NYC Moms: Ready To Get Out & Play?

Ah, Spring. The weather is warming up, the trees blooming, and everyone is ready to get outside and play. If you’re a mom in the big city, we’ve found some great options for you and the kids! From workouts to playgrounds, NYC offers many great outdoor activities that everyone will enjoy.

If you’re looking to get a good workout in while still spending time with your little one,  Stroller Strides may be the program you’re looking for! Stroller Strides is a franchise company with locations all over the map. Essentially, it consists of a group of moms and their babies (in their strollers, of course), who participate in a 60 minute workout of power walking and body toning exercises, led by a specialized instructor. All you need is yourself, your baby and your stroller – and let’s face it, you have to haul your stroller everywhere you go anyway! Visit http://www.strollerstrides.com/ to find one of the many classes that take place in all areas of the city!

If you’re eager to give your child as well as yourself a fun, hands-on and educational experience, you may consider heading to the zoo! There are few kids out there who do not find themselves absolutely thrilled and intrigued in seeing and meeting adorable and interesting animals! The Prospect Park Zoo features mammals, reptiles and amphibians from all over the world. There are daily feedings and shows to catch, as well as some specialized seasonal exhibits, along with all the regular zoo favorites. This is definitely an activity that both moms and kids will learn something and enjoy!

Another idea could be venturing down to the Brooklyn Bridge Park! With many different expansions on the horizon for the next year or so, one still can’t argue that the view the park offers is absolutely beautiful! The Cove in Brooklyn Bridge Park is breathtaking and is a great beach walking spot for the warmer months. In the upcoming summer months, free movies will be played every Thursday night at the newly renovated Pier 1! The “Main Street Lot” houses a nautical themed park and playground area for kids and families too. Everyone can enjoy and tire themselves out while using the climbers, running around and playing in the sandbox for the day! To fully discover what the Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer, see their website: http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/

One hidden spot that you may not have even thought of to take the little ones is the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum. As the farmhouse itself dates back to the late 18th century, the museum works to tell the story of the transformation from farming community to the urban neighborhoods we now live in. With a full calendar of events such as tours and “History Play Dates” geared specifically towards kids, along with a garden full of beauty and history, the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum may be the perfect spring activity for yourself and the kids! For more information and museum hours, visit http://www.dyckmanfarmhouse.org/

MommyStyle: Mirror, Mirror Two Feet Tall….

This morning I turned around to see my 16 month old blowing her nose into a tissue (or trying to) about 10 seconds after I had just done the same. Where she found the tissue I have no idea, but, nonetheless, there she was holding it up to her nose, sniffing in and out and gazing up at me with big eyes.

This little act hit me hard. Not the fact that she can blow her own nose (although, mind you, she is brilliant), but how much of little mirror she can be. It suddenly made me realize she is watching my every move, taking them all in and using them as a guide on how she should be acting.

Now, of course, we all know parenthood is a big responsibility, but suddenly the magnitude of my influence hit me. Watching that little being blow her nose, instantly put me in check. It made me realize how careless I can be sometimes– whether getting my “feathers ruffled” over silly things, complaining when really it does no one any good, or just not showing enough gratitude. Fact is, she’s watching me (and learning from me) ALL the time.

Aria my mirror. All two feet tall of her. She makes me want to be more patient and kind, less stressed and more generous. She makes me want to be more mindful and better in every way. And, never has there been a better reason to.

Mirror, mirror, two feet tall….

What are you teaching your little ones?

 

 

 

More mindful mornings with Aria

5 Tips For A Happy & Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy is such a pivotal time in a woman’s life. What more important time than now that you are pregnant to get on track with your health and wellness.

When I became pregnant in 2002, I quickly realized that my pregnancy was nothing like  those described in the books I was reading. I didn’t experience any of the laundry list of ailments   or drastic changes in my body that professional sources claimed are “the norm” during  pregnancy. Reflecting on my pregnancy and birth experience, I attributed its ease and comfort to my  healthy diet, lifestyle, and optimistic attitude. Sure genetics play a part, but every birth is different, and so  is every person and your lifestyle during pregnancy will certainly have an effect on your birth  experience.

