Pencil Cake Banner

For Evelyn's last day of school, I made her a cake with this pencil cake banner.

Supplies:

- text you want, 12pt, with double spaces between each letter

- long pencils, preferably sharpened

- string, light weight and any color you want

- scissors

- washi tape

- plastic snack bag or plastic wrap

-double stick tape

- Put double stick tape on the back of your letters and cut them accordingly.

- Measure the distance you need/want for the top of your banner

- Cut three pieces of string, I made each subsequent half an inch shorter to angle the pencils for my small cake.

- Tie the strings to the pencils.

- Add your letters and washi tape.

Wrap the bottoms of your pencils with plastic and double stick tape.

TADA!

Complete!

I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of everything.  I was trying to beat the clock.  I finished this just in time to put it in the cake before I needed to get Evelyn from her last day of school.

Hope y'all liked this.

It was my second cake banner I made, and it turned out better than my last.

I'm getting better!  I hope y'all keep trying to improve also.

Hope to hear from y'all soon!

Thanks for visiting!

Raven is 2

Today, my youngest turned two.

Raven on her second birthday!

She is growing up so much!  Raven says so many different words, and it seems as if she adds new words every day to her vocabulary.

Just today, Raven said, "I don't know."

Her first sentence.  In response to Daddy asking about her doll.

Her party won't be for another ten days, but we took her to McDonald's for a special lunch.

She went up to the top all on her own.  Not the first time, but it was the first time without encouragement from us.

The girls had lots of fun!

Happy Birthday Raven!

Love you so much!

Our Texas Storm

Down here in South Texas, we recently had a crazy storm blow through, having my hometown wake up to the first day of hurricane season with no power.

Our town was hit the hardest, with a tornado touching down a block away from us.  It wasn't one of those crazy mile wide ones, but it was enough to pull a roof off a house and rip apart many trees and fences.

The storm happened at night, lights went out, the rain confined us to ovens we call home, and many were praying nothing would fly through their windows.  A tree fell in our back yard, pinning down our kids' trampoline.  The trampoline actually held it up.

The next day, my mother in law brought the chainsaw, and Tom and I cut and dragged brush around the yard.  Before she brought it, we went to the store to get a few things to make on the camping stove.

We saw our town.

STARS' sign was blown over.

The high school tennis courts' fence was complete pushed over on the east side.

The covering over a corner store gas station blew off completely, pillars and all, flew over an empty lot, and nearly crashed into a bank's drive thru pillars.

Now that I have shown you our Texas storm, I want to talk about how to be prepared for crazy storms, such as these.  Even if you don't live in Texas, these are rules to follow for any natural disasters you have in your area.

First: You should have an evacuation plan.

This is number one, and must be practiced, especially if you have children or elderly you watch over. Time yourself, make it a game.  One family night, draw out a plan and practice it.  Everyone in your household should know the plan and be ready to execute it.

There are different types of evacuations.  It can be evacuating to a storm cellar, center room of the house, or even, a different town.  An evacuation plan is a planned path that will lead you and your loved ones to safety.

Second: Let others know of your evacuation plan.

This is a crucial component to your evacuation plan.  You want several people you trust to know where you evacuate to and when you do.  Be care of whom you tell.  An empty home is an invite for looters after a storm.

It's important for others to know if you have left your home.  If a large tree falls on your house, your neighbors should know if you are stuck inside and need emergency care.  They could also let you know if something like that happened to your home after you have left.

Third: Have 72 hour kits.

This is a large backpack, with basics, that you can grab on the way out the door as you evacuate.

Things to include

• food (such as protein bars, trail mix with fruit, crackers, cereal, canned tuna, canned beans, canned veggies)
• a reliable can opener (or just have cans with pop tops)
• camping utensil kit
• water (at least 1 gallon/person, it's used to drink, cook, and clean)
• canned juices (not pouches, they can bust in your bag by getting smashed.  If you'd rather have pouches, put them in firm sided plastic containers.)
• change of clothes
• extra underclothes and socks
• rain poncho
• blanket
• hand warmers (if you live in cold areas, we have little need for these in our area)
• flash light
• extra batteries
• flares
• radio (with batteries or a crank)
• pocket knife
• knife sharpener
• rope
• duck tape
• solar panel phone charger
• disinfecting wipes
• travel sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• extra hair ties
• toilet paper
• toothbrush
• travel toothpaste
• travel sized dish soap
• Tylenol
• Ibuprofen

Extras per Condition

• diapers
• wipes
• formula
• powered milk and extra water
• prescription medications
• maxi pads

You should also have a binder with personal information.

