MOPS IS CANCELED TODAY DUE TO THE WEATHER.
WE'VE RESCHEDULED THIS FUN DAY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 16.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MOPS Merry Go Round Christmas Party!

Brrrrr!!! The weather has gotten so cold, but this Friday,
MOPS is going to be hot, hot, hot!

Don't miss the Merry Go Round MOPS Christmas Party!

There will be hilarious games, marvelous door prizes, delicious food,
and a beautiful gift for everyone!

PLUS, we know how much moms love to shop...

so we're bringing some shopping to you!

Several vendors, artists, and crafters will have tables set up in the gym for you to complete any last minute shopping needs OR buy yourself a great Christmas gift!

The MOPS Christmas Party will kick off at our regular time--9:30 am and last until 11:15 am.

Hope to see you there!

Baby Wipe Container DIY

Here are the directions for the craft we made this past Friday. They all turned out super cute! It's a great gift idea and is also very inexpensive. I know I plan on making this for all the baby showers I go to in the future!

The only places I found the travel sized baby wipe containers were at Wal-Mart (and they are usually all gone!) and Babies R Us and the price is around $1.40 per one. The trim we used (like the kind in the picture above) I found at Hancock and JoAnn Fabrics. The prices range from $.60 to $1.50 per yard and you need about a yard and half per container (though measure before since there are different sized containers). You could also use ribbon for the trim. I noticed that a nice thick fabric worked better and you don't need very much at all.

I cut 2 rectangles out of the fabric and hot glued them to the top and bottom of the container, leaving about an inch or two extra along the sides. Once I had it glued, I trimmed the excess off, leaving enough to at least cover the curve of the container and then some...just keep in mind the width of your trim. Don't glue the fabric all the way up to the edge because it will get too bulky. Then hot glue the edges of the fabric all the way around the container. Take your trim and, starting in the back, hot glue all the way around keeping it right next to the edge of the container. Be careful not to get too close to the edge of the container or you may have troubles opening and closing it. If you do use trim like the picture instead of ribbon, it frays very easily, so when you finsh gluing it in the back, I put a thin line of glue on the very edge to seal it off. Be careful not to smooth out the glue or touch it because it will start to fray and make a big mess!

That's all there is to it! Of course, it would be really cute to add little embelishments like buttons, flowers, or the child's name. If you have any questions on the process, just leave a comment and I'll get back to you. It's a really simple project, but kind of hard to explain. Your first one may not turn out perfect, but you'll get an idea of how to do it and the next ones you do are a lot easier and look even better.

Have fun!

Only A Mom Would Know

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me.
I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and had just recovered from an accident.
Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.
Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea', which was just water.
After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.
My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!'
My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy.
She watches him drink it up.
Then she says, as only a mother would know, "Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is
the toilet?"

It's Craft Time!

Take a trip with us to the souvenir shop as we create fun wipes containers!
We'll also have several great examples on display of other crafts that will make perfect Christmas presents!

Don't miss out!
Friday, December 5
9:30 am to 11:15 am
Bring a friend!

Fuel for the Daily Adventure

At our latest MOPS meeting, we had a great time with Lydia demonstrating how to make homemade granola. Here's the recipe to this wonderful snack we got to enjoy!

Lydia's Homemade Granola Recipe:
2 c. rolled oats (not instant)
1 c. peanuts or toasted almonds
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/2 c. toasted sunflower seeds
1/2 c. coconut
1/4 c. toasted wheat germ (not necessary all the time)
1/4 c. cooking oil (use a flavorless oil like canola or vegetable)
1/2 c. honey (use honey from a local farm)
1/2 c. raisins or craisins
1/2 c. dried fruit of your choice

Mix the oats, nuts, and grains in a large bowl. Measure oil into the measuring cup and swirl it around before pouring into bowl. Then measure out the honey in the same, unwashed cup. The oil will help the honey exit the cup. Toss everything together until evenly coated and then pour out into a baking pan. I use a large roasting pan as it keeps everything contained. A cookie sheet with a lip also works, but you have to stir it slightly more carefully if you use a shallow pan. Bake at 3o0 degrees for 30 minutes, turning it with a spatula every ten minutes or so. You want everything to be golden brown. When granola is finished baking, return the baked granola to the mixing bowl, add the raisins and fruit and stir to combine.

