A Beautiful Mess!

Laundry Pile :)

Hello lovely MOPS mamas! Hannah here. I am very excited to be writing my first official post for the 2013-2014 year as your publicity chair! What a wonderful theme we have this year---A Beautiful Mess! Pictured above is just one of the many messes you'll find around my house these days. Since having our third child, "mess" has certainly grown into a new term all together. It isn't always easy, but I am trying so hard to let things go and do the most important work of mommyhood: playing with my kids! Will you join me as we embrace our messes, and together discover what it means to be content right where we are at! :)

My goal is to write a bi-monthly post on our non-MOPS Wednesdays. The content will vary but a couple things I would like to include regularly are inspiring quotes (don't you just love those?!) and recipes (YUM!).

So let's get things started!
  
Words of Wisdom

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson


Meet New Mom, Kris!

1. Tell us a little about your kiddos.
Gigi is 2.  She is spunky, a natural people person, empathetic and funny.  She has moderate - severe hearing loss and wears hearing aids and that is helping immensely. People comment on her gorgeous super curly hair. Jojo is 5 months and everywhere we go folks comment on her happy smiley demeanor.  She is a laid back joy and lights up when Gigi plays with her. 

2. What do you enjoy about being a mom?
Being a mom is like being filled with love over an over again every day and no matter how much you spend that love always feeling full. :)  My girls make me laugh, bring me joy, make me think about my life and have created a great bond between my husband and me as parents.  They help me see God in this world every day.

3. If you had some kid-free time to yourself, what would you do?
I love spa days and dinners out with my girlfriends. I used to love dancing and pool and might try those again some day. :)

4. What is your favorite dessert?
Dessert - especially with cream cheese. And Chipotle chips.

5. Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Diet coke.

6. How do you de-stress?
I watch trashy television or talk to my hubby or best friends.

7. What is the messiest room in your house?
Our bedroom because I never get to it since no one sees it.





Something Yummy


 In my opinion, there is always room for a little dessert!! :)

Betty Crocker Apple Crisp

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/apple-crisp/3715a45c-3c00-430c-bbe2-9865f9013238

Snickerdoodle Blondies

http://www.myownsweetthyme.com/2010/04/secret-to-soft-snickerdoodles.html
 
 

    

Tried and Good Recipes for Cold Weather

I love to cook and bake.  It seems that this type of weather makes me want to drink lattes and eat pumpkin bread all day.  I just want to cozy up under a blanket and sit with my hot beverage... ha, that does not happen very often with two tots running around and jumping on me!
What do you do so that you can cook dinner with a child/children hanging on your legs?  I would love your ideas and I will post to our blog!  I have been making use of television and play-dough.  That seems to help.  During the summer, I would put a bunch of cups and bubbly water in some buckets and put the girls outside to play.  Now that it is chilly, I am looking for ideas to keep tots occupied other than the famous television.  Any ideas to share?

Here are some recipes I have tried recently that were successful:
A yummy crowd pleaser for the holidays, Paula Deen's Carrot Souffle.  Only need to use half the butter and sugar.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/carrot-souffle-recipe/index.html

Nigella's Greek Lamb Stew, good for the family and leftovers for a few nights!  I served over mashed potatoes instead of pasta and it was yummy.  Feta a must! 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/greek-lamb-stew-recipe/index.html

Betty Crocker's Biscuits, I use butter instead of shortening and add shredded cheese.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/baking-powder-biscuits/e70c261e-066e-434d-8176-6721805a8031

Pork Roast... Easy and delish!!!

Tender Pork Roast in the Slow Cooker

http://www.food.com/recipe/tender-pork-roast-in-the-slow-cooker-334014

• 1 (3 lb) boneless pork roast
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/2 cuplow sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cupbrown sugar
• 2 teaspoonsground mustard

Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F-170 degrees F. Remove roast to a serving platter and keep warm. If desired, skim fat from pan juices and thicken for gravy.