Reviews – Page 8 – Rockland NY Mom

Camp Spotlight- Discover

Posted on April 26, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Camps, Reviews .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

JUNE 25-AUG 17, 2018 (No camp July 4)
8 WEEKLY SESSIONS
9AM-4PM (early and late care available for additional fee)

As a specialty program, we introduce campers to a new theme each week and offer a variety of traditional camp activities including instructional and recreational swim, sports, ropes course, arts & crafts, music, science & nature PLUS theme focused periods with professional specialists.

This brings new and exciting programming each week and allows campers to explore and discover something new each day.

A-Mazing Summer Camp Funday This Saturday Where Kids Can…

Posted on April 24, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Camps, Reviews .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

A-Mazing Summer Camp Funday This Saturday Where Kids Can

. . . Film a Special Effects Video… Build & Program Robots… Create & Code Video Games… Invent an Electronic Spy Gadget… and more, just as kids ages 6-14 will be doing at our 2018 Summer Camps @ a campus near you!

Meanwhile, you can relax, have a coffee, meet our director & camp staff… and did we say relax?

Join us this Saturday, April 28 from 10 am-2pm @ our Summer Camp FunDay. We’ll be at our Campus @ SJR, 40 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ. No RSVP is required.

You’ll find directions at: www.littleivyacademy.com/openhouse.html

Discover More about our summer camp programs– including how you can extend your child’s camp day, too– www.littleivyacademy.com/summercamp.html.

Camp Spotlight- Campus Kids- The Ideal First Sleep-Away Camp At Any Age

Posted on April 20, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Camps, Reviews .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored Post.

CAMPUS KIDS WEEKDAY SLEEP-AWAY CAMP
Blairstown, NJ 973-845-9260 * www.campuskids.com

The ideal first sleep-away camp at any age, Campus Kids brings our campers to camp on Monday morning for a fun-filled week of camp and brings them home Friday evening for weekend family time. Campers stay from 2 weeks up to the full season.

Each camper chooses his/her own activities every day! Activities include swimming, tennis, squash, golf, archery, fencing, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, ultimate, lacrosse, field hockey, skateboarding, kickball, fishing, dance, drama, drums, guitar, yoga, fitness center, ceramics, painting, drawing, crafts, photography, tie-dye, rocketry, camp newspaper, evening programs, special events and lots more.

All-inclusive camp tuition (no tipping) includes transportation from New Jersey, Rockland, Westchester and Manhattan. Counselors (all college-age and older) create a caring, safe camp community and focus their attention and energy on their campers.

Our camp philosophy emphasizes cooperation, kindness, fun, learning and safety. Camp friends become the best friends! ACA-Accredited and state licensed since our first summer in 1991.

Our camp is located on the amazing rural campus of Blair Academy, offering the finest facilities, including comfortable dorms.

We would love to give your family a private tour (by appointment) on a Saturday or Sunday.

When do Toddlers Transition to One Nap?

Posted on April 19, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Fitness, Reviews, Rockland Babies, Services, Uncategorized .

Content provided by Sarah Cummings

When do Toddlers Transition to One Nap?

The terrible twos. No matter how angelic your little one is as a baby, you’ll still have to fact that chaotic year sooner or later. And quite often, it’s more than a year; stretching into the “terrible threes” and beyond!

Of course, our kids give us an incredible amount of joy, and love, and sheer entertainment too. But this stage of their little lives can be testing for the entire family…especially as their sleeping patterns change.

Maybe they’ve been a very sleepy tot so far and have taken 3 naps a day, at 45 minutes a go. Or maybe they prefer two naps for longer, for an hour or more at a time. In any case, your carefully crafted sleep schedule is about to change.

When does the transition normally occur?

As with so many parenting tips, there isn’t one catch-all answer. Popular belief used to hold that babies could transition to one nap at 12 months; however the average age is actually between 15–18 months. And this transition can be a pretty difficult time. Since one nap may not be enough for your little one to keep your eyes open during the day, or make them cranky and over-tired, you may choose to stick to two. Which might make it impossible to get them settled at night.

