Northern Virginia Chapter

Find Your Tribe!

Welcome to the Northern Virginia chapter of the Holistic Moms Network. Our purpose is to generate national awareness, education, and support for holistic parenting and to provide a nurturing, open-minded, and respectful community for parents to share these ideals. There is no checklist or litmus test of "holistic enough." HMN welcomes anyone who is interested in holistic health, natural parenting and/or green living. Please take a moment to browse the posts and learn a little more about us. As always, feel free to contact co-leaders, Alexa & Laurie, at HMNofNOVA@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

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Find out more (click each link):
*Chapter Website
*National Website

*Holistic Mom Myths

*What is Holistic Parenting?

Find us on Facebook too!

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Click here to join online and become a member.

*Scholarships are available to those in financial need.*

Click here for more information on the Helping Moms in Need program.
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We are a welcoming community!

We welcome all people, both parents and non-parents, of all races, national origins, colors, creeds, religions, sexes, ages, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are a warm and inclusive group, and welcome you to join us wherever you are on the holistic path in an environment that does not judge. Come as you are!

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Friday, October 28, 2011

HALLOWEEN PARTY DATE CHANGE!

After watching the weather and discussing with members on the loop, we have decided that it is the best plan to hold the party on Sunday the 30th instead of the originally planned Saturday party. All other details remain the same:

If this new date changes your ability to make the party, please send me your updated RSVP.
We look forward to celebrating with everyone!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

OPEN HOUSE!

October Meeting, 10/04/11 from 6:30-8:30pm: "Holistic Living Month Open House" Please join us for a lovely night of connecting and sharing with one another. Bring your passion, your personal experiences and recommendations, and if you would like to, a labeled "special diet" treat to share. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Work of Byron Katie

A huge thank you to Patricia Parrot for speaking to our group about The Work. For more information visit http://www.thework.com/index.php. For free worksheets and downloads to get started on The Work yourself, visit http://www.thework.com/dothework.php.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Tuesday, September 13th - Emotional Healing

Please join us for what will be a wonderful meeting! On Tuesday, 09/13/11 from 6:30-8:30pm we will learn and practice some "Emotional Healing". Join Patricia Parrott, certified facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, as she presents an introduction to the work (http://www.thework.com/index.php) to help us all deal with our emotional baggage.

Please note **MEETING DATE CHANGE! We will be meeting on the SECOND Tuesday of the month (instead of our usual 1st Tuesday) to accommodate the start of the public school year.

Hope to see you all there!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Special One day discount!

To honor HMN's new milestone of 10,000 Facebook fans, we want to offer everyone an opportunity to join the Holistic Moms Network community and reach out in real life to other parents and caregivers, locally, face-to-face, and virtually. In honor of this opportunity, we're offering a huge discount off our annual membership fee (nearly 25% off!) for ONE DAY ONLY on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011. From 12:01 am to 11:59 pm EST tomorrow, July 12th, you can join HMN (or renew your membership) for just $35 per year and connect with parents in your area, in real life and online, and find vital support for your parenting journey.

Just use Coupon Code HMNFB10 to join or renew.

Here's the link for membership http://membership.holisticmoms.org/ .

Even if your membership doesn't expire for a couple months, you can still renew tomorrow.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Babywearing!

A huge thanks to Jenni Thompson & Ann Marrie Rodgerson for their presentation on babywearing last night. They have shared the information below with us:

www.thebabywearer.com is a great resource for buying/selling/trading carriers, as well as learning to use them. Here's the link with the wearing instructions for all the different carrier styles: http://www.thebabywearer.com/index.php?page=usinglinks

Also, you should visit or join our local babywearing group! Find us online at www.babywearinginternational.org/forums in the DC-MD-VA sub forum, or on our blog at www.beltwaybabywearers.blogspot.com We meet 4 times per month at libraries around NoVA, with one Saturday meeting per month, usually.

