Absence and some Photos

Oh bloggity blog, how I have missed you. The saying goes that absence makes the heart go fonder and in the case of writing here it is 100% true.  I think about starting up writing, and posts, and photos, and things to share daily, and then I don't do it.  

Don't get me wrong, I love soaking up my new son and figuring out how to manage chores and get back to my real job.  so I can't say that I regret how I've used my time away from posting regularly.  But today is the day!  The one where I decide to take action instead of finding yet another new tv series to watch on Netflix.

So, before divulging into motherhood and how it's changed my life forever, I want to share our "maternity" family photos, taken by the wonderful Emily Sill.

My initial thought for taking adorable photos was to share a bowl of Jeni's, but the line was epic long so we skipped over to the park where we found amazing light and scenery. I love all of the photos taken, but now can't stop gushing on the cuteness of what was growing inside me when these were taken.

Pup Cup

Did you know, that if you tell the starbucks teller that you have a dog in the car, they will give you a mini size cup full of whipped cream ?!?

They will. And Dillan loves it. I somehow resisted giving Dillan the treat in the car, and made it all the way home so I could catch this video.

Prepare for a slobbery mess.

If you want to view larger, go to here.

I'm not done talking about ice cream

Hey everybody! Get super excited! I found that Jeni has released several ice cream recipes, which I didn't want to post when I talked about over in this post, because when I say I link with love, by God, I mean it.

So, here it is. My beloved Salty Caramel recipe. Enjoy :)

Make sure and follow the directions exactly. They might seem a little daunting, and it is a few hour investment, but you won't be disappointed!

It's my Birthday gift to Me!

I might have mentioned that my birthday was a few weeks ago. And for most of it I felt like this:

I felt even more like this when my mother in law asked what I wanted for my birthday. Easy question, I want an ice cream maker! Otherwise what would this pinboard by good for?


Exactly, not good for very much at all. And furthermore, what good would an ice cream maker be good for if I didn't have the Jeni's splendid ice cream at home recipe book!!!?


Exactly, not good for anything.


So, I asked for both. And I am not ashamed to admit that I cheered and danced and leapt in joy when said gifts arrived. For a week I contemplated the very difficult decision of what would be my first homemade ice cream. I ended up choosing this one.

A little sneak peek of the recipe! pick up a copy!

Yes, yes. Salty caramel. And it turned out perfectly. Rich and smooth and creamy. The cool thing about this cookbook is that the first chapter gives the cook a foundation for developing ice cream flavors on their own and the science behind the ingredients. Which is complicated and essentially comes down to water content of the ice cream...Anyway...

Ice cream getting a chill before going in the machine.

Ice cream making is not to be taken lightly. It's kind of a several hour investment. None of it is difficult, but you will have a sink full of dirty dishes by the time you're done. And patience is essential, in fact I have a bag full of backyard mint ice cream steeping in my fridge as we speak.


But all that waiting is well worth it because in about 45 minutes you'll go from soupy mix to...

super mix.

Oh yum. I'm so excited to try the mint ice-cream with a bunch of added dark chocolate chips - my favorite flavor :)


So I want to know, what's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Living Room Campsite

Sunday night, after the long weekend at the Blue Plum Festival, Nathan and I wanted a little down time. We tried to get the Fresh Market for some Jeni's, but it closes very early on Sunday, and since we were already traveling that direction, we went to marble slab. I've been a standard coffee ice cream with heath bar mixed in, but that night I just wasn't feeling it. So, instead, i embraced my inner 8 year old and got cotton candy ice cream.

we then stopped at a Redbox and rented "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes" which has to be one of the longest movie titles ever. Anyway, I through a quilt on the floor, stacked some pillows up and got an old down comforter out of the closet. It's the coziest way to movie watch.

And Dillan agrees. He wasted no time taking our leg space on top of the squishy comforter, and then he wasted no time into taking a little nap. 

The Month of Change

I can't decide whether to feel especially excited or anxious about all the changes that June is going to bring.

1. My sister is getting married next weekend. Meaning all 3 of the girls will belong to someone else ending this generation of "Hogans". It's only now that I realize the importance of a lineage, so instead of bearing my father's last name forever I can carry on the values that he taught me and continue to honor him.

2. Nashville. We are crazy people and have decided to move 2 days after returning from a wedding packed weekend. Nathan takes the cake on craziness though because he is starting a new job 2 days after we move. Which, I am okay with, because it means I can unpack things exactly where I want them. Also, beware of the sulking puppy updates. He doesn't handle change well.

3. Unemployment. Since I was 13 I had a job. Even though it started as babysitting in the summers, and progressed to scooping ice cream, then retail, plant work, campus employment, resident director, and then finally to professional employment. I am excited for what Nashville might bring for me, as a designer, for great opportunities, bigger buildings and bigger budgets. But also anxious for finding a job, and then admittedly a little ashamed that I might have to work at a shop for a while. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

4. My Birthday, and thus, closer to 30 than 20. Age. I thought I was so "mature" when I said I would embrace my silver hairs as I got older and one day look like Helen Mirren, but as I continue to find those bright strands, I feel a little more pressure to dye for a while...

So, for the month of June, I am claiming the promise that God provides, and he does it abundantly and in His good pleasure and in his prefect timing.

And in the meantime I am going to be making ice cream.