Non-Newtonian and Non-Stop Chaos

Oobleck, Birthdays, and the Fight for Simplicity

If you’ve never made oobleck, you’re missing out on the ultimate 10-year-old birthday party win. It’s messy, it’s weird, it makes kids squeal with delight—and it costs less than a frappuccino. Oobleck is that curious mixture of cornstarch and water that’s not quite a liquid, not quite a solid. Punch it, and it fights back. Let it sit in your hand, and it slowly melts through your fingers like lava.

As I watched a group of ten-year-olds at my friends counter, elbows deep in hot pink oobleck, laughing hysterically—I had a flashback. Birthdays at ten haven’t really changed since we were ten. Sure, the fashion is different, the toys have evolved, and there might be a smart speaker in the corner. But kids? They still love to laugh, get messy, and see who can make the biggest splash.

And it hit me: this is what I want for them.

In a world where childhood can get swallowed up by screens, I want my kids to experience life the way we did before the era of instant notifications and endless scrolling. I want them to know the joy of running through sprinklers, building forts, and making something silly just because it’s fun—not because it makes good content.

I’m not saying the 90’s parents had it all right. Our generation had its blind spots too. But in striving for simplicity—less tech, more face-to-face time—I think we give our kids a fighting chance at wonder, creativity, and connection.

Sometimes, the more we strive, control, and fight against life, the harder things feel—like we’re punching oobleck. But when we stop striving and learn to rest in God’s sovereignty, our hearts soften. We can move forward with peace and grace, not stress and rigidity.

Parenting in today’s world feels a lot like trying to hold it all together under pressure. But oobleck reminds me that it’s in the stillness, the letting go, the simple moments of laughter and sticky hands—that’s where God often does His best work.

If you’ve never made oobleck, let me introduce you to the cheapest form of chaos and delight available to parents everywhere. It’s that bizarre mixture of cornstarch and water that’s not quite a liquid, not quite a solid. Punch it, and it turns into concrete. Hold it gently, and it melts through your fingers like gooey slime.

And here’s the thing: kids lose their minds over it.

Less stress, more mess.

I don’t want their childhoods swallowed whole by screens, endless scrolling, or the constant hum of tech. I want them to have the kind of life where birthday parties involve slime and water balloons, not just group selfies and video games.

I know our generation didn’t have it all right—we were the latchkey kids, the frozen-pizza-and-MTV crowd. But maybe that’s why we know better now. We saw what happens when life gets too busy, too digital, too… everything.

So, here’s to striving for a simpler childhood. Because maybe, just maybe, giving our kids messy, unpolished moments actually gives them a fighting shot at creativity, confidence, and real connection.

The World’s Easiest Oobleck Recipe

If you’re ready to give this a try, here’s what you need:

• 1 cup cornstarch
• ½ cup water (add slowly—you want that weird in-between texture)
• Food coloring (optional, but trust me, the brighter, the better)

Instructions:

1. Dump the cornstarch in a bowl.
2. Add water slowly, stirring until it’s both liquid and solid—because science is fun.
3. Stir in food coloring for maximum birthday chaos.
4. Hand it to kids outside or cover your kitchen table in trash bags. (This is wisdom speaking.) *Pro tip- I save every plastic table cloth. If its not had a finger pushed through it or covered in goo, It gets folded and stored away in my craft closet.

The Biblical Lesson: Be Still, Stop Punching

Here’s what gets me about oobleck: the harder you punch it, the tougher it gets. It resists you. But the moment you stop striving and just let it rest in your hand? It softens. It flows.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I can’t think of a better picture for my life lately. The more I push and control and try to make everything perfect, the harder it all feels. But when I slow down—when I let go and trust that God is in control—things start to move again.

Parenting, marriage, work, life… it all makes a lot more sense when we learn to stop punching the oobleck.

Final Thought

So, if you need a simple, messy, unforgettable activity for your kids—or a not-so-subtle reminder about resting in God’s hands—mix up some oobleck this week.

It turns out a little cornstarch, some water, and a whole lot of stillness might be exactly what we all need.

From Free Pickles to Gluten-Free: My Late-Night Denny’s Story + A Fast Food–Inspired Salad

In Praise of Pickles (and Ken the Waiter)

When I was a broke college student in our tiny town, there weren’t many options for late-night eats. In fact, there was only one: Denny’s. The only place open after 10 p.m.

My friends and I became regulars, dragging ourselves in two or three times a week, half-asleep and fully hungry. We always had the same server—Ken. He was one of those legendary late-night servers who just knew the drill. The endless coffee? Already on its way before we even asked. The side of pickles I ordered every single time? Never forgotten.

Ken even gave me a nickname—little gerkin—because, apparently, my love for those salty green slices was unmatched. I probably owe Ken an apology because, let’s be real, college kids don’t tip nearly enough to make those 2 a.m. shifts worth it. But Ken, if you’re out there, I want you to know I appreciated you. And the free pickles.

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Fast Forward: Pickles, Gluten-Free Life, and Caulipower Chicken

Fast forward to adulthood, and life threw me a curveball—I developed a wheat allergy last year. Cutting out gluten has been a huge part of managing my Sjögren’s syndrome, and let me tell you, gluten-free breading is usually… disappointing.

But then I discovered Caulipower Dill Pickle Chicken Strips. And y’all, they are the real deal. Crispy. Tangy. The breading actually stays on—which is more than I can say for some other brands (looking at you, Real Good Foods). The dill pickle flavor is perfect for someone like me who has loved pickles since the Denny’s days.

