Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk

Speaking of milk...

I was contacted by Got Milk and asked to help spread awareness for this new campaign called Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk. Here is the deal. There is debate now among schools to remove chocolate milk from school menus in efforts to boost nutritional quality of their meals. The result is less and less kids are drinking milk at all at school. During these developmental times in a child's life, milk is essential in their diet be it chocolate or plain.

Leading health and nutrition organizations – like the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association, and School Nutrition Association – recognize the valuable role that milk, including flavored milk, can play in meeting daily nutrient needs. All agree that the small amount of added sugar in flavored milk is an acceptable trade-off for the nutrients provided. In addition, studies show that children who drink flavored milk have better quality diets, do not have higher intakes of sugar, fat or calories, and are not heavier than non-milk drinkers. source: raiseyourhandformilk.com

Here is a pdf file outlining the top 5 reasons to Raise Your Hand for Milk.

I'm a mom of three and all three of them drink chocolate milk. I'm Ok with it! There are other drinks out there like sodas and other sugary drinks that they do not drink because they know they have the option for something better. Luckily (as far as I know anyway) our school here has not booted chocolate milk off the menu but should that happen it would be a cause for concern for me. If you have school aged children I hope you visit the website, sign the petition, and help out in spreading awareness for this campaign. Our kids need us!

Ebeanstalk.com...a place for toys

***Introductory paragraph written by Ebeanstalk

What makes a good toy? A toy called the Activity Bus from Plan Toys who makes safe green toys was sent to me from a toy website called ebeanstalk. Ebeanstalk has toy experts and moms that find the great learning toys and baby toys through a toy testing program. I’ll let you know what I think of the toy now.

This post is literally months overdue, along with the other posts starting at me from my notebook of blog ideas! I received this Activity Bus back in July and handed it over to my kids. They were excited about it when it first arrived and they liked all of the little parts and pieces that came with it. The bus opens up to make a mini class room complete with chalkboard, desks, teacher, and students. Very creative!

I love the design of the bus. It reminds me of the classic wooden toys...something that looks like one of Santa's elves made! The parts and pieces however really didn't stay put. They popped out of place easily and fell over easily. For a my three and five year old, this got annoying. The Activity Bus didn't really grab the attention of my oldest child. She played with the younger two for a few minutes and then lost all interest. This toy is not really made for her age group so that is not a bad or surprising thing.

In all honesty, this is not one of my kids favorite toys. That being said, Ebeanstalk.com does have several toys that I think my kids would like better. All of the toys sold at Ebeanstalk are good for learning and development and there are several neat toys that they carry that I have not seen in stores. One thing I like about the website is that it is easy to navigate through. You can search for toys by several different categories making it easy to find just what you are looking for.

This is a late post, but as it so happens just in time for Christmas! If you've got little ones to shop for this season, this website might be a good stop!

In the NY Times...

Published recently in the NY Times Fitness and Nutrition section is an article about running with a stroller! A few of my favorite keywords from the article...stroller, running, Stroller Strides ;), and last but certainly not least Texas A&M University (I'm an Aggie if you didn't know)!

A few excerpts from today's article:

Farel Hruska, the national fitness director of Stroller Strides who designed a 5K race training program with strollers, said that many runners feel compelled to keep both hands on the stroller handle, but that it’s not necessary.

“It’s fine to run with one hand on it, but alternate hands,” Ms. Hruska said. “Occasionally swing one arm to avoid shoulder and neck discomfort and to run more naturally.”

...and

A study of five male and five female runners done at Texas A&M University, published in 2005 in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, found no increased injury because of stroller use while running. But some runners say that compromising form, pushing too much weight or increasing stroller mileage too quickly can cause problems.

Source: The NY Times, September 30th

You can read the entire article here.

I have been walking/running with my jogging stroller for a while now and I am at that point where I am completely uncoordinated without it. With a jogger in front I can run a straight line, no problem! Without it I feel like a train off the track and end up weaving all over the place! Obviously I need more practice and now that the weather is cooling off (well kind of) I have no excuses!

For Princesses and Fairies!

Bubblegum Tree Photography is offering an amazing promotion for $99 mini sessions...not just any mini sessions! The first is called Urban Princess and your little princess will be outfitted with a beautiful tutu or gown made by Baby Cha Cha for her pictures! This event will be September 30th from 10-1 pm. I am an associate photographer with Bubblegum Tree so I will be available for these fun mini sessions! Also Fantasy Celebrations will be there with a full princess tea party set up! Talk about fun for mom, and fun for kids! My kind of event!

The second event, called Woodland Fairy, will be October 5th from 10-1 pm on Market Street in The Woodlands. I will be there too! Same adorable outfits (and wings), same great photographers ;) , same great price!

These are both a great value! Each person will get a cd with 5 edited photos! With the holidays coming, what better time to have your pictures done and in hand! I promise, your pictures will stop traffic!

To register for your mini session click on one of the following links! Be sure to mention where you saw this announcement!

Urban Princess - September 30th


Woodland Fairy - October 5th





...and here is a sample of my work...with my princess!

Fall is Here!!!

