Shoes off!

What is “Moms with a Mission”?

Women, especially moms, are invaluable change agents. LUNA Moms Club harnesses this power through its “Moms with a Mission” mantra. Our goal is to provide a platform for moms to help better the community where we and our families live and play by sharing information and participating in activities focused on giving back to children, families and the environment.


Not only do we as moms make a huge impact in your community, but through our actions we teach and inspire the next generation to do so as well. The little guys above are my reason I am on a mission!


Moms on a Mission Fact for 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 floor of your home.

Moms on a Mission

What is “Moms with a Mission”?

Women, especially moms, are invaluable change agents. LUNA Moms Club harnesses this power through its “Moms with a Mission” mantra. Our goal is to provide a platform for moms to help better the community where we and our families live and play by sharing information and participating in activities focused on giving back to children, families and the environment.


Not only do we as moms make a huge impact in your community, but through our actions we teach and inspire the next generation to do so as well.


Moms on a Mission Fact for 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.

Mindful Eating

How many times a day do you eat a meal standing up? Do you snack in front of the tv? Or do you savor each bite when you eat?

Life is busy. Sometimes I feel like every second of my day has been scheduled in 15 minute portions. Eating is crammed in there somewhere. Sometimes it is in the car, sometimes in front of the tv watching our favorite show or sports team. It is easy to feel like a bystander with your life whizzing by... It is hard to feel satisfied by a meal that just speeds past your taste buds on the way to your belly.

I have come to terms with my nature of enjoying a full schedule, for myself and my family. But in terms of healthy eating, I have made a commitment to be more intentional and aware of what we eat and where. To do so, I am changing my attitude on food... Meals are no longer another stop on the speedway that is the Waterman calendar!

Here is my plan to make meals more mindful in our house...
* Say thanks before each meal- We are vegetarians (with a little fish sometimes) so this means thanking the farmers and the food for the nourishment it offers us. This also helps the kids realize where their food comes from so there is less waste.
* Set the table- And this does not mean the TV tray. Meals are to be eaten as a family at the table. This also creates an environment of sharing and community.
* Use your five senses - Experience your meal with all five senses. Look at your food, taste it, touch it and feel for texture, smell the aroma, and listen - is there are crunch when you eat it? With the farmers market opening last week it is much easier to get farm fresh veggies with a wonderful array of colors. Enjoy it!
* Be mindful of your fullness- Sometimes people eat when they are really thirsty. Or people eat beyond fullness. Pause frequently while eating to see if you are full. It is hard to sense fullness when you are shoveling food into your mouth on the way out the door.
* Check the source- Are you craving food because you are hungry or because of another emotion (boredom/sadness/control issues). Be mindful of the emotions behind your cravings.

I am excited to really savor my foods mindfully starting with dinner tonight- I am off to cook!

BPA- what is it and why should we care?

If you haven't heard yet, BPA is bad for you. What is BPA?

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound that is an important monomer in the production of polycarbonate. Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products grabbed headlines in 2008 when several governments issued reports questioning its safety, and some retailers pulled products made from it off their shelves. (from Wikipedia)

As an employee of a retailer that sold water bottles I was first made aware of BPA by a frantic email from corporate telling us to pull all our water bottles. I later learned that BPA can leach out of the product that contains it and enter the human body. When inside the body, it mimics hormones (such as estrogen). This "estrogenicity" has been linked to Breast Cancer in several studies.

So I thought, great, I will switch to a stainless steel water bottle (or my Stroller strides bottle which is BPA free). But I forgot about the baby! Here I was giving the little one a bottle filled with BPA (and milk). So soon after switching out the BPA for me, I found BPA free bottles for Ethan. I strongly suggest you mommies do the same, especially since the earlier the exposure to BPA, the higher the risks! Here is a list of BPA free baby bottles. I use the medela ones since they match up to my pump.

Read more about BPA on Seventh Generation's blog, the Biography of BPA...

Self Discipline is the precursor to success.

Just remember this phrase as you start receiving your girl scout cookies this week. You do not have to eat the whole box at once. Although I know from experience that you really, really want to...

Fit Moms Challenge- Moms get ready, get set, get fit!

The New Year always brings resolutions. This is the year to keep them!

Pre Baby Jeans and Stroller Strides of Longmont is hoping that you will look at your total health – mind, body and spirit. Although a certain weight on the scale might be your desire, it is your strength and vitality that make you beautiful. For 2009 not only do we want you to commit to be active at some point EACH day, but we also want you to commit to strengthening your inner beauty and spirit.

If you are ready to make a commitment to your health than join The Fit Moms Challenge! This challenge is a way for moms to get in the best shape of their lives. It is being offered nationwide in conjunction with Stroller Strides.

Each week, you will get tips on nutrition, fitness, motivation and more! You will also be able to test your fitness throughout the challenge to see your progress. The best part is that you participate in the challenge as a team. This means you have a built in support network! And the support does not stop there! There is also a facebook page with participants nationwide sharing their stories, successes and challenges.

If you are really ready to take it to the next level and get in the best shape of your life, join the Fit Moms Challenge!