A Mom’s Guide to Iowa City Moms Blog

If you are reading this, first of all we want to say THANK YOU!  We are so glad you’re here, following all things ICMB and involving your families in our local events.  When we started this blog almost four years ago, our mission was clear:  to share this journey of motherhood with moms who “get it”, and to build a go-to community for moms and families here in the corridor.  We have loved meeting so many of you on that journey, and if we haven’t met you in person yet, we hope to soon!  Please read on for more information on ALL the ways to get connected!

a-moms-guide-to{Neighborhood Playgroups}

Soon after starting ICMB, we realized two things: 1. there were a LOT of moms coming to our events, and 2. it’s kind of hard to make real, lasting relationships when there are a LOT of moms at our events.  We came to see that all of these moms were craving community just as much as we were, and the best place to start making those friendships is on our own streets, in our own neighborhoods. So, the neighborhood playgroups were born!  These groups are led by local volunteer moms, known as “mombassadors”, and they try their hardest to ensure that the groups are meeting regularly and meeting on days/times that accommodate all types of moms and their schedules.  If you have not joined a playgroup yet, we highly recommend it, and we hope that it will lead you to some awesome new mom-friends!  To join, simply click on the link for the city nearest you, and send us a request to join.  **Please feel free to join multiple groups, we have lots of moms who do! Being a part of more than one group gives you even more opportunities to find playdates that fit your schedule!**

Coralville

Iowa City

North Liberty

Solon

Tiffin

West Branch

Williamsburg

If you are interested in helping coordinate the playdates, please email us at [email protected] for more information on becoming a mombassador!

{Specialty Groups}

In addition to the playgroups, we also have a number of “specialty groups” on Facebook that provide further opportunities for you to meet like-minded moms and make some new friends!  To join any (or all) of the specialty groups, simply click on the links here and request to join:

ICMB Fit Mamas:  a group for fitness chat at all levels! Whether you are a marathon runner, a wannabe marathon runner, or someone who just wants to take some walks around the block, this group is for you.  Feel free to come and chat about your fitness routine, ask questions about how to start a fitness routine, or even talk about healthy recipes and tips for healthy living.  All are welcome!

ICMB Bargain Hunting Mamas:  are you a mom who always finds the best bargains?  Are you a mom who WANTS to find the best bargains? Join this group if you want to chat about where the best bargain-shops are in Iowa City, how and where to find the garage sales in the summer, or even to chat about thrifty crafts, DIY projects, and household tips.  If you love a good bargain, this group is for you!

ICMB Moms in the Kitchen:  a group for all things cooking and baking!  This is a place to share recipes, talk about meal planning, and just to stay motivated in the kitchen.  You do NOT have to be an expert, and in fact most of us are not!  We love chatting about what we made for dinner last night, how we find easy/cheap recipes, and more!

{Support Groups}

About a year ago, we started a fourth specialty group, ICMB Pregnancy/Infant Loss.  This group was a place for those who had lost babies and/or pregnancies, and we quickly decided that this particular group should not just be online.  In September of last year, we started our monthly in-person meetings for this support group, and it has been so wonderful to meet so many of you through that.  Every month we sit around the table at a coffee shop or at the Bread Garden downtown, and we talk.  We talk about our stories, about what’s going on right now for us, and about our hopes and dreams for the future.  If you or anyone you know has suffered a loss, please join this group.  The online support is amazing too, and you do not have to come in person if you aren’t ready or if it doesn’t work for you.  **Please note: you do not have to be a mom to join this group.  If you have suffered loss, but do not have any children on earth yet, you are more than welcome here.

Also, after a few months of the miscarriage/loss support group, we realized that there was another need in this community: those struggling with infertility.  So, a few months ago, we started the ICMB Infertility Support Group. This group is still in the beginning stages, and does not meet in person yet, but that is definitely an option for the future!  If you or someone you know are struggling with infertility or secondary infertility, please join the group and start connecting with other women who can help you with doctor recommendations, coping mechanisms, and advice for your journey.

{Local Guides}

One of our goals for 2017 is to provide more and more local guides for you mamas! We know that you really love those posts, and we are excited to be your source of information for so many things around town. We also LOVE doing things like our Photography Guide and Consultant Business Guide, where we can feature all of YOU hard-working moms and the awesome products and services that you have to offer!  To check out our current guides, click on the following links:

{new in town}

5 Helpful Places for Getting Settled Into Iowa City: welcome to Iowa City! Check out this list for some great places to help you feel at home!

