{This week}

I have been fighting with the military to find out when they plan on reimbursing us (got hung up on 3 times and was lied to about paperwork being sent to the people who send the money) and of course because money has been tight due to having to go to Washington on short notice our car decided to start making funny noises on our way back home. Mind you the day we left I got the alternator fixed so I knew it wasn't that. Took it to the mechanic and it's going to cost a bunch to get it fixed. Isn't that how it always goes when you don't have the funds on hand to fix it.

*sigh*

Now because I haven't been able to go out much I found an instagram app for my android phone and love taking pictures with it. It's been the only thing keeping me sane with all the fuss of the car and nonsense with the military. Below are my images taken with the instagram app.

Oh ya and did I mention that my three oldest kiddies are going back to school on Monday! I have a 1st, 3rd and 5th grader...when did they start growing so fast!

*enjoy*

  

 

Below are my newest Tree Topper Angels. It's my first time making their bodies out of clay instead of Fabric.

{Casserole, kids plus a find!}

I made my very first casserole and it was a big hit with absolutely no left overs! I got a great deal on some canned ham and needed a recipe to use it up in. I combined 2 recipes to fit the ingredients I had on hand. Below is the recipe.

Ham and Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

16 oz macaroni noodles

2 cups sour cream

1 canned ham (diced)

1 medium onion sliced

4 TBSP butter

1 can cream of broccoli soup

1 frozen package of broccoli

3 cups milk

3 slices of bread (crumbled)

2 cups shredded cheese

3 medium carrots (shredded)

Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor crumble the bread. In a large saute pan melt the butter and then add the bread crumbs stirring until nicely toasted. Place in a separate bowl to cool while you compose the rest of the ingredients.  boil water and cook the macaroni as directed on the package. In a large bowl add the cooked pasta, diced ham, sliced onion, can of broccoli soup, frozen broccoli, shredded cheese, sour cream and shredded carrots. Mix until well combined. Place mixture into a large casserole dish and cover with the bread crumbs. Place in oven for 30-45 minuets until bubbly and hot.

Let set on counter for 15 min before serving so as not to burn your tongue/mouth when eating and it will allow the hot liquid to soak into the pasta.

While waiting for one of hubby's appointments to be done I took the kids to a park and they just had a blast. Myrna who for the longest time was afraid of slides couldn't get enough of them on this trip. I love this particular park because it is well shaded except for the swings.

When I was using up a $20 gift card at a local thrift store, by the way who knew $20 would be hard to spend at a thrift store where most items are $2 and under in price! I came across this cute little "old woman who live in the shoe" light for $1.65.

I mean how cute is this little boot house with kids and mouse crawling in it! See the little boy at the bottom of the boot coming out by the sole. On the bottom of the boot it says Carolie 1975. I just adore it!

{Proud of my size: Week 5}

Of course the link up is on week 10 but I was a bit late starting it with them. I am so proud of how much better I am feeling in my clothing since I started taking my pictures for these posts. I know before this link up started I wouldn't have dared the outfit shown below but now I don't care what others think and I LOVE how I look in it!

I didn't want to shave my legs so I paired this dress with a pair of blue jeans and one of my favorite pair of flats, (yes you read right, I don't always shave my legs so pants are required from time to time). I love this dress as a long tunic top and sure it looks fine without the belt but lately most of my outfits have a belt for "just because" and who knew that just because things don't have the same pattern they can go together and it doesn't always have to be one pattern with a solid. I love how the cardi goes with pattern on the dress.

I didn't realize it until editing these images just how orangey/red my hair has become, not that I mind, it's just way brighter then I remember it being, then again I have been out in the summer sun alot more so it's not as dark as it usually is.

Now go check out the others linked up or link up yourself by clicking on the button at the end of the post!! It's oodles of fun and show your love for all the others sharing who they are and their sizes.

Dress, belt, cardigan and jeans: old navy
shoes: thrifted
glasses: eyemart express
flower headband: won in a giveaway

 

{Made it Myself: Coleslaw}

I am loving pinterest but when I typed in "coleslaw" a whole slew of recipes popped up. I have never made coleslaw but had most of the ingredients on hand and wanted to try my hand at it. I took the recipe found at Kayotic Kitchen and tweaked it for what I had on hand.

image taken w/cell phone of my slaw...big hit at the family gathering!

Coleslaw

Slaw ingredients: 1 medium size head of cabbage, 2 medium carrots, 1 medium white onion and 1/2 cup of dried cranberries (craisins) *optional.

directions for slaw: I used my mandolin to slice the cabbage and onion thin and used a regular box grater to grate the carrots and just threw in the craisins and just tossed everything together until it was well distributed.

Dressing ingredients: 2 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 2 tbsp milk, 7 tbsp mayo, 3 tbsp buttermilk, 3 tbsp dijon mustard, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp garlic powder w/parsley *optional

directions for dressing: mix all the ingredients for the dressing into a small mixing bowl until smooth

Combine the slaw with the dressing and mix until well coated and put in the fridge for about an hour then serve.

I was really impressed with myself for having never made slaw before. It was so easy and everyone enjoyed it.

{proud of my size: week 4}

Have I mentioned how much I love this weekly post about being proud about my size and loving myself for who I am and how I look? Well I do! These weekly posts are really helping me to love me which in turn helps my mood and depression.

These images were taken a few days before we had to leave on our trip to Washington. Some were taken with my cell phone before we headed off to a BBQ and a few were taken after the BBQ.

I am loving how I feel in a "maxi" dress. I always feel beautiful in them. When I was getting ready for the BBQ I didn't realize how long my hair was until I had to straiten it. Gosh it's gotten so long and it's past the point of driving me nuts when down, so that's a good thing.

It's amazing what a belt can do for an outfit. I was seriously thinking of not wearing one with this dress but it sure makes it a more finished outfit with it on - on the plus size it also gives a nice line at the waist making me appear a size or two smaller!!

If you want to be apart of this great self love link up just click the box at the bottom of the post!

Dress: Walmart (I think)
Shoes: Thrifted
Cardigan: Old Navy (they have a great plus section online)
Pink Cami and Belt: Lane Bryant

taken w/cell phone right after straitening my hair

without belt

with belt

The whole outfit

Just the dress