I'm a Veggie Flip Flopper

I suppose by now you've noticed I haven't been sticking to my veggie diet very well, but how am I supposed to when those juicy burgers are calling my name?  Or when those plump grilled hot dogs are just begging for me to top them with mustard and slaw and gobble them up??!

I may not be sticking to an all veggie diet, but that doesn't mean that I'm giving up on veggies all together!  In fact this has actually changed my eating habits for the better.  You see, instead of being a carnivorous foodie all the time, I have come up with some pretty amazing veggie dishes if I do say so myself.  My family now enjoys several all veggie nights a week, and we love how delicious the scrumptious concoctions taste!  I have shared our recipe for Quinoa Burritos, and I'll post more veggie delights as we create them!  XOXO

Delicious Dinner For Two

We all enjoy a fun date night, but who says you have to go out to have a good time together?  Why not stay home and prepare this tasty meal together?  No babysitter needed ;)

One of mine and my husband's favorite ways to spend time together is by going out to our favorite restaurant and eating a tasty meal, but there are times when we don't have a sitter or don't feel like going out.  That's when we make dinner for the kids and get them to bed a tad bit early, and then we go in the kitchen together, prepare our date night dinner, and have a romantic meal- get this- AT HOME!  These are actually my favorite date nights.  We love burgers and spicy Mexican fare, so we came up with this absolutely delicious sweet and spicy burger that I am so thrilled to share the recipe for!

Peach Jalapeno Burgers with Brie Cheese

1lb ground round
1 jalapeno diced as tiny as possible
1 sz 1 or small container of peach baby food (sounds crazy, but it works...trust me!)
1 tbsp McCormick Montreal steak seasoning
2 hamburger buns (we like the fancy ones with oats sprinkled on top)
4 slices of brie cheese
1 tbsp panko or bread crumbs, whatever you've got on hand- even crackers will work
Spinach leaves and tomato slices (these are optional)

First turn your broiler on high, and then begin by mixing together the beef, jalapeno, and peach baby food.  If it feels a little wet add in just enough bread crumbs to help hold the mixture together.  Next you'll want to form the burger mix into two patties.  Place them on a cookie sheet or broiler pan and sprinkle even amounts of the steak seasoning on the burgers.  Place them in your oven and cook for approx 4-5 minutes on the first side, flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes on the second side.  Just before you take them out of the oven place two slices of brie cheese on each burger and allow them to melt.  Once the cheese is melted, which won't take long at all, take the burgers out of the oven and let them rest for a few minutes while you get the rest of the ingredients together.  We like to toast our buns with a little touch of butter in a skillet, but you can just use a toaster or scrap the toasting all together.  Once the buns are nice and golden brown place your burger in the bun and top with spinach and tomato.  Of course use whatever toppings you like for your burgers!  Hope you try this recipe!  XOXO

Summertime Picnic Menu

You'll love this delicious and healthy menu for your summer picnic!

Summertime Ham Sammies
Rainbow Pasta Salad
Sunshine Fruit Kebabs
Bubbly Sunset Punch

Summertime Ham Sammies:

Thick sliced black forrest ham (or whatever type of ham you like best)
One granny smith apple peeled, cored, and sliced thin
Mozzarella slices
Coarse grain mustard- you can omit this
Butter
Whole grain bread

We're basically making a gourmet grilled cheese sammie!  Lightly coat one side of each slice of bread with butter, and the other sides of the bread with the mustard.  This way the outsides will crisp up in the pan, and the insides will get all melty and creamy with the mustard.  Basically you layer the ham, apple slices, and cheese slices between the bread, and saute' on low heat until the crusts are golden brown and the cheese is lovely and melty!


Rainbow Pasta Salad:

1/2 lb Rainbow noodles- cooked, you know the ones- red, green, and white noodles.  You can also use whole wheat pasta!
1/4 cup finely sliced carrots
1/4 cup finely diced roasted red peppers
1/4 cup mild banana peppers
1/4 cup green onion
1/2 cup grape tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves

For the dressing you'll need
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp coarse grain mustard
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
salt & pepper
whisk together and pour over ingredients.-  this salad tastes best when you prepare it the night before!

*the great thing about a vinaigrette dressing is that you don't have to worry about keeping it cold!

 
Sunshine Fruit Kebabs:

1 pt. strawberries chopped to bite size
1 pt blueberries
3 or 4 peaches peeled and chopped to bite size as well
2 large bananas
1 cup of red grapes

arrange items on kebab sticks and top with my favorite fruit salad dressing:  raspberry preserves(seedless), lime zest, and lime juice


Bubbly Sunset Punch:

This recipe isn't that healthy lol, but all things in moderation right?

The night before your picnic prepare one package each of strawberry and blue raspberry koolaid (use less sugar so it's a little tangy), and place in ice cube trays to harden overnight.  The next day combine:

1 2ltr sprite or lemon lime soda
1 bottle of white cranberry & strawberry juice
1/2 the strawberry ice cubes
1/2 the blue raspberry ice cubes

basically you'll need two 2ltrs of sprite or lemon lime soda of choice and two bottles of the white cranberry & strawberry juice for all your ice cubes.  As the ice cubes melt it mixes together so wonderfully to create the most deliciously refreshing punch!  You'll love it!

I hope you try this menu or choose one or a few items from it to taste!  Trust me you'll love it!  XOXO

My Top 5 List of Inexpensive Summer Fun!

You may already be dreading the long hot summer, and if you are shame on you.  We complain all winter about the cold and the layering of our clothes, and the moment the temperatures cause you to perspire you begin wishing for cooler months.  I too lamented the steamy sultriness of summer, but I've decided to turn over a new leaf.  I'm enjoying the weather no matter rain, snow, or scorch!

If you're a parent I'm sure you know that somewhere in the midst of summer vacation kids get bored.  It may be hard to find fun activities to keep the kiddies entertained, but here are a few fool proof and cheap- oh and did I mention cheap? fun things to keep the little ones having a blast all summer long!  As a parent we can sometimes forget how boring our summers used to get when it seemed as if there was nothing to do... I honestly can't remember being that bored, but I know that my kids tell me from time to time "there's nothing to do" or "ok this is boring now, can we play a different game?"  lol.  How quickly they learn the ways of the ever elusive teenager eh? haha.  Any who on to the activities!

1.  Check your local paper, there are always fun things going on in your area.  For example:  there's a free petting zoo in the summer in our area.

2.  Picnics!  This may seem trifling, however kids LOVE picnics!  Make a big deal of it!  Plan out a fun menu, pack some weather friendly snacks- popsicles will not work here, and pack it all up in a lovely basket (or whatever you've got) and take it to the park!  Spend the evening getting your tummy's full of yummies and then work off those pb&j's by chasing the kids around the playground in the lovely weather!

3.  Get a water hose.  This may seem self explanatory, but I'll elaborate.  My husband sets the nozzle to a light mist and holds it up in the air so our kids can run though the water and get nice and cool in the hot afternoons and evenings.  Heck, we even take a lap or two through the sprinkles!  It's so much fun, and it feels so good when it's so hot outside- especially if you don't have a pool.

4.  Family movie night!  Netflix is a great option here!  Lots of movies to pick from that are categorized so you know the ratings.  Pick a silly movie and add lots of popcorn!  The kids are sure to enjoy themselves!

5.  Campfires!  Who doesn't love a campfire?  And who said you have to camp to build one?!  Make sure to be safe when doing this, and to put out the flames completely before heading in for the night. Don't forget the marshmallows, chocolates, and graham crackers!!


These are just a few ways we like to have fun in the summer time.  I hope this little list has inspired you to make some hot humid summertime memories with your family as well!  XOXO!

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

It crossed my mind the other day that I only seem to get all dolled up when I'm going out somewhere, even if it's just a short trip to the store.  For the most part I just wear comfy clothes at home, no make up, and hair a mess.  Why though?  Shouldn't I be dressing to impress my husband instead of the mass crowds of strangers at the store?

