March Mom of the Month!

We are excited to announce Sara S. (Henry's mom) as our March Mom of the Month! Sara has been a Stroller Strides member for 8 months and continues to see improvements in her strength and endurance. She is also participating in the Run Like a Mother 10k training team. Congrats Sara!! 1. I have a beautiful 10-month-old son named Henry who amazes me every day. He crawls, stands and says “mama”. Melts my heart every time I hear it.
2. My husband and I did not know what we were having until Henry was born and I will definitely do that again. It was so exciting to hear “it’s a boy!”. It would be nice to hear next time “it’s a girl!”… we’ll see.
3. My husband, Greg, and I have been married for 2 years. His office is our 3rd bedroom so I see him a lot. We never get tired of each other.
4. I wore the wedding dress my mom wore at her wedding 40 years earlier. Both my sisters wore it for their weddings too. Needless to say, it’s had a few alterations.
5. For our honeymoon we spent 3 weeks driving from San Diego to San Francisco with a detour to Napa. My favorite day was Disneyland. We were there from open to close.
6. In 2008 I capitalized on my passion for organizing and started my own business. I also worked for an organizing company called Space Matters. My motto is “everything has a place”… yup, my house is pretty buttoned up.
7. One day when Henry (and hopefully his brothers and/or sisters) are older I’d like to start my business up again. In the meantime, I’m happy to give consultations and advice on organizing. I love organizing and want others to know the benefits it can bring to their lives.
8. I was born in Marietta, GA in the year of the Bicentennial and have 2 older sisters.
9. We moved to Tennessee where I attended high school and college. Georgia will always be my home state but I’d move back to Tennessee in a heartbeat. Richmond is the furthest north I’ve ever lived and after this winter I know why.
10. During high school I was on the swim team but never learned to dive off a diving board. I also was on the synchronized swimming team and can still do some cool moves in the pool.
11. In college I joined the girl’s club soccer team and would have stayed on for the varsity team if I hadn’t torn my ACL. I had reconstructive knee surgery and haven’t played soccer since but the knee is fine 15 years later.
12. I was a debutante my sophomore year of college. Yes, the pictures are priceless as was the newspaper announcement, video and frilly white dress. Hello world here is Sara.
13. I have a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Tennessee Tech University, home of the Golden Eagles. I chose biology because “I love plants and animals…” Yeah, I found out it was a little more than that but I just couldn’t see myself studying anything else.
14. I’m excited to share my passion and appreciation of nature with my children. Plus, my husband gets a kick out of the all the birds I can name.
15. One thing he does not get a kick out of is my collection of anything squirrel - statues, jewelry, prints (all very tasteful of course). In the 4 years we’ve known each other he has never given me anything with a squirrel on it until this past Valentine’s Day. He loves me.
16. My dog, Libby, will be 12 this year but doesn’t act a day over 2. She is so good with Henry and lets me dress her up as Snow White every Halloween. She’s a great dog.
17. My cat, Baker, is 10 and just a big, fat, sweet cat. If I want him to come to me I just whistle. He’s not so crazy about being dressed up for Halloween but I do it anyway.
18. So I kind of like… no, actually I love candy and chocolate chip cookies. I can’t keep either of them in the house. My husband calls me a closet candy eater because he knows I eat candy but he never sees me do it. It doesn’t count if no one sees you right?
19. Greg and I are huge theme park junkies. We had season passes to Busch Gardens for a few years in a row. My favorite ride is Apollo’s Chariot and nothing is more fun than Busch Gardens at Halloween.
20. We love to travel and having a baby hasn’t slowed us down too much. We’ve taken him to Atlanta, Chicago, Asheville, Knoxville and New York City. We’re contemplating a trip over the pond this year.
21. My husband gave me a digital SLR camera for Christmas and I’m currently enrolled in a photography class at U of R. The auto setting has been banned.
22. I’ve been a member of The Junior League of Richmond for 8 years and served on the Board of Directors a couple years ago.
23. In 2006 I went on a mission trip to Honduras where we painted a church and girl’s home. I never imagined walking into a grocery store that was guarded by a man with a machine gun. It’s a beautiful country though.
24. I really like yard work. We live in a townhouse and as such don’t have a yard but I’m looking forward to when we do. Planting flowers, tending the garden and cutting the grass, it’s all fun for me.
25. Stroller Strides has been tremendous. I’ve met some great women and working out has helped me achieve my goal of getting into my favorite pair of 7’s. My husband attended a class with me this past summer and has a new appreciation for my exercise regime… it kicked his butt.

Meet Your Instructors - Julia

1. My name is Julia.

2. You may see it as "Rossicize" on the chat board.

3. I got that nickname from a client; well, actually, a family, that I trained several years ago.

4. I worked as a full time personal trainer in NYC for five years, as well as teach Pilates mat classes.

5. Yes, I trained a few "stars" (made it on Page Six of the NY Post, for those of you who are familiar.)

6. I started with my first client at 6 a.m.! What a great preparation for those early morning feedings of a newborn!

7. Back to Page Six, it served as light reading (along with the headlines) between clients with breakfast.

8. The best meal (from the deli) was what we trainers named "the grease sandwich." Scrambled eggs with cheese and turkey on a toasted sesame seed bagel with butter and coffee.

9. And yes, I think the best coffee comes from the dirtiest looking deli.

10. Besides my passion for fitness, which I've loved to be able to work with fellow moms since moving to Richmond four years ago, I was also a professional modern dancer.

