MOTHER'S DAY CRAFT: EMBROIDERED TEA TOWEL

This was by far your fav post last year for a Mother's Day craft! Simple and thoughtful- that's the way to go. We are NOT sewers or embroiderers here... this is easy stuff, we promise! 

Click HERE for the tutorial!

DIAPER CAKE TUTORIAL

At every baby shower we throw, there's always a diaper cake centerpiece (scroll down for more of our cakes)! Not only is it visually super fun, but it's also the perfect gift for a new mama. We try to embellish the tiers and topper to match the theme of the party, and this one pictured above was from Jenni's hip hop/concert themed baby shower we threw last weekend... working on that post... promise! Jenni's always talked about getting baby Nike Dunks for her baby boy way before she even had Amara, so I knew the topper had to be these little kicks.

I've made all the mistakes for you and come up with my fail-safe way to make a 4-tiered spectacular diaper cake!

I've found TARGET BRAND diapers to be the best!! First of all, they're great diapers. When I had Ari I insisted on Pampers swaddlers (they are super soft after all) but when Max was born, I just went to Target brand and they're just as good and way cheaper. Aesthetically for a diaper cake, they're the best, because they are plain white and nice and flat. Pampers are a little puffier and look messy on a cake. Still works though- scroll down to see previous diaper cakes.

I bought one small pack each of newborn, size one, and size two. It's nice to give the mom a variety and it also looks really nice on the cake to have the tiers be different heights.

 My secret to the perfect shaped diaper cake is.... an oatmeal can inside! Yep, that's how I get that nice round shape, it fills in the middle nicely, and it keeps all the tiers sturdy.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 Oatmeal Can

LARGE Rubberbands

String (anything will do!)

About 75 diapers 

(see anatomy picture above for size variety)

Embellishment for tiers and topper

Cake Platter (mine is about 13")

INSTRUCTIONS:

*Tip- make sure each diaper for each tier is facing in the same direction

4th TIER

Start with the largest size diaper for the bottom tier.

Place a large rubberband around the can and start sticking diapers in, layering about 2-3 inches. You want to overlap them evenly all around. Soon your rubberband will get super tight and break in your face and your diapers will fly everywhere and you'll say a non-baby-shower-appropriate-word and you'll need to reinforce this layer with a piece of string. (See, told you I've made all the mistakes for you!) Just tie loosely around this layer in a bow so that you can adjust the length as you add more diapers.

As you layer the diapers all the way around, tuck the last diaper underneath the first so that it looks continuous and clean. Tie TWO pieces of string around this layer, one on the top and one on the bottom of the tier. This keeps the shape.

This bottom tier (4th tier) will have TWO rounds of layers. So just start layering again on top of the first round of diapers, this time with a string to hold this layer unless you have a huge rubberband! Can't tell you how many times I thought a rubberband was big enough and -snap-! Tie two pieces of string around the layer, one near the top and one near the bottom. You'll cover these up with embellishment at the end.

3rd TIER

This is one layer of diapers all around, about 17 diapers in size 1. Tie two pieces of string around the layer, one near the top and one near the bottom.

2nd TIER

If you're using the same size diapers and oatmeal can that I did, you'll notice that there's only about 2-3 inches of space left on the oatmeal can for the next tier. That's not going to be sturdy enough to keep the clean, round shape of the tier. You'll need to take 3 diapers and simply fold them each in half, stack them, and wrap 2 rubberbands around them. Place on the top of the oatmeal can, and now you'll keep that 2nd tier more sturdy and not falling in on itself.

Wrap only 8 or so diapers around and spread the layers a little wider than before. This keeps the tier thinner than the previous tier. Tie two pieces of string around the layer, one near the top and one near the bottom.

1st TIER

Roll 4 newborn size diapers up and individually wrap with a rubber band. Bring these 4 together and wrap all 4 up with a rubberband. This is the center of the top tier which will keep the shape since you've run out of room on the oatmeal can. Put another large rubberband around these 4 and start tucking in your diaper layers. Wrap about 8 diapers around, tucking the last one behind the first for that continuous look. Tie two pieces of string around the layer, one near the top and one near the bottom.

 You can see each tier has the string tied around the top and bottom which keeps that nice straight shape.

Voila! You're ready to decorate!

Lauren of Rock Paper Scissors printed these patterned strips of paper to match the invitations she designed. You could use thick ribbon or any type of paper (taped together into strips) to cover the strings and rubberbands.

 Don't forget your cake topper!

Here are some of our earlier cakes to give you decoration ideas: 

Modern mint an neutral baby shower HERE.

 This was from Jenni's baby shower for Amara almost 4 years ago! (HERE) This was one of my first diaper cakes, so I used colorful diapers, but I think it still turned out okay not being all white.

Lori's stork-themed baby shower (HERE) These were Pampers diapers- see a little too puffy and not uniform enough for OCD me. For embellishment, I taped strips of kraft paper together, wrapped around each tier, and glued feathers on top.

Lauren's Winter White Baby Shower (HERE). I loved this one! I used white silk ribbon so that everything was white.... can't tell you how many people thought this was a real cake. They were super disappointed.

Please let me know if you have any questions on construction! It can be a little confusing! If you're in Nashville, we can totally make this for you! Convo us on our Etsy shop or email us :)

XO

-L

NAP TIME PILATES WORKOUT!

If you know me at all, you know I'd rather do anything than work out. It's tied with cleaning the house. Actually Jenni and I are both averse to expending more energy than it takes to chase our kids around. We've been saying, who has the time to work out? 

