Well ladies, as always, life has been moving at the speed of light and it doesn't ever seem to slow down. I am now 26 weeks preggo with our thrid child and it seems like these 26 weeks have flown by. The picture is from about a month ago. We're starting to prepare for his arrival and I cannot wait to get his room ready. It is still in the upper 90s here in Houston so we're waiting a few more weeks to start painting the room and getting everything done. I did order the bedding though, which I can't believe I did because we (me and Gaggy) made Lex and Layla's bedding. With #3 (and yes, as of now, that is his official name) I just don't have the time or energy to do it but I am planning on making accessories and such to go in his room. This is the bedding we picked. Isn't it just darlin'! It is even cuter in person. We're painting the room a very soothing blueish-gray.

With the heat and my lack of energy I've been trying a lot of new "easy" recipes and a few have been winners. I think our favorite was the Apple Cinnamon Kielbasa and Mashed Sweet Potatoes. It was so easy, healthy and cuper cheap and my kiddos gobbled it up.

Apple Cinnamon Kielbasa and Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2-3 red apples, pealed, cored and chopped

1/4 cup apple juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

16 oz package Kielbasa, coarsely chopped

Place apples, apple juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a large saucepan. Add Kielbasa. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Serve over mashed sweet potatoes. The original recipe said to serve with canned (draine) sweet potatoes that have been warmed and mashed with butter. However, I just bought sweet potatoes, baked them and mashed them so that they wouldn't have all of the preservatives and yucky stuff in them that canned foods have.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sorry for my lack of pictures. I shall try to do better next time.

The second recipe that I tried was so easy and made mostly of pantry items.

Skillet Sausage and Mushrooms with Rice

1 pound sweet Italian Sausage

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2 cups white rice

4 cups chicken stock

1 chicken bouillon cube

4 tablespoons of grated Parmesan

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Slice open and remove the casings from sausage. Brown sausage, onion, and mushrooms over medium heat until done. Add rice, broth and bouillon. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until broth has evaporated and rice is tend (about 20 minutes) Stir in parmesan cheese and pepper. Makes 4 servings.

With the exception of the mushrooms my kiddos also loved this one. But then again they will eat anything with sausage in it.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That's it for now. Hopefully I will be back soon with more recipes since I love to cook in the fall. :) I've also been sewing a lot lately for Layla trying to get her fall wardrobe done so that I don't have to buy so much for her. And seriously she looks so cute it's worth the trouble. lol.

I've also been sewing some cute bags. This is one I made for Layla for dance class (right before she decided she didn't want to take dance!) of course. Isn't it fabulous?! She picked the fabric and I was pretty impressed since she is only 2. Maybe she's going to have my eye for design. At the moment I can remember the name of the pattern I used but I'll try to remember to come back and link it.

My wednesday group has been doing a little study called 31 Days to Clean. It's a great study and one of the first days you have to write your mission statement... why I want a clean house. :) This is mine. I still haven't had a chance to print and frame it but I'm going to.