Finally! Fall is here! After months of 90+ degree weather we now have beautiful breezy mornings in the upper 70's! Ah, bliss! If you haven't been out to Stroller Strides yet, ya gotta go! It is great to get out, get some fresh air, and get those muscles moving!

Truly, it is awesome! Come see for yourself!

Coupon Chief - A Gem for Online Shopping

Here is one to file under "nothing to do with fitness", but it is definitely blog worthy!

I was recently referred to a website called CouponChief.com. This site is awesome! Anytime I make purchases online I always do a search for coupon codes. Hey, I say if there is a discount out there (which there usually is) why not use it! Read on for some of the great features of CouponChief.com and see why I considered it "blog worthy"!

Lots O' Coupons
CouponChief.com is the "grand daddy" library of coupon codes! There are hundreds of stores listed and includes everything from clothing stores to home and decor stores. There are even coupon codes for the "big" stores such as Target and Best Buy! You can search by store or by category. It is so easy to find your coupons! You can even create a profile and select your favorite stores and CouponChief.com will email you when new coupon codes are uploaded!

Coupon Ratings
I love attention to detail and this website has done a great job addressing "the little things" that I find very useful. Each coupon code has a rating system where anyone who uses it can not only rate the coupon code, but can also leave comments. Pretty much you won't be surfing through hundreds of coupon codes that don't work!

Pay-2-Share Program
I don't know about you, but my inbox gets flooded with weekly emails (admittedly I opted for) from stores that I love. Most of them have some kind of coupon code in them. CouponChief.com has a program where you can upload your own coupon codes and when someone clicks on them and uses them, you will receive 2% of the sales. You probably won't be able to pay your mortgage with this, but that free cup of coffee or meal sounds great to me!

Its FREE!!!
Did I mention its free to use (even the pay-2-share program)? Really nothing else need be said on this one!

Truly, I think this is a great site that everyone can use! Check it out, pass it on, enjoy!

As Seen on TV!

So if you are a Houstonian, you know that we have had a near drought this summer! No rain! A handful of showers over the past three months with lots of blinding sunshine...right?! Last night I was both anxious and excited about Stroller Strides Memorial re-opening for the Fall after a brief summer break!

Then the rain came! Lots and lots of it! It rained off and on throughout the night and this morning. I thought to myself "NO!!! No one will show up for class and it will be me and camera crew!" Thankfully it wasn't just me! My dear friend and fellow Stroller Strides Allison came to class today! Awesome mommy!

Ryan from KPRC Channel 2 and his camera man were such good sports! They filmed the entire class and put together a mini masterpiece that aired this afternoon during the 4 o'clock hour!

So without further adieu, here is 2 minutes and 19 seconds of Stroller Strides Memorial on the news!

Stroller Strides Memorial on KPRC Channel 2 News from Valerie Gay on Vimeo

.

Join us tomorrow Sept 4th!...

for a free class...that will be hitting the airwaves via Channel 2 News!

Come out for fun time and great workout tomorrow morning at 9:30 am at Memorial Park! The weather is much cooler in the morning now so it should be great workout weather tomorrow!

I am excited to welcome Channel 2 to come out and do a story on our fit mamas here in Houston! Don't miss it!

Hope to see you at the park!

Houston Astros Mommy Blogger Night

Sorry this is going out last minute! I'll be so happy when the move is done!

I don't know all the details, but August 21st (tomorrow night) mommy bloggers...or moms in general...are invited to purchase Astros tickets close to half off! Go to www.astros.com/moms and enter "moms" as the password.

If you are looking for some affordable family fun this weekend, this is a great option!

Where is Val?

I know, I know, I know!

Where's the blog posts, the giveaways, the reviews...where's Val?!

I promise I have not dropped off the face of the Earth! It has been a BIG August as far as stuff going on! First, after A LOT of prayer and looking, God provided us with a most unexpected blessing of a house for us to move to! This has been weighing heavy on my heart for months now. My oldest daughter has been in private school and we simply just cannot afford to continue sending her there right now. I was adamant that she not go to the public school we are zoned to as quite frankly I think it is a crappy school. The new house is in the Cy-Fair school district which is a respectable one as far as Houston is concerned and her new elementary school is a state recognized school. She is still having a hard time wrapping her brain around the fact that the school will not acknowledge her christian faith or any faith for that matter. Truth be told, so am I! We just have to trust God in this and trust that He will take care of us!

We found out about the house about a two weeks ago and we have been planning, packing, and slowly moving ever since then! Our current house is in shambles and the kids are driving me crazy as expected! Moving with three kids in tow in 100 degree heat...well it sucks! We aim to have the majority of the move completed by the end of the week. Say a prayer (or two, or three) for us!

Also in August...I was hired by an awesome photography company in Houston called Bubblegum Tree Photography! Chara Studios is still in the works but will mainly focus on graphic design and web design. You can read up on my first weeks with Bubblegum Tree at my blog Smells Like Awesome and Jessica (owner of Bubblegum Tree) just posted an intro for me on the Bubblegum Tree blog for your reading enjoyment here!

