Diaper Cake

I made my first diaper cake last week.  I had really no idea how to start one, or how to assemble one.  I googled construction ideas and found two common ways to form the layers.  You could individually roll the diapers and form your circle, or you could leave the diapers open and stack them sideways to form a circle.  The first way seemed like more work and I didn't like that the sides of the "cake" wouldn't be smooth.  I also thought it would be annoying for a new mommy to have to go through and unroll each diaper.  So, I decided to try option B!

One way to make a diaper cake...

The way I decided to make the cake.  

I laid the diapers in a cake pan to help create the circle shape.  My layers were 6-9-12 inches.  The tutorial I used showed an empty paper towel roll in the center of the cake, but after the first layer, I decided I didn't like that (mostly because I couldn't keep it centered), so I just removed it and packed my diapers in tight.  I used two rubber bands to hold the diapers together.

These were the supplies I had picked up to make the cake! I wanted the cake to look baby themed, but not too babyish that it lost all sophistication.  I also wanted to make sure it wasn't too busy because sometimes less is more.  I wrapped my bottom layer in my biggest blanket (the whale/navy & white stripe).  The middle layer was covered in a small navy & white receiving blanket.  The top layer was covered with the back of the red & white onesie.  My top and bottom layers weren't completely covered by the blanket & onesie, so I used an additional bib and onesie to fill in the difference (it was the back of the cake and no one knew).  I used 2 rubber bands on each layer to hold the sides in place.  I used some packing tape and taped the blankets, onesies, and bibs in place.  I made sure that the tape wouldn't be showing once it was stacked. 

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the steps, but I didn't!  I laid my extra baby items between the layers, so the bottom and middle layer had a bib on top.  I stacked the cake, added my thick rope (then I cut off my rubber bands that were holding the layers together) and wasn't impressed.  It needed more nautical looking things.  I made a quick trip to Michaels and purchased the fishing net.  It was an improvement but still needed something.  I called my mom and asked if she planned to go to Walmart anytime soon because I wanted a pack of bath letters.  She picked me up a set, but unfortunatly they were all in shades of pink and green.  I had some red paint, so I painted an A, H, O & Y.  I hot glued them together, then glued them to my rope.  It finally looked complete!

My splurge was the little octopus car seat toy.  He was $16 at Babies R Us, but seemed like such an adorable addition to the cake.  And every cake needs a topper, right?!  (Austin seemed to love it too and I felt bad I didn't buy him one.  Maybe I'll go get him one soon.) 

As I mentioned above, I used packing tape to hold the layers together.  I couldn't find anything online as far was what other people used, and the tape seemed to work just fine!  It traveled really well too.  I displayed the cake on a cake stand which gave it a little extra "oomph".  I was happy with the end result, and the mommy-to-be loved it! 

The diaper cake was the centerpiece of the food table!

Brittany's Baby Shower

If they ever made a "Pregnant Barbie,"  she would look like my friend Brittany!  I helped host a baby shower for my sweet friend this past weekend.  She's expecting her first baby, a boy, in October.  She recently moved from Indiana to California, but I was so happy she was able to have a shower here!   I eagerly volunteered to help any way I could.   There were three hostesses, and we all were in charge of areas we were good at!  Brittany's mom did lots of planning and decorations and Laura (Britt's good friend) did invites, games, prizes, and other cute touches like the adorably wrapped silverware.  I volunteered to do the food and diaper cake. 

The shower was a nautical navy blue +red theme, and it came together beautifully!  It was in Oakland City at their community center (which was newer and so nice).  Brittany was showered with lots of wonderful gifts like every first-time mommy should be!  Here are some pictures I snapped!

Pinteresty game

Each place setting had some life saver favors, a paper to fill out with your best Brittany story + baby advice, a pen, and silverware that was wrapped adorably!

The centerpieces were filled with sand, shells, and a little light. 

Brittany's mom and step-dad made this personalized life raft. 

They also made some other cute decorations that really helped set the theme!  There were even bobbers in the bucket of bottled water!

Onesie banner over the food table.

 And the food....

Veggie cups + ranch

Chopped beef cheeseball + wheat thins

Fruit Salad

Chocolate covered strawberries

Caramel swirled and regular chocolate covered pretzels

Diaper cake

Sugar cookies with royal icing

Cupcakes with nautical sugar toppers (I ordered the toppers!)