• personal information on each family member with recent photos and specs
• recent photo of family together (you want to be sure and have this, it might be the proof you need to show everyone in your family)
• list of medical conditions, needs, and allergies
• marriage licenses, birth certificates, immunization records (copies if you have them in water and fire proof safes or security box at a bank)
• insurance polices (life, health, auto, home, RV, ATV, any and every kind you have)
• cash and change
• phone cards

Three things you can do for you and your family to be safer during large storms and evacuations.

Did I leave anything out of the 72 hour kit?

What do you do to prepare for bad weather?

I'd like to hear from y'all.  I welcome new ideas that help keep my family safer.

Thanks for visiting y'all!

Last Day of School

Thursday was the last day of school for Evelyn, and I continued the tradition we started last year.

I made a much smaller Summer Adventures poster for a much shorter list,

but more on that later.

While Evelyn was at school, I made her a chocolate cake and iced it with more chocolate.  

I made a cake banner out of pencils, craft twine, and washi tape.

Evelyn loved it!  At least a month before school was ending, she asked if I would be making a cookie for her this year.  I decided to do a different dessert.  She came in and was surprised by it.

It was a great last day of kindergarten.

Do y'all do any special end of school things?

Hope to hear from y'all soon!

Thanks for visiting!

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Every year, they have a whole week to appreciate teachers.

At Evelyn's school, they have a type of gift set for each day.  This year, I asked Evelyn what she would want to give for each day, then I took that and made little creative sayings and ways to present each gift.

Monday; Flowers

A colorful lei.

This was unique in form.  Most of the time, teachers get potted flowers, fresh cut, or drawn ones.  At least in South Texas, a lei was a unique way to give someone flowers.

Tuesday; Candy

A large round rainbow lollipop.

Evelyn was quickly sure what candy she would give her teacher.  I just had to come up with a cute way to deliver it.

Wednesday; Fruit

Apples.

Again with this, Evelyn immediately knew what fruit she wanted to give.  On the way to the store to get an apple, I was trying to think of the presentation, and I came up with this, with the apples.  I think it turned out nicely.

Thursday; Thank You Note

This wasn't too fancy.  I used card stock and helped Evelyn with spelling.  I thought that most memorable thank you note would be that one that was all Evelyn.

Friday; Your Choice

The teacher's favorite soda is Coca Cola, so just add a small box of popcorn, and a few Redbox movie codes, and you have a "movie nights on us" gift.  Perfect for anyone you think needs a few hours of relaxation.

The things teachers remember most, are the gifts that come from the heart and from the kids themselves.  Things that are all done by the parents won't feel as special.  When the week of gift giving was done, I made sure to let the teacher know, all the gifts were from Evelyn's ideas.  She may not have come up with every detail, but she brought the clay to the table, and I merely helped her mold it.  Be sure to include your children in the gifts for their teachers.

Hope y'all enjoyed this!  Make sure you teach your kids to know how important teachers are.  It is true, without teachers, the world would be in worse shape.

Hope to hear from y'all!

Color Run!

What is a Color Run?

It's a short run, usually 5K, and along the way, people throw colored powder at you.  Most of the time, the color won't dye you, but it's very messy.  Most of the time, there is no time limit, it's not a race, and kids are welcomed.  It's the best race for a beginner.  Like me.

Back in April, I was signed up for a Color Run to support our local high school.  I was so excited!  Then I found out that it was at the same day as Evelyn's first soccer game of the season.  I thought I'd be able to half of the run, thinking it started an hour early.  The flyer I read was wrong, it was at the same time as Evelyn's game.  So I didn't get to run it, but I did prepare and show up that morning, only to receive disappointment, but still felt good that I was willing to do this run, my first run, even though I was sick.  I had the head lady douse me in color to remind me that I like to be athletic still.
I have never been a runner.  I did softball for fourteen years, partially because it didn't involve much running.  I played catcher for most of those years, and I was a good hitter, so I didn't need to be fast to make it to home much of the time.

