Mama Mimi @ Mom Central

Your Shape Fitness: no slacking allowed!

These days, I’m finding the latest video game trend features in-home workouts. Usually led by a celebrity trainer and boasting more exercises than you have days to actually workout, they come designed to get the gamer off the couch and moving.

However, these type of fitness games may not give tips on proper form, customize for male or female gamer, or know when you’re slacking. With Ubisoft’s new Your Shape Fitness for Kinect on the Xbox 360, it utilizes an advanced form of technology that reads over 50,000 points on your body.

Working out with Your Shape Fitness

I recently tried this new game at Club H Fitness in New York City. The Kinect technology comes into play by projecting your body into the game, reading when you do a motion incorrectly and guiding you to the correct form.

It also personalizes your workouts according to your fitness level and adjusting as you progress. The game can also tell when you’ve stopped working out or have moved away from the game all together. Even though it’s motion sensitive, it does ignore certain motions outside of your range such as the dog running by or your child standing nearby.

Your Shape Fitness yoga workout

The workouts I tried and liked best were the classes such as yoga, kickboxing, and hula hooping. The yoga class helped me improve my form, as I sometimes forget to work on this during an actual class unless the instructor comes around to fix positions.

Your Shape Fitness hula hooping

Hula hooping got my inner seven-year-old laughing and gave my not-so-seven-year-old figure quite the workout. The faster and better you can move your hips, the more hula hoops get added on to manage in the game. I was so impressed the Kinect could tell the right motion of my body that it would take for a hula hoop to swing! 

Your Shape provides a great workout for mom and kids alike, with the technology that lets you feel truly in touch with your body.

Allison Parker is an Account Manager at Mom Central.

Kicking up my heels in Ariat boots!

I have this beautiful memory of my grandfather - a.k.a. “Papa” - as a cowboy boot-wearing son-of-a-gun. He was a top executive at a Fortune 500 company and he wore Western-cut suits, cowboy boots and talked on a CB-radio. His handle was “Cotton-pickin' Chicken Plucker.” Papa was a wonderful character and set the tone for me of what a “real man” is. 

Whenever I visited Papa, it was my “job” to help him pull off his cowboy boots at the end of a long day. I don’t know if he actually needed help, but I jumped at the chance and enjoyed the tug-of-war during each boot-removal ceremony. I usually ended up flat on my bottom holding the heel of one of his fancy boots with two hands and laughing my head off. 

Maybe it was Papa’s influence or my Texas heritage, but for me, wearing cowboy boots means you are also wearing your personality. You just can’t wear ‘em without feeling a little swagger in your walk. 

Ariat cowboy boots

When the kind folks at Ariat asked me to check out their cowboy boots I was happy to oblige. Talk about boot-inducing personality! I had a helluva time choosing a pair and ended up with the Heritage Western X Toe in vintage black with turquoise stitching. They are GORGEOUS! I really think the “X” toe is key in making these boots look stylish and versatile for jeans/pants or dresses. I tried a wide toe and I didn't love them as much. Plus, I don’t think they work as well with skirts – and with the beautiful stitching, you will want to show off the detailed work underneath a simple dress or skirt. Just perfect for this urban cowgirl.

I also tried on the Ariat Crossfire Caliente – which are hot, hot, hot! But I wasn’t keen on the wide square toe. But if you like a little color in your life, then these might be your ticket to the rodeo. 

Comfortable style

Ariat was founded on creating advanced performance footwear and apparel for top equestrian athletes.  They use this same technology in their more fashion-forward items as well. The Heritage Western boots are really comfortable. It only took about a week to work them in – just a little rubbing on the backs of my ankles – but any full-grain leather boots will need some time to mold to your feet. The soles of my feet never felt better in boots. The padding is generous, even with a 2.5” heel, I didn’t have any discomfort on the bottom of my feet. 

Recently, Ariat unveiled an improved Ariat.com that features an enhanced shopping experience with powerful navigation, product comparisons, multi-angled product photography and a community section with social media, news, events and athlete blogs. Yee haw!

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Disclaimer: Michelle received a pair of Ariat Heritage Western X Toe boots in vintage black to facilitate this review. 

HealthyWomen: cycle of obesity can stop with mom's influence

Growing up in Texas where we ate on platters instead of plates, obesity was prevalent all around. In fact, BOTH my parents had gastric bypass surgery within the last five years – they are thinner now, but it wasn’t without risk and pain. 

I was lucky and learned early about how healthy eating and exercise could keep my weight manageable, but it pains me to see children affected by their parent’s unhealthy habits. 

HealthyWomen’s study on obesity

HealthyWomen, the nation's leading nonprofit health information source for women, recently published a survey that sheds light on how obesity now can affect future generations. The study was conducted to assess women’s understanding of the impact of obesity— particularly in terms of influence between women and their children, other family members and friends.

