Member Monday

Hi, my name is Nikki. I have two wonderful girls Jordan, 6 (will be 7 next month) and Savannah, 1 (will be 2 next month).

I attend the Schofield class. My family and I live at Schofield.

The Army brought us to Hawaii and we have been here for five months and are enjoying every minute of it.

I love to swim, draw, paint, arts and crafts, horseback riding and anything that provides an adrenaline rush.

I haven’t had a great relationship with exercise in the last six years but I’m turning over a new leaf and starting over in hopes that exercise and I can be friends again.

My goal is to lose 30 pounds before I go home this summer and RUN a race sometime before I leave Hawaii.

I have been married 8 years to my wonderful husband. I am also an identical twin and a Paramedic.

Introducing Scarlett!

Laurie writes: "We are proud to announce the birth of Scarlett Grace Schachman born 16 days LATE on Feb 5, 2011 weighing in at 8 lbs 12 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long.

Scarlett is an angel and Ainsley LOVES her new role as a big sister! We couldn't be happier to now have 2 little girls!"

Congratulations Laurie! Scarlett is adorable!

That was then....
Waterfront, July 2010

from left to right
Lauren, Tarah, Joni, Amanda, Sheena, Jen

This is now!

Tarah, Joni, Amanda, Jen


Yay for Stroller Strides at the Waterfront! Look at these hard working mamas!

Aloha to Alexa, our Newest Instructor!

Alexa will be here as an instructor for the next few months before she moves back to the mainland. With Michaela on maternity leave, and Jill soon to follow, it's perfect timing! Alexa will be instructing at every location but the Waterfront, so you're sure to meet her soon.

My name is Alexa and I have two children, Destry (2) and Velzy (six months). I am a proud Army wife to my husband, Tony. We are going on seven years of marriage and we have lived in Columbus, GA (twice), Colorado Springs, CO and Hawaii.

Hawaii has by far been our most favorite place the Army has sent us; we have been able to enjoy surfing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, shelling and biking in the most beautiful place on earth....what's not to love?!

Before my husband deployed, we lived up on the North Shore. Though we loved the lifestyle, it was far away from Stroller Strides classes. Since his return, we have moved to Kapolei and I have had the opportunity to start taking Stroller Strides classes and become an instructor before we move in a few months.

I have always been very active and involved in sports. Growing up, I was a swimmer and a soccer player. I pursued soccer which allowed me to play Division I soccer at the University of Connecticut, and then go on to play professionally for two years in the first ever pro league, Women's United Soccer Association.

I then got married, but continued to be involved in the soccer world through coaching for a college team in Columbus, GA and many youth teams in Georgia and Colorado. I also ran a speed and agility camp for young athletes while we lived in both those places. Once we started our family, it became more difficult to coach. I wanted to find something I could do in which I could continue to help others with children in tow. Stroller Strides is the perfect job!

I love being able to workout with other moms who have similar goals. I love that Stroller Strides still allows me to push myself on a daily basis, just like when I was playing competitive sports. Fitness is my passion and it is so great to be able to share my passion with tons of other moms who love it just as much! Not only that, but we are able to show our children how important it is to have a healthy and active lifestyle. I look forward to teaching and getting to know more Stroller Strides moms!

Introducing Faye!

Mary (Kapolei) had her baby girl on February 9. She was a well-deserved wait!

Faye Anela was born at 9:36 am. She weighed 8 pounds 7 oz and measured 20.5” long.

Mary writes, "She’s so different from her sisters yet so similar. LOL."

Congratulations to Mary and the rest of your family!

We can't wait to see you rocking the triple stroller at class soon.

Member Monday

My name is Liz, I have two children, Isabel who is 6, and Ian who is 3. I attend SS at CORP, since it is the closest to where I live in Aiea.

My husband is in the Army, at Ft. Shafter. Our home base is Washington State. We first moved to El Paso, TX, then Columbus, GA, and now here to Hawaii. We've been here since March 2010, so almost a year. Luckily we'll be here for another 2 years.

My life is very centered around my children and family. I love to come up with ideas that I can do to enrich my kids lives about things around them. I love to take them on hikes, beach, and especially museums. I also love to do crafts with them.

When I do have a moment to myself I do one of three things, I'll watch the Food Network for cooking ideas (love, LOVE to cook), or I'll work on one of my millions of projects that I have stashed in the closet (currently working on a block quilt with my sisters via mail), or I'll curl up with a book picked out of the huge pile that I always manage to bring home from the library but never manage to finish by the time I have to return them.

Six years ago I was depressed, after having my first child, at how little my energy was and how my body would not let me eat a piece of delicious, scrumptious chocolate cake without suffering for it later. So I bought a running stroller to start exercising around the neighborhood and.... I gave up. Its extremely discouraging, not to mention boring, to exercise by yourself.

