Sweet Pea Baby Planners

Enjoy A Gift Package of Three Hours of Sweet Peas Services ~ She helps with all your needs when bringing a new angel home!
www.sweetpeababyplanners.com

Harmony Salon Gift Card

Enjoy this certificate for $75 towards and services offered at Harmony Salon.

Silent Auction for the American Cancer Society

Here is how this will work ~
We will post all items on blog on Tuesday. If you would like to bid then you need to comment on that picture. The Silent Auction will end January 23rd. When you win an item we will send you the link to our site to make the donation. You will get your receipt right there for your taxes and we will coordinate pick up of the item!

Thanks for your support and we can not wait for the fun to begin!

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Colleen!

Hi my name is Colleen. I have been married to Ted for 11 years and we have 3 beautiful children who I am able to home school. We have lived in Charlotte since we’ve been married. I recently started my Pampered Chef business and really enjoy teaching busy moms, like myself, how to cook a meal for their family cheaper, faster, and healthier than a fast food restaurant!

News from The Pod~

The Mommy Pod will be hosting a show with three gift choices in March to get us kicked off for a wonderful year in the kitchen!

Colleen has also been generous enough to donate a basket for the ACS Silent Auction we will kick off next week! Thanks Colleen~

Look Whats Going on at Belly Elan!

It's finally here!
We are in our permanent space in the
Blakeney Village Shops!

It took us a while, but our new store is almost complete! We moved in over
the New Year holiday and are just adding the finishing touches. We would love to have you all visit our new home...

To celebrate, we're announcing our Open House/Grand Reopening Week!
All the details are below for special events. Please remember to register for
your favorite classes and vendors! Normally many of these types of classes have a fee, but during our events, you can come and get your questions, even those breastfeeding questions, answered for FREE! Plus, several of our vendors will be handing out their own samples during their events!
(And, yes, everyone's favorite Handfuls Handprints is back just for our Grand Opening Event)!

All week long, celebrate with sales and specials! You can also register all week long for drawings to be given away on the 16th (and no, you do not need to be present to win)!

** We are expecting a huge new shipment in today, Friday, January 8th! We would suggest to start shopping this weekend because we all know all the cutest items go the quickest! Special in-store only sales start today through next week! We are also launching new locally designed gift and accessory lines (we love those mompreneurs) exclusively at belly elan!

We hope you can join us for more than one event of interest to you, but we would love to have you stop by just to say hello!



Stay tuned to your emails, our website or Facebook page for more details. Special Events, giveaways and freebies!
Below is our tentative schedule of events!

Open House/Grand Reopening Week at belly elan

All seminars/events are free of charge, but space is limited. Please register for EACH event so we can save you a seat! All are always welcome so grab your spouse or girlfriend and head over! We will also be registering all guests for great prizes and giveaways from belly elan as well as the vendors we work with! You don’t have to be present to win and can register at all of the events we are offering. Plus, many of our event vendors are doing their own drawings for prizes.



Saturday, January 9th, Babyluxe Daily

10:00AM

Ever seen that fabulous carseat online only to find out you can’t try it before you buy it? Or that adorable little Moses basket from Serena & Lily? Have you seen how beautiful it is? Well, the girls from BabyLuxe will be on hand to show you what they do! Come meet the women who blog about all things baby (and mommy and toddler and family…and you get the point)! The girls give their honest opinions about everyday products you see or hear about – especially the most popular ones! And now, they are bringing them by locally for you to come in and see and try them out for yourself! And, register to win a Serena & Lily Moses Basket given away by the wonderful girls at BabyLuxe Daily!
Call 704.544.3226 to register.

Tuesday, January 12th Official Grand Re-Opening Day
12:00 The Blushing Bake Shop
Come meet the owner of the cutest little cupcake boutique scheduled to open February 2010. Stop by to sample a sweet treat! (While supplies last, limit 1 per customer)

Appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks served in the evening.
Register for prizes to be awarded on Saturday
(need not be present to win and you can register all week long)


Wednesday, January 13th, Handfuls Handprints

10:30am – 1:00pm
Once again, Jenny is back to capture your child’s precious hand and footprints in ceramic! Remember, this isn’t like messy plaster. The results are a beautiful creation embedded in clay and once fired and glazed you walk away with a beautiful treasure. Make your appointment today – spaces are limited! Call 704.544.3226 to register.


