Featured!

Our Stroller Strides Richmond class was featured on The Soapbox Mama blog. Make sure you check out the video (you may just recognize some familiar faces!) and read the article. While you are there check out the article Anne-Louise and Susan wrote for the blog , Making Everyday a Workout For Mom.

The Strength for Motherhood

The Strength for Motherhood

Watch this video when you need a little inspiration as a mom. Stroller Strides helps gives moms the strength for motherhood through friendships, support and fitness. If you are a mom, then you are an athlete. Pass this video on to give your friends the strength.

Tis the Season of Holiday Craft Fairs

With the incessant rain of November comes one of my most favorite times of the year. The Holiday craft fair season! I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for all the unique, obscure gift items. I'm one of those that loves to give good gifts. It makes my day to find something that I know the gift recipient will love.

I'll start with my foremost favorite. The Circle Craft Christmas Market is held each year at the Trade & Convention Centre at Canada Place, 2008 dates are November 11-16th. It is billed as Western Canada's largest and one-of-a-kind gift fairs and they do not disappoint. If you have never had the opportunity to check Circle Craft out, make sure you put it on your list of things to do for this year, I promise, you'll be sorry if you don't. An added bonus, you can print off a coupon for $2 off your show admission.

This year marks the first time the Inspired in the City Baby & Family Holiday Fair will take place. It happens this year on Sunday, November 3rd. 10:00-3:00 at the Steveston Community Centre. The show promises an amazing selection of locally made products and support services for Moms & Families. Sounds like a winner.

The City of Richmond through the local community centres offers a few gems as well. Steveston's Christmas Craft Fair is billed as Richmond BIGGEST fair! This year it takes place on Saturday, November 29th. 10:00 - 4:00. Minoru Christmas Craft Fair will take place on the same day as Steveston, also from 10:00 -4:00. At Minoru, you will not only find unique treasures, you will also benefit the seniors of the Minoru Place Seniors Activity Centre. They are so close, you can visit one, then head over to the next! South Arm will also have it's own event on Saturday, November 15th. from 10:00 - 5:00.

I came across a listing for a Craft Night and Silent Auction to be held at Dixon Elementary School in Richmond. There you can buy from talented local artists and help Dixon School at the same time. This event happens on Thursdsay, November 20th. from 6:00 - 8:30 pm.

So here is to anther joyous season... of craft fair's that is! Happy Shopping.

In good health,

Susan

Halloween Healthy Trick-or-Treat Alternatives

I just love our Lulu Ladies & Babies message board. I love the see the questions and topics that come up, things the moms are thinking about, talking about.

A thread was started by one of the mom members who is doing a little poll this Halloween season. Being in the education industry, this mom is right in the middle of a big "healthy schools campaign." This year, she is going the give the little trick-or-treaters that come to her door a choice. They can either have a goody bag with some stickers and a pencil or candy. She is wondering what the consensus will be on the choice given. What do you think?

My husband read the thread over my shoulder and says... "you better tell her to buy a big jug on vinegar... that is the best way to get egg of the house" Smartie pants.

After reading the thread and some of the replies, I decided to take the healthy trick-or-treat discussion to my Mom Organizer Group, Not Just Moms. With close to 1,200 moms group organizers on one forum, I figured there would be lots of say on the topic and I was right.

Many of the responders applaud the decision to do a healthy alternative. Lots of great suggestions were given.

1. mini pretzel bags
2. mini fruit snacks
3. mini tubs of play-doh
4. pencils, stickers
5. temp. tattoos
6. raisins
7. toothbrush

A few responders were very honest and said the candy is what it's all about. One of the responses read, "really Halloween is all about the candy. I wouldn't do a birthday party without a birthday cake, and it wouldn't be Halloween without candy." I also like the honesty of, "I give out candy, too. Then I pull a little bit out of my daughter's bag for her to have and take the rest to work. Better my co-workers get fat than my kid."

I for one, applaud those who are thinking about this and offering an alternative. My boys have been avid trick-or-treaters for a few years now. We live on a small street, they only visit a handful of houses and still seem to come home with an arsenal of chocolate bars, chips, jujubes, rockets and lollipops. I also still like the idea of candy at Halloween. I am big on tradition and to me Halloween trick-or-treat and mini chocolate bars are entwined in tradition.

So if any of you end up at my house this Halloween eve, you will find me at the door handing you a mini Kit Kat AND a small tub of play-doh. I just don't want to have to get out the big tub of vinegar.

In good health,

Susan

Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

One Issue, Thousands of Voices

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

It's hard to image sometimes that poverty actually exists in Richmond. I look at the people around me and sure, sometimes money is tight, we all scrimp & save at times but I hate to imagine someone in Richmond living without the basic creature comforts like food, clothing and an affordable roof over their head. According to The Richmond Poverty Response Committee street homeless has reached crisis levels in Metro Vancouver. But the visibly homeless represent just the tip of the iceberg. Over 58,000 households pay more than 50% of their income just for a roof over their heads and are at risk of homelessness. Those statistics are alarming.