Although the majority of women surveyed seem to understand there is parental influence on obesity, they do not recognize their role in the “cycle of obesity.”

Key findings of the obesity study

• The majority of women believe a parent’s obesity has an influence on a child’s risk of becoming obese (87%), yet only one-quarter (28%) of women surveyed assign the responsibility to themselves.
• Most women don’t seem to recognize how early a mother’s obesity can impact her child’s risk of becoming obese. Only one in ten (11%) women surveyed recognizes that a mother’s obesity in her first trimester of pregnancy more than doubles her child’s risk of becoming obese.
• More than half of women surveyed were either unsure of the impact of a mother’s obesity in her first trimester (46%) or believed there was no impact (11%) on her child’s risk for obesity.
• Women surveyed understand the role that familial obesity has on their risk for becoming obese, but they underestimate the influence of friends and others. In fact, studies show that a person has a much greater chance (57%) of becoming obese if he or she had a friend who became obese than if he/she had a sibling (40%) or spouse (37%) who became obese.

Making smart decisions about obesity

Best-selling author and chief medical correspondent for Discovery Health TV Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, says the survey findings bring new light to prior conceptions and emphasize the importance of personal responsibility.

“Battling obesity is a matter of making smart decisions,” she says. “In understanding the significance that our relationships can have on our lifestyle choices, we see an opportunity for women to play supportive roles in weight loss and best living practices.”

Take heart moms, this is a problem with proven solutions and many resources. HealthyWomen has created an online resource center with tips and tools specific to the WomenTALK survey including BMI and target heart rate calculators, family-friendly recipes and exercise videos at HealthyWomen.org/womenTALK.

In addition to educational content, the site features advice from Dr. Peeke and motivational articles including a personal perspective from boxer Muhammad Ali’s daughter and obesity advocate Khaliah Ali.

Just think, if all moms unite around obesity, our power to change generations to come is unstoppable. 

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Disclosure: Michelle received information from HealthyWomen.org to facilitate this post.  Mom Central Consulting and HealthyWomen are strategic partners bringing quality health information to women and moms.

March of Dimes: pregnant women need the flu shot

I’m a big believer in prevention. The flu can strike without warning and can take you down for weeks on end – rattling schedules, work commitments and time with your kids – or worse, it can mess up a vacation or other special events. No thank you. 

Last year, the flu was truly nerve wrecking!  We had to call all around town to find the vaccines, then we waited in long lines – then we had to do it all over again and get a second round of shots. This year only one shot is needed because the seasonal vaccine was designed to protect against three different flu viruses:  an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 virus.

Protect you and your baby

Our friends at The March of Dimes reminded me recently that pregnant women should be at the front of the line to make sure they get immunized to protect themselves and their babies. I didn’t know this, but the normal changes from pregnancy put pregnant women at increased risk of the harmful effects of flu infection.

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes says, “Based on expert medical opinion, we urge all pregnant women, and women who expect to become pregnant, to get their influenza immunization because the flu poses a serious risk of illness and death during pregnancy.”

Since my second child is due in January (the height of flu season), getting vaccinated was a no-brainer.  As an added bonus, my little one will be protected at birth.

Here’s a parting thought: Although pregnant women make up only one percent of the US population, they accounted for five percent of the H1N1 deaths in 2009, according to research published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

So, if you haven’t done so already, I urge you to get the flu vaccine to protect yourself AND your baby. 

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Disclosure: Michelle received information from the March of Dimes to facilitate this post.

A morning workout with LUNA Bars

Early morning training sessions at the gym, 9 am conference calls, pre-dawn flights? Nothing makes me dread getting out of bed more than knowing I have to be alert not long after I’ve gotten dressed and way before I’ve gone through my comforting morning wake-up routine.

However, when I received an invite to join LUNA bars and their own Nicole Pemerl for a yoga session, I relished the thought of having some time in the morning to relax, be with my thoughts, and get in some stretching and movement.

On the go with LUNA bars 

Alone in the OM Factory studios in New York’s midtown-west, our small group of bloggers were shown the newest flavors and bars from LUNA. High in protein and fiber, I love these bars for helping to make me feel and keep me feeling full. As a big runner, I’m a fan of  on-the-go nutrition to carry with me between and on my long runs that have a light texture but contain nourishing ingredients.

Going with the yoga flow

After the product preview, we began an intimate yoga session with Nicole, who led us through a gentle but thoughtful yoga flow. My body felt energized from the session even without a fast pace or heated room.