Wednesday, January 13th, Little Moo Cow Designs

12:00pm - 2:30pm

Presenting the latest must have accessory for your dream nursery...

The MooBoo wipes box cover transforms your ordinary boring wipes box into a beautiful accessory! Also see their coordinating changing pad covers and basket liners. No more ugly, boring changing table – now you can change diapers in style! Andrea from Little Moo Cow Designs will be on hand to show you their selection of luxurious fabrics or to discuss custom orders. These darling products are the changing table accessories new moms have been waiting for!

Thursday, January 14th, Palmetto Childproofing

10:00am – 12:00pm
Got a little tike ready to move about the house and your just not quite sure what all you need? Let Palmetto Childproofing help. Come learn what dangers you need to be aware of once your child is mobile! It’s amazing all the little things you might not even think about!
Call 704.544.3226 to register.




Thursday, January 14th, Mary Kay

12:00pm – 4:00pm

Many women suffer skin irritations and breakouts during pregnancy due to the increase in various hormones in the body. Heather Faulkner with Mary Kay will be on hand to show you what products, safe to use during pregnancy, will help diminish those crazy breakouts on your face and body. Come in to test samples and possibly walk out with a few of your own! (Hint, Hint) Call 704.544.3226 to register.

Thursday, January 14th, Green I Am

5:00pm – 6:00pm

Sneezing? Coughing? Believe it or not, chances are your household cleaners may be responsible. Afterall, they are often loaded with toxic and polluting substances that can be harmful to you and your children. Learn more with green i am. Call 704.544.3226 to register.

Thursday, January 14th, Mother’s Gift Doula Services

6:00pm – 7:00pm
So what exactly is a doula? Boy are we glad we asked! Cheryl with Mother’s Gift Doula Servies provides you with the answers you’re looking for! She is a registered nurse, and oh did we mention mother of FIVE! Plus, she offers great help and advice for nursing mothers and her lactation consultants are truly helpful! We personally think she has all the answers, but even if she doesn’t she’ll help you with the research to get you what you need! Cheryl also teaches all of our classes and Belly University due to start back up in 2010 in our new location!
Call 704.544.3226 to register.


Thursday, January 14th, Sweet Pea Baby Planners
7:00pm - 8:00pm

"Returning to Work After Baby"
Returning to work after adding another family member to the household can be one of the biggest challenges a parent faces. Am I going to be emotionally happy with the decision to return to work? What is my best childcare option? How will I get out the door on time each morning? What if I miss my child's first milestone? These are all questions that often wring at the the heart of an expectant mother and Sweet Pea Baby Planners can help you work through these questions and ensure you are both emotionally and organizationally ready for returning to the workforce!


Friday, January 15th, Green I Am

10:00am – 1:00pm

Sneezing? Coughing? Believe it or not, chances are your household cleaners may be responsible. Afterall, they are often loaded with toxic and polluting substances that can be harmful to you and your children. Learn more with green i am. Call 704.544.3226 to register.

Friday, January 15th, Mother’s Gift Doula Services

10:00am – 2:00pm
So what exactly is a doula? Boy are we glad we asked! Cheryl with Mother’s Gift Doula Servies provides you with the answers you’re looking for! She is a registered nurse, and oh did we mention mother of FIVE! Plus, she offers great help and advice for nursing mothers and her lactation consultants are truly helpful! We personally think she has all the answers, but even if she doesn’t she’ll help you with the research to get you what you need! Cheryl also teaches all of our classes and Belly University due to start back up in 2010 in our new location!
Call 704.544.3226 to register.
Cheryl also teaches all of our classes and Belly University due to start back up in 2010 in our new location!