Random tips for great granola:
*Don't use quick oats! Quick oats make granola cluster better but your granola will taste of raw starch. Old fashioned oats will make your granola nice crisp and golden.
*Bake at a low temperature. This helps the cereal to crisp up and brown thoroughly and evenly. The key is to cook granola until it is an impressive golden brown.
*Just a pinch of salt brings out the grains flavors.
*Always add the fruit at the end or in the middle. This will help the cereal not to get soggy.
*Raisins burn easily. Add after baking!

Granola is great eaten with yogurt or your favorite cereal. It can also be given away as gifts (perfect for a hostess gift) or used as a bedtime snack for kids.

Daddy's Gonna Eat Your Fingers

I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed.

At one point she said, "Daddy, look at this" and stuck out two of her fingers.

Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in my mouth and said, "Daddy's gonna eat your fingers" pretending to eat them.

I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.

I said, "What's wrong, honey?"

She replied, "What happened to my booger?"

Power Couples

Did you know that eating specific pairings of healthy foods can make them even more nutritious? Some vitamins and mineral feed off of others, letting your child absorb more. Serve up these super combos.Strawberries and Whole Wheat Toast
The vitamin C in strawberries converts the iron in whole-wheat bread to a form that cells can absorb.
Oatmeal and Milk
The magnesium in oats increases the amount of calcium your child gets from the milk by keeping it from binding to fiber and other nutrients.

Olive Oil and Veggies
Spritz spinach, green peppers, squash, and dark greens with olive oil. This healthy fat helps your child absorb the veggies' antioxidants.


Chicken and Carrots
Don't save chicken soup for sick days -- and always include carrots. The zinc in chicken helps the body metabolize the carrots' vitamin A.

**Taken from Parents / October 2008

Fuel for the Daily Adventure

Being a natural in the kitchen and having a drive to eat healthy makes our next speaker a natural fit for our next adventure: healthy snacks!

Lydia Hol will be giving us tips and demonstrating recipes for healthy snacks that our kids will love!

Don't miss the next MOPS:
Friday, November 7
9:30 to 11:15 am.

Autumn Adventure

Autumn Adventure

Friday, October 17

9:30 to 11:15

Come for a fun-filled morning of exciting games, fall crafts, and yummy treats for moms and kids!

If you give a mom a muffin...

If you give a mom a muffin,
she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her
she has to plan supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook.
(101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two-year-old.
While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Perky Playdough

Here's my tail of the Perky Playdough from MOPS:

I was hoping it would happen like this. I love surprises for Cloe!

Into the fridge it went to "settle" for awhile. So of course, we had to make...

Now we're all set to play!

This playdough kind of scared me at first. We had just handed out 30-some kits to a lot of moms--moms we want to come back, moms we like, moms we care about, moms we want to like us...you know. We wanted this playdough to be COOL! So, I went home and set to making it (maybe this should have been a step taken a few weeks ago...). As we stirred it up, it sort of stayed as this weird gloppy goo mess. Then when we put it in the bag, it started to take on a little firmer texture. Thankfully after cooling in the refrigerator, it works just like playdough!

I think tomorrow we may try *G*R*E*E*N*!

Perky Playdough
1 c. flour
1 T. cream of tartar
1/4 c. salt
1 package Kool-Aid (any flavor)
1 T. vegetable oil
1 c. boiling water
Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil. Pour in boiling water.
Mix thoroughly. Wrap in a plastic bag or place in an
airtight container. Store in refrigerator.

Do you have a Perky Playdough Tale to share? Please post!!!

KIDS EAT FREE!

Celebrate Family Time Together

With family budgets stretched tighter than ever, these restaurants are helping to make it a little easier to bring the family together around the dinner table for fun time!eat free every Wednesday night at Shane's Rib Shack.

