Halloween Party!

Angela, "Hawaiian Tourist," playing soccer during Stephanie's cardio station.

We had a great time at the Instructor Extravaganza and Halloween party this past Wednesday. So many moms and kids rocked class in costume! We had Sue Sylvester, Lady Gaga, the Crocodile Hunter, and a variety of pirates, fairies, firemen, ladybugs, and all sorts of other creative costumes.

Joni, Rosy, Michaela and Stephanie taught at one of four stations -- core, lower body, cardio, upper body -- and the class rotated through the park two times. Special shout-out to Amy who did step-ups and played soccer while wearing a Renaissance-style dress!

"What the heck is my mom doing?" (Watching our soccer game, I think.)

Getting ready to make witch's brew with Beth!

Daphne's darling little parrot! Mom was a pirate, of course.

Announcing our prize winners! Funniest Costume went to Angela (Hawaiian Tourist) and Tarah (Lady Gaga). Scariest Costume winners: Lisa (Sue Sylvester) and Margene (pirate). Best Couple: Debbie (Crocodile Hunter w/ kids) and Daphne (pirate with parrot). Most creative: Stacy (referee with Jack as Eli Manning) and Summer (spam musabi). Best overall to Gloriana for her chicken and chick costume. (I think knowing that she went to Safeway before class dressed as a giant chicken tipped the balance in her favor!)

Rosy, Joni, Stephanie and Michaela. You have to be impressed with Michaela's homemade baby skeleton painted onto her shirt!

Alexander on his way home. That's all folks!

Special Thanks to Rainey for taking pictures of our class and party! Rainey is a member at Ocean Pointe and she has done family portraits for many of us here at Stroller Strides. View her photo gallery here! Rainey can be reached at raineychase[at]cox.net.

Halloween Party!
Kapolei Park
Wednesday, October 27
8:30 AM
WEAR A COSTUME!

Member Monday

Hi, my name is Melissa and I am married to John. Our children are Katelynn- 3yr, Quincy-11mos, step-daughters Haley-13, Ricki-11, Camryn-8, who unfortunately live in Wisconsin.

John is active duty with the Army. We were last stationed in Kansas and we are Alaska residents. We live at Ocean Pointe in Ewa Beach since September 2009. We will be here for another 2 years.

I enjoy the outdoors. Winter is my favorite season and I love rain....did I say I live in Ewa? Haha. I enjoy being outside. I fall victim to the TV like most of us, however, it is my least favorite thing in my house. I love swimming, hiking, boating, RVing, wine tastings and good beer. Wood carving, working with stained glass, remodeling and construction are also things I find myself enjoying as well.

My goal for Stroller Strides would be to meet people that I want to hang out with outside of Stroller Strides. My fitness goal is to be in shape and a good role model for my 4 girls and son. I want them to know that fitness and nutrition is part of our daily lives not something someone else cares about. I have had 2 children naturally and have no stretch marks...so living in Hawaii I told myself that I will get into a bikini and walk the beach and enjoy it.

National Conference 2010

When I came home from San Diego and the Stroller Strides National Conference, my son Caleb said, "Mommy, did you do Stroller Strides the whole time you were gone? You must have been so happy!"

Yes Caleb, I was! But beyond the chance to learn new material and improve my business, it was a weekend spent with friends from Corporate (shout out to Colleen) and reunite with other franchisees. No one "gets it" like your fellow Stroller Striders!

Every morning at Conference begins with a Stroller Strides workout. We have to pretend that the babies and strollers are there, of course, but it's always such a great chance to learn how to mix it up at class and entertain the kids. Then all day Friday was spent on Business issues, and Saturday is about Class. I loved the Abs workshop in particular. Abs -- the final fitness frontier!

Me with Lisa Druxman, the founder of Stroller Strides.

I stayed an extra day for the Body Back training, the newest program to be offered by Stroller Strides. Women love the group support of Stroller Strides and then are left wondering "What's next?" once the babies are out of the stroller. I'm in the same boat since Sara is nearly 4 and my oldest two never come to class anymore.

Well, Body Back is next! I am so excited to offer this program. It is the perfect combination of the best of Stroller Strides: awesome interval- and circuit-based classes, LEAN, and our Fitness Assessments. I took 3 Body Back classes in one day for the training and let me promise you that I was pushed to my very limit.

