Colorful Fall

dress, scarf, hat, boots; TJMaxx, blazer: Land's End, bag: Kate Spade NY

I love sunny fall days. They are so fun to dress for. The main idea is - layers, layers and more layers. Right now we have a mix of cold, brisk days with sunny afternoons - it's perfect fall. I love that you can still wear dresses and boots without hiding them under a puffy coat.

Today I'm at 28 weeks and honestly starting to worry a little bit (it all depends on your definition of little). I told the doctor that I'm scared of the unknown and he told me it's a piece of cake - giving birth. Dude, how would you know? Stepping on the scale the display is right in your face, I mean, who wants to see that number? Just hide it and tell me everything is going great and I'm perfectly healthy. But fitting into my pre-pregnancy dress made my day that much more colorful and bright. 

Happy Harvest

blouse: Merona/Traget, cardigan: Loft, skirt: J.Crew, necklace: J.Crew (via Ebay),
shoes: Aldo, bag: Kate Spade NY

We were celebrating Harvest Sunday at the church and the weather could not have been any more perfect. I'm so thankful that we live in the land of plenty and being able to have what we want, not only what we need. 

Honestly, too many times, we as Americans, complain about thing that aren't even necessities. Most of the world population struggles to make ends meet and I have family oversees that go through that on daily basis. They have tiny little apartments (think tiny and scale it down by like 10), get around on public transportation and eat fruit only during summer months when it's cheap. 

We need to appreciate things that we have, the plentiful, great harvest and the prosperity in this land. 

Royal Apple Cobbler {recipe}

There is nothing better then a warm apple cobbler on a cold fall night (with or without ice cream). I eat mine with hot tea. I love apple pies, but there is something to sophisticated and delicious about a cobbler. I've made different cobblers - from peach to mixed berry yet Pioneer Woman's recipe for blackberry cobbler is the best. I used her recipe but changed couple of things.

- First, I used apples with blackberries. Apples alone seem a little boring and a blackberry cobbler is way too expensive (this time of year). So I've used one pint of blackberries to add color and taste to the apples. Perfection!

- Next, I do not like shortening. Honestly, something about it makes me feel like my butt is expanding while I'm adding it to the recipe. I substituted it with canola oil which is the best for cooking.

- Lastly, I sprinkled the top with almonds. I love how the creamy inside mixed with the crunchy nuts makes for the best taste and texture.



Ingredients

• 1 pint of Blackberries
• 4 medium Tart Cooking Apples 
• 1/2 cup Plus 4 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1/2 whole Zest Of Lemon
• 2 cups Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
• 4-5 Tablesppoons Canola Oil
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 3-4 Tablespoons Almonds
• 1 whole Egg
• 1/2 cup Milk

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine blackberries, ½ cup sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Stir and spread out in a buttered Pyrex dish.

In a separate bowl pour flour, salt, baking powder, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Add oil and butter and work mixture together with a pastry blender (or your fingers) until the mixture is coarse. Measure ½ cup milk, add an egg, and mix together. Pour into flour mixture, stirring as you go. Mixture should be smooth and not dry, but not over sticky.

Take clumps of dough and place them on top of the blackberries. Lightly flatten dough with your fingertips. Sprinkle with 3 to 4 tablespoons of almond and bake until golden for 30 minutes. Berry juice will be slightly thin, but don’t be afraid. It will gradually soak into the biscuit-like topping and make your life complete.

Serve with vanilla ice cream and hot tea.

Size of Rutabaga

Here we are starting our third trimester. The pregnancy  is going well and honestly it's the most incredible feeling in the world. Baby is constantly kicking and letting me know he's there, like he can't wait to get out. I'm enjoying the feeling of impending motherhood which sometimes scares me, but gives the most wonderful butterflies. 

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain: 11 pounds

Maternity clothes? jeans and two dresses

Size of the baby: 17 oz (size of Rutabaga)

Morning sickness? Nope, none.

Sleep? It's a hit and miss. If I'm really tired, I sleep like a baby. Then there are nights when I can't seem to fall asleep at all. I keep waking up and wide awake, with growling stomach. So I get up and go get some food/snack.  

Best moment this week? Seeing my stomach move when the baby kicked. He's so strong and I can't wait to kiss those little toes of his. 

Miss Anything? Being able to fit into my non-maternity clothes. Everything seems to bunch up and never sit right anymore. 

Movement? He kicks very hard

Food cravings? Scallops 

Anything making you queasy? Not really

Symptoms? Hormones are going crazy. There are just too many emotions going through 

Wedding rings on or off? always on

Happy or Moody most of the time? It's up and down all the time. I feel good about myself and then out of nowhere, there is this cranky mood comes out of nowhere.

Looking forward to? Getting the nursery all set up and preparing for his arrival. I can't wait to meet our little boy

Is It Over Yet?

jeans: Liz Lange for Target Maternity, shirt: thrifted, t-shirt: Loft,
 blazer: Banana Republic, bag: Old Navy, shoes: BCBG

So let's talk comfy again. I can't get outta these jeans and that's all I'm going to say for myself. 

Today is technically the end of my week because I don't work on Fridays. But it's also the beginning of much packing as we move into our new home. Being pregnant, having a job and moving into a new house is a lot. 

Add to that holiday season and getting ready for a baby means I'm going to be buried in everything from boxes to Christmas tree ornaments. 

One box a day. One day a time.

Starting tomorrow that is. Why start something today, if can be put off until tomorrow? 

I say, no reason.

Enjoy your weekend!