Every child is different. So you’ll need to check when a good time is right for your toddler, not just the recommended age.

How to make it easier

Start by reading the signs

You can spot them pretty easily… for instance if your child won’t go down for a nap without kicking up a big fight, every time! Or if they’re taking longer to doze off, or if they don’t nap for very long… it might be time to cut one nap from their day. Monitor their behaviour for around 2 weeks and if their napping schedule continues to be disrupted in some way, it’s probably time to make the move.

Next, do a test run

Keep your toddler up and active when they’re normally napping, say in the afternoon, and see how it goes. If they make it to bedtime without a meltdown, maybe that should be their routine going forward. If not, well, maybe they’re not quite ready yet. You could try another test run in a few days but this time push their morning nap to 15 minutes later and stretch it out as long as you can. If they do wake up after an hour, try soothing them back to sleep or use a white noise machine to lure them back to slumberland.

Repeat this process the next day, and the next, moving that nap back 15 minutes at a time.

The change probably won’t occur overnight – in fact, this phase of limbo can last from a few weeks to two months – but be patient. Ultimately your toddler should be napping right after lunch, for 2 to 2½ hours, and that’s it for the day.

Remember to respect their needs

The move from two naps to one can be pretty unsettling for a toddler; so it’s up to you to make the switch as comfortable as possible. Try to understand that they will naturally feel more overwhelmed and overstimulated without having a chance to rest between all the excitement of their day.

So in the morning, introduce a little “quiet time”, during which you read to your child or play soft music. If they’re bouncing around the room playing imaginary heroes games, they’re likely to be exhausted and in need of a nap; depriving them of one will only make them cranky!

So keep mornings quite calm and, when it comes to naptime after lunch, it’ll be easy to get them settled. Then they can have their active play when they wake up!

Enjoy your new-found freedom

While it might be a challenging time at first, once you’ve made the move to one nap you won’t look back. You’ll have more freedom to work, exercise, meet friends, run errands or do whatever you like knowing that your child has a fixed nap time every day. And if they’re in a daycare centre in which afternoon naps are part of the program, well, scheduling naps might not even be part of your agenda!

Instead you can spend your little one’s waking hours doing the fun stuff – playing and bonding and enjoying some quality time together.

Hopefully this piece has shed a little light on moving from two naps down to one. If you need any more sleep tips for your toddler, or even for yourself, head on over to The Sleep Advisor now. Start paying more attention to the importance of a good night’s kip, learn how to improve your sleep every night and embrace a more rested, healthier lifestyle for you and your family.

WBT Presents Sister Act!!!

Posted on April 11, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Day Trips, Out and about..., Reviews, Things to Do!, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Westchester Broadway Theatre

Presents

SISTER ACT

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Glenn Slater

Book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner
Additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Drake
Musical Direction by Bob Bray

April 5 – July 1, 2018

SISTER ACT, based on the Touchstone Motion Picture, tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva, whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of the Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music.

Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Disney’s Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, Soul, and Disco, SISTER ACT is the funniest and funkiest musical around.

The Cast features: Zuri Washington (as Deloris Van Cartier), Mary Jo McConnell (Mother Superior), Lani Corson (Sister Mary Robert) Ken Jennings (Monsignor O’Hara), Philip Michael Baskerville (Curtis Shank), Danny Wilford (Eddie Souther), Corben Williams (TJ), Jayson Elliott (Joey), Mike D’Amico (Pablo), Sandy Rosenberg (Sister Mary Lazarus), Katelyn Lauria (Sister Mary Patrick).

The multi-talented Ensemble: Melanie Burg, Joanna Caruso, Sincee Daniels, Hannah Eakin, Hector Flores Jr., Keyonna Knight, Jose Plaza, T. Shyvonne Stewart, Jessi St. George, Stephanie Sable, Karen Webb.