There's a time old tale about how the man will "woo" the lady he is courting; he will buy her gifts, take her out to fancy restaurants, and even go to the chick flick of her choice.  However after marriage he stops doing all these things that once won his true Love's heart.  Well what about us girls?  When we're dating a guy we will go to great "beauty" lengths to look absolutely gorgeous for them.  We will curl our hair and shave our legs just for a night of our favorite shows, buy the sexiest of negligee on the chance that they might get a peek, and we pull out the most fashionable clothes we own to catch their eye.  Once we're married it seems we get so comfortable with each other that we rarely do anything to impress our significant others.  Slowly but surely we figure our sweat pants are much more comfy for our cuddle on the couch and watch a movie nights, it seems too tedious to curl our hair or shave our legs every day, and we eventually push those naughty undies to the back of the drawer.  Shouldn't we as women continue, to a certain extent, trying to impress our husbands?  Just because we're married doesn't mean we shouldn't be working to keep that flame a blaze.  Just as we want our men to pamper and love us we should be doing the same for them.  Ever since I had my youngest baby I haven't been dressing up as much, and when I do go out I rarely put on makeup simply because I am so busy getting my three little darlings around that I don't have much time to get all fancy myself.  A few weeks ago though, I was hoping for us to all go to dinner once my husband got home, so I took the time to get all fixed up for my him, and unfortunately he had to work late, but when he got home I was at the door to welcome him home, and he stopped and stared at me.  He smiled, checked me out, and looked at me and said "wow".  It made my heart skip a beat.  I loved seeing on his face at that moment how beautiful he thought I looked.  I also love doing nice little things for him, weather it be a small little gift from time to time, or a little note in the morning telling him how much I love him.  We all like feeling loved and appreciated, and I know in the hustle and bustle of everything we can tend to let these things go, but it doesn't take too much effort to do a little something special for the ones we love.  Xoxo

A Whole New World

My infant has been teething for quite some time now, and finally the first adorable little tooth has made it's appearance.  Since then my baby has been reaching for and eyeballing all sorts of tasty foods.  I read that 6 months is the recommended age to introduce solids, but as a mother of three I think you need to follow your baby's clues, and introduce solids when they seem ready.

That being said you should be wise in this decision, because you should still be close to the 6 month mark.  With my first two children I was advised to introduce solids at around 4 months, and while we started them almost to the day my oldest child turned 4 months, my second baby was a bit older before we started them.  With my youngest I have been reading it's now customary now to wait until your baby is at least 6 months old before allowing them to begin sampling a plethora of delicious tastes and textures, but some places I've read on the Internet that "food before one is just for fun", and while the little jingle is endearing I don't think it can be the universal idea for every baby.  I say this because every child is different.  Not just their personality, but also in their "firsts".  Some babies talk sooner than others, some infants walk before they crawl, and so on.  You can't treat each child the exact same when in fact they're just as diverse as we are as adults.  This is why I just follow clues my babies give me, and when I feel they're ready to start tasting foods then that's what we do.  The first few times they do eat some super mushed up yummies it's gonna be quite messy and you may think that since they're spitting out most of the food that they don't like it or that the faces they make indicate that they're not enjoying the food, when what you need to realize is that these flavors are all new to them.  Also they have only been sucking on a bottle or a nipple since birth so the movement of eating "food" is also new to them.  We personally start with a food like sweet potatoes.  It is nutritious, but also kind of sweet to taste yummy for their first culinary experience.  I typically feed them the solids once a day, at dinner time.  Since my youngest baby started eating solids just a bit before the 6 month mark we weren't as punctual to eat solids every single day, only when baby gave me clues that they were interested in eating them.  Also pay attention to their diapers.  When you introduce food make sure you only try one food at a time to give them time to let you know if it irritates their bowels or if they possibly develop a rash.  You need to limit the variety at first so you can clue into what caused the poopy mess or what was behind the tummy ache and irritability that night for instance.  If baby seems to have handled the first food for about a week ish, then move onto the next food.  Also you don't always have to buy prepackaged baby food you know.  We mash up veggies from our own dinner, or for example I mashed up a very ripe banana the other evening for baby to mush on.  Unsweetened applesauce is another choice.  I wouldn't recommend yogurt at this age though.  Be smart in your decisions and do your research on which foods you really should wait to introduce to baby such as peanut butter, eggs, and honey.  Happy nomming!

A Culinary Revalation

Walmart sells this delicious Spicy Southwest Mustard, and it's so yummy.  I'm sure Guy Fieri would say "this stuff would taste good on a flip flop", and I think he'd be correct.  It tastes scrumptious on a fresh salad in stead of dressing, and just so ya know this delectable treat is low in calories.  It's good on a grilled cheese, it's tasty on a ham sandwich, it's divine on hamburgers- which is how we ate it last night, and it's absolutely fantastic as a dip when you mix it together with cream cheese and sour cream to give some tang and to thin the texture out a bit.  The recipe is simple really it's just 8oz. of cream cheese, 3 tbsp of sour cream, and then you add the mustard to taste.  This dip is mouthwatering with fresh veggies of all sorts, spread on crackers, slathered on a sandwich, and to be honest the possibilities are endless.  As I sit here thinking of other foods this tantalizing mustard would taste good on I have to admit that pizza comes to mind.  It would be good on roast chicken, and heck it may even work well as a marinade, and even an emulsifier in a vinaigrette instead of your typical mustard or Dijon.  Basically try this stuff out it's less than 2 bucks I believe, and it's so versatile.

Nova's Broccoli Cheese Potato Soup

This sweet lady my Mom used to know gave her this recipe, and although we have since modified it a tad it's still amazingly delicious.  Make this.  You're welcome.

Ingredients:

6 large potatoes diced (preferably red potatoes, but you could use whatever type you prefer, although sweet potatoes would not work in this soup.)
1 large Spanish onion finely diced
2 heads of broccoli chopped (frozen would work here)
2 cartons of vegetable broth
1 large brick of Velveeta cheese diced
1/2 cup of heavy cream
3 tbsp butter
salt & pepper to taste
crackers for garnish

Begin in a large soup pot by melting the butter and adding in the diced onion on medium heat.  Sweat the onions until translucent and add in the potatoes and broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes covered.  Next add in your vegetable broth and cook until the veggies are fork tender.  Once the potatoes and broccoli are done add in the Velveeta cheese and stir frequently until melted.  To finish off the soup add in the heavy cream and add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately with some crushed crackers.  This soup is so warm and cozy on a chilly day.    I like to mix it up and sometimes I add in some cooked pasta and other times I substitute half the broccoli with cauliflower.  I hope you love this soup!

Let's Talk About Sex (after) Baby

I have been reading a lot on some breastfeeding/parenting forums that I follow about how after a baby enters the picture Mommy & Daddy find it hard to relight that old flame (sex).  If you're feeling this way...you're not the only one.

