HDNYC’s Holistic Mamas NYC at the Martha Stewart Show

HDNYC's Holistic Mamas NYC Meetup Group at The Martha Stewart Show–front row seats no less! Front to back: Emily, Yuliya, Marci, me, Angela

Yesterday HDNYC’s Holistic Mamas NYC Meetup group had our very first meetup, and it was at the Martha Stewart Show for the first taping of 2010. (For the back story click here.) We had 2 fewer holistic mamas than planned, as one of our mamas had a babysitter snafu, and another of our mamas we believe went into labor. Such is the nature of the business! The five of us who were able to brave yesterday’s bitterly cold New York morning, and make it to the the Chelsea Television Studios where the show tapes, had a great time, and fully enjoyed this only-in-New-York experience.

Martha took questions from the audience after the show taping and before shooting a few promos

Martha had just gotten back from a trip to Thailand, and her energy was lovely. She was a little mischievous (lots of sexual innuendo!) and a lot of fun to see in person. The show actually aired yesterday, just an hour after taping. The set was very impressive, and not not much smaller than you would imagine, which is what I expected from being at other show tapings. We also observed that it really takes a village to put on the Martha Stewart Show, because there were almost as many staffers on the scene as audience members. We got to meet Martha Stewart staffer Laura, who works with the audience and with whom I had been talking to for a few weeks. She made us feel very welcome and we are so appreciative of all that she did to create an uber unique Holistic Mamas NYC inaugural event.

After the show wrapped, the newest mama in the group headed home but the rest of us headed out for a Chinese lunch, hungry from watching the kabocha pumpkin hot pot cooking demo. Here’s the recipe, it looked delicious, and is vegan to boot. We did not leave the show empty handed. We each left with a huge Martha shopping bag loaded with great (free!) products that were featured on the show. In total we received SEVEN things, which makes us very lucky. Our booty included a glass tea kettle and flowering green tea, a hot pot cookbook, a book by a physician who is the technical advisor to the television show House, a copper head scratching device (no, really), Chinese health balls, and a relaxation CD.

Me on the left with HDNYC doula clients Marci & Yuliya

The next event for the Holistic Mamas NYC group will be a Holistic Pregnancy and Childbirth 101 session, once in Brooklyn and once in Manhattan. This group is for mamas-to-be, even if you don’t yet have a bun in the oven. Before you are pregnant is actually the perfect time to start getting educated about all things baby, and we welcome women in all stages of mamahood. If you’re interested in joining the group, we’d love to have you! Registration is free, easy, and online, right here.

Thanks you to the Holistic Mamas who came to the show, Laura at the Martha Stewart Show, and the rest of the wonderful Martha team including the domestic goddess herself. Here’s to many more fun and inspiring events to come!