So where is Stroller Strides in all of this??
Still here on the back burner for now! I'm actually OK with this since it has been so hot and no one wants to be outside for more than a few minutes right now. I am aiming to re-open Stroller Strides Memorial the first week of September with classes three days a week and then when it starts to get cooler, expand to 4-5 days a week. One thing I need right now (aside from prayer) is an instructor...or two! So if you or anyone you know has a fitness certification or is interested in getting one, I need you! Stroller Strides has been such a rewarding and fun part of my life and call me selfish, but I am not quite ready to let it go! I hope you join me in September either as a new member, old member, or instructor! I know it will be a great time!

OK, back to packing boxes! Hopefully I can steal away a few more minutes later to finally post the giveaways I've had for weeks!

Moms Living Fit Maintenance

I am transferring the domain momslivingfit.com under a new host. Please bear with me during this process. If you go to momslivingfit.com and end up at an empty page it is likely because the transfer has not been completed. Instead for the time being please use the url momslivingfit.blogspot.com until I give the "all clear" post!

We're back from the last of our travels this summer and getting back into the swing of things! Please check back in a few days for two giveaways, a few life's lessons, maybe even something about fitness!

Ringling Bros.

Last night we went to see Ringling Bros. circus. The kids had never been so they loved every minute of it! At 30 years old, I had also never been and so didn't quite know what to expect. Jason and I had a great time watching all of the animals and acrobatics and had even better time watching the kids' reactions to the show! We got our tickets courtesy of MomCentral.com. Thank you, thank you Mom Central! The circus will be here until the 20th so if you want to go and you don't want to pay a fortune, use the MC promotion code "MOM" at checkout and you can get 4 tickets for $44! This is a great deal!

Here are a few pictures from the circus!

July Class Schedule

Well mamas, July is going to be one hec of a busy month! Truly what month isn't?!

I will be out of town for the rest of the week as well as the last two weeks in July and have booked weekends till...well till pretty much the end of the year!

Until I find another instructor class is going to have to be sporatic this month.

So here it is, the class schedule for the remainder of July:

July 13, 15, 20, & 22 - 8:45 am at Memorial Park.

Please use the "contact me" button up top if you have questions about class, need directions, etc!

Thank you Houston area mommies for your patience and understanding!

-Val

Interesting Fact about Milk

Milk? Interesting? Why yes!

As women calcium is a big deal (in case you didn't know that, it is)! We are continually at risk of losing bone density and for several reasons (of which I won't go into presently). So it is imperative that we actively and continually consume foods that are high in calcium. An obvious source, milk. I love to drink a cold glass of milk, but I really prefer 2% or whole milk. Anything lower than 2% is just too watery for me! I thought I was doing well in the calcium department because it seems that thick hearty milk would be loaded with it! Right? Wrong! The calcium found in milk is actually found in the non-fat portion of milk so the more fat, the less calcium. It turns out that glass of lowfat milk is even healthier than you thought!

Just some food for thought! ;)

Ringling Bros. Ticket Winner

And the winner is...

Angie!

Congrats! I hope you and the family have a great time!!!

Got Gear?

Per request of my reminder, I finally created some "gear" for my beloved moms living fit (that's you out there, not the blog title)!

Check out the new Moms Living Fit storefront here and grab a Sigg bottle...or t-shirt!

My kids have nearly destroyed the house in these past few minutes so I'll be signing off for now!

How's Your New Year's Resolution Doing?

Six months of 2009 have come and gone! Can you believe it? This year is flying by faster than I can keep up with! How about you? Earlier in the year I did something that I had forgotten about and it crept up and hit me with the strength and speed of lightening. I wrote myself a note months ago re-capping what my goals for 2009 were and where I should be (or in proximity of) by July if I had been sticking to the plan. It was my friendly reminder from me, who knows me so well, and knew that reminder would not only be due but also very necessary! Not surprisingly I found myself feeling a little guilty, a little convicted, and a whole lot ineffective!

I must say however that 2009 has been more productive in comparison to previous years (esp, for a non-child bearing year)! I owe that greatly to the fact that I had some set goals and a plan to begin with! I've heard dozens of times that writing down your goals and expectations are the real key to success and not just in business but in life. I used to shrug my shoulders and say "eh, when I have time"...or "I don't even know what I want!" Sound familiar? As a mom it is easy for our very being to become distorted and discombobulated. We get so wrapped up in all the things we have to do for our kids, hubbies, homes, etc that our own goals get pushed back, left behind, or forgotten altogether.

If you are reading this and thinking to yourself "those new year's resolutions went out the door Jan 2nd" I want you to stop, regroup, and start over! Write down your goals for the next six months and then (if you are like me) write yourself a reminder and put it in your calendar a few months down the road.

For me, I think I will be a work in progress until the day the Lord calls me home! I recently read a quote by C.S. Lewis that I loved. "The longest way round is the shortest way home." For someone who always takes the long way round, this is a comforting statement!

There is hope for us head cases after all!

Grrrr

Sorry I just have to vent and give those of you who might be trying to contact me a heads up!

I love Stroller Strides but our email and phone system sucks! Royally sucks! Either my email or my phone number (and at times both) don't work and there is never a good explanation of why that is! If you are one of the many whose calls or emails I never returned I promise I am not ignoring you!

