RAINBOW CAKE!

This cracks me up.It's all too cute.

This cake is suitable for many occasions:
A child's birthday (MISS AVA WILL HAVE ONE! IN LESS THAN A MONTH!)
Your mom's birthday
Coming out to your conservative parents
If you're a lesbian, they'll be thrilled that you won't be forgoing your feminine kitchen duties.
If you're the kind of gay dude who makes cakes for your parents, they were probably on to you anyway.
Coming out to your conservative parents on your mother's birthday
Your friend's jam band CD release party. . . so I'm sure you'll find a use for this recipe soon.And of course, you can use any white cake recipe you'd like. This is just how I make it because I have delusions of wearing size 2 someday.Oh yes, and do me a favour: DOUBLE THE RECIPE AS PHOTOGRAPHED HERE!! The recipe at the bottom is accurate, but this made for a really REALLY small cake, and there was not nearly enough frosting, especially considering its lightness.Okay, on with the ingredients.

Pour a can of soda (16 oz) 2-16 oz cans of soda into the cake mix two boxes of cake mix. No eggs, no oil, no water, no sweat.

I'm going to round to 30 oz 60 oz because I have six colours and isn't that just too convenient? It worked out to 3/4 c 1.5 c per colour, measurementwise. So I divvied that up and used my gel colours.

(the gel colours, while not as good as pigment dye, are much bolder than the very liquidy food colouring you probably grew up with)

The first colour you drop into the pan, use about 2/3 of the mix for that colour. Otherwise, the top (last) colour will really dominate. I used a heaping 1/4 c 1 cup of each colour.

Drop the colours, one by one, into the middle of the pan, in neat concentric-ish gobs. Remember the cake is going to be sliced in the side there, so mixing it around on top isn't going to make your slices any more psychedelic (trust me, I did the three-dimensional thinking for you already).When you're three colours in, start doing the reverse with the other pan. Since I'm going in rainbow order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, I got from red to yellow in the first pan, then purple, blue, green in the second. This is so that your two pans are equal if your measurements aren't exact (and they're not likely to be).

Now finish up.

Follow the box's baking instructions and do your dishes.

Now for the frosting: 1 box 2 boxes of fat free sugar free pudding mix, and 8 oz 16 oz (two of the 8 oz tubs pictured) of fat-free whipped topping. Or sugar-free. Or light. Or regular. They're all pretty much the same. But that's it.

Finished results! The cakes done!

MMM Finished cake:

REMEMBER TO DOUBLE THIS RECIPE FOR RESULTS TO TURN OUT RIGHT!!

I am so excited to have found this it'll make a perfect 1st birthday cake for miss Ava!

Decorating part I

So I have been shopping A-LOT lately. NOT purchasing just window shopping and lookin hard. I am on a mission to get myself some crafty do -it- yourself projects and basically update my house since I haven't put any theme together for our living room yet. I have such a hard time with decorating because I love so many ideas so much. I SERIOUSLY need to move into a home like the White House. Having all those different rooms to decorate and call by the theme name. But I've narrowed it to a some what conclusion....sorta..kinda ...well maybe. It still needs some advice and help from some friends and then it'll come together eventually. It's so frustrating when we moved I thought Oh new state new decor and got rid of pretty much everything from our plum and green living room. It was really fun but not a room I could live with and be at peace with coming home to everyday for years and years...So anyhoo I'm on a mission. I have been searching some great blogs, stores and boutiques that I love. So whenever I come across some great crafty ideas I'll share with you all on my journey through learning to decorate my perfect home...Here's my first crafty decor find :

365 Good jars

Here's the story of the creation of the Good Jar.Over about a months time, I sat in a quiet, pretty spot and wrote down a list of 365 things that would make my day a little brighter.I've transferred my list onto 365 small, fortune-sized, slips of paper and made a home for them inside lidded, glass wire-bale jars.Each one of these slips state short inspirational sentences, that suggest simple things you can do, or look at, or think about, to ensure that you have a good day.

- Place one bedside, and draw one slip daily upon awakening.

- Use one as an interactive accessory in a Guest Bedroom, to make your visitors smile.

- Normally used to hold food items, these little jars look right at home on the window sill in the Kitchen, too.

