Greenies

I posted about this on my personal Facebook page on Saturday, but since I got such a strong response on Facebook, I thought I'd re-post in case it helps anyone new.

Whenever I leave for work, I give Tom Hanks (our dog) a treat. For the last 6 weeks or so, I've been giving him a Greenies treat a day. (We usually fill a Kong with peanut butter and give that to him, but a Greenie was so quick and easy that we made the switch.) 

In the last couple of weeks, I've noticed him gagging a lot. Two of his bottom teeth have broken off. He's been having a hard time swallowing and (sorry for the overshare) using the bathroom. On both Friday and Saturday of this past week, he threw up. So I finally called our vet, since Greenies were the only change in his diet. 

Once I said the word, "Greenies," our vet immediately knew they were the culprit. She told us that Greenies, like rawhide treats, can splinter off after being eaten. Instead of breaking down like normal food, they stay whole and snap off into sharp pieces, causing dogs to choke and vomit. In the worst-case scenario, dogs are rushed to the vet to undergo intestinal surgery because these treats have gotten lodged in their intestinal tract. 

She told us that Greenies are a huge no-no at their office, and that they actively discourage their clients from buying them. 

When I posted this on my personal Facebook page, I was overwhelmed with the number of people who commented that have had similar experiences: Greenies = sick dogs.  

Of course, I immediately felt horribly guilty that the reason my dog was sick had everything to do with what I'd been feeding him. I mean, who am I, the mom in The Sixth Sense? Poisoning the soup? (Anyone? Anyone?) It's been a little over 24 hours, and since Tom Hanks has stopped eating Greenies, the vomiting has stopped completely. 

So here's my Public Service Announcement about these treats. If you've been giving them to your dog, stop and watch for signs of retching, gagging, vomiting or (sorry) constipation. Those are all signs you may need to take your dog in to see your vet. 

It's terrible that there are products out there that can be so harmful to our little pups, who feel like family - especially since the back of the box boasts that these treats are "Safe and easily digestible!" But, as with anything, information is power. Good to know before we'd used the treats for any longer than we had. 

The more you know! 

5 Things: Best Restaurants in Asheville

Summer is cranking up, which means vacationing is about to start in earnest. 

I have friends text me a lot asking about great places to eat or grab drinks in Asheville, so I thought I'd publish a list here in hopes that anyone planning a trip could take advantage! 

(This list features some of Asheville's more upscale restaurants, but I'll definitely do another post later this summer that includes more casual dining - because nothing beats a greasy piece of pizza, am I right??)

1. Limone's. 

Easily my favorite restaurant in Asheville. Limone's is the best place I've ever eaten upscale Mexican food, and every person I've taken here has been gobsmacked. This cozy spot, seating no more than 75 or so people at a time, is perfect for whatever occasion - date night, dinner with family, drinks with a friend. The lobster nachos are a must-have, and if you have a sweet tooth, definitely order the pot of house-made hot chocolate, served with a side of homemade churros. I mean, come. ON. 

2. The Admiral. 

Oh-so-amazing. Your socks will be knocked clean off. During my last visit there, I got to enjoy beet tartare with smoked honey sauce and goat cheese, a course of bone marrow, and a dessert featuring house-made deconstructed s'more. ...S'MORE. Yep. You heard me. (Personal perk: I'm friends with the pastry chef. #winning.) It's fine dining in a wonderfully comfortable setting. The Admiral is another small restaurant - almost missable when driving past it - which makes it even cooler that you get more for your money here: at 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, the tables and chairs are cleared out of the dining room and it turns into an old-school dance party. And when I say old-school, I mean it - the DJ spins oldies tracks you've never heard. Trust me - you'll have the time of your life. 

3. Nightbell. 

Chef Katie Button owns two famous restaurants here - Nightbell and Cúrate. Cúrate gets a little more press and is much harder to get into, but I think Nightbell is every bit as good. Serving gourmet tapas, Nightbell's atmosphere is as enticing as its menu. And the tapas are some of the most creative dishes I've ever eaten. When Jordan and I went, we started with a "Deviled Egg," which was a whole egg shell containing an egg, pickled trout, and topped with a delicious corn sabayon. It blew us away, and it will blow you away, too. The cocktails are as creative as the menu, so be prepared to drink your weight. 