After Body Back ended, everyone left but me since there are no red-eye flights from San Diego to Honolulu. I quickly became a popular lady since I had the only room left and no one wanted to fly home without a shower. So I bargained a ride over to In-N-Out Burger in exchange for shower privileges:=) I used to work there years ago before heading off to college and I think it says a lot that I'll still eat there after being an employee. Mmmm, such a yummy dinner. It almost felt wrong to eat a hamburger and fries after all that working out, but it was my last chance for another year.


Ah no, I'm wrong! Next year is Stroller Strides' 10 Year Anniversary and so Conference is a little different next year. YOU are invited! And we are going on a 7-day Disney cruise! We'll be sailing from Los Angeles to Mexico. More details to come in the next few weeks.

So, after spending 3 days living and breathing Stroller Strides, let me share that this company really is about "Giving Moms the Strength for Motherhood." We do this business because we love it. There was so much power and energy at Conference and I came home inspired by all my fellow franchisees. All of us have to worry about the mundane, boring stuff like insurance and taxes, but what really inspires and motivates us to offer Stroller Strides is to see you get fit and healthy. Fit Moms Rock! It's a wonderful world to be a part of and I love it!

Halloween Party Details

Instructor Extravaganza
& Halloween Party!
Kapolei Regional Park
Wednesday, October 27
8:30 - 10 (class)
10 - 11 (party)

Class begins at Kapolei at 8:30 AM. We will be holding our quarterly Instructor Extravaganza -- a nonstop circuit with stations taught by Joni, Rosy, Michaela and Stephanie. Come ready to work out!

I'll be teaching in my costume (please let this heat wave pass before then!) but you are welcome to change into your costume following class. Our Halloween Party begins at 10 AM with a variety of crafts and activities hosted by Beth, Sharon, and Nadine, Leeward's rocking Playgroup Captains!

We will also have a buffet luncheon so please sign up at class to bring something to share.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories, for both Mom and Baby:
Funniest, Scariest, Best Couple, Most Creative, and Best Overall.

Grand prize wins 2 weeks of Stroller Strides classes! Everyone who comes in costume (children included) will also receive a raffle ticket to be entered in a drawing for other fun prizes. We can't wait to see what sort of creativity is out there among the SS ladies!

Remember that you do not need to be a Stroller Strides member to participate in Playgroup, so please feel free to invite your friends. If you have any equipment you could bring to class (medicine balls, free weights) please bring those along too!

Mom's Day Out!

We had a fantastic time surfing for October's "MDO" at Kalaeloa Beach with Hawaiian Fire. So much fun and what a great workout! We love living in Hawaii!

From left to right: Angela, Patti, Lisa, Angela, Tasha, Joni, Rainey and Deanna. (We're missing Michaela... nursing the baby before we headed out?)

Patti

Lisa

Rainey

Michaela

Deanna

Angela M.

Angela S.

Tasha

And yours truly, obviously still learning how to steer!

November Schedule

The November schedule has been posted!

Click on "Calendar" at the top right and scroll forward.

Please note the following Schedule changes:

• There will not be Saturday class on November 6 due to the Enhanced Instructor Training Day.
  
  (Every Stroller Strides instructor on the island will be meeting with the Stroller Strides National Fitness Director, Farel Hruska, for an all-day training meeting.)
  

• Classes are canceled for Thanksgiving Break, Thursday the 25th through Saturday the 27th.

Halloween Party!

Come for our Halloween Party at Kapolei on Wednesday, October 27, 10 to 11 AM.

It will follow the Instructor Extravaganza (8:30 to 10).

Wear a costume! There will be a variety of prizes for both moms and children.

We'll have Halloween crafts and lots more, organized by our awesome Playgroup Captains (Beth, Sharon, and Nadine).

Welcome Luke!

Luke David Romagnoli
Oct 9, 2010 at 7:59 am
7 lbs, 1 oz, 19 in.

Lauren taught at the Waterfront on Tuesday and had her baby on Saturday. We cut that one close!

Big sister Lily is not terribly interested in Luke yet but Lauren is already at work getting him stroller ready:=) We can't wait to see him at class!

Member Monday

Hi! I’m Rachel and my daughter is Ellie. She’s almost six months old and I decided it was time for us to get out and get some more exercise!!

I heard about Stroller Strides though a friend of mine, Gloriana. We’re both in the Navy as is my husband, Jay.

I’ve spent the better part of ten years stationed in Hawaii and just love being out in the lovely weather, that’s why SS seems ideal to me! I can only attend Saturday classes on Saturday at CORP due to my weekday work schedule.

