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In this Issue6 Feel Exhausted? Lucilla McElroy from the

Perfect Mom Syndrome offers some tips on how to get the pep back in your step.

9 The Raw Truth About Food

Owner of RAWbundant, Zoe Vaklinova shares her insights on healthy eating and how making wise food choices can be the best medicine.

11 Farmers Market

14 Date Night Guide

24 10 Things I Did Not Know Until I Became a Mom

Our Staff and Facebook friends share some funny insights on what they discovered only after becoming a mom.

27 Baby Guide

PublishersChristina CastroKate Motz

Editor-at-LargeJennifer Po

Contributing EditorCari Wira Dineen

Regional Directors Amanda KrugMichelle Siddons

Art DirectorLisa Ball

For advertising inquiries, email [email protected] or Call 908.577.2445. All written requests can be mailed to: PO Box 1442 Mountainside, NJ 07092

NJ Moms Guide is owned by Moms Guide, LLC. All Rights Reserved 2012. © No part of this issue may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors in which may appear in this issue. NJ Moms Guide in no way represents or endorses the content of any advertiser featured in the issue.

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Dear New Jersey Moms,

Doesn’t it seem near impossible to make time for yourself when you’re a mom?There’s always an excuse to put something or someone else first. Your job, your kids, your relationships, even cleaning the house tend to trump taking care of you. But there is hope! Check out our article “Feeling Exhausted”. Lucila McElroy, a life coach for moms, offers tips on how to get past feeling exhausted--and stop putting pressure on ourselves to be “perfect mothers.”

One of the best ways to take care of ourselves is to book a sitter and get out to enjoy grown-up fun. We’ve rounded up some great Date Night Spots in New Jersey that are totally worth the babysitter’s bill.

And if you are a new mom or mom of a little one, check out our Baby Guide and make sure to register FOR our Annual Baby & Toddler Expo held in May.

No matter where you are in the motherhood journey, we want to make it a smoother ride. And now that NJ MOMS GUIDE will be available four times a year, you can rest assured that we’ll be there with lots of tips and tricks when life gets a little bumpy.

Best,

Cari Wira DineenContributing Editor for NJ Moms Guide

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!! Have a story you want to share or an idea for an Article?

Email us at [email protected] with questions, story suggestions or comments.

GET YOUR GUIDE 24/7Visit www.njmomsguide.com and be sure to Subscribe to our Newsletter where you will

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Feeling Exhausted?Life Coach Expert, Lucila McElroy Offers Tips on how to Bounce Back

When I was pregnant with my first child, I would hear parents talk about how tired they were and I would think to myself “That will never happen to me.” Then I went on to give birth to 3 children in three and a half years. If you are a parent, I don’t think I need to say any more. As a parent of infants we are faced with endless sleepless nights and then this turns into endless activities, endless play dates, endless lunch making, endless college payments…ok, now I’m exhausted just writing this. The good news is that if you have tried to increase your energy levels and you are still not at the level you desire, you now have a different place to look. And I am about to offer you some steps to get you started.

Accept that some things in your life are not working 100%. We are so caught up in looking strong and put together (for others and ourselves) that we suck it up, keep going and say “Everything is ok”.

Gently observe your thoughts. Take five minutes per day EVERY DAY to think about a challenge you are faced with. Then, just sit and notice your inner dialogue. Tip: keep noticing your thoughts, notice your “judging”.

Write down what you noticed and ask yourself: “what am I making this mean about myself, my character, about others and about the world? Tip: this “meaning” is your interpretation and it is in the realm of the interpretation that we start to feel energized or drained.

Notice your energy level while you get present to your interpretation. For example, if you noticed you started to judge yourself about something you did or said, how does that leave you feeling? How is your energy level now?

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Choose. Choose to let go of the interpretations that are not serving you. Choose to look at your situation from a different perspective. Choose to try on a different attitude. Choose a different way of being.

Ask yourself: “What would be possible if I chose to look at this situation from a different perspective? What actions would be available to me now? And try these on!