4. Sunset Terrace at Grove Park Inn

I know, I know. Natives of Asheville will be rolling their eyes at this addition, because there is certainly better food in this city. But if you're visiting, this is one of the best ways to experience how truly magnificent the Blue Ridge Mountains are. Book a table at sunset and watch the orange glow disappear behind the mountain range - if it doesn't take your breath away, I'll pay for your dinner. 

5. Zambra. 

Another incredible tapas restaurant. Like most menus in Asheville, this one is designed around what's seasonal and locally sourced. There's a menu of the items that stay year-round, and a separate menu of the seasonal and DELICIOUS options that rotates. The atmosphere here is dark, full of twinkle-lights, and super fun for a girl's night out or a date night. If it's warm and you can get a seat outside, even better - you'll feel like you're dining in an Italian alleyway somewhere. Great service and WONDERFUL food. 

Other great places: Bouchon, Posana, Cucina 24, and Table. 

Happy eatin'! 

For Your Entertainment.

Okay, so it's mid-week. We're probably slumping, reaching for the weekend, but it's just not quite here yet. 

We need something to make us laugh. 

One day over a year ago, Mom and I were on a big road trip, and unfortunately for her, I found this app called Heliumbooth. I spent conservatively 4 hours entertaining myself (and making her want to drive of a cliff) by making video after video. I thought they'd been lost forever when my hard drive crashed last year, but lo and behold, they survived. 

Like roaches. Because I would deem these videos "roach" quality in terms of entertainment. Like: 

Waaaaaaaay up here is Seinfeld, Curb your Enthusiasm, and the like...

...about right here is "Charlie Bit My Finger..."

...and waaaaaaaaay down here is these videos. (Except pretend they're like down on the floor of wherever you're sitting to read this. Or standing. Whatever works.)

If you watch these and think, "I don't get it." Then you're doing it right. There's nothing to get. They're just absurd characters I made up. 

Still. I don't have anything else to post today, so here they are. Oh God, I hope I still have friends after this. If you think I am a weird loser, you're right. 

SHUT UP AND JUST POST THEM.

Okay.

May Jesus Take the Wheel for you today. Happy Hump Day. 

DIY: Return of the Chairs

Some of you may remember that about two months ago, I bought some chairs at an estate sale with the intention of refurbishing them. My first post, detailing the steps of my inaugural attempt at beating these chairs into submission, can be found here. 

Today, we have Part II of the tale. 

51. Ask your husband what he wants to do on this beautiful Saturday. Ignore him when he says what he wants to do is go fly fishing. 
52. Bribe him with promises of snacks and beer to help you work on your chairs with you, which have been sitting, dormant, on the porch. 
53. Quickly FaceTime your mom, who agrees that the chairs need to get finished, but mostly just because "they look so tacky sitting on your porch." 
54. Decide she's right. Make another list. Go to Lowe's. 
55. Promise to behave. Break said promise. Hide behind the ladders and jump out at a man who you think is your husband, but isn't.
56. Quickly ponder what going to jail would be like.
57. Arrive home with the supplies in tow. Lay out newspaper and realize what an undertaking this is going to be.

58. "Listen" to your husband read the instructions aloud on the back of the bottle of paint stripper. 
59. Make a whole bunch of stripper jokes and dance seductively around your porch. 
60. Listen to your husband tell you he's not helping if all you're going to do is spaz around the porch while he does the work.
61. Actually listen to him talk about how to use the paint stripper. 

62. Laugh bitterly to yourself at the phrase "WORKS THE FIRST TIME!" featured underneath the product title, as you have already tried this product without your husband and it did not, in fact, work the first time. All it did was eat your sponge brush until you were painting with a stump. 
63. Examine the photo on the front. What exactly are they trying to peel up?? Instant mashed potato flakes?? Did somebody have a house party that got out of control? 
64. Glove up so this stuff doesn't eat through your skin. 

65. Apply a thick layer of Goof Off to two chairs and wait for twenty minutes. Watch in amazement as the paint starts to bubble up. Loudly complain that it didn't do that last time. 
66. Listen to your husband tell you that's because you used a sponge brush and not a paintbrush. 
67. Know he's right, but don't tell him. 
68. After twenty minutes, start scraping the paint off. This would be a good time to realize that though this project is labor-intensive, this particular part is your OCD dream come true: 

69. Since your husband has so deftly completed this step, grab the paint scraper and go for it on your own chair. 
70. Realize with sadness that your husband is simply better at this than you are, but do not be deterred. 
71. Scrape until you want to cut both your arms off. Then go back over the spots that aren't coming off with more Goof Off. Then scrape some more. Scrape, scrape, scrape. When you think you want to die, scrape some more. 
72. Think that you are done because you've lost your will to live. 
73. Agree when your husband decides you should buff the first two chairs, then repeat the scraping process on the last two. 
74. Silently scream to yourself as he lays out clean newspaper and you get started on round two. 

