Color Attraction

Lately, My eyes have been waundering towards brightly colored objects. I have always been attracted to items with a variety of vibrant colors like the pretty 'Granny Square' Afghan that we got in at the shop. At the shop, I am also loving the colors and graphics of the bundle of 1950's Workbasket booklets and the vintage Chinese Checkers game. Even my 7-Layer dip I made for a birthday party is full of color. I can't wait to show you our little one's nursery we have been working hard on...No pinks or blues there...it's all color! :)

What I've been up to...

* Sunday breakfast at local resaurant. French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberry jam is to die for!

* Grocery Shopping, Ice Cold Bottle of Water, Food always on my mind lately. :)

* Watching my feet disappear under my ever-growing baby bump.

* Lovin' on the puppy dog. Trying to keep him cool in the heat, he has his own little swimming pool that he loves to plop down in.

* When work is slow at the shop,, I'm prepared with my book, a good show on DVD and many decorating magazines.

* Trip to Babies R' Us to pick up our little one's crib.

* While in Topeka, we stopped and ate at Red Lobster... I hate seafood but LOVE their Cheddar Biscuits!

* My new favorite yogurt, Toasted Coconut Vanilla with some juicy blackberries thrown in.

* My mom's wishful thinking...she set out her snowman shovel, hoping it would bring cooler weather. So far...over 100 degrees everyday this week.

Hope everyone is doing lovely and staying cool!!

Bring on the Rain!

Last night, we got a sweet surprise....Rain!!!!
It poured and poured nice, cool, wet rain! Some areas even had strong wind and hail, definitely wasn't in the forecast but I enjoyed the nice downpour and I am sure the animals and plants in the area did also. Although it is awfully humid today and the high is supposed to be 108 degrees... can't wait for at least- 90 degree weather.

Family Garden

 Growing up, my family has always had a large garden. Living in the country allows us the space to go all out and my mother is manager of a local produce market so we grew up around fresh fruits and veggies. My mother's green thumb has definitely been inherited by my little sister. My mother and her got together this year, along with the help of her boyfriend and planted the garden of all gardens. I'm actually quite jealous because their garden greatly surpasses my small container garden. But at least they share... and they have PLENTY to share!

 A few evenings ago, I went to my parents home where My mother, sister (Laura) and her boyfriend (Clinton,) were working in the garden. They put me in charge of grilling hotdogs, bratwursts and polish sausages for dinner while they weeded and harvested colorful, fresh veggies.

Their huge garden consists of: 20 pepper plants, 15 tomato plants, lettuce, radishes, potatoes, onions, eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, patty pan squash, butternut squash, 8-Ball squash, flying saucer squash, buttercup squash, acorn squash,
spaghetti squash, sweet potatoes, cucumbers,
canteloupe, watermelon, mini pumpkins, okra,

corn, green beans, wax beans, and tomatillos.

 After working hard in the hot garden and over the hot grill... :) We stuffed our faces with a delicious fresh salad, homegrown tomatoes, potato salad and dogs.

Quick Summer Supper

 For a quick and simple dinner, I love using Buitoni pastas! I purchased a pack of their Fettuccine pasta and threw together an easy dinner for two that was VERY tasty and used up some of my homegrown veggies! 

Ingredients used:
1 pkg. Buitoni Fettuccine pasta
1.5lbs ground pork sausage w/ bacon
1/2 large sweet onion, diced (homegrown)
1 small green pepper, diced (homegrown)
1 medium zuchinni, diced (homegrown)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce

Cook ground sausage over med-high heat until cooked through. Saute onion, green pepper and zuchinni over med. heat with olive oil and minced garlic. Add cooked sausage and pour jar of spaghetti sauce over. Simmer over low heat while you cook pasta. Buitoni Fettucccine boils for only 3 min. and it's done! Drain pasta and spoon sauce over it, add some shredded mozzarella if desired. Wahlah! Easy Peezy!

Peanut Butter and...

One of my favorite Summer lunches that I grew up with, is a scrumptious Peanut Butter and Tomato sandwich. I know this sounds like a strange combination to some but it is so delicious and filling. Great with either white or wheat bread, cover both pieces with a generous layer of peanut butter, slap on some homegrown tomato slices and sprinkle with salt. I paired this sandwich with another odd sounding combination... cottage cheese and pineapple. Don't knock it til' you try it!! :)

What I'm Enjoying Lately...

Life is good...

*Relaxing Pool-side on a VERY hot day. We like to swim at this hotel pool because there's never anyone there, it's great.

*Just started 'Mad Men' Season Three, We only have one television channel so we buy seasons on DVD and watch them from start to end. Our movie nights consist of amazing television shows. P.S. Don Draper kind of makes me angry. :)

*Watching my ever-expanding waistline... only 3.5 months to go! Soon we will get to meet this little gymnast that likes to turn somersaults.

*Which brings me to the yummy Mexican food that I can't stop craving. This whole pregnancy I have wanted non-stop supply of salsa and even jalapenos. Don't you love the chairs at our fav. mexican restaurant?!   

                                                       

*Watching our dog, Pete, swim in his kiddie pool and play with his stuffed animals. I love seeing his tail wag and his big ol' goofy grin.    

*Bounty of fresh, colorful vegetables from my parent's garden.. they have a huge garden! 

*Warm Chocolate cake and Brownie  Supreme Bars straight from the oven. Yes, Life is good.