Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Tuesday Tunes

A must-watch mommy video!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Mommy and Me Monday: Sticks and Stones Snack Mix

Hello, MOPS moms! Today I am sharing a quick and easy recipe for a snack mix that I “discovered” recently. This recipe is from the September 2009 issue of Family Fun magazine.

I don’t know about you, but my boys are STARVING after school. Instead of spending money on pre-packaged snacks, this year I’m going to try to save money and the environment by making up a batch of snack mix on Sundays that the boys can have after school throughout the week. Of course I will also have other healthy choices on hand such as fresh fruit, yogurt, etc. I agree with what Jacque wrote a few weeks back. If you only make healthy choices available to your children, then that’s what they will eat. It’s worked pretty well in our house. If we happen to bring chips or cookies into the house, that is what they want to eat. So........we really try to limit how often we buy those items.

What I love about this snack mix (aside from the fact that it tastes really, really good!) is that it’s not too sweet, I know exactly what is in it, and the ingredients are pretty good from a nutritional standpoint. My boys love to make this with me. Here is the recipe:

Sticks and Stones

Ingredients:
4 T. butter
¼ cup frozen orange or apple juice concentrate
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
3 cups Quaker Oatmeal Squares
2 cups pretzel sticks
1 ½ c. whole almonds
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place the butter, juice concentrate, and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 45 seconds to melt the butter. Stir in the cinnamon.

Place the oatmeal squares, pretzels, and almonds in a large bowl. Pour the melted-butter mixture over it and stir to coat.

Bake, stirring every 10 minutes, until the mixture is dry to the touch, about 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven and stir in the dried fruit. Let mix cool completely before storing it in airtight container. Makes about 7 cups.

My cooking notes: Obviously you can substitute ingredients in or out depending on your family’s preferences. The first time I made this all the Craisins were left in the bottom, so I omitted those in my second batch. Also, the second time I made it I didn’t have juice concentrate and I also didn’t even have any juice in the house! I just added some water to the butter/brown sugar mixture and it worked fine. Other cereals could easily be substituted for the Quaker Oatmeal Squares.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Printable Lunch Box Bible Verse Cards

Head over to Cap Creations and take advantage of the free printable lunch box cards that are available. Many of us have kids in school and these are great notes to include for your kiddos each day. There is also a link for note cards and joke cards that are available as well.

Beauty Inside and Out Thursday Tip



Thursday’s Beauty Inside and Out Tip of the Week

As summer comes to a close, here’s one last summer-look tip:

Fun summer-look tinted mascara. Apply 2 coats of mascara & while the mascara is still wet, simply select a vibrant eyeshadow: blue, purple green etc. Dip your finger in the eyeshadow of your choice and blot onto the tips of the lashes. You have to use a vibrant shadow or it won't show up.

Enjoy the last few weeks of warm weather!

Tiffany Harger
www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com

2010-2011 Steering Team

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Free Family Fun

The Glenwood Davies Amphitheater has two free shows this weekend for the community.

August 27th 7 PM- USAF Brass in Blue (Free Show)

Back again by popular demand, this fantastic group is composed of eleven brass players, one percussionist and one vocalist. Brass In Blue inspires the hearts and minds of military and civilian audiences wherever they perform. The group's repertoire includes classical, pop, marches, jazz, original compositions and patriotic favorites. You won't want to miss this one!

August 29th 7 PM Glenwood Community Band (Free Will Offering)

What better way to wrap up our summer season than a night of great concert band music provided by Glenwood's own. The band will perform a broad selection of music that is sure to entertain everyone.

Tuesday Tunes

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Mommy and Me Monday

Hi, MOPS moms! My name is Laura Lambert. I LOVE MOPS! I was one of the moms who started Grace UMC MOPS in 2005. At that time my youngest son, Sam, was only a few months old. Last week he started kindergarten! Time flies when you are raising little ones, doesn’t it?

I am planning to write a weekly post for the MOPS website called, “Mommy and Me Monday.” In it I will share simple ideas of things you can do with your children. While it’s important for us to do little things to enrich the lives of our children, I feel that it’s equally important for us to go easy on ourselves and be realistic about what we can reasonably accomplish as moms. In no way do I want anyone to read my posts and feel bad if they don’t have time to do the project or activity. I certainly don’t do daily or even weekly projects with my two boys. But I do enjoy surfing the internet late at night and finding fun ideas.

