Wordless Wednesday

3 Things

3 foods I hate & refuse to eat

1. Red meat
2. Mushrooms
3. Peas

3 foods I love & eat more than I should

1. Chocolate
2. Tortilla chips
3. Cheese

 3 chores I avoid until absolutely necessary

1. Cleaning the toilets
2. Hanging up clothes in my closet
3. Cleaning my daughter's room

3 chores I always do

1. Dishes.
2. Vacuuming
3. Laundry

3 Wardrobe staples

1. Yoga pants
2. Leggings
3.T-shirts

3 things I don't spend money on

1. Manicures
2. Pedicures
3. Purses

3 things I do spend money on

1. Foundation
2. Hair cuts
3. Hair products


3 TV shows I frequently watch in reruns

1. The Middle
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Fixer Upper

3 movies I love that might surprise you

1. Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp
2. Ferris Bueller
3. The Wizard of Oz

 3 genres I generally don't read

1. Sci-Fi
2. War books
3. Fantasy

3 things I'm looking forward to this year

1. Traveling somewhere fun for my birthday
2. Spring
3. Summer

Feel free to take this for your own post!

Monday Motivation

Scrapbook pages that I got done this weekend

Nail Files. Week # 312

This week I am wearing a new polish that I got this week. It's Pure Ice~Sweet Serenity. I saw a You tuber wearing a color like this, so I went out & found something similiar. I love this color. I think I already have a few polishes close to this.

Stuff & Things

* I'm really glad that football is almost done. That's all I see on the news.

* Anthony had the flu/a cold this week. He was home Tuesday & Wednesday. He never stays home. He went back to work today. So I'm trying real hard to stay healthy &T too. I had a bad sore throat this morning & a sinus headache now.

*We got a new beta fish a week ago & tonight T finally got her 2 ghost shrimp that she's been wanting. It's really hard to get a pic of the shrimp because they are see-through.

*My Mom fell again. She fractured her tale bone & is in the hospital. She'll be in there for a while & then will go to rehab. It's tough when you see your parents getting old. I makes me sad.

Tasty Tuesday~Homemade Mac & Cheese

BEST Macaroni and Cheese

Author: Lil' Luna.com
Recipe type: Main Dish Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

 1 lb. elbow macaroni
 ½ c. butter
 ½ c. flour
 4 c. milk
 6 c. shredded sharp Cheddar
 1 TB garlic salt Pepper to taste
 2 TB butter
 ½ c. panko bread crumbs

 Instructions:

1. Boil pasta according to package directions. In large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Slowly pour in 4 cups milk, whisking until smooth. Heat to a low boil until thickened. Remove from heat.
2.  Add hot pasta to a greased 9x13" baking dish. Sprinkle 6 cups shredded cheese over pasta. Pour the thickened cream sauce over the pasta and cheese. Let sit until the cheese has melted and stir together.
3.  Melt 2 TB butter over medium heat. Add in bread crumbs, stirring constantly until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Pour over the mac and cheese.
4.  Bake at 325 for 14-15 minutes. Serve warm.

Mommy & Me Monday~Silly Snapchat

Stuff & Things

*So my hubby's football team made it into the Superbowl. What a surprise. They always win & have been in the Superbowl a lot. We had a party today & we will be having a party for the Superbowl too. I'm not a fan of sports or football.

*I've been hybernating & I'm thinking I need to get out with a friend for coffee or lunch or something soon.

*I haven't done a You tube video lately, so I really need to do 1 this week.

* I went to Target on Friday. I got some stuff in the dollar section for a planner swap that I am doing. I got a bunch of stuff from a girl on fb. I need to mail her package out tomorrow. I didn't think they had a lot in the dollar section. The shelves have been pretty empty lately. So I've been doing a lot of swaps & getting some cool stuff.

*I need to get some more plants. They make me happy & I'm pretty good with them. I think I have  a bit of a green thumb. I just wish we had windowsills & more sun.

Nail Files. Week # 311

This week I have on China Glaze~Red-Y to Rave. It's more of an orange. I'm wearing Red tomorrow. Not sure how it will look with my shirt. It has red in the name.

What I'm reading now~Christmas Caramel Murder

I was reading another book, but didn't like it, so I stopped reading it. Usually I push through it, but this time I just couldn't do it. So I just started this book last night. It's about 2 friends that agreed to provide all the goodies for their town's annual production of "A Christmas Carol". 1 of the friend's husband is playing Santa Claus & his ex-girlfriend is playing Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus ends up dead & the friends have to figure out who murdered her.