Physical Preparation for the Color Run

What's great about a color run, is you don't need to be a runner.  I didn't do much running/jogging prep since I had been sick.  I tried to do jumping jacks one day, while still sick, and started to hyperventilate.  When I was a child, I had exercise induced asthma, and this was different.  All sickness, it just wouldn't let me breath.  I'd say, if you can speed walk five miles, you'll be just fine to do a color run.  If you can't do that yet, just work up to that over a month's time, and even if you don't get there, it doesn't matter for a Color Run.  Take your time and just have fun!

Things You Want During the Color Run

• white shirt-If they don't already give you a shirt
• white bottoms-Or bottoms you don't mind having accidentally dyed
• white cap-To shield your hair, protect your head, and have more things to be colored
• good running shoes-This is a given, and since they are running shoes, you shouldn't care if they get icky
• phone protection-Can use a Lifeproof case or a protective case (like this one I got at Dillards for $15)
• drinking device-I picked this kind, but you can always do a hydration backpack
• ear phones & jammin' tunes!
• oil your hair before running to easily remove color later

Things You Want for After the Color Run

• fitted sheet(s)-Cover your seat(s).  Twin for single seats, queen for a bench
• baby wipes-Set these in an easy to reach place for easy cleaning
• plastic bag-For all the dirty wipes
• vinegar-This is to spray down your clothes after to keep the color in them, to keep as a souvenir.

I haven't tested the vinegar process, but I'm doing this.  You basically douse your clothes in vinegar (do it outside), let it dry, repeat a few more times, wash on cold without detergent.  You can repeat the vinegar process once shirt is dried.  Wash again without detergent, let dry, then wash with detergent.  This is the process I've read about, and plan to use myself.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope y'all look for runs in y'all's area.
Try your best to be physically active to make your body and spirit strong.  I've been exercising again, and I am feeling better and happier every day.

Share with y'all's friends, and I hope to hear from y'all!

My Top 5 Most Satisfying Evelyn's Mama Moments

As a Mother's Day Special, I thought, what better way to celebrate,
than to think of what great moments I've had as a Mama.
This post is all about my favorite Mama moments with Evelyn,
my first born and first daughter.

I've had many, and it's a never ending list of things that make me smile as a mama, but these moments are the ones that stand out to me the most.  It did take a while to add them all up, and narrow them down, but I'm glad to share my Top 5 Most Satisfying Evelyn's Mama Moments.

When Evelyn Stood Like Daddy

When Evelyn was almost three, she suddenly started copying how Tom stood; hands on hips, weight on right leg, causing his left to stick out.   

When Evelyn started to mimic Tom's stance, she would put hands to hips, stick out her belly and, very deliberately, step out her left foot.  My husband's body is slender with a belly, so to Evelyn, it looked as if he were pushing out his belly.  She left out not a detail!

It took us a few times to realize what she was doing, my brother noticed it first, and eventually, we just needed to ask, "How does Daddy stand?" and she would immediately do her mimicking stance.

When Evelyn Says She'll Help Raven

Okay, so this covers a lot of times, but it's specific times when Evelyn tells me, "It's okay Mama, I'll help Raven know what to do."  I'm tearing just hearing her little voice in my mind.  It makes you feel wonderful when your hear your child repeat your words in their own.

When Evelyn Said She Wanted to Learn French

This is not something I've mentioned, don't want to jinx it and I didn't plan to blog about it, but I have a goal to learn Spanish and French by the time I am thirty.  My husband knows Spanish already, and my father's parents were from Mexico until they migrated.  My father was the first in his family to be born in the States.  I am the only one, now, in my family that doesn't know Spanish.  We have been listening to French songs to familiarize ourself with it, and Evelyn has a favorite already, Pappoutai by Stroame.  She asks for it all the time.  She told me that she wanted to hear it more, the "Daddy where are you song," so she could learn French and we could all learn it and talk it together.  She tries her best to sing what she can from what she can hear, and what we help her with.  It makes me feel amazing when I learn that my kid(s) want to learn more, and learn something many American children might not even think about.