The Lulu Ladies & Babies just finished doing a food bank drive for The Richmond Food Bank. Over $210.00 cash and 7 boxes full of food & toiletries were collected. It never fails to amaze me, the power of a maternal community. We have some other charitable drives going on this winter. We are participating in Give A Kid a Coat, in which our goal is to collect 100 coats to be distributed by Sleep Country Canada through The Salvation Army. We also plan to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the message of God’s unconditional love. We are not all religious but that doesn't matter. We are making a child who could otherwise receive nothing at Christmas know that someone in Canada loves and cares about them. This charity is particularly close to my heart as my father, as a child in Paraguay, South America was one of those children who received a box at Christmas. The stories he tells and the strong emotions I hear in his voice and see in his eyes make this an important tradition for me to participate in with my family.

I think it become ever so much more important when you have children and the onus for love and care is no longer soley upon you, the individual. Speaking for myself, I feel added compassion like I never did before I was a mother. It is important for me to give, to share what I have. Big or small, all the contributions and efforts to assist in poverty help. I am so proud to be part of this wonderful group of mothers in our community who take the time to give and share.

In good health,

Susan

Mompreneur Spotlight! - Candy Berg

A mompreneur is a newly coined term for women who establish businesses at home while also acting as the full time parent of their children. The mompreneur movement is one steadily growing as mothers try to find ways to make money, express their creativity or business acumen, and also to parent their children.

The Lulu Ladies & Babies is the "social arm" of Stroller Strides Richmond. With over 150 Richmond mom members, we have a diverse group of women from all facets of life that have one thing in common, we're all Moms living in Richmond.

We love to support our Lulu Mompreneurs and as such, we have a special page on our Lulu Ladies & Babies website dedicated to their business ventures. As part of our Stroller Strides blog, we would like to take the opportunity to spotlight our Lulu Mompreneurs so you can learn a bit more about them, their products and or businesses as well as what led them to their business endeavour.


Submitted by: Candy Berg, Tupperware Rep. and Lulu Mompreneur.

My name is Candy Berg, I’m a Stay at Home mom with two children…Josh is 6 and Karley is 2. I have an Early Childhood Education background, but after having Karley I decided I wanted to stay home with my children instead of returning back to work. A friend of mine encouraged me to give Tupperware a try as she had been successful at selling it a few years ago. I started selling Tupperware 9 months ago and I’m absolutely LOVING it! As a mom I really wanted the flexibility to stay at home with my children and make some extra money! Tupperware as made this all possible for me…I choose when I work and for how long, plus I get the added bonus of buying my Tupperware at a discounted rate!

Tupperware has made a big comeback since the plastic issues in the media, and most people are becoming more environmentally friendly. The fact that Tupperware is a reputable company that has been around for over 60 years makes it very easy to sell. It also makes sense considering it’s good for the environment and saves you money in the long run!

WIN IT!! Candy has donated a Tupperware Prep Essentials™ Lil’ Chopper. It is a great tool for making baby food or chopping up other products while cooking. It would be useful for those who are making their own baby food, you can can even take it with you in a diaper bag or if you are eating out, this way you can prepare some of the food that you are eating right at the table for your child. It is also very useful when travelling or camping.

All you need to do is visit Candy's Tupperware Website and find your 3 favorite Tupperware products. Email them to strollerstridesrichmondblog@gmail.com with TUPPERWARE in the subject line and you will be entered to win! Contest will close on October 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm. PST. Winner will be chosen at random from the entries received. Winner must be able to pickup their prize as awarded in Richmond, BC.

Chocolate Milk - Nutrition in Disguise?

My boys (ages 6 and 3) have never been big milk drinkers and I know for a fact from talking to other parents that I am not alone. It's always been a personal challenge to fit more milk into their diets as a way to get their daily dose of Vitamin D and calcium. They are fine with other dairy items such as cheese and yogurt but when it comes to actually drinking the white stuff, they are both a miss.

They do however, like chocolate milk and will drink it at any opportunity given. This got me to thinking, "is chocolate milk and acceptable substitute for traditional white milk?"

I did a little searching around the Internet on the subject and was happy and surprised to find out some information I thought I would share.

Chocolate milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk. Flavored milk provides calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and niacin.

Chocolate milk comes in many varieties, including reduced fat, low fat and fat free. For example, a 1 cup serving of low fat flavored milk has only 2.5 grams of fat per serving, the exact amount as in white milk.

The ingredients in chocolate milk are much less likely to cause cavities than soft drinks and sticky snack foods. Liquids such as flavored milk clear the mouth faster. Some studies suggest that the cocoa in chocolate milk may actually protect against cavities.

The amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is similar to the amount found in decaffeinated drinks. An 8-ounce serving of chocolate milk contains between 2 mg and 7 mg of caffeine. According to recent evidence, the amount of caffeine in chocolate milk is too small to have a detrimental effect on a child's behavior.

