Holistic Moms serves as a support community for those interested in holistic living and natural parenting. We appreciate all those who have joined our community and spread the word to help make the Western Suburbs Chapter possible.
With Love & Friendship,
Dorothy Coop, Krista Sherinian, and Christy Poniatowski
Chapter Leaders Chicago Western Suburbs
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Monthly Chapter Meeting Holiday Celebration Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 | Our Annual Holiday Celebration Dinner/Grab Bag Gift Exchange will be at Two Brother's Roundhouse in Aurora! We will be in the 2nd floor Tavern loft, away from the regular dining room. There will be separate checks and gluten free/special diets menu options available. Please bring a WRAPPED gift to exchange valued at approximately $10. All are welcome...you do not have to be a member! Nursing babies welcome! Hope to see you there! Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N Broadway, Aurora, IL |
Member Highlight Jessica Patnoudes |
How long have you been a member of HMN? I have been involved in HMN since I was pregnant with my first child, in 2008. I was actively involved in the Homer Glen chapter, which ended in about 2011. I have slowly become more involved in the Naperville chapter since that time.
I am a Holistic Mom because: It is a wonderful support group for mothers who want to pursue natural lifestyle choices for their family. I have come across excellent resources to support the choices our family makes through this group. Another reason I am a Holistic Mom is the non-judgmental community of women who respect other's choices, even when different from their own.
My holistic passions are: Natural childbirth, hypnobirthing, extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, cooking/eating whole foods, the importance of play and limited screen time for development, alternative education choices, natural healthcare, and essential oils.
What inspires you about holistic moms or holistic living? I value raising children who are mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy. Surrounding myself with a community of like-minded people inspires me to continue that pursuit in spite of conventional approaches. Being part of this network empowers me to feel like my choices are the norm, rather than the exception.
One of my favorite healthy recipes:
This is a family recipe that I make a few times every summer when my zucchini are coming in like crazy. I freeze it and we it it though the winter. You can eat it like a soup, or over pasta.
Zucchini Stew 2-3 pounds of Italian Sausage (bulk or out of casings) 2 cups celery cut into 1/2 inch pieces 2 pounds zucchini sliced 1 cup chopped onions 2, 28 oz cans Italian tomatoes 2 tsp salt 2 tsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp basil 1-2 cloves garlic pressed 2 green peppers cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Brown sausage, drain. Add celery; cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add all remaining ingredients except green pepper. Simmer covered 20 minutes. Add green pepper and simmer until desired tenderness of vegetables.
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| Chapter Events and Activities
| Chapter Meetings: Held the 1st Tuesday of every month from 7-9 pm at The Health Doctors, 28379 Davis parkway, Warrenville, www.thehealthdocs.com Open to the public.
Monthly Morning Meetups: We will meet the third Tuesday of each month from 9:30-11:30 at Grounds for Hope in Lisle. We will have our own room but the kids can also play in the open area. A cafe is also available. The fee for the kids to play is just $5/child. Parents could also purchase a 6 month pass for just $45. This would cover their family (up to 4 children) for 6 months. It cannot be shared between families as this constitutes an agreement to our rules and wavier. Children would still need to be supervised during play and cannot be left unattended. Please pre-register here: http://www.groundsforhopecafe.org/#/kids-birthdays. As for food options, there are many items available, reasonably priced, and should be able to accommodate many food allergies. We have several fresh fruit and vegetable options as well as gluten free bread and snack bars. Please let us know if someone has an unusual allergy to see if we have an option available. Grounds for Hope, 2701 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532. September 15th, October 20th, November 17th, December 15th. Open to the public. You do not have to be a member to attend. Playgroups: All ages --4th Wednesday of the month @ 9:30 am. Locations will vary. Membership is required to attend playgroups.
Moms Night Out: A moms only "playdate". Babies in arms are welcome. Dates, activities and locations vary. Watch for postings. Membership is required to attend mom's night out.
Book Club:We meet several times a year to discuss the chosen book. Dates and location will vary. Watch for postings. Membership is required to participate in book club.
Mom & Tot Outings: Special outings planned several times a year specifically with our young ones in mind. Dates and locations vary. Watch for postings. Membership is required to participate in Mom/Tot outings.
Family Gatherings, Movie Nights, and additional member events will continue to be scheduled
Check out or local website for details. http://chicagowestsub.holisticmoms.org
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|  | | Meet Our Sponsor | | A special thank you to Dr. Jim Claussen for letting us use his chiropractic office for our meetings! |
| Meeting Topics | | 2015 Meeting Schedule (subject to change)
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|  Helen Michniewicz is a HMN member who has been home educating her children, ages 8, 5, and 5 from the beginning. Helen also holds a Master of Science degree in Business Psychology and runs her own consulting practice where she conducts psychological assessments and coaches executives in Global 500 companies. She's dedicated her professional career to developing leaders around the world and creating work environments that promote life-long learning.
Helen facilitates her children's learning without a formal curriculum, leveraging her 15 years of experience leading research and implementing strategies that increase motivation, optimize learning, and improve performance. Inspired by elements of Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Place-Based education, Helen follows her children's interests as they shape their journey together. Helen is also passionate about connecting families to local resources and communities. She hopes to share what she's learned along the way and how it applies to natural learning. Whether you homeschool or not, Helen's resources, information, and ideas can be used by any parent or caregiver to support children's education.
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| Contact Us | | Dorothy Coop Christy Poniatowski |
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