When Evelyn Talked About Killing the Deer to Eat It

I am sorry to anyone that thinks killing animals is horrible, but I live in Texas and we like our guns, we like our meat, and we don't mind using the first to get the second.  I don't remember the conversation, how it started, but Evelyn was four, and she said that if she saw a deer, she would shoot it, and then we'd take off the skin, and then we could eat all the meat.  We are not a hunting family.  We don't do that regularly, in fact, I've never hunted, only target shooting.  I'm not sure if she heard it from us, or from my extended family, but I knew I was raising a Texan when she said that with such a happy voice.

When Evelyn Said Why She'd Be in Slytherin House

Harry Potter has been a part of my life for the last 15 years, and I don't see it leaving in the future.  It was the first series I ever read and is one of the few that my husband has read.  If you're a Potter nerd like me, you know what house you are in, and if you have young kids, you wonder what house they will be in.  My husband, Tom, is a Slytherin, and I am a Gryffindor.  I bought Evelyn a Gryffindor shirt from the junior section at Walmart for $3.  One day, I was trying to get her to wear it again, she had stopped, and she said she would only wear it when watching Harry Potter.  Tom said something, and I looked at Evelyn and said, "Don't worry, he's a Slytherin."  Evelyn asked what a Slytherin was.  I told her they are cunning and clever, and always find a way to do anything.  She then she said, "I would be in Slytherin because, because I'm slen-skinny.  I'm skinny so I'd be in Slytherin."  Tom looked to me, "That's as good enough reason as any."

It's been, almost a six year journey, and I am very happy to be Mama.
I look forward to more little voices calling me that!

Happy Mother's Day!

(Check out RAVEN'S MAMA MOMENTS!)

My Top 5 Most Satisfying Raven's Mama Moments

As a Mother's Day Special, even though I'm late, what better way to celebrate,
than to think of what great moments I've had as a Mama.
This post is all about my favorite Mama moments with Raven,
my second born and second daughter.

When I was pregnant with Raven, before we knew she was a girl, I was hoping that Evelyn would have a sister.  I didn't pray for it, it felt selfish to me; I wanted Evelyn to have a sister because I never was able to, but Evelyn did end up with a sister.  It makes me so happy to know that they are mine, and I get to keep them forever.

When Raven's First Word Was "Evelyn"

This is not an exaggeration.  Raven's first word was "Evelyn."  We know for sure that is exactly what she was saying, because she was watching the hall, looking down to sister's room, and calling her name.  Evelyn was in her room playing, Raven could hear her, and she called out to her.  Two out of two of my kid's have not said Mama first.  I'll take it.

When Raven First Kicked the Soccer Ball
Evelyn loves soccer, so the three of us were outside to kick the ball around, and I took Raven's leg, a few times, and had her kick the ball.  She seemed a little afraid to try herself, but she was amazed at what she was doing.  The next day, inside, she kicked the ball.  A real kick.  She was 19 months and she kicked a soccer ball.  Raven even tried to use her toe to pull back the ball from her "opponent."  She is surprisingly skilled at many things.

When She Forces Me to Hug and Kiss Her
That does sound strange, but at the moment, she is sleeping in our bed, and she usually falls asleep in my arms.  Sometimes,  she will force me to keep both arms tightly around her.  I'm not even allowed to scratch my nose.  Raven is very insistent sometimes.  This feels extra special to me, because, when Evelyn was little, I was least preferred, all the time.  With Raven, I'm usually the preferred one.  It's nice.  She also will grab my face and force me to kiss her cheeks.  I, of course, attack her with kisses, but sometimes, I can't breath with her squishy cheeks.

When Raven Insists She Clean
Raven loves to clean.  I will give her a paper towel when she is upset and tell her she gets to clean, and she rushes off to wipe things down.  This is actually something both girls do/did, and they inherited this trait from me.  You may have read in previous posts, when I was younger, much younger, my older cousins would lead me to their rooms, when I'd visit, so I would clean it.  Growing up, when I would get board, I'd clean, reorganize, and rearrange.  It's a good feeling to see your kid pick up your good habits.

