LUNA MOMS CLUB: Personal care product companies are not required to test their products for safety prior to selling them... They would rather test it on YOU!

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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.

On this Mothers Day, I would like to thank... my sons!

On Mother's Day families gather together to celebrate mothers and all they do for their families.  As a mom, I know first hand the countless hours it takes to manage a family.  I could use this whole post to catalog all the things I do- in fact sometimes I am up to my eyeballs in the stuff that I do, doo-doo, and to do's.  But everything I do is tiny compared to what my children have done for me- or rather to me... 

Just with their entrance into the world they have changed the very fiber of my being, they have moved the axis around which my world revolves, they have shifted the way I look at things profoundly that I cannot look at another suffering child or family without putting myself or my child in their place (and feeling utter heartbreak because of it).  They have made me understand what it means to be proud, lost, overjoyed and in awe.  They have made me felt a love that is beyond bounds and a worry that, even when unfounded, can consume your whole mind.  What I do on a daily basis to care for my children is important, but what they have done for me is immeasurable.  They have made me a Mother...

So this Mother's Day I celebrate all the mothers in the world.  I celebrate their hard work, blood, sweat and tears.  But I want to send a special thank you to Kaiden and Ethan.  Since without them, I would never have become a Mother, and would never have been able to experience this amazing journey.   

(And of course special big ups to my Mom too!  Since without her I never would have been in the first place...)  

Is Motherhood hard? Well, I wouldn't use that word...

So I am sure I will have a lot of moms up in arms about the title of this post.  I know that everyone loves to say being a mother is hard and I agree with the sentiment, but as I said above, I wouldn't use that word.  Why?  Because I am a person that believes in the power of words.


A yoga student went up to his teacher and asked him "Why do we have to chant "om" at the end of class?".  The teacher replied, "The sound we make when saying OM helps us reach a deeper peace within us.".  The student said, "Come on, just by saying the word I am supposed to become a more peaceful person? ".  The teacher said, "You are being an asshole".  The student got so angry he started yelling at his teacher.  The teacher calmly said, "Do you still mistrust that saying just one word can change you?"
(totally paraphrased from my meditation teacher from many years ago)


When you are teaching your child something difficult and they are on the verge of giving up, what do they say?  "I can't, it's TOO HARD!".  If you have to choose between two equally awful decisions you are trapped between a rock and a HARD place.  "Hard" is unyielding, unforgiving, unmalleable, and all it does is steal your power to be better in some way, even if it means changing how you think.  After all, if it is hard, you have excuses to fail, to be late, to be unprepared, to be less than you could be.

Of course I know that being a mother is challenging.  There are times that I want to crawl under a rock (when K, the oldest kid at a play date, is the worst sharer), retreat into a warm bath (when the house is a wreck and somehow does not have the ability to clean itself) or run away with my imaginary lover to tour some foreign land (when I am reading Eat, Pray, Love).  But I can't say it is hard.  I have to say difficult or problematic.  I use a word that I know I can work with, something I can shape or form, something I can solve, plan around, prepare for...  I cannot win against "hard" unless I smack up against it over and over, smashing it like a hammer against rock.  And is that how we want to be mothers, or people for that matter?

So I am challenged daily...  I am challenged to get out of the house on time with 2 (clean) children. I am working through the difficulty of providing healthy meals to a family of varied needs and tastes.  I am having issues with communicating with my husband so that we can work together as a well oiled machine.  I struggle through that extra mile on the treadmill, that one extra rep at Stroller Strides, no matter how exhausted.

I work with my challenges- I use my skills, my brain, my strength, my love, my heart and my patience to give it my best.  And at the end, I use my forgiveness.  Because I know that being a mother is hard a journey.  And who doesn't love that word...

Take this job and shove it...

Stay at home moms, don't you sometimes just want to quit.  When the laundry is up to your eyeballs, nobody wants to eat the dinner you've slaved over, you are running 15 minutes late to everything and people are rolling their eyes at you as you give them 100 reasons you are late, the dog ate something it wasn't supposed to and now it is having "issues" and the list goes on and on...

