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Moms Night Out with Momtrends and Parents Magazine

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Momtrends, a terrific blogging network based in New York that brings together a number of like-minded moms for partnership and blogging opportunities. It has introduced me to many, wonderful new friends in the area as well as trusted brands. They do a wonderful job ensuring that any partnership or event is one that is beneficial for not only the brands but also busy moms. Their annual event, Mom’s Night Out, has quickly become a night I look forward to each year. The event is an interactive and enjoyable way for a number of local mom bloggers to learn about the latest and greatest from brands while relaxing and enjoying a glass of wine, pampering and time to catch up with other like-minded women from the brands, Momtrends, Parents Magazine and fellow influencers.

This year’s event, which was once again hosted by Momtrends and Parents Magazine, took place in the gorgeous Meredith Headquarters in Manhattan’s Financial District, just a quick subway ride from Brooklyn. As soon as I walked through the door, I knew it was going to be a fun evening. I was offered wine and appetizers, while some one else invited me to come over and enjoy a hand massage.

Each of the sponsoring brands, feature an activity that attendees can enjoy, while having the opportunity to interact with and learn more about the products.  This year there were four brand partners, some of which are already household favorites and others that I only discovered during the event: Boiron USA, Culturelle, JCPenney’s Peyton & Parker Collection, and VTech.

After enjoying a glass of wine, I headed directly over to the VTech area, where I was able to enjoy a ten minute hand massage before learning more about their most popular toys for children Katie’s age.  This came at a perfect time as just last week Bo and I started to realize that Katie has outgrown a number of her toys. After we spent an hour sorting through her play areas, we realized that she could benefit from some toys that are more appropriate for 18 months to 2 years old. Katie has a number of VTech toys including an activity cube and this adorable elephant, but after interacting with their play area, I’m excited to add some of their holiday wish list favorites to Katie’s Christmas list including the sports center, 100 Words Book and Cutie Paws Puppy Stroller! Their Holiday Gift Guide is full of fun learning toys that kids and parents alike will love!

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with a brand specialist as I find children’s toys to be overwhelming. It’s so hard to figure out which toys are actually appropriate and properly stimulating for each age. If you have kids, do you have any tips for finding the best toys at each stage? 

My eye was immediately drawn to the cozy holiday decor from the Peyton & Parker™ collection, exclusively at JCPenney.  This brand’s collection, which was designed entirely by their in-house design team at JCPenney,  launched last week exclusively in JCPenney stores and on their website. It is filled with cozy mix & match clothes and decor for the holiday season. The tablescape was a mix of plaid and rustic details while the clothing included more traditional stripes and plaids with some sparkly, fun pops of color. We had the opportunity to explore the clothing range while planning a “picture perfect wardrobe” for our family. I put together a Mommy & Me look that included a striped turtleneck and plaid vest for mom and a cute plaid dress and furry vest for the daughter. These affordable pieces would be perfect for our upcoming holiday photo shoot, yet versatile enough to wear throughout the winter months.

Peyton & Parker family outfit

 

My next stop was the delicious Boiron Smoothie Bar, where I was treated to a gorgeous green smoothie, packed with immunity boosting foods! In case you’re not familiar with Boiron USA, they are a company that specializes in homeopathic medicines, providing family-friendly products that work without causing drowsiness or drug interaction. In fact, we’ve loved using their products with Katie as many of them are able to be used for children as young as six months old. They are best known for their top-selling flu medicine Oscillococcinum. Their baby & children’s line features Children’s Coldcalm Liquid Doses (multi-symptom cold relief for children 6 months and up) and Children’s Chestal Honey Syrup (relieves all types of coughs).

Last but not least I had the opportunity to pack a diaper bag with all the must-have essentials, thanks to Culturelle® Baby Probiotics.  I packed one of their co-ed style diaper bags with diapers, wipes, diaper cream, snacks, blankets and, of course, Culturelle® Baby Probiotics.  This bag will be the perfect gift for our friends who just recently announced that they are expecting their first child.  Did you know that Culturelle has a baby line?  The #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand†, Culturelle Baby Probiotics is a line of probioitic products created to help build a strong foundation for baby’s healthy growth and development. When I shared images of the brand on Instagram Stories, many of you said that your family loves Culturelle and believe it’s been a key factor in keeping your kids healthy!

Thank you so much MomTrends and Parents Magazine for such a wonderful night!