The Way Raven Hugs and Kisses Her Babies
She pulls them in so tightly and kisses them as if they are the first and only dolls she has ever received.  This is after playing with it, too.  Raven will do this to all doll babies and stuffed animals, well, almost anything she can hold, she will do this to.  She attacks food in much the same manner.


Raven's list was a little harder to make since she hasn't been here that long, she's not even two yet, but there are still amazing moments I had to move around to find the perfect ones.

Happy Mother's Day!


(Check out EVELYN'S MAMA MOMENTS!)

Links for My Baby List

*my link for the printable wasn't functioning, sorry for that.  I will try my best to get it going!

These are links to what I use myself, or close to what I have.  Some of the things I have for Baby, I've had them since we planned for Evelyn, back in 2010.  I was happy to see that many of those products are still the same, just with new colors; lets me know I did my research right and found proper products for my baby.
We plan for baby on a student budget.  Much of what we buy is the cheaper of things.  The more expensive items that we have, we had saved for, we were gifted them, or we found them on Craigslist.

Sleeping

• 1-full size crib, white Jenny Lind crib, my Craigslist find
• 1-crib mattress, can find many here, we actually have two, one we have from Evelyn and one that came with our Craigslist find
• 1-crib wedge, buying this one, helps keep away acid reflux which runs in Tom's family
• 4-crib fitted sheets, simple and white
• 4-waterproof mattress pads, so useful, I've seen parents layer these with the sheets for easy and quick clean ups at night
• 1-mesh bumper, safest
• 2-crib rail covers, get these or diy these, I say two because when you wash one, you want to be able to put another immediately, that's why our crib has teeth marks, because she was washing the cover
• 1-half size travel crib, this is the current color, we use it as a bassinet and for day trips to relatives' homes
• 3-fleece fitted travel crib sheets, be sure they are fleece, babies hate cold mattresses and it took us awhile to learn that's why they wouldn't sleep well. I made my own (will show later)
• 4-swaddles, don't have these but they are so cute, just found these, cheaper versions of aden + anais, made by them, I have a few muslin given to me
• 4-sleeper sacks, for winter, for summer
• 1-night light of some kind, like this, or this kind, or even this
• 1-baby monitor, low tech or high tech, you just need to hear the baby

On the Go

• 1-infant carseat, this is what we have in a different color, I checked crash ratings and consumer reports, and found this at the top of just about every list
• 1-carseat cover, find this for just the shipping
• 1-piddle pad, this can be such a life saver on trips
• 1-back seat mirror, this one has a light, but I also have this plain one from Evelyn
• 1-seat protector (for the car), one of the best investments for your vehicle
• 1-jogging stroller, closest to what I have, my actual jogging stroller is a find, literally, no money, I'll post on that later.
• 1-light stroller blanket, receiving blankets are best for this, sometimes they just need a little more
• 1-stroller bunting (for cold, cold days), cheaper than you think
• 2-infant sling/wrap, can find these for just the shipping, or make your own
• 1-backpack or mei tai carrier, bought or homemade
• 1-diaper bag, newest version of mine, I love mine (gifted), this is my alternate (much cheaper)
• 1-travel nursing pillow, I got the green one on sale, the only way I'd buy it, when we were trying for Raven.  So glad I did, since it's what I took to the hospital to save space.
• 1-travel changing pad, mine isn't made anymore, it's fancier, but you only need it to be simple
• 1-travel wipes container, this way you can reuse and take what you need
• anti-bacterial hand wipes, use them on shopping carts, restaurant high chair, toilets, everything
• 1-shopping cart cover, so baby doesn't chew on the cart
• snacks (for baby and Mama), HEB favorite for baby, sweet and healthy for Mama!
• water for Mama, just got the pink one!
• 2-nursing covers, find these for just shipping or buy or diy this
• 2-toys for baby, this doesn't take much space, this makes noise, just don't take it to church or a funeral, Raven loves them both

Bath Time

• 1-infant tub sponge insert, can set inside sink
• baby wash, use the sleepy time
• baby lotion or baby oil, ditto on the sleepy time
• 3-hooded towels, covers this and the next
• 3-washcloths, can use for cleaning babies gums also
• 1-rubber duckie, or any rubber bath toy, it helps baby feel happy and calm at bath time, in turn, helping you

