Hi there ladies,

Jenny gave a great talk on how to de-clutter and get organized. Here’s her top 5 tips of the many she shared:

1. Attack paper clutter as soon as it enters the house.  Recycle it or use it for kids' scratch paper.

2. Keep a large storage tub in your van to contain loose items and reduce your number of trips when unloading the van.

3. To keep a closet organized, categorize the items and place them in a clear tub with a label.

4. Donate unloved Happy Meal toys to a teacher for use in their school store.

5. If an item is no longer used and does not have sentimental value, dispose or donate.

She also shared that she makes her own laundry soap (Thanks Jenny!). A lot of folks seem interested, so she kindly shared her recipe with us.

Laundry Soap Recipe
1-76 oz. box Borax
4 lbs. Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
1- 55 oz. box Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
3 bars Ivory Soap
3 1/2 lbs. Oxy Clean

1. Grate soap and then run through food processor.  

2. Combine all ingredients in 5 gallon bucket.

3. Use 2 Tbsp. per load.

Note:

Works in high efficiency machines.
Not recommended for white clothing.

Herberger coupon books are back!

We’re doing our $5 Herberger coupon books again. :)

Please show your support and order a coupon book today! Use the coupons to shop the store on Friday, February 28 & Saturday, March 1 and get fantastic savings. You can get the coupon books online here. 100% of the purchase price benefits First Baptist MOPS and the coupons are shipped to the purchaser for FREE. 

Alternatively, you can pick up some books from Sara at our next meeting on Feb 20th.

Thanks for all your support!

Get Organized with Jenny - Feb 20

Hi Ladies,

Good news! MOPS is this Thursday. Hope you can make it. Jenny will be speaking to us on home organization, which if your house looks like mine –then this is certainly a welcome topic.

brunch - Bridget’s group is on for brunch this week. (:::said ever so subtly::: I’m secretly hoping for that French toast to make another appearance J ). If you haven’t provided a moppets snack since MOPS started this fall, please do so now. Thanks bunches.

crafts - Ever lose your keys, need helpful reminders, or just lost that awesome BOGO coupon for Qdoba? Yes me too. So let’s make a craft that’s cute and fixes that. Drum roll please, Amber has a solution with mousetrap fridge magnets. See how nicely our craft is organized with our topic. Yes, Amber really is that awesome and intentional with her crafts!

Other good stuff

-The Silent Auction is coming soon (March 6). Please start thinking about what new and/or gently used items you'd like to donate and this isn't just a MOPS member only event. Feel free to bring your friends, neighbors, or grandma. Would love to have them join in the fun.

Hope you all are doing well and staying warm,

Nathalie

PJ party and a yoga class - Feb 6

Hi Ladies,

We have MOPS this week. Can’t wait to see you!

the scoop

We’re having a pajama party so please come all decked out in your best pajama set. Extra points for fuzzy bunny slippers. We’ll also be having a yoga class led by Mya.

We had a blizzard warning last week and so MOPS was canceled. Fortunately, Lee Anne will be speaking this week and we will squeeze in time to do make up crafts too!

brunch

The Dust Bunnies (Melanie’s group) are scheduled to bring Brunch and crackers for the Moppets (please remember it needs to be peanut free).

fundraiser

Our last fundraiser was a success. Big thanks to all who helped out!

dues

Dues are due this Thursday ($25) for the semester.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Nathalie

MOPS this Thursday - Jan 16

Hey there ladies,

I'm so excited to join our MOPS leadership team as the new publicity coordinator. It's a great honor. Thanks Sarah Dahl for all your hard work. We also have Amber Hopper coming in as our new creative activities coordinator.  We really appreciate the work Mya Olson did last semester (thanks Mya!) and look forward to the fun crafts that Amber brings to the table. And of course....If you have any feedback please let us know. 

the scoop

We have MOPS this week! Hurray! Our mentor mom, Lee Anne will be leading discussion on the topic of “embracing your story”.  We’ll also be doing make up crafts – so if there’s any you've missed like making a name tag or the recipe book, this is your opportunity to make it up. The Dust Bunnies (Melanie’s group) are scheduled to bring Brunch and crackers for the Moppets (please remember it needs to be peanut free).

fundraiser
Swim Meet Fundraiser @ Watertown Rec Center on Jan 17/18. We'll be serving delicious pork loin sandwiches and hot dogs. Still signing up folks who want to help out. Would love to see you there!

dues

Reminder: If you haven't paid for the 2^nd semester, dues ($25) are due on Feb 6^th. 

Can't wait to see you at MOPS,

Nathalie

p.s. we have a facebook page - check out our MOPS facebook page here.

December Meetings and Announcements!

On Thursday, December 5th we will be talking about the "Embrace Your Story" aspect of our Beautiful Mess theme for the year, and God's plan for us.  I'm going to be speaking about what MOPS means to me.  We may also be having another one of our mentor moms speak to us. 

The Dust Bunnies group is on for bringing brunch this week!  The Messy Minivan Mamas group should bring a box of crackers or other snack for Moppets.  Please remember to check labels, as Moppets snacks need to be peanut-free. Some suggestions are Welch's Fruit Snacks, Ritz Crackers, Honey Maid Teddy Grahams, and Honey Maid Grahams 

Our next meeting will be our Christmas party on December 19th.  We will be having a devotional, playing some games, and make a craft.

Each group will need to bring the following to share:
Dust Bunnies - sweet treats
Frayed and Fabulous - salty or savory items
Messy Minivan Mamas - "healthy" treats or snacks
(We also make up goodie trays to give to our childcare workers with what is brought.)

Our next Steering Meeting is January 9th!  Please welcome Nathalie Wilson as she takes over for me as Publicity coordinator.  Thanks all, I will miss you!

November Meetings and Announcements

November Meetings:

This Thursday at 9am, our own MOPS member Amber Richter will be talking with us about Photography and Photo storage.  We also plan to make a craft related to photography.  The Frayed and Fabulous group (Bridget's) is scheduled to bring brunch.  

This Friday, November 8th we'll be having our first Mom's Night Out for the year at Clifford's in Watertown.  Meet us there at 7pm for a kid-free night; you are welcome to just join us as you can and have coffee or dessert. 

On Thursday, November 21^st  is our next meeting.  Jan Schull, our newest mentor mom, will be speaking and we will show a DVD about “Avoiding Mothering Comparisons”.  The Messy Minivan Mamas will be on for bringing brunch.

Our next Steering Meeting is Thursday, November 14^th – to finalize December and January mtgs. and possibly plan Swim Meet fundraiser.

Announcements:

*This week please bring your favorite quick dinner or slower cookie recipes.  These will be put together in a small cookbook to be given out at our November 21st meeting.  You can also email your recipes to Erin at erinjohnson326@gmail.com

*Also, please remember if you are filling a shoe-box for Operation Christmas Child to please bring it to our meeting this week, or drop it off to Cornerstone Church or New Life E Free church by Nov. 17th!  For more information about this, please check out:  http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

*As you may or may not have heard, I will be moving out of state shortly before Christmas.  This means that we will need a replacement Publicity person to serve on the steering team.  If you feel this is something you are interested in, or could help out with, please speak with me at the meeting on Thursday or give me a call/email anytime.