Having a baby changes everything.  You've heard this old saying I'm sure, and it really is true.  It will change your life forever- for the better.  You have absolutely no idea how hard you're gonna fall in love with your baby the first time you look into their beautiful little eyes, and you'll fall again the first time they smile, when they start to coo, when they set up by themselves, and pretty much any other milestone and not milestone that they meet.  That being said, when the new baby comes you can be a bit overwhelmed with the changes in your body, caring and bonding with your sweet little one, and worrying about how filthy your house is (which really should NOT be a concern at the time lol) that we may forget to feed the flame between you and your spouse.  Yes the Dr says no hanky panky for 6 weeks, and you really should follow those instructions.  Delivering a baby (vaginally or via c-section) can wreak havoc on a woman's body, but that doesn't mean that you can't connect with your partner in other ways.  The most important foundation of a relationship is communication.  It really is.  Your husband could be overwhelmed as well, and it's important for you both to address how your feeling.  It can be a relief just knowing your both on the same page.  My husband and I didn't have much time alone after each of our babies were born, and even now with an infant we don't have much time for intimacy, but we still find time (even if it's just 2 minutes) to talk about each others days.  We also hug as soon as my hubby comes home from work.  I don't mean just a hey how ya doin hug, I mean an intimate, close your eyes, breathe each other in, I love you so much, and if we could "push the beds together tonight" we should do it kind of hug lol.  My hubby and I also love reminiscing about fun times in the early days of our relationship.  We love talking about special trips we took, fun date nights, and our favorite story is when we first told each other we were in love.  Talking about these things brings back the same feelings we felt during our courtship.  This "kindling" can eventually lead to the kind of intimacy that makes you man and wife.  I would say don't worry about rushing the situation.  It's important to take your time reconnecting.  Think of it as courting again, and just take it one day at a time.  Eventually the flame will come back between the two of you.  Xoxo

Sleepless In Parenthood

If the telltale sign of a pregnant woman is a lovely glow, then I'd say dark circles under the eyes are indicitive of a NMOTB- New Mommy On The Block.

Whether it's your first child or 5th, sleepless nights just come with the territory.  It can be hard to function on limited amounts of sleep, especially when you have older kids, and you don't get a chance to rest during the day when your new baby is napping.  The best advice I can offer would be to enlist family and friends to help you out!  If possible recruit said helpers in advance, and loosely give them an idea of what you may need them to do for you.  I would suggest having your fam and pals help with household chores, so you can focus on bonding and caring for your baby.  Don't worry about a spotless house, you should be trying to get some shut eye while the baby is napping.  If you have older children to care for, then your key to geting any sort of rest is the help you have to care for your older kids.  Have a family member come care for older siblings during the day for a couple hours so you can snooze with the baby.  Really and truly though you'll figure out what works for you and your baby in time.  When my kids weren't/aren't able to sleep as babies, and even now sometimes, I cradle them in my arms, and we rock in this shabby old recliner while I sing to them.  Enjoy the sleepless nights though, because they don't last long. <3

My Body Be A Temple- For Decoration

tat·too -  /ta too/

Verb

Mark (a person or a part of the body) with an indelible design by inserting pigment into punctures in the skin.

For as long as I can remember tattoos have intrigued me, and for months leading up to my 18th birthday I told my parents on a regular basis that when I turned of age I would be getting tattooed despite their disapproval.  They told me "we will kick you out if you get tattooed!".  Well being the hard headed "I'm gonna do what I want" teenager that I was, two days after my 18th birthday I got my very first tattoo.  It's a small pixie on my left shoulder blade.  Very super original...I know lol.  At the time though I was like oh heck yes nothing says I'm a bad ass like a fairy.  Needless to say I became addicted to getting tattoos, and soon after my first tattoo I planned out my second, and then my third, and now 9 years later I've got 19 tattoos.  I'm currently working on two sleeves, and a back piece that will eventually cover up that little fairy tattoo.  I'm typically against covering up tattoos, because it's just part of my story.  I will forever look at one of my tattoos and remember when and where and why I got it.  It takes me back to that specific time in my life, and it's nice reminiscing.  I love that my body is a canvas only made more beautiful by the art work adorned on it.  I hate the stereo typical questions like "what are you gonna do when you're like 80?" or "why would you do that to your body?".  These questions are just plain stupid.  That's like asking someone "what are you gonna do when you have gray hair?" or some other question that doesn't even deserve an answer lol.  A good response to the "why would you do that to your body?" question is um hello why wouldn't you??  I'm unique, with or without tattoos, but I feel so beautiful with them, and lets face it I do feel a little like a bad ass.  Xoxo

oh and my parents never kicked me out after getting tattooed lol

#EffYourBeautyStandards

Thank You Tess Munster <3

I've been introduced to something recently, and I have to say I'm beyond pleasantly surprised.  There's this movement on the interwebs- maybe you've heard of it?  Eff Your Beauty Standards?  Well in case you haven't heard of this fabulous love your self mentality inspired by Tess Munster, a beautiful person who is such a wonderful role model to women- and men, and is all about empowering girls of all sizes, but being a voluptuous sweetie herself- caters to the deliciously plump ladies out there, such as myself.  Not only am I like head over heels for this movement, I feel personally responsible to carry this over into my own mission of self empowerment for us chubb-a-licious ladies.  I follow this darling gal on Instagram, and she recently posted a photo of herself in a t-shirt (of her own design) that says "I'm not PHAT, I'm FAT!".  Hell freaking yes.  All this beautiful confidence has empowered me to say screw you to all the nay sayers (I know I always have, but recently I discussed my insecurities at the pool) who think I look anything less than stunning in a swim suit.  I want to enjoy time with my husband and kids at the pool instead of being insecure about how exposed my body is.  You know years ago I never thought twice about wearing a swim suit.  As a matter of fact I wore bikini's.  That's right I wore bikini's!  Chunk, stretch marks, and cellulite galore, and guess what?  I couldn't have given a lesser crap what other people thought.  I'm not sure what happened in the last 10ish years that has made me cower under large skank t-shirts and slouchy crappy lounge pants over my maw maw bathing suits, but guess what?  Not any more!  I am beautiful no matter what I'm wearing, and you want to know why?  Because of my confidence.  It doesn't matter what you're wearing as long as YOU exude confidence.  Those around you will see it, and although there will be some who still can't see your beauty- who freaking cares?  You don't know those people, and it doesn't matter what they think of the exterior portion of you, it's what's on the inside that counts (I know it's a little cliche', but hey it works here- AND IT'S TRUE!).  Basically go check out Tess Munster (Facebook or Instagram and maybe Twitter?  not sure), and wear what you want despite what you think others may say.  As long as you feel beautiful that's all that matters.  Xoxo

Cellulite City

You know, in light of the fact that I am pretty open about my weight and being a chubb-a-licious lady I wonder how many of you out there would be willing to do the same?

I'm not declaring to the world that I'm some noble night, fighting for the equality of every gelatinous being out there, but I'd like to think that I am...maybe ;)  I think that it's important for the world to know that we (us chubbs) are beautiful too, and by golly we can wear any daggon thing we want!  Skinny jeans?  SURE!  Tube tops?  HECK YES!  Mini skirts?  YES- er well I suppose that depends lol my thighs and booty would look a little less like long smooth sun kissed gams and a little more like short dimpled ham hocks- and that's ok!  I realize being overweight isn't that healthy, and should I choose to begin an exercise regimen it would most definitely be because I want to be healthier.  It would most definitely NOT be because I feel like being FAT (yes I said it) makes me ugly, because you know what??  My weight cannot define me.  It may limit the stores I can shop in, but my size cannot begin to expound (pound lol pun intended) my personality.  It may showcase my lifestyle habits.  Yes I have a tendency when something tastes good to help my self to seconds, or thirds even.  I find myself visiting the bakery section of the store every now and again, and if I want to add those cookies to my shopping list then I'm going to.  I suppose I should limit myself, but why?  That stuff tastes so darn good!  lol  I'm not saying I don't eat healthy.  As a matter of fact, if you've read some of my recent posts, I've been on a veggie kick.  Using less meat to cook, and finding new and tasty meatless delicacies.  Speaking of which, do any of you have some tasty healthy recipes to share?

