Addiction

I think it's probably pretty obvious by now that I have a serious addiction to chocolate. I mean, it's bad. You know something's not right when you'll willingly eat celery all day just because you know that means you can have a milkshake later. And out of the HUNDREDS of recipes I have on my computer, it's safe to say that over half are chocolate. What can I say? I'm in love.

Well, friends, even if you don't share my affinity for all things cocoa, I'm here to share with you a recipe that will make you addicted, too. Believe me. When I say this stuff is good, I ain't lyin'. You'll just keep going back for more. And the best part? So. Easy. I've had this at bridal showers, at home, and even my lovely future mother-in-law made it for our girl's night for Camp! Even then, I found girls who were originally hesitant hovering over the bowl waiting for seconds.

And I know that you'll see the recipe and think to yourself, "Self: why on earth is she posting a recipe with ice cream in it? Doesn't she know it's November?" Yes, yes I do. But you have to trust me on this one. We're friends, right? Answer: yes.

So here it is, y'all. Enjoy! This is a perfect recipe for dessert-time during the holidays!

Cappuccino Punch

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup instant coffee granules
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• 1 cup boiling water
  
• 2 quarts milk (and for the love of Pete, don't use skim! You'll be fine. Promise.)
  
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
  
• 1 quart chocolate ice cream, softened

In a small bowl, combine the coffee granules and the sugar. Stir in the boiling water until the coffee mixture is dissolved. Then cover and refrigerate until chilled. No, seriously. You have to let it cool down. I know it’s hard, trust me, but it’ll be worth it.

Just before it’s go-time, pour the COOLED coffee mixture into a 1-quart punch bowl and stir in the milk. Then, add scoops of your ice cream and stir until melted.

Serve to family, friends, or yourself on the back porch while reading a good book. Be prepared to be bombarded with pleas for the recipe!

"Definitely. So true."

The bridesmaid dress is a very peculiar thing, an oddity that I have yet to have a pleasant experience with.

I think it's safe to say that I have many OCD-esque qualities, and having everything match and being absolutely perfect kind of falls into that category. If the bridesmaids dress is blue, then anything else that is blue has to be that exact. same. shade.

Needless to say, I'm running into problems. I'm very particular about the shade of blue I want, and it's starting to look like no one really has that color in stock. Granted, I know the winter months are coming, and the Tiffany's-blue-but-more-blueish-than-that-but-maybe-more-aqua color that I want isn't really en vogue at present. But even online, how am I supposed to know if that is the color that I want? The tiny swatch at the side of the screen does nothing for me. What if it's more aqua than blue? What if it's not even close at all, and it's a mint green? I don't want my bridesmaids looking like they have a strange obsession with mint ice cream.

I know that I'm not exactly the most fashion forward person (let's be real, if I could wear a v-neck and cardigan every day, I would...and I have for probably the past week), but I would like to think that I do know a thing or two about what is and is not a good look for a wedding....and everything I'm seeing is NOT a good look. And if it gets even relatively close, it's out of this world expensive. I just don't see the point of shelling out that much cash for something that I can guarantee they WON'T wear again. And I've considered the whole "same color different dress" idea, but I need to find the color first, and even then I feel like the dresses still need to be a little bit cohesive style wise. (Am I sounding like a control freak yet? Because I am...)

I want my bridesmaids to look and feel not only beautiful, but comfortable. And I really do want them to be able to wear the dress again. So, at present, my solution is to start looking outside the normal bridesmaids dress designers and maybe look at more "un"bridesmaids dresses. But what if they're TOO un-bridesmaidsy? I mean, I think there's a line that I shouldn't cross, but I'm afraid that I will. Like patterned dresses...is that too much? Our wedding will be pretty casual, but I'm not sure if it will be that casual.

What do you think? Are patterned dresses a "no-no"? And be honest, do bridesmaids REALLY wear their dresses again? I don't want to go along thinking that they like it and will wear it again, when everyone else knows they won't. (Think 27 Dresses: "You can shorten it and wear it again!" "Definitely. So true.")

I just don't know these things.

But I DO know this: I have the best bridesmaids ever. They're willing to wear whatever I ask, but I trust they'll tell me when they don't like it....hopefully.