We’ve had SNOW!  And Sleet.  And then more SNOW!  Fortunately we didn’t lose power, but we did have a ton of fun!  Our neighbors let us borrow a sled, so we had 2 of them going plus a cardboard box.  It was great!  Now it’s melting, but that’s okay.  We will get more in a couple years 🙂

Earlier today it was snowing.  Big beautiful flakes.  And my pets LOVED watching it fall.  Here in Georgia we are being told a bad storm is coming tonight bringing tons of ice and some snow.  Sure all the northern people are laughing at us, but we get ICE.  Ice that covers the trees and causes them to fall on power lines, houses, etc.  We are being told to prepare for up to a week without electricity, and prepare for staying in doors from tonight until Friday at best.

Now is definitely the time to prepare.  Here are some tips on getting ready.

• Have plenty of canned goods, non perishables, pet food.  Also, a hand crank can opener.  If power goes out, your electric one will be worthless.  I recommend getting canned goods or foods that you can cook in your fireplace or on a grill.  I would not recommend getting a ton of cold items since if the power goes out, you may lose the items in your fridge.  Avoid opening refrigerators or freezers. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48 hours if the door is closed. In a half-full freezer, food will keep 24 hours.
• Charge up all your cell phones, computers, tablets, etc.  Remember though that your wireless may go out with the power outage, so don’t drain all your data at once!
• Go ahead and dig out your batteries, flashlights, candles, matches, radios, etc so you’re not fumbling around in the dark.  Have one at your bedside just in case power goes out overnight.
• Get firewood and cover it with a tarp to keep it dry if you have a fireplace.  If you don’t, consider a generator or an alternative heating source.  DO NOT use a gas oven to heat your home.
• Drag out the board games and get ready to have some fun with your kids
• Fill your bathtub and spare containers with water in case your electric water pump or the local water system goes out.  Be mindful to keep the door closed and young children safe.
• Check on older neighbors and friends before the storm hits to make sure they have all that they need.  Even better, bring them home with you.
• Stay home.  If you must use a car, be sure and pack essentials in case you are stuck on the road.  Food, water, blankets, warm clothes, glow sticks, etc are a must.  The recommendation is 1 gallon of water per person per day.

What other tips do you have to add?

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for OshKosh B’gosh. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating.

We were once again invited to be part of a wonderful opportunity to work with OshKosh B’gosh and help promote their Spring 2014 line.  Since we had so much fun checking out their winter 2013 line, I was eager to head in and see what is available for this spring.  I couldn’t wait to see all the new colors and designs.

When I got to the store, I saw some great aqua lines and fun spring colors, but what I fell in love with was the coral and navy blue sets for girls!  I simply adore them!  My little girls, age 3 and 4 loved the striped girls tunics and the sweet little girl leggings.  They even have a dainty little flower on the tunic.  My 10 year old daughter found a coordinating set that was more mature and less little girly, without making her look like a teenager.  She loves to match with her sisters without being identical.  I LOVE how OshKosh is able to keep my little ones stylish without looking too old.

My 7 year old son picked out a nice blue plaid button up shirt with gray pants.  I love that look on him!  Such a good looking little man decked out in his new clothes!

With the $100 that they provided for us to spend, I was able to get each one of my children an outfit, hair clips, and bracelets for the girls.  Most of the gift card actually went to my son’s outfit since he just HAD to have that set.  That’s okay, though because he looked really sharp in it!

Right now OshKosh is offering a printable coupon (also can be used online) for 20% off your purchase of $30 or more!  Valid through 3/12/14.

Simply click on the photo below to grab the photo.

To find out where there is an OshKosh B’gosh store near you, click here.

My grandmother-in-law sent the kids the book Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans for Christmas.  We’ve been reading it together and they LOVE it.  This book is being written from the point of view of the horse, Liberty.

There is also a new book coming out in March, Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans.  I just pre-ordered that one since I know how much my kids love the first one.  We are eagerly looking forward to more books.

Nationally syndicated radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has long wanted to make American history come to life for the children of his listeners. In Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims, he created the character of a fearless middle school history teacher named Rush Revere, who travels back in time and experiences American history as it happens, in adventures with exceptional Americans. In this second book in the series, Rush Revere is transported back to the people and events leading up to the American Revolution.

Yesterday, my baby girl turned 3.  THREE.  That’s crazy.  If you have been following me since she was born, you know she had a little bit of a rough start to life including a NICU stay, but now she’s a happy, healthy, rambunctious three year old.  She loves cows, Chickfila, and shoes.  Such a joy and a blessing.