Directed & Choreographed by Donna Drake. The Musical Director is Bob Bray; Associate Choreographer is Rhonda Miller. Set Design by Steve Loftus, Lighting Design by Andrew Gmoser, Sound Design by Mark Zuckerman. The Costume Coordinator is Heather Carey, Wig/Hair Design by Gerard Kelly, the Production Stage Manager is Victor Lukas, the Assistant Stage Manager is Duane McDevitt and Properties are by Grumpy’s Props. Lisa Tiso is the Associate Producer.

Donna Drake (Director/Choreographer: Broadway: Original production of A Chorus Line, Sophisticated Ladies, Woman of the Year, The Wind in the Willows, 5678-Dance, It’s so nice to be Civilized and the original production of The 1940s Radio Hour. She directed 4 Broadway Concerts of Nothing Like A Dame for BC/EFA and Addy & Uno, currently running off Broadway at Theatre Row. Awards include an Emmy nomination, 4 Drama Desk Nominations, A Mac Award Nomination, A Theatre World Award and an Off Broadway Alliance Nomination. She choreographed Catherine Zeta Jones for the American Film Institute Awards, 2009 and The AFI 2011 honoring Morgan Freeman and starring Betty White. She directed the children’s show; John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean off Broadway & National & International tours. TV: Julie’s Greenroom, starring Julie Andrews, Monica’s Mixing Bowl, Disney’s Johnny & the Sprites, and ABC TV’s Dear Alex & Annie. She is currently teaching acting at Pace University.

Zuri Washington (Deloris Van Cartier) is a Bronx native making her WBT debut in one of her favorite roles! She starred in the National Tours of Bring It On: The Musical as Danielle and Memphis as Felicia Farrell. Other credits include: Dreamgirls (Deena) and Bat Out of Hell which is now enjoying a run in the UK.

Reservations: Call (914) 592-2222. Also at: www.BroadwayTheatre.com
Group Reservations: Discounts for Groups of 20 or More: Call (914) 592-2225.
Luxury Boxes: Call (914) 592-8730. For private parties of 6 to 22. Enjoy dining and theatre in an elegant private box. Additional features include an expanded dinner menu, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, private powder room, and Luxury Box reserved parking.

Show Times:
Wednesday & Thursday & some Friday Matinees: Lunch: 11:30 am & Show 1 pm.

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Evenings: Dinner: 6:30 pm & Show: 8 pm.

Sunday Matinees: Lunch: 12 pm & Show: 1:30 pm

Sunday Evenings: Dinner: 5:30 pm & Show: 7 pm.

Ticket Prices: Dinner & Show range between $59.00 to $89.00 PLUS TAX depending on the performance chosen. Beverage Service & Gratuities are not included in the ticket price. Discounts are available for children, students, and senior citizens at selected performances. Also check the website for on-going Special Offers!

WBT Mainstage:

Sister Act – April 5 – July 1, 2018

Anything Goes – July 5- September 9, 2018

Phantom – September 13th – November 25th 2018

A Christmas Carol – November 29 – December 23rd, 2018

Phantom – Returns December 27th – January 27th 2019

Camp Spotlight- Rockland Band Camp

Posted on March 16, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Camps, Reviews, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Rocklandrockbandcamp.com

rockbandcamp@optoimum.net

845-709-5930

Now in its 8th year.

The camp program director and Berklee College of Music graduate Brian Murphy and assistant director Terry Foley will lead the campers through each week-long session full of music, creativity, and collaboration, while sharpening musical skills and creating a truly memorable and impactful experience. Making new friends and having fun included!

Musical development is encouraged throughout every aspect of the program. Individual and group instruction is provided while campers are in-studio, and critical musical concepts are presented during rehearsals and in a classroom setting. Playing with other musicians in a band setting is an invaluable tool for musical growth, and a lot of fun.

