Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hello friends. I should be in bed but I am wide awake.. I suppose that might have something to do with the coffee I had an hour or so ago! Husby likes to keep the house so much colder than I do and I was freezing.. I guess I should have had hot chocolate instead of coffee!

Hope everyone had a beautiful Saturday!!

I worked around the house a lot in the early part of the day..

My main goal was getting the study cleaned up for the Christmas tree.

And for the most part it's done..

That window

right there leads to the front porch..

And the good thing about putting the tree in this room is that

it has these pretty doors on it.. and will keep the kitty cats from tearing it up!

The walls are green.. which is festive however, its not the colors we put on the tree!

Anyway.. I should tell you that just a bit ago, I tried uploading the pictures I took this evening with my phone, and my memory card kept throwing errors.. Well, I was none too happy and ended up having to re format it and lost all my old pictures.

Thankfully, I got had my camera too and ended up taking a lot of pictures with that too!

So all these pictures are from my camera.

We had the most beautiful

sky tonight.

Every time I looked at it..

I was lost in the beauty.

Really enchanting kind of sky!

Anyway, we had some things to do and on our way home we stopped by this Greek/ Italian restaurant that I had been wanting to try. It took a little effort getting husby to go in because as you guys know, he doesn't like pasta.

But we got in there and this is where I wish my phone pictures because I took a lot of the restaurant but I also took some pictures of the food with my regular camera..

This salad was so much better than expected..

Scott got

wings.. Not surprising huh?

And they came with all the

stuff wings come with!

I got the..

Spaghetti Carbonara..

And it was a

HUGE plate!!

Let me tell you..

it was amazing. I was totally shocked by this food. It was so retro in there with all the wood and old jars.. I really didn't have my hopes up about the food but it was amazing!!

We came home afterwards and just kinda hung out. Not much happened the rest of the night.. I blogged some, watched tv, enjoyed huge bubble bath, and cleaned up around here. Not too exciting for a Saturday night!

I guess now is ok to kinda explain what happened with the dealership. A couple people were let go because of their own actions.. husby's boss was one of them. So now Scott is basically doing it all. Its a huge opportunity for him. I must say the car business is cut throat and they don't mess around. He's been working really hard the past week and its been hard to get any time with him when work is not taking over his every thought! I am proud of him for stepping up and doing what he knows to do. I am sure he is doing an amazing job. I won't and can't get into any details because it would be wrong but all is working out ok and we are just taking it day by day. I can't promise that we won't have to move again one day but whatever.. I will follow him any where and we will be ok with whatever situation happens. Trying to stay stable in this business takes an act of God!! One thing for sure though my husband knows the car business better than anything else in his life. He makes me so proud with how hard he works. He gives me a beautiful life and I am one lucky and blessed lady for sure! ♥

On to notes about the blog and Christmas. I got the sweetest email from a teen age girl tonight saying she does not have much money for Christmas and saw some of my gift ideas that were cheap and still really nice. She wanted to know what holiday gifts I am making myself because she needs ideas.

So, I sent the message back and now I am going to answer it on here too for you guys.

I don't know how many of these items I making but here is what I have came up with so far.

[ Homemade Sugar Scrubs in pretty jars ]

[ Drink mixes in pretty jars ]

[ Muffin mixes in pretty canisters ]

[ Movie Night in a bag ( you will have to buy a movie though for this one! ) ]

[ Special kitchen salts, like rosemary salt ]

[ dog and cat snacks ]

Now, I am not buying for a ton of people this year.. I am just not doing it. I am buying for the kids and for our parents and for Scott. I am a couple friends something too but that's about it. If you are at my house on Christmas, I will be buying for you. But for the most part, I'm not doing a ton of shopping and going into debt for Christmas. We are a single income family - well with the exception of the cattery - and we are just not going to flip out over spending tons of money. I am thinking a thousand dollars should do it.

My daughter has become really materialistic and its just not making me happy. But she has a limit.. just like the rest of the kids. I will be sending her some of the home made stuff too!

I think I will go ahead in the coming days and get the recipes posted on here for you to have in case you want to make some yourself. I am going to have to sit down and figure out who I am making what for but I figure I will be making stuff for about maybe 10 people or so.. per item.

Also I am doing some photo gifts too. Yep.. super easy and nice gifts to give anyone!

I think the home made gifts, when done right will be beautiful to give anyone.. maybe a neighbor or a teacher or anyone you don't want to spend a lot on but want them to know that you are thinking of them over the holiday. I think that's what matters most. I might even make some to give to the wives of the salesmen at the dealership. God knows, I am not giving the office girls anything but I have met some of the salesman's wives and I might just surprise them with something too.

