Supera Park Chicago Park District Mom Moments

Learning to Let Go – Lessons from Little Ones

I will fully admit I am a Type-A personality and have small issue with control. Well ok, maybe it’s more than a small issue, but it’s no surprise to those who know me well. As I enter my second year of parenthood, I have found that I’m learning more about myself than I ever thought possible. The boys are teaching…
June 26, 2013
Biceps, Babies & Buggies stroller fitness classes in oz park AMC Events

Summer Picnic & Fitness Challenge Winners!

We had a great afternoon today in Oz Park celebrating moms and all their hard work to get fit. We had sunshine, a heart-pounding workout, a reunion with old friends, made new friends, a free picnic, and a prize giveaways for two lucky Biceps, Babies & Buggies participants. Coach Raegan led the moms through a 50-minute butt-kicking workout. Moms were…
June 20, 2013
Baby steps to Shape up for summer Fitness TipsWeight Loss

Baby Steps To Shape Up For Summer

Here it is, June! The summer solstice is coming upon us, along with bathing suits, tank tops and cute summer clothes. Summer may bring the desire to be more fit and lose weight. Unlike winter you can’t hide behind layers of clothes. Did you tell yourself that this is “the” summer to lose weight and get into shape? It’s not…
June 7, 2013
Soldier Field 10-miler finish line AMC EventsMom Moments

Soldier Field 10-Miler Race Report

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is one of my favorite days of the year. I love this Saturday for the promise of all the summer days ahead and to run my favorite road race, the Soldier Field 10-Miler. I've been running this race for years, with the exception of 2011 when I was 6m pregnant. This was Fleet Feet’s 10-year…
May 26, 2013
Newborn Coming Home from hospital Parenting

The First Days Home With a Newborn

Active Moms’ Club is thrilled to introduce a new partner and guest blogger, Laura Bangart of Babies Only Chicago. Laura is a NICU nurse and is an adoptive parent of a NICU graduate (who is now attending college).  Laura founded Babies Only Chicago to continue her passion for caring for newborns, especially preemies! Thank you Laura for providing parents in…
May 16, 2013
Biceps, Babies & Buggies Chicago 5/8/13 AMC Events

Biceps, Babies & Buggies Season Opener!

Today was the perfect day to kick-off Biceps, Babies & Buggies, and the 90-Day Fitness Challenge sponsored by our friends at Kolcraft. And to celebrate, Kolcraft hosted the first of four summer picnics for our moms to come together and mingle. Our moms showed up for class ready, willing and eager to workout and to feel the burn – moms…
May 9, 2013
5 Tips to avoid springtime injury Fitness Tips

5 Tips To Avoid Springtime Injury

Active Moms’ Club is thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger and AMC partner today, Shannon Schaeffer, physical therapist and owner of Complete Physical Therapy & Fitness in Lincoln Park. Shannon is passionate about fitness, having run numerous marathons, and she enjoys helping people achieve their full potential through her talents as a therapist. Welcome to the Club Shannon! With…
May 6, 2013
Adams Park Sandbox Chicago Family Health & Wellness

2 Mile Run/Walk – Playground to Playground

Active Moms’ Club is thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger today, Mistie  Lucht of Playground Pointers. Mistie is a Chicago mom of three young girls, an outdoor enthusiast and avid runner. Mistie co-created Playground Pointers – a factual, searchable iPhone/ iPad app database with details on more than 700 playgrounds, with over 3,500 photos in the Chicagoland area. Thank you Mistie…
April 27, 2013
Lincoln Park Zoo run Family Health & Wellness

Outdoor Fun & Fitness With Your Family

Parents who are regularly physically-active are doing more good for their family than they may realize. When parents take time to exercise, they are modeling healthy choices over the other alternatives that compete for precious free time. And, what constitutes physical activity is not limited to the treadmill at the gym.  Any physical activity can provide a variety of fun…
April 22, 2013
AMC Events

Nutrition & Exercise Wins The Prize

Congratulations to Sarah & Brooke, winners of Active Moms’ Club 90-Day Weight Loss Challenge. These two moms, along with six others, took on 2013 with great expectations and goals for their body. Sarah, the grand prize WINNER of the Challenge lost the greatest percentage of body weight, 8.5%. Brooke whittled away 4.6% of her body weight to win second place.…
April 2, 2013
Toddlers holding hands with mom Mom Moments

Toddlers. What, already?