Fat People Only

Alright I've shared my size with the interworld, so I'm sure you can imagine how voluptuously delicious I look in a bathing suit?  Eh Eh?  :D

I love to swim!  Abso-freaking-lutely love to swim.  As a kid my family always had a pool, and most of my summer nights were spent splashing around with my friends in my back yard while we discussed everything from boys to hair to school to boys lol.  I have had some pretty cute swimsuits in my time, but I have to admit that while I'm comfortable with my body, I feel like a beached whale at the pool/beach.  I have ALWAYS been chunky.  The thinnest I have ever been was when I was 14, and I was ironically enough a size 14.  Although I was that size my butt and thighs were still like outta control lol, like watch the heck out Beyonce!  Even though I've always been a thick lady I love wearing bikini's, and no I don't wear them now- I want to leave a LITTLE something to the imagination!  I just can't seem to find a swim suit to emphasise my features that makes me feel confident enough to go to the pool with my husband and kids.  I feel like I'm on display there, like OK YEAH YEAH THERE'S A FAT GIRL AT THE POOL!  GET OVER IT!  I mean geesh.  I come there for a good time with my family, and I just want to have fun- not get gawked at.  There should be a "Fats Only" pool.  I mean we could invite in our close family and friends with us lol.  I know what you're thinking "she needs to work out and eat healthy".  I do!  The problem is that I love healthy food AND junk food lol  I don't discriminate between food groups people!  Do any of you ladies and gents out there feel self confident at the pool?  How do you deal with those feelings?

Fashion Confessions of a Fat Girl...Part Deux

Can anyone tell me why plus sized clothing is so matronly?  Or why the shape of the clothing is so terrible it makes us chubby gals look so unattractive??  Well I can... it's because the world is threatened by our fabulousness, and the only way they can keep people from falling head over heels for us is by making our clothes ugly!  lol

Seriously though, why are plus sized clothes so gross?  OK not all thick duds are ugly, but most of the clothing that I have available to my fingertips are boxy shapes, short hems, and crew necks that make my boobs smash together into one uniboob- look out Lance you uniballer you.  Maybe it's the fact that I live in the sticks, and the fashionable plus sized clothing stores aren't obtainable.  I manage to find cute clothes though, but most of the time I have to order clothes offline, and frankly that's just not fair!  It stinks, because if something doesn't fit I have to pay shipping to send the crap back most of the time, and then wait forever it seems for a return or an exchange.  There was a company I shopped with recently for the first time, and I took my measurements according to the web site's size chart to ensure I ordered the proper size.  Well guess what...not one doggone thing fit!  I sent two items back for exchange (needed other sizes), and one item back for return.  It cost me an arm and a leg to ship the clothes back, because the company doesn't offer free return shipping, and on top of that it took a whole stinking month to get a store credit and even longer to get my exchange items!  The one item I couldn't return because it was a clearance item needs altered, so that's more money I'll have to shell out for my curvaceous figure.  This is the hullabaloo us chunky gals have to endure when purchasing hip clothing.  Also on another note we always get the "plus sized clothes cost more, because it takes more fabric to make them!".  OK, well what about children's clothing?  Their clothes can be just as expensive if not MORE expensive, and it takes so little fabric!  Yeah, how do you answer that one stupid clothing companies!  I'd love to make my own plus size clothing line, but I don't know how to sew (that well).  So, until the day comes that I do learn to sew, or shrink sizes, it's just something I'll have to deal with.  Or is it?  I suppose if there's something particular I want to purchase from one of those stupid places that have messed up sizes and don't pay for return shipping I will.  In the mean time I'll just continue to shop at Torrid where the sizes are on point, the sales are rockin, and the clothes make my body look so delicious you'd turn down a cupcake, because I look so sweet!  XOXO

Veggie? Vegan? DELICIOUS! Quinoa Burritos!

OK, so as you know I've been dabbling in meatless culinary fares for a while now, and as with any dish there will be trial and error.  I have, however, come up with an absolutely delicious recipe that can be modified to suit you vegie and vegan folks as well!  If you're interested in trying this tasty burrito recipe then PLEASE READ!!  :D

First and foremost this recipe is not vegetarian or vegan, so you will have to substitute where stated for completely meatless and/or dairyless burritos.

Ingredients:

(Serves 10)

10 burrito style tortillas
1 package of Yves Meatless Ground
1 can of French Onion Soup
1/2 cup unprepared Quinoa
1  can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 1/4 cup water
1tbsp (heaping) chili powder
1/2tbsp cumin
1tsp onion powder
1/2tsp garlic powder
1/2tbsp oregano
1/2tsp ground black pepper
Shredded Colby Jack cheese
Spinach
Salsa (whatever type you like!)
Guacamole
Fresh tomato (diced)

(To make this recipe vegetarian or vegan you will need to omit the can of french onion soup, and replace with one onion diced and sauteed until golden brown and soft, and adding 1/4 cup vegetable stock and 1tsp of kosher salt to the onions until the broth has reduced by half.  Also you will need to omit the cheese or replace it with a vegan cheese.)

To begin you will add in a medium sized pot the meatless ground, French onion soup, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, and 1/4 cup of the water.  Stir well, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Meanwhile add in a small sauce pot the Quinoa and remaining 1 cup water, bring to a boil, cover, and cook for desired time on box.  Once the Quinoa is prepared, and the meatless taco mixture has simmered for 10-15 minutes, you will stir in the Quinoa and the beans, and let the mixture cook for a few more minutes (until the beans are warm).

To serve place in your tortilla, top with cheese, salsa, spinach, guacamole, and tomato!  Of course you can top with whatever toppings you like, and you can adjust seasonings to your taste!

I served this with a delicious fruit salad (bananas, strawberries, and red grapes covered in a dressing of: raspberry preserves, lime zest, and lime juice).  My family loved every bite!  My husband didn't even realize it was meatless until I told him!  He does that so often though, I'm not sure if he does it to make me feel like I tricked him or if he really doesn't know it's meatless lol well whatever he loved it!  I hope you try it!

Julia Child or Chef Boyardee?

I absolutely love to cook, and although I have no formal training I like to think my culinary concoctions turn out rather tasty- most of the time.

My mother was a FABULOUS cook.  I don't remember anything she ever made tasting less than delicious.  My grandmother is a wonderful cook as well.  Me on the other hand, I don't follow old family recipes, or any recipe for that matter (typically), and I'd say most of the time my tasty endeavors are just sad pathetic relics of delectable looking dishes that beautiful and talented chefs prepared on tv.  Now just because my attempts at culinary greatness aren't as gorgeously mouthwatering as the meals I see glistening on television doesn't mean they're any less delicious!  I love pretending like I have my own cooking show.  I always have.  I believe I wrote in a post recently how I loved watching the Galloping Gourmet as a kid, and how I used to pretend I had my own show lol.  I still like to "host" my own culinary tv hit in my own kitchen- when no one is around of course (that'd be too embarrassing).  I'm more of a "pinch of this" or a "dash of that" kind of cook.  That mentality doesn't work out so much when you're trying to bake, so needless to say I'm no Duff.  As a matter of fact box cake mixes don't turn out that well when I prepare them.  My mother could bake anything, cook anything, and I swear to you it would be more delicious than anything Bobby Flay could prepare!  She had so many signature dishes; Bokkeumbap (we pronounced it boo-com-bah, and I just google searched this dish and it is nothing like what she prepared lol, but nevertheless it was delicious), Italian pork chops with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, delicious homemade mac&cheese, pepper Steak, Cabin Mix (we've talked a bit about this one), chili, and seriously the list could go on and on.  I would help her often in the kitchen as a kid, but for some reason I only remember bits and pieces of recipes.  I do remember how they tasted though, and the combination of the two help me reproduce these dishes in a new way.  They don't taste exactly the same, but they're still somehow just as delicious, because I think it's the memory I have attached to them that I love so much more than anything.  You see as a kid I had that typical "Mayberry" home life.  We ate dinner every evening precisely as my dad came in the door from work.  He would kiss my mother hello, my sister and I would gag, and then we would set down together at this sweet little vintage ice cream table my mom had in our kitchen.  It was a small little wooden table with metal "hair pin" type legs.  The chairs were made of the same type metal wire and the back rest was molded into the shape of a heart.  We had dinner this way every single evening, together, as a family.  Often my dad would leave the tv on in the living room so we could hear the evening news, and we would open the windows and the sliding glass doors in the summer so we could hear the crickets and smell the warm air and fresh cut grass.  What are some of your favorite foods?.

