Sweaty Betty's Fitness

My name is Stephanie and I own Sweaty Betty’s Fitness. I am a certified personal trainer and I am also certified in pre and post natal fitness and have a nutrition and wellness specialist certification. I offer in home personal training and small group training as well as mommy and baby fitness classes and I can’t wait to meet you!!

My mommy and baby fitness classes are high energy, lots of fun and include a mix of strength exercises (done with or without baby) and bodyweight cardio exercises! Every class is different and there are modifications for every exercise, making the classes suitable for all fitness levels! The classes are created specifically for moms who recently gave birth. Locations for the classes are Kanata, Kemptville and Barrhaven!

Babies and toddlers of all ages are welcome to attend the classes! The babies need to be able to hold their head up on their own in order to participate in the exercises.  Lots of moms bring younger babies and they nap or have some hangout time while mom does a bodyweight workout! The toddlers run around together and play with each other! 

For in home personal training and small group, I bring all needed equipment and come to you at a day/time that works best for everyone!  Workouts are made just for you based on your current fitness levels and goals and I offer nutrition assistance (weekly nutrition goals and recipes included in the training)! Small group training allows you to get a fabulous sweat sesh in and bond with your friends, neighbours, co workers, lowers the cost of training and allows all the kids to get together and have a play date or join in on the squat party!! 

Contact me at stephanie@sweatybettysfitness.ca or on my Facebook page at Facebook.com/sweatybettysfitness to sign up with Sweaty Betty!

What's Happening this Weekend

Saturday February 17

• Winterlude. More info
• Family Day Winter Festival. More info
• Cool Science Saturday. More info
• Story Time and Book Signing at Indigo Barrhaven. More info
• Snowmania Competition. More info
• Ice Carving Demonstration. More info
• Little Rays Reptiles in Armprior. More info

Sunday February 18

• Winterlude. More info
• February Frost Fest. More info
• Monkey Around 6th Birthday. More info
• Snow Tubing at Edelweiss. More info
• Family Day Winter Festival. More info

Monday February 19

• Winterlude. More info
• Family Day on the Farm. More info
• Family Fun Day in Barrhaven. More info
• Family Day at Midway. More info
• Family Day at Maple Ridge Centre. More info
• Monkey Rock Music Concert. More info
• Family Day Winter Festival. More info

Single Parenting...Dad Style

Image by Pixabay

Lots of guys love to take on challenges. Still, the hurdles you'll face as a single father can make even the most determined man think twice. That's why we've written this post. In these words, you'll find ways to master what comes your way while keeping your sanity intact. So, without further ado, let us begin.

Know What You're Dealing With

Taking on any task starts with sizing it up. So let's look at some typical issues confronting single dads, according to Good Men Project:

1. Facing society's stigma. This problem can come at you from two directions: one, the stereotype of parenting as a "woman thing" that no self-respecting man would devote the bulk of his time to. The other misperception, which is just as wrong-headed, is that a single dad must have done something horrible to drive the mother away, making him unfit to be around kids.
2. Staying on good terms with your ex. This can pose dilemmas whether or not the mom is active in your kid's life. If she is, then you'll need to stay on good terms with her as much as possible, both for your child's sake as well as your own. If she's not, then you will have to explain her absence to your kid. Neither task is easy.
3. Balancing life and work. Good parents provide for their family. But good parents also take time for their kids. Walking the fine line between those two often conflicting priorities can make even the most serene guy a bit stressed.
4. Living life. How to you manage to do the above four while watching out for your own needs? Is it even possible?

Now let's look at ways to deal with these issues.

Refusing to Let Others Define You

Both male and female single parents face their share of prejudice, as pointed out by HuffPost. We've already discussed two of the stigmas you'll face, but the list could go on forever. The question for you is not whether you'll face criticism but how you will deal with it. It all comes down to asking who defines you: others or yourself? It should always be the latter.

Practicing Diplomacy

Hopefully, you and your kid's mom are on good terms; this is often the case. If not, then you may need to learn a few diplomacy skills. Your child will form many of her perceptions of women based on how you act towards the mother. Remember this fact as you work with her to bring up your child.

Finding What Balance You Can

Any working parent, single or not, must balance economic reality with child rearing duties. You may be able to work out a flex-time arrangement with your boss, transition to a home-based position, or ask trusted friends and family member for help shouldering the load.

Staying Sane

According to Drugrehab.org, “The way we eat, drink, love, and cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and sadness all play a big role in the state our mental health is in. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a step back and ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing for you, and not the easiest thing.” This applies to single parenting as well as other aspects of your life. You must care for yourself in order to care for your child. If this becomes difficult, then you may need to reach out to supportive friends or even a qualified professional.

