August LUNA Moms Club Announcements

Playgroups usually meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays following Stroller Strides class for either an activity at the park or a field trip. Visit our Meet-Up Calendar for the all the details and to RSVP.

August 4 - Water Color Painting
August 5 - Field Trip to the Splash Pad
August 11 - Storytime
August 12 - Field Trip to Monkey Joes
August 18 - Sports Day
August 19 - Water Day!
August 25 - Birthday & New Baby Celebration
August 26 - Field Trip to the Splash Pad

MOM'S NIGHT OUT: We missed July so we'll make up for it this month with TWO!

Wednesday, August 11 - 1/2 Price Sushi at Yo Sake from 5-7pm. Join us early for sushi or later for dessert, coffee or cocktails!

Friday, August 27 - Pool Party, 6-10PM, BYO appetizer/snack to share and your beverage of choice!

MOMS WITH A MISSION: Its time to start planning our Healthy Home Party! The Healthy Home Party is a great way to learn easy things we can all do to make our homes safer for our children, more environmentally friendly as well as raise awareness about Healthy Child Healthy World.

Training for the Battleship Half Marathon will begin September 1 allowing us 10 weeks to get ready for the race on Sunday, November 7. Weekly group trainings will be held on Wednesday evenings at Hugh MacRae Park at 5:30pm. Not quite ready for the half marathon? There's a 5K that day too! Cost for training with the group will be $100 for Stroller Strides members and $120 for non-members and includes training schedule, training workshops and Team Stroller Strides race jersey. Sign up before August 20 and save $10! Sign up with a friend and save an additional $10! Email me with questions and to register.

From now until the end of August the Wilmington Area Stroller Strides will be holding a referral contest. You probably already know that if you refer a new mom to Stroller Strides and she signs up for a monthly membership you'll both get half off the next month's membership fee. Well now each time you bring a new mom to class you and your friend's name will each go into a drawing for an awesome prize package at the end of the summer. If she signs up for any membership package each of your names will go into the drawing again! There is NO LIMIT as to how many friends you bring or how many times you take advantage of the discounted membership fee when your friend signs up so invite your friends or total strangers and watch the savings add up for you and increase your chances to WIN at the end of the summer!

There are many many things I love about Stroller Strides but two things in particular come to mind: One, seeing moms make the extra effort in class to make the most of their 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
February "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Carole Wirszyla
February "Share the Love" Winner: Kim Whalen
March "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Amber Faircloth
March "Share the Love" Winner: Linda Weinrich
April "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Ashley Ibbottson
April "Share the Love" Winner: Bella Said
May "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Amber Tyron
May "Share the Love" Winner: Nicole Whiteside
June "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Kathleen Moyer
June "Share the Love" Winner: Kathy Upchurch
July "Fire in the Gut" Winner: Alison Grover
July "Share the Love" Winner: Jennifer Charlton

Our past three MWAM projects have been a huge success!

Our baby blanket and hat drive collected over 1000 blankets and several hundred hats to be shipped to a labor ward in Uganda. Think of all of the babies' lives that will be saved thanks to the generosity of the moms of Stroller Strides and LUNA Moms Club!

LUNAFEST raised just over $1000 to benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and local women's health advocacy group Where's My Midwife? Thanks so much to everyone who helped make LUNAFEST a success! We're already looking forward to next year!

Team Stroller Strides raised over $1100 for the March of Dimes in this year's March for Babies!

Moms, you are amazing! Giving locally and globally!! WAY TO GO!!

Evening Stroller Strides classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:45pm at Hugh MacRae Park from April through October. Membership for evening and Saturday classes only is $35/month (one time $45 registration fee for first time participants). Great for working moms or those that are "morning challenged."

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

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.