Essential Oils Can Be Toxic To Cats

I just found out on Sunday that essential oils can be harmful to cats. I have been using essential oils diffusers for 2 years. I just got my 2nd 1 for the kitchen & it just happens to be right over my cats food bowl & water. I also had a Wallflower plugged in there too. So right when I heard I unplugged my stuff. I've also been using Mrs. Meyers cleaning products with essential oils. I love the multi-purpose sprays. I have them in Honeysuckle, Lavender & Peppermint. Lavender is really bad for cats. Once I heard about this I went online to find some info.

 The reason these essential oils are more dangerous to cats lies in the physiology of their liver. Cats lack an enzyme (glucuronyl tranferase) that in other animals helps to process and break down certain components of these essential oils. Due to the concentrated nature of essential oils, toxic buildup of these components occurs and can ultimately be fatal.
 I plan on calling my vet to ask about the cats livers. If there is a way they can check them. I'm thinking they'd probably have to do x-rays. I really want to spread the word about this. If you are like me your pets are like your kids.

Wordless Wednesday~My Cute Cats

Snow Storm Tomorrow

Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes

Poster put together by Ira Lexus of Manchester

Be Positive

Nail Files. Week # 310

This week I have on a Justice nail polish. Yes, the kids store. I found it when my daughter was shopping last Summer. It's suppose to change colors, but I don't think it works that great. I still like the color though. There is no name on the bottle.

Friday Favorites

Chapstick green tea & mint.

Burt's Bees Gloss Lip Crayon in Pacific Coast

Mrs. Meyers Iowa Pine

Fave food from this week. The soup that I made earlier this week. It was the 1st time I made it & it was so good.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday~One Pot Pepper Jack Chicken fajita & rice soup

One Pot Pepper Jack Chicken Fajita and Rice Soup

Recipe & photo via Carlsbad Cravings.com

Servings 6 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients:

 2 tablespoons olive oil
 1 tablespoon butter
 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced (1 pound)
 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
 1 small orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
 1 small yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
 4 garlic cloves, minced
 2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
1 tsp EACH salt, chili powder, ground cumin
1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, pepper, dried oregano 3/4 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
14 oz. can mild diced green chilies
1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
4 14.5 oz. cans low sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup freshly grated Pepper Jack cheese or more to taste

Garnish
Tortilla chips/strips
fresh cilantro
sour cream
avocado
Tomatoes
Hot sauce to taste

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in olive oil over medium high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot. Add chicken and onions and sauté for 3 minutes.

2. Add bell peppers, garlic, flour and all seasonings/spices.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.

3. Stir in rice, black beans, green chilies, crushed tomatoes and 3 cans chicken broth. Mix cornstarch with last can chicken broth and add to soup. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer on medium low, stirring occasionally, for 8-12 minutes or until rice is cooked.

4. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Add additional chicken broth/water to thin soup if desired. Garnish individual servings with desired toppings.

*Note: Cooking time may vary depending on how long it takes to bring your soup to a boil so I suggest checking the rice occasionally until done. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Add additional chicken broth/water to thin soup if desired. Garnish individual servings with desired toppings. Recipe Notes

*This is a hearty soup with a thicker enchilada sauce like broth. If you prefer a thinner broth then you can leave out the flour and cornstarch.
**The Pepper Jack Cheese can be left out of the soup if preferred and used as a garnish instead.

Happy National Bubble Bath Day

Did you take a bath today? I didn't, but maybe tomorrow I'll soak my feet. Sounds really nice right now.

Happy Mail

Nail Files. Week # 309

This week I am wearing Essie~Beach Bum Blu & OPI~Haven't the Foggiest.The silver is a little bumpy. I like the colors together though.

January TBB Asks

1. Resolutions or no resolutions~I do goals to aim for.
2. Snow or no snow~No snow.
3. New Place~Maybe a new restaurant like Copper Door or Long Blue Cat.
4. New hair cut or new color~Color for me. I don't cut my hair much, just a trim or angles on the side.
5. Once special thing to do for myself this year~Learn to say no more.
6. Least fave thing about January~Cold
7. Favorite thing about January~When it's over.
8. When do you take down your Holiday decorations? I start the day after X-mas, but we don't usually take down the tree until a week after.
9. Do you diet in January? Yes, cut down on things.
10. What area of your home do you want to organize the most? My office. I have tons of things under the bed.
11. Favorite Winter comfort food? Homemade mac & cheese
12. Favorite guilty pleasure~M&M's