Well too bad.  You can't.  Because it really isn't a job.  You don't even have a job description.  Salary?  Nope, not that either.  Performance evaluation?  Well, unless you consider the word "gross" describing the dinner you made as a performance evaluation, you don't get one of those either.   You don't even have a direct supervisor, unless you count your husband (as if!) or your kids (well I do call the older one "the little dictator"). 

So yes, I am venting.  I am complaining.  It seems to be something people do about their jobs, so I figured I would join in, even though technically I don't have a "job".  But I suppose I do have the same gripes as people who work out in the "real world".

So let's break it down...

Common complaints from some one who has a "real job":
1.  I don't know what my job entails, am I supposed to process the xxx data or is Joe?
So...  As a stay at home mom, am I supposed to be in charge of the laundry, dishes, cleaning, shopping, dog walking, mail getting, bill paying, etc.  Or am I just supposed to be entertaining, educating and enjoying my wonderful children?  Because I feel like I should be doing all those things and when I don't I feel overwhelmed and a bit of a failure.  (if I have time I will insert a picture of the pile of laundry sitting next to me)

2.  I never feel appreciated, my boss never even says good job!
Do I even have to explain this one.  I am supposing everyone who is reading this is a SAHM and you totally get this.  I mean, have your kids ever said "thank you mom for doing the laundry so I have clean underwear"?  And I mean without prompting.

3.  To meet this deadline I have to work overtime!  What happened to my weekends?
Weekends...  As a SAHM do we even get these?  There are still dishes, laundry, cleaning, shopping, dog walking, mail getting and bill paying to be done.  (Are those part of my duties, I can't remember.)  I thought weekends were supposed to be a respite from the drudgery of our work week.  But since my hubby works out of the house all week all he wants to do is hang out at home.  Since I am AT HOME all week all I want to do is GET OUT!!!  So herein lies the rub.  Don't get me wrong, my husband let's me (don't even get me started on the "let's me" part) have me-time on the weekends while he get to "be me", which I love.  But when I return, the kids have not been fed, the laundry is not done, the dishes are still dirty, the mail is not fetched, and the house is a mess.  Since at this time he is supposed to "be me", I am thinking that perhaps the above mentioned tasks are NOT part of my duties and I am once again being a workaholic (a label I got when I too worked in the "real world').

4.  My salary sucks.
I allow myself $25 a week to spend on me and the kids and $400 to spend on groceries for the whole month.  I know I am cheap, but my salary sucks.  One mom friend posted on FB, "My daughter gets paid $10 an hour to babysit one kid.  I have three kids and I take care of them everyday.  Guess who makes more." 

5.  I have no possibility of promotion.
In nine years I will be promoted to the parent of a teenager.  At this time I am sure to be awarded more attitude and given the bonus of increased requests for material possessions.

6.  That B*^ch in accounting is always taking credit for my work.
I can't actually take credit for the wonderful things my children accomplish.  They are truly wonderful, shining, funny, sweet, loving handfuls because that is who they were born to be.  But I do like to credit for other things.  Like when K pushes, or does not share.  Or when E throws a tantrum, or was not walking at 18 months.  Or when I found out that K is small because he is celiac and we have been feeding him wheat his whole life.  Or that E can't sleep in his crib because I am constantly on the go so he is used to sleeping in the car.

Ugh, the list goes on.  And so can I but this post has gotten too long already.  So it has been established that I can't quit my non-job of SAHM.  And I wouldn't want to.  Laundry is not difficult, cleaning, although not my forte, is not rocket science, I like walking the dog and being responsible for the family finances.  AND I do enjoy staying home with the kiddos.  I also enjoy owning my own business (Stroller Strides) and having the flexibility to teach prenatal yoga.

So I guess I will stick with it...  I mean who wouldn't when the job description entails a fuzzy list of duties, long hours, no weekends, no pay, no upward mobility, no sideways mobility, no bonuses, endless repetitive tasks a monkey could do, 100+ kisses a day from messy mouths, huge belly laughs, never ending noise, quiet moments of breathless beauty, countless opportunities to teach, even more opportunities to learn, and the possibility that once again the dog is having "issues".