Commit to practicing daily and choosing moment to moment. You might not feel a difference the first time you practice and you might have to choose (see point #5) more than once.Try this on for a week and start enjoying an energy level you only thought possible pre-kids. Lucila is the Dean of The Perfect Mom Reform School. She is a coach, a speaker and a “recovering” Perfect Mom of 3 girls. Lucila’s mission is to support busy moms to make inspired decisions and get inspired results. She’s also looking to work with moms who aren’t busy – but she hasn’t found them yet.Her work has been featured in Real Simple Magazine, New York Times “the local”, The “Vancouver Sun”, AOL”s “Patch” and WMBC News. To learn more and to find out how “Perfect” you really are visit www.PerfectMomSyndrome.com

NJ Moms Guide is now Quaterly!Advertise in our Summer Issue

The Deadline is May 5th Email

[email protected] to reserve a Space

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THE RAW TRUTH ON FOODHow to Incorporate Raw Foods into Your Family’s Dietby Zoe Vaklinova, owner of RAWbundant

Raw foods are based on plant ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sea vegetables and sprouted grains. To qualify as raw, food should not be heated above 115 degrees in order to keep intact the sensitive enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Cooking, baking or frying at high temperatures changes the molecular structure of food and in many instances makes the food less nutritious. On the other hand, raw foods are minimally processed which

makes them easier to assimilate and nourish the body, providing it with energy, stamina and healing. The importance of a healthy dietary habits has never been more prominent than today. As more studies reveal how food choices impact our health, we no longer have the privilege to remain passive consumers and purchase whatever fancies our eye at the supermarket. By including more raw food in your diet, you can help your body by providing it with a rich source of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and water.You do not need to be on a high raw diet to reap the benefits of it. Incorporate at least 50 percent raw foods with 50 percent of minimally cooked plant-based meals. Just adding fresh juices, green smoothies, a large salad or some delicious raw snack to your daily routine can put you at that level. It’s much easier to eat that way as it also saves you hours in preparing and cooking.

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For tips, recipes and videos on how to incorporate raw foods into your family’s diet visit, www.zoevblog.com. Wishing you the best on your raw food journey!It’s hard enough being a mom, let alone trying to come up with raw recipes your kids will love. Here’s a simple and fun Green Smoothie recipe, where your kids can join in on the raw fun!

Kids-Friendly Green SmoothieIngredients:8 oz. Almond or Hemp Milk½ cup Frozen Banana½ cup Fuji Apple¼ cup Mango Handful of clean fresh greens – spinach, kale, collards

Directions:Add milk and fruits to blender and blend until smooth. Add greens and continue to blend until well-incorporated. Serve and enjoy!Zoe Vaklinova is the president and founder of RAWbundant, a line of premium living foods based out of Linden, NJ. An avid health and wellness blogger, Zoe credits her desire to help improve the lives of others as what inspired RAWbundant to life. Learn more at www.rawbundant.com or at Zoe’s blog www.zoevblog.com.

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ESSEX COUNTY FARMERS MARKETSBloomfield Farmers MarketBloomfield Avenue at State & Liberty Sts.(closest address is 9 State St.), BloomfieldOpen: July-October, Thursdays, 1pm - 7pm

Caldwell Farmers MarketMunicipal Lot between Smull and Personette (behind the Caldwell Cinema), CaldwellPhone: (973) 582-2255 / Doug PiazzaWeb site: www.caldwellfarmersmarket.orgOpen: June, Fridays, 2 pm - 7 pm

Cedar Grove Farmers MarketMorgans Farm and Museum, 903 Pompton Ave.Cedar Grove NJPhone: 973-768-7879 or 201-953-4895 / Patrick MullenOpen: June-September, Wednesdays, 2pm-7pm

East Orange Farmers MarketHalsted Street & Central Avenue, East Orange (behind Auto Zone)Phone:(973) 414-4153 / Stan EdwardsOpen: July-October, Tuesdays, 9 am - 5 pm

Livingston Farmers MarketThe Village at Livingston, 277 Eisenhower Ave, LivingstonDirections: 277 Eisenhower AvePhone: (973) 992-8080 / Beth LippmanWeb site: www.intownlivingston.comOpen: June-September, Thursdays, 12 noon - 6 pm

Main Street South Orange Farmers Market14 Sloan St. (Parking lot across from NJ Transit train station), South OrangePhone: (973) 763-6899Web site: www.mainstreetsSouthOrange.orgOpen: June-October, Wednesdays, 2 - 7 pm

Maplewood Farmers MarketSpringfield Avenue at Indiana Street, Maplewood (Municipal Parking Lot)Phone: (973) 762-8120, x 2000 / Joe ManningWeb site: www.maplewoodnj.orgOpen:June-October, Mondays, 2 pm - 7 pm

Millburn Farmers MarketMain & Essex St., Millburn (Municipal parking lot #1)Phone: (973) 379-2341 / Helen KyleWeb site: www.downtownmillburn.orgOpen: June-October, Tuesdays, 8am-2pm