5 Tips For A Happy & Healthy Pregnancy:

Get your OM on- Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to increase strength and flexibility, align the body, and tune the spirit in preparation for the big day- your baby’s birth. My yoga practice definitely informed my birth experience. I was able to

relax into breathing techniques at the onset of contractions, rather than tense up each time.

Eat Whole Foods- My diet of healthy whole foods provided me with the necessary nutrients and energy I needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy while feeling good and looking great.

Eat Your Greens- for calcium and phytonutrients have a few servings of glorious greens.  Greens help stabilize the blood sugar levels and give you the bulk fiber needed to promote glowing skin and intestinal health. Try mesclun, kale, collards, chard, & arugula.

Massage your growing belly- daily from the beginning of your pregnancy with a quality massage oil or butter- coconut, cocoa butter, shea butter etc. Rub butter to prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This works best when fresh out of the tub while the skin is still supple.

Take your Vitamins- Take 400 micrograms of Folic Acid before pregnancy and during the first 3 months to promote healthy development of the brain and spine of the fetus. Continue with a prenatal vitamin for supplementation.

Stay Hydrated. Dehydration can induce abdominal contractions, inducing labor. During pregnancy the body requires more water to conduct metabolic processes. So grab your water bottle and drink away—to the tune of eight tall glasses of water daily.

This is what I wish for you and all mothers; a happy, healthy, fabulous pregnancy. Trust your body’s wisdom, and honor yourself and your baby. Enjoy the ride!

Founder of Tender Shoots Wellness, and mother of a 6 year old, Lathem Thomas hope is to empower women to take charge of their lives by embracing wellbeing, helping them develop an authentic relationship with food, and finding spiritual and physical balance in their lives. She created Tender Shoots in 2005 to provide support to pre/postnatal  women along their journey into motherhood because she understand very the particular needs of women during pregnancy. She has developed a comprehensive service that addresses these various  needs in a holistic manner. For more info about Lathem, head to Tendershootswelleness.com.

top photo: Flickr

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“Q- Tip” from our friends at Equinox:

Working out while pregnant? How much is too much? Check out this post from Equinox’s Q Blog and learn if you need to tailor your workout routine now that baby is on board.

Yoga While Pregnant: A Must-Do Move To Save Your Abs! (VIDEO)

Although working out can be a tough feat for many pregnant women, we found an easy, yet powerful move that will save your abs! Not only will it strengthen, tone, and help you get your body back post-baby, but it could even help you have an easier labor and delivery. We sat down with Mary Barnes of PURE Yoga to find out the one must do move for the mom-to-be.

Trouble viewing this vide? Click here to view on youtube.com

For more info on Mary Barnes or pre-natal yoga

go to www.pureyoga.com

Parenting: Manners & Children. How to Handle It When Other Parents Aren’t Doing Their Job.

Recently, I met up with another working mom at a great play space that serves food and coffee for the adults while you watch the kiddos play.  My 2 year old, and my girlfriends 2 year old were happily playing , and next to us were another two moms watching their two children of about the same age.  Of course, my son bought his favorite little truck, and while there were a ton of toys there, one of the other little boys came over and grabbed the truck away from my son.

As a parent you don’t like to see that kind of behavior, but I didn’t want to make a federal case out of it either.  I hoped the child’s mother would say something as my 2 year old screamed in protest. No dice. So I thought about it.  Why should my child suffer? He shouldn’t. And although I hoped she would take control, when she didn’t I kindly (but firmly) said to her child, “Please give that back to him. That is his toy.”  The other mother whipped her head around and gave me a dirty look, and I quickly added (with the biggest smile I could muster), “…unless, of course,  you want to listen to my son scream because of the toy that was taken from him.”  With that she turned back around and that was the end of it.

