Just in time to help moms reach their fitness-related New Year’s goals, Baby Boot Camp is celebrating a new arrival. In celebration of its newest location, a grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday, January 18 from 9-11 a.m., at the South Bay Galleria Mall -1815 Hawthorne Boulevard Redondo Beach, CA 90278.

See Eventbrite event page for further details and to RSVP: http://babybootcampgo.eventbrite.com

Baby Boot Camp is a nationally acclaimed fitness and nutrition program for moms (and dads) and expecting moms where they can get fit with their children. Our programs not only helps moms get fit and get rid of baby weight, it helps with child development and battle postpartum blues.

About the Grand Opening

Attendees will receive a free demo class, experience nutrition fun and participate in additional sponsored activities. There will be a special presentation by AMAI (an Innovative Medical and Wellness Practice) so attendees can learn how they can use insurance, HSA and FSA to pay for their wellness program.

The first 20 – 30 guests will receive a special gift bag. There will also be raffles and giveaway items – thanks to our partners and sponsors including South Bay Galleria, Club MomMe, Mountain Buggy, Happy Family, Cal Naturale (Svelte Protein), Zico and more.  “Meet babysitters from Urbansitter, while they help your kids get crafty at our activity area.”

To top it all off, casting producers from “Girlfriend Intervention” will be there.  A major cable network and award-winning companies, World of Wonder and MysticArt Pictures, are NOW CASTING for this ultimate transformation series. “Selected women will receive a beauty makeover including hair, makeup, free clothing, a personal sanctuary, and an exciting adventure tailored to their interests.”

Bring your kids, stroller, comfortable clothes and your yoga mat!

If your busy schedule won’t allow you to attend, please share our information with other moms that may be able to benefit from our program.

Once you have made it through the holidays, it’s resolution time! This is the time we all strive to be the best version of ourselves. This the new year, we’ve decided to have some fun while shedding a few of those pesky holiday pounds!

To kick off the new year right, personal trainer Jillian Michaels has a few ways you can bring the fun, not the fat in 2014. Below you will find Jillian’s waistline-friendly recipes and easy tips to keeping yourself motivated, healthy, and in shape all year. Look out 2014!

Her exclusive recipes include:

• original popchips-crusted chicken breasts
• sweet & salty katy’s kettle corn popchips chicken salad

Almond-Crusted Chicken Breasts

Crusted with cheddar potato popchips for added flavor

Ingredients:

• ·         ½ cup unsalted almonds, toasted
• ·         ½ cup of cheddar potato popchips
• ·         2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ·         ¾ teaspoon grated lemon zest
• ·         1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ·         ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ·         1 garlic clove
• ·         ¼ teaspoon salt
• ·         4-to-5 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Procedure:

• ·         Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
• ·         In the work bowl of a food processor, place the almonds, popchips, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, garlic, and salt.  Process until coarsely chopped; the mixture will be a thick paste.
• ·         Arrange the chicken breast halves in a baking dish. Divide the almond paste and spread on the breasts; pat down to cover each breast completely.
• ·         Roast in the oven until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer reads 165 deg F to 170 deg F, about 10 minutes. Loosely tent with foil and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Sweet Crunchy Chicken Salad

Sweetened with katy’s kettle corn popchips

Ingredients:

• ·         2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• ·         1/2 cup light mayonnaise
• ·         1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
• ·         1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ·         1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• ·         1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ·         1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ·         1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ·         1/3 cup chopped celery
• ·         1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• ·         1/2 cup of crushed katy’s kettle corn popchips
• ·         7 tablespoons (about 2 ounces) coarsely chopped smoked almonds
• ·         6 cups mixed salad greens

Preparation

• ·         Fill a Dutch oven two-thirds full of water; bring to a boil.
• ·         Wrap each chicken breast half completely and tightly in heavy-duty plastic wrap. Add the chicken to boiling water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Remove from pan, and let stand for 5 minutes. Unwrap chicken and shred; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until cold.
• ·         Combine mayonnaise and the next 7 ingredients (through black pepper) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk until combined. Add chicken, 1/3 cup celery, cranberries, and almonds; toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve over salad greens.

jillian michaels’ tips

1) This new year have more fun with your fitness. Staying healthy and in shape shouldn’t be about foods you have to cut or spending hours in a gym, getting healthy can still be fun! Instead of working out in a gym, get outside and mix it up during the week. Go for an outdoor hike, bike ride, try skiing or take your friends with you to the gym and  try a new class like my new Bodyshred™!

2) It’s not about completely eliminating food groups or opting for famine in the new year. Enjoy foods that taste great and are better for you. popchips are a perfect example and my favorite go to snack. They now come in 14 flavors so grab a different flavor for work, during the day,  when hunger strikes, or for a quick snack. Grab your bag and enjoy!

3) It’s not just about the cardio training. Many people believe if they run for an hour they are shedding the pounds. The reality is your body gets used to this type of activity. Strength training is a great way boost your metabolism. If you do strength training four times a week, you can increase your metabolism by 6-7 percent! Taking a fun weekend boot camp class gets you outside and meeting new people who are trying to accomplish the same goals. Plus switching up your workout keeps it fun.

4) Making wiser eating choices doesn’t mean you have to skip the fun traditions like taco night. When picking out your main dish options, always go with lean organic meat whenever possible. Lean turkey and grilled chicken are great options. and if you love beef in your taco, just make it half lean grass fed organic beef and half turkey meat for a better option that still tastes great. Having a burger night? Instead of piling on the condiments, which are full of calories and high fructose corn syrup, try adding sliced avocado. They are full of healthy fats that are good for your body and skin! (then add a side of popchips instead of french fries.)

