6/23/14: Altitude Trampoline Park Fun

Today we headed over to Altitude Trampoline Park in Billerica to jump for joy that it is the last day of school!  This facility recently opened and it is an awesome place to take the kids to get some energy out over the summer.  Many friends had been waiting for them to open to have their kids Birthday parties.  We have already been to 2 parties here in the short time they have been open.

We walked in for an hour of jumping fun.  An hour costs $15 a child.  You can see all pricing here.  There is also a family jump package which is $50 for 2 adults and 2 children for an hour.  You are given a band to wear that is a color and they call out colors to let you know that the hour is up.  Plus they accept competitors coupons!  So look out for coupons in flyers that you get in the mail.

Lauren was having fun doing her jump splits.  I loved it here as it is a great way for kids to get away from the electronics and get some exercise.  Plus it will be a perfect place to visit when it is rainy outside.

Altitude Billerica measures 30,000 square feet with 15,000 square feet of interconnected wall to wall trampolines and is one of the largest in the state.  Evan thought it was pretty cool. 

Here you can see the purple non-slip socks that Lauren is wearing.  You get these at Altitude and everyone is required to wear them if they are jumping.  They cost $2 but you can reuse them for each visit.  We got them at the birthday party we attended and can just bring them back to use them.

Something I LOVE is that you fill out your waiver once and you are then covered for every visit.  You can also fill out your waiver online before you go here!  This is unlike other facilities (I won't name any names) where you need to fill one out every time.

Only one jumper per trampoline in the park.  Look at how awesome this looks!

It is a great place to practice gymnastics.

The kids were having fun racing.

There are many employees on the tracks to make sure everyone is playing safely.  They adhere to safety rules and do talk to kids if they are not following the rules.

Here you can see someone dunking in the basketball area behind.

Not only is there the huge trampoline area but there is a fun Foam Pit to jump in to.

This is always a lot of fun for the kids.

There are also cool Basketball Dunking Lanes.

Evan especially enjoyed the 3D Dodge ball!  There is an employee in their telling people they are out.

Soon they will also have a rock climbing wall and battle beam but at this time that was still being worked on.

Here you can see the birthday party area and check in desk for parties.  No outside drinks or snacks allowed however they do sell some drinks and vending machine type snacks.

The kids felt like they were flying!

What a great way to burn off some energy.  The kids felt like an hour was plenty and were pretty tired at the end.

Here is a little video of the kids having fun:

Jump in and check them out!

Find them online:

Altitude Website

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/altitudebillerica

Twitter: @Altitude01821

Disclosure:  I received 4 one hour passes and socks in exchange for review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

5/16/14: Red Sox Yoga, Ring Raffle, and Out of the Park Experiences

As a blogger I have to admit I get to do some pretty awesome stuff.  Recently I was invited by the Boston Red Sox (yes you heard me right) to be part of their Inaugural #RedSoxParents club.  Of course I replied as quickly as my fingers could type that I would love to!  I have been working with the Red Sox for a while on their Futures at Fenway event and have been part of Red Sox Nation my whole life.  As our first event we were invited to do Yoga at Fenway Park!!!!  Plus as an added bonus we got to take a picture with the World Championship rings!  I was over the moon excited. 

Did you know that you can go to Yoga at Fenway too?  It is a new event that is being held on June 8th and is called FenwaYoga and this is the second year it has been held.  The Red Sox Foundation partnered with KIND Healthy Snacks to hold this event.

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

“FenwaYoga” will raise funds for two of the foundation’s cornerstone programs, the Red Sox Scholars Program and the RBI Youth Baseball and Softball Programs. Two classes, each accommodating 222 participants along the warning track, will be taught by celebrity yoga instructor Mandy Ingber, a New York Times bestselling author and the creator of Yogalosophy. For over 18 years Mandy has motivated people with her light-hearted approach and unique teaching style. Her public appeal grew as a celebrity yoga instructor when she did a magazine spread in 2006 with client Jennifer Aniston. Other clients include Kate Beckinsale, Ricki Lake, Brooke Shields, and Helen Hunt to name a few.  Seriously who can't reach a Zen moment with this as your backdrop.

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

The two morning classes will take place at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.  There will be prizes awarded for the top three fundraisers. I had a fabulous time.

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

The cost to attend FenwaYoga is $25 to register and attendees must meet a fundraising minimum of $250.  Plus any experience level can attend.  There are modifications presented for all levels.  It is all about doing the best that you can do.  KIND will also provide snacks made from nutritionally-rich ingredients following each session.

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

As one of my readers you can save $10 off your registration fee.

Go to: http://bit.ly/fenwayoga

Enter the promo code REDSOXMOM (case sensitive)

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

Online if you want to tweet about it you can use: #FenwaYoga @RedSoxFund 

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

Me and my fellow #RedSoxParents had an awesome time!  Even some people trying it for the first time loved it.

Photo Courtesy of the Boston Red Sox

What better place to do Yoga than the most beloved baseball park. 

As if that wasn't amazing enough then we got to go on to the field and see the World Championship Rings up close!  Just in time for Father's Day the Boston Red Sox Fund is raffling off a set of genuine World Championship Rings from 2004, 2007 and 2013 just like the ones below.  For $10 you get 5 entry tickets to win amazing prizes including the #RingRaffle.  

Here is the link to more information:  http://bit.ly/RedSoxRingRaffle.  The grand prize is a set comprising the 2004, 2007, and 2013 rings.  The raffle will go on until Friday, June 27, at 11 a.m.  

