Peanut butter pepper berry bar

"Sally: I'd like the chef salad, please, with the oil and vinegar on the side. And the apple pie a la mode. But I'd like the pie heated, and I don't want the ice cream on top, I want it on the side. And I'd like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream, but only if it's real. If it's out of a can, then nothing.
Waitress: Not even the pie?
Sally: No, then the pie, but not heated." When Harry Met Sally

My family always jokes that I'm the world's longest food orderer. I can never just order an item off the menu. I always have to remove this, add that, and swap something else.

I like to think it's because I know what I want in life, and I'm not afraid to ask. However, others might just call it pickiness.

Either way, I've recently found two Web sites that cater to people like me. The first is Chocomize, a site where you can design your own candy bars.

You choose from a base of dark, milk or white chocolate. Then you can pick from 100 ingredients - ranging from peanut butter chips to potato chips to chipotle peppers (no joke). They have almost everything you can think of.
The second site is My Mixed Nuts. It's the same concept as the candy bars, except with trail mix instead. If you're like me (picky and habitual) it's likely that your candy bar and trail mix might end up looking surprisingly similar...

Both of these sites make me think my idea for a create your own ice cream flavor site might be taken if I don't act quickly.

Coincidentally, the two ice cream flavors I've been dying to create are Ants on a Log and Trail Mix. Maybe I could join forces with My Mixed Nuts?

roughing it

When we were younger my dad had a pop-up camping trailer. It lived in our backyard for a number of years, until my mom decided it wasn't a very classy look (whaa?). Now one of his friends has it and, although we're technically still the proud owners, I think it may have rusted shut.

When we were little, though, sometimes we were allowed to camp in the backyard without parents. One time we got to camp with our cousins and the next morning my dad made the best blueberry pancakes. I still think all camping trips should end with a morning of blueberry pancakes.

Sweet dreams in the pop-up, combined with wonderful adventures of tent camping in my neighbor's backyard (where her mom would lay down featherbeds and haul out a TV - more like glamping), have left me with a soft spot for camping. There's something to be said for a cool summer night, a bonfire, a cocktail (or s'more, depending on the crowd), and a tent.

The weather we've been having lately has me itching to enjoy the outdoors. Although it's not really roughing it, ever since last summer I've been dying to try the Watershed Cabins in North Carolina. I've discussed the possibility of a long weekend there with so many people, but as I approach the summer, I decided it's time to make it happen. It's affordable and looks pretty fabulous. Won't you join me? I'll make you blueberry pancakes in the morning.

a little envy

Sometimes I feel a bit ridiculous because I find myself wishing I could have some of Lily's outfits.

And I've never felt it appropriate to admit that I envy her Crew Cut clad closet until recently. I read that Carol Burnett loved a dress from her youth so much that she had a designer recreate it when she was older.

No, I don't wish I still had the tie dye watermelon sundress (or the crimped hair) from my first grade school picture, but I wouldn't mind owning the navy sailor dress with oversized white buttons.

The most recent Crew Cuts campaign has me itching for some of those outfits. A few of my favorites...

Tie dye and ice cream

I was a horrific softball player when I was little. Between tee ball and softball, I think I gave it three or four good years. Also between the two, I think I hit zero balls. It is not my forte.

This week when I was babysitting, I had the pleasure of going to a first grade softball game.

After a few minutes it became very apparent that almost nothing has changed. The girls still bop around in the outfield, more focused on the cheers (which are the same ones we chanted) than the game, while the father coaches still take it pretty seriously. Everyone still gets a chance to bat and within a few minutes it is clear who will excel (AKA they hit it) and who will most likely follow in my footsteps and choose sports like running and swimming.

However, what has certainly changed are the uniforms. The teams all have different colors of tie dyed shirts with a peace sign, a heart, and a baseball on the front. They also having matching neon socks, which are covered in peace signs. Is the Lions Club producing little hippies? Or are they just in on the tie dye trend this season? And are kids getting cooler at a younger age?
After the game, I continued my time warp when I took Allie and Emma to Dairy Queen. Again, after neglecting DQ for quite a few years, I was shocked at how little has changed: the same red tile, the same visors, the same ability to mess up my order (vanilla with sprinkles...). I also quickly realized that no matter how old I get, nothing says summer bliss like ice cream. And that makes me very happy.