Creative Friday--2 for the Price of One

For our September 20th activity we originally planned to go to Sundance to ride the ski lift and see the Fall colors, but after going on outings for 3 weeks in a row we had a hankering to stay in.

I picked up some Cafe Rio and drinks and we had a long, leisurely lunch and life catch-up; it takes us about 40 minutes to eat all of that.

We both wrote several notes...I'm loving these colorful cards Michelle gave me for my birthday.

Eva came home from school and was instantly bored (how can this be?!).

That girl has some serious attitude.

Michelle made my new favorite treat, Paula Deen's Butter Bars.

Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients 

Cake:
1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 16-ounce box powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.  Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter and beat together. 
Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

These are sinfully delicious, easy to make (I've made them twice) and make your house smell like heaven!

For our September 26th gathering we went to DP Cheesesteaks for lunch, then to TJ Maxx and Hobby Lobby.

Michelle embraced the peppers!

 It is so unusual for me to be shopping for fabric that Michelle insisted on taking this picture. I was rather embarrassed to be doing so, but have now decided that I should always carry large bolts of fabric in front of me so I can hide my gut and chins!

I wanted to make some fabric coasters like the ones Michelle gave me a couple years ago. It makes perfect sense that coasters would be fabric. I thought these would make for a fun, little gift for my co-workers who are always battling condensation from their beverages.

There were so many cute fabric choices, but ultimately I went with basic black and white.

These are the fun items I bought at TJ Maxx. I'm always looking for cute gifts for my Secret Pal and I always find good things there. Of course I find stuff for me too.

I put Washi Tape on my keys (as seen on Pinterest) and am delighted with the result even though it's not as cute as the one I saw online.

Michelle printed some faux library cards for me to use for bookmarks (also for my co-workers)...the girl has skills.

I wrote a couple notes and put together a little good mail package.

I snapped this while Michelle was lost in thought while on the phone.

Creative Friday--Hooray It's Summer Edition

Michelle, Lucas and Eva came to our house today for the first Creative Friday (on a Wednesday) of summer because their air conditioner at home went out and it's way too hot for us to be creative there. Fortunately we were comfortable at my house with the windows open and one fan going, I love it when it's not super hot outside yet!

Michelle brought Kneaders for our lunch and was kind enough to stop at McDonald's for our beverages since they have the best mix.

Landon, Whitney and I thoroughly cleaned the garage yesterday so it would be in working order today for the girls. I hired Whitney to play with Eva today (for $6.50) but I think she ended up having a good time.

We enjoyed some Christmas-colored Cadbury eggs today (I hoard these).

The boys walked to the elementary school to play basketball and then down to the Sno Shack to get snow cones (hence Lucas' Tiger's Blood colored teeth), then they "willingly" posed for this photo.

Michelle is making a rather ambitious quilt for Eva's bedroom redo and spent the entire day cutting pieces for it.

She also did some texting with her air conditioner repair man who gave her an estimate of over $3000 to replace her whole system...it may end up being a very sweaty summer at the Olivier's!

I started slowly (mainly because we had so much talking to do) but eventually found my groove and wrote 8 cards.

Michelle's stack of quilt fabrics made for a pleasing picture, but as I looked at it I felt the opposite of envy because I don't want to have anything to do with a project like that...I have no patience for it!

I found my stack of stationery pleasing though.

This is how curly Whitney's hair gets after being in the water. She fights it so hard, but I'm trying to help her embrace the curl. Michelle knows all the ins and outs of having curly hair so she gave Whitney some tips about her curls.

Landon and Lucas sidewalk chalk message to any drivers who may be looking at our driveway.

A parting shot.

Creative Friday--Spring Break Edition

My mom was kind enough to take Whitney out for the day, they went shopping, to lunch and to the movies.

Rather than me bringing lunch this time, Michelle and I went to La Dolce Vida for a super tasty Italian lunch. I have been craving it all week as I've been reading The Shoemaker's Wife.

My mom was so grateful for the hour and 22 minute phone call of computer help that I gave her the day before that she made caramel popcorn for us.

The screen shot I took upon hanging up with my mom after our tech-help phone call.

 I couldn't find my address list but then found 2 old ones from many Creative Friday's gone by.

Eva had a melt down because of the strange, flying beatle type bug flying too near her while she tried to do sidewalk chalk...it took awhile to bounce back but fortunately some neighbor kids invited her to play and all was well.

 I bought these super cute cards at T.J. Maxx while out with Lori last week. She doesn't understand my stationery addiction, Michelle understands it though (hooray) and had stationery envy.

Michelle wrote birthday thank yous on these cute, flocked cards from the dollar spot at Michael's.

She also used some of her adorable cards from Stefanie with Stationery With Style, I had some envy going on this time.

This self-portrait of Eva was hanging on the fridge and delighted me all day, I think it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

Lucas and Landon walked to Harmon's and bought 3 packages of Peeps for .85 cents each.

Our creative "mess".

I wrote 8 cards and put a small good mail package together.

As I was packing up my stuff Eva returned and needed some mothering, Michelle is always happy to oblige.

Creative Friday--Barely Squeaked It In Edition

We barely squeaked in a Creative Friday--Christmas Edition on January 2nd because Michelle's parents had been in town for the rest of the break.

We started out with Cafe Rio Pork Tostadas (pinto beans, flour tortilla, house dressing) and drinks (Coke for me and Coke Zero with Lime for her).

Lucas and Landon were very kind to let Eva play with them for quite awhile (Whitney had gone out with my mom that day).

Eva painted this picture of her stuffed animal Cinder and the new one Whitney gave her for Christmas (Tundra). Not too shabby.

Michelle gave me a cute new scarf, Anne of Green Gables dvd (I've never seen it!) and a book I wanted (plus a J magnet she forgot to give me a long time ago).

I gave Michelle 2 shirts and a skirt.

Landon gave Lucas $20 and Lucas gave Landon an itunes gift card...both were delighted.

After writing several thank-you notes I spent the rest of the day working on photo-cube ornaments. These are our family's favorite ornaments, but I'm 3 years behind on them so I started with 2012 and will have to work my way back.

There's painting, the punching and the Mod Podging of the photos, the drying and then a top coat of Mod Podge involved so though it isn't difficult it's kind of time consuming.

Some almost-finished blocks.

 

Michelle was a thank-you note writing machine and got a ton done.