1. Homemade ice cream is just the jam. Especially when you get a combo of homemade chocolate chip cookie dough and “Coffee Krunch” (aka, coffee ice cream with all sorts of Oreos mixed in).
On Wednesday night, Jay, Lucas and I met up with my in-laws for dinner and dessert to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday from last week. For dinner, we headed out to Valente’s, which I’ve documented before on the blog. I wasn’t, however, in the mood for a big Italian dinner (surprisingly) so I wound up getting a cup of their pasta fagioli and a grilled chicken salad.
The soup was fabulous…the salad was meh.
Of course, it’s not like I left without getting a little bit of Italian…Lucas certainly had plenty of leftover pasta and meatballs for me.
2. Speaking of that above…we still really need to work on the whole “bringing the child to a restaurant” thing. Maybe it’s because we’ve only brought him out a couple of times. Maybe it’s the age. Maybe it’s the fact that he is ALWAYS on the go. But whatever the reason, let’s just say that outside of the 15-20 minutes we had him sitting in his high chair eating, we were all taking turns with him outside playing in the grass. Ayy yi yi.
3. So that homemade ice cream from above? That was from a local place called Mac’s Drive-In, and for those of you who live close enough, you NEED to check them out.
I can assure you that I will be back, because I absolutely, 100% need to try this.
Ohhhh, heck yes.
4. I realize I’m totally cheating on fun facts here, but that’s ok and I’m going to continue building off of the facts above which should really all just be tied together. So Lucas absolutely LOVES ice cream. Like, almost as much as his mama. Not that this was a surprise.
He also, apparently, really loves driving ice cream trucks. Wouldn’t you agree?
He had us cracking up!
5. So last weekend, Jay and I finally caved and bought ourselves a brand new mattress. It is seriously the best investment we’ve made in months. Maybe years.
We bought a Serta iComfort, and it is just absolutely amazing. I’m still getting used to it (since I’ve been used to feeling like I’m sleeping in a rocky hole), but so far, it’s just fab.
6. I ran out of time to make myself a lunch yesterday morning, so I wound up stopping at Subway for a little something quick (you know, after my lunch hour shopping trip at Target, of course). I decided to get a Double Chicken Chopped Salad with avocado and sweet onion sauce as my dressings (sweet + creamy = da bomb) and despite the fact that it really just looks like a mound of lettuce in that pic, it was super delish.
Almost as delish as that oatmeal raisin cookie. Because I mean, c’mon, you can’t go to Subway and not get one of their cookies. Who’s with me?
7. I feel like there’s been at last half a dozen times in the past week where Jay and I wind up coming across a situation that makes us respond with “man, we’re old.” Of course, now that I’m sitting down to type this I can’t think of any…but I guess that could be thanks to the big glass of wine I just finished (on Thursday night, not Friday morning).
8. Said glass of wine? Totally necessary, thanks to the monster that is teething. My poor babe woke up with a fever yesterday morning and just was not himself all day long. Unlike the other night when he was running around like a mad man with my hat on…so wish I could have gotten a clear pic of him!
We got lucky with the first 5 that have popped through, but something tells me we may have more than one on the way, by the looks of his poor, swollen gums. It just breaks my heart to see him like that, knowing there’s not much I can do besides give him some Tylenol and all sorts of snuggles (which I did plenty of!). Fingers crossed that today is a better day.
9. We tried two new dinners over here this week, both of which came from this month’s Cooking Light magazine:
Caprese Mac & Cheese with side salads (definitely recommend!!)
And Spinach and Ham Stuffed Baked Potatoes with corn on the cob (meh, they were ok).
I’m just impressed with the fact that we actually got more than one real dinner on the table. High fives all ‘round!
10. For the locals…have you heard about the Troy on Tap Craft Beer Festival that’s happening next Saturday?
Jay and I are planning on going and I’m so excited! All sorts of different craft beers, live music, and delicious food, all along the river front. It’s sure to be a great time! Any other locals planning on going?
11. Thanks so much to everyone who entered the giveaway for the photo shoot with Cara Olsen Photography! The lucky winner is: Entry #21, Pat!
Congratulations, Pat! Please email me at sweettoothcourtney at gmail dot com so I can get you hooked up with Cara!