Friday, January 15th, Healthy Bottoms Diaper Service

2:00pm - 5:00pm

Diapers...a necessary evil? Not if you use cloth diapers! While many aspects of disposable diapers may seem “evil” at times (chemicals on baby, bad for the environment, etc), you now have a choice without sacrificing the convenience of disposables! Healthy Bottoms Diaper Service makes cloth diapers as easy to use as disposables, without the negative aspects. Ultra soft, sanitized, 100% cotton diapers are delivered to your door on a weekly basis so you don’t get stuck with the dirty work! Simply change your precious bundle of joy, and instead of throwing the diaper in the trash, you place it in a diaper pail. That’s it! No rinsing, washing or scrubbing required! Come find out what cloth diapering is all about! Whether you are interested in the service, washing your own, or just want to see how it works, Catalina Maas (Healthy Bottoms’ owner) will be available to answer any of your questions, give you a cloth diapering demonstration and show you exactly what you need to get started on your cloth diapering adventure. Healthy Bottoms will also have a special accessories sale for any mommies that need to stock up (and save)!
Call 704.544.3226 to register!


Saturday, January 16th, Healthy Bottoms Diaper Service

11:00pm - 2:00pm

Diapers...a necessary evil? Not if you use cloth diapers! While many aspects of disposable diapers may seem “evil” at times (chemicals on baby, bad for the environment, etc), you now have a choice without sacrificing the convenience of disposables! Healthy Bottoms Diaper Service makes cloth diapers as easy to use as disposables, without the negative aspects. Ultra soft, sanitized, 100% cotton diapers are delivered to your door on a weekly basis so you don’t get stuck with the dirty work! Simply change your precious bundle of joy, and instead of throwing the diaper in the trash, you place it in a diaper pail. That’s it! No rinsing, washing or scrubbing required! Come find out what cloth diapering is all about! Whether you are interested in the service, washing your own, or just want to see how it works, Catalina Maas (Healthy Bottoms’ owner) will be available to answer any of your questions, give you a cloth diapering demonstration and show you exactly what you need to get started on your cloth diapering adventure. Healthy Bottoms will also have a special accessories sale for any mommies that need to stock up (and save)!
Call 704.544.3226 to register!


Saturday, January 16th, Sweet Pea Baby Planners

1:00pm - 2:00pm

"How to organize the nursery"
Sure, selecting the paint color and the perfect crib bedding are big decisions for the expectant parent, but practicality is what really matters once the baby arrives. Who care if the changing table isn't custom made if you don't have every item you urgently need in reach for changing a wiggling baby's diaper! Sweet Pea Baby Planners will share information on how to best set up your nursery to nurture sleepy-time and playtime as well as accommodate the breastfeeding mom.



Belly University is underway!
Classes are now forming for the next "round" of mommies-to-be!
Just had your little one? Join us forsome post-partum mingling and get all those
after pregnancy questions answered!
(Or just get out of the house and make some new mommy friends!)

These classes/events fill up quickly and space is limited.
For more information, please call 704.544.3226 to reserve your space today!
We will continue to host Belly U at our new location! Stay tuned for details!


Are you connected? Want to win Gift Certificates and Prizes?

Follow belly elan on Facebook!

New winners chosen weekly. It's easy.
Sign up and if you see your name and due date on Facebook,
get in touch with us to claim your prize! You MUST be a Fan on our page to win these great prizes! We're giving away gift certificates, goody baskets and cards to the places you want to shop during your pregnancy!

Visit our website today to get signed up for all future emails!




Reader's Choice for
BEST MATERNITY STORE


belly elan maternity
Blakeney Shopping Center
9816-D Rea Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
704.544.3226
www.bellyelan.com

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Julie!

My name is Julie and I am a proud mom of 3! What turned out as a quest to learn how to sew has turned into a full time embroidery business. It has been so much fun to learn how to create and design different items for friends and myself. For the past year and a half, I have been given the opportunity to monogram for local stores in the Charlotte area. It has been amazing to see the business opportunities that God has sent my way. The Mommy Pod just happens to be one of them! I have always been a big believer in supporting local businesses, especially those that are “mommy” based. The Mommy Pod not only will support these moms but benefit other mothers out there as well. From discounts on groceries, nutrition & customized workouts, to monogrammed baby items; this is a one-stop site for everyone! I can’t wait to see where this goes! I am looking forward to monogramming all sorts of goodies!