When making the gifts above the most expensive thing will be the jars used. You can some really cute ones for next to nothing... and then some cute ribbon and things to decorate the jars with. Besides that it should be pretty easy. A lot of these gifts, I won't be making till around the week before Christmas because I want them as fresh as possible. I don't think that will really matter but.. I have everything planned out and that's when I will be making it.. I might have to change it, if I am mailing anything.. Have to wait and see! Anyway, I hope that answers a few questions for you.

And thank you for the email.. it was really sweet. I am sure your family would love some of the gifts I mentioned above. The movie night in a bag would great for your father! I haven't figured out everything I am going to include in it but its going to be a movie, snacks, popcorn and what ever else I can think of to add! And your mom would love any of the other items!!

And of course if you are making the dog and cat treats you are going to have to find a cute cookie cutter in the shape of a dog bone and maybe a fish or something.. Still trying to figure out how to make the kitty treats. Dog treats are easy.. kitty treats are harder because they have to be much smaller! And with those items you will want to get some of the clear bags back in the craft department at Walmart or a craft store and tie up with a pretty ribbon. You can also find the dog bone cookie cutters at Walmart too. That's where I saw them! Every single thing you need for any of the above gifts can be found at Walmart.. and the stuff does not cost that much.. Promise!!

Well, its late so I better be ending this. I was on the phone with my mom for a long time and that conversation kinda took over and this is being posted at 4 am!!

In bed I go.. but hope you

Talk to you in the afternoon!

Ohhh.. be sure to check out the WEEKEND NOTES because its up! Get your paper because you are not going to want to miss out on the coupons!!

xoxo

K Jaggers

♥

Tired with a side of Pain..=(

Hello friends. Its not too late.. Only about 115 am and I am heading to bed soon. I am tired and I have a headache. I took one of husby's pills but it isn't helping.. So going to try some Advil PM and being I am already sleepy I figure, it won't take me long to doze off. 

Scott got that cute picture of the cats tonight. He see's a cute picture and he grabs the camera! 

Those 3 babies went into the paper today.. It makes me sad to see them go. It really does. I hate it but I do kinda feel good after I find them a good home. I'm just going to miss them. 

Well today was a day of 

shopping and looking at 

Christmas displays. 

So much so, I found something that I liked..

I got all the stuff loaded

in the car and then headed to Walgreens.  I thought the sales at all the other drug stores sucked but I was going to give it one last try..

And if you saw in my other post.. 

I got a ton of stuff. To see it all more close you can just CLICK HERE to see it. I was totally happy with all the stuff I got! 

I was also happy that I got this

little tree for the kitchen! 

I found these adorable 

cupcake ornaments

and I also a few others too. I wanted to do all cupcakes but they only had 2 sheets left. I will be looking for more though!

It didn't take long to decorate..

Its so cute sitting on the counter!

I'm still not done with it..

I want to find some kind of really cute cupcake to put on top but I might have to settle for a bow!

I looooove these!

These are cute too!

I am pretty sure most of you know that I don't do red and green for Christmas. I personally think those colors are tacky. I do have a green tree, but every thing I put on it is pink. Its such a beautiful tree and its so girly! Even husby thinks its pretty. I will be working this weekend on getting it done. We are going to have to put it in the study because it has doors on it and will keep the cats from tearing it up! I think either tomorrow or Sunday he's even putting the lights up on the house! 

I think besides the make up one of my favorite things I got today was..

This adorable kitty cat ring holder!! I think its so cute! I want more of these not only for me but for gifts too! 

Scott and I did fast food tonight because I was busy today and didn't get dinner cooked. Well.. let me show you what just pisses me off. 

I got it super sized and they didn't even fill it up. I actually called about it and my entire big mac meal is going to be replaced any day I want to come get it. I don't know why they have to do shit like that. But I complain every time because its not right. If I wanted this side I would have ordered just a Medium. 

Anyway, tomorrow I don't think I am even leaving the house. I do need to go get some glasses because we have broke so many of ours but who knows if I will get to it. I want to sleep, drink coffee, pick up the house, love on my kitty cats, and play online. That's about it!! Ohhh.. and clean up the study so we can get the tree in there. 

Well, have a good night.. I am going to bed and start dreaming.. and this is early for me!!

xoxo

K Jaggers

♥

Sweet Dreams

I should be in bed at this hour ( 2 am ) being I have been so tired but the insomanic in me lives on. I need to take my sleep meds but yea.. haven't done that yet. Husby is always on me to take them eariler but I am so use to late nights that I don't really like to end my night at 10 or 11 pm.. Just have never went to bed at that time..

