• What is Moms In Training?

An 8-week flexible Saturday morning work-out program that provides moms with the opportunity to get in shape, meet other moms & raise crucial funds in the fight against cancer.

• Who does the program benefit and how did you get involved with this organization?

The program directly benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. However, participants are encouraged to fundraise in honor/memory of someone impacted by any type of cancer. I have been working for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for over 12 years. During my time with the organization, I have fundraised $40,000 while training for 4 marathons. However, after becoming a mom and no longer having the same drive or time to commit to long-distance training, I still wanted to find to find a way to engage new moms in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Mission while integrating fitness into their lives. Thus, I created the program, Moms In Training!

• Where do you meet, is the training flexible, do I need to be a runner to get involved?

The groups meets in five different locations in the NYC area: Central Park, Madison Square Park, Astoria Park, Prospect Park & Clove Lake Park. The work-outs cater to moms of all fitness levels, so moms can either walk or run. Moms also have the ability to bring their baby & stroller to the work-outs! The 8-week program culminates with an opportunity for moms to complete a 10K (6.2 miles) on June 8th. Trainings are not mandatory and everyone will be given a training calendar that they can follow on their own. Training starts on April 13th @ 9:00am.

• How can moms get involved and sign up?

There is a $50 registration fee, which goes towards the $500 fundraising commitment. Last year, the average mom ended up raising $1,500! Upon registering, each participant will receive a fundraising website to get you started.

-For more information, contact helena.scott@lls.org or visit the Moms in Training website.

I joined a Prenatal Aqua class through Chicago’s Northwestern Hospital. It didn’t sound like my cup of tea at first, but I decided to jump in feet first (literally) and see what it was like. The class was great because the leader, Megan, always started every class with introductions, due dates, and fun tidbits about each expecting mom. It helped break the ice and give us all something to talk about. We soon exchanged email addresses and voila! A support group was formed!

This group has been an amazing source of comfort and support!

The group continues on and includes 9 wonderful moms whose babies were all born within a 6-7 week period. It has been amazing because we can exchange stories, ask each other questions, vent (a little…), and find comfort in the fact that we’re all experiencing similar things. We go to Stroller Strides together, have weekly playdates, and even get out sans babies to enjoy some MUCH DESERVED girl time while our husbands babysit.

We’re a group of very different women who have formed an amazing friendship. We respect each other’s differences and celebrate all the new and amazing things our children accomplish as they grown and reach new milestones. We’re even going to introduce our husbands soon–things are getting SERIOUS!

Henry’s excited about his support group too!

I’m so happy I started “dating” again. It was really hard and nerve wracking in the beginning, but I’ve got a great support system now and a whole new group of friends for me and Henry!

-Maureen is the Chicago city coordinator for LLD and a new mommy!

I had the pleasure of sitting down at Peacefood Café yesterday with Dimity Kirwan, the CEO of Beyond Teaching a super savvy, fast-growing online community of teachers seeking extra work as tutors and caregivers.

Dimity connects teachers with parents who are looking for skilled and knowledgeable individuals to work with their children. Sound familiar to LLD?

Beyond Teaching believes that providing children with ongoing learning experiences is essential. Dimity and I understand that parents often struggle to find top quality childcare and tutors. LLD & Beyond Teaching are proud to collaborate in developing a solution for busy moms throughout the tri-state area by providing the best local tutors and caregivers. During the interview I had the opportunity to ask Dimity several questions about herself and Beyond Teaching.

Tell us about your story?

I’m from Wilton, CT, which is in Fairfield County. I have a twin sister, a younger brother and sister, and 3 much younger half sisters, for whom I often babysat and nannied. I went to Tulane University, in New Orleans. When I graduated, I joined Teach for America and completed a masters of education, specializing in Childhood 1-6, from Pace University whil

e teaching in Harlem.

What led you to start Beyond Teaching ?

Throughout my first three years of teaching, I supplemented my income through babysitting and tutoring, but connecting with families was always tough. I loved working with kids one on one and wished that I had more opportunities to do so, as did my fellow teacher friends. I thought it would be such a great business to connect these wonderful families I was meeting with great sitters/tutors.

What is the coolest thing that has happened to you this far?

My grant to start Beyond Teaching from the Jones New Yo

rk Empowerment Fund and meeting Dee Dee Meyers! I heard about this grant offer through Ladies Who Launch, applied, and received the grant in September 2010. All the recipients were featured in an ad campaign that ran in Elle & Real Simple Magazine.

So what is your goal with Beyond Teaching ?

On a larger scale, I’m hoping to empower teachers to utilize their skills beyond the classroom and to be compensated accordingly. I would love to do this full-time as I love being able to connect families and students with quality tutors.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

Generally, playing outdoors with my siblings. Our house was in the middle of the woods, and we created a fantasyland out of nature! My love for nature has continued – when I’m not teaching or working on Beyond Teaching , I’m an avid rock climber and yogi!

So how do tutors get involved in Beyond Teaching ?