Diapering

• diapers, our go to or go a little greener
• wipes, our go to or these, if you do cloth (or even just washcloths)
• diaper ointment/cream, the usual or search for cloth safe creams
• 1-wipes warmer, for our home, proven to be a necessity for first months of life to keep the peace
• changing spot (could be a table, dresser, or bed), I have a changing table but as the kid gets older, changing spot is all over
• 2-baskets (hold diapering supplies), these give you a place for every thing and extras, have one with changing spot and another in the living to keep you from running back and forth, useful when you have more than one.
• 1-5 liter trash can w/lid and oder eliminating trash bags, a bit much, but this is what I'll be getting 3rd time around, and don't forget these!  We had a Diaper Genie for the first two, but the plastic absorbs the smell, eventually, and it's so big that it stinks up the room before it's full.
• 1-changing pad (if using table or dresser), simple and contoured
• 3-changing covers (if have changing pad), one in use, one in the wash, one in the diaper station
• 3-waterproof changing pad liners (either way), you want to protect whatever you change baby on

Other Things

• 1-baby indoor swing, don't think you have the space?  Check out this one!
• 1-pack n' play, not what I have, but since I got mine at a used baby store, I don't have the extras and I looks like this.  Surprisingly, cheaper than I thought, but, still got mine cheaper.
• 1-baby seat, not a need at all, but when I was pregnant with Evelyn, I wanted it.  I bought mine at a hometown store downtown, one I had seen a long time and was determined I would get it when I'd become a mother.  It was all sentiment for me, and totally not a need.
• 2-teethers, simple or not (don't have this but look how cute!)
• 1-album/baby book (to record baby events), this, or if you're LDS, or if you just want photos
• numbers of family and friend that will help keep you sane
• 1-humidifier, haven't used it yet but I should
• baby toothbrush, the one I'm using on Raven (#2) and these for Evelyn (#1)
• teething gel, this is what we used with Raven, just don't get it mixed up with Neosporin, we didn't ever do that, but they look very similar when you have it in a first aid kit.
• health kit, we have an older one of this, ours didn't come with the mitt or spay bottle
• thermometer, for the ear, I think this is the newest version of ours.  We bought ours when we were about to have Evelyn in 2010, still works perfectly.
• baby Tylenol, sometimes babies just hurt, this can help them sleep better if their teeth are bothering them, or anything else.  We used this as a last resort when we couldn't get Raven to sleep while teething, it helped the house sleep for sure.

Clothes 
(don't take off tags until they wear it)

• 3-infant caps, we never used them, my kids over heated too easily, but we still bought them, just incase.
• 5-newborn creep n’ crawls with snaps, so you won't have to undress baby to change her
• 1-package of newborn socks, buy plain, then add designs on bottom with puffy paints
• 1-newborn church clothes, dress or onesie button up with slack look a likes
• newborn mittens, newborns don't mind them, they chew their fingers through it, pack extra in the diaper bag because their hands get too cold from their saliva.
• 6- 0-3 months outfits
• 2- 0-3 months church clothes, they can use this size longer, that's why I doubled it.
• 6- 3-6 months outfits
• 2- 3-6 months church clothes
• 9- 6-9 months outfits
• 3- 6-9 months church clothes
• 1-jacket (size will depend on season)
• 1-coat (size will depend on season), cute!
• 6-pairs, shoe socks (variety of sizes), for pretty little girls, bigger girls and handsome boys, bigger boys, I used these for church and when we went out for them to dress up more

