Happy National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 2nd is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. Who knew? Well I came across this little fact the other day while browsing the internet. And at the same time I found a recipe for these lemon ice cream sandwiches with a blueberry swirl. Lemon (you know me)? Ice cream? Blueberries? What's not to love? So, I bought what it called for and went to work!

Ingredients

For lemon ice cream:
2 pint premium vanilla ice cream
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (I actually used a little more than this just b/c I don't think anything can have too much lemon in it)
For blueberry compote:
2 cups blueberries (10 ounces)
1/4 cup sugar
2 (3-by 2 1/2-inch) strips lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch
For sandwich layers:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Make lemon ice cream: Transfer ice cream to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30 percent power in 10-second intervals, stirring, until softened, about 50 seconds total (see cooks’ note, below). If you don’t have a microwave, ice cream can be softened at room temperature.
2. Stir in lemon zest and juice. Spread ice cream thinly in a 13-by 9-inch baking dish and freeze while making compote and sandwich layers.

1. Make blueberry compote: Cook blueberries, sugar, and zest in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly crushing blueberries with a potato masher, until juices are released and sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
2. Stir together lemon juice and cornstarch, then stir into blueberry mixture. Boil, stirring, 1 minute (mixture will thicken).
3. Transfer blueberry compote to a bowl and chill until cold, about 1 hour. Discard lemon zest.

1. Make sandwich layers while compote chills: Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Butter baking pans and line with foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang on each side, then butter foil.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat together butter and brown sugar in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. At low speed, add flour mixture in 2 batches, mixing until just combined.
3. Divide batter between baking pans and spread into thin, even layers with offset spatula. Bake until golden-brown but still tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely in pans, about 30 minutes.

1. Assemble sandwiches: Dollop tablespoons of blueberry compote all over ice cream, then swirl it gently through ice cream with a spoon. Spoon all of ice cream over 1 sandwich layer (in pan) and spread evenly using clean offset spatula.

1. Invert second sandwich layer over ice cream, pressing gently to form an even sandwich. Wrap baking pan in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.
2. Transfer sandwich to a cutting board using overhang. Trim edges if desired, then cut.

Make ahead Ice cream sandwich (before cutting) can be made 1 week ahead and frozen in pan, wrapped in plastic wrap and then in foil.

It was a lot of steps and took a good amount of time, but the final product was totally worth it. The only problem I came across was I didn't have enough of the cookie batter for both sides so I ended up having to double what it called for. It turned out to be perfect that way.

If you don't feel like making your own, at least go out and buy yourself an ice cream sandwich tomorrow! Everyone deserves a reason to celebrate THAT holiday :)

xoxo

They say I look like him.

This is my favorite picture of him ever.

It's been three years ago today. Three years?! How is that even possible?

It was unexpected. It was too soon. It was heartbreaking. I miss him more than anything.

He always smelled so good. And he gave the best hugs you've ever received. I miss that smell and I miss those hugs even more.

When he died, we discovered that right out of high school he had signed a contract with Louisville Slugger. They manufactured his own personalized bats for the games (he was in the minor leagues). But he didn't own a single one anymore. My uncle contacted Louisville Slugger and they still had his name plate for the branding. As a result, we now all own one of his baseball bats. Mine is in a display case that hangs on the wall at the foot of my bed. I see it every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed. I love that thing.

And he never gave up on ball. Even as he got older, he coached girl's softball. He loved the game. He loved coaching.

God, I miss him.

Everything is bigger in Texas, right?

3rd grade.

That’s the first distinct memory I have of Will. Although, we went to the same school from the time we started kindergarten to the time we graduated high school. But it was in 3rd grade that our class put on a play, “Rockin’ Through Time.” It was a big deal. There were auditions for parts. Parts of our schooldays were set aside for rehearsals. There were costume fittings. Makeup and hair testing. Dress rehearsals. And when the opening day of the show started to approach, we began making our way to the high school every afternoon to rehearse on stage in the auditorium where our performances would be held. Our little 3rd grade selves thought we were the shit, mingling amongst the high school kids, sipping wine and munching on cheese backstage. Ok, that last part isn’t true. More like Juicy Juice and Goldfish, but who’s keeping tabs? And the only mingling we did with them was the one morning performance we put on for the high school in its entirety. Mortifying.

Hey, look! We were eventually those high schoolers. And then we graduated. This is from our 5-year class reunion.