Right now I am eating a snack while I blog to you guys..

I know its hard to tell..but there is a hard sugar coating on the top of the great fruit and its amazing..

I love it!!!

Perfect bed time snack..

I didnt' even cook dinner tonight again. I was just not feeling good.. Husby worked till 8 pm and ate that white chili all day so he was good with snacking for dinner too. even though I just finished the grapefruit, I still feel hungry.. Hummm.. may have to get another quick snack in a bit!

I was totally unproductive today, which sucked. I should have just forced myself to get up and do something. Tomorrow is laundry.. laundry.. laundry... and some house cleaning too. I don't think Scott is taking his day off because he is off for Thanksgiving. I would love him home but will get more done if hes not here. I am still thinking he will be working a 1/2 day only.. Have to wait and see!

Tonight he came home, watched Dancing with the stars and then House. Quickly after House was over he got in a hot shower for a while and since he has been snoring in the bed! I can hear him upstairs right now..Hope he is having a great dream! ♥

So I hope you guys like the new blog back ground! I got a few emails about it and so far so good!! I also got the link at the top of the blog with WEEKEND NOTES. Just click the icon and it will take you to the current weeks notes. There is a TON of information in there and I would check it out because I am sure there is something that will be beneficial to you!! Tomorrow I will be getting a layaway post up because I know it helps a lot of families. I will also be adding that to the notes too. So there will be 2 post of it.. A normal post and an updated notes post. I am afraid that if I don't do a new one, a lot of you guys will skip over the updated notes post!! But until the holidays are over, I think its something that will stay on weekend notes. I promise to get that frugal coffee post up tomorrow too! I have had a lot of request for that one! Its basically 2 little tips that will help save on your coffee bill.. And since I like expensive coffee, this totally saves me money! I want to get a few holiday looks up too. So stay tuned! I still think I am going to get the Married Life post up on Thursday even though its Thanksgiving, I feel like that night a lot of you guys sill will read it! If you haven't checked out that post yet, its another not to miss!! Just click HERE to check it out!

Well its 239 and I am off to bed. Also, I know I got a few emails tonight that I really need to answer.. will be working on emails tomorrow night. So check your in boxes!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!!

xoxo

K Jaggers

♥

Fast and Easy Chili

I know there are a ton of long chili recipes out there that take hours on end to cook. Most of the time, I don't want to spend that long in the kitchen cooking anymore. I love to cook, but I also have a lot of things around here to keep me busy.. I have never really made a chili that took a long time to make. I thought since fall is here, chili is one of the best soul warming foods you can make for yourself or your family!

This fast recipe is something anyone can make even on a busy week night. I had this done and on the table in around 30 minutes..

So here it is!!

Now I doubled up on most things because I always make 2 pots ..One for me and one for husby.. and with husby's pot.. I wanted to make enough that he could take to work to share.. So I got 2 packages of ground round, 2 cans of chili beans, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1 can of tomato paste, one red bell pepper, and one onion.. along whatever kinda of pasta you have around the house.. I also used some minced garlic that I forgot to add to the picture above!

First I did was get the onion and red bell pepper diced up..

Got the hamburger cooking..

Once it started to brown, I added the onion, pepper and garlic to cook and soften

I got out 2 big pots... and divided up the hamburger mixture in each pot..

Added 1 can of the diced tomatoes to each pot..

Added the chili beans to Scott's pot..

And for me.. I don't like the texture of beans... So I always take a can of beans and..

mash them up with a potato masher..

and make basically a paste.. and then I added it to my pot..

Then add water to fill the pot the rest of the way up.

No real science to this.. just 3-4 cups of water to each pot.

I then divided up the tomato paste in each pot.. This will make it more rich and also help thicken it up a little ..

I normally don't use any premade seasonings either.. I just add a ton of chili powder and cumin but I saw..

this and decided to try it.

I added a packet to each pot..

and then I also like to add a little

sugar to each pot to make it taste a little fresher.

Once the chili's started boiling..

I added some pasta.. Now you can skip this if you don't like pasta in you chili but I love pasta in everything!

I like my chili even with pasta with

Crackers.

but husby likes..

cheese in his..

This meal was soooo good after a long day of moving our friend into his new apartment on a cold day.. Both of us liked it so much that both bowls ended up..

empty!!

It was a really good dinner and I loved it!

Just remember.. you can make this fast and it will taste just like you spent all day in the kitchen!

Do you have a great chili recipe? Send it to me!!!

kishajaggers@aol.com

K Jaggers

♥