The Savvy Mom Sale has become a staple event along the Eastern Shore for the past 15 years. Moms from all over Baldwin County and surrounding areas gather together to declutter their own outgrown kids’ clothes and baby gear and shop for what their families need now.
Jennifer Hammond is the mastermind behind this event. This stay-at-home mother of three loves to volunteer and thought this event would be the answer for so many moms in her community.
“In 2009, I decided to create a way for myself and others to fulfill the desire to give back to our community. That’s when I started my little hobby of the Savvy Mom Sale which is a children’s consignment sale,” Jennifer shared. “This timeframe coincided with the housing bubble. Many families needed ways to save and make money, so it felt like a win-win. We started in a 6,000 sq ft building in Spanish Fort and had to move to the 12,000+ sq ft Daphne Civic Center! This little hobby has grown beyond my imagination and has brought many blessings to local families and several charities throughout our community.”
The Foster and Adoptive Family Parents Association is the charity that tugs most at Jennifer’s heart, and it receives most of the donations. However, donations often go to help meet the needs of other families in the community as needed.
Jennifer married her high school sweetheart, Dewayne, in 2002. They attended Theodore High School together, and Dewayne was Jennifer’s brother’s best friend. Dewayne is a plant manager at Red Hills Power Plant in Mississippi. Together, they have three children – Madison (19), Mallory (16), and Marshall (6).
Madison is currently in college at UAB where she is studying to become a pharmacist. In her free time, she plays volleyball, goes to the gym, enjoys cooking, and walking her dog. She enjoys the comfort of cooking out with her family and traveling with them as she can.
Mallory is a junior and loves the independence of being able to drive. She also enjoys working out and loves animals. She recently started competing in weightlifting competitions and now holds 66 state records and one unofficial world record.
Marshall is halfway through his first-grade year and loves playing goalie during soccer, wrestling with his dad, math games, video games, and fishing.
“Last year, we moved our oldest into her dorm at college and brought our youngest to his first day of kindergarten all within the same week,” shared Jennifer. “That was an eye-opening experience that helped to put things into perspective.”
Since the Hammond kids are all in different seasons of life, sitting down for a meal together doesn’t happen nearly enough for Jennifer. When it does happen, eating together is an absolute priority so they can get together and discuss life and opportunities with one another.
One of the family’s favorite dishes is Cajun Chicken Pasta Alfredo. They love to gather around and enjoy flavorful meals and Jennifer loves the easy cooking and cleanup since it is a one-pot meal. They serve this pasta with salad and cheese toast most often.
Cajun Chicken Pasta Alfredo
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb chicken (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 14 oz Conecuh sausage, (sliced on the diagonal)
- 4 cloves garlic, (minced)
- 1 quart low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 pound penne pasta, (uncooked)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, (plus more to taste)
- 4 oz parmesan cheese (freshly shredded, more as needed)
- Italian Parsley (garnish)
Directions
- Start with a large cooking pot that has a lid.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add sausage and continue to cook until lightly browned.
- Stir in garlic and cook for for about two minutes.
- Add chicken broth, heavy cream, dried pasta, and cajun seasoning to pot.
- Stir together and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.
- Reduce heat to low and let cook covered for 15-20 minutes, or until pasta is tender.
- Remove pot from heat and slowly stir in parmesan cheese.
- Stir in chopped parsley and sprinkle with additional cajun seasoning to taste.
Author: Gabriele Jones
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 16 years. Together they have three incredible children - two boys, ages 15 and eight, and a sweet girl who joined the family last summer. She is a full time Pink Cadillac Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Foley.