So for those of you who venture here from the Stroller Strides Memorial website, please use the "Contact Me" button above to contact me about class info, registrations! Other franchisees and pretty much anyone else who needs to get in touch with me, please do the same! Otherwise there is a good chance you will never hear from me! If you are one whose call or email was never responded to, please send me an email from the "contact me" button too!

I apologize for the rant and for any inconvenience this might have imposed!

Thank you.

Whew, breathe!

You Scream, I Scream, We all Scream for...

THE CIRCUS!!! OK I know that's not the correct saying, but you've gotta admit the circus is a favorite for kids!
Ringling Bros. is coming to town! Wohoo!!! Take the family and enjoy a fun night of acrobatics, dancing elephants, and more!

Mom Central is offering a Family 4 Pack for $44! That is a great deal! It was $50 for us just to go to the movies a few weeks ago and there was no live entertainment! You can purchase your ticket pack at ticketmaster.com and enter the code MOM in the "MC Promotion Box" at checkout!

Now, who wants to go for FREE?! My sincere apologies, this giveaway applies to Houston moms only (but I'm sure with a little search you non-Houstonians can find a local giveaway)! I am giving away a Family 4 Pack to one lucky Houston family.

How to enter: OK, to get the wheels in motion for fun leave a comment with a funny quote made by your kid that made you laugh out loud! Kids say the darndest things and I never tire of the funny stuff they come up with!

For more entries: Tweet about the coupon code and giveaway, Subscribe to my feed, Post my blog button on your blog or website

Please be sure to leave an email address so me and Mom Central can contact the winner!

The winner will be announced on Sunday, July 5th!

For more information about Ringling Bros. and show times go to www.ringling.com.

Its BIG and its Coming!

Well OK two big things...

The first being the launch of my long overdue design studio. Here is my shameless plug for my new baby Chara Studios! I love photography and pretty much all things design so Chara (which is the greek word for "joy") will bring to the world both! I am working on the website right now so it is not live yet, but be thinking of those great blog or website designs you want, or a custom handstamped pendant...or pretty print designs like stationary and mommy cards...or (and this is still a maybe, but most likely) beautiful camera straps, yes camera straps, and last but certainly not least awesome photography!

OK that is it for Chara...for now ;)

The next BIG thing is an idea the size of a grain of sand, but has potential become a huge! Because of that, well I am not going to tell you what it is! I don't want to announce this thing and then it not happen, but with some careful and diligent planning, it definitely could...maybe!

I know! I know! I hate it too when people do that! I had to get in some form of writing so I can't weenie out of it! Just know that it is big and it is coming!

My Favorite Fit Mamas!

This weekend the other three Houston area Stroller Strides owners and I participated in the 1st Annual Mom's Night Mixer. It was a lot of fun and we met so many other small business moms and even ran into a few old friends!

The best part (for me, the eater anyway) was the GIANT dessert bar complete with chocolate fountain and Starbucks coffee!

They ran out of goodie bags before I could get one, but I was totally satisfied with my free fish tacos cards from Berryhill...mmm Berryhill!

Ami Almquist (Stroller Strides NW Houston), Elizabeth Kelley (Stroller Strides Pearland), Christina Tatavak (Stroller Strides The Woodlands), and me!

I am so lucky to have some of the best Stroller Strides mamas to work with in Houston! They are awesome!

Ecostore USA Winner

And the winner is...

Sandra Vaughn! Congratulations Sandra! Your gift certificate is coming soon!

Enjoy!

Houston's Mom's Night Mixer

SAVE THE DATE, JUNE 27TH 6-9PM!!!

For every mom who has needed some "mommy time" this event has got your name on it! Houston's Mom's Night Mixer is an event where all moms can go out and enjoy a night of socializing, meeting new friends, and getting a glimpse of the many resources here in Houston for everything from schools to mom tailored shopping! Plus live music, cocktails, and some great gift bags for all attendees! To find out more about what Houston's Mom's Night Mixer is about and the fun to be had visit the event website.

The event will be held here:
Westin Galleria Hotel
5060 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77056

Mixer tickets can be purchased online via the mixer website for $25. Please note that no tickets will be sold at the door so once they are gone, they're gone!

You can save $10 on your tickets by entering the code STRIDES during checkout or if you would like to donate to the Breast Cancer Fund you can enter STROLLERSTRIDES and you will still pay $25 but $10 will be donated. You win either way!

Stroller Strides (all Houston and greater Houston locations) will be there and we hope to see you too!

www.momsnightmixer.com

New Stroller Strides Location at Cullen Park Grand Opening!

Stroller Strides is coming to Cullen Park and is great for moms who live in or near Katy! Go and enjoy a fun free class, light refreshments, raffle prizes, and sign up specials!

When is this grand event you ask!

Here are the details:

When: Tuesday, June 23rd at 9 am
Where: Cullen Park
(19008 Saums Rd: Located off of Barker Cypress/ Saums Rd. just north of 1-10.
We’ll meet in the main parking lot, by the splash pad. Sign in will begin at 8:30 a.m.)