11. I "retired" after my last performance while five and a half months pregnant with Benjamin.

12. Some highlights of dancing in NYC - Being named in the NY Times, having a cartoon drawn of our company in the New Yorker Magazine, dancing in the windows of Grand Central Station (which by the way, my husband happened to see as he was passing through going about life several years before we actually met!!).

13. I recently just started taking modern dance class again. It is wonderful to "move" again and rediscover muscles that Stroller Strides and/or running don't even touch.

14. I took the challenge by the moms who took my Stroller Strides classes and started running six weeks after delivering Molly. I completed the 8K in 2009 with a time of 47:01 almost a ten minute improvement.

15. Speaking of Molly, she is my little beauty that is quite tough from playing with her brother. Although, she is girly with her doll stroller and hair bows. One day, I'm sure I'll catch her her "playing Stroller Strides" and will be proud that I am passing on the importance of exercise and healthy living.

16. I enjoy listening to others and sharing stories. (So, if you want any star gossip, just ask).

17. But, seriously, I am interested in everyone's unique path in life.

18. I read a quote many years ago that I often think of, "Everyone in life knows something that you don't know, but need to know, so learn from them."

19. I thank all of the Stroller Strides mommies, as I teach you, I also learn from you as well!

Meet Your Instructors - Kelly

1. My full name is Kelly (Ann) McGrew Connors. I don't dislike my name but always wish that my name was less common - I was one of many Kellys growing up.

2. I tried to give my daughter a more unique name because of this. She is almost a year and a half and her name is Adeline (Add-a-linn) although many people mispronounce it because of the spelling.

3. I grew up in CT and all of my family, including my brother, is still up there with the exception of my parents. I am SO thankful that they are here and I know they love seeing their granddaughter grow.

4. I came down to VA for college at JMU, where I met my husband, the love of my life and my best friend. We actually disliked each other when we first met and did not start dating until two years later, right before we graduated. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We have been married for seven years this June and I really enjoyed the time we had just the two of us before kids.

5. Every year for our anniversary my husband and I stay at a bed and breakfast near JMU.

6. I have two dogs and two cats and they are wonderful even though they have never annoyed me so much as when I had a baby. The hair everywhere! The barking! But I love them. It makes me sad when people say that they "hate cats" or "hate dogs" if they never had one. Animals love you no mater what and I am happy that my daughter will grow up with them.

7. I like to drive fast. It is part of growing up in the North, I think. And I am always late, my least favorite quality about myself, so I have to drive fast, right?

8. I love to run and it is truly my passion. I prefer to do it by myself, sometimes with no music. It is my escape and makes me feel so good afterward. I was not always like this - it took many years and I love to run races - I am super competitive with myself. So those of you who want to run but do not think you like it, give it a try!

9. I ran the marathon in 2004 and hope to do one again, maybe before I turn 40. I highly recommend it - one of the best things I have ever done.

10. I danced all my life from a little girl through college. I miss it but do not think I will ever go back. I also almost have my black belt in kickboxing.

11. Have you noticed that the three activities that I have done - running, dancing and kickboxing - are all individual? I have never played a team sport. I am too much of a perfectionist and don't like the idea of relying on other people or letting others down. My husband played a lot of sports and I hope my daughter will be like him and not like me!

12. I was very close to my grandmother. She was like a second mother to me and Adeline's middle name is Ruth after her. We used to bake together and that is something that I still enjoy doing and I am pretty good at it.

13. I took a year off to be at home with Adeline and went back to teaching part-time this year. (I teach high school Spanish.) I wish I did not have to and it breaks my heart to leave her but I am luck to have my mom keep her.

14. I did Weight Watchers in 2002 and have been a Lifetime member ever since. It taught me how to eat right and I highly recommend it to anyone. I love anything to do with diet and exercise. The Biggest Loser, although unrealistic, is my favorite show.

15. I have been in a couple of commercials and the newspaper and I think that makes me famous.

16. My daughter never took a bottle. I tried every kind. I did not have much of a social life this past year but I loved nursing and cherished every second and was very sad to stop.

17. We live in Mechanicsville in the Atlee area and I can get most places in 15-20 minutes. I doubt we will ever live in the West End. After teaching high school there for the last nine years, I know a lot of kids. My husband hates going to Short Pump with me and I don't blame him.

18. My favorite foods are pizza, peanut butter and ice cream. Healthy. Everything in moderation though, right? I also love coffee but use entirely too much Splenda.

19. I love to work out in the morning. I think it is the best way to start the day and you feel so good after and don't need to make excuses.

20. I really enjoy wine, especially red, and have been to Napa Valley twice. I have also visited most of the wineries in Virginia.

21. I had an easy pregnancy until two months before my due date, when I passed out twice - once at school into the edge of a filing cabinet and once behind the wheel. I carried Adeline very low and she was sitting on one of my major nerves when I sat upright, so luckily I was off work for the summer and Mom was around to drive me everywhere like I was back in high school. Let's cross our fingers that this does not happen again!

22. Baseball is one of the few sports I like to watch and I love the Red Sox! My husband and I have been to Fenway Park several times and I hope to start this tradition again.

23. I can function on less sleep than most people. I can also fall asleep anywhere!

24. I Love Lucy is one of my favorite shows of all time and I named my cat Lucy after her. I have also dressed up as her several times for Halloween.

25. I really love to speak Spanish and enjoy seeing the loos of surprise on people's faces when I do! I have been to Spain twice (once to study abroad, once for vacation) and think it is incredible.