Michelle was already at my house (she has a key) and in progress when I got home from helping at the school (I was about 20 minutes later than I'd expected to be home). I had taken my ipod with me to the school (I love to listen to podcasts while I change the home-reading books) so I just needed to put it back on the iHome and select a glorious playlist for our mood music, then we were all set.
Michelle brought these super tasty leaf-shaped sugar cookies for the November installment of the dessert-of-the-month gift she gave me for my birthday. These are a weakness of mine (regrettably I have many) so they ended up being my lunch appetizer.
Since I was hosting Creative Friday, it was my turn to make some effort for lunch and serve Michelle for a change. I pulled out my cutest dishes and served up some beef stew and freshly baked rolls. It was nice to be able to let her stay sitting and working on her projects while I served things up. (Did I mention we were kid free?)
Michelle worked on more gratitude journals for her Young Women. At one point she expressed her giddiness over being able to use scraps of paper for these books. I totally understand that giddiness.
This was the scene at the end of our blissfully peaceful, totally grown-up, super productive, well-fed, kid free day! (This is really the only kind of mess that I'm okay with.)
Our self-portrait photo shoot was funny and I kept snapping pictures in-between the posed ones and ended up with this one. I like it.
There she goes!
I usually drive by the post office on the way home from Creative Friday, so after the kids got home from school I ran over to the mailboxes by my post office. I love having a pile of stuff to mail! This time I sent 8 cards and 3 little packages!
Other highlights from the day...
Being kid free (though I'm very fond of Eva)
My new paper trimmer
My iTunes Genius playlist of 50 songs
Tasty sugar cookies
Being kid free
No phone calls
Being productive
Good conversation
Wearing cloud socks to achieve the right body temperature
A bag of Sonic ice brought by Michelle
Knowing I didn't have a busy Saturday ahead of me
**Did you mail anything this week?
Do you have cute dishes?
Do you love being kid-free?
Are sugar cookies a weakness of yours?**
Do you have cute dishes?
Do you love being kid-free?
Are sugar cookies a weakness of yours?**
22 comments:
Kid-free creativity is priceless--and so productive I'm sure.
I've been thinking of seeking out a better paper cutter. What do you think of the Purple Cow (MOO!) machine so far?
Stew sounds yummy--if we'd get some lingering cooler weather. Sugar cookies are DANGEROUS--but only those that stay soft.
My Fiesta dishes make me happy. Even when I'm loading/unloading the dishwasher. Usually.
Holly, yesterday was my first time using the Purple Cow cutting system but I loved it! The guillotine arm cut my cardstock straight! I have tried many, many, many paper trimmers and they're always just a smidge off, so I was thrilled with this!
It was a delightful day all around, made even better by the absence of a single phone call! No distractions whatsoever, what are the odds?
Sugar cookies are a definite weakness for me, I don't do well at all when I have them around.
so much goodness, I don't know what to comment about...but I know I am going to steal the dessert a month gift idea that is way cool!
I long for cute dishes. Someday!
Oh, your blog-genius strikes AGAIN! I'm sorry to have to say this, but I'm totally going to swipe the idea of "other highlights" at the end of a post. I hope you're ok w/ that. I'll give you credit.
Also! I'd forgotten about "Dessert of the Month." I remember thinking I SO need to copy THAT idea, too, when you first posted about it. What a fabulous idea for a gift. So personal. So from-the-heart.
So cost effective. Heh!
i enjoyed a kid free day last weekend. it was just what i needed.
i love the image of coming home to a good friend already being creative at the kitchen table!
I mailed 4 packages this week and felt very accomplished.
I LOVE Michelle's dessert of the month gift idea - what could be better?!
How nice of Hannah to allow you all to be kid-free. I bet it was fun to craft at your house and that stew looks yum!!
How fun, kid free and crafty productivity. Sounds like heaven. How do you find time to mail all your good mail out. I have the ideas and desire, and it never quite makes it. Does the thought still count? :-)
Sugar cookies are a big weakness. Love them!
Ha! I love how many times you wrote "being kid free"! That does make a WORLD of difference...completely changes the tone of hte day! Good for you guys!
I am so impressed with the lunches you guys serve! They are better than my BEST dinners! How sad for my family.
Congrats on your kid free day! That was so nice of Hannah to offer to watch Eva. I am sure it was a fun day for Eva too.
I mailed a couple of birthday cards this week.
No, my dishes are just white, but it pleases me that I have many different sizes and shapes. Sugar cookies aren't really a weakness of mine, unless they're exceptional. I am sure Michelle's are.
kid-free. bliss. :) and yes, i'm a sucker for cookies, period. that would have been my lunch. however, i likely would have eaten your stew and rolls, too!!! wow how much do i want those in my kitchen right now! :)
i have some dishes that i like, but aren't cute. in fact, i'm missing one as k tossed it into a wall one day. sometime, when i'm a grownup, i'll buy new dishes. :)
So now you need to help me convince Michelle that this can be a weekly thing! Being kid free has a certain kind of bliss to it that can't be matched and I am more than happy to have Eva over.
I was lucky enough to get some of those sugar cookies as well- she has a way. It isn't just any sugar cookie that can have me re-thinking my whole stance on them.
Your lunch looks fantastic!
I relate to so many of the highlights on your list. Kid free is awesome--even when my youngest is ten. I sometimes feel guilty that I feel this way.
No phone calls--what the? That's just plain ShamTastic! (made up word of exclamation--see Emily's blog).
Those rolls are making me hungry, as are the sugar cookies.
I need to get that cutter! I am eternally frustrated by the lack of precision in my cutters.
What a delightful kid free creative day. Truly what a gift. Hannah's awesome.
I love guillotine trimmers and have found, after taking that class from amy and using hers, they are the way to go. Congrats on the purchase and your straight straight lines.
The photos of michelle driving off is cracking me up.
I need a new paper trimmer - I am going to have to check out the Purple Cow - the name alone is intriguing.
What are some of your favorit pod casts?
Hey Quelly, my favorite podcast is This American Life from NPR, but I also like RadioWest and NPR Shorts (short stories).
I love to read your blog and learn more about you. I continually find myself shaking my head saying," Me too".
I stopped waiting for Christmas to make and receive my mom's sugar cookies. I love them. I just need to find a way to get them here in one piece. :) They sound really good....does Michelle share her recipes?
littlefoxfactory@embarqmail.com
has the cutest cookie cutter at a VERY low price. They ship quick and the lady who owns it is so sweet.
I got an amazing care package from my mom but I didn't mail anything.
I'm a plain white dish girl.
As for the Purple Cow, I also have perfect cut problems...thanks for the info.
sugar cookies are soooo my weakness. especially soft fresh ones with frosting. oh man, i think i'm making a batch today!
i'm so glad you had such a productive day! how great of hannah to keep eva for you guys. every mom needs a day off once and a while.
I did mail things this week. What a fun day! As always, I am jealous!
I am sooooo far behind in the mail department!
I love kid-free time...it usually makes me giddy about seeing the kids again.
I LOVE good sugar cookies...now my mouth is watering...maybe I'll make some :) Of course, then I would EAT THEM ALL! :)
Why don't I know about the new cutter!? I need details. Can it have its own post... or its own phone call?
I mailed thank you cards last week.
I do not have cute dishes... I have practical dishes. Wah.
So nice of Hannah to offer to watch Eva for the day.
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