We have teamed up with our friends at popchips for a Healthy Happy New Year Giveaway! One reader will win a case of yummy popchips and a signed Jillian book! You must be a subscriber of SoCal City Kids to enter! Next, leave a comment below with one of your own healthy tips! Deadline to enter is January 12th, 2014. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries! 

Self Disclosure: I receive popchips to feature this post/giveaway but I am a big fan of popchips. Photo/Recipe credit: popchips.

Season three of Disney Junior’s Emmy-nominated animated series “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” will premiere Friday, January 3 on Disney Channel (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) and Disney Junior (7:50 p.m., ET/PT).  The new season introduces rival characters including pirate ghosts, mummies and robots, and incorporates special super powers and spectacular gadgets for Jake and his crew, including Jake’s Mega-Mecha Sword, a robot suit and an invisibility ring that will help the gang outwit their new adversaries.  The season will also include action-packed extended length episodes and a revamped rock and roll-style theme song performed by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band.

Celebrity guest stars include Jack McBrayer as a pirate mummy, Mark Hamill as chilling pirate Shiverjack, Carl Reiner as ghost pirate Captain Treasure Tooth, Rico Rodriguez as Snow-Foot, Estelle Harris as Peg-Leg Peg and Jo Frost as Nanny Nell, Captain Hook’s no-nonsense nanny.

 (Editors please note: Images, clips and screeners are available at www.disneyjuniormedianet.com. Registration required).

New episodes of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” will air every Friday throughout January and February culminating with the premiere of a special extended episode on Friday, February 28, featuring three 11-minute stories that pit Jake against Hook in an ultimate showdown.  All featured episodes will be simulcast for verified users on WATCH Disney Junior in conjunction with the television premieres and will become available the following day on WATCH Disney Junior, Disney Junior on Demand, iTunes, Xbox and Amazon.

Beginning Friday, January 31, DisneyJunior.com/Jake will debut the new game, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: The Super Pirate,” where players can take on the role of Jake as he attempts to retrieve the Mega-Mecha Sword that Captain Hook has stolen.  Each Friday through February 28, kids are invited to unlock a new game level.

The strong connection kids 2-7 and their parents have with the characters and stories of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” has led to brand extensions across other Disney businesses.  The series is prominently featured in Feld Entertainment’s 90-city nationwide tour, “Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate and Princess Adventure,” and Jake and his crew are an integral part of the popular “Disney Junior Live on Stage!” attraction at Disney California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where the Jake character also meets with fans daily.  Disney Consumer Products has licensed LEGO® DUPLO® sets, action figures and playsets, board games, bikes, apparel and bedding, available at major retailers nationwide.

“Jake and the Never Land Pirates” airs daily on Disney Junior and Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming block for kids age 2-7. The series stars Cameron Boyce as Jake; Madison Pettis as Izzy; Jonathan Morgan Heit as Cubby; David Arquette as Skully; Corey Burton as Captain Hook; Jeff Bennett as Mr. Smee and Bones and Loren Hoskins as Sharky. Rob LaDuca is executive producer, Mark Seidenberg is producer/story editor and Howy Parkins is director, all of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”  The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. In the U.S., Disney Junior is a daily programming block on Disney Channel and a 24-hour channel.  There are 33 Disney Junior channels in 24 languages around the world.

Dive into the New Year and into adventure with everyone’s favorite underwater explorers, the International EMMY-nominatedOctonauts, and join them on their mission to “explore, rescue and protect!” Here Come the Octonauts is available for the FIRST time on DVD on January 7, 2014, from NCircle Entertainment—available at Walmart and many other retailers and grocery stores nationwide! I received this DVD to check out and it really is a delightful DVD that young children will love! The characters are fun and very likable!

In Here Come the Octonauts, Captain Barnacles must figure out how to free an old friend who is trapped beneath the ice; Kwazii tries to rescue a reef full of creatures before an undersea storm strikes; and Peso must help a school of frightened fish who have invaded the Octopod!

Based on the books of the same name by Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy, who write under the name Meomi, Octonauts is broadcast weekday mornings on Disney Channel’s Disney Junior block. The Octonauts received a BAFTA nomination for Best Animated Preschool Show in 2011 and 2013; and in October 2012 was nominated for an International EMMY Award.

And watch out in 2014 for some great new Octonauts events—the Octonauts have recently partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to work jointly to raise awareness of ocean exploration and science and advance NOAA’s mission!  The partnership, which extends learning beyond the screen, includes plans for events at aquariums nationwide and joint development of educational materials!

And now for some fun and FREE Octonauts activities to enjoy with your child!

Color and collect all of the Octonauts Octo-Crew Cards at DisneyJunior.com!

Decorate your own Kelp Cake, navigate a maze, play hide and seek and enjoy more coloring activities and “look and find” games here!

And you’ll find more Octonauts activities and more from NCircle Entertainment  here.

We have teamed up with NCircle Entertainment for a New Year Giveaway! You must be a subscriber to enter! Next, like their Facebook page by clicking here.  Deadline to enter is January 5th, 2014 at midnight! One winner will randomly be selected from all entries! Don’t forget to also leave a comment below saying that you are entering!

Self Disclosure: I received a free DVD to facilitate this feature. Photo Credit: NCircle Entertainment.