My sweet girl asked for a cupcakes for her birthday party and also said she wanted a cow cake, so we pulled the two of those together.  I don’t think we did too bad for not being professional cupcake makers 🙂

I wasn’t planning on sharing how we made it so I didn’t take the best of pics, but when I shared it on my personal fb page, everyone was asking.  Here goes:

First, make a batch of cupcakes.  You’ll need 28 cupcakes to make the form that I did.

I started with a rectangle that was 4 across and 3 down, using 12 cupcakes.  Then I added 2 cupcakes to make each leg and 2 for the tail.  Then I used 9 in a 3 x 3 pattern for the head, making the middle row come down a little to shape the face.  Finally, we added 1 to make a cow bell.

Then start decorating.  We did a simple quick buttercream frosting for the base on each cupcake.  We used the ready made frostings that you can buy at the grocery store with a tip on the end to make the designs.  You’re simply adding features to make it look cow-ish.  I’m sure this could easily be adapted for a horse or a pig as well.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl!

I’m totally new to cake pops but they are so much fun to make!  You can use a Baby Cakes Cake Pop maker to make the process much easier!  Now comes the fun part!

Simply prepare your cake batter according to the directions.  You can add some sprinkles to the batter to make it a little more festive.

Pour it in your cake pop maker and magic happens!  Then dip as you wish!

Then it’s done and ready!

This is a guest post by my friend Alexia.  Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida.  When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!

When you think of Walt Disney World attractions, you probably think of Soarin’, Peter Pan’s Flight, Kilimanjaro Safari, and Toy Story Mania.  You know all the attractions that usually have at least an hour wait.  However, there are some attractions that you can usually walk right on without a wait.  Most people assume that these attractions are that great since there is little to no wait, but most of these attractions are very underrated.  Here are the top 10 underrated attractions at Walt Disney World:

Living with the Land:  I have no interest in gardening at all.  In fact, I have a black thumb.  If there is a way to kill a plant, I will find it.  Because of this, I find Living with the Land fascinating.  I love learning how Disney grows so much of their own food.  This was actually the very first ride that my girls rode on their first trip to Disney World.  My step-daughter even asked to ride it a second time.

Gran Fiesta Tour:  Okay, so there are some people who really don’t like this ride, but my girls and I love it.  It’s colorful, loud, and fun.  Plus my girls had a blast trying to spot Donald.

Great Movie Ride:  Confession time:  on my first trip to Hollywood Studios, I didn’t know that there was a ride behind the giant Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat.  Obviously, it was a must do on my second trip.  Many people complain that this ride is outdated and newer movies should be featured; however, I disagree.  I love the fact that this ride features classics.

Tomorrowland Transit  Authority Peoplemover:  Personally, I love this ride.  It takes passengers on a leisurely tour around the second floor of many attractions in Tomorrowland.  Sure, it isn’t the most exciting attraction at Disney World, but it is a great ride to put up your feet and relax as you take a journey through Tomorrowland.

Swiss Family Tree House:  I will be the first to admit that this attraction is not very stroller friendly.  If you have time and it isn’t crowded, take a leisurely stroll through and pay attention to the elaborate details.

Flights of Wonder:  This is a live bird show where one of Anandapur’s bird researchers educates a tour guide with a fear of birds about natural bird behaviors and the effects of habitat loss and conservation efforts on bird species, such as the Black Crowned Crane and Bald Eagle.  Sure, the story line and jokes are cheesy, but the birds and the information learned are amazing.

Tom Sawyer Island:  Much like the Swiss Family Tree House, Tom Sawyer Island is not very stroller friendly.  However, it is fun, interactive, hands-on attraction if you can navigate it.

Carousel of Progress:  This attraction was created by Walt Disney himself for the 1964 New York World’s Fair.  The attraction’s premise is an exploration of the joys of living through the advent of electricity and other technological advances during the 20th century via a “typical” American family.  Even if you don’t love the storyline, the attraction’s history is fascinating.

Liberty Square Riverboat:  In case you haven’t noticed, some of my favorite underrated attractions are those where I can kick up my feet and take a break but still feel like I am taking in the sights and sounds of Walt Disney World.  Liberty Square Riverboat is another one of these attractions.  The entire ride takes about 17-minutes and takes guests around Tom Sawyer Island.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic:  This 12-minute long show features 3D effects, scents, and water as well as a number of characters from Disney movies. It is shown on the largest purpose-built 3D screen ever made, at 150 feet wide.  Sounds awesome, right?  It is, but you would be amazed how many times I hear people say, “Let’s skip it since it’s not a ride” as they walk by.

Do you agree with the list?  What’s your favorite underrated Walt Disney World attraction?

WOW ya’ll!  Yesterday marked 4 years that I’ve been blogging here on MommyOctopus.com!  Thank YOU for making this a fun place to share deals, reviews, recipes, and random tidbits!

In celebration, how about we do a quick giveaway?  Through the end of the month, enter to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card!  Fill out the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway