{Re-Cap} 5th annual Bloom: Mom’s Morning Out

Although mother nature delivered a cold wintery mix we enjoyed a lovely event with over 100 local mothers at our 5th annual Bloom: Mom’s Morning Out on April 14, 2018.  Once again, we were proud to be selected by the City Moms Blog Network as one of 50 cities across the nation to host a Bloom event and bring together local resources and businesses to support moms and give you all a place to connect. Bloom has become an Iowa City area favorite and we had a blast putting together this year’s impressive panel of experts, epic snack bar and seemingly endless giveaways for you to enjoy! Here’s a little peek at the day…

Our Sponsors

This year we were thrilled to have University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital on board as the official Co-Host of Bloom.  Not only did they provide an amazing line-up of medical experts to be included as panelists but they also brought favorites from the Safety Store (located on level 1 of the new children’s hospital) so our guests could explore, shop and learn about the newest health and safety products for children. We are so lucky to have this award-winning comprehensive children’s hospital right in our community, and we are grateful that University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics shares our passion for supporting local moms! 

A big thank you to The Family Dental Center, our Title Sponsor, for their ongoing support and dedication to local families. We were thrilled to have Dr. Gilbaugh on the panel again this year (although we were bummed that Dr. Gugliano was too sick to join us), and we are continually impressed with the outstanding amount of knowledge, kindness and skill displayed by everyone on The Family Dental Center team. If you’re looking for a dentist or orthodontist for anyone in your family, check them out here

We’d also like to extend a special shout out to our local Hy-Vee stores for supporting us as the official Food Sponsor this year (see more below) and to Birdsdream Design for capturing photos at Bloom. Show them your love, they are wonderful to work with!

The Venue

This year’s event was held at Celebration Farm in the gorgeous Timber Frame Barn. Although the weather didn’t allow for us to venture out on the back deck,  the space was warm, inviting and absolutely beautiful! If you are interested in hosting an event at Celebration Farm please visit their website or call 319-631-8116 today!

The Expert Panel

Once again, the highlight of this event was our amazing expert panel, who graciously spent their Saturday morning answering all of our questions!  This year’s panel did not disappoint, and with a wide array of expertise related to health, child development and safety, we had a long list of great questions from the audience.  Thank you SO MUCH to all of the panelists who joined us; to read more about each of them and the work they are doing in our community, click here. We encourage you to connect with these experts if you have additional questions or concerns related to their expertise.

Pediatric Surgeon: Erica Carlisle, MD
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Pediatrician: Ana Cary, MD, FAAP
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Psychologist: Linda Cooper-Brown, PhD 
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

Speech-Language Pathologist: Sonia Culver, M.A., CCC-SLP
Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center (North Liberty)

Nurse Midwife: Laura Dellos, ARNP, CNM  
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Family Dentist: Greg Gilbaugh, DDS
The Family Dental Center (Coralville) 

Safety & Injury Prevention: Pam Hoogerwerf, BS
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Safety Store

Family Chiropractor: Dana Hotka, DC, BA
Plumb Tree Family Chiropractic (Iowa City)

Obstetrics & Gynecology: Sarah Shaffer, DO
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

The Food

This year we had a LOT of fun with the food at Bloom thanks to our local Hy-Vee stores! Our guests enjoyed an epic “Cravings Bar” complete with a donut wall, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, piles of pickles, chips, Oreos, chocolates and some other seemingly random items that YOU all told us you craved during your own pregnancies. If you haven’t had Hy-Vee’s gourmet and fresh-friend donuts you are totally missing out, you can find them in the bakery section and we promise they will not disappoint. Of course, we fancied up the drinks for this special occasion as well and featured MOM-osas (mimosa mocktails) and fresh coffee with all the fixings. We are continually impressed by the incredible selection of specialty items that Hy-Vee has to choose from, all at affordable prices. Stop by to shop at one of the 4 local stores on Waterfront Drive, 1st Avenue, Dodge Street or on the Coralville strip (and soon in North Liberty) — or better yet, shop online with Hy-Vee Aisles and they’ll deliver it right to your door. #MOMWIN

The special treats didn’t stop there either, we just couldn’t have a mom’s morning out without some custom cookies from Vanilla Beans and Daydreams. They were almost too pretty to eat… but so delicious when we did! If you have a special occasion coming up or just want a unique dessert that packs a major WOW factor, then contact Michele here.