The show was based on two kids stumbling upon a jukebox in their attic, plugging it in, and being thrust into the different decades through the music. We started with the 50s and ended with the 80s with a big compilation of The Contours’ “Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance).” And that’s where Will comes in. All I see is him doing the “Mashed Potato” and “The Twist” to his little 3rd grader hearts content. The video is rather hilarious. It’s hysterical. I wonder where it is.

My 1920s themed 23rd Birthday. So much fun!

24th Birthday. Typical faces.

Elementary school passed. Junior high passed. We had a few classes together here and there. But it was high school when we really became friends. And really, it was more like junior year where we were all inseparable. The five of us; me, Cassie, Alison, Kyle and Will. All together all the time. Before school, during school, after school, at practice, football games, competitions, weekends, we were always doing something together. And that time we went to dinner, the five of us plus Clint and the waiter thought we were on a triple date. Awkward.

Senior Year.

We graduated high school and went on a senior trip to Disney World for a week. It was grand. College came around; Will went to Emory, Kyle to UGA, Alison to GA State, and Cassie and I were at West Georgia, but we managed to stay close. Visits to them and visits home, holidays, and summers we always managed to get together to do something. Picking up right where we left off. And of course I’m sure you recall our celebration of Thomas Jefferson’s birthday every year?

TJBDAY 2009

TJBDAY 2010

At some point during our freshman year, Will auditioned to be the drum major for Phantom Regiment. Of course he got it because he’s brilliant, but that only meant he’d be gone all summer on tour. The minute we found out it was official, we were ordering tickets and booking flights and hotels to Boston for DCI Championships.

Leaving for Regiment

Pasadena.

When the week of finals finally approached, we were so excited. And this was how our summers went for the next few years. We always had DCI to look forward to right before having to go back to school. The next year we were in Madison, WI. Then it was Pasadena, CA. And his last year was inIndianapolis, IN. That’s the year that Regiment won. And we were there. Their show was nothing short of amazing. And we were there to see them win. We were there to see them drag Will’s limp “dead” body to the sidelines, draping him in his cape and walking away as all the other corps drum majors stood there, at attention. There show was Spartacus. He is killed in the last 30 seconds of the show and he lays on the podium lifeless while the drum major who killed him finishes it out. The most awesome thing I’ve ever seen. And we were there. We were there to see Will, as the drum major of the champion corps, made his way to the middle of the stands, and amongst all the fans directed the top 12 drum corps in the world. It was beautiful. It was chilling. It was amazing to be able to stand there and hold all that pride for a friend we’ve known forever.

Any guess which one's Will?

That was two years ago. We still say goodbye to Will each summer as he now is employed by Regiment. It’s only natural. They are his family.

This summer before he left for Regiment.

But tonight we said goodbye to him in a different way. Wednesday, he moves to Dallas, TX. It’s not like we won’t ever see him again. Please. Dallas is getting an In-N-Out. I’ll be there every other weekend. But it’s still sad to see him go. To know what we won’t be able to just drive into Atlanta to see him. And there are holidays. And weddings. I can't count how many weddings we've been to in the past couple years.

Matt & Rebekah's Wedding

Caroline & Tim's wedding shower.

Robert & Emily's Wedding

And of course I couldn't let him leave without the awkward hug. The awkward hug, awkward dance, awkward hand shake, they're the funniest. Will is the funniest.

And in case you aren't sure exactly why we're so sad he's leaving. Imagine this. All the time. The amount of laughing we do when we're with Will is ridiculous. My cheeks hurt right now from all the laughing tonight. Needless to say, we're going to miss him.

And this.

Almost a week.

Proud Aunt Jamie.

I went up and saw Reese today and she is as cute as ever. She's slowly improving but she has to start eating better if she wants to go home soon! She's been completely removed from the breathing monitors and her IV has been taken out. She was also removed from the bili lights yesterday.

Getting her tan on.

As far as eating goes, she still has her feeding tube in, but they've been attempting to bottle feed her twice a day. Last night she ate a full bottle, which I think is 4 oz. And this morning I don't know if she didn't finish it or didn't take it at all.

When I went in today, my sister was holding her while she was being fed through the tube and on my gosh she looks even smaller when she's in someone's arms. So tiny. And boy is she a mover! Always wiggling. Just like she was in the tummy. She's an active one, that Reese. Once the feeding was over, they swaddled her up and put her back in her bed and seriously, she's never looked smaller.

Have you ever?!