It’s easy – take 10 minutes to visit our website www.gobeyondteaching.com and register for free.

Thanks to Dimity for all the great insight! That’s all for now, make sure to keep following LLD!

-LB

LLD: We love how creative you are in making fruits and vegetables into tasty treats that your four children love, and are extremely healthy. Can you give our moms out there some tips on making healthy, easy-to-make snacks for the little ones? Or even, what is one of your favorite healthy snacks to make for your kids?

Anne: Focus on vegetables as snacks. One of our favorites is the peanut butter cucumber caterpillar, but even plain cut carrots, celery and pepper to dip in hummus or black bean spread is simple, easy and tasty.

LLD: More often than we like, we’re learning about new foods or ingredients that could cause health problems. We all want to keep our families healthy, but when does it stop! In your opinion, what are the most important things to avoid in a healthy diet?

Anne: Avoid anything processed. By eliminating processed foods, you will avoid all preservatives, coloring and artificial sweeteners without having to ciphon through lists of which are or are not especially hazardous. They are all bad and none stand up to completely fresh foods with a few packaged but not processed items, like puffed corn thins, rice cakes or a very plain chip.

LLD: Many parents think that it would be very hard to follow a primarily vegan diet with growing children that are already picky eaters. You say so honestly in your blog that life does get in the way sometimes, and you can’t always avoid animal products or milk or butter. Do you have some advice for parents that want to try a more vegetarian or vegan diet but aren’t sure how to bring their kids on board?

Anne: Mostly, make it delicious and involve children in the shopping and cooking processes. My children love to chop, grind and blend so they are more amenable to the end result. They are also really involved in which farms we buy food from and they have developed a general understanding of what grows when and where. And, do not forget to make the food visually appealing. After all, first impressions matter.

LLD: We were fascinated by your blog from May 1st of this year about genetically modified corn. With the recent health revolution sweeping the nation, more people are concerned about what is going into their food. For those of you that don’t know, agribusiness today is inserting a BT toxin, or synthetic bug spray, into corn so that it has its own bug repellent. But what happens once you eat this corn with the bug spray in it? No one knows! The FDA is not researching or testing the effects of these genetically modified substitutes, but there are many claims that this is harmful to the human body, and additionally to the environment. Could you comment on the suspected health problems associated with genetically modified foods, and how important it is to find natural fruits and vegetables to feed your family?

Anne: While the claims against genetically modified foods include many illnesses from cancer and superviruses to infertility, the risk of fatal food allergies is one of the most studies and flagrant examples of the downside of GMOs. Bringing cod fish genes into potatoes or brazil nut into soy has clearly caused death and a rash of odd soy allergies heretofore unseen. http://www.nutrimommy.com/search/label/GM%20foods

LLD: When shopping for organic foods, it can get overwhelming visiting a Whole Foods where there are aisles and aisles of various brands and “all-natural” claims on packaging. How do you know where to start and when is it worth paying the extra couple dollars for the organic label?

Anne: Sometimes the organic label is meaningless. At your local farm stand you can always ask about growing practices and you will find many fruits and vegetables are unsprayed, sprayed with only organic products or very lightly sprayed unlike large agribusiness produce. In the packaged food realm, it is best to lean organic whenever possible, for snacks and crackers, and be especially diligent when the product has corn or soy. There is a whole profitable and growing market of organic junk food which should be avoided based on fat, salt and sugar content regardless of the source of the food. It is preferable to aim for sprouted nuts or raw snacks like kale chips rather than oily chips and floury crackers regardless of the organic label.

Thanks for all the great advice Anne! Check our her blog at http://www.nutrimommy.com/.

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We think these tips are great! Make sure you “Like” Bradley’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bradley-Bayou/140435025223 and follow him on Twitter @BradleyBayou.

SHORT LEGS OR TORSO: such as Julianne Hough
Choose a suit with a high-cut leg. There are really interesting one-pieces out there now with cut outs—pick one where the leg is exposed as much as possible. Boy-cut shorts are not for you.

STOMACH AREA: KE$HA
Do pick either a high-waisted bikini or a one-piece that will pull you in. Don’t pick
a low-rise bikini!

SMALL BUST: just like AnnaLynne McCord
You can go as skimpy as you like up top, but choose suits that have their prints or embellishments on the top rather than the bottom, like ruffles or beading.

BIG BUST: Sophia Vergara
Choose a suit with support—either a bra-shaped or halter top with underwire will work best for you. Choose a darker color on top with a brighter color or print on the bottom. You can choose a bikini or full-piece depending on your midsection, and with either type of suit make sure any embellishments are on the lower half to balance your bustline.

NO WASTE: Sarah Hyland
Choose a one-piece with a V-neck, as plunging as you feel comfortable with a belted waist, preferably in a contrasting or bright color.

LONG BODY example: Miranda Kerr
Tankinis or a one-piece will work well on you—any top with an empire waistline. If you want to do a two-piece just make sure you minimize the distance between your top and bottom. For example, a shorter tankini is okay if paired with a high-waisted bottom.

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