In addition, to the physical feeling, my mind feels awakened from the practice. The instructions to “bring your thoughts to the room” and “concentrate on your breath,” helps soothe my train of thought and strikes me as general words of wisdom for the day. As we finished our session, I was grateful to have the opportunity not only to head into work late, but also to brighten the gray morning with the positive-minded girls from LUNA. 

Allison Parker is an Account Manager at Mom Central.

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Disclosure: Allison received a free yoga class, LUNA bar samples, and LUNA-branded yoga gear.

Clear some floor space: Playstation Move video games get you off the couch

I’m more of a group gamer. So I’m loving all the options for non-gamers like me that encourage group activities that are off the couch. This is why I recently attended an event at Playstation’s New York City headquarters to experience their new line of games for the Playstation Move system.

Taking a look at the newest family-friendly games, they all coordinate with the console to determine and encourage movement. SingStar Dance not only tests your karaoke skills, but also plays the music video and provides dance moves to get you singing and dancing at the same time. It’s no wonder how well young rock stars stay in shape!

Another game, Get Fit with Mel B, features “Scary” Spice Girl as your personal in-home trainer. Without the cost or atmosphere of a gym, she energizes you with different workouts to tone and work your muscles, and recipe ideas to keep you on a healthy eating track. By holding the controller, the console can scan your body movements and then awards you points and tracks your progress based on how well you do the exercises.

A kid-friendly game used the controller to move obstacles in a cave out of the way of “Sackboy,” an adorable but lost sock puppet, from LittleBigPlanet 2. Playing with two people gets kids to work together to move through the levels, one paving the way for Sackboy and one making him leap, turn, and run through the cave.

Although I’m not an avid gamer, these all made me giggle, get to know the people I played with, and definitely got me up and moving. For the hot new system out there, Playstation definitely takes family-friendliness to heart.

Allison Parker is an Account Manager at Mom Central.

Parenting by accident in Life As We Know It

Turning a tragic situation into a comedic one is a tried and true formula in entertainment. Throw in a cute baby with beautiful actors and you have a surprisingly fun romantic comedy.

Recent release from Warner Bros., Life As We Know It, presents the aftermath of a tragedy that results in newfound parental struggles and a burgeoning family. We find un-expecting guardians Holly and Eric (Messer), played by Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, as godparents and arch rivals.

After the unexpected death of their respective best friends in a tragic car accident, Holly and Messer assume guardianship of the surviving daughter, Sophie. Completely unprepared for the death of their best friends, let alone raising a child, the unattached couple becomes drawn together by their mutual love for a child.

When raising a child, the change in the way parents think about themselves, whether a job, free time, marriage, or relationship, may be the hardest shift that comes with starting a family. Throughout the movie, we see Holly and Eric adjusting to these struggles whether it’s creating and arguing over an enormous calendar in the kitchen that maps out childcare, work, and personal schedules, or Holly trying to get one-year-old Sophie to eat her gourmet culinary masterpieces.

Coming to terms with their new lives and responsibilities becomes the hardest transition to make, while caring for Sophie and trusting their instincts as parents more easily falls into place.

Overall, this cute romantic comedy felt more lighthearted than expected and provided an introspective look at parenting and family in an unexpected way.

Allison Parker is a Senior Project Manager for Mom Central in NYC.

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Disclosure: Warner Bros. is a client of Mom Central. Allison received free tickets to a screening of Life As We Know It.

Loews Regency Hotel invites families to Build a Better Lunchbox

I love stories about brands doing good things.  I've written about this on the DeBroff DeBrief and I plan to write more about it here.

In NYC this weekend I'm going to attend the Loews Regency Hotel “Build a Better Lunchbox” event. In addition to bringing families together around packing their daily lunch in a healthier way, it's a fundraising event to support community schools through DonorsChoose.org, an online, not-for-profit that supports local school projects for individual sponsorship.

Join me at the Build a Better Lunchbox event in New York City!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary its Good Neighbor Policy, Loews Hotels across the US are hosting “Build a Better Lunchbox” events to promote healthy eating habits and raise funds to support projects in local schools. Proceeds will go to DonorsChoose.orgto support schools in the New York City area. I hope you'll join me!