ROckland Band Camp

Camp overview:

Campers will arrive at 10am each day for Rockland Rock Band Camp at Anjel Blue Studios in Nyack. Each full day of the camp program includes a 15 minute break in the late morning and a hour-long lunch break at 1pm. The day ends at 4 pm.

Selecting songs for the band and live show: The program begins with campers working together with their band members and with the Band Director instructor, to listen to, provide input, and review arrangements of their favorite songs for consideration for the live show at the end of the week. Songs are selected for rehearsal and live performance and bands can start working with these songs minutes later.

Morning sessions: Each day campers will continue to learn and practice the selected songs, with full in-studio rehearsal. Concepts that help students learn the songs and improve their expertise are introduced, and proficiency is developed throughout the week in areas such as learning by ear, understanding and playing from chord charts, and working with song lyrics and tabs (for guitar and bass players). Throughout the week, initially selected songs will be rehearsed and additional songs may be added.Afternoon classroom sessions: Each afternoon at 2pm, campers will participate in engaging classroom learning in the main studio room. Many topics could include rock and pop music history, music appreciation and exposure to different styles and genres, techniques for recording live music on the computer, analysis of the music of specific bands, their styles and albums, and discussion of the many types of backline gear and musical equipment used by bands in studio, and for recording and performance. One afternoon is set aside for “Musical Jeopardy,” which is a big hit with all the kids.Jam sessions: Our band members love our daily jam sessions! After classroom learning, kids play for about 45 minutes, take on challenges with their new skills, improvise, and make some great music.

Getting ready for live performance: As campers work towards the Saturday live performance, significant milestones are achieved. On Wednesday, the live performance set list starts to form, and performance skills, stage presence, playing to a live audience, and other performance aspects of the set are explored. By Thursday, campers create their original band name! Friday is spent rehearsing and reviewing the set list and then performing in the main studio room with the other camp bands.

The Performance: The week culminates with each camp band performing on Saturday afternoon at a renowned music venue, the Turning Point, in Piermont. Our live performance program provides an exciting opportunity and an invaluable experience –and the kids absolutely love it. The legendary Turning Point hosts nationally and internationally known artists, the best of the best of the club circuit – or as Westchester Magazine says, “Everyone who’s anyone.” Our campers get play the same room, from the same stage, for their very first gig! No other camp offers this great opportunity. This acclaimed entertainment venue boasts a long list of bands and musicians who play there – and Rockland Rock Band Camp band members can add their names to the list.

Students will improve musicianship and knowledge through:

Learning to practice and rehearse individually and as a group
Developing stage presence and live performance skills
Working cooperatively through band member interaction and playing with others
Listening in a band setting
Playing by ear
Understanding musical styles
Learning song formats
Learning to read and play from chord charts, song lyrics and tabs
Being introduced to reading music notation
Properly using studio equipment

Testimonials

What kids are saying about Rockland Rock Band Camp:
“So much fun. This is my third time doing this and every time has been great!” – Matt B, age 13,guitar”You get a real band experience-bonding with other people who enjoy music”- K.L. age 13, vocals/guitar”One of the best camps I have ever signed up for”- Kyle. C, age 13, vocals/guitar

“It was wonderful. I loved every minute of it!”- A. S., age 16, guitar

“I like being challenged to learn the songs for the performance”- Cameron P., age 12, bass

“It was a fun week”- Evan F., age 12, guitar

“This was my second year in Rock Band Camp and I learned a lot both times. It was fun and really helped me improve my music. It’s cool that we learn like a real band does, we work together, we learn the music, we practice and have a concert at the end. Brian is a good teacher and the new studio in Nyack is awesome.”– John Lynch, 12,keyboards

“My favorite part of band camp was being able to be in a real band! I thought it was really cool that I had a chance to have a real gig being so young”. — Johnny Vota, 10, drums