Being a single dad is all about doing the best you can. You will make mistakes; everyone does. But, by admitting your errors and learning from them, you pave the way to a brighter future for everyone in your family, including yourself. 

What's Happening This Weekend

January 20th

• Ottawa's 4th Annual Princess Party for CHEO. More info
• Hockey Day at Midway. More info
• LEGO & Metal Earth Build-a-thon. More info
• Sir John A's Great Canadian Kilt Skate. More info
• Kids Craft Day - Ice Skates. More info
• Tanglewood Community Winter Carnival. More info
• New Edinburgh Hockey Day. More info

January 21st

• 2018 TACA Winter Carnival. More info
• Winter Party in the Park. More info

Mellow Baby Sign Language Classes

So much more than signing!

Mellow Baby signing courses are so much more than songs and signs.  They are an opportunity to provide a lively environment for parents and babies to communicate by facilitating;

•          Friendship between parents
•          A time for parents to enjoy social time out
•         Social and sensory discovery for babies
•         Sharing and support within a group
•          Provision of relevant advice, guidance and referral contacts where needed
•          Learning something useful for Parent & Baby
•          Fun for all
• 
  

It is important to consider baby signing as the use of gestures rather than ‘a language’.  A language would have a host of grammatical rules and expressions attached to it.  Even if parents don't train their baby too use symbolic gestures, it is likely babies will naturally use them anyway.  For example, pointing at something they are asking about, tugging at their sweater if they wish to take it off, etc. Understanding baby gestures can improve communication and make parents more sensitive to what their babies are thinking about.  This can have profound benefits.  When parents are more tuned into their baby’s thoughts and feelings, babies are more likely to develop secure attachment relationships. 

With baby signing, parents say the keyword associated with the sign to their baby in the context of the situation, so it is possible that baby signing motivates parents to speak more empathetically with greater variations in pitch, and with greater emotion.  Research suggests that this sing-song style of speaking, called infant-directed speech has a greater effect on the part of the baby’s brain processing auditory sounds than normal adult speech (Lloyd-Fox et al. 2015).  People using infant-directed speech also tend to repeat their words giving babies extra opportunities to listen and learn.

Aside from the research, anecdotal feedback from families lends great strength to the reasons for pursuing baby-signing.  Parents frequently reported that they find communication with their little one less frustrating and more rewarding -- for both parent and baby.  They also say that they had no idea the child had so much to say or understand so much before they could talk.

We teach the parents the signs through music and song.  This has its own added benefits, as the babies enjoy observing and participating in a series of action-singing music sessions.  According to Sally Goddard Blythe, Director of the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, singing lullabies and nursery rhymes to babies and infants before they learn to speak, is an essential precursor to later educational success and emotional well-being.  Research has also shown that the better children are at detecting rhymes the quicker and more successful they will be at learning to read (Bryant et al. 1990).

Top Tips for Baby Signing

1.     Always do the keyword when you sign

2.     Always sign in the context of the situation

3.     Make eye contact

4.     Use expressions!

Safety First: Guide to Car Seats

I spoke with Lauren Riebs from Reviews.com and she shared with me her Safety First: Guide to Car seats, this is an overwhelming topic, which one do I choose, which is safest, which fits my car etc. This is what Lauren shared with us. Happy Reading!

"While all car seats are designed to be safe, some are definitely easier and more convenient to use than others. We worked with over 100 parents to identify the most sought after features while also consulting with child passenger safety technicians and pediatricians. We then compared the functionality and features of an infant car seat vs. a convertible car seat. Both serve unique purposes, and ultimately, we created a guide for each to provide parents with all the info they need to make a choice right for their family." 

You can read more here:
Infant car seat: https://www.reviews.com/infant-car-seat/
Convertible car seat: https://www.reviews.com/convertible-car-seat/

Forever Baby

Life is a showcase of miracles, and I’m currently carrying one.  A little miracle of now 30 weeks today.

My chances of having a life growing inside me was slim to none.  I was diagnosed with PCOS at a young age and was told that with the state of my condition, my chances were very slim of having child one day.  It sent me into a depression.  At that time, kids were my whole life!  I worked with kids since I was 12.  I wanted to be a teacher and I wanted 3 kids before the age of 25.  Don’t we all wish life would go according to our plans?

Fast forward to now… At the age of 37, life has blessed me with a lifetime chance to carry a child… our child.  I can’t express the joy this little miracle has brought to our lives!   What a blessing.  One that I will never take for granted.

The moment I saw her during our ultrasound, I felt so much relief to see her kicking and moving around!  It was happening for real.  I cried, I laughed… I felt so blessed to live that moment.   It meant the world to me.  I desperately wanted to find a way to cherish this memory forever.  I wanted to freeze that little piece of time forever.