What to bring: Your kiddo(s), sturdy stroller (no umbrellas please), water, sunscreen, and blanket, mat, or towel for ground exercises!

Have questions?
Contact Ami Almquist at amialmquist[at]strollerstrides[dot]net
or visit
http://strollerstrides.net/houston

Have fun and stay fit this summer with the nation's leading mommy fitness program!

Ecostore USA Review and Gift Card Giveaway!

Ecostore USA is an extension of a New Zealand based company that makes plant based, non-toxic products that include personal and baby care use and household cleaning. I had the privilege of trying two of their products, the Vanilla Shampoo and the Baby Aromatherapy Moisturizer!

The shampoo has been great! I have very fine hair and most shampoos leave it feeling weighed down and it gets "oily" if not washed frequently...nice picture I know. Pretty much high maintenance hair which is why you usually see me in a hat! The Vanilla Shampoo leaves my hair feeling clean and does not weigh it down at all! I felt the difference instantly and that was while I was still in the shower! It is not as aromatic as most shampoos but I am OK with that! I have used it on all three of my kids and they all have soft shiny hair! It is nice to know that the shampoo is not loaded with sulfates or phalates...or worse! As Ecostore USA states on their website "No Nasty Chemicals!"

The baby moisturizer is awesome. It is almost a baby oil and moisturizer in one...but doesn't leave you feeling greasy. It smells awesome and is very soothing! My toddler loves it and keeps asking for more every time she sees the bottle! Once again, it is great to have something that works and is not loaded with harmful chemicals!

I highly recommend their products! They offer free shipping on all orders over $25. Go check them out!

Ecostore USA has donated a $25 gift card for their store to given to one lucky blog reader! To enter check out their website and write in the comments which product(s) you would most like to try! You can gain additional entries by tweeting this post (leave your twitter name), posting in Facebook, subscribing to feed, and adding the Moms Living Fit button to your blog or website!

This giveaway is open to all US residents!

The winner will be announced on Saturday, June 28th! Good luck!

Thank you, Thank you for this article!

Having spent several years doing research for metabolic disorders I feel blessed to have had a "behind the scenes" look into diseases such as diabetes and obesity. I get so annoyed by information people give that is not only incorrect and misleading, but sometimes downright dangerous.

I heard a radio show the other day on my favorite Christian radio station where they had an "expert" in "holy health" and this woman started spouting some of the most ridiculous "facts" about sugars and fat. I've out of the research field for two years now, so I'll admit my information is not as sharp as it used to be, but my instant reaction to what this chic was saying was "What!". Luckily my hubby is also a researcher of metabolic disorders and was in the car with me. His response was the same! She had all of her data mixed up and was broadcasting it to live radio. Yikes! Please, please, please with a cherry on top do your homework and do some research! Don't read some fad diet book and then take it as medical truth. Most of the time it is crap!

So, on to the article!

I found this on the FitnessMagazine.com website (lots of good stuff there) and was so happy to find it! The article is called 9 Shocking Sugar Facts and does just that! The sad part is that the facts are shocking. They shouldn't be. They should be common knowledge. Here is an excerpt,

#1: It Doesn't Make You Fat

It only seems like those Girl Scout Cookies go straight to your thighs. Sugar doesn't automatically change into fat in your body, says Tara Gidus, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). In fact, too many calories cause weight gain -- whether they come from cookies or carrots. But when was the last time you OD'd on carrots? Sugary foods tend to be high-calorie and easy to overeat. They cause a spike in blood sugar, followed by a sudden drop that can leave you feeling depleted and hungry.

The Sweet Truth: Limit added sugars to less than 10 percent of your daily calories. If you eat 1,800 calories, that's 180 calories from sugar -- or 11 1/4 teaspoons.

Read the article, and get the facts straight! Bottom line, your body NEEDS sugar, as well as fat (and fat from various sources). That is how our bodies are designed. Taking in too much sugar and fat is what causes problems. You don't have to cut them completely out to lose weight or maintain health. Instead, regulate your intake.

OK, lecture over! On to the rest of Saturday!

2nd to last post for Mommy Madness

So that's what I look like on the road!

*A post from mommymadnesshouston.com

I can't believe it has been 8 weeks! EIGHT WEEKS! It has flown by faster than I could have ever imagined! Tomorrow morning the family and I will be taking the long drive to Pearland to give back the Traverse :( and the even longer drive home without it. We strongly considered keeping it and still have not thrown that idea completely out the window, but truth be told we just were not and still are not in the market for a new car. We love the Traverse. We are a very active family and have so many memories from all of our trips big and small in it. Earlier this week, I drove my regular car (the minivan) for two days. I literally had driven my car only once in the past 8 weeks and I didn't want to go through the "cold turkey" shock of no Traverse once we handed it back. I have seen so many new Traverses out on the road (even 2 new ones for people I know at my church) and I can't help but feel a little bit envious.

I hope that all of you reading took advantage of the free massage being given away to every person who test drives the Traverse. Believe me the test drive and the massage are worth it! If you haven't, time is ticking and your window of opportunity is quickly closing! Go do a test drive! You won't be disappointed!

