Thrift Shop Finds!

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Last weekend Keith was out and about when he found a newly opened thrift shop. Of course he had to stop and investigate. What he found was a gem of a place with lots of treasure inside at reasonable prices. We were in need of new bedroom furniture for the twins. I even reminded him before he left that if he found a decent dresser for a reasonable amount to buy it. Well folks he found a great deal!  He came home with a nice dresser and chest of drawers made out of real wood for a whopping $15 each!  Someone had been working on these pieces as projects because one was already stripped down to the bare wood but the other one still has the ugly yellow stain on it. My plan is to finish stripping the remaining one and painting them to match the kids decor.  These are the before pictures and I will post how it looks after we are finished with it. 

Dresser already stripped.

Chest of drawers that still need stripping. 

Cheesy Pasta, Veggies & Beef!

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I am really into simple recipes here at home. With three kids ages 3 and 15 months old I am always busy and I try to make cooking as simple as possible. This recipe is from "Betty Crocker Easy Weeknight Meals" September 2002 edition.  It is an all in one meal and very simple to make. It turned out pretty good. I did tweak the recipe a bit and the next time I make it I think I will do it differently.  Here is the recipe and the meal of the evening. 

1 lb. ground beef
1 bag (1lb) frozen pasta, broccoli, corn & carrots in seasoned sauce
1 can (10oz) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup water
Macaroni & cheese flavored cheese topping or cheese-flavored tiny fish shaped crackers (if desired)

Cook beef in 10 in. skillet until brown, drain.

Stir pasta mixture, soup and water into beef. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover & simmer 5 to 7 minutes stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with cheese topping. Makes 4 servings. 

Now I tweaked this recipe a bit. I used 2 bags of the pasta/veggie mix and I added extra carrots (canned/drained) as well as 4 oz of cream cheese. This gave us more veggies and the sauce was creamier with the added cream cheese. 

The recipe turned out good but the next time, I think I will create my own garlic sauce and use individual packages of frozen veggies as well as cook my own noodles for it. 

Manic Monday Mania!!!

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It is that most dreaded day of the week! Monday again folks. We are coming off of a good weekend! My 22 year old son got married on Saturday to my beautiful new daughter! You can see their picture here.  It was a beautiful ceremony and they make such a great couple. 

Sunday my friend Kim come by to get her bed and dresser that she  had stored in my spare bedroom. I was so happy about this. I have plans for the spare bedroom and for my attic room. I started cleaning out the attic room and trying to organize the storage closet up there. Of course we had to watch the Superbowl! Congrats to the Ravens! I think the best commercial during the Superbowl was the Taco Bell commercial featuring all of the older people. It was quite hilarious! 

Now, on to the music video of the day.  Keith works the night shift at his job and that leaves me and the kids here all by ourselves during the evening. The kids and I are actually on the same schedule. We stay up very late and sleep most of the morning away.  I always tell family and friends that we are on the Nightshift and that we don't wake up until at least noon and that I will have my phone set to silent until we wake up.  To get to the song of the day on Manic Monday Mania! I thought that the song  "The Night Shift" by the Commodores was perfect for today. (After all we are starting the night shift again tonight!) 

The Commodores wrote the song "Night Shift" in 1985 as a tribute to Jackie Wilson & Marvin Gaye. Wilson & Gaye were two famous R&B singers who died the previous year in 1984. It was their first and biggest hit obtained after Lionel Richie left the group.  Here is a link to the video and the words will follow! Enjoy your own kind of "Manic Monday Mania" !

Nightshift - The Commodores
Marvin, he was a friend of mine
And he could sing a song, his heart in every line
Marvin, sang of the joy and pain
He opened up our minds, and I still can hear him say
Aw talk to me so you can see what's going on
Say you will sing your songs forevermore (evermore)
CHORUS:
Gonna be some sweet sounds coming down on the nightshift
I bet you're singing proud, oh I bet you'll pull a crowd
Gonna be a long night, it's gonna be all right on the nightshift
Oh you found another home, I know you're not alone on the nightshift
Jackie (Jackie), hey whatcha doing now
It seems like yesterday when we were working out
Jackie (Jackie, oh) you set the world on fire
You came and gifted us, your love it lifted us higher and higher
Keep it up and we'll be there at your side
Oh say you will sing your songs forevermore (evermore)
CHORUS
Gonna miss your sweet voice that soulful voice on the nightshift
We all remember you, oh the songs are coming through
At the end of a long day it's gonna be okay on the nightshift
You found another home, I know you're not alone on the nightshift

Welcoming my New Daughter to the Family!

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This weekend has been a weekend of Celebration for my family.   I am pleased to Welcome my new daughter Josey Rowles to our family. On Saturday, my son David married his Texas Sweetheart!  They make a beautiful couple.  I am so happy for them. Please say a Prayer of Long Love, Happiness & Health for this beautiful couple. I am so happy that I have another woman in the family to help balance out all of the testestrone! 

Beautiful Couple!

Engagement Picture