State Fair



 Kendall went to the State Fair and had a good time.  Of course, she didn't want to leave the rides.  Below are some pictures of her riding the motorcycles and Nemo.  The Nemo ride was moving quite fast, and Kendall was loving every minute of it.  The fair can't come often enough for Kendall.  She could stay there all day.

 

Photo Shoot

Below are some pictures of my favorite kiddos.  As you can see, these kids stay stylish.  Dylan insisted on wearing his vest and hat.  Who am I to hold back his swag?  lol  Kendall aka "Hot Stuff" makes any photo oh so cute.  I just love these faces!!!!!

 

 

 

My natural look

 

Something that I have gotten a lot into lately is make-up.  I LOVE make-up.  My everyday look is a natural look.  I pretty much wear a natural look most days especially to work, but here and there I spice it up with a little bold lip color.  Any who, here is my natural look. 

My primary make-up brand is MAC. 

Foundation and Powder:  MAC NC50 and Pressed Powder in Deep Dark 

Brows:  Covergirl Brow and Eyemaker in the Midnight Brown shade.  I also prefer to get my eyebrows waxed rather than threaded.  It just looks neater to me.

Eye Shadow:  Too Faced Natural Eye with the color “push-up” on my lid, and I mix colors “erotica” and “cocoa puff” in my crease.  I don’t have a brow highlight in this picture

Eye Liner:  Maybelline Gel Lasting Drama in Black.  Eyeliner is the one makeup component that I “MUST” wear.  I think I’ve worn eye liner for so long that I just can’t go without it now.

Blush:  Nyx “Pinched.”   I love Nyx blushes.  They are comparative to NARS blushes for way cheaper.  They last all day too

Lips:  MAC lip liner in “chestnut” and Maybelline NY Colorsensational Lip Color in color “Nearly There” #205.  This lip color is turning into one of my daily lip colors.  It’s a pretty nude color for my skin tone, and it’s moisturizing.  I sure hope they don’t discontinue this color anytime soon. 

I plan to do a favorite MAC lip colors post here real soon.  Out of all the makeup components, lip colors are my favorite.  Having two young kids really takes up my time, so being able to throw on a bold lip color makes it look like my makeup is all done when actually it isn’t.  I watch a lot of makeup you tube videos.  What I’ve learned is that you don’t have to buy all the high end priced makeup to get the same looks.  All of the drugstore brands like Revlon and Maybelline have dupe colors that match the high end brands.  I do splurge on some higher end brands, but when I’m trying out colors, I love a good drugstore brand.

Any who, stay tuned for more chronicles to my new makeup obsession.  The saga will definitely continue….

 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake

This is another recipe that I tried.  I thought it seemed like a simple dessert similar to a 4 layer delight.  Overall, it's good.  The one thing I didn't like is the use of the graham crackers for the crust.  Since the graham crackers are covered with the cheesecake pudding, it makes them soft of course which makes for no crunch component in the dish.  If makes this again, I think I will make the crust that is part of the 4 layer delight dessert instead of using the graham crackers.  Otherwise, this is a good summer dish.

 

 

 

Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake
2 pounds strawberries
2 sleeves graham crackers
1 8-oz. package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 3.4-oz. (4-serving) packages instant cheesecake flavored pudding
3 cups milk
1 12-ounce carton cool whip, divided

Clean and slice strawberries (about 1/4 inch thick); set aside. You have to do this first because the cream cheese mixture will start to set up quickly once it’s mixed up.

Line the bottom of a 3-quart 13x9 baking dish with graham crackers; set aside. Mine easily fit 6 whole crackers then I had to break up a 7th one to fill in the rest.

Combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add pudding mixes and milk and continue mixing on low for 4-5 minutes or until mixture starts to thicken. Fold in 2 cups cool whip until smooth.

Pour half of cream cheese mixture over graham crackers. Arrange a single layer of strawberry slices over cream cheese mixture. Top strawberries with another layer of graham crackers then cover with remaining cream cheese mixture. Top cream cheese mixture with another layer of strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for 6-8 hours.

When ready to serve*, top with remaining cool whip. Crush remaining graham crackers and sprinkle crumbs over cool whip.

*my strawberries put off a little moisture after sitting in the fridge all day so I soaked it up with a clean paper towel before topping with cool whip and graham cracker crumbs.

 

 

 

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

While I was on maternity leave, I made this cake because all the pictures of it on pinterest looked so good.  I really like it.  It kind of puts you in the mind of a carrot cake without the spice taste.  The caramel drizzle is quite yummy too.  Since it is a pound cake, the cake is heavy but very moist.  I will definitely be storing this recipe away to make in the future.  Shoot, I've already made it 3 times in the past 3 months.  Ha!