I tend to go in spurts where I may do many activities with my children over the course of a few weeks and then many weeks may pass before we do something “planned” together. I know I’m rambling, but I really did want to emphasize the importance of just relishing the time you have with your children and not feeling badly if time constraints don’t allow you to do all the things I post about. If it helps, just remember that I am probably not even doing all the ideas even though I’m the one writing about them!

To give you a little background on me............I am a Glenwood-ite born and raised. I lived in Iowa City for 14 years before moving back to Glenwood in 2001. I am a teacher and am just starting my 20th year as a professional educator. I am currently the director and head teacher of Holy Rosary Montessori Preschool here in Glenwood. I have two sons. One is almost 9 and has just started third grade at West Elementary and my youngest is 5. He just started kindergarten at Northeast Elementary. I have been married for 17 years. My husband is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise Science department at Creighton University in Omaha. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, blogging, and being with my family. I write two blogs. One is about our family life. For the past two years I have planned special activities to do with the boys during Advent. Those ideas are posted on the personal blog if you are interested. My other blog is about my Montessori classroom. I post pretty much every activity that I place on my classroom shelves. Many, if not all, of these activities could be adapted for use with your young children at home. The links for these blogs are: http://www.adayofwonders.blogspot.com and http://www.mymontessorijourney.typepad.com I would love to have you stop over and visit.

OK.......enough about me! Today’s activity idea is super simple. It is called “Card Puzzles.” To do this project just find some greeting cards with images you like. You may have a stash of cards already. Otherwise, the dollar stores are a great resource. Cut off the front of the card. This will be the base for your puzzle. Then cut the card into several pieces either with scissors or a scrapbooking trimmer. Voila! Now your child has a puzzle to put together. For very young children, cut only 3 or 4 pieces. Older children, of course, could handle more pieces. Kally’s General Store here in Glenwood (on the square) has some adorable teeny tiny cards. I think they were only 79 cents each. This would be a great way to find another purpose for cards your child receives for their birthday or leftover Christmas cards. Amber and I both tried to get photos to post but weren't able to and wanted to get this posted. So.........hopefully we'll have better luck with the next Mommy and Me post as far as photos go.
Mother's of Preschoolers OPEN HOUSE

Wednesday August 25th, 2010

6:30 PM

Grace United Methodist Church- Glenwood

Contact Monica or Christie for more info!

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, August 21, 2010

How to be a Good Mom- Instructions


How to be a Good Mom
Difficulty: Challenging

Things You'll Need:
Love
Patience
Respect
Responsibility
Goals
Traditions
Influence
Kindness

Instructions:
1.
Love your children no matter what they do. They show to others what they are given, and love is the most important gift you can give them! Hugs and kisses are mandatory. Hug them no matter how "old" they may think they are. Everyone needs hugs to survive.

2.
Be patient when they spill the milk and get cookie crumbs on your brand new carpet. Count to ten and breathe. It's often hard not to yell. All mothers yell at some point and if you don't, you shouldn't be reading this! Train yourself to count. It might not save tears, but it will save pain.

3.
Respect your children and they will respect you. Appreciate the things they do for you, and they will do them more often. Rewards and praises for jobs and tasks well done will teach them that working hard, being a good person, and doing it all unconditionally is key to sustaining a great life.

4.
Show your children you are a responsible person by working, providing for them and caring for their needs. This will teach them to do the same for their families in the future. Building a loving home for a child is the ultimate responsibility. Cherish the moments of family and show your children how much you are willing to do for them.

5.
Have goals for your children, your family and yourself. Involve your family in your goals, teach them to make goals of their own and challenge them to achieve them. For example, if they want a new toy and it's not close to Christmas or a birthday, have them do a few extra chores around the house they don't normally do to earn the toy. If your son or daughter is great at a sport or school encourage them to go the distance and beyond. Support the team, reward excellence and participate in their achievements.

6.
Pass on traditions to your children. Some families have holiday traditions, others have daily traditions. Teach your children about your family history. Cook old family recipes together, try a family craft project or plan a party together. Keeping family traditions alive keeps the family close.

7.
Influence your children to be the best they can be. Talk to them, learn what they want out of life and answer their questions. Children would much rather hear about life from people they love and trust than from complete strangers or friends. Your children will love and respect you more for talking with them, not to them.