Now for my Thank You speech, part 1! *Part 2 will pretty much say the exact same thing, but be posted tomorrow with pics! ;)

I want to give a very BIG Thank You to GM and Strickland Chevrolet for entrusting me with one of your Traverses for 8 weeks...to what I wanted with...except of course leave the country! I want to commend GM for the purposeful (is that a word) thought put into the design and construction of the Traverse. It has been said before and I will say it again here, it is a well thought vehicle from the outer design to the many great interior features. Clearly a vehicle with the family in mind!

Need a re-cap, here ya go...

Top 10 features of the Traverse:

10. It fits in the garage!...well, not mine or Christine's, but for everyone else it does!

9. 4 overhead air vents in the 2nd and 3rd rows...in Houston, this is important!

8. Rear view cam w/beeping sound if you back up too close to something!

7. Blind spot mirrors

6. Fold flat 2nd and 3rd row seats...and it is so easy!

5. Sliding second row seats

4. Great gas economy

3. OnStar

2. 10 cup holders

1. It's not a minivan!

Plus, great gas economy, lots of storage space, and big tires giving it a higher ground clearance! OK so that is more than 10, but really the list goes on! Go see for yourself!

I also want to give a BIG thank you to CBS Radio! I cannot express how honored I feel to have been selected out of hundreds of mommy bloggers in Houston. My head is still spinning on that one! Thank you for putting this whole thing together. It is in a word brilliant! Mommy bloggers have become such an amazing voice in the world and I thank you for one "getting it" , and two for offering us this opportunity!

Thank you to the CBS Radio DJ's for continuing to support us over the radio...and thank you for putting me on the radio! That was so much fun!

Thank you the many readers and supporters we've had over the past 8 weeks and for the many comments and questions that assured us we were not talking to space! Thank you also to everyone who voted, and an even bigger thank you to those for voted for me!

Angie, Christine, Larami, and Stephanie it has been a blast sharing this experience with you! Thank you for your creative posts! You are all so inspiring and I am thankful that the world has moms like you in it! Thank you to the Dallas and Kansas City Moms Squads for your continued support! It has been so much fun reading your posts and antics! Great job ladies!

Lastly, I want to give thanks to my wonderfully tolerant and patient family who day in and day out dealt with me and my arsenal of digital cameras and video recorders! We took A LOT of pictures and video and spent countless hours editing and uploading them. Everyone was a good sport about the pictures and video and the kids were pretty good during editing hours...they didn't destroy the house too much! I am so proud of them and so thankful for them!

Tomorrow is the final post (for me anyway) and I invite anyone who has not taken a test drive yet to do so. Also if you have any remaining questions, send em' along!

Donate to the OCRF at Val's Lemonade Stand

This summer anyone and everyone can help raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF)!

I received this in an email...

Kelly Ripa, one of our favorite celebrity moms, is teaming up with Electrolux to kick off a virtual lemonade stand campaign to help support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, a cause close to Kelly and to women everywhere. This summer, exclusively at electroluxappliances.com, you can design and open your own virtual lemonade stands and even pick the flavors of lemonade you want to feature. For every lemonade stand opened at www.electroluxappliances.com, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF. In addition, you can help the cause even more by selling virtual glasses of lemonade to your friends and family; 100 percent of the proceeds will go to OCRF. And to help spread the word, Electrolux is giving away an elegant new French Door Refrigerator with Perfect Temp™ Drawer

I went to the Electrolux website, drooled over their appliances (I love their turquoise sky washer and dryer...mine are plain white and over ten years old...but I digress), and set up my lemonade stand! Please head over to donate towards greatly needed research for ovarian cancer and have a virtual lemonade!

The Skinny on Fat

I have this ongoing list of FAQ's in my head that people ask me often in regards to health and fitness. It is my goal this summer to post on all of them so here is #1:

Let's get into the biology (and chemistry) of Saturated Fat vs Unsaturated Fat
Did I mention I was a science nerd too?!

Lets start with saturated fat! Saturated fat is solid ("s" for solid) at room temperature (most of the time) and includes things like lard, butter, and cheese and is found mainly in meats such as beef and pork and animal products. It is for the most part supposed to be consumed in small amounts only. Saturated fats raise low density cholesterol levels (LDL, aka bad cholesterol) and get stored as fat in the body and can cause harmful plaque in the arteries. Saturated fat intake should account for less than 7% of your total daily calories. Nutrition labels will have the total grams of saturated fat per serving on them. Please be sure to read your nutrition labels and pay attention to serving size!

Unsaturated fats are fats that are liquid at room temperature such as olive oil, and can also be found in fish, nuts, and seeds. There are two types of unsaturated fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Both increase high density lipid (HDL, aka good cholesterol) levels. The difference between LDL and HDL is this. LDL is sticky cholesterol that sticks to the lining of your arteries forming plaques. These plaques can build up and eventually block blood flow leading to heart attacks. HDL is sticky cholesterol that sticks to LDL. It binds with LDL and carries away to the kidneys for filtration into waste product.