Let There Be Cheese!

My kids are typically fabulous little culinary inquisitors.  They love fresh fruit and veggies, and more often than not I can get them to try new foods (especially if they help out in the kitchen!).  That being said, they still have their "I don't want that, nope not that, eeew not that!" days, but if there's one thing they always agree to consume... it's CHEESE!!

It's been a few days since I've been to the store, and although I've sent hubby a time or two this week to get some of the "staples", we are really down to the bare necessities, and for some reason nothing we have to eat adds up to equal a tasty meal.  I always have bread, cheese, and butter though (lol), so when the kids started their native hunger call this evening I started to get kind of creative for dinner!  "Hey do you guys want some steamed carrots and noodles with cream of onion sauce?" (OK that doesn't even sound good to me).  Or how about "cookies and jello?" (haha just kidding!).  If there's one thing I can always get them to eat though it's a grilled cheese.  Simple, quick, and most importantly tasty!  We love using all kinds of  different types of cheeses from classic cheddar to Romano and Parmesan!  The kids think it's fun to try different flavors of cheese, but their favorite is the good old processed American cheese, and I can't blame them I love it too.  My mom would make me "toasted cheese sandwiches" when I was a kid;  slathered in butter, filled with delectable melty orange cheese, and then fried to golden crispy perfection.  Now, we all know a grilled cheese is delicious all on its own, but I love dipping mine in lots of different dips, soups, and sauces.  Anything from the time honored tomato soup to french onion dip (don't knock it till you try it).  I even like to let my grilled cheese swim around in some guacamole from time to time.  Sometimes it's fun to fill the sandwiches with tasty treats like sliced onion (not one of my babies favorites lol), tomato, fresh herbs, and well anything that goes good with cheese, so pretty much anything right?  Like ice cream?  Hot fudge?  Peanut butter?  Haha those might be adventurous options from my kids, but they don't really sound so tasty to me; more like a stomach ache haha.  What kinds of fillings do you like to put in your grilled cheese?  Which toppings or dips do you like best?  Do you call it a "grilled cheese" or a "toasted cheese sandwich"?

Tofu-ey

Alright I know I mentioned recently that I'm on this vegetarian kick, so naturally I've been checking out the vegan/vegetarian offerings at my local grocery store.  I tried that ground veggie stuff...YUMMY!  When I went back for more though, sadly they were out.  My options were vegan cheese, vegan bologna, and several different types of tofu.  I decided to give the tofu a go.  Welp...turns out it was a no.  I marinated it for nearly 24 hours in a mixture of Mexican spices, and added it in with my traditional taco mixture (rice, beans, onion, green pepper).  In place of meat obviously I used the tofu.  Now I'm not sure if it was because last night my best friend told me tofu makes her gag or the  texture of the stuff (also I may have added a bit too much salt), but the tacos tasted gross lol.  Do any of you like tofu?  If so how to you prepare it?  Share your culinary endeavors with this disgusting little gelatinous crap, and teach me how to make it taste good!!!

Waiting For Mr. Right? Stop!

I've heard the line before "I'm waiting for the perfect man to come along".  Or how about "Mr. Right is out there somewhere, I'm just waiting for him to find me".  Is this you?  Then shut up, and listen to what I'm about to tell you.

The first question you need to ask yourself is: Am I THAT desperate for a man?  Answered yes?  Then I still may have some advice for you.  Keep reading.  I think this situation is based on some time honored "tradition" that a man is supposed to make the first move.  WHY???????  As women we have MOVED MOUNTAINS socially, so why in the HELL are you sitting around waiting for a man to make his move?  A man is a fickle creature.  He dwells in his man caves and feeds on pork rinds and pizza.  He leaves his laundry scattered about waiting for his mother to clean up.  Wait.  I just figured it out.  A man is nothing but a grown child, so basically we shouldn't be blaming men for being such bewildering mammals.  NO!  It's their mothers that are to blame!  I say this because think about it...a mother will wash her sons clothes, make his bed, cook his meals...right?  Well once you marry a man, and it doesn't matter (most of the time anyways) if he was SO chivalrous while courting.  I don't care if he cascaded his members only jacket over a puddle for you just so that your Louboutin's don't get wet (although I'm not sure why you would wear such an expensive shoe in such dreadful weather, but that's not the point).  Once you marry them and live with them their inner child comes out.  It's like I've always said:  "A man goes from being his mother's child to his wife's child".  lol.  Now I'm not saying that my husband is a big man child, or well maybe I would say that sometimes.  He is a sensitive bloke who needs just the right approach for every situation.  Do I psychologically twist my ideas around so that he believes them to be his own?  hahaha damn straight.  Why do I do this?  Well because then he feels like he's the "big man on campus" so to speak.  I've gotten completely off track.  What I have been trying to say this entire time is... don't wait for a man to come along... grow some tits and get yourself out there!  Hit on a guy...hit on lots of guys if you please, but don't wait for an egotistical neanderthal to come galloping up on his stead and whisk you away!

Tattoo Time Warp

I'm sure anyone of you with tattoos has experienced the tell tale "stink eye" of the elder generations  How do you deal with those disapproving glares?

I'll be the first to admit I don't handle it very well when a) strangers touch my tattoos and b) old people give me evil looks and dish out rude comments about my tattoos.  I'm a germophobe, so the thought of a stranger putting their germ infested paws on my body without my permission makes me kinda want to gag right now.  OK I gagged.  Good thing I keep a large stash of GermX on hand.  Also when someone thinks they have the right to comment about what I do with my own body my blood pressure just skyrockets.  Who are they to judge me?  I don't tell them their geriatric polyester pants look terrible, or the hot pink lipstick they slathered on those jowls looks more like a melted popsicle running down and in between the canyons they call lip wrinkles now do I?  Should I?  Maybe next time I get a disgusting comment I will.  Maybe I'll tell them to get some concealer for their liver spots.  Better yet the next time I get a look that literally burns from their glares, so hard and long (that's what she said), I'll just stare right back!  Ha!  OK I already do that.  I know I know, I have tattoos...expect some attention.  I love the nice attention:  "Oh you're tattoos are beautiful" or "Who does your art work?".  I MORE than gladly tell them where my husband and I get tattooed, and who has decorated our bodies with beautiful works of art.  I've even had people tell me "I don't like tattoos, but I have to say yours are just simply beautiful."  That's nice.  I think the negative stuff I have been talking about stems from the fact that when I was a kid my parents taught me not to stare, not to point, and if I have nothing nice to say...I say nothing at all.  What do elders think gives them the right to say whatever they want to a total stranger??  Were they not taught any manners??!  We know that can't be true, because they taught them to our generation!  This topic kind of goes hand in hand with fat girl remarks.  Leave my fat and my tattoos alone!  That is unless you enjoy what you see lol.

Don't Cry Over Spilled er...Undersupply of Breast Milk?

Breastfeeding may be the most natural thing on Earth, but does it always come naturally?  Unfortunately, for the majority of breastfeeding women there will be some obstacles to deal with.  The question is:  Do you have the "tits" to overcome those hurdles?