Children who consume chocolate milk did not have higher intakes of added sugars or total fat in their overall diet in comparison with children who do not consume flavored milk.

That being said, I am a little more confident to serve the brown stuff. I think that ideally, if your child likes white milk it is a preferable choice but in the event that they don't drink milk at all unless it's that of the chocolate variety, it is a superior alternative to just drinking juice. In the end, the only case I could find against chocolate milk comes with adding any flavour to milk adds sugar and calories to an otherwise healthy drink.

In good health,

Susan

Stroller Strides Moms Run Group Wraps Up 12 Week Training Session

Submitted by: Becky Southwell, Stroller Strides Learn to Run 10K Faster Leader.

I was so disappointed not to make the Run for the Cure this year. I came down with a head-cold the night before and I know I missed out on a great day. Seeing people running in honor of loved ones or seeing the number of women who are bald from chemo under their bandannas or hats is always so touching and incredible. Every year that I’ve done the run I’ve cried my way through and also sailed along for 5K as if I were weightless, inspired by the runners around me.

As the run group winds down its session tonight at Starbucks, it’s got me thinking what the weekly run means to me. The number one thing is the camaraderie. Knowing we are all accountable to each other to show up means I put my sneakers on and head out the door, even on nights when Gray’s Anatomy is on or dinner in the oven smells really good. The run gives us all time to talk, and I’ve gotten to know people better on these runs than I could at twenty play-dates, not having children pulling our attention away means we not only start conversations… we get to finish them! (I was starting to feel like I wouldn’t finish an adult conversation until both children were in school.) Then there’s the accomplishment. Because the routine is structured in such a way that each week builds gradually, we all achieve a huge amount of progress with as little pain as you can experience given how far we go. I love that the group brings together seasoned runners and people looking for a new way to work out. What everyone has in common is a desire to do something just for them, give something back to themselves after all we do for our family and others. Everyone has negotiated with spouses, or moms, or hired babysitters to carve out an hour or two each week just for them and I think that’s really important. It’s like a little date to keep with yourself, and since it’s so easy to blow it off, I think we’re all pretty fabulous for showing up each week.

I would love to see more people join the run group. I think some people don’t see themselves as “runners”. But you don’t have to be a Capital R – Runner to start the program. You can just be a person who is looking to add a Moms-only workout to your week. The slow build in difficulty as the weeks progress means you might surprise yourself. I’m thinking ahead to a few races, particularly the Steveston Ice Breaker in January, which runs along the dyke. I’ll be one of the ‘half-crazy’ entrants braving the freezing cold and earning myself that Starbucks Mochacinno at the end. I hope to see you there.

Becky

Share the Scoop

Help us spread the news!

Stroller Strides Richmond Blog wants moms to know about us! We've got a cool Stroller Strides T-shirt and a SPRI XERTUBE® to give away. All you need to do is Share the Scoop!

Forward our Stroller Strides Blog address to your friends then send us an email at strollerstridesrichmondblog@gmail.com with SHARE THE SCOOP in the subject line to tell us how many friends you've shared the scoop with. The winner will be drawn randomly from entries received. Entries need to be received by 24:00 PST October 17th. 2008.

Prize winner must be able to pickup the prize in Richmond, BC. Prizes may not be exactly as shown and have no cash value.

Contest is now closed. Winner is Jenny L. of Richmond, BC

Your Post-Workout Fuel-Up

What you eat after your workout is critical for recovery and can leave you feeling full of energy instead of pooped!

Carbohydrates fuel your body. Exercising with an insufficient amount of carbs in your body will lead to being tired and could potentially lead to injury. Since you can only store a certain amount of carbohydrates, it's important to replace what you used during your workout. Eating shortly after exercise is recommended.

While carbohydrates are your fuel for exercise, protein is like the mechanic who comes in to repair the damage. It is recommended for for those trying to loose weight to increase the amount of protein in your diet. Reason being, when you are reducing your caloric intake, your body will burn protein for energy. Including some protein in your post-workout fuel-up will help repair muscles quicker than carbohydrate intake alone.

Your Top 10 Post Workout Snacks are:

1. Skim milk (not only does it have protein and carbohydrates, it also has lots of water, which will help replace fluids lost from sweating)
2. Low Fat Yogurt with blueberries
3. Bagel with turkey breast slices (add veggies and mustard)
4. Tuna salad (made with non-fat mayo) on whole-wheat bread
5. Banana smoothie - homemade with banana, orange juice and low fat vanilla yogurt
6. Bottled sports drink and a cup of non-fat cottage cheese
7. Orange juice and a handful of dry-roasted soy nuts
8. Low-fat or non-fat mozarella cheese and Kashi crackers
9. Vegetable bean soup and a whole wheat bun
10. Dried apricots and low-fat cheddar cheese

In good health,

Susan