Tuxedo Brownies

Lemonade

Barbie Brittany (and get this - her real life lover boy is Ken - really, that's his name!)

Brittany requested "anything sweet".  I hope Baby H loved it all!

One of my favorite shower games is where you guess the size of mommy's waist.  Two people guessed it exactly!  I was about an inch over - womp womp.

I totally failed at getting a picture of me and Brittany, but that just gives me an excuse to see her (and her new baby) soon! :) 

Life Changing Icing Trick!

I love cake & cookie decorating but I hate hate hate the clean up.  All the messy icing bags and all the tips... it's just no fun to clean them!  I try to use as few icing colors as possible because I dread clean up.  So, last week I was planning on making some sugar cookies with the hard royal icing.  I was browsing google for decorating ideas, and found a cute cookie website.  The lady had referenced her "life changing icing trick with plastic wrap" and I had no clue what she was talking about but was very intrigued!  Scrolling down a bit further, I found this video she had posted.

LIFE CHANGING people, absolutely life changing!  If you use icing bags/tips EVER, you must watch this video!  (The color mixing part is a no brainer, but it's the bag filling part that knocked my socks off)

I was so anxious to try this technique this weekend and it was as awesome as it looks.  Cleanup took about 30 seconds, and I did a little happy dance about it.  I wish I would have found this video back in 2009 when it was posted because I would have saved a ton of money on bags, but better late than never! 

Happy cake and cookie decorating!

Biscuits & Gravy Casserole

 

I made this for breakfast this morning.  A blog I love to visit posted a recipe like this about a year ago, and gave it rave reviews.  I decided that the biscuits would be soggy and it wouldn't be any good.  When I came across the recipe again, this time on Pinterest, I decided to read the reviews.  I've been wanting some new breakfast ideas now that school has started, and the lady who posted the recipe commented how the biscuits weren't soggy!  I figured it was worth a try!

After making this for breakfast today I can tell you a several things...

1.  It's amazingly delicious!

2.  I'll be making it again!

3.  The site that I got the recipe from has doubled the recipe in her pictures, and I didn't see that posted on her site anywhere.  My casserole was done baking in 19 minutes, and she suggested 25 for hers (I assumed because it's doubled).

4.  The site says it takes about 35 minutes from start to finish, and it took me more like 45 minutes start to finish. 

5.  This recipe feeds my whole family, but I'd double it if anyone was eating breakfast with us!  It should feed 4 adults the way it's written.   

Ingredients:

• 1 can grands flaky original biscuits
• 1/2 lb Bob Evans ground sausage
• 3T flour
• 2 1/2 C milk (I used half skim+half 2%)
• salt & pepper (I went light on the salt and didn't think it needed any additional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400*
2. Cut 4 of the biscuits in 4ths.  Lay the 16 pieces in the bottom of a 7x10 greased baking dish.  Bake for 10 minutes.
3. White the oven is preheating, and the biscuits are cooking, make your gravy.
4. Brown the sausage in a large skillet on medium high heat.  (My sausage came in a 1 lb package, so I browned it all, then removed half).  
5. Once sausage is cooked, stir in 3 Tbsp of flour.  Let it cook for about 3-5 minutes and turn the heat down to medium low.  
6. Add the milk and stir frequently.  
7. Let the gravy thicken up.  Watch it closely because you don't want the gravy too thick (although you could probably add more milk if it got too thick).
8. Add the gravy to the bottom layer of biscuits.
9. Cut the last 4 biscuits in 4ths and add to the top.  
10. Place casserole dish on a cookie sheet and bake for 19 minutes or until the top is golden brown. (If you double the recipe bake longer.)
11. Serve immediately

Kevin ate it about 2 hours after I made it and said it was really good leftover, so he couldn't imagine how great it would have been fresh.  I hope you all like it too!  It's one of my newest favorite breakfast recipes!

Allie + Me = Nail Day

During sandal season, I like to treat myself to a pedicure every 6-8 weeks or so.  Kevin has told me for months to take Allie to the local nail place I love, but I just had a hard time spending the extra $25 it would cost to take her.  Normally my mom would go with me, but she already had her toes done, so this past Sunday I took Kevin up in his idea.