Visit www.themommypod.com to sign up for our newletter to support us~

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Michelle from Angel Eye Portraits

My name is Michelle Cherikos. I have been married to my wonderful husband Alex for 7 years and I have a stepdaughter, 10, and two boys, 3 and 4. I worked in television for 7 years and last November I was blessed to be able to stay home with my children. As a mom of three, I quickly came to realize how important it is to capture every moment, to take an instant of time to hold onto forever. My goal as a photographer is to bring out the true essence of the people I photograph. I strive for the personalities to shine through, to bring out the real you. Pictures are an important part of who we are. They are important to us now and even more to future generations. If you have any questions, please contact me at angeleyeportraits.com. I would love to get to know you and your family.

Please visit www.themommypod.com and support us by signing up for our newsletter~

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Ellen ~ Meal Planner

Isn’t it always great to start a New Year off on the right foot? I know, at this time of year, I get excited and driven to become healthier. What we put into our body directly affects our overall well being. Therefore, I am taking a closer look at what I eat to see how I can make sure I am fueling my body with what it needs to help me stay as active and fit as I like (and need) to be! Keeping up with three kids is no joke! I have been keeping track of my own personal diet, and have been surprised at how I was missing some pretty important “super foods”. Overall, I feel my diet is very healthy. Yet, you do not realize until you track your daily intake, that you may be low in a particular food group. Or, on the other end, may be filling up with too many unnecessary additives.

My goal is to eat around 2,000 calories a day based on height, weight and activity level. But, I choose to focus on filling the food groups rather than this number. Some days I eat more and some days I eat less, but I never eat less than 1,600 calories in a day and likely never more than 2,400 (my son’s birthday might have to be an exception). My goal is to eat a balanced amount of grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat & beans and oils in order to meet these calorie needs. I doubt I am ever perfect and I don't expect you to be either - I really believe that it will all even out in the end if you know your needs and strive to meet them the majority of the time, which I am here to help you do! I never fill up on junk or empty calories so if one day I am heavy on whole grains or nuts - the next day I probably back down and eat more fruit and veggies. My daily activity level is high - I do not sit down much. I often feel like I am in constant motion, so I may be able to afford more calories then some other women. However, I choose not to use this wiggle room for junk - I strive to keep what goes in my mouth as healthy as possible as often as possible.

Let’s do this together… I am here to be your guide and answer as many questions that I can in order to help keep you on track. I am always collecting great tips from wonderful resources to inspire you and hopefully keep you from getting into that rut. I am looking forward to a healthy and fit 2010!

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Imogene!

My name is Imogene and I a mom of two boys. I started focusing on sewing home decor items after I decided to stay at home with my first son, James. Throughout the past two years it has blossomed into a business that allows me to do what I love for all my friends and family. I also enjoy my church and all my friends that the Lord has blessed me with through different activities for the kids and a wonderful Bible Study for myself.
The Mommy Pod has been wonderful for me over the past couple of months. After having my second son I decided that I wanted to stay in shape and try to get these extra baby pounds off and keep them off. Ellen helped me with the Mommy Meal Planner and has allowed me to eat healthier than I ever have before. I have been working out regularly at my local gym and doing some of Stephanie's exercises when I can not make it to the gym because of other mommy duties. All of this allowed me to finish my first half marathon! The Mommy Pod website has a free online menu planner, personal exercise log, and much more. So please visit our site and sign up for the newsletter and qualify for some fun giveaways as well. I look forward to working with The Mommy Pod and using my ten years of sales and marketing experience to make it a success~

*photo by Angel Eye Portraits

The Mommy Pod Welcomes Aundrea!!!!

I am a wife to one, and a mother to two boys. I arise early (sometimes), do the laundry (not every week), pay the bills (with my husbands income), clean the house (just when I can’t stand it any longer), run a business (if you want to call it that), feed my family (on somewhat of a budget), transport my children (as much as any other mother), and love on my husband in his love language (not as much as I should). In my spare time I enjoy the little things like, drinking coffee, exercising (I completed my first sprint triathlon in 2008), and showering without someone knocking on the door. I am far from perfect, but by the grace of God, I can surely laugh at the days to come.

I will be running The Pod Shop and trunk shows for The Mommy Pod. Both of these venues will focus on providing opportunities to purchase local or mommy made merchandise, and informing guests about healthy eating and exercise. I also own Zerbert Baby, a baby gear company. If you are interested in hosting a trunk show, please contact me at: Aundrea@themommypod.com. A portion of all The Pod Shop and trunk show sales will be reinvested in The Mommy Pod.