LMC Weekly Tip: Breast Cancer Prevention Week #10

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE: 

There are over 100,000 synthetic chemicals approved for market use today, from preservatives in our lipstick to flame retardants in our sofas, from plasticizers in our water bottles to pesticides on our fruit and vegetables. Less than 10% of these chemicals have been tested for their effects on human health. The average American carries at least 116 chemicals in his or her body, yet scientists can tell us next to nothing about the lifetime effects of living with this toxic "cocktail" of chemicals.  To learn more, visit www.TakingPrecaution.org.

The Breast Cancer Fund is a founding member of the Bay Area Precautionary Principle Working Group (BAWG), an innovative collaborative made up of leaders from the breast cancer, public health, environmental health and environmental justice communities, formed to promote the implementation of the precautionary principle in the Bay Area and assist other regions of the country in their efforts to do that same.

LMC Weekly Tip: Breast Cancer Prevention Week #10

DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF BREAST CANCER: 
While more white women get breast cancer than African American women, more African American women will die of the disease. There are environmental exposures that are unique to African Americans like the more common use of hormone-containing personal care products. Please help us spread the word about the challenges for African American women. Request copies of and help distribute The Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer in African American Women.  

While fewer Latinas get breast cancer than other groups, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Latina women in the United States. Experts say Latina breast cancer is understudied and that we simply do not have accurate data to know just how hard breast cancer is hitting these women. Read more about the Latina experience in BCF’s 2006 newsletter.  To help distribute our print newsletter a few times a year, fill out a volunteer form.  

 

Gotta love good daddies!

Drew Brees and his son Baylen...  You can't tell what he is saying to him, but you can just imagine the words he is sharing with his son on this special day.  I am not a Saints fan (or a Colts fan) but I am a big fan of good daddies.  And you can just tell how much Drew loves his little guy. So cute...

Luna Moms Weekly Tip- Breast Cancer Prevention

Get Outside!


Exercise can help protect against breast cancer and many other negative health outcomes. Physical activity reduces your exposures to certain ovarian hormones. Exercise with weights helps build muscle and reduce body fat, lowering your level of circulating estrogen. Lower levels of ovarian hormones and circulating estrogen both decrease your breast cancer risk.

Through annual outdoor physical challenges, the Breast Cancer Fund enables breast cancer survivors and supporters to find strength through adversity and make strides to eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer. For more information on this once in a lifetime experience go to Climb Against the Odds at www.breastcancerfund.org/climb.

Schedule for the Five Days of Fun, Fitness and Friends!

WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
27	28	29	30	31
6am- Reformer- with Move Pilates	6am- Boot camp- Fit Chicks Express	7:30- Mat Pilates with Move Pilates
7:30- Mat Pilates- with Move Pilates	9:10am- Stroller Strides	1am- Reformer with Move Pilates	9:10- Stroller Strides	11am- Vinyasa Yoga with Solar Yoga
- Nia- with Christina Stott	5:30pm- Gentle Yoga	12pm- Vinyasa Yoga with Solar Yoga	11:15- Zumba with Axis of Movement	Brunch at big daddy’s Bagels
6pm- Boot Camp-Fit Chicks Express	7pm- Vinyasa Yoga- Solar Yoga-
7pm- Hot Yoga Flow- Solar Yoga

Wednesday 6am reformer class actually starts at 6:30 and the schedule cut out the Sunday 11 am Vinyasa class at Solar Yoga...

Email elaine@moxie-moms.com to get on the list! Remember, the whole schedule is only $5 if you are not a Moxie Mom and FREE if you are!

Thanks to our awesome Moxie Mom partners!!!

Zooey, I had to post!!!

This is my cousin in the Cash Cab!!!  I love it!

The greatest gift you can give your children...

The greatest gift you can give your children is to take care of yourself and to live your life as you hope they will live theirs...

Five Days of Fun, Fitness and Friends! (and all for free, or almost free!)

Moxie Moms and Luna Moms are partnering up to offer 5 days of fitness classes with all our community partners! Moxie Moms- your 5 days of fitness is FREE! If you are not a Moxie Mom, for 10+ classes, you only have to pay $5!!! That is less than $.50 a class (a little more than a stamp!) and most of these classes start with a $15 drop in up to $60 for reformer classes! So this is a huge deal! If you decide to sign up for Moxie Moms let me know ASAP!