Here are the different varieties of carriers and some reputable brands for each:

Ring Slings:

Sleeping Baby Productions www.sleepingbaby.net
Maya Wrap https://www.mayawrap.com/

Mei Tais:

Soft Structured Carriers:

Olives & Applesauce www.olivesandapplesauce.com
Beco becobabycarrier.com
Ergo ergobabycarrier.com
Kinderpack kindercarry.com
Action Baby Carrier actionbabycarriers.com
Bamberoo bamberoobaby.com

Woven Wraps:

Didymos didymos.com
Girasol http://www.girasol.de/content.php?page=tragetuecher&lang=english
Ellevill http://www.ellevill.com/index.php?cPath=65_57_22&language=en
Natibaby www.natibaby.eu
Neobulle www.neobulle.com
Wrapsody www.wrapsodybaby.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Spa Night

We had a lovely and relaxing spa last night. Thank you to all of the wonderful practitioners who participated and/or donated samples! Please check them out:

Yoga with Susan Van Nuys of The Health Advantage Yoga Center
Massage & Ayurvedic Facial Massage with Mary Knapp & Cynthia Ellis of Serendipity Wellness Studio
Chair massage with Lisa, Filipe and Katie of Radiant Sun Therapies
Natural facials with Mary Kearns of Herban Lifestyle
Chair massage with The Bodywork Institute from Comfort & Joy Wellness Spa
Reiki with Selvi Sudanthi, Reiki Master-Teacher
Non-toxic nail polishes from Piggy Paint
Soothing samples of creams and lotions from Valley Green Naturals
Rich, creamy shea butter/hand cream samples from Brigit True Organics
Fabulous food from the Fairfax Jason's Deli. We really appreciate the help of manager Alex and their gluten free menu and attention to allergens.

Upcoming Activities and Special Events

Quarterly Special Event - "Welcome to HMN” Are you a new member? Did you join a while ago, but still don’t feel like you have a good feel for all that is available in our chapter? Do you just want to have a time to connect with other like-minded families? Please join us for a fun evening of connecting and conversation. Bring a labeled snack to share. Babes in arms only, please.
"Weekly Playgroup" Most Wednesday, some Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30-12:30 at a local park or members home. All ages playgroup. We play in or outdoors depending on the weather. Bring snacks and lunch and spend time with like minded families!
"Monthly Journal Club" Come and discuss a short article or blog post with your HMN friends. We gather at a member's home on the second Monday of each month. Babes in arms only, please.
"Moms' Night Out" Generally once a month evening outing for moms to connect with other moms without the distractions of child care. We often gather at local restaurants to share a great meal.
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Past Meetings

2016:

Jan - Soul Collage - Sue Ann Hastings

2015:

Jan - Mindfulness and Meditation ~ Sharon D.K.

Feb - Emergency Preparedness ~ Brian Mullery

Mar - Maximizing your harvest ~ Love & Carrots

Apr- Intro to Muscle Testing ~ Sarah L.

May - Postpartum Support ~ Postpartum Support VA

June- Homeschooling Basics & Panel ~ Stephanie Elms

July- Zero Waste Kitchens ~ Melissa S.

Aug- Stress Under Control - Dr. Allan Tomson

Sept- Introduction to Herbal Medicine: Herbs For Immunity - Beth Hall

Oct- Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov- Feel Better NOW - MELT Hand and Foot Treatment - Kim Stackman and Laura West

Dec- Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2014:

Jan - Creative Ways to Fill Your Cup (Self Care)

Feb - Couples and Attachment~Dr. Diane Hoekstra

Mar - Family Financial Planning~Jenevieve Lentz

Apr - Early Childhood Montessori - Heather Love
May - The Connected Family: a Conscious Discipline
presentation - Mandy Lloyd
Jun - Acupuncture for Everyone
Jul - Essential Oils for the Whole Family

Aug - The Case Against GMO's

Sept - Volunteering with Your Family

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Herbal Medicine Cabinet - Holly Poole-Kavana

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

Feb - Couples and Attachment~Dr. Diane Hoekstra

Mar - Family Financial Planning~Jenevi

May - Homebrewing~HMN Daddies

Jun - Hair Cuts at Home~Heather Pelczar

July - Reiki~Stephanie Kraft

Aug - Fermented Vegetables~Jennifer McLaughlin

Sept - Tantrums, Whining and Backtalk~Dr. Rene

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Living Beyond Autoimmune Disease~Robin Shirley

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2012:
Jan - Gentle Sleep Solutions~Michelle Winters
Feb - Simplicity Parenting
Mar - Paleo for the Whole Family~Paleo Parents
Apr - How to Build a Healthy Immune System for Your Family~ Dr Gennaro
May -Canning 101~Bethanie and Alexa
Jun - Lyme Disease: A Holistic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
Jul - Intimacy and Parenthood~Dr Ruthie
Aug - Low Allergen & Whole Foods Baking
Sept - Food and Mood
Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House
Nov -Increasing Your Mobility
Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2011:

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Finances for the Green Mom

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

Help make HMN of NOVA fabulous by volunteering!

