Want to learn to run a 10k?

Have you ever wanted to learn to run?
You know it is more fun with friends, right?

momstown Central Alberta has joined forces with Team in Training with their
MOMS IN TRAINING program!! We are committed to running the Edmonton Polices Services 10km run on April 27, and are hoping to also do the 10 km at Woody's RV World on May 18th!

Here is more info direct from the Moms in Training website.

Why Join?

Because we all know someone touched by cancer.

Because a parent should never have to watch their child battle cancer.

Because as moms, we can give back and make a difference.

What is Moms In Training?

A flexible 8-week workout program where moms train together and fundraise for a great cause!  Enjoy social events throughout the season with moms in your area!

Program culminates with a 5-10K local event (event participation optional)

FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I know someone personally affected by cancer. Can I train in honour or memory of this person?

A: Absolutely! We encourage you to honour someone close to you who has been affected by ANY type of cancer.

Q: Is my child allowed at the work-out?

A: As long as your baby is able to remain in the stroller, you are welcome to bring your baby to the training sessions!  The workouts allow you to exercise with a stroller. Jogging strollers are not required.

Q: What if I can't attend all the work-outs or participate in the events?

A: The program is tailored around being flexible for moms! We encourage you to attend as many work-outs as you can. You can still participate in the program even if you are unable to attend the event.

Q: What do the work-outs consist of?

A: Workouts will last approximately 60-75 minutes. They will consist of running, walking, cross-training & stretching.

Q: I am not an athlete at all! Can I really train to complete 10K in eight weeks?

A: YES! We have moms of all levels who join. You have the ability to run, walk, or do a run/walk combination!

Q: I have never fundraised before. How will I know what to do?

A: Our staff will help you build a simple fundraising plan, trust us…it is easier than you think.   

So what's stopping you? Join us for our online question and answer session on February 12th at 7pm where you can get all your questions answered!!

Mattel Game On! Moms Night IN!

Each month momstown Central Alberta plans a few moms night out, this month we changed things up a bit and we held a moms night IN!

What did we do? We Played Board games! So much fun playing with adults for a change!!
Do you know what your game personality is? -->

Find out which Mattel games best suit your gaming personality. 

Here is the GAMEOLOGY APP to find out.
I am most certainly an Activius!!!

Snacks and beverages were had, even some very special "margarita" cupcakes!! Thanks Heather, they were an awesome treat!

We had a large group game of Apples to Apples, and oh my did we laugh!
We played 3 rounds it was so much fun!

Then we broke up into smaller groups and played Blokus and Uno Power Grab

New game means new rules to study!

Our door Prize for the evening was Blokus

Nanette was our winner!

This was so much fun, we decided this will now be a month event on our Calendar, Moms Night In: Games Night!

momstown moms learns to Chair Tease Dance!

Some of the momstown moms ventured out and
learned how to Chair Tease Dance!

We had a private Class from Natalie of Chair Tease Dance Studio.

We had a lot of laughs, a pretty good workout, and a few of us had a little bit of liquid courage before we started!!

To me that is the perfect combination for a very fun moms night out!

Next Month we are trying ZUMBA!

Check our calendar for all the details! Not a member? Here is how you can become one and join us in the fun.

Mom Friends Needed

momstown Winnipeg wrote a great blog post called the Dreaded Playdate. Go and read it. I'll wait, just promise you will come back. Here is another from momstown's Christy

I know I have felt this way. Afraid to put yourself out there, afraid that the other moms will judge you. It can be hard to make mom friends.

I moved to Central Alberta when my oldest was 3 months old. Didn't know anyone but my family, and no one with a baby. My sisters would come and visit me before they ventured out on the town. On the rare occasion I could join them, it was a very carefully orchestrated evening planned around feedings. It was invariably an early evening, with maybe 1 glass of wine, while I constantly watched the clock, so as not to be late and have my parents having to deal with a crying grandchild that they would not be so keen on watching again the next time I needed a break.

My mom saw an ad in the local paper about a parents group, and she suggested I attend. I did reluctantly, as this was not my sort of thing, but I was desperate. I needed a mom friend!! This group wasn't what I was looking for, but I met another mom, and we hit it off! She was a life saver that first year!

Next I joined a strollercise class, again desperately wanting mom friends. Luckily I wasn't the only one, as we somehow arranged to have coffee after class twice a week, which eventually led to playdates.

I did finally meet some moms, but it was a lot of work! How I wish momstown was in my neighbourhood in 2003!!!

So if you have found momstown, and are nervous about meeting other moms for the first time. I GET IT. Almost everyone of us has had to walk into the room alone without knowing a soul. I encourage you do just do it. Come to the new member meet up. Find me, introduce yourself. Come to the new member coffee date at my house. Or just Email me. We also have registered playgroups, some still have space.

I can't promise that you will become best friends with everyone. But I am pretty sure you will make some mom friends, you will get out of the house and you will be glad you did.

Hi! I'm new here...

Let me introduce myself...

I am Tanya, your new momstown mama for Central Alberta. I am the mom of 2 gorgeous girls, and our family is expecting a new little one at the beginning of September, so apparently I am looking to be very busy!

My husband is Paul, aka momstown papa, and he will be posting on here occasionally to give his unique perspective on life in Central Alberta.