Feeding

• 1-nipple shield, life saver!
• nipple cream, apply liberally, it's not harmful to baby
• breast pads, washable or disposable, I prefer washables
• 1-automatic breast pump, I had been gifted this and bought need tubes
• 1-pump holder bra, I am getting one this time around!
• 1-feeding pillow and cover, this just makes it so much easier on your back
• 1-nursing necklace, I have a grey one. They help keep baby occupied as they get more curious about the world around them, when you nurse.
• 3-bottles, I used these for Raven, these for Evelyn, though they were different then, and I prefer the Avent.
• 1-bottle cleaner or dishwasher container, want, don't forget these, and if you use the dishwasher
• 1-drying rack/mat (if you hand wash), this is the one I want, but this works too
• 1-rocker, glider, or favorite seat, I bought my pink one on Craigslist, but this one is closest to it
• 1-lumbar pillow, this is for comfort when feeding, had to show off what my mother in law gave me, or use this if you sit on a bed or couch
• 1-neck pillow, again, for comfort for the middle of the night feedings
• 1-high chair, I have a younger version of this I bought at a used baby shop
• 4-baby bowls and spoons, I like colorful, dishwasher friendly, and stackable
• 4-bibs, just get a pack *update! Took a trip, and used these!  So much better, especially when traveling, than cloth!

Several things I have, I bought them used, or I had them handed down.  I'm fine doing that with a stroller or high chair, but I would never do that with a car seat.  Never buy a used car seat.  You don't know what it's been through, and even if you know those giving it to you well, it's best not to take the chance.  You don't want to get into a wreak and always wonder if it'd have been better if you had a new car seat instead.

When buying used things, check the joints, corners, check the plastic for stress marks, check the metal for rust and/or dents, and always wash what you can before using it.

When buying for baby, think safety first.  Don't just buy something because it's a fad or because you think it'd look cool in your living room.

Did I leave anything out?  Remember, I've only had girls, tell me what would be added to the list for a baby boy.

Hope y'all enjoyed this very long list of everything for Baby!

Like to hear from y'all soon!

Chocolate Layered Pecan Caramel Kit-Kat Cake

Looking through photos on my phone, I realized, I never showed you this.

I made this for my dad's birthday last year, in October.
At HEB, they were having, buy 5 get 5 free candy bars.
Another reason HEB is the best!
My dad has mentioned Kit-Kat cakes many time, so I bought some.  Okay, I bought a lot.  I wasn't sure how big to make the cake, how much it takes to go all the way around, so I bought $30 worth, remember, it was buy 5, get 5, so I only paid $15 for them.  We had a lot of Kit-Kats.  I actually put them in the freezer, since it was still months away from my dad's birthday.  They held up just fine!

Supplies to Make Pecan Caramel Dip Kit-Kat Cake!

• 1-chocolate cake mix, or favorite recipe
• 1-can of chocolate icing, or favorite recipe
• caramel syrup
• 1-bag pecans
• 8-Kit-Kat bars
• 1 to 4- 5" baking pans
• cooling rack
• long knife
• spatula (for icing)
• friends and family to share with *optional

Put your Kit-Kats in the refrigerator.
Bake the chocolate cakes and let them cool.  Be sure to let them cool!  If they are hot, they will not do so well with the caramel syrup.

I had two of this size, so I was able to do it in two turns.

Use the long knife to flattened the tops, then stacked them and measure.  I made sure that it was a little shorter than the Kit-Kats to leave space for the top filling.  I unstacked them, after measuring, and restacked, putting caramel syrup between each layer.

(I know, it's crooked, but that never changes the taste.)

Ice it with chocolate all over.

(At this point I'm thinking, I'm pretty sure Daddy likes chocolate.)

  It takes seven full pieces and one shorter piece.  Use your long knife to break off just one Kit-Kat bar.  If you separate all your bars, it takes 31 pieces.  Sticking on the Kit-Kats can be tricky.  If the cake, icing, or candy is warm, they will just slide off each other.  That's why I said to put the Kit-Kats in the refrigerator when you started baking.

(Since my Kit-Kats were frozen, they broke when I tried to take them apart.  I just kept them together.)

Top with pecans.

Drip caramel syrup all over the pecans and let it spill over the sides of the Kit-Kats.

Bring in the family and friends, serve and enjoy!

It was a major hit for my dad's birthday!  My dad loved it! 

(If you're wondering why he isn't smiling, he's just used to being serious for pictures.  His parents were from Mexico, and they taught him to be serious for pictures.)

 My mom was going in for a hug.  You can see the cake layers.

It took well in the fridge later.  Though the caramel syrup does harden in the cake, it was like having chocolate covered caramels when eating the left overs.

I hope y'all enjoyed this tutorial, 

and I hope y'all make it some time because it is so good!

Share, and I hope to hear from y'all soon!