Fortunately for us, my good friend, Kelly Simmons, is a Pilates instructor and health coach (and I don't even hate her... I adore her actually). Kelly has come up with a 10-30 minute workout, easily accomplished at your kids' nap time- like in your bedroom, bra optional! That's the most I can deal with right now, ya know? The beauty of this workout is that you can do it anywhere at any time! No getting sweaty, no gym equipment, nothing. This whole workout was done in the corner of my bedroom- see, you can do this anywhere! I even do some of these exercises in the play room with my kids! 

If you're in the Nashville area, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for all of her contact info and social media! She's THE BEST. Check out Kelly's gorgeous site HERE.

KELLY:

These exercises are perfect for an at-home workout, and can be completed quickly—in less than 10 minutes, or could be expanded for a full 30-minute workout. 

WALK OUT PLANK
Full body move that’s great as the first and/or last exercise in your workout.

Start in a standing position, arms hanging by your side. Nod chin to chest, round the upper body over the waist, pulling the ribs up to the ceiling. Come back to a tall back by re-stacking the spine. The neck and head are the last to come up. Repeat. 

On the last repetition, roll all the way down, place your hands on the floor (bend your knees if needed) and walk out to a plank position. Hold the plank position for a few deep breaths, then go into a downward dog stretch and then back to the plank. 

More difficult: add push-ups. 

Reps/sets: 2-3 roll downs, 3-5 walk out planks/downward dog stretches.

TOE TAPS

This move targets the abdominals, but your arms and legs will also get involved.

Lie on your back, arms by your side, fingers reaching towards your toes. Bring your right knee to a “table-top” position (knee in line with the hip, shin parallel to the mat). Keep the 90 degree bend behind your knee and lower your toe toward the mat. Lower as far as you can while keeping your ribs pressed into the mat. Switch legs. Then, bring knees together and lower both legs together.

More difficult: Add the arms-- with straight arms, reach behind you as lower your toes.

Reps/sets: 5-10 reps on each side, 5-10 reps with both legs.

CAT COW STRETCH
This is a great stretch that prepares your powerhouse for the next move.

Come into an all-fours position (hands under shoulders and knees under hips).

Lift ribcage high to the ceiling, tucking the tailbone under.

Then, reverse-- drop ribs down, press tailbone into the air.

Reps/sets: 5-10 sets (1 set = 1 cat and 1 cow)

BIRD DOG
This is a balance challenge and also works back, abs, glutes, hammies.

 Stay on all fours, weight balanced evenly across shoulders and hips, with the waistline cinched up. Stay in steady, balanced “table” position, and reach one leg out behind you, hip height. Take a couple deeps breaths. Switch legs. Repeat.

Do arms (one arm out at a time, repeat).

Then, lift one arm and the opposite leg.

See-saw the arm and leg, keeping the powerhouse strong.

More difficult: bring opposite elbow to opposite knee.
Reps/sets: 2-3 reps of lifting each leg and arm, 5-10 see-saws.

SAW
Strengthen your abdominals and back with this rotation exercise that will also make you feel taller.

Sit on your sits bones, arms in a “T”, legs mat-with apart, knees lightly bent and feet flexed.

 Sit tall, twist from the ribs, reach over the thigh to “saw” off the pinky toe with the pinky finger.
Come up to vertical in the twist, then unwind through center. Repeat on opposite side.

Reps/sets: 3-5 sets).

SWAN
You may not feel as graceful as a swan as you do it, but this exercise is excellent for improving posture.

Lie on your stomach, legs together, all ten-toe nails on the mat. Make a pillow with your hands—palms down, one hand over the other. Put your forehead on your hands.

Lift your abdominals off the mat. Hover your head and shoulders a few inches off the mat and hold for a breath. 

Reps/sets: 3-5 reps.

SHOULDER BRIDGE
Get your glutes, hammies, core and arms with this combo move.

Lie on your back, knees bent hip distance apart, feet flat on mat.

Curl tailbone up, follow by lifting the pelvis, middle back and upper back into a “bridge”— long line from shoulders to knees.

 Lower down by rolling through the upper back, middle back, low back until the tailbone touches the mat. Repeat.

On last rep, stay in the shoulder bridge, bring your right knee into your chest then straighten the right leg up to the ceiling.

Flex the heel, lower the leg to the height of the left knee, point the toe, and lift. Repeat 5 times. Bend the knee, lower the foot to the ground. Switch sides.

Reps/sets: 3-5 shoulder bridges, 5 reps of leg lifts on each side.

RELEVE BALANCE
Stand with heels together, toes apart, zipping legs together. Arms out into a wide “T.” Imagine a corset around your ribcage to keep your abdominals working.

Lift onto the toes, look to the right, look to the left, look to center. Lower the heels. Repeat.

More difficult: close your eyes as you turn your head to each side.
Reps/Sets: 2-3 sets.

Kelly Simmons, PMA®-CPT is a Nashville-based, NYC-trained Pilates instructor who helps clients improve overall strength, flexibility and mobility. Through group fitness and private training, she focuses on safe, effective movement for full-body workouts that emphasize the core. As a certified Health Coach with the American Council on Exercise, she helps people get well and stay well with tools and strategies for everyday healthy living. 

To contact Kelly, visit kellysimmonshealth.com or email kellysimmonshealth@gmail.com

For fitness tips and healthful ideas, go to Facebook.com/KellySimmonsHealth, find her on instagram @kellysimmonshealth, and follow her on Twitter at @ksimmonshealth.