I went through different processes, different ideas… nothing would really catch my eye.  I wanted something that could bring a smile to our face on a daily basis.  Something to fill our hearts with gratitude & love, and to always remember that special moment when life gets tough.
One day, my fingers magically created this print.  We fell in love.  And so did many others.

ForeverBaby.ca was born.

At ForeverBaby, we create premium custom made canvases from your ultrasound pictures.  We pride ourselves in being a Canadian company with a Canadian-made product.

I feel blessed to create memories for all families.  All canvases have a story and this is what I love most. The reaction from the public has been overwhelming!  Everyone wants one, or wants to gift it to someone they love.

The process on our customer’s end is pretty easy.  First, they scan or take a picture of the ultrasound.  They go on our website www.foreverbaby.ca, select the size of canvas, the colour, the custom text and upload their picture.  We do the rest. 

No two canvases are alike - that’s the magic. The ultrasound pictures leave their own fingerprint, one that we do not alter in any way!   Our customers can expect to receive their canvas within 7-10 working days, depending on their location.  Shipping is always free.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest.  You can also sign up on our website to receive $10 off your first order.

We look forward to creating your memory.
www.foreverbaby.ca
www.facebook.com/foreverbaby.ca
www.instagram.com/foreverbaby.ca

Family Halloween Events Ottawa

October 21

Pumpkins in the Park. Fairmont Park. More info

Halloween au Village. Gatineau. More info

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 22

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Costume Ball feat. Monkey Rock. Hunter's Public House

Mansion Mayhem. Goulbourn Museum. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 27

Halloween Neon Bash. Flying Squirrel Ottawa. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 28

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Carp Market. More info

A Barnyard Halloween. Agriculture Museum. More info

Spooktacular Halloween Bash. Monkey Around Play and Learn Centre. More info

Deathly Hallows Yoga. Mountain Goat Yoga. More info

Halloween Party. Shenkman Arts Centre. More info

Spooktacular Dance Party. Harmony Dance Company. More info

Halloween Hijinx. Cumberland Museum. More info

Flicks on the Farm. Halloween Edition. Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm. More info

Carlingwood Halloween 2017. Carlingwood Mall. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 29

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Family Spooktacular. The British Hotel. More info

Flicks on the Farm. Halloween Edition. Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 31

Trick or Treating. Hazeldean Mall. More info

Bunker Buddies Halloween. Diefenbunker. More info

Halloween Salsa Baby Class. Salsa Baby Ottawa. More info

The Scary Dairy. 102 Fairmont. More info

Rideau Hall-oween. Rideau Hall. More info

Halloween on Bayswater. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

Family Halloween Events Ottawa

October 21

Pumpkins in the Park. Fairmont Park. More info

Halloween au Village. Gatineau. More info

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 22

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Costume Ball feat. Monkey Rock. Hunter's Public House

Mansion Mayhem. Goulbourn Museum. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 27

Halloween Neon Bash. Flying Squirrel Ottawa. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 28

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Carp Market. More info

A Barnyard Halloween. Agriculture Museum. More info

Spooktacular Halloween Bash. Monkey Around Play and Learn Centre. More info

Deathly Hallows Yoga. Mountain Goat Yoga. More info

Halloween Party. Shenkman Arts Centre. More info

Spooktacular Dance Party. Harmony Dance Company. More info

Halloween Hijinx. Cumberland Museum. More info

Flicks on the Farm. Halloween Edition. Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm. More info

Carlingwood Halloween 2017. Carlingwood Mall. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 29

Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info

Halloween Family Spooktacular. The British Hotel. More info

Flicks on the Farm. Halloween Edition. Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

October 31

Trick or Treating. Hazeldean Mall. More info

Bunker Buddies Halloween. Diefenbunker. More info

Halloween Salsa Baby Class. Salsa Baby Ottawa. More info

The Scary Dairy. 102 Fairmont. More info

Rideau Hall-oween. Rideau Hall. More info

Halloween on Bayswater. More info

Bat Hunt. Children's Museum. More info

What's Happening this Weekend

October 7th

• Thanksgiving at the Agriculture Museum. More info
• Cascade Colourfest 2017. Mont Cascade. More info
• National Perogies Day Day Celebration. Ottawa Perogies. More info
• Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info
• Miwate. Chaudiere Falls. More info
• Colours of Fall. Bytown Museum. More info
• Harvest Festival. Watson Mill. More info

October 8th

• Thanksgiving at the Agriculture Museum. More info
• Cascade Colourfest 2017. Mont Cascade. More info
• Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info
• Miwate. Chaudiere Falls. More info
• Zoo Crew Drop In. Osgoode. More info

October 9th

• Thanksgiving at the Agriculture Museum. More info
• Miwate. Chaudiere Falls. More info
• Open House Monday at Vanderlaand the Barnyard Zoo. More info