LUNA Moms Club playgroups usually meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays after Stroller Strides class. Visit our Meet-Up Calendar for the all the details and to RSVP.

March 3 - Spring Coloring Craft
March 4 - Sticker Fun
March 10 - LUNAFEST Planning & Playtime
March 12 - Pool Party
March 17 - Flower Pot Decorating
March 18 - Storytime
March 24 - Birthday & New Baby Celebrations
March 25 - LUNAFEST Planning & Playtime
March 31 - Field Trip to Arboretum

MOM'S NIGHT OUT: Saturday, March 26 at 8pm - LUNAFEST! LUNAFEST is a nationwide film festival featuring award winning short films all by, for and about women. Our very own LUNA Moms Club is proud to host the very first LUNAFEST in Wilmington on Friday and Saturday March 26 and 27. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include film screening, dinner from Blue Plate and one entry into the raffle. All money raised will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and local women's health advocacy group "Where's My Midwife?". Join us for a night of fun and raising awareness and money for two great causes.

MOMS WITH A MISSION: Planning for LUNAFEST has begun! This is our chance to work together on a great project and give back! Several moms have agreed to help coordinate marketing and publicity, ticket sales and raffle item collection but we need YOU to help it all come together. Visit the Meet-Up Message Board to sign up to help plan and organize. If you or someone you know can donate an item for raffle email me and let me know. LUNAFEST is going to be an incredible event thanks to all of you!

I am proud to announce that we have 13 Stroller Strides moms and 2 dads training for the Steve Haydu St. Patrick's LoTide Run 5K and 10K! Come cheer us on in Carolina Beach on Saturday, March 13 at 9am.

Mark your calendar for our first annual LUNAFEST! LUNAFEST, short films by, for and about women, will be held on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27 at 8pm at the Brown Coat Pub & Theatre (111 Grace St). LUNAFEST will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and local women's health advocacy group "Where's My Midwife?". Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include film screening, dinner from Blue Plate and one entry into the raffle. Raffle prizes are currently being collected. If you are interested in sponsoring, donating to or helping promote LUNAFEST email jodysmith@strollerstrides.net. Click the LUNAFEST logo to the right to purchase tickets online. Advance ticket sales will also be available at Brown Coat Pub & Theatre.

Our "Moms With a Mission" project this quarter focuses not just on sustaining the environment by recycling some belongings we are no longer using but also helping some very needy newborn babies in Uganda. Remember when your children were born and you were sent home from the hospital with several (if not a dozen or more) of those swaddling blankets? Find them, and any other gently used blankets and baby caps, and get them to me! All of the hats and blankets collected will be sent to the Mulago Labour Ward in Uganda, Africa where many babies die each year of hypothermia due to a lack of blankets. If this thought isn't motivation enough the Morehead City Stroller Strides and Luna Moms Club have challenged us, the Wilmington Area Stroller Strides and Luna Moms Club as well as the Jacksonville Stroller Strides and Luna Moms Club to see who can collect the most. I know we can do it!!! Tell your friends, organize pick-ups/drop-offs and let's save babies lives!

There are many many things I love about Stroller Strides but two things in particular come to mind: One, seeing you make the extra effort in class to make the most of your workout. Two, witnessing the genuine love, care and concern for the other moms and children of Stroller Strides. Beginning in 2010, each month we will recognize one mom that has that "Fire in the Gut" and another that "Shares the Love". The "Fire in the Gut Award" will go to the mom that has given that extra "umph!" and really made the effort to increase her fitness level. Winner will be nominated and chosen by instructors. The "Share the Love Award" will go to the mom that has gone above and beyond to help out a fellow mom at Stroller Strides, Luna Moms Club or in the community. Winner will be nominated by the other moms and chosen at random by the nominees.
January "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Samantha Edge
January "Share the Love" Winner: Kary Massengill

Check these links to the right for some great media coverage about our very own Wilmington Area Stroller Strides!
Here we are on WECT: http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=11119707

When you refer a friend and she signs up for a monthly membership you'll both get half off one month's membership dues! There's no limit on how many referrals so bring a friend and see the savings add up for you!