As a mother of three, I have had my share of trials and tribulations with my breasts lactation capabilities.  I always knew I wanted to nurse my babies, even back when I was just a kid myself playing house with my friends.  Ask them.  lol.  I loved putting a ball under my shirt pretending to be pregnant, my husband would ALWAYS be Zach Morris (eat your heart out ladies... my imaginary hubby was a hawtie).  Ok that's an exaggeration.  The hubby decision was a toss up between Zach Morris and Brian Littrel from Back Street Boys haha!  Back to what I was saying though, just because you want to nurse doesn't mean it will come easy.  It's a learning process between you and your baby, and even though you're both designed for it, it will take a bit of practice and patience.  With my first baby we both spent a week in the hospital due to some complications at birth, and unfortunately I was extremely uneducated about breast feeding.  I thought once the baby came my tits would be like soda fountains...right?  Wrong.  I didn't actually get to hold my first baby until they were a couple days old, and they had to stay in the NICU.  We didn't really have the opportunity to nurse since my baby had to be hooked up to so many different things, and on top of it all they had a feeding tube for a short period in the beginning.  I did pump my milk the first few days, but I didn't really know I had to be so precise about it.  Instead of pumping like every couple hours I just did it sporadically, and that did not bring my milk in.  I actually don't even remember becoming engorged.  Once my baby was able to leave the NICU they had already had a bottle, and when we tried to nurse the whole situation was so stressful I gave up and decided to give my baby formula.  At the time it seemed like the right thing to do, and now, in retrospect I wish I'd have done more to bring my milk in to nurse.  With my second child I was ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED to make breastfeeding work.  Again though, like my first child, my second baby had to stay in the NICU.  We were both in the hospital a week, but this time I pumped religiously every 2-3 hours.  Eureka!  My milk began to come in.  I would collect all I could, and with a smile from ear to ear I would transport this magical golden treat down the hall to the NICU for my baby to eat through a bottle.  My second child didn't have to stay in the NICU as long as my first baby, so after several days they were allowed to stay with my husband and I in our room, and since we had been able to nurse in the NICU, and I had done all I could to bring my milk in, I thought our breast feeding journey was on the right track.  Once we got home I felt like all I did was nurse, and with another small child running around I have to say those first few days were very trying while I was healing myself.  After a few weeks of nursing pretty much around the clock I decided to contact the lactation consultant at my pediatricians office, and we both went there for a little visit to see how we were doing with breast feeding.  I was told we were doing fine.  To keep it up.  Do what you've been doing.  I was not aware that breast fed babies don't gain weight as fast as formula fed babies, and didn't know that it was normal for new babies to nurse A LOT.  I finally decided to give my baby formula, because I felt like they weren't getting enough to eat.  I didn't quit nursing though, we just supplemented with formula.  With my most recent pregnancy I began to do more research about breastfeeding, and looking back I thought maybe my second baby had been "cluster feeding", because they were getting ready for a growth spurt.  Yes that had to be it, because my friends who breast feed said that any woman can breastfeed.  It's a supply and demand thing they said.  So I trudged on, reading everything about breastfeeding I could.  I found several breastfeeding pages on facebook and read away!  It was so interesting to read about all the other mothers experiences with nursing their babies, and I felt like this time I could really do this!  I had been silly in the past thinking I couldn't make enough milk.  With my third baby delivery went much smoother than with my other two children, and thankfully my youngest baby didn't have to go into the NICU.  We were on a great start to our breastfeeding journey.  I nursed on demand, and yes my nipples got so sore!  They bled a bit, and I cringed every time my baby latched on (just as I had with my second child).  I was in terrible pain while healing, and still I took care of two older children, and nursed my new baby on demand.  I thought I nursed a lot with my second baby, but it didn't compare with this time around.  My baby was never really happy the first few weeks, wouldn't really rest very well, and wasn't gaining weight appropriately.  I finally decided to supplement after baby's 2 month checkup.  After we began supplementing baby became happier, slept better, and began gaining weight good!  I tried everything I knew to make my milk supply increase.  I pumped (which hurt my nips), took Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle, drank mother's milk tea, ate oatmeal, drank alot of water, nursed on demand, and STILL my supply did not increase.  I don't care what people say...my baby demands milk and my tits can not supply enough!  I'm kind of sad that I can't exclusively breast feed my baby, but baby does get my breast milk first, and  then we supplement as needed with formula.  Sometimes baby takes more formula, and sometimes a bit less.  I'm just happy that my baby is happy, and I love the bond we share with nursing.  It's the sweetest thing, and I know that my milk is best for my baby.  For all of you mother's out there who are having supply issues with your breast milk, if you have to supplement don't beat yourself up about it.  Continue to nurse!  Offer breast first, and if baby is still hungry then offer formula.  You're doing the best you can for your baby, and that's what is important! 

Click Your Heels Together Three Times

Ok ladies... does a shoe really MAKE an outfit?!

Yes they're beautiful, stylish, and wait for it....kinda uncomfortable!  I have always thought of a good pair of pumps as something completely out of my grasp er...step.  You see I'm EXTREMELY clumsy, and add in three kids and tons of stuff in tow every day I find it very hard to wear stylish shoes.  My most recent shoe purchase were a pair of Nikes.  Mostly for comfort.  They sell such cute tennis shoes, but 100+ for a really fancy pair??!  Um... heck no.  I'd much rather spend that money on something else.  I'm not sure if it's my older age or the practicality of parenthood, but I can barely bring myself to buy something that isn't on sale unless I have a coupon.  I mean c'mon, a Franklin or MORE for a pair of sneakers?  No thanks.  So needless to say I purchased some at JcPenney's that were around $40, and I think I even had a coupon, so boom.  I love heels, but I just can't wear them.  The hurt my feet to the point that I can barely walk, and I just can't justify the pain and blisters for beauty lol.  That's not so say that I don't try and wear beautiful shoes, I just have to be super selective in the type of shoe I choose.  I try and stick with flats, flip flops (which really aren't safe), or every country girl's staple- bare feet.  Yeah the bottoms of  my feet might be reminiscent of sand paper at times and one might even compare them to elephant skin, but hot damn if I want to go running down the drive shoeless then I can...and it doesn't hurt lol.  What kind of shoes do you like?  Do you find it hard to wear high heels?  Which shoes, apart from heels, look the most sexy?

Ramblin' Darlin'

Sometimes you just wanna ramble!

This post really has no finite point to it.  I have my days and nights in a whirl, and although I had gotten my sleep schedule back on track several weeks ago it seems as though again I'm spending more time awake and less time asleep!  I'm not sure what made this pop into my mind at 1am, but for some reason or another "The Galloping Gourmet" crossed my mind, and I decided that tonight, being good a night as any to fix this debacle I have with sleep at the moment, I would watch re-runs of Graham Kerr leaping tables- wine glass in hand!  If you haven't ever had the pleasure of watching this dashingly handsome comedian/chef then PLEASE DO!  When I was a kid my mom and I would watch "The Galloping Gourmet" together, and then I would pretend to have a cooking show of my own.  I love to cook.  Sometimes my concoctions turn out grand and other times the only person that will eat them is my husband- good thing he isn't a picky eater!  lol.    I told you this post would be nothing but rambles lol.  I'm on the 15th or so episode of "The Galloping Gourmet", and he is making treacle tart.  Maybe I'll try making a recipe or two of his.  I just watched him prepare a beer braised roast, and it 'looked mouth wateringly delicious- then I remembered I want to become a vegetarian.  Darn.  Maybe I could use the word "vegetarian" loosely.  I love scrambled eggs, can I eat eggs and still be a vegetarian?  Also earlier this evening I thought to myself how much I love smoked sausage, and this dish my family makes called "Cabin Mix".  I named it.  Not a very fancy name, but none the less a name- that describes the dish perfectly.  You see my family has a cabin, and for as long as I can remember we've gone there for mini holiday's (I'm typing this and speaking in a British accent- mostly because Graham Kerr has a lovely accent lol), and lots of other occasions- and not occasions.  Any who, at the cabin we eat.  That's pretty much what we do the entire time unless the weather is nice and then we either go swimming or go into town to do a little bit of shopping (I say little, because there are really very few shops).  We cook lots of different dishes at the cabin, but one dish in particular we created, together.  It's really easy, and after many trials the dish finally took shape, and now, years later, we still enjoy it together- not just at the cabin.  You take red potatoes, carrots, green peppers, onions, squash, zucchini, grape tomatoes, smoked sausage, butter, broth or water, and Mrs. dash and cook all that deliciousness together until the potatoes are soft and the flavors have come together beautifully in the sauce.  You can cook it in the crock pot (which is my favorite way when I'm at home), or over a campfire which is how this dish began.  You used to be able to get these big tin foil bags and we would toss all the ingredients together (and we used to add chicken which you can do, but you'll have to be a bit more specific as far as cooking times go), and put the bags into our campfire.  I'd say that was the best way to eat it.  Eating it outside on our porch at our cabin in the middle of the woods, smelling the warm summer air (you see the cabin is in a remote area that you can't really travel to in the winter), watching the sun go down behind the mountains and trees while everyone is either gathered around the fire, setting with you at the old picnic table, or setting inside enjoying re-runs of Andy Griffith or listening to some good old music from the civil war era (or possibly the nearly worn out copy of the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing).  The cabin is amazing.  No phone.  No wifi.  No cable.  My parents actually went to the cabin for their honey moon :) so romantic.  I think my god parents may have went there as well for their honey moon.  My husband and I went to Florida, and spent the week on the beach in Daytona and topped off the vacation with a trip to Disney!  Although our very first trip together was to the cabin.  :)  When you go to the cabin it's tradition to sign your names and write the dates you stayed there inside the frames of the doors, but seeing as how the cabin is gosh... probably close to 50 years old or more, you can imagine we're running out of space!  We've added a few wooden plaques to sign, but I'm pretty sure we've signed the ceilings and maybe even started on the walls.  I'm sure one day when my kids bring their children to the cabin every inch of the place will be grafiti'd with memories of wonderful trips.  My favorite part of the signing of the walls is looking back at all the times we've been there together, all of us, my whole family.  I love seeing my mom's handwriting; she always added if the weather was nice or not :).  She was a fabulous lady.  Well I suppose this was enough ramblings for one night.