8.
Be kind to your children. They are born innocent. Keep them that way as long as possible. Treat your children with dignity, respect and love and they will treat you with the same!

By Jami Mack, eHow Contributor

Offutt Air Show- Free Family Fun!

Offutt Air Force Base is hosting the "Defenders of Freedom" Open House and Air Show at the base on August 28th-29th. It is free and open to the public. Gates are scheduled to open at 9 a.m.

Check out their site for more info here.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday's Fit Focus


Children Learn What You Eat

There is a wonderful poem written by Dorothy Law Nolte called “Children Learn What They Live.” It’s a sort of cause and effect list that follows the pattern, “If children live with [X], they learn [Y].” It is an inspiring poem to me as a parent, and I had the pleasure of hearing the author read it at a conference once.

One of the things that Ms. Nolte didn’t include in her poem, however, is what happens when children live with good nutrition. I wouldn’t expect her to have included it, of course. She focused on more philosophical issues, although healthy eating does tie in with many pressing concerns in today’s society.

We need to model a healthy lifestyle to our children, and that includes healthy eating. A few years ago, researchers made some shocking discoveries. Let me share a couple of the headlines from that time: “Children’s Life Expectancy Being Cut Short by Obesity” (Pam Belluck, March 15, 2005, New York Times) and “Life Expectancy to Drop For First Time in 1,000 Years” (Jacqueline Maley and Mark Todd, March 18, 2005, Sidney Morning Herald). This is—pardon the pun—heavy stuff. Why is this happening, and what can we do about it?

According to the American Obesity Association’s website, there is only one cause of obesity that can’t be helped, and that is genetics. The other contributors like sedentary lifestyles (thank you, TV, computers, and video games), general inactivity, and poor nutritional choices are completely modifiable. Easy? Not necessarily, but isn’t our children’s health worth the effort?

A pediatrician friend and I often talk about nutrition because I am determined to teach my children to enjoy healthy food in spite of today’s focus on convenience. Unfortunately, convenient often equals unhealthy. But my choices are become my children’s choices. Our pediatrician often comments that he gets frustrated with parents who complain that their children won’t eat vegetables, yet they quickly offer very unhealthy options as a back-up. He submits that we’re just teaching our kids that all they have to do is whine a little to get the junk they know Mom and Dad have stashed away somewhere. So, he says, offer only healthy food and that’s what our kids will learn to eat—and like. Remember the season of Survivor when the team of starving players ate cooked rats out of sheer desperation, then commented on how surprisingly palatable they were? It’s amazing how tastes change when it’s rat (or green beans) or nothing.

So, that doesn’t sound too hard…in theory. But we’re also up against marketing, which is a powerful force in America. What I call Kid Food is big business here, and it’s pretty much all junk. Look at a kids’ menu in a restaurant and you see fried chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and corn dogs. Oh, and by the way, they’re nice enough to throw in fries with the main course. I asked in a restaurant recently if I could substitute some veggies for the fries in my daughter’s meal and the server’s response was, “Not on the kids’ menu.” Are you kidding me? And what about the food in the grocery store that targets our youngsters? Those prepared lunches, for example, offer such things as pizza rolls, tacos and nachos, and even cinnamon rolls.

Here is where we come back to Ms. Nolte’s poem. We have to resist the sweet pull of convenience-in-a-box and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants dining or our kids are going to continue to suffer. Their lives are already expected to be shorter than the previous generation’s, and according to Belluck’s article, by as much as five years. So, if we eat burgers and fries, pizza, and fried chicken every night, that’s what we’re teaching our kids to eat. If for a snack, we munch on chips or ice cream, how can we expect our kids to ask for an apple? If we grab a Snickers at the checkout in the grocery store, we can’t respectably refuse our kids candy on the grounds that it’s unhealthy. It is not just about presenting our children with healthy food, but eating it ourselves in front of them (and for that matter, when they’re not around too).

I need daily motivation to make the right food choices. In fact, it’s more like an hourly requirement. But knowing that modeling healthy eating to my children may literally decrease her chances of developing nasty things like heart disease and diabetes, and ultimately will support a long life is just the motivation I need.

Jacque Butler is the owner of JB Fitness in Glenwood, Iowa. www.jbfitnessiowa.com For tips on fitness & nutrition, you can follow JB Fitness on Facebook.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Bible Study for Moms


MOPS will be starting an optional bible study group on Thursday September 14th. The group will meet on Tuesdays at 9:30 at Grace UMC. Childcare will be available for a small fee.