I’m 31 years old and have noticed that I have to work a lot harder to keep in shape these days and now after the baby even more so! Ellie is my first. I’d love to get back some strength and endurance that I had before and even possibly train for a half marathon again. I’ve done three in the last five years and just love them! I’m looking forward to getting to know all the other SS ladies and to make some more “mommy” friends. :-)

Conference Report

It's a Stroller Strides vacation! I am living it up at the Dana Hotel in San Diego where it's a 3-day fest of exercise, business ideas, and best of all... no bedtime routine (except for me) and no COOKING! That may very well be the best part of all:=)

I'm having such a good time taking class from Lisa Druxman and Farel Hruska, the exercise mavens of SS. There are going to be so many great upgrades to our classes at Leeward. I love their creativity!

I'll be posting pictures when I return home on Monday. I miss you all and I am just so excited to share the vision of how Stroller Strides really DOES give us all "The Strength for Motherhood"!

p.s. Last call on any retail items. The store closes at 2 o'clock, or 11 AM in Hawaii.

Retail Order

I'm going to the Stroller Strides National Conference this week! And that means the Stroller Strides Retail Store will be at my fingertips for 2 full days!

Click here to see the Stroller Strides Retail Flyer

A few new items have arrived and I am happy to lug it all back to Hawaii for you, no shipping or tax. Email me by Wednesday, October 13 and I will charge your card on file upon delivery.

A Taste of our Surfing Lesson!

I think it's safe to say that surfing was totally exhilarating for all of us! A completely perfect morning. Every one of us were able to catch the waves and we had a cheering section of dads and babies watching from the beach during our lesson. Such a great morning. More pics to come once we receive our photo CD. Thanks to Deanna for sending this shot along!

Member Monday

Hello, my name is Ronna and I have one daughter with my husband, Bill, her name is Gracie 3, step-daughter Elli 15 and step-son Brandon 21.

I attend the Central Oahu Regional Park Stroller Strides. We live at Pearl City Peninsula after being stationed here in Jan 09 from Washington state for a 3 year duty station.

I have always been very active in sports either playing or coaching. I took up running in 2005 when my husband was deployed to Iraq to help relieve stress and haven't stopped running since. In Washington I had a running group of women, all ages, sizes and abilities which was nice because no matter your pace or distance you always had someone out there with you and the camaraderie was priceless.... I have been trying to find that here and I think that I have finally found that at Stroller Strides!

Class at CORP only, Monday 10/11

Due to the 3 day weekend celebrating Columbus Day, class will be held at Central Oahu Regional Park only on Monday, October 11. Class runs from 8:45 to 10 AM and Stephanie is instructing.

No class at Ocean Pointe, Schofield, or Kapolei.

Welcome to our VERY newest members!

It's a baby boom at OP!

Jessica gave birth to Raegan Kathrin Musgrove on September 23 at 10:33 AM. Raegan was 8lbs 10 oz and 19 inches long. She is totally gorgeous!

Look at the smile on big sister's face!

And congratulations to Gia who gave birth to Gracen Cierra Baker on October 1st at 3:43pm. Gracen weighed 7 lbs. 2 ounces and measured 18 inches long.

Gia writes "I was blessed in having another super fast labor like I did with her big brother Camren! Feeling great and enjoying the dramatic weight loss after giving birth! I definitely believe sticking with SS throughout the pregnancy has helped and I look forward to getting back in shape! Another wonderful perk is having made so many friends through SS and being spoiled with meals from them since we've gotten home! SS is truly an amazing group of women!"

SOOO beautiful!

Pumpkin Patch!

It was a fine Hawaiian day at the Aloun Farms pumpkin patch this afternoon. We had a super big group (over 80 women and children) who enjoyed the "hay ride" and then spent time in the pumpkin patch. Lots of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. It was gorgeous, if not a bit weird since it was so warm and sunny!

Thanks to everyone who came and to Beth who got the ball rolling for us to have a group tour at Aloun.

Enjoy your pumpkins!

Headed out for our "hay ride" (sitting on bales of hay while being pulled by a tractor).

We all loved the Photo Op spot.

I had to include this photo just because of Lauren's incredibly cool baby bump, due any day now!

Pumpkin cover models.

"I'm not impressed. No really, I'm not!"

Does the camera capture those awesome baby legs which so obviously loved being in the pumpkin patch?