{Recipe Sunday - Chocolate Cake}

I am currently on a no-carb diet (more about that in another post)...but that doesn't stop me from loving some chocolate cake!! I mean, The Babe still likes to enjoy a slice of cake or a cupcake every now and again ;)

I hate dry cakes, so I found 2 ways to make mine very moist...one is applesauce!! What follows is the recipe for a moist chocolate cake using applesauce. Once you've made the cake and everything has cooled off, put it in the fridge overnight. Those two things together will make anyone who eats your cake beg for more!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer set on medium speed. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the applesauce.
3. Pour the batter into a 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.

{Exciting News}

I have some exciting news coming soon!!!

It will be a series of 10 posts...and you don't want to miss ANY of them!!!

Lesson #123 - Vaccinations Are Necessary...For My Children

So, I recently read an article about doctors turning away children who haven't been vaccinated.

Now, I was never one to believe all that hype about vaccinations leading to autism. I have a very dear friend who works with autistic children day-in and day-out...she doesn't buy it either. If she says they're all a load of poo, well then I'm apt to believe her! I think that it is difficult for people to deal with the fact that their child might just have a defect. As much as we all want to believe our child(ren) is (are) perfect, sometimes it just isn't the case.

Which leads me to this story I read about pediatricians turning away their services to children who have not been vaccinated. It makes perfect sense too...as opposed to throwing them out of restaurants and off of airlines!! Babies under a certain ago are not yet able to get vaccinations, but that doesn't mean they don't get sick. Thankfully we have been luck with Mr. Squiggles...and we were lucky with The Babe also...both are in great health and both are up-to-date on their shots.

However, that doesn't mean that I want them around children who have possibly never been vaccinated - or have had their shots delayed, for whatever reason. I want my children to be as safe as possible and it is my job as their mother to make darn sure that happens! Babies being in contact with other babies is one thing...but what if, say, another baby has an older sibling who hasn't had their shots. That older sibling might have become immune to whatever s/he is carrying, but that doesn't mean it won't be passed onto their younger sibling - and then on to my child, who isn't old enough for shots yet.

It seems that chain of events could have all been prevented if every parent saw the benefit of immunizations and did what was best for, not only their own child but everyone else's children as well. Not giving your child the correct shots on the recommended schedule is very selfish, in my eyes.

Any thoughts??

{Wordless Wednesday - Boating}

The kiddos both got the chance to drive my dad's boat a while back...and boy did they love it!!

Mr. Squiggles was concerned about getting a handle on the wheel...

...until that boat of cute babies passed...

...while The Babe decided she was gonna be a Pitbull at the wheel!!

Friday is your last day to enter the $25 gc contest with My Baby Clothes Boutique...what are you waiting for?!?! Head on over HERE and enter!!

Lesson #122 - Kids In Restaurants = Controversy

As a parent of 2 very adorable and always angelic (feel free to barf at any time) children, I can't do anything but wonder when I hear of places like the restaurant in North Carolina bans screaming children. Another blogger expresses her concern with airlines wanting to ban children from flights...and yet another tells a tale of a restaurant in Pennsylvania banning children under 6 years old.

I mean, I kind of understand how someone might feel...never being a parent - or even a parent finally getting one. single. friggin. meal to him/herself (is it so much to ask?!)...but kicking families out of restaurants for unruly children?? Give. Me. A. BREAK!!

Before you know it, you won't be able to get that "marga-daiquiri-screw-aloda-on the beach" you've been WAITING until 5p to drink!!

The Nerve!

I know my kids can be a little unruly every now and again, but who hasn't been there...whether you're the beyond drunk blonde barfing in the bar bathroom or the 3 month old that just wants the boob and a nappy poo...everyone deserves to be a little needy. Society just has to nut up or shut up (LOVE that movie...really one of the best) - preferably shut up, honestly!

Thoughts?!


Click on over HERE for your chance at a $25 gc from My Baby Clothes Boutique!!

{Wordless Wednesday - Dog Dish}

Well, we were able to take a trip back to my parents' home - back where I come from - this past week/end and it was glorious!! As much as they drive me bonkers (and now The Man gets to share in that joy), I really do enjoy going home every now and again. We hadn't been back for quite some time - as a whole family - since The Man tends to work 7 days a week some weeks...so this was an especially nice treat! Below is proof that you don't need to buy baby toys for your child(ren) because they would rather play with other things...like the dog's food dish!

Looking Right...

Looking Left...

Who, Me?!?!

...aaaaaand ATTACK!!