“Brian’s Band camp offers a vast plethora of musical endurance and learning. It was also a lot of fun for me and my fellow band mates to learn songs we wanted to learn. If you want a place to go to that offers a great setting for a awesome musical experience, your search is over.” — Bobby, age 13, bass

“I wanted to thank you for the having me at your camp this summer. It was the best musical experience of my life. It exposed me to a brand new genre of music and I can honestly say that I had lots of fun with it! I was never really into rock until my week at the camp the reason being that I didn’t really hear it while was growing up. I learned a lot in that short period of time, and my parents were more than happy with the results. So for this I thank you! Thanks to your camp this has been one of the best summers of my life. Thank you once again!”–Jocelyn Vallejo,17 singer

What parents are saying about Rockland Rock Band Camp:
“Once again.,…You have done a fantastic job….One that is greatly appreciated…”-Steve, father of Matt,16, keyboards

“Thank you for the great experience Molly had at camp!”-Teresa, mother of Molly,12, guitar

“The Rockland Band Camp fills a niche. The young people that attend the camp get to showcase the skills that they have mastered. They learn how to work as a group to put on a show in a fun and nurturing environment. You can see the excitement on the faces of the performers when they are on stage. Keep up the good work!”–Mary, mother of Michelle, 15, bass, guitar and vocals.

“This is our son Johnny’s 3rd time at Rock Band Camp. He absolutely loves it! Brian and Terry are magicians, we can’t believe how much these bands learn in one week together. The ‘Gig’ at the end is so special and unique for these kids. We look forward to our next experience with these talented teachers at Rock Band Camp!” — Mary Vota, Mom of Johnny, drums, age 10

“Thanks again for your hard work with the Rockband Camp. They were awesome. Our family and Matt’s friends were blown away. They were just amazing!”– Jackie, mother of Matt(guitar) , age 11

“Thanks again for another great season. It was really good and fun.” — Barbara, mom of John,age 12, Keyboards & vocals

“Great job w/ the kids they sounded great. Ryan had the best time please let us know when you are going to do another band group. Ryan would love to do it again.” — Jim, parent of Ryan, age 9, guitar

“Johnny had a ball. Brian thanks so much!!! Can’t tell you how happy he is and how happy we were with the whole program. You guys are awesome!” — Mary, mother of John, age 9, drums

“Brian all I can say is they impressed the hell at out of me. All 3 bands did great. You and Terry really got them rockin!” — Rose, mother of Vincent, age 11, drums

“I want to thank you and Terry again for such an amazing experience this week. I keep watching the video and I can’t believe how much Matt has improved and how great the bands sounded. You guys are great…we’re looking forward to the fall session.” — Jackie, mother of Matthew, age 9, guitar.

“So Impressive! You guys do an amazing job! Can’t wait for the fall. I think I’m a groupie” – Carolyn, mother of Caitlin, age 13, guitar.

Rocklandrockbandcamp.com

rockbandcamp@optoimum.net

845-709-5930

Proved Me Wrong

Posted on March 2, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Photography, Reviews, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have to be completely honest. Up until last year, I had seen Jennifer Tesker Photography’s “Be You” sessions and thought, “yeah they are stunning, but not my style.” I’ve always been a everyone get together and smile type of mom. I love the perfect family photo, with the kids and the dogs, something that reminds me how truly lucky I am, especially on tough days. Well, after I saw Ashley’s photos last year, I thought yeah I like those I’ll give it a try. So this year when they came up we jumped at the opportunity.

The session itself was so nice and low key. I didn’t have to sit there and try to get my kids to smile, if they did cool, if not- that’s cool too. This session is meant to be a reminder of who your kids TRULY are. Their goofy moments, their serious moments, their joyous ones. The faces they make on a daily basis, that you want to remember forever. There is a lot of laughing during these sessions. I got to sit comfortably on the couch and just watch. I knew immediately that Jennifer had gotten some amazing shots as I sat there but was unprepared for the real thing.

Not two days later Jennifer posted a “teaser” on her Facebook page for me (she’s so quick with turnaround). I was hooked. I remembered the exact moment that it was taken, what was going on, the giggles. My heart melted. I wasted no time in making it my profile photo, not just for my personal page, but for my business pages as well.

Waiting for the viewing session was TORTURE. I knew it would be good, so I invited my mother. Well, true to every experience I have ever had with Jennifer, the photos are breathtaking. I mean, I am having a TERRIBLE week, and I sat on her couch and cried (no worries she had tissues next to me). She captured my kids exactly as they are. She captured their signature looks. I watched the video 3 times before I could even proceed with the rest of the viewing. My mother who is a traditionalist as well, was floored. She had no problem laughing and smiling and picking her favorites.

We had to narrow them down to the ones we wanted to order products for and OH MY GOSH this was a task. I mean, EACH AND EVERY photo was spot on. It was a memory of what my kids do EVERY DAY. Its no surprise then that the first time through we picked 24!!! Upon working at it again were able to get it down to 12, that’s when it got even harder.

Yeah I am not going to lie, I ended up with all of them. It had to be done and I am not sorry. There was just no way to narrow it down further. I can’t even decide how I am going to display them, but I am going to. I can’t get over the silly faces they made when she said to do something they think is silly and like to do. I can’t get over the smiles when they were losing their minds over someones “toot” during the session. I can’t get over how suave my little man has become. How beautiful and tough my little lady is.

This “BE YOU” session captures the essence of its subjects. Every single shot.

So I’ve shared a bunch with you because they are just so awesome, but I am making you wait on some others, because I am going to show you the video- Its right here. Its sure to make you laugh and smile, and if you love it as much as I do- Give Jennifer a call, because as soon as people start seeing these photos (mine and the other ones shes done) she is going to book fast. To see more of her work check out her website- https://www.jenniferteskerphotography.com/ To book a session- send her an email- JenniferTeskerPhotography@gmail.com and as always, we appreciate if you let her know you found her here.

Movements for Life

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Sofija Duic Posted in Fitness, Reviews, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are our own.

-By: S. Duic

Movements 4 Life

Have you ever joined a gym and wondered if it’s right for you? Will it challenge me? Will they help me? That’s always a few of the questions that goes through my head when looking at gyms and their fitness programs.

If you know me I love the gym. I enjoy taking spin classes (yes I am one of those crazy girls), I love hot yoga, and work with a trainer one day a week. So when given the opportunity to try a new type of “training program” I was super eager to give it a go. I mean how different could it really be right.

Well let me tell you – it was different in such a good way. I took the Large Group Training class at Movements 4 Life which is located in Suffern (a few minutes past Good Samaritan Hospital) recently and fell in love with the whole experience. Like I said before I love working out and enjoy the push, sweat and the soreness the next day from a great work out. This was right up my ally.

Location/Gym:

The location was a hop skip and a jump from Nanuet, and parking was super easy. There is a train station right next to the gym so if you are a local Suffern resident and do a commute – it is easy to get to before or after work. The gym is on the 3rd floor – a quick run up the stairs for added cardio – or an elevator ride if you prefer.

The gym is open and airy with equipment set up around the perimeter in sections. There are various weights (depending on your fitness level and comfort), a changing area, cubbies to place your personal belongings, as well as an area to shower if you need.

Staff:

I spoke with Alex C. to go over the types of training classes that they provide. Between the Small Group and Large Group, I felt like the Large Group was where I wanted to start. Alex was great to work with, and the encouragement that was provided was spot on. A great first impression before even walking into the gym.

I need to be honest I was about 3 minutes late thanks to 1 sick child, and having to take my other daughter to religion. Being late, I felt I was destined to fail walking into the gym. Well the smile Amanda gave me when I walked in (apologizing profusely), and then Tim’s super cheerful “welcome” helped me relax and forget about life for a little bit. This was the start I needed, to have a great workout.

The Workout:

Alex had explained to me that this session would be an “overall conditioning with more of a cardiovascular emphasis”. So I was excited and ready to go.

Tim and Amanda worked with the group that was there – and we started out with a great stretch. It actually helped me to realize that I really don’t stretch enough unless I am in yoga, and it helped to loosen my muscles and get me ready for the workout. There is a blackboard wall on the left hand side when you walk in (the wall for the bathroom and shower room), and I see the words “Gamble, may the force be with you”. Yep I am officially worried – what do Tim and Amanda have in store for us tonight? Should I run or go to the bathroom and wait (hide) it out? Well I did none of that, and actually did the circuit workout that was planned for us. The gamble portion was a “roll of the dice” to see how long we were doing each of the activities with our rest period. This was great. Each workout had a different “workout time” and it really kept my body guessing what was next. I do have to apologize to everyone in the class because when it was my turn to “roll the dice” I had gotten double 6’s, and had to roll again, we had a full minute and half to work out (yep it was hard but wow was it a great one).

The hour for this session was quick and painless. Amanda and Tim walk around encouraging you, helping to guide and correct you as you work out. That to me was a huge perk, and something that is not done often at other gyms. I have taken many classes at different places, and had many a trainers, who would encourage you from the “stage” without walking around to correct your form – so the question is always in the back of your head – am I doing this right? Why is my leg shaking? Why does this feel weird? Should my arm feel like this? None of this came through my head, even at times Tim helped me to “tweak” my workout based on my prior knee issues (thanks to a torn meniscus 3 times). OH, and lets not forget the music in the background, upbeat current and past hits that gets your blood flowing – perfect for the torture, I mean fun that was planned for us.

Overall Experience:

I honestly can’t say enough about my experience, and can not wait to go back to try out the small group class that Movements 4 Life has. I called my sister as well as Megan to tell them all about it (both girls love to work out as much as I do and love to try new things). I felt bad, but must have kept Megan on the phone for a good hour afterwards raving about my experience – I don’t know about you, but that is not something I do often.

I emailed Alex when I got home to compliment him, going on and on about my experience. I just had to ask about costs and possibly adding this into my already crazy workout schedule. Now I just need to sit down and figure out how to add this into my daily routine.

Give the Alex, Tim and Amanda a call to set up a date/time to go in and get your experience – tell them I sent you. You will not be disappointed.

Webpage: http://movements4life.com/
Phone: 845-369-MOVE
Email: info@movements4life.com
Address: 47 Chestnut Street, Suffern, NY

Welcome to Wholesome Pantry

Posted on February 26, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Food, Reviews, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as I was sent samples of Wholesome Pantry Products to test out.

Moms, well parents, carry a great weight on our shoulders. Along with all of the other things that we have to do, we also have to make sure that these amazing creatures that we have created are nourished. Not even just nourished, but fed well, healthily and in a way that’s appropriate for the fast paced world that we live in.

Enter Wholesome Pantry. Shoprite’s ever expanding line of healthy wholesome foods that are readily available and good for your family to consume. They are making eating and feeding well easier day by day.

Inside of the trial box I received were several great products including; apple crisps, energy trail mix, truffle oil and cayenne popcorn, pecans, and almond butter. I hadn’t even known that these items existed (you can find them in the snack isle).

We first went for the apple crisps. My family and I are big apple eaters, and these are literally freeze dried apple slices that are more like chips. I sent them to school with (A) as his healthy school snack. WELL, he loved them, so much that I headed right to the store to get more for all of us, and GUESS WHAT! They don’t only have apple, they also have pear, and peach. I got an assortment to send (and take) as snack.

Next we tried the popcorn. We LOVE the Olympics and you always need some snacks while you watch, so we made a few bowls. Its super tasty, RNYD and (A) especially liked it. It was a great lite snack for the opening ceremonies.

