Patch Blog: Local Mompreneur Offers Family, Fun and Fitness in Eagle Rock

Military spouses never cease to amaze me. While the military personnel gets all the glory, the military spouse manages the home and family with equal dedication, focus, and commitment. Is it by chance or divine intervention that people of such similar skills and dedication to purpose tend to come together when one partner enlists? That’s been my experience, anyway, and my friend Jennifer Dipper, of Eagle Rock, is no exception.   

She is the loving mother of two and the wife of a retired Marine. Fiercely dedicated to her family, she says she once put everything on the line to help her family adjust to her husband's Iraq-induced combat injuries. She brings the same focused determination to building businesses that allow her to spend as much time with her family as she possibly can.

I first met “JeniD” when she joined the Meetup for Work@Homers, the networking group about which I’ve blogged previously. I noticed that she listed her hometown as Eagle Rock. While I’m thrilled that Work@Homers has attracted entrepreneurs from across Southern California, I was especially delighted to see that one of Eagle Rock’s own—someone who, in fact, lives just a few blocks from me—had found us on meetup.com. That’s the power of the Internet, the World Wide Web, bringing neighbors together in a fashion that the neighborhood block party and ice cream social once did.

Enthusiastic and generous by nature, JeniD quickly endeared herself to the networking group. When we discovered her expertise in photography, she volunteered to take head shots for all of the Work@Homers, entirely by donation.  She specializes in themed and artistic shoots, such as rockabilly and pin-up, military homecomings and family portraits.

Jennifer is extending her mompreneurial ventures to open the very first Stroller Strides meetup here in Eagle Rock. Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller, and the environment. Taught only by certified instructors, it's a great workout for any level of exerciser.

Jennifer says that she got back in shape very quickly after the birth of her first child because she participated in a Stroller Strides workout on base at Camp Pendleton. When her husband, Sergeant Erik Dipper, medically retired from the Marine Corps., they moved to Eagle Rock, where Jennifer grew up, to be near her family. After the birth of her second child six months ago, she searched for a local Stroller Strides, but found none in the immediate area. 

Rather than complain, Jennifer saw an opportunity. She immediately applied to become a Stroller Strides franchisee, and has pursued this opportunity with all the commitment and dedication of a military spouse. She recently completed all of the required business, safety, and fitness training—and is now a certified Stroller Strides and Fit 4Baby instructor, while maintaining that all-important quality time with her husband and children.

As a result of her inspiration and dedication (drum roll please), Plum Moms Club and Stroller Strides of Eagle Rock will launch on Wednesday, May 9.

The community is invited to the grand opening, a “Celebration of Motherhood, Family, Fitness and Community.” Meet at the (near the playground) for a free Stroller Strides class at 9:30 a.m. or just come for the celebration, between 10:30 and noon.

All moms will receive gift baskets containing samples of nutrition for fit moms and healthy babies (Plum Organics, Luna Bar, Treasure Tea, and Greens To Go) and gift certificates from local merchants (, Kate Santiago Photography, Massage Therapy by Loving Intent, , , , , and Joie LaMonte of LegalShield). 

Jennifer says that she realizes now that the Stroller Strides program at Camp Pendleton was not just about exercise. It also offered a unique opportunity to build close friendships with other parents on base. Says she: “Motherhood is a sisterhood, and I’d like to be part of the supporting sisters of my community." 

When my husband and I moved to Eagle Rock to buy a house and start a family, we knew no one else here, and we had no family in the area. It was back before meetup.com existed, so I started my own sort of meetup, the “First Friday Club,” for other parents of toddlers in the area. Our First Friday Club is still going strong, and we count those same parents and children as our extended family to this day.  If you’re the parent of a young one, looking for exercise and camaraderie, I recommend you hook up with our JeniD. She’s marrying family, fitness, and fun to create a “fit parent” community for Eagle Rock. 

Stroller Strides workouts will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m., and the Plumb Moms Club of Eagle Rock will meet for Mommy-and-me fun on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Plum Moms Club is free and you do not have to join the Stroller Strides workout to participate. For info on the Stroller Strides workouts and location, email Jennifer at jenniferdipper@strollerstrides.net or call her at (800) 676-0236. Click here for more information about the Plum Moms Club of Eagle Rock on their Facebook page. Or click here. Also check out this link for samples of Jennifer's photography.