Veg Out?

It might seem like some crazy "hipster" thing to become a vegetarian or a vegan, but veggies are for everyone!  Don't discriminate- veginate!

When I got pregnant with my youngest child last year I had some crazy food aversions and cravings. One of the foods I developed an aversion to was meat. Crazy? Well not according to all the pregnancy books and articles I read, but to me and my husband it DID seem crazy! You see, as a kid, I was the one at the table who would randomly blurt out "Mom, Dad, what was this when it was up walking around?". My saying that always grossed my mom out lol, but me- NOPE! It never bothered me at all to think that I would be eating a part of an animal.  Any ways, when I started getting aversions to meat (everything I ate with meat tasted like a wet dog smells- yes it's gross, but you needed to know how it felt/smelled/tasted lol). I decided to start making more meatless meals, and in place of ground beef I would use brown rice I had cooked in a mixture of veggie broth, onions, green peppers, and some spices. My husband never even knew I used that mixture until I told him lol. Since these aversions, I've been playing around with different recipe's trying to make them meatless, and make them taste good still! Yesterday while at the store I decided to check out the tofu/ vegan section, and I discovered this stuff called meatless ground. I used it tonight to make chili with kidney beans, pinto beans, and steamed butternut squash (don't knock it till you try it!). It was freaking delicious, and my husband didn't miss the meat! I fully intend to go get more of this magical meatless concoction, and maybe a few more meatless items, because I really want my family to be vegetarians. I couldn't go as far as veganism, because I LOVE CHEESE! All cheeses, well all dairy to be honest. That's not to say that I don't enjoy almond milk and coconut milk, but dang I LOVE real cheese! What are some meatless recipe's you love? I'd love to try out some of your favorite vegetarian/vegan foods!!

The Mouth Behind the Fat

The Thick Pinup

OK so maybe I'm not OFFICIALLY a pinup; I haven't appeared in any magazines or anything.  I suppose pinup is just something that all of us ladies have inside us.  To what degree our "inner pinup" is, is up to you.  I love vintage inspired clothes, tattoos, stretched ears, hot pink lips, bleach blond hair, and a good lined cat eye.  I love to listen to old music.  Pretty much anything from the 50's and 60's.  I also love any type of "Rockabilly" music, and I ache for the day that my family and I can make the long journey to Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender!  I love spending time with my kids and my husband more than anything in the universe <3.  I love makeup, and watching my favorite YouTuber's such as:  VintageorTacky, LisaFreemontStreet (who introduced me to Dolly Bags!), XSparkage, KandeeJohnson, and ofcourse there are more (please go check these ladies out!).  I love to sing and dance.  I also love to paint.  I have a few paintings on display in a local Rockabilly type clothing store, which I am so humbled by :).  Any who that's just a bit about me- the mouth behind the fat.  XOXO

Baby Wearing

Maybe you've heard the term "baby wearing"?  There are lots of different options when it comes to baby wearing, and I'd like to share my journey to finding the carrier that's right for me and my baby :)

OK... Baby Wearing?  I thought that too when I first heard the term, but after experiencing it first hand I can't gush enough about it!  I'm a mother of three, so you can imagine I've tried several carriers, and in the early days the ones I tried were wretched!  The straps dug into my shoulders and hips, and my babies never seemed to be very comfortable.  Recently my best friend had a baby, and she really got into this "baby wearing", and I have to admit at first I was like jigga what?  I decided to do some investigating myself, and I discovered this whole new world of baby carriers!  Wraps, slings...Boba's, Beco's and Ergo's OH MY!  How is a mommy to decide which one of the carriers is right for her and her baby?  Well for me trial and error, my size, and what I wanted from a carrier were really what it boiled down to.  I checked out reviews and of course badgered my best friend to bits about her carriers lol.  I eventually decided to get a Moby wrap.  I chose the UV Moby in Turquoise- mostly because the color and mostly because the girl on the website wearing that wrap has bleach blond hair and tattoos, like me :).  I had read such good reviews about the Moby.  All the owners went on and on about how comfortable the Moby is and how easy it was for them to figure out.  There were thin and thick women raving about this wrap, so I decided it was the right one for us.  I finally decided to order one, and it promptly came in the mail.  I was pleasantly surprised that it fit me so well, and how comfortable it was for me.  I will say that assembling this fabric, which is like wrangling a king sized sheet, is so hard and pretty embarrassing when you're out in public trying to swaddle yourself into it.  Once you finally lace yourself into this anaconda they call a Moby Wrap you have to then carefully place your baby into the fabric.  It is a challenge to adjust the baby in this fabric, and as you wear it the fabric stretches out a bit, so it seems you're constantly adjusting your baby.  I have also read reviews that it's "easy to nurse" in this wrap...well not for us.  I'd say it was because my lady lumps are more like mountains.  I had used the Moby around the house a few times to get the hang of it, and while it was really comfortable, we never wore it for too long.  I finally decided to try it out at the mall.  I don't know if it was the titanic sized fabric, the fact that my older children both had to use the bathroom, or the fact that my four year old was galloping around the men's department whilst I tried to Cirque De Soleil my body into this "thang", but it took forever lol.  By the time we were "in" the first 30 min. or so seemed ok.  After that I started to sweat a bit under all the fabric, and I had to begin adjusting my baby.  We were at the mall for a couple hours, and for the majority of the trip I carried my baby in this wrap.  Overall though I didn't like the experience, and I didn't feel like there was enough support with the fabric, and would have preferred it not stretch like that.  I don't see how it could hold a toddler very comfortably.  I told my best friend about my experience with my Moby, and she began telling me how she loved her Mei Tei wrap by Infantino.  Super cute, super functional, and a lot easier than a wrap.  She began to tell me though that she planned on purchasing a Boba, and of course I drilled her on that carrier as well.  Later that night I CSI'd the crap out of google about the Mei Tei and the Boba, and somehow came across the Beco Gemini.  I searched the Ergo, the Baby Bjorn, and countless other carriers, and FINALLY reached the decision that the Beco Gemini would most definitely be the right carrier for us (not to mention the AMAZING prints it comes in!).  These carriers may seem kind of pricey, but they are WELL worth every penny.  They're so sturdy and made so well.  Being a bargain hunter I couldn't resist trying to find a coupon code or something, so I enlisted the help of my wing man- Google, and I found out about this awesome website: www.frogmama.com.  She has TONS of brand new and used Beco Gemini's for sale...EVEN IN RETIRED PRINTS!  The moral of the story is when choosing a carrier read every review you can find, drill the pants off your "baby wearing" friends, and if you have to, try them out yourself!  You will find one that's perfect for you and your baby :)

Disclamer: I was not paid by FrogMama.com to endorse her website.