 

Disclaimer: While this is a sponsored post in partnership with Momtrends, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  Some of the photos in this post are courtesy of https://suzannecohenphotography.com/

† Based on a 2016 survey among pediatricians recommending a kids probiotic brand

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease

 

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NYC Runs Brooklyn Half Marathon Race Recap

Yesterday I completed my first postpartum half marathon!

Friday evening, once Katie went to sleep, Bo and I relaxed in typical pre-race fashion. He whipped up a delicious, pasta dinner while I set out all my race gear.

By 8pm, I was settled on the couch for the evening, relaxing in compression socks and excited for the morning’s race. I received so many sweet texts and messages from friends and followers, wishing me luck the next day. I headed to bed at 9:30, which would allow for 8 hours of sleep. Unfortunately, I was up four times to go to the bathroom between 9:30 and 11:30. I couldn’t pinpoint what triggered it but was happy to have it end at 11:30.

I slept well from 11:40 to 5:40, when I quickly jumped out of bed to get prepared for the race. As soon as I woke up, I heard the wind and rain. Instead of letting that get in the way of my positive vibes, I thought about all of those women and men who ran Boston in the pouring rain.

While getting dressed I used extra Glide, especially along my sports bra, shorts and sock lines. Then, I cut holes in a large, black yard trash bag and cut the ends off my compression socks that I wore the previous night. The size small is way too short on me so I realized that these could serve as perfect arm sleeves for race day.

I could tell that behind the positivity, my body was bundle of nerves as I could barely stomach my usual coffee and peanut butter banana toast. I sipped half the coffee and ate half the toast before giving up. At 6:15 I left the house and hopped on a Citibike, my preferred mode of transportation to Prospect Park race starts. The 10 minute, uphill bike ride was a great way to warm up my body and legs and by the time I reached Grand Army Plaza, near the start, the rain had changed to a light mist.

The race signage made it easy for runners to find our way from Grand Army Plaza to the starting area, just a few blocks away. Ten minutes later I had made my way through security and into my corral where I was greeted by tons of porta potties and other excited runners.  I spent the next few minutes chatting and doing dynamic stretches, while waiting for the start. I have to hand it to NYC Runs as they did a great job organizing the starting area for the race.  Right as they finished the national anthem I dashed to the bathroom one last time, hoping to be done. Spoiler alert – I wasn’t done.  Since I knew I didn’t have much in my stomach, I took 2 Shotblocks and water right before crossing the starting line, hoping this would help fuel me.

At 7:01 they announced the start, I took off the trash bag and by 7:03 I was crossing the starting line.  The weather was misty, breezy and humid but the temperature was delightfully cool.

 

My coach and I had discussed a race plan on Thursday, knowing that I’m famous for going out too fast, and instead would do better if I could execute the plan and finish faster, similar to many of my long runs.  Her plan for my goal of a sub-2 hour half marathon was as follows:

  • Mile 1-2 9:15-9:25
  • Mile 3 – 9:05
  • Mile 4-9 Around 9:10
  • Mile 10 9:09
  • Mile 11-13 As fast as possible, but sustainable, remember form
  • Mile 13-13.1 All out sprint

I wrote this plan on my hand so I could easily reference it.  I was smiling ear to ear when I saw that my first lap was 9:05 and my second and third lap were 9:25 and 9:06. This was perfectly on plan. As I approached the third mile I heard someone screaming my name, and was surprised to see my friend Zoe cheering on the sidelines. It turns out that she and Evann had been scheming with Bo all week. It was such a fun surprise and I was so excited to know I’d see her again soon. I took 2 shot blocks and more water, as my plan was to take 2 shot blocks every 3 miles.

After passing the 5k point the course leaves the cute, quiet, neighborhood streets of Brooklyn for Ocean Parkway. I’ve run this parkway many times as it is a common part of any Brooklyn half marathon.  Six of the seven times I’ve run it i’ve been bored to tears. The only year I wasn’t was when Amy and I were running together and spent the time watching for the many friends I knew running and were singing Brittney Spears greatest hits together since we were both listening to a shared playlist.  This is also the point in the race when signage became very confusing. There were mile markers for both the marathon and half marathon runners, but since they were the same exact style and color, many of us initially thought that the course was mismarked. Yesterday, I just told myself to buckle down and focus.  I was perfectly on pace for mile 4 (9:11) and then slowed a bit during mile 5 (9:21) due to headwind on the course and avoiding puddles. But I still felt good. I started to drop my speed a bit and was keeping around a 9:00 pace when suddenly I felt the urgent need for a bathroom. I quickly dashed back around, going back to the bathroom I’d just passed and was able to get in and out quickly, though I continued to have GI issues. I dashed out hoping to make up time and was able to hit a 9:21 and 9:33 pace for the next two miles. As I continued to run, I switched my playlist to the one of my favorite Spotify playlists, Song to Sing Along to in the Shower and tried to focus on the fun songs instead of my stomach. Unfortunately, I had to take another bathroom stop when I passed more portapotties at the middle of mile 8.  That bathroom stop meant that mile 8 was a 9:54. As we started climbing the hill back towards Prospect Park, I felt completely empty. I couldn’t hold down the shot blocks I was trying to take and just kept thinking that I had to keep moving. I pushed forward and up the ramp, hoping to see Zoe or Bo at mile 10.

At this point, I was mad and frustrated. As my legs still felt strong. I just had nothing inside of me. I was lightheaded and starting to have dry heaves. When I saw Zoe, just past the 11 mile point, she asked if I wanted company. I was thrilled because at this point all I wanted was to be done.  Since having my peanut butter toast I’d had three bathroom stops that left me sore and lethargic. My only goal at this point was to keep moving and not get into my head. I immediately apologized to Zoe. I told her I was sorry that she and Evann came out to cheer for me when I wasn’t going to have a PR day. Zoe reminded me that I not every race is perfect and even top athletes have days when they get injured, have stomach issues or have something else stand in their way. At least this was physical and not mental which for so many years was my case. We spent the next three miles making our way through Prospect Park and up the steep climb, towards the finish. I was focused on one thing at this point – seeing Bo and Katie at the finish line. On her sixteen month birthday, Katie was able to experience the joy and energy of a race finish for the very first time. As I did my best attempt at a sprint towards the finish line, I saw Katie on Bo’s shoulders, waving at every runner. That moment made up for the past six miles of misery and bathroom stops. That moment made every early morning and the hot and humid runs of training worth it.

Yesterday I may not have run the sub-2 hour half marathon that I hoped and trained for these past sixteen weeks. But, I ran my first post-partum half marathon after two years away from distance running in 2:08:35.  I have no clue what caused the stomach issues – nerves, too much cheese the night before or some random bug. I’ll never know, and there is no use wasting time trying to figure it out. Later in the day, I apologized to Bo for asking him to come out to the race and bring Katie since it wasn’t a PR day. His response was so true, and made me even happier to have seen Katie at the end.

“We came out to cheer for you so Katie can see her mom do awesome things.”

After hugs, pictures and of course, giving Katie my medal, we enjoyed a delicious brunch at French Louie, one of our favorite spots for brunch or dinner in our neighborhood.

Many people have asked me whether I’m going to quickly sign up for another half marathon since I’m trained and in half marathon shape. My initial answer, at this point, is no. I am content. Back in July, I hadn’t run further than four miles postpartum and now I’m in half marathon shape. Instead of focusing on another quick race, what I definitely want to do is stay in half marathon shape. Back in 2013-2015 I ran relaxed long runs throughout the year, making training for half marathons a bit easier. Since I have such wonderful friends in the area who also tend to run a number of marathons and half marathons, this is my initial goal, after taking this week off from formal training. The other thing that is preventing me from signing up from a race is my upcoming travel schedule. Between now and Christmas, I am traveling a few times for work and, more importantly, going to China for a “quick” one week business trip. There are three half marathons in our local area during December, and they are all either the first or second weekend, when I’ll be on a flight or extremely jet-lagged.  So, for now, my plan is to enjoy running, squeeze in a few shorter, local races during the holiday season, and hopefully run my next half in January or February.

Thank you for your support throughout this entire training cycle and especially leading up to yesterday’s race!

 

 

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Friday Favorites – October 19th, 2018

Happy Friday!  I’m thrilled to report that unlike last week, this week everyone is healthy and has had a great week. While it’s been a healthy week in our home, it’s been a really long work week. There are a lot of changes and things in motion with my team but it’s all good. Today, I will be joining a team meeting virtually for eight hours via FaceTime. Our team is experimenting with different remote conferencing options and this week I’ve had a few great one on one meetings leveraging FaceTime instead of our other computer conferencing capabilities.  While I usually do my best to join these full-day meetings in person, between Bo’s work travel and my half marathon tomorrow morning, a trip to Arkansas wasn’t in the cards this week.  In between this week’s non-stop meetings and conference calls, I’ve had the opportunity to get really excited for tomorrow’s half marathon. Picking up my bib at the expo made it all feel very real. The last time I ran a half marathon I was seven weeks pregnant with Katie and tomorrow, she’ll be sixteen months old! A lot has happened during those 23 months in between, but luckily, my love of running is still alive and well. I have a lot of things I want to share with you guys today, including the thing lots of you have asked me for – more fashion.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and of course, clothing items, that I’m loving this week.