The book is available for a discount of $10 and titled Make Over- Revitalizing the Many Roles You Fill. It is from the series "Modern Girl's Bible Study" by Jen Hatmaker. This first bible study should take about 6 weeks to cover.

The back of the book says...

"As women, we have an innate ability to multitask. Every day we juggle the roles of wife, mother, professional, counselor, and everything in between -- possibly during the same hour. Yet being all things to all people can leave us feeling burned-out and discouraged, making us want to lose the Day-Timer and find the chocolate. Author Jen Hatmaker presents Make Over, a spiritual pick-me-up for girls on the go. In this six-week study, you'll meet women from the Bible who balanced their sanity with great expectations. With her infectious humor and honest voice, Jen shares insights that will help you manage your time, set boundaries, and organize your world. It's a girl's guide to graceful living.

You can find more info on the author on http://www.jenhatmaker.com/.

Questions about this new group can contact Deena at deena@darmedia.com

Thursday's Beauty Inside and Out Tip of the Week


Foundation creasing around the eyes and laugh lines?

NEVER apply foundation with your fingers! Unwanted oil and bacteria will be added to the product and your face. Using a cosmetic wedge, apply foundation in the T'Zone & blend using a stippling technique.

Avoid under the eyes and laugh lines. Swipe what is left on the wedge gently over the rest of the face to blend the pigments together.

For even better results, try a makeup primer. Using a cosmetic wedge, smooth on a layer of primer after applying your daily moisurizer. Look for a primer that has hyaluronic filling spheres and peptides to “plump up” the fine lines.

Enjoy!

Tiffany Harger
www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Keg Creek Days- Event Info

SIDEWALK PARADE FOR ALL AGES AT KEG CREEK DAYS

A parade for people in costume walking or riding decorated bicycles, tricycles, big wheels, wheel chairs, or battery operated cars will be held Saturday, August 28th, at 1:30 PM. Registration begins at 12:30 PM at the Keg Creek Days tent at the Glenwood Lake Park. No enter fee is required. Prizes and trophies will be given in 3 different age groups, 1-5 years, 5 to 14 years, and 14 year and up. There is NO age limit and all ages are encouraged to participate. There are three decorating categories to choose from: Patriotic, Black and Gold, or a theme of your choice. If you need help with decorating your vehicle, the Mothers of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) will be there to assist you from noon until parade time. Anyone with questions, please call Terry Craig at 520-3656.


BABY AND TODDLERS CONTEST, Saturday, August 28th TIME CHANGE

This year, we have 4 categories for small children to enter. Best smile, Best look-a-like (can be a mother, father, etc.), Prince and Princess of Keg Creek. Best smile and the look-a-like divisions are for newborns to 36 months. The Prince and Princess must be 24 to 48 months old and live in the Glenwood School District. They must also be available to ride in a car for the Homecoming Parade, October 1. 2010. Registration starts at 10:00 AM and the judging will begin at 11:00 AM in Shelter B. Trophies and prizes will be awarded. There are no entry fees. Any questions, please call Terry Craig, 520-3656.

Get to Know Your Steering Team- Carla- Hospitality

1. How many children do you have and what are their ages? Riley 6 and Ashton 4 3/4

2. How long have you been married? 14 Years

3. How long have you lived in Glenwood? 3 1/2 Yrs

4. Do you have family around here? Cousin Holly & her girls in Glenwood, Aunt Connie in Essex & several Aunts, Uncles & cousins in Omaha

5. What is one invention that would make your life easier? A real life "Easy Button"

6. The latest book or movie that made you cry? The Lovely Bones

7. Besides being a mother, what accomplishment are you most proud of? College Degree

8. A creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature? Reeses Peanut Butter Cup

9. What are your hidden talents? I'm pretty untalented.

10. The best piece of advide you actually followed? Start a family

11. The best thing you ever bought or borrowed? Dyson Vacuum

12. Do you feel best in jeans & tshirts or skirt and blouse? Most definitely jeans and t-shirts!!

13. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be? Bret Michaels

14. Time Travel: where, when, and why? Denison IA..December 28th, 1988..The day Luke Charles was born..to hold him again.

