It's a Baby Shower!

I know a lot of my good friends won't be able to make it because you live so far away, but I wanted to make sure you all knew you were invited. So to all of you in Des Moines and scattered throughout the world, (I am very popular and have friends all over the world;)

YOU ARE INVITED!

You can visit this URL http://www.mypunchbowl.com/parties/788309-baby-shower-for-baby-and-momma-natali-jolley to see the e-vite and RSVP if you want. I love you all! I wish all of you could come.

P.S. the phone number is wrong, but if you really want to call, just call me and I will give you Holly's real number.

Fondant Baby Shower Cake Practice

I have never made or decorated with fondant. But, the girls on the TV make it look so easy and fun. Not the case. I wanted to make myself a really fun baby shower cake for next weekend so I figured that I'd better give it a go before the day of. So I made these little cakes and got a recipe for fondant off the Internet and gave it my best. It didn't work out at all how I wanted, but it was very much a learning experience.

I ended up adding too much powdered sugar to the fondant and it cracked terrible when I cut it and draped it over the cake. I learned that you add little bits at a time as needed and don't let it dry out. Double plastic wrap it and let it sit in the fridge overnight before you use it too. I also found some handy tutorials on YouTube and how to drape a cake with the fondant and how to make the fondant the right consistency. I will definitely try this again. I have to only get better at it the more I try right.

First attempt and decorating with the fondant. B for BABY! Very very rough! But, kind of cute I guess.

2nd attempt. J for JOLLEY! A little better but still a work in progress. A fun thing to do but very time consuming. I'm sure that as I do this more I will get better.

Cloth Diapers

No I'm not crazy. Yes, I have changed a diaper before. Yes, I know how disgusting it can be. And Yes, I have used cloth diapers before. *SIGH* Okay, so for those of you reading this and thinking that I am crazy and that this little idea of mind will only last until I have one big diaper blowout, I had to put that little beginning statement.

I have embarked on a fun project these past few months. I have been sewing cloth diapers. I actually nannied for a family in Iowa that used cloth diapers. She has three little boys and at one time they were all in diapers. Cloth diapers. I thought it was a fantastic thing and the more I used the cloth diapers the more I was determined that when I had little ones I would use the same. Cloth diapers now-a-days are quite different than what many of you are used to seeing. A big square piece of cloth folded in a million ways and pined in the front with enormous safety pins. That's all in the past baby! These little critters I am making are quite amazing and I know, from experience, they work very well.

The outer layer is just a plain flannel. The inner layer that touches the babies skin is a super soft mico-fleece. Then sandwiched inside is a layer of water proof fabric called Polyurethane Laminate, or PUL. Then stitched into the center of the whole caboodle is a "super soaker" made up of two layers of extra-absorbent terry cloth with a piece of fleece inside of that. That makes the inside of this diaper six layers thick! Tough to get a sewing machine through sometimes, but I have managed so far Then the little tabs are velcro and are adjustable so they can be made to be larger or smaller. The legs and waist also have elastic in them so they will fit close to the baby to prevent leakage and give him a little wiggle room.

The safari print diaper is the first that I made. Don't look too close for it has a few flaws that I was to tired to pick out and redo. The rest of them I have made over the past couple months and I am actually getting pretty efficient at these little puppies. Today I pumped out 4 of them while watching Hairspray. Pretty cute little things. Most agree that they are really adorable but I can almost convince NO ONE that they actually work and are worth the money saved and the loads of laundry. I guess I'll have to see myself in three months when I actually have a newborn at my house.

If anyone wants me to make them a little cloth diaper, I would be happy! Maybe if you try them you would be hooked and want to buy more. You never know right!

My Friend Karin The STAR

You all know that I am a sucker for showtunes and the stage. I have been wanting to see a show at the Mysique dinner theater in Pocatello for a REALLY long time now. I haven't been able to persuade anyone along until last night. It was a discounted show and I finally talked Bryce into going. I have a very wonderful husband for indulging me in so many ways.

The show was great and my friend Karin was one of the performers. I met Karin in Iowa while we were going to med school and she and her husband were in law school. She was always a great friend and I was so happy to see her again. Karin, you did awesome. I want to come see another show some time! EVERYONE should go and enjoy it. I loved it.

Cute Cam

My nephew Cameron may be one of the cutest little boys ever. This picture is a few weeks old, but I had to share it. He was sitting in lounging on his Mom's bed watching cartoons. I love that his hair is poking up and his feet are in the air. Cute kid. I love you Cam!