I attended my first momstown moms night out last week at East Side Mario's and met a few of you there, and if we weren't formally introduced, I was the very pregnant lady! ha ha. I also attended my first park hopping playdates and met a couple of the ladies there as well. Small turnout, but it was holiday Monday, I hope to see many more of you next week at the Blackfalds Spray Park!

My goal in August is to get the hang of things with LOTS of help from Alison, as well as meet as many of the momstown moms and families as I can. I can't promise that I will remember your names though... but I will get better!

I am also busy working on our 4th birthday party! I am so excited about what we have in store for all the moms and families in Central Alberta that day! We have face painting from Candy Faces, bouncy house from Big Bounce Inflatables, cupcakes from Yummy Custom Cakes, a demo class from Kindermusic Korner and Jo Dumont Fitness Training. Suzanne from First Blush Photography will be wandering around taking pictures of your little ones having a blast, which you can later purchase from an online gallery if you choose. Joanne from Bold Beauty will also be set up with a Little Fingers Little Toes for any little girls who would like their nails done!

I look forward to seeing you around town!

momstown Gets Active with Get Fit!!

The ladies of the momstown Central Alberta Get Fit Club have decided to tour the town... we're taking Get Fit on the road and checking out what Red Deer has to offer!  There's more than one way to stay active - and Red Deer has some great options!!

This month we tried our hand at Skyball at The Collicut Centre.  It's a cross between Basketball & Volleyball played on trampolines.  We may not be world class athletes - but we sure did have a great time playing our mini-tournament!  There was a little trash talk, and a whole lot of fun!!

We'll be doing this one again for sure!  Congratulations to Mandy & various partners who came out victorious!  Join us at our next meeting of Get Fit to get in on the fun.

Ladies Night Of Indulgence

Don't get fancy, just get DANCY!

That's exactly what the momstown mamas did last week at our Mommies Only Dance Class demo with Alissa Keinloog.

The moms had a great time laughing and dancing the night away. They learned some new moves, had some great laughs & a fun night away from the kids.

There are still some spots available for the class - which runs for 6 weeks starting in March. There are also still spots available for her Mini-Me & Mommy Dance Classes. Find out more information on Facebook or email Alissa.

A Night of Pampering

The mamas of momstown enjoyed a night of pampering at Copper Lane Hair Studio on Tuesday.

We were treated like royalty with a hand massage, scalp massage, style consultation, shampoos, blow-dry & style for each of us.  While we waited for our turn in the chair - we munched on goodies and sipped wine!

What a great chance to recharge our mommy batteries and catch up with friends!  The ladies at Copper Lane outdid themselves - and by the time they were finished with us we were a bunch of happy, relaxed & glowy moms!  Congratulations to Tina, who won a cut & colour makeover!  We can't wait to see the results!

After we were done getting pampered, we went next door, to Restaurant 27 for some "drinky-poo's" as Mandy called them.  We had a ton of laughs getting to know each other better!

We've still got a few more great mom's nights out planned this month - our monthly New Member Meetup, a Fondue Party and a Mommies Only Dance Class!  Join Us!

Need a night out?

It seems that when you become a mom your whole identity changes to include those little people that life now centers around.  It suddenly becomes your all consuming purpose to feed, clean, entertain and care for your kids.  And that's how it should be.  They are your new full time job (even if you have another full time job!) and the most important thing you will ever do!

But - you are still you.  Before you became a mom you were a daughter, a sister, a friend - a woman!!  And you still are!  I hear time and time again from momstown mamas "Its really hard to make a new friend at the playgroups where I'm too busy chasing my kids."  Yes!  It is - and that's exactly what our moms night out events are about!  A chance for you to leave the kids at home, sip a glass of wine - and have a REAL conversation with that mom you've met a few times at playgroup and have lots in common with!

We had a wine & cheese night this month and it was so fun and relaxing to just sit and visit with a great group of women!  I know a couple of them sat up until the wee hours getting to know each other better - even though they probably paid for it the next day when they had to put their mommy hats back on.  We've got some great ones planned for February!  In addition to our regular monthly Book Club Meeting, Mom's Night Out at the Movies and New Member Meetup - we've got our Mom's Night of Pampering at Copper Lane Hair Studio, a Lia Sophia/Epicure party, a Fondue Party and we're letting Dad in on some of the fun with our Couple's Night In - Wii Party.  So book a sitter and join us!  We'd love to meet you and get to know you a bit better!

A Night Out!

The mamas of momstown Central Alberta took a night away from the kids last week at Hot Pot Studio!

We each got to pick one or two pieces to paint - and let our imaginations go wild!  Some of us created Christmas gifts for our kids or other family members and some of us enjoyed the time by creating something special for ourselves!

 What a great night away from it all!  Some good friends, a little wine & a lot of fun!

Wine, Cheese and a little help for The Girls!!

We had a great night out for the moms last night at The Bra Lounge!  We sipped wine, munched on some yummy treats, visited with friends - and did some shopping! 

Sheena and Cortney really know their stuff!  We learned that bra sizes do indeed rise above the traditional range of DD - and that this is in fact NORMAL and doesn't mean that you are some kind of mammoth creature.  They took the time with each of us to find the bra that was just right - and suited our individual needs and taste.

I loved the experience (its so refreshing to see what TRUE customer service looks like!) and will definitely be back!  I was too busy having fun to remember to take pictures, so you'll have to remember to use your imaginations!!