12. I feel like I could keep going on and on, but I think I’m going to cut myself off here. It’s late, and I need a snack.
Hope everyone has a fabulous Labor Day weekend!! Anyone doing anything fun?? 
That picture of him in the ice cream truck is the cutest. And I just bookmarked the Caprese Mac and Cheese. Great recommendation! Have a wonderful long weekend!
Whenever I go to an Italian restaurant, I ALWAYS try the minestrone or pasta fagioli soup. It is my favorite part of the meal (as odd as that sounds). And then just steal a few bites of pasta from my husband. He thinks it’s funny we go out for Italian, but all I want is soup.
Looks like you had a busy week. That ice cream looks so good I could eat some right now! And pumpkin?! come on!
That caprese Mac & cheese looks so good! And I need that pumpkin ice cream in my life!
Please ship me some of that homemade pumpkin ice cream! It sounds like heaven.
Haha love that picture of Lucas with the hat! Also in the ice cream truck. What a cutie pie! Hope you enjoy your weekend!!
i need to get on this homemade ice cream thing – lindsay just posted an amazing blueberry ice cream recipe today! that involves getting an ice cream maker first….
Macs is our FAVORITE!!!!! Best ice cream in town!!!! I will be back for the pumpkin one…possibly even tonight!
Yayyyy!! Haha, omg I want to go back there every. single. day. :)
Nothing beats homemade ice cream!!! Favourite treat/dessert ever! You should try make your own! I’ve a few recipes up…!
homemade iiiiice-creeeam!!!
I have an iComfort too! Bought it 2 years ago and seriously, even though it was expensive I would’ve paid even more! Best…bed…ever! I saw that recipe in Cooking Light too so will have to give it a try. If you don’t already, you should also get Clean Eating Magazine – loving the recipes in there lately :)
Bed twins! ;)
And thanks for the heads up on Clean Eating Mag…definitely gonna have to check that out!
Definitely try the pumpkin ice cream…I had it the other day with some caramel on top per the girl workings suggestion and it was really good.
Haha, Tracey that’s so funny you mention that! There was a lady next to us while we were there who ordered the same thing…she also said it’s amazing with graham crackers crumbs on top..?!?!?!? Not sure if they have those there though?
homemade ice cream really is the best! i’ve been making it every sunday. can’t wait to try my hand at pumpkin!
I was kind of hoping you were drinking a glass of wine with breakfast, hahah. :)
Bahaha…hey, ya never know ;)
Homemade ice cream is seriously the best thing ever, and that pumpkin ice cream sounds to die for!
I’ve been trying to cook more over here too lately…it’s only kind of happened…lol!
I love that Subway salad and the sweet onion dressing. Aw, teething! Not fun at all.
You’re totally not alone in the struggles of bringing your child to a restaurant! Haha. Meals out are not nearly as enjoyable these days when little man just wants to run wild.
We NEED a new mattress so bad. Ours is comfy but it’s a million years old and whenever I change my sheets, I’m reminded at how old it is… Yikes.
That ice cream just look fabulous! Coffee + Oreos!? Count me in! And the stuffed baked potato looks delicious as well!
My boyfriend and I love making homemade ice cream! I’m visiting with family for the long weekend so that’ll be fun. Have a great holiday!
Looks like a great week! I allllways get a cookie when I go to Subway. I can’t help it- they’re so good!
Going to Galway on a road trip – too excited for fish & chips, they have the best in the country!
Craving some ice cream now too after your post, cookie dough is the best :)
I love the sweet onion dressing from Subway!
i am in the process of getting a new bed… ive had the same bed since i was 13… pathetic! let me tell you, i may cry of happiness the day i get my new bed.
AND can i say i love when you post recipes that you tried that week along with the links to them. it gives me ideas and i like seeing the actual recipes/meals that people cook!
I love the picture of Lucas in the ice cream truck – that is too precious!
Teething is the worst. I highly recommend highland all natural teething tablets. They’re all natural and as soon as I give them to my son he calms down. Great to give him during the day.
Try hyland’s teething tablets. They have done wonders for our one year old.
Pumpkin ice cream sounds amazing!
Hi Courtney, Hahah, this is a funny list of facts. Somehow it all seemed to flow. Hope you have a great Labor Day weekend! :)
A new mattress is a must!