75. As you start applying what seems like the fortieth round of Goof Off, look over to discover your husband has reached new levels of anal and is now scraping the tiny little crevices with dental tools. 

76. Decide your husband is pretty awesome.
77. Keep scraping. Try not to throw up when you come across a dried Band-Aid next to a single dried Golden Graham on the underside of a chair. 
78. Definitely don't think about why the Band-Aid and Golden Graham are next to each other. Put it out of your mind. And don't eat either. 
79. Wonder if you should take all the paint off, or if the distressed look is kind of cool on its own.
80. Because you're musing instead of scraping, accidentally drop some Goof Off on your thigh. 
81. Scream in horror because your "SKIN IS GONNA MELT OFF JORDAN HELP ME RIGHT NOW." 
82. Watch your husband help you while LOLing, because this stuff definitely doesn't take your skin off.
83. Ask him why he made you be so careful, then. 
84. Listen as he explains that it can be dangerous if mis-handled. 
85. Stew in silence over being treated like a 5-year-old, then remember you did actually did drop what is basically poison on yourself, so shut up and decide he was right. 
86. Conclude that the chairs are better in their "distressed" form, rather than in their original paint-less form. Once you scrape all that gunk off, of course.

87. Get distracted by an article called "Broccoli Rabe Dreams Big," which describes how vegetables have marketing directors. VEGETABLES. As in, if a vegetable is "hot" right now, the marketing people will promote it on talk shows and ask celebrities to endorse it. A VEGETABLE. I can't. 
88. Get back on track and finish the chairs. Look at your work. Decide it's pretty good. 
89. Look at your shoes. Look at all the paint you've gotten stuck to them. Realize your husband has been doing this in bare feet for this exact reason, but has failed to pass that advice along.
90. Remind yourself to thump him in the head later.
91. Step back, assess, and pat yourself on the back. Listen as your husband tells you he's proud of you for working so hard. 
92. Set the chairs back in their corner of the porch to wait until next time, when we'll be putting the foam backing on. There will be a staple gun involved. 
93. Let your mind run wild with the possibilities of how you could, and probably will, injure yourself. 
94. Reward.

DELICIOUS Cauliflower Pizza.

All the mmph with none of the ouch. 

...well, some of the ouch. There's some cheese in here. But you can adjust that to your preference! 

This pizza is a staple in my diet when I'm trying to eat relatively clean. I am a huge fan of 'za, to the point that I regularly wear this tank top to Pure Barre: 

...everything in moderation? Except pizza, which I usually eat by the pound. 

But I'm tryin' to look cute in my bikini on the 4th of July, okay? 

The grain-free crust means that I can enjoy the flavors without blowing my efforts to make healthy choices. If you're like me and are skeptical about the idea of cauliflower serving as a crust, let me assure you that cauliflower assumes the taste of whatever is around it. And what's around it in this case? Cheese. 

Ingredients::

1 cup riced cauliflower
1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella
1 t minced garlic
1 egg
4 T pizza sauce
1 t olive oil
2 t Italian seasoning
1 t salt

...and whatever toppings you'd like! 
 

1. Preheat the oven to 450. Rice your cauliflower if it didn't already come that way. If it's a whole head, like I bought, then chop it into florets and pulse the rest in the blender until it looks a little like cooked rice. 

2. Take one cup (a head of cauliflower usually yields two cups) and store the other cup in the freezer for next time! Dump the cauliflower into a medium bowl, then the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, egg, and 1 cup of the cheese. The rest you'll save to sprinkle on top! Stir thoroughly.

3. On a pizza stone or round cookie sheet, spray a little non-stick and pat your mixture into a crust-shape. The thinner your "dough," the crispier your crust will be. After you've patted it flat, sprinkle the olive oil over the top and gently spread it over the top with your fingers. This will prevent the top from burning! 