Allie was excited to go.  She loved picking out the nail polish color.  She was torn between a purple sparkle and the orange she ended up using.  The owner seemed a little tense I let Allie hold a bottle of nail polish.  We didn't have to wait long before we were seated next to each other.  They have two children's chairs and she was still a little small for them.  They painted her nails as I waited for my lady to start.

She did really good sitting still and letting them dry, but we were in there about 90 minutes.

 

Tam is the lady that painted Allie's nails and toenails and she did a great job!  I've been impressed with how well it's held up on her fingers and her toes!  I probably won't be taking Allie back for another year or so, but it was a fun treat for the both of us :)

Follow up to Hayden's 1st Day of School

I have a confession.  I did cry once on Hayden's first day of school.  And once I started I had a hard time drying myself up!  We had just sat down for lunch and the mood was kinda dampened all day, and when I looked over and saw his empty seat at the table I just couldn't hold it in anymore.  Poor Allie was trying to console me, and it helped, but I still missed him!

After lunch Kevin, me, and the three other kids went to get Hayden some new socks.  Kevin said his socks were too tall for his shoes, and he wanted his boy looking like a stud.  So, he has 10 new pair of "cool socks" :)  When we got home, it was about 2 o'clock.  I had a fun idea to get Hayden a big cookie from the mall to celebrate his first day.  Allie and I called in the order and quickly headed to the mall.  We were home by 3, so we just had another 25 minutes to kill before the bus got here.  We waited inside about 15 minutes and couldn't wait any longer, so Kevin walked to the bus stop to wait for him while I stayed on the porch with Allie because the two littlest were napping.

Kevin texted me around 3:25 that he saw his bus.  I jumped up and got my camera ready, but it went on by.  Wrong bus.  Total bummer.  A few more minutes passed and then we saw his bus!  He ran quickly to Kevin and then ran to me and Allie.  I couldn't wait to get inside and hear all about the day! 

Allie and I took a ton of silly selfies to pass the time while we waited for Hayden!

We spent a few minutes getting the quick run down on the day and telling him how much we missed him, and about the time we sat down at the table to see what all he had brought home, my phone rang.  It was a Newburgh number and I just immediately thought it was probably the school.  It was.  A lady introduced herself and instantly I thought something was wrong, something had happened.  Again, I was right.  About an hour ago, they hired a new 1st grade teacher and were moving Hayden to that new class the next day.  He was to report to his original teacher, and then someone would come and move him.  I'm not one to usually ask questions or start a confrontation, but this mama bear was NOT happy about this.

I expressed our desire for him to stay in Mrs. Boris's class, told her how we were really pleased with her, questioned why Hayden was picked, and wondered why they would move a brand new student.  The whole school experience was new enough, I didn't think pulling the rug out from under him on day 2 would be good for anyone.  She could tell by my voice I wasn't happy, and I didn't love how she kept trying to make me feel unjustified in my feelings.  She kept telling me how much I'd love this new teacher, but for pete sake the woman was just hired an hour ago, and there's no way she'd even have a room prepared and ready for kids.

Kevin and I discussed our options when I hung up the phone.  I texted some people with connections and found out they moved all the "new to Castle" students, along with a few other randomly selected kids to the new class.  The lady on the phone told me the whole process was a random drawl, so I didn't appreciate being lied to (and I may still tell someone that)!  I told Kevin that the smaller class size was definitely a good thing, and with the 22 kids that got moved, probably no one was happy about it, and I don't think they'd honor our request to keep him put and move someone else.

Kevin put a very positive spin on the situation and told Hayden they picked the 4 best kids out of every class to move to a brand new class tomorrow, and they picked him.  He seemed excited, but when I started explaining there would be a new teacher, a new locker, a new classroom, he wasn't convinced (and neither was I).  We decided to give it a go.

Even though we were thrown a curve ball, we still celebrated the school day with this cookie!  We put 1 candle in it so he could blow it out, and sang a made up version of "Happy First Day of School to you" to the tune of  "Happy Birthday to you".  He felt special :)

I felt more anxious on Day #2 than I did the day before.  I wondered how the transition into his new room went, if he had any trouble getting where he was going (since he insisted on riding the bus), what his new teacher was like, who she was, did he know anyone in the class..... and he came home with really no answers.  His day was "great,"  he made "11 new friends but didn't ask their names", but he couldn't tell me anything he had done other than eat lunch and play at recess.  All his cards/bookrental/wavers I filled out and signed were still in his folder and hadn't been collected.  I wondered what had gone on all day and my mind was not eased.  I was expecting a note from the teacher introducing herself, or just some kind of communication from her, and there was none.  Hayden did end up telling me he was supposed to draw a picture of someone he loved, and he drew me (awww) and he was supposed to write his favorite color at the top of that page, so he did do something!