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H Montclair Farmers MarketWalnut Street, Montclair (Train Station Parking Lot)Phone: (973) 228-2466 / Steve Shuckman Web site: www.montclairnjusa.orgOpen: June-November, Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm NDD Common Greens Farmers MarketPSE&G Plaza, Newark (Downtown Newark)Phone: (973) 733-9333, ext. 21 / Kimberly BartonWeb site: www.downtownnewark.comOpen: June-October, Thursdays, 11am - 3 pm

Nutley’s Farmers MarketWilliam Street - Municipal Parking Lot Number 1, NutleyPhone: 973-284-4978 / Meredith BlankOpen: June-October, Sundays, 9am-1pm Roseland Farmers MarketCorner of Roseland and Harrison Avenues, Borough of RoselandPhone: (973) 477-0949 / Mario SilvestriWeb site: www.westfieldareachamber.com Open: June 17th-Oct. 28th, 2011, Fridays, 12pm-7pm

The Commons at Washington Park Farmers MarketWashington & James St., NewarkPhone: (973) 819-5025 / Derek WareOpen: June-October, Wednesdays, 11am-3pm The University Hospital Auxiliarys Farmers Market150 Bergen Street, NewarkPhone: (973) 972-4059 Minnie PresleyOpen: June 7th-October, Tuesdays, 11am-3pm

West Orange Farmers Market66 Main Street, West OrangePhone: (973) 325-4109 Denise EspositoWeb site: www.downtownwestorange.orgOpen: July-October, Fridays, 12pm-6pm


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THE DATE NIGHT GUIDEYou have been to the zoo, playground, and park and entertained the kids all week, so why not take some much needed adult time and plan a fun night out. Here are just

a few suggestions to get the ball rolling!

1 A Pub that not only serves great drinks but also delicious food? No really….we found one. The Publick House which is always filled with an upbeat crowd no matter what day of the week you go. (Mountainside, NJ)

2 Only have a sitter for 3 hours? Squeeze in Dinner and a Movie at the AMC Suites in West Orange which allow you to enjoy a good flick over cocktails and food in comfortable recliner chairs. (West Orange, NJ)

3 Looking for ambiance, friendly people and great drinks? Look no further than Vienna 60. (Scotch Plains, NJ)

4 Intimate and cozy, Rosie’s Wine Bar sets a warm, sophisticated, and embracing atmosphere while also enjoying a long and respectable wine list. (Garwood, NJ)

5 Here’s a reason to dress up for dinner again…why not get dressed for a night out, children free! Aquaviva (Westfield, NJ)

6 Nothing says romance more than a pot of hot cheese or a pot of melted chocolate for dipping your favorite bit size foods. The Melting Pot (Whippany, NJ)

7 The Spirit of New Jersey offers year-round cruises leave from Lincoln Harbor Marina—providing couples with two floating hours of fun and pampering.

8 If you want to venture out and try a new cuisine, consider Marakesh Restaurant (Montclair, NJ)

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9 Are you ready to experience the ride of your life? Then climb aboard for a hot air ride that will change the way you think about air travel! (New Jersey Balloon Ride)

10 Horseback riding offers a unique opportunity to appreciate outdoor scenery at Kafka Farms. (Watchung, NJ)

11 A romantic rendezvous away from work and family distractions is the key to creating magical memories. Consider a couples spa at The Fountain Spa. (Hackensack, NJ)

12 A great date idea that most people don’t often think of is ice skating. Check out the Ice House for an evening of fun. (Hackensack, NJ)

13 Romance, culture and entertainment…and still close by? Check out the packages that the State Theatre offers from 1 deluxe room and 1 night’s stay at The Heldrich, a $50 credit for Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar and 2 Tickets to the theatre. (New Brunswick, NJ)

14 The beauty of a vineyard venture is that it’s not too far from home but the scenery will make you feel like you’re in another state altogether. Laurita Winery (New Egypt, NJ)

15 Looking for something different to do on a Saturday night? Want to brush up on your dancing skills, or learn some new steps just like Fred Astaire? Visit the Fred Astaire Dance Studio (Montclair, NJ)

For more Date Night Ideas www.njmomsguide.com/datenights

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Y Get the Kids Singing at Kids’ MusicRound

Photo Credit: Forever Frozen, www.foreverfrozen.com

We recently caught up with Mary Dressendofer, owner of Dancers Pointe Studio who shared with us information on the Kids’ MusicRound classes offered at her Scotch Plains and Springfield locations.These upbeat high energy classes will be sure to engage and delight your little one leaving them humming a happy tune.