Every day there will be 2 (or more) options to choose from- one strenuous and one soothing. That means no matter your fitness level you can GET OUT THERE AND MOVE! There will be varying times to fit into our daily mom schedule and there may even be daycare options available.

Just in time for Valentine's Day- get svelte with boot camp classes, flexible with yoga, strong with pilates, sensual with Zumba and more!!!

So by now, everyone knows I teach Stroller Strides classes. So obviously, Stroller Strides will be a strenuous option. But here are some other fitness choices you have for the 5 days!

- pilates mat classes with Move Pilates
- Reformer classes with Move Pilates
- Boot Camp workouts
- Zumba with Axis of Movement
- Nia with Christina Stott
- Gentle Yoga
- Hot Yoga



 To participate follow these steps!
1. RSVP to elaine@moxie-moms.com and you will get a schedule in your email on Friday by 9pm!
2. Once you receive the email RSVP for individual classes to me via email elaine@moxie-moms.com - the schedule will let you know how many spaces are available. Classes are first come first serve so sign up fast!
3. You can invite others to come with you as long as they RSVP and pay $5 to attend.
4. I will be at all the classes (collecting the $5 if it is your first class) and will be monitoring guest lists as well as handing out raffle tickets at each class
5. At the end of the FIVE DAYS OF FREE FITNESS I will select three raffle tickets for prizes, so the more classes you attend the better your chances of winning massages, Gift certificates for coffee, free meals, etc!
So RSVP NOW and get moving!!!

(These are intro classes which our partners are offering to give you a taste of what they do. If you love a class or teacher, please let them know. Sign up to take their class, return their support. Local businesses thrive only with our support so make sure you show them love! And of course, Moxie Moms get a 15% discount on classes at all these awesome partners if they choose to sign up!!!)

 

Breast Cancer Prevention Luna Moms Club Tip

It's about prevention!

This weeks Luna Moms Club tip...

Studies have found potential links between pesticides and breast cancer risk. Pesticides and other synthetic chemicals are found in our food.

Read labels, ask your grocer to stock organic produce and hormone-free meats and dairy products, and look for organic food at your local farmers’ market. Look for natural alternatives to chemical weed and bug killers and take preventative measures such as mulching for weeds and using traps, barriers, fabric row covers, or plant-based repellents to get rid of pests.

The pesticides of greatest concern for breast cancer are used in the agricultural setting. To take a step further, visit the Pesticide Action Network website (www.panna.org) to clean up the environment beyond your home.

Fact: Did you know LUNA bars are made with 70% organic and 100% entirely natural ingredients?

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Bra colors for Breast Cancer Awareness- Breast Cancer Prevention Week #2

This week saw a slew of color posts on FB.  Why?  Well, it was color your status for Breast Cancer Awareness.  What?  It didn't make sense to me, but it did get a lot of people posting and talking about it.  So perhaps it worked!  Soon after the color postings, there were other posts calling for prayers for a cure for cancer.  

I posted something similar to the prayers post, but I added a little sumpin sumpin extra- a call for more PREVENTION and EDUCATION on the products that we use EVERYDAY that are actually carcinogenic...

So to add on...

Here is my Luna Moms Tip of the Week 

Breast Cancer Prevention Week #2

Create a Healthy Home

Make your home a chemical-free sanctuary. Many household items, including paper products and cleaning supplies, contain cancer-causing chemicals. These products can be replaced with safer, non-toxic alternatives available at your local supermarkets and health food stores. Plus, by making smart purchases you let manufacturers and retailers know that you won’t stand for toxic products.

Some plastics leach chemicals into the substances they touch, so you should try to choose non-plastic alternatives when possible.

• Avoid microwaving your food in plastic containers or in plastic wrap. Choose ceramic or glass containers instead.
• Swap plastic water bottles for stainless steel or aluminum options.
• Choose non-toxic baby toys and shower curtains instead of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastic or vinyl.

Eat a banana today!

Banana's are good for you because they are full of Potassium. Potassium plays an important role decreasing the risk of high blood pressure and stroke, it increases strength and helps reduce stress. Toss some in a blender with milk and yogurt for a tasty, filling and nutritious snack and get your calcium in there too!