When: Sunday, October 24, 2010
11:30am-1:00pm

Where: Loews Regency Hotel
540 Park Avenue (at 61st Street)
New York, NY 10065

Price: $25 for advance RSVPs, $30 at the door (ticket price is for one child, accompanying adults are free)

To RSVP to “Build a Better Lunchbox” at Loews Regency Hotel, call 212-339-4013 or email amandavargas@loewshotels.com

Other Build A Better Lunchbox events around the country

• Loews Regency Hotel (New York, NY) – October 24, 2010
• Loews Miami Beach Hotel (Miami Beach, FL) – October 30, 2010
• Loews Lake Las Vegas (Henderson, NV) – November 6, 2010
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel (Orlando, FL) – November 7, 2010
• Loews New Orleans Hotel (New Orleans, LA) – November 12, 2010
• Loews Atlanta (Atlanta, GA) – November 13, 2010
• Loews Coronado Bay (Coronado, CA) – November 13, 2010
• Loews Philadelphia Hotel (Philadelphia, PA) – November 13, 2010
• Loews Ventana Canyon (Tucson, Arizona) – November 13, 2010
• The Don Cesar, a Loews Hotel (St. Pete Beach, FL) – November 14, 2010
• Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (Santa Monica, CA) – November 21, 2010
• Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (Nashville, TN) – November 28, 2010
• Loews Annapolis Hotel (Annapolis, MD) – December 11, 2010

New Toshiba Kids PC: Extra security and sticky finger friendly

I need advice about the whole computer thing and kids. I'm truly torn between the idea that I want my kids to be computer-free for as long as possible and giving them access to something that can help them learn. I have at least a couple of years to continue obsessing about this, but my son has been introduced to the joys of YouTube where I do searches for Elmo and songs I loved as a child. I also want him to know the joys of The Beatles and Elvis. 

I do anticipate a power struggle though and can see it all in the making. I'm already worried about what kids may encounter on the internet or how curious button pushers may delete important family files, plus my neat freak side is concerned about keeping the keyboard free from sticky hands.

Toshiba Satellite L635, a computer designed with kids in mind

When I attended a recent event for Toshiba, I was introduced to the idea of getting kids their own computer. As part of the You Spoke, We Listened program created by Toshiba and Best Buy, the Satellite L635 Kids’ PC, a laptop computer designed exclusively for children, has recently been released for sale only at Best Buy.

Unlike other products currently on the market for kids, this full-sized laptop, geared toward the five to 10 age range, functions like any other “adult” laptop and comes equipped with kid-centric software such as KidZui, an Internet browser made for children. It also comes with Net Nanny, which allows you to decide how you want your child to use the laptop. For parents who can’t seem to master going back and forth between kid-safety mode and a parental account, this separate computer makes it easy for parents and kids to work side-by-side.

In addition, the computer comes pre-installed with two Disney movies and a LEGO Batman game, perfect for any rainy day or just to keep your child busy while you prepare dinner. Kids’ PC also features a wipeable keyboard (its sealed between the keys), which allows for easy clean-ups, and a finish that helps resist fingerprints.

This new PC for kids seems to allow parents the peace of mind to let their kids play and explore on the computer without the fear of Web dangers. Kids can play and use the computer as they like, freeing up the parental computer and maybe even allowing us to do work while they are occupied.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

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Disclosure: Michelle attended a New York City event for Toshiba.

Counting games with Count Me Healthy Jewelry

I count all the time. I count stairs, steps, bites. It's like a tick in my head to just count what I'm doing.  My son started counting a couple of weeks ago and just seemed to do it on his own. I was amazed, but not surprised because I'm sure I've drilled numbers 1-10 into his little 19-month-old brain!

But counting what we are doing does have a purpose. It can help us keep track of our health and good intentions. And if I lived on the planet where I think of everything first, I would have SO come up with Count Me Healthy Jewelry. But Chelsea Gosett beat me to it and she is much more clever! This jewelry is more than beautiful, it's jewelry with a mission.

Healthy jewelry

Chelsea is committed to preventing women's diseases and aims to create a “health jewelry” category. The premise behind Count Me Healthy jewelry is that you assign a value to each bead and slide one of the 12 beads from one side of the bracelet to the other.  It is a constant reminder on your wrist to eat another serving of fruit and vegetables, keep track of sugary drinks or to drink more water. It's like a little secret health journal in your line of sight that only you know how to crack the code.

I tried counting glasses of water with my bracelet. I fell short, so I'm now counting gulps of water. I feel much more accomplished at the end of the day now.

Counting for health

Chelsea has all kinds of encouragement and ideas for counting using the little beads.  Here are some of my favorites: vitamins, hours between meals, kind words, happy thoughts, miles walked, workouts per week, snacks, Weight Watchers POINTS, and baby kicks. 

She also has a “Golf Goddess” one that counts strokes per hole or par per round. So it isn't far fetched that you can use these eye-catching beauties to count arguments won with your husband or non-verbal I told you so's. Just brainstorming here.

Check out Chelsea's cleverness through her blog, Counting with Chelsea.

Count Me Healthy bracelets are a unique gift and the packaging is beautiful - no wrapping required. I'll be sending the Counting for a Cause one to a couple of women I adore this month to help support Breast Cancer research. 

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Disclosure: I received a Count Me Healthy bracelet to facilitate my post.