WHAT IS KIDS’ MUSICROUND?Kids’ MusicRound is a singing, laughing, giggling, jiggling, clapping, dancing, bouncing, fun-filled, award-winning music and movement experience for infants and children to age seven. This young age is when your child’s innate music potential is actively developing. With the KMR children’s music program, parents can help bring out a child’s natural curiosity about music in a playful, encouraging class environment.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL CLASS INVOLVE?• Sing along to original, traditional and multi-cultural musical

selections that introduce your child to a variety of different tonal and rhythmic meters.

• Learn to keep and follow a beat through drumming, stomping, dancing and musical play.

• Participate in music activities that help develop your child’s motor skills - such as dancing, clapping and bouncing.

• Experience the touch and feel of rhythm instruments specifically designed for tiny hands.

Tell us about your Instructor Miss Amy.Amy grew up in a very musical family and began learning piano at the age of six. Throughout her life, she has coached and accompanied a variety of individuals, choirs, and ensembles, and has had many opportunities leading young children in a variety of musical settings. As a mother of three very active boys, Amy has an exuberant, energetic teaching style. She has always been drawn to the uniqueness of each child and strongly believes in introducing children to good music at a very early age! Make sure to register for Kids’ MusicRound for the upcoming

April 10-June 7th Session. For more information and ratesvisit: www.dancerspointenj.com

908-241-9595 • [email protected]


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NJ Moms Guide is now Quaterly!Advertise in our Summer Issue

The Deadline is May 5th

Email [email protected] to reserve a Space

New Jersey Moms Guide

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From Bump, to Birth & Beyond!The biggest day of your life is fast approaching, you planned, labored for long hours and delivered, and now what? You’ve been waiting for this day for months and you finally get to meet this new little person. But like many new parents, you might not have a clear idea of what you need to purchase or do with your wee one.

Here are some ideas to get you started. BABY PROOFING & SAFETY Royal Baby Safety www.babysafe.com

Safety Mom Solutions www.safetymomsolutions.com

BABY CONCIERGENourish Baby Plannerswww.nourishbabyplanners.comAiding first time parents and expanding families in getting ready for baby through organization, gear consultation and wellness advice.

CLOTHINGBaby Crossing (Morristown, NJ) www.babycrossing.comTraditional, classical apparel with a flair for fun & new from American and European designers.

Little One & Co. (Maplewood, NJ)www.littleoneandco.comBoutique shop offering unique style with urban comfort.

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Milk Money (Cranford, NJ, Maplewood NJ, and Morristown, NJ) www.milkmoneylove.comA children’s consignment store with gently used clothes and high end furniture and toys.

Suki’s Children Boutique (Millburn, NJ)www.sukiskids.comA one of a kind children’s store carrying the top names in clothing and gear, handmade gifts and exclusive toys for your Jersey tot.

MOMMY & MEBaby Bootcamp (Morristown, NJ) www.babybootcamp.comAn innovative fitness program helping moms regain or enhance pre-pregnancy fitness levels. Bring your baby and get fit!

My First Playdate (Westfield, NJ)www.myfirstplaydate.comA Mommy & Me program designed to create a balance of social, educational and nurturing experiences sure to make a lasting impression on both mother and baby.

Romparoo (Hoboken, NJ)www.romparoo.comA soft indoor playroom featuring mommy-and-me and drop-off play classes, a preschool alternative program, and 1st-3rd birthday parties!

NEW MOMS GROUPS & SUPPORT La Leche League (Union County/Morris County/Hudson County) www.lalecheleaguenj.orgDedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.

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The Mother’s Center of Central NJ (Westfield, NJ)http://westfieldnj.com/mccnj/

Mothers & More (Maplewood, South Orange)http://www.somamothers.org/

ONLINE SITESChic Diaper Bagswww.chicmamadiapercakes.comUnique gifts for the modern mom who appreciate all things chic.

The Bumpwww.thebump.comOffering the inside scoop on pregnancy and everything you need to know to get in gear for motherhood.

The Honest Companywww.honest.comJessica Alba’s organic all natural company offering honest products for families everywhere.

PHOTOGRAPHERS/ANNOUNCEMENTSDewdrop Photography (Westfield, NJ)www.dewdropphotography.com

Studio 21 Productions (Hoboken, NJ) www.studio21prod.com

Tiny Printswww.tinyprints.com

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