And here’s the best part: I throw those chicken strips on a salad along with my homemade Ranch Chex cereal, the tiny gherkins from Sam’s Club, and some Colby Jack cheese. It tastes like fast food but is gluten-free, allergy-friendly, and totally crave-worthy.

And just so you know—this isn’t sponsored. I wasn’t paid to write about Caulipower chicken strips or Sam’s Club gherkins. I just love finding products that make allergy-friendly eating easier—and tastier.

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Bonus Recipe: Ranch Chex Cereal

Because I can’t leave you without a recipe, here’s one of my go-to gluten-free snacks: Ranch Chex Cereal. It’s salty, crunchy, and ridiculously addictive.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup vegetable oil

• 1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix

• ½ teaspoon dried dill weed

• ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper (optional)

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

• 5 cups Corn Chex cereal

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).

2. In a large bowl, mix the oil, ranch mix, dill weed, lemon pepper, and garlic powder.

3. Add the Chex cereal; toss to coat evenly.

4. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.

5. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Pro tip: Double the batch. You’ll thank me later.

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So, here’s to Ken, free pickles, gluten-free finds, and salads that taste like fast food without the fast-food regret.

Welcome to Prayers Pizza and PTO

Welcome to Prayers, Pizza, and PTO: A Slice of Grace

Hey, friend. I’m a small-town Ohio girl who ran away to Las Vegas chasing dreams of flair bartending glory, only to find that God had much bigger, better plans than the ones I cooked up for myself.

My life has been one long balancing act of faith, family, PTO meetings, pizza-slinging, and learning how to follow Jesus with a heart that tends to hyperfocus on the shiny things… until it doesn’t. If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling a hundred roles while wondering what on earth God is up to—you’re in the right place.

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From Small Town Ohio to the Vegas Strip (Adjacent)

I grew up in Ohio—bored, restless, engaged to the wrong guy, and working at a biker/metal club that was supposed to be a cool karaoke hangout but spiraled into something louder, wilder, and way less wholesome. I loved the adrenaline, the music, the chaos—and okay, the money was really good.

Then my grandma, the one person who truly had my best interests at heart, passed away. She left me just enough money to quit the club and hit reset. Around that time, a girls’ trip to Las Vegas cracked something open in me. I came home thinking the shot girls were the coolest people alive and convinced myself I could totally stand on the bar in leather boots and pour drinks into people’s mouths like some rockstar bartender.

Except… in Ohio, pouring from an unmarked bottle is illegal. My boss yanked me off that bar so fast it made my head spin.

That was the beginning of the end. If I couldn’t bring Vegas to Ohio, I decided I’d just have to move to Vegas.

What I didn’t know then was that God wasn’t done with me yet. And He was about to write a story way better than the one I was chasing.

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The Unexpected Detour

When we packed up for Las Vegas, we got caught with an ounce of weed in Iowa—this was long before legalization—and my brother ended up facing felony charges. It was a mess. The very first Sunday after we landed in Nevada, all I could think was: I need to find a church.

That church? It became the place where my kids went to preschool. Where my husband and I got married. Where I met the women who would change my life.

God knew exactly what He was doing.

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Life Right Now: Prayers, Pizza, and PTO

Today, I wear a lot of hats:

• Women’s Ministry Leader – I love orchestrating all the moving parts that make women feel seen, known, and encouraged. My days are full of social media posts, Bible studies, and our “Motherhood” group, which is kind of like MOPS with a little extra coffee and chaos.
• PTO Mom & Classroom Volunteer – Las Vegas public schools are a wild place, but I love being in the thick of it: the field trips, the fundraisers, the teachers who need cheering on. I will gladly take any shift in the art room or library. 
•  On most days I walk the local trail by our school with other moms, we encourage eachother and bounce ideas off of one another before the rest of the world is ready for them. Wednesdays though, we sit and pray over the kids and staff at our schools. A lot of these kids don’t have anyone praying for them, and it feels like something extra we can give them, and give ourselves. This scheduled prayer time keeps me rooted. even when I'm mad at God, or too depressed to admit my short comings on my own, the commitment to my sisters keeps me present.
• Pizza-Slinger – For 15 years, I’ve worked at one of Vegas’s busiest pizza spots. I’ve served rehearsal dinners, baby showers, post-funeral gatherings, and the occasional table on the night their house burned down, pizza is a celebration food- but it's also there when you just need something comforting to fill up your belly. It’s a front-row seat to people’s lives: the celebrations, the sorrows, the ordinary nights out. My faith keeps me loving people even when they’re not very lovable.

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Home Life

I have three kids—a 5th grade girl, a 1st grade boy, and a preschool tornado. Mornings start early with prayer time, alarms, breakfast deadlines, and enough clocks to keep our ADHD family on track. It’s loud. It’s messy. But it’s holy ground.

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Why Prayers, Pizza, and PTO?

I love alliteration. My byline is A Slice of Grace because that’s what I need every day: a slice of God’s grace for the chaos, the busy seasons, the pizza-stained uniforms, the ministry moments, and everything in between.

This blog is mostly lighthearted because life is heavy enough. But I’m also leaving room for God to take it wherever He wants.

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A Verse to Live By

Right now, Hebrews 10:24-25 sums it up best:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

That’s what I hope this space becomes—encouragement for anyone trying to balance family, faith, and the everyday stuff of life without losing sight of what matters most.