Show & Tell Friday: July 12, 2013

Well, it’s starting to look as if I may only be posting “Friday Show & Tell” editions for a while. Here is the reason for my inability to write:

She’s a cute little 8 week-old time-stealer, isn’t she?

Please forgive my absence. I’ll be back to fighting weight eventually.


A few things to share:

1.) Fireflies in the Garden

My husband and I realized the other night when we were awake in the wee hours that we’ve got some free movie channels on DISH. We started watching Fireflies in the Garden–which stars Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts, Emily Watson, Hayden Panettiere, Willem Dafoe and more–and were immediately hooked. It’s the story of Michael (Reynolds), a novelist  who returns to his childhood home for a celebration, but when a tragedy occurs instead, he’s forced to remember what it was like to grow up, and all that that process entailed: dealing with a difficult, writer father, his beloved mother, and so much more. The actor who plays young Michael (Cayden Boyd) is especially powerful. The title is taken from a Robert Frost poem, so points for that.

I love independent films, mostly because of their similarities to great novels: they can cross genres, span the generations, and take the time to pause in the simple moments without needing bang and flash. Fireflies in the Garden does all this: At times heartbreaking, at others downright hilarious, it’s worth checking out.

Take a look at the movie trailer here.


2.) SIBA Book Award Winners

SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance) has announced its winners for the 2013 book awards, and there’s a whole list of great books from which to choose to add to your summer reading list. (Sadly, Keowee Valley didn’t make the cut. But thanks so much to all of you who voted for it!) The list includes novels, children’s books, Young Adult novels, poetry, nonfiction, and even a cookbook.

I’m particularly excited about reading Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One

Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail, by Jay Erskine Leutze, which the SIBA web site says is ”the true story of a North Carolina outdoorsman who teams up with his Appalachian ‘mountain people’ neighbors to save treasured land from being destroyed.”

Check the entire list out here.
 

3.) Easy Ice Cream Cake

One of my best friends taught me how to make this crazy-easy ice cream cake. I just made if for the 4th of July. It’s easy to serve, easy to freeze, will feed a crowd, satisfies absolutely everyone, and is just plain scrumptious. My mouth’s watering just thinking about it. Here’s the recipe:

Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:
2 big boxes of ice cream sandwiches
Cool Whip (or, if you want to be fancy, make real whipped cream)
A bunch of your favorite candy bars
11 x 13 glass casserole dish (or, any other dish that can go in the freezer)
Seriously. That’s it.

Directions:
Open one box of ice cream sandwiches. Place the sandwiches so that they fill the bottom of the dish. (You may need to cut a few to fill it up.) Mash ‘em down a bit with your hands. Lick your hands. (Okay, wash your hands.) Spread half of the whipped cream over the top, then open the other box of ice cream sandwiches and make another layer: sandwiches, whipped cream … you get the picture. Next, crush up the candy bars (I use Heath Bars, but the options are endless) and sprinkle liberally over the top. Freeze for at least 1 to 4 hours before serving.

That’s it. It ridiculous how good this cake is, especially on a hot summer night.
Real Simple magazine has a little bit more complicated recipe (using real whipped cream made with confectioner’s sugar and less ice cream sandwiches) that’s worth checking out.

Enjoy!

Can I Get a Witness?

Okay, so the Marvin Gaye song "Can I Get a Witness" really doesn't have much to do with my post today, I just love Marvin Gaye. His music makes me want to jump up and dance.

And anything that makes a 28-week pregnant lady want to jump up and dance is a good thing.


(Check him out on YouTube. A little Marvin is always a good way to start the day.)

But the title of this post really should be, "Somebody Help Me!" For that, I guess I'd need to call on Steve Winwood and the Spencer Davis Group.

But help, I need. More like good juju. Good mojo. Send it my way, man. I am in need.

Why? Life is conspiring against me this month, and I need to write. I need to write the rough draft of my critical thesis for my MFA in Writing advisor, and I need to work on Novel 2. And my belly--oh, who am I kidding? My entire self--is growing bigger with Baby 2, and I'm tired, and my 3 year-old needs attention, my house needs readying for said Baby 2, and my dog and my husband are neglected.

Help! I need somebody. Help! (Okay, add the Beatles to the morning playlist.)

But what I'll take are good thoughts. If you've got them, please send them my way. You'll have my eternal thanks.

In other news ...

Just a few reminders:

1.) Today is the last day Keowee Valley is available at a promotional rate at the Barnes and Noble NOOK Store: only $1.99!

2.) Don't forget to vote for Keowee Valley for the SIBA Book Award. You'll be rewarded in the afterlife. Somehow, I'm sure.

3.) If you live in the Raleigh, NC area or will be there on Friday, Feb. 22, I hope you'll come hear me speak and have lunch with the Wonderland Book Club, starting at 10 a.m. Register here.

That's all, folks. Happy weekend!

SIBA Book Award Nominations

I'm a proud member of SIBA: the Southern Independent Booksellers' Alliance. Right now, SIBA is accepting nominations for the SIBA Book Award, their "best Southern book" of the past year. Books should be Southern in nature, or penned by a Southern author.

If you enjoyed Keowee Valley, or if you have a hankering, I hope you'll consider nominating it. Click here for the link to the nomination form.

(Nominating ends this Thursday, Feb. 14th. Both individuals and bookstores can nominate books.)

And thank you!