Here's an example of what's inside:

Whistle while you work

Notice the colors of the sunset

BE a breath of fresh air

Hide a note for someone to find

Make a sandwich and cut it diagonally

Smile at everyone

Make a wish upon a star

And my personal touches with some great Bible verses tossed in the mix

{If your not feeling so crafty and just would like to purchase one already made check out the lettered cottage blog }

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Cute free giveaway @ Monogram Chick! Check her blog out this mug would go great with any girls morning :-)

DIVA SHOES

My little miss Ava is such a diva. If you saw this girls armoire of clothing your mouth would drop. She has style. WELL Ava's 1st birthday is next month can you believe it!? ALREADY! Time flys...So anyways I have been on the lookout for birthday gift ideas, and of course my girls alfit for her big day. We were in need though to find some tennis shoes since she insist now on walking on her own just about everywhere...leaving mommy to plan at least an extra half an hour just about anywhere haha. So I've been showing off the adorable shoes I had made for her from converse with swarovski crystals and of course princess ribbon shoe lases. LOVE THEM.

I can't wait untill they get here ..I think I'm more excited than her. lol Well with her tutu skirt and 1st birthday shirt I think my little girl will look fab-u-lous on her big day. Not to mention the jumbo bow that will be sittin on her bald head.. Yes pretty much still bald..sorta. But tonight at the grocery we recieved 3 people calling her a boy in her PINK striped ralph lauren dress and big satin pink blanky with her...whatever. ANYHOO I'll post pics of my dollbaby on her day in her diva wear. Thanks for lettin me brag a little haha have a nice night!



*Ashley @ My Life, Our Journey is having her first ever give away! Hop on over there and check it out!!! See blogs I follow if you can't find hers..she is making the cutest signs!

Sushi experience

That's right I did it. After 11 months of raising Ava and sittin in on my Saturday nights I got out. Finally. Last Saturday my cousin Kimberly and our friend Barb all decided it was time ...we did a day of shopping, pampering, and lunch then met up later that night for sushi and a movie. Now YES I'm pregnant and was completely grossed out by the idea but they insisted and I got a kind that was not raw no worries! Needless to say my favorite part of that meal was the end. I ordered Tai dohnuts smuthered in a razberry sauce mmm mm it was delicious!

So now it's the end of the week and I'm so glad this one went by fast. I am starting back to work next week and I'm actually looking forward to it. Along with stressing out to hear from my husbands company on what they're doing with him..who knows..So I will write soon when there is more to write. TRY SUSHI I think everyone should try new things even if you have to spit it out. :0)

Ava's adventures

So as of late my little angel has turned. She is sneeky and oh so sly! Getting into exactly what we say not to. She is so funny though she gets this halerious look on her face she'll walk or crawl so fast and stop and turn like 3 times to see if we're watching or chasing her. I sit and watch from the corner of my eye seeing that she is squeezing through the gate or pulling down my purse and once she touches it or brakes through the simple "AVA GRACE!" holler does the job. She sits up really fast and zooom! She is gone haha. Chasing her turns this all into laughter for us both. She thinks running (well our fast walking ) is just so funny lol and who can resist to laugh from hearing hers...

Repost to Holly's post:

1. 
   Do you twitter?
2. 
   Do you do both (blog and twitter)?
3. 
   If you're married, would your spouse ever hire you as his/her secretary (assuming he was in a job where he needed one)?
4. 
   Would you ever take in a homeless family (particularly one with 3 kids under 4)?

1. No didn't even know what it was until I googled' it...looks neat though. Goes to show what motherhood does to ya! I feel so outa the loop with whats in anymore lol

2. No

3. This ones kinda tough I believe Don would but I don't like the idea of really having him as my boss and I don't know secertary not really my thing I suppose...

4. Yes definetly! It would be so crowded but so much fun!! That would make for some good blogging stories haha

Back into the world

I'm dipping my toes in slowly but surely..I am now months later home. Ahhh home. I do have one of those don't I? I am thrilled and better than I've been in a long time. I have occassional spurts of "normal" sickness if I do too much activity. But compared to what I've been through PIECE OF CAKE...I am still on 5 medications..which gross me out but I gotta do what I gotta do I guess..and man o' man am I fatigued and have no energy EVER. With Ava's pregnancy I didn't ever need a nap and now I'll get sick if i don't sleep during the day- crazzy how boys take it all outa ya huh!

Moving on though (exhausted from even talking -thinking about sickness)...
Here's a fast update to get every reader back up to whats goin on in Allie's life.

Uhm there is so much..I'll try to remember it all..
Ava walks now and she is super speady. She gets faster and taller with every day I can not believe my baby is turning one soon! Can you!!

Our Christmas back home was just lovely besides running to about 10 different houses Oh and did I MENTION WE DROVE ...Needless to say we are sick of driving. For now on flights are the way to go.

My brother was home from college in Arizona for the first time since going and got to meet Ava...He cried and just adored her so much I loved that experience seeing them together we can not wait untill he graduates and have more time with him to catch up I know being away and being broke lol..will be so worth it so keep him in your prayers if you know him !!


I had the pleasure to have a visit in the following places and hospitals..
Lima, Ohio
Kettering, Ohio
Tampa, Fl
Sarasota, Fl

Donny is wonderful, amazing, and handsome as ever I might add with the gag gift he shaved his head into a mo-hawk. Correction: I shaved my husbands hair into a mo-hawk. BUT LADIES AND GENTS I might add although I almost cried that he would do that to me..(haha) he looks very good in a biker- hairier kinda way..Don't ask what this faze is and where it came from I have no idea and I am not responsible. His go-tee is longer and shaggier and redder than ever oh yea and up my nose when we kiss...lovely picture isn't it. LOL! He cracks me up though and I try to find a positive in a negative so here we go it elongates his face (he has very very round cheeks)..but seriously it works...He's cute.
Plus if you look at how my daughter's hair is growing in they now look like twins lol.

Ava said Da-da and Nana..oh and no (thats a fun one.)..and num nums since I last wrote.

Ava is signed up for her first beauty pageant I am soooooo excited!!

hmm...still waiting to hear back from Don's boss on where he's being transfered..

And sorry no crazy craving stories..at least not yet. But one thing I have done different is almost cried Ok well a tear with laughter came out..when I didn't have a food I wanted ..strange I know lol but man it makes for a funny story later!
My mom was cracking up..I just wanted burger king french fries so bad! and we couldn't find a burgerking for miles! And then another time we ran out of turkey and I just wanted a turkey sandwich soooo bad Oh the hormones..At least I know when it happening I am not completely insain and actually sad..the tears just come and they are uncontrolable haha..

I could really list a million things here people but I'll sum it all up and say New year , new me and I am so excited for 2009. It's supposed to get so much better from here on out. (This is fact my mom went to a phycic and she says so lol)...But I'll just start posting again and start from 2009. Have a blessed and happy weekend!

Allergic to pregnancy

I'm back ..not for long but I figured it was way past due for a blog. Here's my update on having "24/7 pregnancy sickness" Yeaaaa not any better. Here we go again is all I can think. I have never had allergies untill the other day the doctor finally gave up on trying to cure me and diagnosed me as allergic to pregnancy. I laughed at first I thought he was joking...nope it's for real. Have you ever heard of such a thing? So my wonderful mother in law is coming to pick up miss Ava, myself and baby. It is going to be so tough on Don and I. I think we'll be away from him for like 2 weeks and a HALF. Yes the half counts. The longest we have been apart since being together was maybe a week...it was brutal. But now Ava is in the mix. That is a reallllly long time for her to be away from her Da-Da. I mean she cries and watches the door even if he is an hour late in the evenings coming home from work. Oh plus my baby girl walked for the first time this week! She is so smart. Only 8months old people. So I would hate for her to Da-Da while away from him....Oh the stress. Well I know it is only temporary and needed. I don't know what I would do without the help we've received from friends and family. I have gone through madness at the hospital in for a week, out and back in again yesterday. I have a pic-line in my arm connecting into my chest. IT WAS PAINFULL. But my home nurse is wonderful. So anyways I'm tired of talking about it..and just tired of it all period. Tommorow we leave for Ohio. Pray for a safe trip !! Ps. Mandie sorry no hospital pictures or anything girl you wouldn't believe the knots that formed in my hair. Yes mine! I wasn't able to brush my hair for days and now the problem is fixed thank God..but the pics aren't pretty!