After covering our Mominatrix event in February, Kim wondered how she could help us grow Moms Going Out and get even more moms to enjoy our events. We were delighted to bring her on board, and we’re excited to work together as we develop our programs for fall 2010 and winter/spring 2011. Watch this space.

After donning our fancy aprons, we separated into two groups. The cake masters and the cupcake designers. The cake masters learned tricks of the trade: how to smooth out the frosting, eliminate evil crumbs, and design spectacular borders on the most simple of bases. NOT as easy as it seems. Scissors on cake? Full disclosure, master baker John had to fix mine not once, twice, but THREE times. Very messy froster, me. Very patient man, he.

Over on the cupcake side, mamas were creating fanciful creatures from colorful mounds of frosting. Squeeze, release. Big circle, little circle. One petal, two petal. Shrieks of laughter rang out as attempts were made to recreate the beautiful cupcake art prepared in 2 seconds by our talented instructor. Making a pig out of frosting looks easy when she does it. Who knew that a leaf tip made pig’s ears? Who knew that there even WAS a leaf tip? Pigs, cows, penguins, and flowers of all shapes and sizes appeared (well, if you squinted at mine, a pig appeared) as we played with gobs of frosting. Tongues to noses, eyes focused, we manhandled frosting like nobody’s business. Amazingly good fun.

And then, we all came together, like two layers of a perfect Party Favors cake (couldn’t resist). Perched around tables with our newly iced cakes, we begin the project of decorating them. No more cupcake practice for us! John made it easy by creating a water scene for everyone to begin, and then we were off with our imaginations. Duck ponds, oceans, frog ponds complete with lily pads came together as we used our newfound skills (and John’s help) to create our masterpieces.

I will never use “piece of cake” to describe an easy task again. Our efforts were met with hilarity and giggles (could have been the wine, too) as we realized how much fun we were having, and how although unleashing our inner cake artist was amazing, it might be better to leave important cakes to the pros at Party Favors. We give three cheers to all of the staff at Party Favors for creating such a fabulous event. We’ll be practicing, and eagerly awaiting our next tutorial…

As a fitness professional, we see January as our biggest month. It’s THE month. The one where everyone vows to get in shape for good. Lose those last 10 lbs, get abs of steel, and eat only organic, clean foods for the rest of their lives. Sigh. And by February, we see all of those passionate people fade away, caught up in a web of real life, chocolate hearts, and comfort foods.

The thing is, that’s what they should have been focusing on the whole time! Real life. Instead of setting yourself up with unreasonable goals, how about taking it one day at a time, making mini goals as you go along. Real life gets in the way, unless you are a 22 year old independently wealthy person with endless time on your hands. And even that has it’s own pitfalls as well. (I mean, I assume it does:))

This year, instead of setting yourself up for those inevitable downfalls, set yourself up for happiness every day. Make the most of what you have. You know that you want to look good, feel good, and live a vibrant life. So attempt that every day. Do what makes you feel good, both inside and out. Writing the goals down when you get up may be an option. And then going back at the end of the day to see what actually happened can be an exercise in resilience and optimism. Didn’t make it to the gym because you were inundated with work? Wow, you were a FORCE to be reckoned with at work, then. Ate a bag of m&ms? Great. Boosted your serotonin levels for the day…and left you with the knowledge that perhaps a bag of m&ms is not the greatest idea if you don’t want a huge stomachache. Next time, you’ll get the smaller portion and enjoy it just as much.

Make the effort to create manageable goals. Having trouble fitting in fruit? Don’t aim for 5 servings a day right away. Try one banana, or a glass of orange juice. See if you can do that for a few days. It may, just may, seem easier after that, so you’ll think about having both the banana and the orange juice the next couple of days. Find a way to combine them that you enjoy-fruit smoothie, anyone? And so on.

Fitness goals? Many people make running a marathon a goal. Amazing aspirations. Fabulous goals. Does that mean you go out and run 10 miles in one day? Absolutely not. Find a plan that makes sense, think about your time, schedule, and options. And then run for 20 minutes one day. Approach the big goals with a series of smaller ones. It works on all planes.

The best way to conquer those goals is to get some help. Find someone who specializes in your goal field, and ask them the best way to go about it. Pretty much guaranteed that every expert will tell you to go slowly for lasting results. It’s harder that way, but the effects will last a lifetime.

Resolving to live my life one day at a time, now that’s something I can strive for. I think you can, too.

After indulging our sense of taste and experiencing the visual delights of Magic Beans, it was more than a pleasure to experience the soothing lotions and scrubs from Melt. Somehow, they managed to create a serene, spa-like atmosphere in the midst of crazy shopping. How do they do that?? Wonderful, handmade products that made us feel warm and fuzzy, that’s how. Their wide array of yummy scents, silky lotions, and gentle scrubs made the tensions of the day slip away. We can’t wait to see more of them. And oh, we will…we’re doing a special event in January with Melt on January 17th! Mark the date…it’s a tropical getaway soiree, right here on Harvard Street. More on that later.

But the BEST part of the evening? The friendships renewed and/or created were amazing. The joy was palpable. And we collected hundreds of articles of clothing, toys, books, and basic necessities for our partner charity, Cradles to Crayons. The fact that one child who was without basics may now enjoy the simple acts of being warm and clean-something we so often take for granted-made my heart swell with happiness. I’m pretty sure we all felt that way. Remember, Cradles to Crayons isn’t just for the holidays. They are always looking for help in any way possible-from giving the most basic of necessities, to helping out in their Quincy Giving Factory. Visit them online at www.cradlestocrayons.org

It was, all in all, a wonderful evening full of sensory delights, friendship and fun, giving and receiving. Exactly what the holiday spirit should represent. We wish you a happy, healthy holiday season, and look forward to more fun in the new year! Bring on 2010…we’re ready to enjoy every “mom”ent.

We’ll be posting recipes that Jeremy and Lisa so kindly provided, and share some of their food-for-thought advice soon. If you were able to join us, drop us a line and let us know what YOU enjoyed most about the event…

Our first event kicks off at Lineage Restaurant on October 19 at 7pm. For all the details and to register, click here. Don’t forget to join our mailing list (use the form on the right side of this page) – it’s the best way to stay connected, learn about upcoming events, and get access to early registration so you’ll never miss out.