They're saying she'll probably be in the hospital for another week. I can't wait for her to be home. I know Jess and Joe can't either. But mostly, I can't wait until I can finally hold her.

xoxo

Introducing...

Reese Elizabeth Arnoldy

July 13, 2010 at 5:35am

5lbs 5.2 oz, 18.75” long

Shall we start from the beginning?

Monday night, July 12th, shortly after 9pm after I’d just gotten in the bed, we got a phone call from my sister. A phone call we hadn’t been expecting for at least another five weeks. Her water had broken and they were headed to the hospital. I jumped out of bed and bounced around my room not really knowing what to do first. Clothes, hair, makeup, camera, camera isn’t charged, computer, brush teeth, look for charger, what do I wear, shoes, grab a book, computer, where is my charger, time to go.

We ran out the door and headed into Atlanta. In the middle of a storm, naturally. We weren’t shocked at the fact that Reese had decided to come into the world on a stormy night because Jessica, she’s a weather freak, always has been, and is a meteorologist at the Weather Channel. The day her and Joe got married, there was a tropical storm and the wedding was outside. It only makes sense that they’d welcome their first child in the middle of a storm as well. We got to the hospital to a very calm and collected daddy and mommy-to-be. I think it was between 12:30 and 1am when Jessica asked for an epidural. At that point the two sets of grandparents-to-be and I headed out to the waiting room for the duration of the night. Mommy needed to rest up for the big delivery and Joe kept us updated on her condition via text. Between 1am and 4am she became fully dilated and they began the pushing. At 5:35, Reese was born. Mom did and was doing great. But being five weeks early, Reese was having a little difficulty breathing. They described her breathing as a grunt and said they wanted to monitor her. After she didn't improve, they decided to move her to the NICU. It was a long night and an even longer day, but our little girl kept pushing through.

In six hours Reese will be two days old. She's improving with each hour. When I saw her last night there was no longer any grunting, but you could still tell her breathing was labored. She had a pretty good night even though her oxygen dropped a few times. And today she drank a little from a bottle, daddy got to change his first dirty diaper and they were finally able to hold her late tonight.

Tomorrow Jessica will be discharged from the hospital. Reese will have to stay a little longer. It'll be tough leaving her there but they know she's in good hands.

I can't wait to hold her. I can't wait for her to come home. I can't wait to feed her. I can't wait to talk to her. I can't wait to watch her grow and teach her things. I can't wait to see who she'll become.

Baby Reese, you are so loved by so many people already. Get well soon so you can come home, baby girl!

xoxo

The Waiting Game.

What is my current location?

Piedmont Hospital.

Why am I at Piedmont Hospital?

Well, Baby Reese has decided she wants to be a July baby. Yep, she's one month early. Our only guess is that she's already a storm lover like her momma. It fits though as Jessica & Joe were married in the middle of a tropical storm. Were starting to see a pattern here.

At around 10pm last night, as storms were continuously rolling into Atlanta, dad got a phone call from Jessica and she said, "Hey. You ready to meet your granddaughter tonight?" And that was it. We were all running out the door.

About an hour later we arrived to a very calm and collected woman in labor. And also a very calm father-to-be.

It's now 2:30 am. She's been given an epidural and is dilated 5 centimeters. Right now she's resting up for the big delivery. And she needs it. She's been awake since 1 am yesterday.

And the two sets of grandparents and I are waiting.

Next time we talk, I'll be an aunt.

Until then,
xoxo

"The clouds I can handle. But I can't fight with an Eclipse."

Why wasn’t that line in the movie? It’s one of the best lines in the whole series. It should’ve been there. We’re talking about Eclipse, obviously.

It’s been a nearly two weeks. Have you seen it? Silly question I guess. The real question should be how many times have you seen it? My answer? Three.

The first round went down opening day at 10:30 p.m. We bought our tickets early.

See? Cassie bought them & dropped them off at my house. Can you read her note?! Hilarious.

We got there and got in line early. We walked in the theater and got good seats. When the movie started, the theater was empty! Whaaaat? I was shocked! Ok, it was a Wednesday night and it was late and it’s Carrollton, but still, I was a little surprised at how few people were there.

Round 1

Round two took place in Lawrenceville Saturday morning. Yes, morning. We thought it’d be less crowded and it’s cheaper! That’s a win in my book! Cassie and I went with Brittney & Tiffany. Short story, we'd been trying to get Brittney to read the books for ages! All three of us! And she just wouldn't do it. Finally one day we went over to her apartment and said, "We're watching Twilight!" We put it in and watched it and she LOVED it! Next thing you know, she's borrowing the books and we're camping out in mall parking lots for tickets to meet cast members...what?

