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The playroom - at last

So, we've been doing some moving around lately. Addy really needed a place to be able to play, so we set out to make that place happen. We made our travel/music/yellow/etc. room into her playroom and it now holds Just Because (a great little workspace), the computer, and her area to play. I loved the room before we started moving things around - but I think it's even better now!

Below are some before and after shots of our work. I'm really happy with the way that it turned out - and I think that Addy is too! =)

Before:

After:

NKOTB

So, I guess the rumor is true... The New Kids on the Block are getting back together! I don't know that they can call themselves that anymore, but I guess Old Fogeys on the Block doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Anyway, this is big news to me - I loved the band (yes, I was in 5th grade...), and believe it or not, I still have some of their music... and I even listen to it every once in a while when I get a little nostalgic. Anyway, they have some old music clips up on their website here. It took me back - to my I (heart) Donnie days. Hmm... I guess I'll be digging out their CDs later tonight! =)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since the beginning of the year, signs like the one above have been popping up along one of the main roads that we travel daily. The first signs were about an amazing 25 years together and the couple that were posted this week are Valentine's messages. I think that it's pretty sweet - and just had to take a picture today.

Lost and found

One of my biggest fears is losing pictures that we have taken. There have been a couple times that I have misplaced the small purple extension of my arm - also known as my camera - and those couple times, I've worried about the pictures on it more than the camera itself. After all, if worse comes to worst the camera is replaceable. Luckily, I've found my camera - both times in my car. But if I hadn't, because of this blog, there would be a possibility that I would get my treasured memories back. What a great idea!

Random thoughts...

...in picture form this week.

I love Photostory! This video is a little long, but I had a ton of fun making it for Adam and Addy - what a trip down memory lane. It's just a bunch of pictures (but with a cool soundtrack too!), so if you like that sort of thing, play on! =)

27 Dresses

Addy and I went to see 27 Dresses this week at the Mom and Baby movie (we have to take advantage of these last few weeks to do that!) and unfortunately I don't have much of a review. It was a fun movie. Definitely worth watching at a Girls Night In... but not anything huge beyond that. It's would fall into Adam's "fine but forgettable" category. Catherine Heigel - the main character - has 'always been the bridesmaid'. She has 27 bridesmaid dresses from 27 weddings. This becomes her claim to fame and she struggles with the unwanted attention from that as her sister falls in love with and starts planning a wedding to Heigel's secret crush. It's a bit predictable, but cute and I left with a smile on my face. However next year at this time, I don't think that I'll remember much about it at all. "Oh yeah - that was that movie with Izzie from Grey's Anatomy, right?" =)

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

So Kraft has this pretty cool idea here. Basically Kraft lays out your weekly menu for you - gives you the recipes and the shopping list and all you have to do is buy the needed items and then cook dinner! Oh, and all of the ingredients from the store are supposed to fit in one grocery bag, so it's usually pretty cheap too. We've had mixed reviews with them, but we found one that was really great this week. So, without further ado...

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 Tbsp. PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese
12 oz. spaghetti, uncooked
1/4 cup KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese

COOK onions in dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium-high. Add meat; cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 15 min. Remove from heat. Stir in Neufchatel cheese until well blended.

MEANWHILE, cook pasta as directed on package.

SPOON sauce over pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Ratings (out of five):
Adam ***1/2
Melanie ****