The moral of the story, while you should keep your total fat intake between 20 and 30 percent of your total daily calories, you want most of those fats to be unsaturated. Try to avoid trans-fats at all costs. For one they raise LDL levels AND lower HDL levels AND there is little regulation out there on how much can be used in restaurants. In January 2006, legislation was passed to require trans-fat amounts in nutrition labels, but if it is less than 1 gram per serving, it can be listed at 0. Your max intake of trans-fat should never go past 2 grams per day. That's how bad they are!

For me its nuts and avocados! Love them! A sneaky problem though is serving size. Read the label to find out how much is too much. For me it is almost always too much! Sorry I just can't stop at 12 walnuts or half an avocado! I'm working on that though!

A great place to find a lot of useful information and tools is at the American Heart Association website.

Take your health seriously and take the time (aka make time) to stay active and plan meals. I know it is easier said than done, but I for one do not plan on being a statistic or a sad story for my kids to tell. What I consider worse is not setting the example for my kids and seeing them suffer in their own health later. No thank you. I am a mom and my kids deserve for me step up in our family's health. I hope you will join me in this. I want your family to be healthy too!

Source for some of the information on fats found at the American Heart Association.

Great Giveaway at 5MFM!

5 Minutes for Mom is doing another great giveaway...an $800 swag bag designed for celeb moms!

Check it out here!

I'm a Guest Blogger!

I was recently asked to do my first guest blog spot for a great website, DietsInReview.com! You can read my article "Creating Lasting Healthy Habits for Kids this Summer" in their blog section as part of their Healthy Kids Summer Series.

Head on over there and check it out along with the other great posts in the series!

This morning we put those words into practice! Me and all three kids headed up to the park for class. No one showed up! Come on people, the weather is not that bad! Still, I decided to do our class anyway. My 7 year old did tricep dip/push up combos with me and all three of us did some running! I wish I had brought my camera (I did, it but it was in the car)!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Where does your city rank?

Believe it or not, this is downtown Houston!

The results are in...Houston is not the fittest city in America! Like I didn't know that! Houston actually came in at #41 on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Fitness Index (AFI). Considering that Houston was named America's Fattest City a few years ago, I'd say that is a jump in fitness rank! Hmmm...I wonder if a few fit mamas (wink, wink) helped to raise our stats! We still have long way to go though!

I knew when I started Stroller Strides that our city's lack of fitness motivation might be a factor in my success. I have to admit that it has been more difficult that I orginally expected. Lots of people like the idea of Stroller Strides and fitness in general...as long as it remains an idea! I am still happy to have started it up and feel very blessed for the many friendships and partnerships I have made, not to mention the 20+ lbs that I lost! ...plus time well spent with my kids "priceless"!

Where does your city rank? If you are low in the ranks like Houston maybe you and some fellow friends/moms can set the example by starting a workout group! You'll be amazed at what us moms can accomplish when we work together!

Check out your city's rank here!

For all the bloggie nerds out there...like me!

JVC is offering a sweepstakes to win a trip to the BlogHer conference in July. I have been drooling over this conference for two years now, but have not had a chance to go.

JVC, Pick Me!

Click on the banner above to enter!

PS, less than 24 hrs till my daughter's end of year party and 1st grade graduation! I'll be back to blogging about fitness soon...I promise!

Win a Stroller Strides BOB Stroller

BOB Strollers is hosting a photo contest for new moms and moms to be sporting their workout "duds" (aka outfit)! The winner will receive a brand new Stroller Strides BOB Revolution Stroller complete with fitness kit!

From the BOB website:

Hey new moms and moms-to-be, are you ready to get your workout on? Well here's your chance to win a brand new Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller that's going to get you rolling and encourage your health and wellness goals, big or small! Based on the BOB Revolution, this stroller comes with a Stroller Strides Fitness Kit and is a perfect companion for Stroller Strides class.

To enter, send us a photo of you in your super sweet workout duds, the most creative submission will win! So, are you a spandex queen? Do you and baby match outfits? Show BOB your funky fashion, custom creation, or silly stylings when you're getting fit!

This is a great stroller and if a picture is the only thing between you and free one, get the camera!

He Shoots, We Score!

This was just too cool not post! WATCH THE VIDEO! Even if you are not a golf fan, you will find this impressive!

From the P.F. Chang's Website

To celebrate the chipping skills of PGA tour pro Briny Baird, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro will offer everyone in America a free order of the restaurant’s signature lettuce wraps with the purchase of an entrée.

Baird teed off this morning from 375 feet in the air atop the Omni Hotel and landed a golf ball inside a bulls-eye 230 yards below in the outfield of PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres. His accuracy was also celebrated with a $25,000 donation to the San Diego Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society.

Go to the P.F. Chang's Website and register your email address to get free lettuce wraps with your entree!

Interesting...

...and slightly disturbing!

I was checking at my statcounter and one of the stats I can look up is the keyword analysis which shows me keyword searches that have lead readers to the blog. One of the recent searches..."poop filled undies".

I was disturbed both by the fact that that is something someone is googling and also that I have that phrase somewhere on my blog. I did the same search to see where exactly this phrase pops up!

It is here in my 1/2 Day in the Life post...in case you were wondering!