15. Stress Management: hit man, spa vacation, or Prozac? Tie between hit man and Prozac

16. Environment of choice: city or country and where on the map? Country...here, small town Iowa

17. What is a project you are working on now? Tom's honey-do list (he can't seem to find time to work on it)

18. What is the messiest room in your house? The toy room

19. Which household helper do you want most: cook, housekeeper, nanny, personal trainer? housekeeper

20. Dream job? Professional Chef

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

Keg Creek Days Schedule

Keg Creek Days 2010

Saturday, August 28- Glenwood Lake Park

10:00AM Plowing Demonstration by the Keg Creek Antique Machinery Club
Located ¼ mile south of McDonald’s on the East side of the road

Programs move to the Glenwood Lake Park

11:00AM to 3:30PM Pies for Pie Baking Contest register at Museum

10:00AM to 11:00AM Register for Baby Contest, Keg Creek Tent

11:00AM Baby Contest, sponsored by MOPS Shelter B

11:00AM - 5:00PM Children’s Games*, Craft & Information booths, Food Stands *

Noon Mills County Museum, Earth Lodge, & Oregon Trail Encampment open

12:30PM Registration for Sidewalk Parade at the Keg Creek Tent

NOON - 1:00PM Register for Evans Eqpt. Lawnmower Poker Run at Kegler Lounge*

1:00 to 5:00PM Lawnmower Poker Run Ends at Kegler Lounge

1:30PM Sidewalk Parade on sidewalk from the Museum to the Amphitheater+

4:00PM Pie Judging Contest in the Artifact Room at the Museum

Programs move to the Davies Amphitheater

7:00PM – Generations of Rock N’ Roll*

Sunday, Aug 29-Glenwood Lake Park

All Day – Antique Machinery Show & Shine, Craft and Information Booths, Heritage Demonstrations, Native American Displays, Farm Toy Show, Farm Equipment Swap Meet, Food Stands, Raffles, and Games

7:00AM Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at Museum Machinery Hall (inside)*

8:30AM – Downhome Dulcimers with Gospel music at Machinery Hall

10:00AM - Noon – Pam Millsap and the Ramblin’ Country Band Shelter B

10:00AM Tractor Games by Keg Creek Antique Machinery Club

NOON Registration for Pedal Tractor Pull (Myers Pedal Tractor Pulls) at Barn

NOON Mills County Museum, Earth Lodge & Encampment opens until 4:00PM

12:30PM Pedal Tractor Pull

2:00PM Parade of Power (Tractors) Thru the Park

2:30PM Auction Pies and Announce Raffle Winners (After Parade of Power) at shelter north of the Museum

3:00PM – Silver Creek Cloggers at Shelter B

4:00PM – Go Ducky Go Race* Location to be Announced

7:00PM – Davies Amphitheater – Community Band Free Will Donation

Come and join us for a fun weekend
*Some events will require fees. +Prizes will be awarded for some events.
For Plow Day Information Call: John Pitzer 712-527-3194
For Tractor Club Information Call: Dan Sargent 712-527-5127
For Toy Show and Swap Meet Call: Lou Jenson 712-520-3587
For Keg Creek Vendor information: Lou Jenson 712-520-3587
For Other Keg Creek Days Information Call: Terry Craig 712-520-3656

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Get to Know Your Steering Team- Roni- Creative Events

1. How many children do you have and what are their ages? 3 children 1 boy and 2 girls

2. How long have you been married? 2 yrs

3. How long have you lived in Glenwood? 16yrs

4. Do you have family around here? yes; my mom, a sister, 2 brothers, in-laws and a host of nieces and nephews

5. What is one invention that would make your life easier? a vacuum, broom, and mop in one

6. The latest book or movie that made you cry? The last Song-book Extrodinary Measures-movie

7. Besides being a mother, what accomplishment are you most proud of? being able to accomplish school.

8. A creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature? I would have to say the Effile Tower ( I'm just impressed with the characteristics and detail)

9. What are your hidden talents? I really am unable to think of a huge talent the only thing that comes to mind is felxability.

10. The best piece of advide you actually followed? Find time for you and your spouse because you both come first to make a happy home.

11. The best thing you ever bought or borrowed? ???

12. Do you feel best in jeans & tshirts or skirt and blouse? I feal better in a blouse and jeans

13. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be? If I could take two it would be my mom and husband but do to taking one it would be my mom

14. Time Travel: where, when, and why? I really would like to time travel to the future to see what things there are to try to change them now.

15. Stress Management: hit man, spa vacation, or Prozac? spa vacation

16. Environment of choice: city or country and where on the map? country and in England

17. What is a project you are working on now? Graduation dvd ideas , scrapbooks for my little brother and Christmas card dvds

18. What is the messiest room in your house? Today I have to say the messiest room in my house is the pantry do to organization and recycling that needs to be moved. Usually the shoe closet.

19. Which household helper do you want most: cook, housekeeper, nanny, personal trainer?
I would love to have a personal trainer for my husband and a dietitian cook for myself

20. Dream job? A pediatric radiologist with an under grad in child philosophy

Friday, August 13, 2010

Mom's Got Talent

Calling all moms!!! Do you have talent you would like to share with our MOPS group?


We currently have blog writers on fitness, fun with kids, make up tips....do you have something that you would like to write a feature on?


Do you have a talent you would like to like to share with a mini-class? Some examples would be knitting, quilting, cake decorating, photography, painting, woodworking, creating a family blog, scrapbooking, ceramics, crafts, gardening etc!


Email Amberloo22@aol.com if you have an idea for us!

Friday's Fit Focus by Jacque Butler


11 Motivators for Moms to Exercise

M odeling a healthy lifestyle to your child(ren).
A bdominals that don’t scream “POSTNATAL!!!”
K eeping only one size of clothes in your closet, thus creating more space for shoes.
E nergy to be the best mom you can be.

T reating yourself guiltlessly to dessert now and then.
H eart disease prevention. Exercise lowers the risk of the #1 killer of women and men in the US.
E xiting a room without wondering if people can see the cellulite through your slacks.

T ime spent blissfully focused on you.
I ntimate encounters with your partner with the lights ON.
M aking friends who like you even when you smell like sweat.
E ndorphins.
Jacque Butler is the owner of JB Fitness in Glenwood, Iowa. http://www.jbfitnessiowa.com/ For tips on fitness & nutrition, you can follow JB Fitness on Facebook.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Back to School Traditions


Many of us have little ones who are starting preschool or kindergarten for the very first time. It can be a bittersweet time for us as moms. Here are a few links with some great ideas for back-to-school traditions.

*Leave us a comment on this post if you have any memories of back-to-school traditions you did when you were a child or what you do/ plan on doing with your children.



Thursday's Beauty Inside and Out Tip

Hey all MOPS Moms!

I am looking forward to writing a Thursday Beauty Inside and Out tip for the Glenwood MOPS website.

We are all busy moms and sometimes taking care of ourselves is the last priority on the list. My hope is to give you all quick little tips that can help you look and feel your best!

As summer comes to a close, this is a great tip for those using a tanning cream for the body but having trouble matching the face:

Use a large fluff brush, load with a bronzer (2-3 swirls), immediately load a mineral makeup & apply working quickly over entire face! NO KHABUKI brushes! You can always top off with bronzer as well, but this is a one application trick.

Enjoy a fresh sun-kissed look!

Tiffany Harger
www.tiffanyharger.myarbonne.com

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Open House Reminder

Reminder!! The MOPS Open House is two weeks from today! Be sure to mark your calendar to attend on August 25th at 6:30.
Please call Monica at 527 3351 or
Christie at 527 3641 with any questions!
Hope to see you soon!


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Keg Creek Days

Mark your calendar for August 28th & 29th and plan to attend the Keg Creek Days celebration at the Glenwood Lake Park and Mills County Historical Museum.

A complete schedule will be posted soon, but the events include a bicycle sidewalk parade, baby contest, antique farm machinery, heritage demonstrations, pie baking contest, bingo, food booths, pancake feed, crafts and more!

Several of the MOPPETS kids have taken home a trophy from the Sidewalk parade!

Get your MOPPETS ready for their chance to be The Prince and Princess of Keg Creek!

New Website- MomsEveryday.com

Be sure to check out the new site MomsEveryday.com . Be sure to select the Omaha area.

A few things I liked was the easy access to recent recalls and the Kids Eat Cheap section on the lower right.

Book Club

The MOPS Book Club group will be reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. We will meet at Melissa A.'s house and carpool to the movie this time instead of a book discussion.
Feel free to join in to Book Club anytime or just meet up with us to see the movie!

Montessori Preschool


The Holy Rosary Pre-Primary Montessori program has a small number of openings and would like to invite your child to pursue a Montessori learning experience.