 

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 – 8 ounce bag of toffee bits
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 recipe CARAMEL DRIZZLE

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Spray a 12 cup Bundt pan with nonstick baking spray with flour. Set aside.
3. Beat the butter until creamy. Add sugars, beating until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat until just combined. Stir in toffee bits and pecans.
4. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake until a wood pick inserted near the center of cake comes out clean, 75 to 85 minutes.
6. Cover top of cake with foil to prevent excess browning if necessary.
7. Let cake cool in pan for 30 minutes.
8. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack. NOTE: Don’t freak out if some of the cake sticks. Mine did too. It’s because this cake is so moist. GOOD NEWS! We get to cover all the imperfections with yummy caramel!
9. Spoon Caramel Drizzle over cooled cake.

Dylan 3 Months

 

 

Nicknames: Dyl Dyl, Dyl Man, Big Man, Man Man, Dylanator, Baby Boy, Chillin' Dylan,  Pickle, Pick, Pickle Juice, Pickle Meister, etc

 

Weight: 12lbs 0oz

Height:  24in

Diaper Size: Size 1

Clothing: 3 months and 3-6 months

Feedings:  4oz to 6oz every 3 hours

Milestones: Can turn from his stomach to back and back to stomach, hold his head up longer, smiles all the time, drools all over the place to the point where I thought he was cutting a tooth but a tooth hasn't shown up yet, grabs his paci, and grabs a rattle and shakes it 

Likes: Warm milk, lying on his stomach to nap, playing on his activity mat, his swing, being picked up and held, his pacifier that he finally will take, for you to lie on a pillow with him and stare at him in the face until he falls asleep, and playing with his feet makes him laugh even though he doesn't like it after so long.

Dislikes: Wet or dirty diapers on him and being alone  

Sunday's Best

I just love this picture.  Dylan's first little smile caught on camera.  And look at Kendall holding onto Dylan making sure he doesn't fall.  Such a great Big Sister!

Dylan and Kendall with the Hooters Girls

In normal Saturday fashion, we all got out as a family.  No better place to go than Hooter's for some good wings.  The kiddos had to take some pictures with the Hooter's girl.  Check'em out!!!

First Day of School for my Babies

It's so amazing how time just keeps on ticking.  It seems like Kendall just got here and now we have two babies.  And now Kendall is starting preschool.  Man, time is flying.  They both had a good first day of school.  Kendall has learned so much already that I'm excited to see what else she will come home and tell us that she has learned.  Dylan did well too.  His teachers said that he is such a good baby and hardly cries unless he's hungry.  Being that Dylan is use to being at home with me where it's nice and quiet, he had to get use to hearing a crying baby here and there. He's a soldier and adjusted just fine.  Scott and I prayed over these little blessings, and know that they are in good hands. 

Kendall posing with her First Day of Preschool Announcement

                  Kendall and Dylan before school

Kendall with her new teacher Ms. Tess.  She started the 3 year old pre-school program.  She talked about school all weekend, and how she was ready to go to only cry once she got in the room.  That's my Kendall.  She ended up having a great day.  Just had to adjust a little to change.

Dylan giving me those "Mommy don't leave me" eyes before I left.

Kendall sleeping during naptime.  Of course, I had to check on my kids during the day.

Kendall's name on the door with all of her other classmates/friends

Dylan's name on the door with his classmates/friends.

Sunday's Best

The Big Top Circus with Miss Kendall

Scott and I took Kendall to the circus for the first time, and she loved it.  Kendall being the shy person that she can be at times, she was a little leary of what was going on at first.  We had told her that she would see Elephants, cotton candy, and other animals there.  She loved seeing the elephants and the miniature horses.  She kept calling the miniature horses, Sweetie Pie, which is the name of my dad's newest puppy.  After a good night of entertainment, Kendall just pooped out on the way home.  She had a blast!!!!!!!!!

Sunday's Best

2 Months

                 

 

Nicknames:  Dyl Dyl, Dyl Man, Big Man, Man Man, Dylanator, Baby Boy, Chillin' Dylan, etc

Weight:  10lbs 12oz

Height:  22.8in

Diaper Size:  Size 1

Clothing:  0-3 months and 3 months

Feedings:  3 to 4oz every 3 hours

Milestones:  Can turn from his stomach to back and can hold his head up longer 

Likes:  Warm milk, lying on his stomach to nap, playing his activity mat, his swing, and being picked up and held, and his pacifier that he finally will take

Dislikes:  Wet or dirty diapers on him and being alone 

Happy 4th of July from Kendall and Dylan