The Vendor & Informational Booths

Briella Boutique: This is a NEW locally-owned online boutique that offers trendy women’s clothing and accessories and fun, inspiring graphic tees. It is owned by two faith filled best friends who strive to empower other women to look and feel their best! It was so fun to have Nicole and Tess at this event and we are loving all the stylish, flattering and comfy clothes from Briella Boutique. Shop online here, or follow them on Facebook for sneak peeks and deals! 

Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center: Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center (North Liberty) offers evidence based programs for your student in the areas of reading, math, writing, speech, language and social skills. They offer small group and individual sessions to provide a tailored program to meet each child’s academic and communication needs. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center also offers summer programs to help your child be prepared for the 2018-19 school year and avoid that summer slump. Their free screenings can help determine if your child is on the path to success. Learn more here, connect on Facebook here

Family and Sport Chiropractic:  Guests enjoyed free chair massages at the event thanks to our friends at Family and Sport Chiropractic! Along with spinal care, they provide programs geared towards the whole family and those suffering from nerve pain (neuropathy), fibromyalgia , chronic and severe pain, along with weight loss programs. Learn more here, connect on Facebook here

Family Dental Center: Again, we are so grateful for the support of the Family Dental Center. Their staff is so kind and inviting, and they truly care about the moms and families in this community. If you are looking for a dentist for your little ones (or for the whole family), check out their website or connect on Facebook here.

Hy-Vee: We enjoyed having a Dietitian from Hy-Vee with us at the event as well. She prepared an awesome sample bar showing some different ways to enjoy overnight oatmeal, a quick and healthy breakfast for busy families! It was a big hit and we can’t thank Hy-Vee enough for all the ways they treated our guests at this event. Connect with the store near you on Facebook: Dodge Street, Waterfront Drive, 1st Avenue, Coralville

It Works Global: Kelsey and Jessi provided complimentary samples of a few “mom must haves” including Chocolate Greens, a supplement that makes it easy to sneak veggies and superfoods into your kids diet (or your own), and their new Keto Coffee, an instant coffee with healthy added fats for more energy and mental focus. It Works offers a large catalog of health, fitness and beauty products that are plant-based and affordable. Learn more here, or connect on Facebook to ask questions and receive 40% off retail prices.

Jamberry Nails with Dawn Clark: We were graced by the wonderful #DawnoftheJams this year. She shared her favorite nail wraps and offered a quick and easy tutorial on how to properly apply them!  Dawn is full of great tips for how make sure your nails and toes are looking their very best. Learn more and shop here

LuLaRoe by Jodi and Ang: LuLaRoe is a line of women’s and children’s clothing that is known for being comfortable, versatile and flattering for all shapes and sizes. Originally known for their buttery soft leggings, LuLaRoe carries a variety of tops, dresses, cover ups, jackets, skirts and more, for sizes 0-26 and Jodi and Ang brought an amazing selection for our guests to shop at Bloom! Connect with them and check out their inventory here

Mary Kay: Sue treated us to samples and endless advice on how to take care our skin and embrace our natural beauty! This company has so much to offer and Sue is fabulous at helping you find the perfect items to keep your skin looking healthy and gorgeous! Contact her for a custom facial or shop here 

Montessori School of Iowa City: We are always happy to have our partners from the Montessori School of Iowa City (serving Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty) present at our events! They offer a private Montessori education for students ages 2-12. The Pre-Primary program is for 2 to 3 year olds, Primary preschool and kindergarten program is for 3 to 6 year olds and Elementary program is for 6-12 year olds. They also have Before School and After School child care available and are currently enrolling for Summer School. Learn more here or connect on Facebook here

Perfectly Posh with MoPosh: Mom life might not let you have a whole day off, but if you can take just a minute to take care of yourself you’ll be better able to do all the other things you need to.  Morgan can help you find the perfect pampering products to treat yourself, or the perfect gift for a friend, teacher or loved one! Get the goods here