Dungaree Dolly Handbags

Dolly Bags: "Rockin' Handbags Built to Last"

I love handbags. I have a HUGE collection. I love bright colors, lots of prints, and something big enough to carry the kitchen sink in most of the time. Sadly though, I never could find a purse that could hold up to the wear and tear of carrying around all my children's things as well as my own! You can imagine my curiosity when I heard of a handbag company that makes AMAZING bags for any style, but also has a "retro-ness" that I had been searching for! The wonderful company I'm speaking of is Dungaree Dolly (www.dungareedolly.com). The lady, Dolly, who created this company is a lovely girl to work with. She is so kind, and sweet, and makes the most durable and beautiful handbags imaginable! On her website she has listed the different bags she makes with photo's of each, and a list of fabrics for you to choose from. Once you have chosen which bag you fancy, and which fabric you just can't live with out, she HAND MAKES your bag, and sends it directly to your door. Let me tell you, when you open up the box your bag is wrapped with beautiful tissue paper and a bow (it feels like a present to yourself!). The bags quality SURPASSES any other handbag I have ever owned...ever!  Also a fun little touch is the lining of the bags.  Each one has a coordinating print that is so completely fun and special!  It's like an awesome little surprise just for you everytime you open your bag!  If you don't have time to wait for a custom bag you could check out Dolly's Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/dollyvalentine  there she has tons of bags already made and ready to ship along with some mid-century modern goodies that you will just love!  Please go check out Dolly's bags!  XOXO

Deluxe Bowling Bag in Movie Monsters

DD Elite Socialite Bag in Golden Cheetah

 

Carol Ann Bag

Diaper Bag in Mom Tattoo Print

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review this company.

To Spank or Not to Spank?

OK by now I'm sure you've heard of Spanx, and maybe some of you have reached your own conclusions about the company.  My question to you is: Have you been Spank'd yet?

Alright we've talked about clothes, now lets talk about what we wear under them!  Maybe you've heard about your great granny's wearing gyrtles (that's what I call my shapewear lol).  Do you own some type of shapewear?  Do you like it?  Is it comfortable to wear for long periods of time?  These are important questions when pondering shapewear.  Too often it can be thick, bunching, and lets not forget completely uncomfortable and sweaty!  I've been wearing "gyrtles" since I was in the 6th grade- I told you I've ALWAYS been chubby!  Any who, I've owned countless brands of shapewear, and NONE of them were comfortable.  If they weren't pinching they were riding up my buns.  They were tight and hot, and because I have an hourglass shaped body they would "peek" out the top of my pants when I sat down.  Also the "lines" they left under my clothing were really gross looking.  I wanted something that was going to look smooth under my clothes, and just hold everything together so my jiggly stuff wasn't so jiggly.  Let's face it...we have curves- enhance them!  I was pretty intrigued when I heard about Spanx (I can't even remember how long ago it was), but even more so when I found out they carried them in my size!  I know that Lane Bryant and Torrid carry larger sizes in Spanks.  They definitely smooth stuff out and hold it in...comfortably!  Not hot, not tight, no bunching!  Most amazingly...NO WEDGIES!  Ha ha.

Fashion Confessions of A Fat Girl

OK so I've already admitted to you (and the ENTIRE Internet what size I wear), so I'm sure you're wondering "How in the heck does she find fashionable plus size clothes?". 

 Well it took some searching, because I live in a very secluded area as far as clothing shops go. We have your typical American Eagle, Hollister, and Abercrombie at our mall. We even have a Lane Bryant! Can you believe it? Catering to the chubby lady- hats off to my local mall... or not. Although I've found some fashionable pieces of clothing at Lane Bryant I'm still young, and I wanna dress freaking cool! Let's face it. Lane Bryant's clothes can be matronly, and most definitely conservative. When I do find something that peaks my interest there, it's out of stock. Why you ask? Because apparently other women want to dress to impress too!  Also, it really irritates me that there are actually some stores that carry plus size, but ONLY online...WTH?  It's not fair that I, as a plus sized vixen, have to order clothing and wait for it to arrive at my home, and if it doesn't fit I have to send it back- you know, all that hullabaloo.

Just when I was about to give up on finding any young and attractive clothing to fit my round buns, I stumbled across this company- Torrid (www.torrid.com). My first reactions were: OMG, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE, OH I NEED THAT AND THAT etc... I have been HOOKED ever since. They sell affordable fashionable clothes for us chubby (embrace it) ladies. Torrid also has a special little section for us Rockabilly chicks! If you sign up as a member on Torrid.com you can get special little perks like coupon codes and even a super special birthday surprise!!! Another company I like to shop at is: Sealed With A Kiss Designs (www.swakdesigns.com). They also have a vintage or rockabilly section. The clothes are affordable and fun, and if you sign up with them you also get special little perks! There are a few vintage inspired clothing companies that sell plus sizes: Mode Merr (www.modemerr.com), Pinup Girl Clothing (www.pinupgirlclothing.com), Mod Cloth (www.modcloth.com), and there are several more that I can't think of at the moment. I haven't had the pleasure of purchasing anything from PUG Clothing or Mod Cloth YET. Mode Merr on the other hand I have and I LOVE! I have her Vamp Dress, and I absolutely love it. The dress hugs my curves so wonderfully (needless to say my husband loves it too!). The quality of the dress is amazing, and I have had SO many compliments when I wear it. I hope this peaks your interest, and you go check out these fabulous plus size clothing shops!!! XOXO

Disclamer:  I was not paid by any of these companies to endorse their products.  All reviews are based on items I purchased myself.www.torrid.com

Fat or Foe?

How often do you look at yourself in the mirror?  Do you like what you see? 

Sadly most women don't. They have this unrealistic image in their heads (thanks a lot society), and if they don't come close to that they have a bad self image. I hate that. No seriously. I freaking hate it. Could we all stand to lose a few pounds to be healthier? I know I could ha ha. I'm in the here and now though, and although I'm no size 2 (a 24/26 to be exact) I still love my body and myself. Question: Do you think it's possible to look past the stereotypes of "sexiness" and "attractiveness" and see people for who they really are, and STILL find them beautiful?

I'm typing this as I set here in silence (everyone is asleep but me) except for The Walking Dead playing in the background.  I've always wanted to help girls with their self esteem.  Trust me, growing up chunky wasn't easy, but I overcame the idiots who tried to make me hate my body and myself.  As a mother I want my kids to treat others with respect, and I always tell them it doesn't matter what people look like on the outside (more mother's should teach their children this).  Bullying starts so young it seems.  As a kid I endured my unfair share of ridicule, and there were times I came home crying, but my mom always helped me through it.  She taught me to be beautiful to the world we have to love ourselves first, and she was right.  I love me.  Do I have days where I have nothing to wear, because it all looks like crap?  Um yeah hello I'm a girl!  My husband would definitely disagree on the "nothing to wear" thing lol.  At the end of the day though I'm happy with me and who I am and who I'm teaching my children to be: confident, self sufficient, non judgemental people.

Maybe you have some body image issues?  It's not easy to over come that, and to be honest I'm no expert.  I just know that for the people out there who aren't willing to except you for who you are- they have no place in your life.  The ones who love you for you are mean more than the moon.  I suppose I would say to surround yourself with these good people and maybe take a trip to the mall...or two he he ;)