In honor of The Mommy Pod grand opening, I am offering 30% your entire order at www.zerbertbaby.com for the month of January. Make sure to mention ‘The Mommy Pod’ in an email to receive the discount: Aundrea@zerbertbaby.com.


Looking forward to a great 2010!

Aundrea

Please be a follower of this blog and join our monthly newletter @ www.themommypod.com and be qualified for six giveaways!

Grand Opening!!!

Giveaways
1~ Calendar for The Busy Mom, spaces for all family members
2~ Monthly Planner and a Glitter Lip Gloss
3~ Fun Snack and App Plates to help with portion sizes
4~ Frame with special from Angel Eye Photography
5~ Mommy Mug with Tastefully Simple Toffee Mocha Mix
6~ Pampered Chef Icing Tips with Cookie Mix

We welcome all moms to The Mommy Pod. Please sign up for our new letter at www.themommypod.com! We are going to be doing six giveaways through the month of January. We will be randomly picking followers of the blog and news letter members. We will contact you with what prize you have won and they will be available at the Open House January 23rd or we will mail to you after that date. Starting January 4th we will be introducing all the moms that are in our pod. Please visit daily to see all the talented moms that have come together to help you conquer your career as a mother. Being it is January first we thought we would help you kick off the new year with some ideas for a
Mini Mom Makeover~
Go Green ~ Use fun cloth napkins and dish towels
Cut Calories ~ Clean out junk food and replace with prepared healthy snacks
Read ~ Write down a couple of books that you want to read this year and do it!
Exercise ~ Commit to it in 2010, Get it written down and Plan with friends
Family ~ Focus on the health and exercise of your family, www.themommypod.com
Home ~ Freshen up a room with new home decor, www.inoedesign.com for ideas

We look forward to getting to know you all this year! Sign up on our website and send any questions that you have so we can help you be the best mom that you can be!

Giveaways for Grand Opening

5th Week Using Mommy Meal Planner

This week I had to go to the tracking portion of the my pyramid website. I finished with clearing out the meal planner for a couple of weeks and thought I would take the next step and go to the tracker. You need to devote 10 minutes a day to this and do it after dinner. If you forget when you login you need to select the day that you are entering for before you go to food intake. Once you have entered your food you go to the analyze step and you select the my pyramid option and it will show you where you are lacking for the food groups. I felt comfortable with this since the prior three weeks in the meal planner I never went over my calorie intake. I see that I just need to switch to eating better foods. The main 2 things for me were the lack of veggies and meat in my diet. I found that is I followed my meal planner I barely got all my food groups in and had to eat veggies for snacks to fill that food group. In this process it has cut out all the junk. Next week is Christmas so I am going to skip all this and know that by default I will choose better food choices. For the new year I am adding my 2.5 year old and my husband and we will continue from there. Thanks for reading this and I am excited for the Meal Planner and the success it will have in your family just like it did in mine!

Forth Week Using The Mommy Meal Planner

Here we are in week 4! This week I was so busy with getting ready for Christmas that I did not input my food intake. I found this actually to be a good thing in my progress. I was able to stick to my plan and keep track of all this myself without inputting into the computer. I found myself adding veggies to my meals without even thinking about it. I found myself preplanning my meals for the day and trying to get all my food groups in. I also used all the tips and ate the healthier snacks that I had in the house. Someone was telling me about a good recipe and I also found myself altering it to fit into my pyramid that we have created. When I did have time to sit down at the end of the week, I pulled up my week before since it was very similar. I pulled the reports on the days and I found that I continue not to meet my veggies. My Pyramid gave this list of helpful hints that I will use next week.

	Snack on celery sticks in the afternoon.
	Add a green vegetable like broccoli or bok choy to dinner.
	Stock up on frozen vegetables for quick and easy side dishes.
	Try a main dish salad for lunch. Go easy on the dressing and toppings!
	Buy pre-washed bags of salad greens, baby carrots or grape tomatoes.
	Keep a bowl of cut-up veggies in a see-through container in the refrigerator.
	Grill vegetable kebobs as part of a barbecue meal. Try tomatoes, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.
	Include a salad with dinner.
	Include cooked dry beans or peas in mixed dishes such as chili or minestrone soup.