Here's what a few Wilmington Area Stroller Strides moms are saying about their experience:

"After I leave a Stroller Strides class I feel I have accomplished something so much more than a workout. I have made time for myself to be healthy and social at the same time. A class is a time for fitness and friendship and I value both so much." ~Mary C. (mom to DJ)

"I joined Stroller Strides to get back in shape and gain back strength. I was really active before I got pregnant and I felt winded after just carrying a load of laundry upstairs. The thing that reeled me in was that Zoe was part of the workout. I didn't need to pay a sitter, and it was more bonding time, and time in the fresh air. What I like most is the support. I have Jody's support in helping me acheive my fitness goals, all the moms' support in my mothering, the emotional support of the whole group. I'm taking steps toward being healthy and being a good role model for Zoe. Incidentally, I love that we never talk about pounds or inches in Stroller Strides-just about feeling good, being healthy, and setting a good example of being active for our kids. ~Emily C. (mom to Zoe)

"After completing a stroller strides class I am more energetic and ready to face the day. More importantly, Stroller Strides has improved my physical fitness. I feel really strong, like I can accomplish anything! The best part is that I can bring my kids with me and they have fun!" ~Rica S. (mom to Mia & Jullian)

"I hate exercising, but I always feel better for going after class. I always feel like class was easy, then I wake up in the morning and my butt and arms hurt." ~Jennifer N. (mom to Preston)

"As a working mom, I found it hard to find the time to workout without sacrifing precious time with my baby. With Stroller Strides Working Mom classes, I love that I can get a good, total-body workout while still bonding with my baby." ~Amy T. (mom to Abby)

"I initially joined to get a workout, but I have found so much more. I love the fact that I am doing something for myself by getting in a good workout, but I can also involve my child as well. I also love the camraderie, the support, the friendships. After attending class I feel so good about myself, and so happy that I can set a good example for my daughter. I am happier, healthier, and so much more excited to get up in the morning. Before Stroller Strides, I was living the most isolated year of my life with my daughter. Being a stay at home mom was harder than I expected, and although I was blissfully in love with my daughter, I found all of my friends slipping away. It was hard to find activities to do with such a small baby, and working out was impossible. I decided to give Stroller Strides a chance after meeting Jody, who was so kind and open and friendly. After the first class, I was hooked! Now I wake up excited to go to class and my daughter loves to go walk and see her friends. I am making huge strides in my fitness level, but more importantly I am a different person in my soul. I have opened up again, made wonderful friends, and am enjoying life so much more. I know this sounds cheesy, but it is true: Stroller Strides has changed my life." ~Bella S. (mom to Lily)

"Stroller Strides is way more than an exercise class. You meet great moms who either have or are going to have the same experiences with their babies. Not only is there exercise there is friendship, advice, tips and most importantly laughter. Being a Mom is great, being a Stroller Strides Mom is even better." ~Linda W. (mom to Hannah)

New photos from playgroups, classes, moms night out and other events are always being added to the photo gallery. Check it out and see all the fun stuff the Wilmington Area Stroller Strides moms are up to!

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Stroller Strides instructor, please email jodysmith@strollerstrides.net. Sub opportunities are available as well!

As moms, we understand that life is about finding balance while nurturing our minds, bodies and spirits. LUNA Moms Club was created with this aspiration in mind. By becoming a member you will build a tight community of moms to share advice, tips and most importantly laughter. Support and connect with other moms through:

Innovative & creative playgroups - fun for mom, fun for baby.
Entertaining moms' nights out - this is your time.
"Moms with a Mission" activities - help better the community where you live and play.

Join us. Make a difference.
Sign up today! You do not have to be a member of Stroller Strides to join the LUNA Moms Club. All moms are welcome!

Class will be cancelled or moved indoors only when weather conditions appear to pose a hazard. Classes are NOT cancelled for light rain or drizzle; instructors will be available to teach.

Cold Weather - We will cancel or move class indoors in the winter if the temperature is expected to be 40 degrees or colder (or 40 degrees or colder with wind chill) at 10:00am. In the Wilmington Area this doesn't happen too often, so we will just bundle up and keep on walking! I use www.weather.com and the "Hour by Hour" forecast to make the call.

Call 800.691.6154 and choose option 4 to hear the plan for inclement weather.
If it is raining in the morning Monday-Friday we will use UNCW's Trask Coliseum.

See this link for an interactive map of UNCW:
http://www.uncwil.edu/ba/campus_map/index.htm Directions:
Use the entrance at Hurst Dr off of College Rd (southernmost entrance closest to K-Mart) and make your first left onto Wagoner Dr.
Park in Lot K which will be the first parking lot on the right.
There is only 1 elevator in Trask and it is at this end of the building in the Nixon Annex.