My twin boys, W and H, are 19-months old. Their development in the past six months is nothing short of amazing. They are three inches taller, learned to walk and now run everywhere, and babble emphatically. The boys touch body parts on command and love to turn in circles when asked. They complete simple tasks, like helping mom put clothes…
March 29, 2013
Shine Chicago Infertility Support Group / Owner Womens Health

Being Active & Healthy While Going Through Infertility

Active Moms’ Club is thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger today, Katie O' Connor. Katie is an Infertility Consultant, and Founder and President of Shine – a ray of light on infertility – a place of comfort, community, and support for women living with infertility. As someone who struggled for two years to get pregnant, I'm thrilled Katie has created such…
March 20, 2013
ParentingThe Organized Mom

Can Your Nanny Become Your Friend?

Active Moms’ Club is thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger today, Amelia Miller, owner of Lincoln Park Nannies. Amelia and her team have been placing nannies in Chicago since 2007. Thank you Amelia for providing such a wonderful resource! A common discussion I hear in class is the task of hiring a nanny, and creating a healthy rapport with…
March 4, 2013
AMC Events

What One Event Makes Chicago So Special?

It’s the Special Olympics, of course. Did you know the Special Olympics was 'born in Chicago' at our very own Soldier Field in 1968 and Mayor Daley once mentioned – in 1968 at the first games – that "Special Olympics is one of Chicago's greatest exports to the world." The Special Olympics is currently in 170 countries with 3.7 million athletes.…
February 20, 2013
Mom Moments

Traveling With Twins – Our Family Vacation

Last week we took our first family vacation to Hawaii. It was a celebration of our five-year wedding anniversary and was made with kids and grandma in tow. We had a blast! Our twin sons are now 18 months and they proved to be great little travelers given their young age. The biggest challenge of any trip with children is…
February 16, 2013
Family Health & Wellness

Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day

January 26 is Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day.  I‘ve never heard of this serious illness until a friend’s son was diagnosed with it in 2011. If we can enlighten and prevent at least one child from the long-term effects of this disease, we have succeeded. Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is a serious illness characterized by inflammation of…
January 25, 2013
Family Health & WellnessMom MomentsWomens Health

2012 A Year In Reflection

Happy New Year To You And Your Families! Coach Cassandra & AMC's Mascots The beginning of a new year encourages us to reflect upon what has been, and what will be. What successes did you have in 2012? What are you hoping to achieve in 2013? 2012 REFLECTION Active Moms' Club celebrated its four-year anniversary in October 2012. We launched…
January 6, 2013
AMC Events

Making A Difference

The Active Moms’ Club holiday drive was a huge success for The Primo Center thanks to everyone’s generous donations. AMC collected 28 new toys, 6 bags of clothes, and over $300 in donations. Together with Classic Kids Photography’s toy drive, we amassed over THREE car-loads full of items to drop off at the Center to make their Christmas wishes come…
December 30, 2012
Favorite Things

A Few of My Favorite Things: Gifts of Love

During the holiday season I like to give gifts of love, and baking is how I like to spread my love. My all-time favorite, healthy, go-to gift is homemade granola. It's easy to make, requires minimal baking time, and one batch can fill up to five containers. (I whipped up a batch today while the boys were napping.) Personally, I…
December 22, 2012
Favorite ThingsNutrition

A Few of My Favorite Things: On-the-Go-Snacks

I never met a mom who wasn’t busy, and this time of year is extremely hectic with all the holiday hustle and bustle. Today I’m sharing a few of my favorite things: on-the-go snacks for moms.While you are working to get everything done, it’s important to keep energy levels up and blood sugar stable to avoid the dreaded crash and…
December 17, 2012