Greeter :
- Greet members and perspective members at the beginning of meeting and events
- Help people to sign in and get any materials needed for the meeting
- Make sure attendees know where facilities are located- Qualifications: good interpersonal skills – outgoing personality
Commitment: 6 months
Location: attend meetings – little at home tasks
Purpose: make meetings and events welcoming to new and current members.

Food and Snack Coordinator:
- Determine the amount of food/snacks needed at meetings or event
- Ask members to bring food/snacks to meetings
- Make sure to provide guidelines for healthful food as well as variety
- Remind those who have volunteered to provide snacks a week in advance
- Thank and recognize the members bringing food and snacks during the meeting
Qualifications: organized, good interpersonal skills
Location: attend meetings, some coordinating from home
Purpose: make meetings enjoyable by providing healthy snack/food options for members

Membership Coordinator:
- Maintain a database of current members
- Maintain file with meeting sign-in sheets
- Send e-mail reminders or E-Vites about meetings and events
- Communication to meeting visitors, and potential members
- Be sure all new members are signed up to local e-mail loop Qualifications: Basic computer skills, organization Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: You are the "it" person of membership. You keep the chapter going and growing!

Speaker Coordinator:
- Maintain file of potential and past speakers
- Contact speakers to schedule a speaking engagement
- Send confirmation letter with date, time, and directions
- Call one week prior to meeting date to remind and see if speaker needs supplies, AV equipment, copies, etc.
- Have a back-up plan in case speaker doesn't make it to meeting
- Send thank-you letter to speaker after the event
Qualifications: Basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: Your job is to coordinate speakers that our members are interested in hearing. Without great speakers and information, our chapter has no purpose.

Donations Coordinator:
- Maintain file of potential and past donors
- Contact donors to provide donations for appropriate events and meetings
- Send out donation request letters
- Send out thank you letters to donors
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: 6 months
Location: attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: your job is to add excitement to events by procuring donations for members to win in door prizes, raffles, contests

Secretary:
- Take notes at meetings
- Send e-mail to members who couldn't come of the content of the meeting, and post on the e-mail loop
- Provide copy of chapter business notes to Chapter Leader for follow-through
Qualifications: Basic computer skills
Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Assist chapter in follow-through of plans and keep contact with members who couldn't attend meetings. You maintain a sense of community

Playgroup Coordinator:
- Develop a database of interested families, their children’s ages and locations
- Create groups of children based on age and location for potential playgroups
- Disseminate playgroup rules and guidelines
- Maintain point of contact with each playgroup for new members
- Maintain database of playgroup participants, days, times and locations
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Add fun and sociability for caregivers and children

Lending Library Coordinator:
- Develop a database of available materials and maintain an updated list in the files
- Keep track of materials checked out to members
- Send reminders to members with materials due
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized
Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Help to educate members through resources we can share

Moms Night Out Coordinator:
- Schedule exciting events for an evening out each month
- Send e-mail reminders or E-Vites about meetings and events
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, Moms Night Out events - some home tasks
Purpose: Provide opportunities for moms to get together without their children to enjoy each other’s company and make new connections.

Other:
- Let us know if there are other ideas for volunteer positions that we have not thought of!
- Any skills you have to offer are always appreciated

Northern Virginia Chapter

WE'VE MOVED!

Find Your Tribe!

Friday, October 28, 2011

HALLOWEEN PARTY DATE CHANGE!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

OPEN HOUSE!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Work of Byron Katie

Monday, September 12, 2011

Tuesday, September 13th - Emotional Healing

Monday, July 11, 2011

Special One day discount!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Babywearing!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Spa Night

General MONTHLY Meeting Information

Upcoming Monthly Meetings

Upcoming Activities and Special Events

Past Meetings

Not Near our Chapter? Check out other area chapters:

Blog Archive

Help make HMN of NOVA fabulous by volunteering!