Fast forward 2.5 years, another baby and an extra 30lbs later. I was at a Mommy play-date and overheard an Army Mom saying that she needed a running partner because she had osteoporosis and needed to run 4 times a week. My hand shot up like lightening and before I knew it I was running 4 times a week, with 3 other women who have been a HUGE inspiration to me. They are some of the best, fabulous women I've known in my 31 years of living. They are the ones who inspired me to have a goal of running a marathon and completing a triathlon (crazy, I know). So that is why I joined SS. LOVE the companionship, and getting that warm feeling in my heart when I see other moms share in the same goal of becoming strong and beautiful both inside and out.

I can't express how happy I've been the past three weeks. Thank you to everyone, especially the trainers for helping me feel the worst pain in my life, but still love every minute of it.

President's Day Class Schedule

Enjoy the upcoming three-day weekend!

Class will be held as normal on Saturday, February 19.

If you are not running in the Great Aloha Run, you have two class options on Monday, February 21!

Class will be held at Ocean Pointe with Jill.

Class at Kapolei and Schofield have been combined and this class will be held at Central Oahu Regional Park at 8:45. Debbie is instructing.

Boxing MNO

We had so much fun we're doing it again!

Come join SS for a one-hour boxing class with Coach at Pearlside Boxing in Kapolei

Friday, March 4 at 7 PM
$15
(equipment is provided)

I love my weekly boxing workout!

There's nothing like punching a bag and feeling fierce with your fellow Striders!

RSVP via Evite or simply add a comment if you're planning on coming.

Thanks to all our Valentines!

Rosy, Jill, Joni and Stephanie

Oh, the fun we have with all of you! Thank you for coming out to our Valentine's Party and sports extravaganza on Monday!

Nearly 40 women from the Waterfront to Mililani came down to Kapolei Park to celebrate the holiday together. I don't know why, but this Valentine's Day has me all a-flutter with love and happiness for life, fitness, and Stroller Strides!

We had kickboxing, soccer, volleyball, track-and-field, and mud wrestling for stations. (Wait... mud wrestling just sort of happened. We didn't put that station together!) Yes folks, the park quickly become nice and muddy with 40 moms and strollers pounding it into oblivion from 8:45 to 11. (Sunday's rain didn't help matters.) You should have seen the card-making station at 11.

Decorating sugar cookies that my husband made all day on Sunday.
He is an honorary Mom for having done so!

Decorating Valentine's Day cards. Stickers, crayons and construction paper.
What more does a kid need?

Working on Valentine necklaces with Miss Nadine.

Eating said cookies. I'm sure Sharara is thrilled that we introduced
Shaheera to all this white sugar at class!

The Stroller Strides Masters Club (ha ha). Sharara has been doing SS since 2007. That is crazy! Jill has been teaching SS since 2004, and Jess is a relative newcomer at "just" 2008. Had to take a picture since Jess will be leaving us this summer.

Thank you to Sharon and Nadine for helping with Playgroup! Nadine's station was an oasis of order, calm, and non-muddiness with all her blankets and little table. The kids loved this craft. And Sharon sacrificed her blanket to the cause at the card-making station. Just for that, a big round of applause!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Member Monday

Hi everyone! My name is Faith. I have one precious little girl named Haley Grace and she is 2 years. She is full of energy. We primarily attend classes at Schofield Barracks and Central Oahu Regional Park.

My family and I just recently moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Hawaii in December. We live in Mililani. My husband is in the U.S. Navy so we moved out here for his new duty station in Pearl Harbor, HI. We will be here for three years.

My family and I love to be outdoors. We spend most of our weekends going on hikes or playing at the beach. My husband and I have recently adopted a raw food eating style so on the weekends we have also been trying different recipe ideas. We are trying to eat at least 80 percent raw foods. It has been fun and challenging all at the same time. The food is unbelievable good (coming from a country girl that was raised on steak and potatoes), but I am just not use to not cooking. Granted, I still cook for Haley. At this time we are about 60 percent raw and definitely working towards 80 :)

As for me and my own hobbies and interest, I love music (all kinds). I also enjoy reading, but I have not been able to do too much in the last year and half. I have been working on my Master's so school books have been the only books I have been reading lately. I graduate in March and I am really excited!!!! I cannot wait to have a little free time and do something else instead of writing a paper or posting on class discussions :)

I have always really like running. I was a cross-country runner in high school, but unfortunately my husband hated running so I started not doing it as much. My relationship with exercise is great, but I do have one area that always needs work and that is my abs. Even in my best of shape, my abs never seems to get tight. I will admit I hate abs cause they hurt and they also take forever to get tight and strong.

One of my biggest reasons to join Stroller Strides is to keep in good shape, meet people and let my daughter get some time in with other kids.

Look forward to seeing you all in class :)

Valentine's Day!

Our combined Valentine's Day class is coming up! Wear red or pink!

Monday, February 14
Kapolei Regional Park
8:45 to 10 AM
(No class at OP or Schofield)

Joni, Jill, Rosy and Stephanie will each be teaching.

Every station will last 10 minutes with one loop around the park in between stations.