It was not ideal, and even my girlfriend said she didn’t know if she would have asked for the truck back or not. I never know what to do when something like that happens.  But ladies, in the city where we don’t all have yards, and kids will be kids, a situation like this is bound to happen.  Weigh your options. I say be kind to people, and even kinder to children, but not at the expense of your own children.  Treat people how you would like to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect. If your child is in the wrong, correct the situation, always with love.

By Heather Harvey

Heather Harvey is a mom, wife, and entrepreneur here in NYC. She has two little ones and also recently created and launched her very own health product, The MeasureUp Bowl.  She created MeasureUP Bowls after the birth of her second child, when she realized that she was out of shape, tired and really needed to make some changes. The creation of the bowls that make portion control easy changed her body shape and her life! For more information on Heather and MeasureUP go to her website.

Bumbleride: Hitting The Streets Of NY City

Sleek lines, high performance, and a very smooth ride. What’s that coming down 7^th Avenue? Baby’s got a new ride, and it’s called the Bumbleride Indie.

A San Diego based company’s stroller may seem like an unlikely choice for the NYC mom, but Bumbleride clearly has the bases covered, no matter what the coast. The innovative company strives to make mobility “fun, simple and intuitive”, and while it may be a newbie our city streets, it definitely can hold its own.

The Indie had me at hello with it’s strong frame, alluring lines, and oh so stylish look. Of course, looks can only go so far in this town, and this NYC girl came to find out that Indie was more than just a pretty face.

Outfitted with 12’ air filled tires and a sturdy frame, the Indie really gives the ride of a lifetime (for both baby and mom). It is a super easy push and the smoothest of rides, even over the cracks, crevices, and uneven of sidewalks of my west village neighborhood. The lighter weight frame make getting up a curb or through a double door very doable, and the front swivel wheel and narrower width will get you around some tighter spaces.

Speaking of space, the Indie easy fold makes it a relatively compact store, and well thought out features like the pick up handle make getting it in an out a cab or up a few stairs easy enough. It also is the lightest in it’s class so if  by chance you get stuck at a subway station that is elevator free, carrying it up stairs, while a bit of a challenge, is more manageable than most. However, if stairs are a standard in your life (walk up anyone?) or mass transit is your way about town, check out the Bumbleride Flight, Indie’s super lightweight sibling.

For this active mom though, versatility was the main attraction. When taking it off the streets, Indie also performed like a champ. The all terrain tires handled even the bumpiest trails in Central Park, and locking the front wheel made taking baby for a jog along the Hudson a breeze. The Indie Movement Edition also sports a rain resistant material and has SPF 45 built into the expansive canopy, so rain or shine you’re covered.

For more information on Bumbleride head to their website www.bumbleride.com

Mom On The Go? Jessica Alba Has You Covered… Honestly.

Honestly, what can we say about Jessica Alba’s latest venture The Honest Co., which vows to stay green, help protect the environment and keep products safe and risk-free for you and your little one? Well… it sounds like it honestly rocks!

So, we all know and love the beautiful and talented Jessica Alba from her fabulous film career (Valentine’s Day being one of my faves!), but she attributes being a mother (of 2!) as the “most satisfying job in the world”.

Her and co-founder Chris Gavigan, former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, after feeling completely frustrated with trying to find the best and safest products for their children and homes and repeatedly coming up short, they decided to be dreamers and ultimately doers themselves. They believe that every child out there deserves the best, so they hope to help parents everywhere and work to provide the safest and non-toxic everyday baby and home necessities, such as diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, lotions, shampoos, soaps and more.

To make things simple and fast for all you busy moms on-the-go out there, The Honest Co. has gone ahead and devised a handy online questionnaire of sorts to help you customize the perfect bundle of products that will fit your needs and conveniently be delivered to your door every month (Could it get any more convenient?).

For all you moms still using diapers daily (And it takes a few years to finally kick that habit, doesn’t it?), the extra cool part about The Honest Co.’s diapers is not only are they naturally biodegradable and plant-based with absolutely no added chemicals, but they also come in a plethora of cute designs and sizes perfect for your precious baby girl or boy.