(A) and I get really bored if we have the same snack day after day, so the next day I tried the energy trail mix. A little of this goes a long way. Its a fabulous mix, I have always been a fan of sunflower seeds and dried cranberries. Its great alone, but also mixed into some Greek yogurt.

Although all of the items in our box could have been used to make healthy treats, I decided to look for dinner options for the last two. I had many reasons for it, but one of the major ones is how BADLY I need to switch up what I am feeding everyone, we’ve entered a food rut (insert scream).

The almond butter was kind of a mystery to me, I have never used it before but do LOVE peanut butter so I wanted to make something super yummy. I did a recipe search and found SO MANY great options- (including healthy options for those like me with a sweet tooth which I plan to try) but first, I am going to make this Spiralized Sweet Potato Pasta (CLICK HERE). I PROMISE to let you know how that is.

Last but certainly not least is the bag of pecans, which I purposely saved for last. I LOVE PECANS. I love Pecan Pie, I love Pecans in my acorn squash. But if you are a lover of Pecans you know they are not to be squandered, you have to use them in something great. I would REALLY like to make them into a pie- but I gave up sweets for Lent, so I am going to stick with this Honey-Pecan Chicken (CLICK HERE).

I promise to update you all on these two dinners and if I like them i’ll add them to our RNYM Favorite Recipes page where I put up recipes my family loves so that if you get stuck in a rut you can see what I have been up to. In the meantime, I am so excited about all these new options available for healthy eating in the home <3 I am hoping to be able to update you with more soon.

JCC Rockland Fitness Center- Your One Stop Fitness Shop

Posted on February 19, 2018 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Classes, Events, Fitness, Reviews, Services .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

We adore JCC Rockland and what they offer to the community. Their Early Childhood Center is top notch, Camp offerings that are diverse and engaging, Fitness 450 and their fitness center. I know that even with all I have mentioned, I have only scratched the surface. I was recently invited to come back and tour the new and improved fitness manager with Lauren. If you are interested they are having a Love Yourself Love Your Health open house with free classes for BOTH kids and adults on Monday 2/19/18 (JCCROCKLAND.ORG/LOVERSVP).

The center looks very different immediately with a fresh coat of paint and new flooring, but the changes that have been made are more than just superficial. When you first walk in on the left hand side, there is a whole new circuit of high tech machines from TechnoGym that have just been added.

These machines are beyond cool. They are resistance based, so they glide along with your abilities, and each machine has one specific exercise. This enables users to complete a circuit, and helps with eliminating lines at certain machines. It gets better. The machines have small screens on them that serve several purposes.

They have instructions as to how to set up and use each of the pieces of equipment safely, and correctly. Once in use, there is a fun little graphic that looks kind of like a video game to keep you working at optimum levels. What I really love is that it also has the capability to sync with your JCC Rockland App and track your progress, movements, and record your workouts. This App also works alongside the trainers at the Fitness Center to create your workouts in the Smart Start Program, or the Fitness Challenges (coming 3/25). Additionally you can check out what classes are coming up and set reminders to attend (which is really cool cause they offer SO many classes).

The fitness center is immaculate and includes specific rooms where you can stretch, lift free weights, train for various competitions, and take their WIDE array of classes (click here). What really attracts me to it, is how impeccable the space is. Taken care of so well offering equipment to meet the needs of all ages and stages. No matter what your fitness level there is so much available to challenge you within safe parameters. Having had 3 major knee surgeries myself, I was particularly interested in the cardio equipment that would allow me to work on endurance without putting excess pressure on my knees. Like this this Bike that they have even allows you to switch your terrain and follow a trail. All the while tracking your progress and your stats.

For busy parents looking to add a workout into their busy days but having difficulty finding the time, they even have babysitting for the kids so that you can get your “Me Time” in.

If you are interested in checking out the Fitness Center this week there is a perfect opportunity.

JOIN US FOR A MORNING OF HEART-PUMPING EXERCISE AND A

HEALTHY-HEART FAIR