Also strange and somewhat disturbing to me is that after finding the phrase and context I am OK with it being there. Is that weird?!

Oh how motherhood makes ya crazy!

Great Giveaway at Diapers to Dates

One of the blogs I follow is doing a great giveaway for a Kodak printer and a paid trip the Blog Her Conference! I have been drooling over both! Click here if you are interested!

No Classes...

...for the remainder of May. We will start back up in June in an indoor location! In the meantime, stay cool (it is hot outside these days) and stay healthy! We will still meet every Tuesday for playgroup!

For New Moms

This was sent to me by one of our moms...

Sling and Swaddle is looking for 30 moms to tweet about their daily adventures on Twitter. Each of the 30 moms will receive 2 free Miracle Blankets & a Hotslings Baby Carrier to aide them in their 30 day journey.
Once you're in... our 30 moms will be competing throughout June for a grand prize valued at more than $2000 worth of all the best mom & baby necessities!

There are actually only 5 days left to enter so if you have a newborn 16 weeks and younger and love to Tweet this could be for you! Go to Sling and Swaddle to enter at slingandswadlejourney.com

A little mom humor for you!

I saw this a year ago on Mother's Day at our church while we were using the gym for 6 months and loved it. Found it again today! Watch it! It is hilarious!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day where you are spoiled with love!

♥ Valerie

Every Mom Could Use Some M.E. Time!

ONE HOUR MASSAGE…Just meditate on that for a second! Sound good? Believe me it was!

Today me and my good preggie friend Paige were treated to free massages at Massage Envy (aka M.E.)! They were awesome! AWESOME!!! All of the staff members were amazing and welcoming! I think it was 2002 the last time I had a professional massage…seriously. This massage was worth the wait! In fact, Paige and I are going back next week! After our massages we stayed around for a few laughs with the staff. Talk about good times!

Being on the Houston Mom Squad has been awesome! I still have to pinch myself when I open the door and see a brand new Traverse in my driveway! OK, I know and respect that in the grand scheme of things it is just a car. But it is also a reward of sorts for my nerdy obsession with blogging! For the longest time I thought it was just me and space having a one way conversation. I know that there are blogs out there that get literally thousands of visitors every day. This is not one of them so to be asked to participate with CBS Radio and Chevrolet...and Mom Central...and Got Milk to name a few is mind blowing to me! I give 100% of the credit to God! There is no way that my little blogs could win the attention of these companies on their own! He is so good!

Thank you, thank you to the Massage Envy staff, Chevrolet...and Lord! We definitely enjoyed our M.E. time!

Don’t forget to vote! Wouldn’t it be great to get a free massage AND and free getaway weekend?!

Your very relaxed mommy blogger,

Valerie

Bubbles Playday

Today was a great day for playtime outside! There was a lot more humidity than we've been used to but there was also a nice breeze. The kids loved all of the bubbles...of course! When you're a kid you just can't go wrong with balloons or bubbles!

Do as I say and not as I do!

I say blog and blog often!

Lately you can hear the crickets chirping on the blog! I've been stuck in mommy limbo these past few weeks! First it was a torrential downpour that flooded a lot of the city and then swine flu. I am one that cannot stay put so staying indoors for days on end is not for me! We have to get out, but where and for how long are tricky!

Believe it or not when I am at home, I am completely distracted and have a hard time crossing off things on my to do list...such as blog! When I'm out my brain is free to think (at least for a few minutes) and I can come home spend a few minutes writing and then be "normal" until the next time I get jittery and have to leave think, write, and repeat!

All this to say, I haven't forgotten about my beloved blog and readers! More writings coming soon!

Lastly, one last call for baby blankets for a mission trip. If you have a few to spare, please contact me!

Needing Gently Used Baby Blankets

I was contacted by a friend who has a friend that is a nurse going on a mission trip to Guatemala in two weeks. She said that they are desperately in need of baby blankets as several newborn and post surgery babies are wrapped in burlap sacks.

If you have any gently used baby blankets that you would like to donate, please contact me!

You can still donate...

You can still donate to March of Dimes from the Team Stroller Strides Houston page! The walk is a significant part of their fundraising, but these funds are needed all year long!

Our team raised (so far) $3475 and I would love to see that number still go up!

Visit our team page at http://marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=630661.

Thank you to everyone who supported our team!

March for Babies

This morning all five of us were up and out the door before 8 am to join our Stroller Strides team at March for Babies! Our team was one of the largest Stroller Strides teams in the country and we also kicked butt in fundraising with a grand total of $3475!

The course was either 4 or 5 miles! We were told by the March of Dimes staff that the course was 5 miles, but on the map it says 4. Either way, it was a long walk and each of our kids got in at least a mile on foot!

Yes, Riley is in a nightgown (Daniella's to be exact)! She refused to wear a shirt! She is wearing shorts underneath!

Elizabeth, Brandon, and Reese from Stroller Strides Pearland

Rosa's hubby and gorgeous baby girl Sydney

Me and the family

Lining up for the walk

There were thousands there today!




Running AND pushing a double jogger! Reminds me of her mama!

Joshua could have definitely run the whole course!