My Top 10 ways to get fit after the holidays...

Whew, the holidays are finally over, and just in time! During the holidays I managed to attend 2 cookie exchanges, 3 holiday dinners, 1 book club/MNO (heavy on the MNO, light on the book part) and ended up eating most of the cookies for Santa. Now in the midst of my new Years Resolutions, I can't seem to get my skinny jeans back on...

Thank goodness I have a pretty healthy base to return to and (of course) Stroller Strides!

Twittermoms asked moms to post our top 10 ways to get fit after the holidays and since there may be some of you in the same boat, I thought I would share mine, since I definitely will be using all 10 to get back into shape this month!

My Top 10 ways to get fit after the holidays
1. Throw out all your holiday sweets. Out with the old and in with the new. That's right, throw out all the holiday cookies, candy canes, peppermints and more. Anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup gets the boot. I am usually pretty vigilant about the no HFCS, but during the holidays, this tends to slip. So I toss out the sweets and bring in the fruits and veggies. A clementine is very sweet and a perfect substitute when you need a treat.

2. Commit to working out 5 times a week. Even if it is just a 20 minute walk, definitely get up and move at least 5 times a week.

3. Add weights to your workout. I know a lot of us give up on our workout routines during the winter holidays. This means a loss of muscle mass, which translates to less muscle burning less fat. Try to do a weight workout 2 out of the 5 times you work out. I suggest Stroller Strides for new moms with babies in the stroller since it is a complete workout, both cardio and weight bearing.

4. Suck it in... What do I mean? I mean the belly button! Engage your core during all movements. And do so with intent- picture your stomach muscles as a corset and try to bring both sides together. This will engage the transverse abdominus. A strong transverse abdominus helps support your spine which assists in balance and coordination in all of your daily movements. We can only engage our TA in movement so those that sit all day may have a weakened TA. When it weakens, it doesn't do a good job of holding your internal organs in place, which allows your belly to bulge. (insert very sad face here...)

5. Make a schedule. I am a schedule freak. For Christmas I asked for not one, but two planners. Scheduling helps me figure out the day, prepare and then execute. Not only does this mean I schedule in my time to work out, it also means that I am not screaming at my older son, "go, go, go!" as we run out the door 10 minutes late. Why does avoiding being a "screamer" help me get fit after the holidays? When I am the "screamer" I am stressed, and when I am stressed I tend to reach for unhealthy options to soothe my stressed self. Staying one step ahead of the game keeps me sane and away from the emergency cookies.

6. Remember to stretch! With all the running, lifting and what not I am doing to lose the pounds, I always need to remember to get a great yoga class in there somehow. Flexibility is very important in preventing injuries and the de-stress I get from yoga is irreplaceable!

7. Keep a glass of water by the bed. I am not a water drinker, one of my New Years Resolutions is to drink more water. So with a glass (16 oz) by the bed, I sit up, chug it and am done with half my daily quota! When a person is dehydrated their body compensates by retaining excess water as a protective measure (the dreaded water weight). Also, dehydration significantly lowers metabolism.

8. Brush your teeth with your kids. I swear by this tip. When you get your kids ready for bed brush your teeth with theirs. You will be reminded by your minty fresh breath that late night snacks are a no-no!

9. Laundry/grocery bag workouts... For some reason there is a lot of laundry in the winter and also more grocery shopping. Apparently we eat more to stay warm and wear lots of layers in my house... So #9 tip is a two parter. First is to be incredibly inefficient when doing the laundry. Run up and down the stairs with 5 separate piles, instead of just one. And before putting away all those groceries, remember to bust out as many bicep curls as possible.

10. Talk about your goals and find a workout buddy! Tell everyone you are on the road to health and wellness so they can support you. Schedule workout dates or better yet, go to a class with other women with the same goals(perhaps Stroller Strides?!?). Research shows that having a friend to share a weight loss or diet experience with can increase success, so don't be afraid to share.

I am hoping they pick my top 10 so I can win a Wii Sports EA SPORTS Active™ Personal Trainer! Wish me luck and feel free to share your tips too!