Round 2

Last Thursday night Cassie and I went for round three. I never go back and see movies more than once. Never. But with Twilight, it's just a given. It's a must. The first time you see it, you're just so excited! Do you really even register what's going on? The second time is when you REALLY see the movie. And after that, it's just fun because you can talk through the entire thing and laugh when it's not appropriate.

Round 3

Highlight, Round 1: Alison hasn’t read the books so watching Eclipse with her was so exciting because she had no idea what to expect! I’m pretty sure she sat with her face in her hands the last twenty minutes. It was hilarious!

Highlight, Round 2: During the J/B kissing scene, you know the one, there was a grown man sitting next to us and I happened to look over and he was covering his eyes? And then a few seconds into the kiss he peeked through his fingers? Your guess is as good as mine, but I got a good chuckle out of it.

Highlight, Round 3: The old man who came to see it. By himself. And laughing and loving the whole thing.

Now for the movie itself, it was the best so far, no? But as I’ve discussed with several people, isn’t that the way it should be? Shouldn’t each installment in a series like this improve? It just makes sense. But with that being said, I’ve liked each one so far for different reasons. I like how each director has brought something new to each film and has been able to elicit different emotions and characteristics out of the characters and the actors. But I’m here to talk about Eclipse, so shall we?

Let’s get the bad out of the way first. What is the deal with the wigs in this saga?? Why can’t they seem to get them right? The Bella wig really wasn’t a huge issue for me. Sure, it wasn’t the best, but it could’ve been immensely worse. And we got the wig because we got JettStew. I’m ok with sacrificing a little bad Bella hair for that any day.

Dear JettStew, you win.

But let’s talk about Jasper. Seriously? If that’s the best they could do, they should’ve just gone back to the Twilight wig. Jackson Rathbone is full of the pretty and that wig, it hides the pretty. Like in the flashback with the hat covering the wig. And that tan. Did you see the heart fail pretty then?? I can't get over that scene. Major fail Summit for sticking Jackson with a bad wig. Another one they can’t get right is Alice. Again, I think the Twilight wig was the best. She looks too old now, no? One person they did manage to get right though? Rosalie! She looked gorgeous throughout the entire movie. Let’s pack that wig away and bring back out for Breaking Dawn, yes? And while we’re on the subject of ugly, how about that ring? What is it even supposed to be? I know it’s how Stephenie Meyer described it in the book, but I’m 99.9% positive that not a single fan would’ve joined the pickets had the ring been changed. Maybe Bella will loose it in the beginning of Breaking Dawn and they’ll have to buy a new one. Everyone cross your fingers. And toes.

Ready for the good now? How about Xavier Samuel? He was wonderful. I can’t get over how good he was as Riley. And so pretty. The way the movie opened with him as a human and being attacked by Victoria was a great way to start the film. And he carried his own throughout. He stole every scene he was in. The scene with the newborns coming out of the water, the look on their faces, and the music, it still gives me chills. So powerful. And how about the leg hitch/proposal scene? Was it everything you ever imagined? And more? I loved it. I floved it. It was near perfect. My one little complaint? Can we zoom out a little more next time so we can see what's going on? Thanks. The fight training and the fight scene itself were incredible as well. When the wolves descend over the rocks? Amazing.

With all the Twilight movies there have been laugh out loud moments. I like that. Without them, the movies would be way too moody. My favorites from Eclipse were THE talk. You know the one with Charlie. Billy Burke is remarkable the way he delivers a line. He's always right now. And the chemistry him and Kristen share on screen has always been exceptional. They just work well together. You believe them as father/daughter. And their banter back and forth about Bella/Edward's sex life was hilarious. They killed it. Another one for me was Jacob carrying Bella through the woods. Seriously. It killed me. Did no one else find it extremely awkward and hilarious?

So those are my completely random all over the place thoughts on Eclipse. Overall, it was great. What did you think?

Until next time,

xoxo

Summer Nights

I've taken to going on evening walks/runs with my cousin, Melissa.

Which means I get to play with the pretty babies:

Emma

Addie

David

The girls love me coming over and it takes them a while to understand I have to leave when it's time to go. Tonight Emma said, "Let's go run again!" I told her I'd be back tomorrow and she said, "Ok, and we'll run again. And then you'll be back again. And again. And again." And if you could hear her voice? She'd melt you.

xoxo