We'll have a variety of fun stuff for the kids during class and they will enjoy seeing you "play" at our sports-themed stations.

The Valentine's Day party will follow class with storytime, Valentine's Day crafts, and cookie decorating.

See you there!

March for Babies

Mark your calendars for the March For Babies 5K!

Saturday, April 23
Kapiolani Park, Honolulu
Start Time 7 AM

While Stroller Strides has always participated in March for Babies, we have a personal connection to this year's March. Angela is a member in Ocean Pointe and the mother of Scarlett. Here's her story:

Scarlett was born at 29 weeks. She was 1 lb and 14 oz and 13 inches in length, the size of a 26 weeker. Scarlett spent 50 days in the NICU. She is strong and healthy and has continued to do incredibly well. We did not know it until a week after Scarlett was born, but I had preeclampsia, resulting in Scarlett's growth restriction and early birth.

Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. We feel blessed to have Scarlett in our lives and thankful that her journey has been such an inspirational one! We are very excited to be a part of March for Babies this year and hope you will join our team!

The money we raise will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Let's all support the March and Team Scarlett!

Restaurant Club

From left to right: Deanna, Liz W., Liz E., Maria, Nadine, Bobbie, Debbie, Nikki

Mom's Night Out at Luibueno's. Thanks to Maria for sending along a picture!

Group Clothing Order

I will be placing a group order for Stroller Strides clothes and accessories later this week. If you would like to order anything, please let me know by Thursday, February 10.

New this month: Bamboo Tagline tee in brown, green, black, and purple.

Fit Moms Rock is available in 5 colors: pink, black, blue, green, and purple.

And finally, thanks to Bobbie I see that the SS racerback tank (just $17.99) is available in black, ocean or royal blue, navy, red, pink, violet, turquoise, and yes, brown!

As always, shipping is just $1/person when I place the order as a group. You can pay by check or I can charge the card you have on file.

Member Monday

Hi! I'm Melinda, and I have two children that keep me very busy. Max (4) is in preschool and Olivia (10 mo.) is walking!

I'm originally from Akron, Ohio but moved to Northern Virginia/Washington D.C for a Graphic Design job after college. About a year after my move I met my husband, Pat, and not long after that we got married. He works for the DoD and his job moved us here from Virginia about two and a half years ago. We love Hawaii and can't believe we're already at our half way mark in our rotation here!

I've been a stay-at-home Mom since we moved to Hawaii. It was a big adjustment, but it has been a great experience at the same time. I'm really enjoying seeing Livi growing and doing something new every day. I didn't have that experience with Max since I was working and he was in daycare. The part of my job that I miss is being creative, so this year I've come up with two New Year's Resolutions; 1) Daily creativity: take a Photo of the Day; and 2) Get back to my pre-pregnancy weight (or less).

It's hard trying to find time to workout, but when I do I've been swimming or using the elliptical. Since having Livi I'm finding it hard to lose the baby weight. I have 15 lbs. to go but feel like I'm at a plateau and just can't get there.

We recently moved from Ewa Beach to Aiea but decided to keep Max in his preschool at Iroquois Point Co-Op. I decided that I'd use that time to workout and that's when my friend Tarah mentioned Stroller Strides. I was so happy to hear that The Waterfront at Pu'uloa group met on the days (and time) my son was at school, and once I tried it out I was hooked!

Great Aloha Run

Registration closes this Sunday for the Great Aloha Run!

This is one race that really seems to bring out all of Oahu.

The race ends in the Aloha Stadium which is pretty awesome, and the 8.15 miles that came before it are (mostly) nice and flat.

If you're ready to challenge yourself with a longer run, try the GAR! Strollers are allowed on the course but you are not able to run with one. (Nor would it be practical since the course gets very crowded at times.)

Are you in? Tell me in the comments. So far I know we've got me, Rosy, Tarah, Margene, and maybe Sara R.?

A Farewell Photo

Maria sent along this darling photo of Sydney and Emanuel at Alison's last class. Sydney started her career at SS as a brand-new baby, and now she's off on a cross-country road trip to her new home on the mainland.

Good luck Alison! We'll miss you!

Restaurant Club

This month's Restaurant Club is at Luibueno's on the North Shore.

Come join Liz and the rest of the Stroller Strides group for great Mexican food and more!

Tuesday, February 8
6:30 PM


The guest list closes this Sunday, so RSVP via Evite soon if you'd like to attend!

Welcome to Jack!

Keala is a big sister!!!

Jack Archer Wooten was born January 8th at 9:04 PM. He weighed 8lbs, 6oz and was 21" long.

He has been a little slice of heaven. =)

My labor was relatively easy and I see how keeping in shape during pregnancy really paid off. Recovery has been much faster and easier this time around, and I have already lost all but 10 pounds!!!! Woohoo!!!! I am almost ready to get back at it with the SS crew!!!!

Congratulations Rachael! What a beautiful picture.
We can't wait to see Jack at class soon.