4. Pop your dough into the oven for 15 minutes!
5. Once the crust is cooked, carefully spoon your pizza sauce onto the center and spread over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the top, then whatever other toppings you'd like! 

When I sprinkled my cheese, it melted immediately. YUM.

6. Put the pizza back into the oven and broil it for 2 minutes, keeping an eye out to make sure it doesn't burn. This will soften your veggies, melt your cheese, and crisp up your crust.  

7. Bada bing, bada boom, DELICIOUS. Add a green garnish like I did, or just go for it! Best enjoyed with a local beer while watching Jurassic Park, which recently got added to Netflix.

Wedding Gifts the Bride Will Love.

...because, let's be honest, when is it ever about the groom? 

Wedding season is in full swing, and though it's always safer to choose a gift from a couple's registry, sometimes you want to do something a little extra special for a couple that's dear to you. In those cases, there are a few presents that are always welcome in any home. 

1. A cast iron skillet. 

Cast iron is one of the tried and true staples of Southern cooking. In everything from frying eggs to making biscuits and cornbread, this is a gift that will sit on the stovetop for decades to come. Really, you're giving a legacy - a lot of cast iron cookware is passed down for generations. I loved that I inherited some from my great-grandmother. Find some great options at lots of price points here. 

2. Custom gifts from a local artist. 

No, oven mitts you knit yourself do not count as "custom gifts from a local artist." I know, disappointing. 

Jordan and I live down the street from these fantastic glassblowers Lexington Glassworks. The two guys who run the shop have created some of the most stunning glassware, pitchers, lighting - you name it. We've given several of our close friends these pitchers and cocktail glasses (in the above photo) to rave reviews.

It's extra special if you shop at a local business, because that gift will be both beautiful and unique. And you never have to worry about the couple receiving more than one! Just be sure you're certain of your friend's taste, and this will be a slam dunk every time. 

3. A sweet chemise.

Every bachelorette party I've been on has had a lingerie shower included in the itinerary. It's sometimes tricky to decide on the right thing - something classic, yet sexy, but also something that won't get duplicated 50 times by all the other girls. 

Enter the chemise. 

While super-sexy lingerie certainly has its place, a chemise can be more multi-purpose. This sweet little number functions as sleepwear, lingerie, and (best of all) something the bride can throw on straight out of the shower and wear to put on her makeup. 

I received one of these for my own lingerie shower and wear it constantly while I'm getting ready. The trick is to choose something beautiful and feminine, but not too sheer or revealing - trust me, your bride friend will absolutely love it. Find the one featured above here. 

You can always go in with someone on a pair of thigh-highs, too. 

4. Gift cards to local shops. 

I know, I know, gift cards can seem really impersonal. But hear me out. 

After the wedding is over, most brides will have received a couple of registry items more than once, or will be kicking themselves because they meant to register for something and didn't. This is where gift cards can be really handy. 

Things like window treatments, throw rugs, and some kitchen appliances can be VERY expensive, and returning a duplicate gift often doesn't quite add up to fund a replacement. So while gift cards may not be a physical gift, I loved having them because we were able to pool them together and purchase curtains, throw pillows, and other household items I never thought to register for. 

If you feel funny about getting a gift card, you can always make it for a little more than you might have spent on a gift (to cover what would have been the shipping gift wrapping costs), and then enclose a card recommending that the bride use it for "whatever extras come up." She'll appreciate it - promise! 

5. High quality picture frames from Framebridge. 

I have recently become a disciple of a company called Framebridge. If you haven't heard of them, let me introduce you! 

Framebridge has taken the middle-man out of framing your photos. Instead of you lugging pictures around to expensive framers, you can use Framebridge one of two ways: 1) They'll send you a waterproof kit, you roll your photo up, send it off, and they frame it for you, or 2) You upload a photo from your computer, and they'll do the rest! 

"The rest" means mounting, finishing, and sealing the back of your frame. Their frames are gorgeous and SO reasonably priced. They send your pictures back to you framed and ready to hang - the package even includes the hardware you'll need to hang your picture! Learn more about how it works. 

After a wedding, there are always incredible photos that the couple wants to have framed. A frame kit, or a gift card to a framing service, will allow them the freedom of choosing their own frame, but on someone else's dime. This is one of the gifts I loved getting the most because it allows us to relive our wedding day every time we walk into our den! 

Happy hunting!