  • Today Brooks launched their special NYC Marathon Pop Art Ghost 11 shoes. I was able to get a sneak peek earlier this week when Brooks sent me a pair to take for a test run. The vibrant pop art highlights some of NYC most iconic images including Statue of Liberty, an apple and skyscrapers. I have a feeling these are going to sell out quickly so head over to their website today to snag a pair for yourself!
  • I used to “runmute” or run commute home on an almost daily basis when we lived in Manhattan and Geneva. Charlie’s running backpack blog post highlighting the best backpacks for run commuters is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to do this but needs a trusted backpack that won’t chafe and will hold their gear!
  • Not only do I think this Fall Spiced Pumpkin Chili sounds and looks delicious, but I also love that Brittney’s recipe uses pantry staples versus hard-to-find spices or rare ingredients. I’m hoping to make this on Sunday so we can enjoy it next week as well as have a stash in the freezer. Did you know that when Bo and I cook on Sunday we typically double whichever recipe we are making so we can have leftovers in the freezer?
  • I love reading Cup of Jo not only because she’s the coolest mom around, who I tend to see on a daily basis since she lives a few blocks away, but also because I find myself inspired by her posts. Her Ode to Potluck has inspired me to send out an email/text to a few of my girlfriends in hopes of hosting a few potlucks here in the future. Having a potluck here means I don’t have to find a babysitter AND we don’t have to be rushed out of a restaurant or deal with reservations or over-priced wine.
  • I still haven’t baked pumpkin muffins this season and this morning I realized that I not only have multiple cans of pumpkin in the pantry but also two over-ripe bananas on the counter. After some searching I found this delicious Pumpkin Banana Muffin recipe that brings together moist banana bread with the warm, fall flavors of cinnamon and pumpkin.
  • When I shared a picture of our dinner Tuesday night, everyone asked for the chili recipe. This White Chicken Chili recipe has been a favorite of ours for years and I swear the leftovers are even better. The recipe isn’t what we consider a weeknight recipe since the chopping, but if you make a large batch during the weekend you can enjoy it throughout the week by quickly reheating it and pairing it with a simple side salad.
  • Okay, now it’s time for a fall Fashion round-up including these J.Crew items that I’ve been wearing non-stop since fall weather arrived in New York.
    • Since buying the Cocoon Coat (40% off) three years ago, it’s been one of my favorite items. I have a navy and white boucle style, that makes it a bit unique, but the coat is the same cozy, over-sized, warm version available again this year. The pockets are larger than normal, pefect for holding winter gloves or a scarf, and the oversized fit allows it to easily be worn over sweaters and winter layers. I wear a size 6, which is smaller than my normal J.Crew size so I definitely recommend sizing down.
    • The quilted vest (25% off) is a perfect transitional item this time of year and I wore my off white one yesterday over a cotton turtleneck. Many of my friends have these vests in different colors as they can be worn all winter long in the south and up here they are perfect for fall and spring.
    • JCrew’s tall high-rise jeans fit (25% off) me better than any other jean I’ve found and they tend to be half the price of the designer brands carried in most department stores.  After loving my classic, dark pair I just bought a pair of jet black jeans in the same high-rise style,
    • I love wearing this chambray shirt (25% off) with black dress pants or my leopard skirt for a fun weekday outfit.
    • The tissue turtleneck (25% off) if a great base layer beginning now, when worn alone or with a light vest or jacket, and can be worn throughout the winter under sweaters. I own six of them in different colors but my black and white stripe one is definitely my favorite.
    • This relaxed sweater blazer (25% off) can be worn for work and weekend alike, but my favorite aspect is that it’s long enough to wear with leggings! In fact, I think i’ll wear it for today’s conference call with a tissue turtleneck and leggings!
    • I’ve been adding a new color of the tippi sweater (25% off) to my closet each year since 2010 as it’s a classic, flattering sweater that comes in new colors every season. This year I added emerald green and burgundy to my wardrobe.
    • The martie slim pant (25% off) is my new favorite work pant. In fact, I loved my black pair so much that I ordered another pair in navy just a few weeks later. High-waist, slim fit and machine wash make these pants a no-brainer in my book!

Okay, I know this was a long post but I hope it’s a fun way to kick off your Friday! Have a great weekend friends!

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