Plumb Tree Family Chiropractic: Now located in Iowa City, Plumb Tree Family Chiropractic offers a family friendly environment and a gentle approach to enhancing your entire family’s overall health and well being. They welcome all ages and have a special interest in reproductive health, pediatrics, and sports performance enhancement. Dr. Dana and Dr. Tina use advanced sensing technologies to screen patients and their family’s nervous systems to recommend the most effective care and share their professional and trusted advice. They provide an array of holistic services including spinal correction, corrective exercises, lifestyle advice, nutritional counseling, and posture and spinal screenings. Learn more or schedule an appointment here, connect on Facebook here

Pretty Piggies with Monat: This is a luxury hair care company offering products that are 100% vegan and leaping bunny approved. These premium products repair, restore, and promote natural hair growth — it can even help with that dreaded postpartum hair loss! Learn more here, or connect with Christine here. Your hair will thank you.

Tasha’s Boutique: This fun boutique features Piphany clothing, in women’s sizes XS through 3XL. Tasha’s main goal is to help you feel comfortable and confident in your clothing. All of her pieces are on trend, comfortable, and affordable! Dresses, leggings, skirts, shirts, hoodies, and even jeggings are all some of the amazing styles we offer. Shop here or connect on Facebook here

UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Safety Store: Always a popular booth, Pam and her upbeat staff have all of the information you could ever need about car seat safety, sleep safety, furniture safety, and more.  We are SO lucky to have this resource in our community, and we hope that you take time to visit the new Kaleidoscope Gift Shop and Safety Store within the newly constructed UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital to check out all of the amazing products they have to help you keep your family safe, healthy and happy.

US Cellular: Technology has quickly become a staple in the home of today’s modern families and US Cellular can help you stay up to speed and connected with the latest trends, changing technologies and reliable service. The Iowa City store joined us at Bloom to share information about the newest Smart Home technologies. Learn more here

Usborne Books and More: We can’t get enough of this children’s book company. The books range from newborn to teen and they are the most exciting, engaging, and educational books on the market today. They have everything from books for teething, doodling books, encyclopedias, chapter books, and even fun stuffed animals to go along with some of the books. Local rep, Ami also offers great incentives when you host your own party (in home or online). Learn more here or connect on Facebook here

The Swag & Giveaways

Or course, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to spoil all of our lovely guests even more… with tons of FREE giveaways and bags full of awesome swag to take home! A huge shout out to all of our swag sponsors, who sent wonderful goodies and samples home with every mom, all bundled together in the adorable tote (courtesy of the City Moms Blog Network). 

Beauty Counter by Kristin

Briella Boutique

Britax

Covered Goods

Ergo Baby

Family and Sport Chiropractic

Family Dental Center

GoSili

Iowa Children’s Museum

Jamberry Nails with Dawn Clark

Jazzercise Iowa City

La Montessori Nurtury

MAM

Mary Kay

Milkies

Montessori School of IC

PediPed Shoes

Perfectly Posh by Morgan

Rise Buddy Snacks

Stuck on You

Tasha’s Boutique

Water Wipes

Wildtree by Janeen

Willowwind School

Younique by Sara

We loved sending home our lucky raffle winners with gear and freebies including the Britax B-Mobile stroller… 

Check out all of our amazing swag and raffle sponsors here:

Thank You

Last but not least, THANK YOU to all of you lovely ICMB followers for braving the wind and rain to spend the morning with us!  We are so grateful for each and every one of you, and we hope to see you at upcoming events as well. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for more photos from the event!

If you are interested in joining our VIP email list to be one of the first to find out about upcoming ICMB events and/or being added to one of our neighborhood playgroups, please email us at [email protected].  We can’t wait to connect with you soon!

Iowa City Moms Blog
At Iowa City Moms Blog we’re a group of local moms who are passionate about connecting other moms to one another and to our community! Whether you’re an experienced mom, a newbie, expecting, or aspiring to be a mom someday, this blog is for you! Join us as we navigate this journey that is motherhood in the Iowa City area!

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