MONDAYS
Barattas (South Union) - Kids eat free Sun - Thurs with the purchase of an adult meal.
The Club Car - Kids eat free Mon and Tues from 5 to close with the purchase of an adult meal.
IHOP (Ankeny) - One kid easts free for each adult meal purchased from open to close on Mon.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
Maxie's - Mondays kids eat for $.99 from 4 p.m. to close.
Spaghetti Works - Kids eat free on Mon.

TUESDAYS
B&B - Kids 10 and under eat free on Tues.
Bakers Square - Kids eat free all day Tues with purchase of an adult meal.
Barattas (South Union) - Kids eat free Sun - Thurs with the purchase of an adult meal.
Bennigans - Tues kids eat free with purchase of adult meal, 4 to close.
Carlos O'Kelly's - $2 & $2.50 discount on kids meals for each adult meal purchased.
Champps - Tues 2 kids eat free for each adult meal purchased from 6 - 9.
The Club Car - Kids eat free Mon and Tues from 5 to close with the purchase of an adult meal.
Fazoli's - $.99 kids meals from 5 to 8 every Tues.
Fuddruckers - One free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal on Tues evenings.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
Hy-Vee (Windsor Heights) - Kids eat for $.99 on Tues.
Hy-Vee (Jordan Creek Parkway) - Kids eat for $.99 with an adult on Tues from 4 to 8.
Kriegers Hometown Sports Grill - Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal all day Tues.
Lonestar Steakhouse - Two kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal all day.
Murphy's Bar & Grill -Tues kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal from 5 to 8.
Perkins -Tues kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal all day.
Pizza Hut - For each paying adult, one child 10 and under eats free at the buffet, 5:30 to 7:30.
Pizza Ranch - For each paying adult, one child 8 and under eats free on Tues evenings.
Trophy's Sports Bar & Grill - Kids eat free on Tues.

WEDNESDAYS
Applebees - Wed is $.99 kids' meals, 4 to close
Barattas (South Union) - Kids eat free Sun - Thurs with the purchase of an adult meal.
IHOP (Douglas Ave.) - One kid eats free for each adult meal purchased from 4 to 10 on Wed.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
McDonalds - All metro locations offer reduced-price Happy Meals (From $1.69 to $2.00 depending on store) on Wed.
Shane's Rib Shack - Kids 10 & under eat free all day with the purchase of an adult meal.

THURSDAYS
Barattas (South Union) - Kids eat free Sun - Thurs with the purchase of an adult meal.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
Mama Lacona's - Thurs kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
West End Diner - One kids meal free for each purchase of an adult meal on Thurs evenings

FRIDAYS
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).

SATURDAYS
Daytona's - Kids eat free all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
Z'Mariks Noodle Cafe - Two kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal all day.

SUNDAYS
Barattas (South Union) - Kids eat free Sun - Thurs with the purchase of an adult meal.
Bostons - Sundays kids meals are $1.99.
Daytona's - Kids eat free all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Fireside Grill (Altoona) - Kids eat free every Sunday.
Jason's Deli - $1.99 kids menu everyday with free ice cream (includes take-out).
Legends - Kids eat free all day on Sunday's with the purchase of an adult meal.
Okoboji Grill - Sundays kids eat free all day with the purchase of an adult meal.
Planet Sub - Sundays kids eat free all day with the purchase of an adult meal.
Qdoba - Free kids meal with purchase of an adult meal on Sundays.
Spaghetti's - Kids eat free all day on Sunday.


My favorite deal: Bandit Burritos on Merle Hay Road in Johnston has a family meal: $18.99 for 2 adult burritos, 2 kids meals, and 4 sodas. This place is locally owned, has the friendliest staff, and their food is amazing! If you like Qdobas or Pancheros, you'll LOVE Bandit Burritos! Try it out!

Welcome to Our Blog!

Hi Moms!
This blog has been started to give us a centralized location to share all sorts of fun things! Check back often--you won't want to miss out!