Best toy EVER (because it made an obscene amount of noise, I think)

Poor Butter was concerned over the safety of her dish!

Lesson #121 - Face Painting Results Are Quite Amusing

The Babe's birthday was on July 9th...and of course we just HAD to celebrate with a par-tay!! The man doesn't understand why I felt the urge to plan a large party for her - in his eyes, the big ones are 1, 16, 18 and 21 - but my mother had a party for me every year...and hand-made my cake every year...so that is what I will do...whether he likes it or not!!

My parents asked what they should get her and my answer was simple - anything but toys! I mean, the child has PLENTY of them and they hardly ever get played with! So, they decided to chip in and pay for the services of a professional face painter. Now, let me tell you...this was the best idea. EVER. The Professional Painter arrived 15 minutes early to set up her things, brought her own chair and supplies, and cleaned up everything as though she'd never been there! The kids were a little skittish at first, but once things got going it was awesome!

Lightening McQueen made an appearance on JJ (side note - the pro totally looked at another little one's shirt and copied the picture...she'd never done one before!)

I stole my girlfriend's son, lil c, and got a snake put on his leg (kinda hard to tell)

My other girlfriend's little girl, SL, got a small 1/2 butterfly...

I was brave and opted for a full-face version!

The Babe got a full face version too...this was the first one...then it got wet!

The second one had more orange...equally as cute!

Not to be outdone...Mr. Squiggles got horns!!!

Wanna win $25 worth of fabulous clothes over at My Baby Clothes Boutique?? Then head on over to THIS POST to enter!!

{Wordless Wednesday - Sibling Bike Ride}

Their first bike ride together in the trailor...I love them so much!!!

It wouldn't be complete without a sexy husband ass shot though!!!

Lesson #120 - Quality CAN Be Affordable - A GIVEAWAY

Two years ago (from the 9th) our b-e-a-utiful daughter come into our lives!! We had no IDEA what was going to happen after she was born - we just knew that she was coming and we couldn't wait to meet her! So, in celebration of her 2nd Birthday, we decided that a butterfly themed party was the way to go!!

(this is with her first round of face paint...then she got in the pool)

Last year for her birthday (pictures here) we had a ladybug themed party - complete with a ladybug backpack/outfit that she wore. So, this year I knew that I wanted a butterfly outfit to match the butterfly themed party. Thankfully, before I even had to think any further, I was contact by My Baby Clothes Boutique to do a review of their clothing. I love doing clothing reviews - for the little ones, not me - and I definitely jumped on the chance when I found out they had a gorgeous butterfly dress that would fit the birthday theme!!

(round 2 of face paint was more orange...still super cute)

I did a little browsing on their website and realized that I should have been shopping with them all along!! I could have bought one of their fabulous tutus for the photo shoot where my mom and I ended up making the tutu...I mean, we're crafty...we can make that (turned out, not so much)!

While browsing, I decided to look for a few items for Mr. Squiggles as well...because that is why we have children, let's be honest here...we just want to be able to dress them up until they're old enough to tell us "no" - then we force them!! So, I found the CUTEST baby hats that would look darling on Mr. Squiggles...until I realized that he'd probably pull it off and chew a hole through it (yay teething)...so I decided against the hat.

When the dress finally arrived (which was SUPER quick) I was surprised to see that it had a lining!! Most kids' clothes don't have linings anymore - like they did back when we were kids - so I was pleasantly surprised. The colorful butterflies are really cute - and the pastel colors all go very well together. The smaller butterflies are actually embroidered and the larger ones are appliqués - a few even have sequin details. The top of the dress has slight ruffling - as do the matching white bloomer pants - and the shoulder strap detail (two instead of one) was the perfect touch!

So, do you want to WIN something?!?!

Giveaway:
There will be one winner of this giveaway (US Residents only). Winner will receive a $25 credit to the My Baby Clothes Boutique so that you too can have a VERY adorable outfit of your very own!!!
(Please leave email if not visible in your profile and leave a separate comment for each entry)
Mandatory Entry:
3 entries when you visit the My Baby Clothes site and tell me which product is your favorite

Extra Entries -
3 entries if you blog about this giveaway (please provide a link back to the post in your comment)
2 entries if you "follow" me - please comment and let me know
2 entries if you "spread my education" on your blog (please leave a link to the button)
2 entries if you follow My Baby Clothes on Twitter
2 entries if you become a fan of My Baby Clothes on Facebook
2 entries if you subscribe to the My Baby Clothes newsletter (it is a little green submission box on the homepage)

GIVEAWAY ENDS 7/29 - WINNER ANNOUNCED 8/1