Mom’s Guide to Finding Childcare in Iowa City:  if you’re new in town, this is most likely at the top of your list.  (Also, just a heads up, we will have a Preschool Guide up and running in the new year, too!)

Our Favorite Things to Do in Iowa City: whether you’re new in town or you’ve been here all your life, check out this list of our local favorites!

{out and about}

Mom’s Guide to Indoor Playplaces in the Iowa City Area:  an absolute MUST for this weather!!

Mom’s Guide to Library Story Times in the Corridor:  another MUST for these Iowa winters. Find a friend from the playgroups and meet up at the library!

When and Where Kids Eat FREE (or Cheap) in Iowa City:  if you’re heading out to eat for the holidays, be sure to check this list first!

Kid-Friendly Finds on the Ped Mall:  heading downtown to eat? Check this list before you hit the ped mall!

Top 5 Places to Host a Birthday Party:  looking for a special place or special activity for your little one’s big day? Let us help you with that!

Top 10 Iowa City area parks:  save this list for Spring!  Also, watch the blog in the summer months for our “Park Hop Playdate” series! We’d love to meet up with you!

A Guide to Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches in the Corridor:  we absolutely LOVE our annual trips to the orchard and the pumpkin patch! Watch the blog at the end of summer for dates and times!

2016 Holiday Guide:  check this out for ALL things holidays in the Corridor!  Christmas tree farms, where to shop local, holiday markets and vendor fairs, service opportunities, Santa sightings, and more! We will have it all updated and more added for 2017 when the time comes!

**Please note: many of the above guides can be found all in one place, under “Mom’s Guide to Iowa City” at the top of our website.**

{supporting local moms in business}

As we mentioned, we absolutely LOVE supporting our local “mompreneurs”, AKA moms in business.  We currently have two guides on our site dedicated to these moms, but we have LOTS more planned for 2017!

Photographer Guide: looking for someone to take family photos? Maternity and newborn sessions? Who better than another local mom?? Check out this list for some of our favorites around town.  And, if you are a photographer who is interested in being added to the guide, please contact us at [email protected].

Consultant Business Guide:  looking for some LuLaRoe leggings? Younique mascara? It Works products?  This is your one-stop shop for all of those amazing consultant-led businesses!  Such a great way to support local moms in business!  If you are a consultant and you are interested in being added to the guide, please contact us at [email protected].

{VIP Email List}

If you have not been to an ICMB event yet, we really hope to see you in the new year!  We will have all of our usual events (Moms Night Out, Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Carnival, Bloom/Moms Morning Out, Halloween Bash, and Pancakes & Pajamas), plus a number of other things! The best way to stay up-to-date on upcoming events (aside from following the blog and our social media accounts) is to be added to our VIP email list.  There is no cost or commitment, and we will NOT flood your inbox (the most we will send is 2-3 emails a month).  Our VIPs are the very first to know about upcoming events, and many times we offer a VIP ticket option in advance of regular ticket sales.  To be added to the list, email us at [email protected] and let us know you’d like to be a VIP!

You can also subscribe to the blog (receive the posts in your email inbox), by clicking here.

{Follow ICMB!}

Last but not least, be sure to be following Iowa City Moms Blog on ALL of our social media outlets! You just never know when we will be offering a special giveaway or prize on Facebook or Instagram or even Twitter!  If you aren’t following yet, here are our links!

Facebook   |    Instagram    |     Twitter    |    Pinterest

 

Thank You!! 

Again, we are SO grateful for each and every one of you!  We hope that you find comfort, camaraderie, and friendships here at ICMB.  Our number one goal is to help you say the words “yes, me too!” every time you read our posts or come to our events.  If you have any questions, concerns, or you just want to give us some feedback, please feel free to email us at ANY time! {[email protected]}

Sara
Sara and her husband Matt (sweethearts since they were just 16) got married in 2007, and since then have welcomed four beautiful children (Sam in 2008, Cooper in 2010, Nora in 2012, and Adam James in December 2015). A born-and-raised Iowan, Sara received both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees (in Spanish Literature) from the University of Iowa. She's still teaching Spanish wherever and whenever she can, but her true passion is owning Iowa City Moms and building this community alongside her amazing team. Sara is also the Community Engagement Coordinator for City Mom Collective, and the owner of Cowork Collective downtown Iowa City. Common denominator in all of these jobs: community, community, community.

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