So, not only does The Honest Co. take into consideration the health and well-being of your family, but it’s looking to be one of the upcoming green and naturally resourced (not to mention that its brought to you proudly from the U.S.) “family brands” that’s better for you and yours from the very beginning.

To see what it’s all about and to get your generous free trial, click here.

Jessica Alba launches Honest.com. (Courtesy Photo: WireImage)

Rosie Pope: On Fashion, Diapers, And New Parenthood! (VIDEO)

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bravo’s ‘Pregnant In Heels’ star, Rosie Pope, and was able to get the scoop on new mommy-hood (amongst other things!). At the time I was 5+ months pregnant myself, and about to bust out of my skinny jeans. That being said, I decided first and foremost to find out some of her mom-to-be wardrobe essentials (after all she is the queen of fab maternity wear – check out her line at www.rosiepope.com or at the Upper East boutique).  Aside from talking fashion, she also filled me on what to expect when changing poopy diapers (a surprisingly positive discovery), and how to get daddy-to-be well prepared. Rosie couldn’t have been more lovely, and I am so ecstatic to hear about her latest news– she’s now expecting a little girl!

Rosie Pope: On Mommyhood, Celebrity, & Infertility (Video)

“Pregnant in Heels” reality TV star Rosie Pope is a Manhattan Momma’s best friend. The maternity wear designer, who also runs a “Mom Prep” school, is there for pregnant moms as a concierge at their beck and call. Rosie sits down with HealthyStyleNY contributor, Anne Craig, showing her this summer’s hottest trend for your little bundle and talks everything from celebrity pregnancies to coping with fertility challenges for busy city women. Everything is coming up Rosie… take a look.

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To find out more about Rosie go to www.rosiepope.com
To find out more about Pampers Limited Edition Prints click here!

Is Newly Engaged Vanessa Minnillo Looking To Get Pregnant?

We all heard the buzz a few months back when Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey announced their engagement (finally!). So does newly engaged Vanessa already have babies on the brain? She’s been hitting the media circuit talking about the importance of Folate and Folic Acid, something doctors have always recommended for women who are pregnant or looking to get pregnant. Our Lathem Thomas got the scoop at a recent press luncheon here in NYC. She got Vanessa talking about everything from pre-natal vitamins to her hot Louboutin pumps!

TV personality Vanessa Minnillo unveiled her national education campaign, Girlfriends for Folate, to inform women of childbearing age of the importance of daily folate intake. Her partnership with Bayer and March of Dimes to launch the Girlfriends for Folate or GFF campaign cleverly engages Generation Y women using social media as it’s target platform including Facebook and twitter to help spread the good news about folate for women.

In her NYC press conference Vanessa, who wants to one day become pregnant said, “I’m taking action now by making sure I get the recommended amount of folate in my diet”.  I sat down with Vanessa and we talked nail polish, shoes, and prenatal vitamins. She was wearing a fierce Catherine Malandrino number with classic nude Christian Louboutin pumps. She told me that as a recent member of Twitter she answers all of the tweets from her fans and women curious about the wonders of folate.

Folate is a water-soluable B vitamin that naturally occurs in leafy green vegetables, beans, legumes, and enriched grains. It helps to regenerate cells and is important to take before pregnancy and during the early months of pregnancy for neurological development. March of Dimes recommends that all reproductive age women supplement their diet with at least 400mcg of folic acid daily. You can get adequate amounts of folate from the dark leafy greens like kale, chard, collards etc but for those of us who are skipping the salad bar it is especially important to get the folate synthetically as Folic Acid.

Girlfriends for Folate launched March 15th with a national competition to identify the U.S. region with the most “GFFs.” Women can join the GFF movement by registering at www.GirlfriendsforFolate.com. The region with the most GFFs will be recognized nationally during its local March of Dimes March for Babies®, where Vanessa will join other women committed to spreading the word about the importance of daily folate intake. Way to go Girlfriend!

Follow Vanessa on Twitter and become her GFF or head to Girlfriends for Folate for more info!