The Adventures of Willow Moms

Recipes from the Organic and Healthy Eating Variety Show

2010-02-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Our Hostess for the day: Lydia HolFollow these tips for good nutrition:

Avoid foods you have ingredients you can't pronounce.
Beware of low-fat and light foods.
Stick to the outside of the grocery store.
Buy grains in bulk.
Local produce is fresher and cheaper.
Always have a green veggie in your cart. You're more likely to eat it if you get it home.
Use fresh herbs.
Enjoy the simplicity of more plain foods.

Avoid the dirty dozen of fruits and vegetables:
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes

Fun and fresh recipes:

Black- Eyed Pea Salad

1/2 t. fine sea salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
2 T. olive oil
1 t. ground cumin
3 c. chopped peeled tomato (about 2 large)
1/2 c. finely chopped onion
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 (15 oz) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 (6 oz) bag baked pita chips

*Combine salt and garlic in medium bowl; mash with fork until paste consistency. Add vinegar, oil, and cumin, stirring with a whisk. Add tomato and next 4 ingredients (through pepper); toss well. Serve with pita chips.

Avocado Salsa

1 finely chopped medium red onion
2 diced avocado (pick avocados that are about as firm as the palm of your hand)
1 T. fresh lime juice (more if you really like lime...like I do)

*Mix all of the ingredients together and voila!! Serve with Organic Blue Corn Chips

Healthy Eating Poem
By Lydia Hol

Healthy eating is where it's at,
It's time to stop poisoning your body with unhealthy crap,
Strive to buy organic and antibiotic free meat and definitely don't buy SPAM,
Fresh is better than frozen and frozen is better than canned,
Do most of your shopping in the outside aisles,
It will keep you safe from processed, trans fat filled MSG laden food and all things vile,
Buy your grains, trail mixes and beans in bulk,
It will be fun for your kids and your budget won't sulk,
Remember, local produce is cheaper and fresher,
I don't want you to feel overwhelmed, mad, and under lots of pressure,
It might be best to go organic with foods you eat most.
Because pesticide riddled produce and long shelf life foods is something about which your cart shouldn't boast,
Try drinking water instead of pop, sugar filled juices, and diet soda,
Because refined sugar and artificial sweeteners just aren't a good idea,
Try making old recipes with healthier ingredients,
Your kids will love it and think you are an awesome parent,
Don't be overwhelmed and feel like you need to buy all new groceries,
Just slowly replace out of stock items with healthier, better choiceys!

2010-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

JET PACK - What fuels you?

Start the new year with healthy tips and ideas
from our Hy-Vee Dietitian.

Friday, January 15
9:30 to 11:15

Bring a friend!

MOPS CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA

2009-12-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

This Friday
MOPS will be celebrating CHRISTMAS
with

THE BIG
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
GIVEAWAY!

See you there!

2009-11-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

UFO's are coming to MOPS
this Friday!

Bring your UnFinished Objects
for an morning dedicated to finishing projects without the help of little hands!
Bring your baby's book, scrapbooks, Christmas cards, or even laptops!
The church has wifi ready to go!
See there you!!!

2009-11-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

This Friday, a West Des Moines Police Officer will be speaking to our group on safety. It will be a very special, informational meeting that you won't want to miss!

If you have any questions that you would like to ask the Police Officer, please leave them in the comments below. Thanks!

See you on Friday!
Be sure to invite a friend!

MOPS on Friday...smell those pies!

2009-10-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

All right, fall is here
and that can only mean one thing
for my kitchen:
it's APPLE time!

We love to go to the apple orchard
and load up on those beautiful fresh red apples!

Apple pies,
apple bread,
apple crisp,
applesauce,
apple butter...
...we love it all!

What's your favorite fall treat?
Leave a comment and
win a prize on Friday at MOPS!

PLAY DATE CANCELED

2009-10-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

The play date that was scheduled for
Wednesday, October 14 with the trip to
Harvest Barn Marketplace in Osceola
has been canceled due to an unfavorable forecast.
Sorry! We'll plan to play again very soon!

MOPS Playdate

2009-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Meet us tomorrow morning
at 10:00 for a
MOPS Playdate at
Raccoon River Park.
Come to play and bring a sack lunch.
Stay as long as you can and dress warm!
2500 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines

See you there!

Things you just can't believe you said...

2009-09-18T19:41:00.001-07:00

1. "Well, I think it's cold, so you have to wear a coat."

2. "Yay! You made a poopy-poopy!"

3. "The dentist is your friend."

4. "We're big fans of Bob the Builder in our house."

5. "Sweetie, you don't need to lick the cat to give her a bath. She licks herself."

6. "No, I love you more. Up to the sky a trillion zillion quadrillion and one times. So there."

What have you said that you just can't believe you said that as a mom?
Leave a comment and win a prize at our next MOPS meeting!

2009-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

MOMS: Your ship is landing.
THIS Friday
9:30 - 11:15 am

BE THERE!

2009-08-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

2009-04-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's a Cleaning Carnival!
Tired of being suffocated by fumes
every time you clean the bathroom?

Want easy tips for cleaning out
closets and having a garage sale?

Need to be able to see out those
streaky windows to watch the kids?

Dust bunnies taking over your home?

Guests coming over and you need
your home to sparkle?

Really wish you could just hire a maid
to clean up those cheerios
that were just spilled for the 100th time?

We've got help for you!

Come to MOPS tomorrow and hear great infomercials from other moms would have come up with great solutions for cleaning and organizing! We will have TONS of give-aways and every mom will take home their own special homemade, non-toxic cleaners!

9:30 am to 11:15 am

Fireside Room at Willow Creek Baptist Church

See you there!

2009-03-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the next MOPS!

It's a Garden Fest!

Friday, April 3

9:30 am to 11:15 am

A local gardening professional will be giving us tips for success with plants!
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or you're wanting to give gardening a try,
you won't want to miss out on this fun and educational MOPS meeting!
Of course, we'll have plenty of great give-aways and treats!
See you there!

2009-02-17T10:08:00.000-08:00

You are invited to a special Ladies Night Out
on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:30 pm.
Along with other ladies from Willow Creek,
we will be making baby blankets for the
Alpha Women’s Center,
a crisis pregnancy center on the
south side of Des Moines.
Each lady needs to bring at least 2 pieces of
1 to 1 1/2 yards of coordinating fleece pieces for a blanket. Extra pieces will be available if needed.
We will meet in the fireside room, and soup and desserts will be provided.
Last year over 50 blankets were made!
Hope you can join us for this fun night!

2009-02-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Discovering the challenges of being a mom?

Have some questions that need an answer?

Don't miss MOPS this Friday!

We have a super panel of well-seasoned moms that will be on hand to answer our questions and give us guidance on handling these growing up years with our children!
If you have an questions that immediately come to mind, please feel free to email them to Londa at londacrigger@gmail.com. You can also leave a question in the comment section of this blog. Please indicate if the questions are confidential in nature and we will be sure to keep your identity anonymous.

See you Friday!

The Adventure Continues...

2009-01-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

Join us at MOPS on
Friday, February 6 at 9:30 am

Barb Reynolds will be giving us advice
on how we can keep our marriage
as blissful as being on a romantic ride...
The Tunnel of Love!

Has your Loveboat sprung a leak?
Then come, be encouraged!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

2008-12-19T05:42:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

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?"

2008-11-14T19:43:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-10-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Our Blog!

2008-08-30T14:43:00.001-07:00

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!