Kevin and I talked and decided I should take him to school on Day #3 to meet the new teacher.  She seemed friendly but I could tell the whole situation was overwhelming.  The room had very little decoration, but she seemed upbeat and friendly that things would be looking better in the weeks to come.  I felt bad for her, because that has to be a stressful situation to be in, but on the other hand, Hayden isn't getting as good of an experience as he could have if they would have just left him in his original class.  So I'm really torn about the whole situation.  Yay for smaller classes, but Boo for making all these kids move once the school year has started!  (And anyone that's ever worked in or had kids in the school system says this is a very common thing, so if this was news to you, be prepared!)

Meet the teacher night is planned for next week, so I'm excited to see what all she's thinking she will do for the school year.  I signed up to be a room mom and help with the PTO because I want to be a part of what is going on in his class.  On a positive note, I am pleased that his room is not right up front; it's more tucked away towards the back of the school which makes me feel safer.  We are definitely still in transition mode.  I will give another update when this grading period is over. 

Hayden on Day #2 - he was feeling confident!

Date @ Zuki

  

Kevin's new-found love is with sushi.  Last week he went to Zuki with a large group of his co-workers.  It was his first time to eat there and he was very impressed.  Several people told him we'd like it because it was a lot like Nagasaki (our favorite local hibatchi eatery), so we went to Zuki for a little lunch date this weekend.

I was skeptical that any place would be better than Nagasaki.  I ordered the same thing (steak & chicken) that I normally order so it would be easy to compare the two.  

Kevin got an order of sushi while we waited for our chef to arrive.

First up was soup & salad.  It was very comparable to Nagasaki!  The salad dressing may have been a hair thinner but the taste was the same. I know there are some people who don't love the traditional sesame dressing, and Zuki offered a second dressing choice.  It was a ginger based dressing, but I didn't try it.  The salad got two thumbs up from me!

Our chef arrived at our table and was packed full of humor.  He was singing and dancing to popular radio tunes as the grill heated up.  He cooked our veggies and rice first.  He was putting sauces into both as he cooked them so I was anxious to try them.  I requested no mushrooms or onion because I don't love it, so my veggies were zucchini and broccoli. Yum!  At first taste, I knew it was better than Nagasaki. I couldn't wait for him to cook the meat!

And the meat... He also added in sauces while he cooked them and they were amazing.  Amazing like I could have cleaned my plate but only stopped myself because no one else was shoveling in their food kinda good.

So, I'm ok with Nagasaki going out of business because Zuki is so much better!!! I can't wait to go back!

Little Mama

Krissy is quickly shedding the baby look and morphing into a little girl.  She's still as spunky and busy as she's always been, but a new side of her personality is blossoming!  It's the lovey/"hold me"/pretend to be a little mama side.  She is daily melting my heart with the adorable little things she does!

Pigtails and a big smile are a win/win!

Those big dark eyes...

And she's loving all her little babies!  This one seems to find it's way into our car when we leave and into her crib at night. I'm loving this phase she's at right now! :)

Silhouettes

A few years ago, I went to a friends house.  In her entryway hung 4 silhouettes of her 4 sweet kids. Since that day, I've wanted to make silhouettes of my kids!  I've been needing something else to hang in my hallway, and thought these would be the perfect addition!  Here's the finished project!

I used this tutorial.  

Here they a couple pictures of the steps!

I was not impressed with the contact paper step.  I expected clean crisp lines and in reality the paint bled under the paper.  JoAnns only carries one type of contact paper so maybe another brand would have been better?  I'm thinking in a few years if I update the silhouettes, I'll just mod podge a black piece of paper on to a canvas!

I spent about $35 on everything (pictures, canvases, contact paper, & paint).  Overall, I love silhouettes and was happy with how the project turned out, but I think there may be easier tutorials with equally as awesome results (if not better)!