Liz Brown is the TriangleMom2Mom mom of the week. I first spoke with Liz late last month when she posted an event on the Web site about her church's Community Christmas Celebration, which she is helping to organize. It's scheduled for this week. And we got to meet last week when I interviewed her and another organizer for a story about the event that features more than 300 nativity scenes from around the world.

Here's Liz ...

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself

Liz: My husband and I have been living here in Raleigh for almost 14 years. I worked in advertising for 11 years and quit when I had our first child. I've been a stay-at-home mom with three kids ever since. Although I am very active at school and at church, plus I have a vinyl business where I put quotes and sayings on the wall as a form of interior design. Most recently, I am on the committee for the Community Christmas Celebration taking place December 4-6. This is an annual event at our church and includes nativities from every continent in the world as well as lots of beautiful music from local choirs and artists. It's a wonderful free family event that is a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite family place in the Triangle?

Liz: We love hiking in Umstead Park – especially in the Fall with all the beautiful leaves!

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for yourself?

Liz: When I need a quick, and I mean quick get-away, I close my eyes and picture myself scuba diving again at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It's so peaceful and beautiful under the water. On one particular dive there, a school of bright blue fish swam through a hole in the coral and it looked like something out of a Disney movie it was so surreal. I like thinking about that when it gets crazy.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your kids?

Liz: We pray as a family every morning and every night. It helps put things into perspective. We also have a family night every Monday – and we try very hard to prioritize that.

Mom2Mom: What did you eat for dinner last night? Can you share the recipe?

Liz: My friends all know I rarely have a recipe for the things I make, but my kids love these sloppy joe's and they are so quick to make, especially with a salad or carrot sticks.

This is my recipe, but keep in mind the amounts “are more like – guidelines.”

1 – 1½ lb. hamburger (about)

A chunk of onion, chopped fine

½ a red (or green) pepper, chopped fine

1-2 celery stalks, chopped fine

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. thyme (optional)

3 dashes of pumpkin pie spice

About a spoon full of brown sugar

1 large can of tomato sauce

A squirt of Worcestershire sauce

Red pepper flakes, to taste

Potato rolls or hamburger buns.

Cook the meat with the onion, red pepper and celery (unless the meat is fatty, then cook the meat & veggies separate and drain the meat). Add all the other ingredients. Cook and serve on buns.

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure.

Liz: Snitching chocolate.

TriangleMom2Mom features local moms every Monday. If you know a mom we should feature, e-mail me.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!