I will apply these next week and make it a part of my pyramid to hold me accountable. The week after that I plan to add my husband and my 2.5 year old to my plan and expand this to the entire family.

Third Week Using Mommy Meal Planner

Wow! I am so glad that I set these small weekly goals for myself and I am really seeing and feeling the difference and so is my family. I had never thought about food groups as much as I do now. This week I made the veggie chili and the shrimp and orzo dish on Monday. I ate these through the week as my meals. Both were great and my husband loved them both as well. This week I also had the turkey sandwiches with TURKEY BACON. I thought I would never do or like this item and I love it. This week I used the menu planner option on the website. This is allowing me to see how many of each food group I am eating. It has helped me with adding additional meats and veggies to my meals and snacks through the day. I see that my extra calorie intake is too high each day. Next week, I am going to look at my menu planner this week and make a menu for the next week and stick to it. I feel that this will help with my extra calories as well. I already see a difference in my mind set when it comes to eating. Just this morning I had to choose between fruit and a cookie. The old me cookie all the way! The new me ~ 1/2 cup of fruit, that I put on my planner right when I got home with a smile. I had no idea that this was going to feel so good and be so fun. This is a daily exercise that I am building a new pattern for my eating patterns. I will reach out to Ellen this week so we can discuss the high calories before I create me meal plan for the next week. Thanks~

Second Week Using The Mommy Meal Planner

Well here we are in week two and I am still following this plan and I am thrilled! This week I was able to do at least two meals a day since I used some meals that I froze from the week before. I also had a cooking day on Monday and made the lasagna and the lentil stew and ate those through the week. My husband did like the stew. I add a side item for him with these meals so they are a starting point for the entire family. I am going to add my healthy snacks to the mix for next week and then maybe desserts the next week. I do feel better. I also have seen the difference when I work out, that I do get hungry faster than I did before. I guess I am running through the good nutrients that I am getting. I did pair this with a workout from my friend that is helping me with personal training. I know that I am on my way to success to a healthier life. I am still using the online shopping from Harris Teeter being that I am still trying new items. After I finish this week I would have used all the recipes from the book and will pick my favorites and start seeing where the best place to get these items for the best value will be. Thanks Ellen~

First Week Using The Mommy Meal Planner

Wow! This is a total lifestyle change for me and my family. I have never been the cook and have no idea how I have gone so long living like I have. Ellen gave me my meal planning guide this week. At first I decided I was going to try to follow this plan for all three meals. Then after a day I realized that maybe aiming for one meal a day would be more realistic. She encourages you to go at your own pace and trust me you will find this fast~ I decided that I would use the Harris Teeter Express Lane to get my grocery list completed that she provided. I have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month old and trying to find 50 new items in the store may be a challenge. If you go to our website you will see a coupon that will allow you to use this service for free. I completed my list and was very pleased when I was unpacking the groceries to see all my new items.

I looked at my weekly meal planner before each meal and decided what I had time to make and went from there. At lunch two days this week, I made full recipes and divided the servings and froze the ones I did not eat. This means two days next week I already have lunches done. One evening I was able to save a serving as well and will eat this for lunch this week. My week was packed with dinners out. Even though I was not eating exactly what was on my list I found myself making such an effort to cut out little things that normally I would not even have noticed on my plate.

Since I am breastfeeding it is very important for me to have access to healthy snacks during the day. A huge bowl of apples was a great way for me to meet this need. I am not a huge breakfast person, but I find I do have time for breakfast in the morning. So I have started eating a good breakfast and find that I am less likely to eat junk for lunch because of the lack of time.

On my list was soy milk and creamer. I thought there is no way. This is one thing I will not do. Well. well. well. I love soy creamer! In her helpful hints for me and my diet she recommends me cutting down from 4 cups of coffee to 2 and then having green tea instead in the afternoons. I am going to aim for this next week. I may surprise myself and get to three meals a day from the planner and then aim to use the meal tracker the next week!

Helpful hint - When using online shopping use few words to get more results. Example instead of whole wheat english muffins, use wheat english muffins.

***My husband has been very impressed with the meals so far and eating them with me:)