The second place prizes is a pair of 2013 World Series rings. Third place winners will receive a single 2013 World Series ring.  Plus each ring will be personalized with the winner’s name.  Net proceeds from the raffle will help fund the award-winning programs of the Red Sox Foundation and help hundreds of charities throughout New England. While this is the third time the Red Sox Foundation has conducted a World Series ring raffle, it is the first to be conducted nationally and worldwide. After World Series victories in 2004 and 2007, the foundation raised over $1.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively, for the raffle of the 2004 and 2007 World Series rings to individuals in Massachusetts.

Also the Red Sox, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, plan to bring the Fenway experience to local parks around the city!  These events called Out of the Park will bring the big game and Fenway experience to you plus they are FREE!  All events will feature Wally the Green Monster, Red Sox DJ TJ Connelly, the Hot Tamales Brass Band and a live game announcer. 

The following events will be taking place:

 Sunday, May 25 at 1:40pm at Ramsay Park at Jim Rice Field in Roxbury 

Sunday, June 22 at 4:05pm at Franklin Park in Dorchester

Sunday, July 27 at 1:40pm at Boston Common

 

The Boston Red Sox gave me some parting gifts that are awesome.  I absolutely love my new Red Sox Parents shirt.

Check out all this cool stuff.

I even got my own replica World Championship Ring!

Stay tuned to the #RedSoxParents hash tag as these lovely ladies and more share our experiences and fun activities on behalf of the Boston Red Sox!

Disclosure:  I was provided with Yoga, lunch, and a wonderful photo opportunity thanks to the Boston Red Sox.  I was also provided with parting gifts.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

1/10/13: Latest Progress on Jenny Craig Adding Exercise

You may have read my previous post about going back to Jenny Craig to gain back my old body.  I am so happy I started before Thanksgiving and am happy to report that I am now down 17.5 pounds!  I love this visual about habit because it is so true.  

I am a creature of habit and needed to change my routine and create a new habit.  My motivation was my frustration at looking in the mirror and hiding behind my kids in pictures.  This week I added my workouts back in to my routine.  I really needed to focus on just the food at first but now it was time to add exercise.  Up until about 2 years ago I was teaching Step Aerobics, Strength Training, Cardio Circuit and Abs.  It was a part of my daily routine to go to the gym at work at lunch.  I got out of this habit and I knew I needed it back.  

This week I am happy to report that I worked out 4 days!  Not up to what I used to do, but I will take it.  It is a start and I didn't injure myself.  I tend to go all out when I go back to it thinking I can do what I did before, but this time I realize I need to scale it back and try to do what I can do in my current body and fitness level.  I think this is a great realization for me.  In the past I have tried to do what I used to be able to do and I end up injuring myself and getting frustrated.  

I know I can do it!  I just need to keep going and take it one day at a time.

I am still evolving and have a ways to go, but I know I can get back to the Gilda I used to be.

Check out what programs they have on their website. Don't wait another day!

Like them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jennycraig

Follow them on Twitter:  @jennycraig

Follow them on Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/jennycraiginc/

Disclosure:  I was given a 50% discount on my food for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

*Note:  Members following the Jenny Craig program, on average, lose 1-2 lbs per week

8/26/13: Hoopersize Fun Get Fit, Have Fun, Hoop It Up

My daughter loves to Hula Hoop.  For some reason from the time she picked one up for the first time it was natural for her and easy to do.  She even won a Hula Hoop Contest at the School Family Picnic. When I saw Hoopersize from KidTribe which combines Hip Hop and Hula Hooping together I knew she would be a fan.  As you can see here with the smile on her face she loved it! Their tag line says it all:  "Get Fit, Have Fun, Hoop It Up". 

This is how it looks as packaged.  The Hoop needs to be put together but is super easy to do.

Lauren was able to put it together herself.  The Hoop is super sturdy and has a larger diameter making it easier to Hoop longer and do tricks.

 Once she had it put together it was right down to business.  Lauren has perfected hula hooping so she was excited to learn some cool new tricks.  But don't worry, if you don't know the basics the DVDs will go through that first before moving on to tricks.

 The two DVDs it comes with include many tricks and cool music for kids to practice to.  Plus it comes with a CD of music to practice to.

 Fitness guru Kellee McQuinn or "Miss Kellee" has taken the beloved hula hoop and added hip-hop hoop tricks.  Her company, KidTribe, prides itself on delivering “edgycation” to today's youth in a time when digital toys and stranger danger keeps kids off the front lawns or running around the neighborhood. 

Did you know that hooping burns approximately 210 calories per 30-minute session?  KidTribe’s program is a full body workout the tones and strengthens every major muscle group as it builds cardiovascular health, hand-eye coordination, focusing ability, and creative self-expression. But kids just think it’s fun!  I know Lauren did! 

Here is some video of Lauren in action with the DVD:
  KidTribe is so popular for its infectious routines that it has been a staple at the White House Easter Egg Roll in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013! Almost double the number relished the 2011 Nickelodeon Worldwide Day of Play festival in DC and an amazing 65,000 families are expected at the much-anticipated Nickelodeon 2013 Worldwide Day of Play in NYC. Over 3.5 million kids and teachers have participated in KidTribe’s award winning school assembly program, called the Hoopapalooza Fitness Concert. 

Lauren was having so much fun and can't wait to make up a routine of all her new moves.  Here she is jumping up while Hooping.

 Here is Lauren showing off her criss-cross trick.

 Now taking it down to the ground.

 She made it.

Hoopersize is being sold first online at http://www.kidtribe.com and soon at specialty stores nationwide for $39.95.  For more fun in every household, additional hoops can be purchased without videos or CDs for $24.95 plus shipping and handling.

 "Get Fit, Have Fun, Hoop It Up"

Like KidTribe on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kidtribe

Follow them on Twitter:  @kidtribe

Disclosure:  I was provided Hoopersize for review purposes.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.