. Each nationally certified instructor is trained in providing pregnant women with exercises that are safe and appropriate for their changing bodies. Fit4Baby classes are interval based, combining elements of strength training, cardiovascular exercises and stretching and balancing exercises.

When are Classes?

9am-10am on Saturday mornings... perfect for the working mother-to-be! Classes meet in 5 week sessions and cost just $60/session.

Spring Session 1: April 2nd-May 7th (no class Easter weekend)

Spring Session 2: May 14th-June 18th (no class Memorial Day weekend)

Summer Session 1: June 25th-July 30th (no class on July 2nd)

Where are classes held?

Classes meet outdoors at the NC Museum of Art Park and utilize the park and greenways as our open-air exercise studio!

Who should sign up?

All pregnant moms who have been cleared by their physician to exercise. All fitness levels are welcome. Please make plans to leave other children at home with a caregiver as this class is a special time for moms and moms-to-be only!

How do I register?

Register below with Paypal and you will be contacted within 2 business days with Registration confirmation and additional information.

Fit4Baby Registration

Spring Session 1 $60.00 Spring Session 2 $60.00 Summer Session 1 $60.00

Registrant's Name

Email Address & Phone #

Unused classes may be rolled over into future Fit4Baby sessions or credited towards future Stroller Strides classes. Please feel free to contact the office with any questions at (888) 760-0142 or missycurrin@strollerstrides.net.

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.

One way to Avoid the "Farmer's Tan"

The sun is shining on Stroller Strides classes and the farmer's tans are starting to emerge! There's nothing I can do about the white feet (shoes are required for class :)) but I can help you with the t-shirt tan lines! I'm putting in an order for some warm-weather Stroller Strides apparel and would love to include you in my order for Chocolate Brown ribbed tanks (sizes M-XXL). You've seen Alicia sport hers in class these last few months and doesn't she look great?! Now these tanks are available for just $18.99 if you order by tomorrow (March 18th).

Available in sizes M-XXL (runs small- order up one size) for $18.99 (includes shipping). The order goes in tomorrow (Friday, 3/18)! Email me ASAP if you want one missycurrin@strollerstrides.net or purchase after class tomorrow!

Cash, check, or VISA/MC accepted.

Working Out With Baby and a Stroller

Most moms take their baby for a walk in a stroller. But you can also turn that walk in to a workout! You can get a cardio workout that burns lots of calories by picking up the pace from a slow walk to a brisk “stroll” with your stroller. In this workout, you will recreate your own gym outdoors, using benches and fences along with your rubber tubing and the stroller for balance.

Any stroller will work, with the exception of an umbrella stroller (these are not designed for stability or speed.) It’s easiest to workout with a jogging stroller, which steers more easily and allows you to maintain better posture. I’ve designed the Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller by BOB. It’s made not only for intense strolling, but is equipped with a fitness kit that includes tubing for resistance exercises. Whichever stroller you choose, make sure that the wheels and construction are solid, and that baby is comfortably strapped in.

The beauty about being outside is that your child is happily distracted—and for a moment, you’re off the hook from entertaining duties. Babies under one year are absolutely fascinated with leaves blowing on a tree and clouds moving through the sky. That’s not to say that you aren’t fun to watch: In our Stroller Strides classes, half the fun for the kids is watching the mommies do silly things!

I recommend that you do a stroller workout in intervals to keep your child stimulated. So move with the stroller, walking or running, then stop every few minutes and do one or two exercises with your tube. When you are doing your exercises, turn baby to look at a busy playground, scenic park, rushing pedestrians, or whatever catches his or her fancy. Or face baby and keep up the rapport as you whip through your routine by singing songs. Research shows that you can teach toddlers new words through songs. (You may not think you are the greatest crooner in the world, but your baby sure loves your voice!)

If your baby isn’t crazy about the stroller, be patient and firm. Do what feels right, but keep in mind that if you take him out every time he whines, he’ll learn that crying is the key to getting out. Stick to a regular schedule of specific days and times when you use the stroller. Baby will soon realize, Mom takes care of me all day long and this is the one hour I’m going to be here. If you know your baby is comfortable and not hungry, don’t feel guilty about putting him in the stroller for a short time. I’ve seen hundreds of kids each day in our classes. Most babies love the workouts with mom.

Want some company? Come join us at a Stroller Strides workout. To find a class near you, go to www.strollerstrides.com.

Originally posted by Lisa Druxman on THE Stroller Strides blog- thanks, Lisa!