MOPS Cook: That Good Salad

Looking for a yummy end of summer salad? Check out this recipe submitted by Sarah L.

This salad is so good.  This recipe came from the June/July 1997 Taste of Home magazine.  The article said that people requested "That Good Salad" and that is how the lame name started.  This is by far the best lettuce salad I have ever tasted.




  

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 bunches (1 pound each) romaine, torn
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
• 2/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted, optional
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup Caesar salad croutons

Directions

• In a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper; cover and shake well. Chill.
• In a large serving bowl, toss the romaine, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, almonds if desired, Parmesan cheese and bacon.
• Shake dressing; pour over salad and toss. Add croutons and serve immediately. Yield: 14 servings.

One of the best parts of this salad is the dressing.  You could make it to eat on any salad and it would be delicious. This salad is great for a summer potluck.  I hope you try it!

Submit your favorite recipes to indiancreekmops@gmail.com and you could be featured on our MOPS blog!

First MOPS Meeting is in One Week!

The countdown is on!  

Only one more week until our first meeting on Tuesday September 3rd at 9:00 am!

We are so excited to start off the 2013-2014 MOPS year!

The Steering Team has been working hard all summer to prepare for you and your kids and we cannot wait for the year to get started!

First MOPS Meeting

Tuesday, September 3rd from 9:00-11:15 am

Indian Creek Community Church

Journey Worship Center (downstairs)

We still have some space left for a few new moms!

You can register online under the "Registration and Payment" tab or at the meeting.  Please RSVP at indiancreekmops@gmail.com so we are expecting you and your children!

We have some great meetings planned this year including speakers on teaching your kids at home, will and estate planning, parenting strong-willed children, organizing, feeding picky eaters, exercise, and more. 

Hope to see you all there!

My Favorite Things: Movies

Want to try a new restaurant but not sure where to go?

Are you pregnant and not sure what baby products you really need?

Are you unsure of what to cook on a busy weeknight?

What better place to turn than your fellow MOPS moms for ideas?

Our new feature My Favorite Things - will give you some ideas of where to start.

Each month we will feature a different question and recommendations will be listed by other MOPS moms in the group.

This month's feature:

What is your favorite movie?

• Center Stage - Carrie M.
• The Princes Bride - Nicki F.
• When Harry Met Sally - Sara K.
• There's Something About Mary, The Sandlot, Baby Mama - Sarah L.
• The Blind Side, The Proposal - Jessi C.
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days - Nicole P.
• Sleepless in Seattle (cheesy I know!) - Lou Ann C.
• Christmas Vacation - only movie I have seen literally every year for at least 20 years! - Rachael K.

Want to contribute your ideas for our blog or newsletter? Check your MOPS folder for the My Favorite Things feature!

Kick-Off Picnic

Kick-Off Picnic 2013

We had a great turn out and perfect weather for the picnic!  

It was a great chance to catch-up with returning members and get to know some of the 

new moms and their kids.  

 The kids had a lot of fun playing on the playground,

 in the sand,

 and the water sprayer!

Taking a break to enjoy some Popsicle's!

Steering Retreat 2013

It was a great weekend at Duckhorn Lodge!  

The steering team was very busy planning for the year 

but still made time to have lots of fun too!

hard at work...

Rocking out the ATV's

Sunglasses made great goggles after dark!

Kick-Off Picnic Next Week!

The Kick-Off Picnic is only one week away!

Tuesday, August 20th

Quivira Park 9:30 am

Come meet new moms and catch up with returning moms while the kids play and enjoy a cool treat!

Since the Kick-off picnic is only a week away I thought it would be fun to do a little flashback!

2012

2010

See you next week!

Featured Article: Taking the Plunge!

by Sarah L. - originally published in the September 2012 MOPS newsletter

You’ve taken the Plunge into MOPS!  You made it to the first MOPS meeting of the year with kids in tow!  Now what can you expect?  We strive for every mom to feel comfortable and welcome at MOPS.  Each of you is important and special in a unique way.  Now that you are part of MOPS we hope you know this is a place for women to come to feel encouraged as a mother, as a wife, and as a person.

MOPS is a diverse group of women from all backgrounds and experiences who are bound together with one thing in common, we are all mothers of preschoolers.  This can be a rewarding and exhausting time but when you are part of MOPS you will know that you are not alone.  Even though each mom may be vastly different, we understand the joys and struggles of having young children and we can lean on each other for support.
MOPS offers outings for moms, playdates, interesting speakers, fun crafts, an opportunity for spiritual growth, an uninterrupted breakfast, prayer and support and a fun and safe environment for kids.  All of these things contribute to the unique MOPS experience.  There is another “secret” that makes MOPS special though!  MOPS can be even more than all of those wonderful things!
Many years ago when I first joined MOPS I attended the bi-monthly meetings and enjoyed a morning outside of the house.  I did not, however, get deeply involved in other MOPS activities or develop many relationships with other moms.  Slowly, I got more involved by volunteering at the garage sale, attending playdates, and becoming a Discussion Group Leader and then eventually a member of the Steering Team.
Since I became more involved, I have gained an indescribable amount of additional things.  I have grown as a mom, wife, leader, and friend.  I have made friends that will last a lifetime. I have grown spiritually and even overcame my fears of public speaking.  I stepped way out of my comfort zone, made a bit more effort, and was willing to get more involved.
Since taking the Plunge, the benefits have been endless and I find the more involved I become the more blessings I receive.  I encourage you to get involved with MOPS, come to the meetings and make an effort to come to some of the additional activities offered.  I promise, you will not regret it!
Here is the little “secret” that makes MOPS so unique:   The more you put into MOPS the more you get out of it!  Like myself, many other moms have a similar story about their MOPS experience.  They joined MOPS for something to do a couple times a month, became more involved, and have reaped overwhelming blessings from doing so.

I am so glad you took the Plunge into Indian Creek MOPS today!  My prayer for you is that you will step out and get involved in this wonderful group and that you will experience all the overwhelming blessings MOPS has to offer for you and your family.

Your Invited to the MOPS Kick Off Picnic!

MOPS Kick-Off Picnic

You are invited to the celebration of the 2013-2014 MOPS year!

Where: Quivira Park - 11901 Quivira Road, Overland Park

When: Tuesday, August 20th from 9:30-11:30 am

What: The Kick-Off Picnic is a chance for old and new members to catch-up and meet. This park has a restroom, shelter, playground area, and sand volleyball court. Please dress your kids in play clothes and feel free to bring sand toys. The morning will finish off with a summertime treat!

This event is open to ALL moms of children ages birth through kindergarten

You can register for MOPS under the "Registration and Payment" tab, at the park the day of the Kick-Off picnic, or by emailing us now at indiancreekmops@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

August Park Play Date Cancelled

The Park Play Date

at Celebration Park on August 2nd has been cancelled due to forcasted thunder storms. We will try to reschedule soon.

Thanks!

Deanna Rose Play Date

Indian Creek MOPS had their July Play Date at Deanna Rose.

The kids had a great time.

And so did the moms.

With only a few days until school starts, it was fun to have the elementary school kids join us for one more play date before summer ends.

Hope to see you and your kiddos at the next MOPS Play Date!