For further information on the non-denominational program, please contact the Holy Rosary office at 527 5211.

You are also welcome to visit My Montessori Journey to see some of the activities the children do.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday's Fit Focus with Jacque Butler



Eating Well in a Nutshell

When people ask me questions related to health and wellness, most often the subject has to do with food. It makes sense; not everyone exercises, but everyone does eat. And I’m glad there is interest in nutrition because—and I know I sound like a broken record to those who know me—diet is 80% of weight loss and management. We really are what we eat.

Here are my most basic and general tips on eating well. (In weeks to come, we’ll drill down into the specifics of this stuff.)

1. Surround yourself with nutrient-dense foods. Don’t buy the junk. We are a society that thrives on convenience. If what’s convenient, meaning right there in your fridge, is healthy, that’s what you’ll most often eat. And there’s nothing easier than grabbing an apple from the fridge.



2. Stop making excuses. You can find a reason every day to “make an exception” and eat junk. It’s someone’s birthday (cake), it’s the Fourth of July (hot dogs and chips), it’s the last day of school (ice cream), it’s my vacation (free for all), the kids have a game/dance/karate/piano (Pizza Hut delivery), Girls’ Night Out (chips & salsa and margaritas), etc. All of those exceptions add up to a diet full of junk…and weight gain.



3. Eat mindfully. I’m not saying our diets must be perfect all the time. But I do suggest really thinking through the cheats. Is it worth it to you…really? Is the food you’re about to eat truly delicious? How much do you need to satisfy the craving? Are you eating more than that? If the answer to the first two questions is yes, then go for it. But pay attention to the second two questions as well.



4. Portion control is really important, but when you’re eating truly nutritious food, you can eat a lot! There is practically no limit to how many fresh, raw veggies you can eat, so go for it!



5. Drink water! Thirst gives many of the same signals as hunger, so if you’re well hydrated, you won’t feel as hungry. Additionally, water is what our bodies need above everything else. Being well-hydrated will increase function in many areas.



6. Eat small meals throughout the day. You must fuel the metabolic fires! This will also help you avoid the super hungry/super full cycle. Feeling generally satisfied throughout the day feels good.



7. Avoid sugar. We are conditioned to believe fat is the culprit, but in fact our bodies need healthy fats. We don’t need sugar. As my former trainer bluntly put it, “Sugar makes you fat.”

This is barely skimming the surface; there will be more details to come!

Best in health & happiness!





Jacque Butler is the owner of JB Fitness in Glenwood, Iowa. http://www.jbfitnessiowa.com/ For tips on fitness & nutrition, you can follow JB Fitness on Facebook.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Get to Know Your Steering Team- Deena- Finance & Registration

1. How many children do you have and what are their ages? 3 girls -- ages 13, 11, 3

2. How long have you been married? 17 years +/-

3. How long have you lived in Glenwood? 6 years

4. Do you have family around here? Yes, my little sister lives in Omaha.

5. What is one invention that would make your life easier? a robot that cleans the house & does laundry

6. The latest book or movie that made you cry? Letters to Juliet

7. Besides being a mother, what accomplishment are you most proud of? the missions & internships that I did in Southeast Asia and South Africa

8. A creative masterpiece you wish bore your signature? the new Ground Zero memorial

9. What are your hidden talents? I know shorthand.

10. The best piece of advice you actually followed? An older woman once told me that she regrets all the time she spent cleaning her house and making it perfect because she feels like she missed out on some amazing times with her children. She told me to spend quality time with my girls because they're only little once.

11. The best thing you ever bought or borrowed? a dishwasher

12. Do you feel best in jeans & tshirts or skirt and blouse? sweats

13. Your dinner guest at the Ritz would be? my hubby

14. Time Travel: where, when, and why? I'd love to go back to the day of my wedding and the three days that I gave birth to each of my girls. Those were the four best days of my life!

15. Stress Management: hit man, spa vacation, or Prozac? definitely a spa vacation

16. Environment of choice: city or country and where on the map? a tropical island off the coast of East Malaysia

17. What is a project you are working on now? lesson plans for homeschooling this year

18. What is the messiest room in your house? probably the laundry room - it seems to be a catch all for everything

19. Which household helper do you want most: cook, housekeeper, nanny, personal trainer? definitely a housekeeper

20. Dream job? I would love to be a philanthropist.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010