Good Things And Good Things To Come

So, first off, I must tell you about this new ice cream flavor we inadvertently stumbled upon a few months ago, when we inadvertently stumbled upon this show on the Food Network with the basic premise being that thousands of normal people were afforded the opportunity to pitch a new and tasty ice cream flavor to Haagen-Dazs (which, wow, is not how I thought it was spelled), and then that great, big field was narrowed down to three finalists and after a trial distribution in Haagen-Dazs stores all over the country and, also, a rather cut-throat judging from ice cream experts, one lucky winner was crowned, and she received gifts and also the top honor of having her chosen flavor sold in grocery stores. Now, the winning flavor was Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is something I have to honestly admit I had never heard of until watching this show—but after watching the show, I learned it's a British dessert that looks rather delicious. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find this flavor in any of the grocery stores I've been in since watching the show in February. But, get this, Mike really wanted Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle—one of the runner-up flavors—to win, and, well, it didn't, but guess what flavor we have seen in a handful of grocery stores? Go on, guess! That's right! Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle! This afternoon Mike brought some home, and although it didn't sound good—to me—when we originally watched the challenge, it is easily one of the most addicting and delightful (light! creamy! refreshing!) flavors of ice cream I've ever had. It's really giving Rocky Road a run for its money. So, all that build up was to say, get yourself to a local store and pick some up, as "limited edition" is splashed all over the container and that's a bit stressful, isn't it? How limited? Are we talking a few months? Through this coming Saturday? I really would like to know, as would my thighs. Also, let's all send out warm, fuzzy thoughts to the winner who was apparently straight LIED TO when she was told her flavor—and her flavor alone—would be available at all grocery stores.

Next up, I tried to buy a laptop today. We actively tried to give our money  to various stores (a large amount of money, mind you; this wasn't one of those pretend laptops for children to peck on) and the stores did not make it easy on us. Unfortunately, I am typing this post on Mike's boring old desktop, and the earliest I'll have my shiny, pretty laptop is tomorrow evening. Mike got a new computer mouse and a USB port thing, and I was subjected to a trip to Fry's with nothing more to show for it than a Cooking Light magazine. (Aside: Fry's has one of the best magazine selections I've ever seen—which I find kind of strange, don't you?) We have a date with Best Buy tomorrow night, so will you go ahead and cross your fingers for me, please? I really don't want to order the thing online for no other reason than I WANT IT NOW, GIMME!

I did get a really pretty dress at Target today, which softened the laptop blow (as did the Haagen-Dazs) but after scouring target.com, I can't find an image to share with you. Trust me when I say it's adorable in a mustard-yellow color, which I'm rather into these days. I don't particularly know why, but it's so much better than other shades of yellow, and it's apparently "in" as I've seen it at J. Crew AND Anthropologie (and, obviously, Target) and those stores rarely lie to me. When I wear the thing—hopefully to a baby shower I am hosting in a few weeks—I'll snap a picture because target.com failed me today, and it's not often I can say that.

Speaking of dresses, I am lusting after this one from GAP, and I even clicked it over into my shopping bag this morning and gap.com had my information saved and everything (which I've since cleared, identity thieves), making it so easy to click "purchase," but I didn't. (Note: In "Military Blue"—I tried to love the "Vineyard" color as it's a measly $19.99, but I just don't.) I resisted because the laptop purchase is a big one, and it doesn't leave us much money left over for gap.com shipping costs. I do plan to stop into a local GAP on a lunch hour this week, and if it's there and it's marked down as much as online, well, it's mine. I'll wear it while typing on my new laptop while spooning bites of Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle into my mouth (don't tell Mike though—he says no food around the new laptop) and life will be just perfect.

And I'll do all of that while watching the SIXTH season of One Tree Hill, which was confirmed recently. Me and a slew of 13-year-olds really couldn't be happier.

Comments

[Rachel]

Maybe you could buy me the vineyard colored dress...I quite like it. : ) But you would totlly rock the blue one. I want a laptop too! I keep using Mike's and he has that stupid "no food" rule too, which I ingore when he is not around. I was doing a good job until he found crumbs by the space bar...

[slynnro]

I got the dress for $13.99 in store. It is mega comfortable.

[ali]

i love one tree hill.
*the shame*

[Maryann]

I remember that one of the moments that I realized I loved my husband was at a Fry's on a Friday night. He was all googly-eyed over some microchipthingamabob and I was bored to tears. I realized that I was willing to spend a Friday night in a computer store, I must love him.

Although, we also bought a remote control car with which to torture our dogs and it was worth every penny! I almost wet myself laughing. We're horrible parents.

But yes, I noticed that both the magazine section AND the candy section are really good at that store. It kind of compensates for the cow print everywhere.

[Alison]

That sticky toffee pudding ice cream is divine. It's totally worth searching for.

[Raven]

Your blog doesn't not tell me it's new on my google reader until the next day or later. Bah! Sorry for the late comments, I used to read everyone's blogs by clicking directly and in fact, wouldn't have seen this one today had I not done that.

Anyway, I will try that ice cream. I also want the yellow shoes but they are not in stores yet and I can't order shoes without trying them on first (monkey toes).

[Rachel]

I remember the show where they made the ice cream and voted on Sticky Toffee Pudding. I haven't tried it yet. I love One Tree Hill too. You won't be the only non-13 year old girl watching!

[Sarah in LA]

I saw a new Ben and Jerry's flavor

CREME BRULEE

OMG I almost died it tastes so freakin good.

[Elizabeth]

Hey, I am hosting a baby shower in two weeks myself - we should compare notes. Horrifyingly, I have everything planned out and ready to go except my outfit, so I might be in Target this weekend looking for that dress and maybe those shoes in your side bar. Those are really cute!

[Mom]

Love the new banner -- what a great picture of you.

[Dianna]

Good luck! I hope your next post will be happily keyed in using a shiny (not crumb covered!) new laptop!

[stephanie]

the last line of this post made me laugh out loud.
and the sticky toffee pudding? well, i'm cleaning up the little drool puddle as we speak.

[Erin]

Is the Target dress yellow and white with an empirey type tye in the back? I'm in love with that one, and um...the yellow mary janes they have? I think it's meant to be! I love their dresses - so comfy and so fab to cover your whole body for $24.99!!!

[Mary]

My husband and I saw that show last summer and immediately went in search for it. A local brewery has the actual dessert and it makes me oh so happy. It took a few trys but we finally found the Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream and let me tell you, it's oh so happy good! But I definitely would want to try the Sesame Coconut too!

[Sarah]

Grrr I just bought the purple dress. Thanks for showing it to me! haha. Oh and does the mustard color dress have flowers around the neck? I saw it there the other day but it didn't look so dandy on me.
I feel your frustration with the computer-when I want something I WANT IT YESTERDAY! Don't even make me wait.

[KBeach]

Soooo... you must try this sticky toffee pudding ice cream. Trust me, it is heaven in a pint. You can go to the Haagen-dazs website and actually look up where they sell certain flavors in your city so check that out.