Beat the Winter Blues!

February: the time in Minnesota where everyone starts going a little crazy from being inside all winter. We have been lucky enough to have a pretty mild winter; in fact E and I have even been able to make a few trips to the park in January and that is UNHEARD of! But going outside is still a challenge and being stuck inside with a baby or young toddler can drive a parent crazy.

I've been working on compiling a list of indoor playgrounds to take your baby to and saw this GREAT list that MinnMoms.com put together. [By the way, if you haven't checked out MinnMoms.com and you live in the Twin Cities you need to add it to your bookmarks!] I've taken some of their list, plus added a few of my own and made sure they are baby friendly. E has been walking for about a month now and he is at that stage where all he wants to do is climb, crawl and walk all over. An indoor playground is PERFECT and I can't wait to take him to one of these!


[photo credit]

Adventure Peak [Edina]
Adventure Peak features great areas for toddlers to explore. The Tot Area includes climbing, crawling, sliding and even bouncing in an inflatable air bounce geared just for them!

Eagles Nest [New Brighton]
Part of Eagles Nest, The Eaglets Aerie, is for kids 3 and under. It has its own colorful ball pit, challenging climbing structure, reading corner and more! $5.50/baby 12 months & up.

The Blast [Eagan]

Babies 17 months and younger are FREE [they do not have a specific toddler area] But at the Eagan Community [where The Blast is] they do have open gym Monday-Friday for $3 which is for ages 1 and & up, see more details here.  

Maple Maze [Maple Grove]
Babies under 12 months are FREE and over 12 months are only $5 [$4 for residents] There is a specific toddler area for ages 3 and under where they can crawl into the lions mouth and back down a slide to venture on to the molded alligator, hippo and more.

Lookout Ridge [Woodbury]
They do have a toddler area here [$4.50 for 1 & older].  The "inside tip" is that mornings are usually busy, so if you are looking for a quieter time to take your baby, head on over after lunch.

Tropical Adventure [Shoreview]
Babies under 12 months are free, otherwise it's $5 per child for their indoor playground.  Tropical Adventure also has an indoor water park with an area called "Ship Wreck Beach" with a zero depth pool just for little tots to splash & play in!

Sky Zone [Oakdale, Plymouth]
Sky Zone is a indoor trampoline park. Check each website for toddler time [ages 5 & under].

The Little Gym [Edina, Burnsville & {coming soon} Eagan & Eden Prairie]
The only downfall to The Little Gym is that they don't have any type of open gym and you have to sign up for weekly classes. Although your first class is FREE so you can always try it out first!

My Gym [Eden Prairie]
Same thing with My Gym, they have ongoing classes that you can register for unless you are a member then they have "free play".

I have yet to speak from experience about any of these places so I would love to hear if you have been to any and how they were. Or did I miss any places you like to bring your older baby to? Please share!

New Year. New Fitness Plan.

I'm not really the type of person to make New Years resolutions, but it is always a good time of the year to re-evaluate your lifestyle. For me, 2012 is about finding time for myself again. My little man will be a year this February [gasp!] and over the past 11 months, I have been lost in his every want and need. We all know it's important to take care of our babies, but sometimes we forgot it's equally as important to take care of ourselves. Which is why I'm really excited to share with you a new business opening up this January in Woodbury.



Baby Boot Camp helps balance the fitness needs of new moms with their desire to spend time with their baby. This innovative stroller-fitness program helps moms regain or enhance pre-pregnancy fitness levels and meet the physical challenges of parenting by emphasizing strength training in a supportive environment.

Baby Boot Camp will be having their Grand Opening on January 25th at the Valley Creek Mall [meeting next to Keys Cafe & Bakery]. Join other mama's and enjoy light refreshments, amazing prize giveaways from local businesses and goodie bags to the first 30 participants! Also you can sign up for classes and take advantage of promotional pricing available only during the Grand Opening.

Classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00AM-10:00AM at the Valley Creek Mall. Package deals can be purchased for as low as $65/mo. For more information on Baby Boot Camp and owner Heather Hampton, read this article featured in Macaroni Kid [SE Metro, MN] or check them out on facebook here.

Do you make goals or resolutions every year? What is your resolution for 2012?

[Article from Star Tribune] Strollers: Mother of All Workouts

Attention Minnesota Mama's:

I wanted to share an article with you that was in the Star Tribune last week about Stroller Strides.

Strollers: Mother of all workouts [article by: AIMÉE TJADER , Star Tribune]

Stroller Strides is a national company that provides a total-body workout for moms with strollers--in parks when the weather is nice, in malls when it is not. It's one of several parent-child workout programs in the Twin Cities that are popping up in the form of mommy boot camps and even family yoga classes that have moms, dads and kids jumping like frogs and swaying like trees. Despite the national focus on health and fitness, many moms report having little or no time to exercise or feeling guilty about leaving their child to do so. That's why mom-specific workouts that include children have become so popular. Such "mommy and me" classes tout providing mothers with a way to work out, socialize with other moms and interact with their children using quirky nursery rhymes and silly games amid lunges and squats. [startribune.com]

It's a great article and sounds like a really good activity to stay busy with your baby while getting back into shape. Also, what a great way to meet other mom's in your area.

[NOTE: If you aren't from MN, Stroller Strides is a national company, so be sure to find a group in your city.]

I heart baby yoga!

Baby yoga is probably one of my favorite things right now to do with my little man! Picture this: you're on your yoga mat with your eyes closed... gentle music fills the background and a light breeze from the fan above cools you on a warm summer day... You are finally having some peaceful mommy time. And then.... a baby cry breaks the silence and to the left of you is a little drooling machine squealing in delight! THIS is more like it.

Blooma [www.blooma.com] has 3 locations--St. Paul, Shakopee & Edina. "Through yoga classes, wellness services, childbirth education and a supportive community, Blooma nurtures mind, body and spirit of mom's-to-be and new mamas and their families" First time students can sign up for one month unlimited yoga for only $64 [this is a steal--and what I did!] Or individual classes are $18.

The class I love is BYOB [Bring Your Own Baby]. All you need is yourself and your baby. They provide the yoga mats & a blanket for your baby. Running late because of a last minute diaper change? NO PROBLEM! Come whenever you can, they understand what it's like to have a new baby. The class starts out with learning how to do baby massage and some yoga for baby. Then you move into yoga for mommy [while baby watches and still gets some interaction]. Next it's back to baby yoga time and you finish off the class with snuggles & shavasana. Ahhhhh, the bliss!





BYOB is great way to get out of the house and enjoy some time with baby. BUT what I really loved about Blooma is the welcoming environment for new mamas. I feel as comfortable there as I do at home! [you can bring your baby 6 weeks+] The class is for you to enjoy. You are encourage to nurse or feed your baby, change a diaper, and even get up and walk around throughout class. No one is going to shoot dirty looks if your baby won't stop crying, everyone understands what you are going through. It's a great place to meet new mamas, share stories, and do something healthy for yourself and your baby.

[NOTE] This Sunday, July 31 [2:00PM-4:00PM] @ Blooma Edina they are having a free beginners workshop and new student open house. "Join us for a free hour-long prenatal yoga class, and stay for treats, get a tour of Blooma, learn about all we have to offer (from childbirth ed, to vinyasa classes, to childcare) meet some of our staff. You'll also get a SUPER deal on our New Student Package during the open house. If you purchase the New Student Special (One Month of Unlimited Classes for $64), you'll get a $40 credit on your Blooma account to use at a later date"