Mister G's Homemade Treats

I made Garrett some homemade treats last week!  

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.  

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup zucchini, grated finely

1 egg

1 1/3 cup cooked brown rice

3/4 cup cream cheese

Up to 2 cups whole wheat flour

Mix the zucchinni, egg, cream cheese, and rice together.  Then add 1 cup of flour and stir together.  Add more flour, little bit at a time, until your mixture loses some of it's stickiness.  Cover your hands in whole wheat flour and form little treat balls.  Place your treats on a cookie sheet and bake for 40 minutes.   Turn off the oven after 40 minutes and let your treats dry out overnight in the oven.  I pulled a treat out after 40 minutes, let it cool, and gave it to Mister G.

Mister G says, "Oh yeah!  That's the good stuff!"  The next day I forgot about the treats and preheated my oven for another recipe.  The treats dried into extra crunchy treats and I think G likes them better with the extra crunch!  You might want to consider baking your treats a little on the second day!

Disclaimer: Make sure your dog can eat wheat before you make these treats!  Some dogs are wheat sensitive so ask your vet if you're unsure!  I've been pretty generous with the treats lately-- so Mister G has been receiving less of his regular food at meal time!  Don't let your dog get fat!  

Weekend Update: Life Behind the Crafts

Last week I was too busy talking about ice cream to get into the other details of the weekend. 

To recap, John and I did a LOT of kayaking.  {1} On Saturday we kayaked to a deserted island called Rattlesnake Key.  {2} I found a baby crab. {3} We bought snorkels, fins, and a dive flag and did some snorkeling! {4} Saturday was glorious.  Sunday... not so much!  The tide changed and we found ourselves paddling in really shallow water with a super fast current.

Last week John's parents visited over their spring break.  We had a great time! {5} John's mom brought me a box of Thin Mints, which were scarfed down in about 20 hours.  No shame--I could easily finish box in an hour but I was pacing myself this year. {6} Garrett was a gracious host to a large family of fleas.  He was not excited for his flea bath and I wasn't too excited to pay the exterminator. {7} Every year I curl my hair because I forget that my hair WILL NEVER CURL.  I spent at least an hour curling my hair and it was so gorgeous... Until I took a step and my luscious curls bounced like a Pantene commercial and drooped into nothing.  {8} My jalapeños are growing!

{9 & 10} I went to the forest preserve with my friend Jackie.  Isn't she so cute!  I love watching the bugs and the lizards in the lily pond.  {11} Speaking of lizards, how adorable is this baby lizard in my mail box?!  {12} I visited the "Best US Beach" this weekend.  It's in Siesta Key and the sand felt like flour!  Sugar white sand!!!  I can't wait to go back!

We went on a roadie this weekend.  {13 & 14} Garrett was really into exploring at the hotel and loved sleeping in bed with us.

{17} I worked on my embroidery swap project and I can't wait to share it with you this week :)  {18} Garrett was barking at night this week- and I thought it was because his skin was still irritated from the fleas.  Turns out he had an ear infection! Poor baby.  He was so good at the vet.  {20} G was super cozy on the ride home from Siesta Key.  He was yawning and snuggling with me.  Nothing better than a cuddly dog... except maybe a baby :)  How was your weekend?  xoxo, Ashley

Quilt Update: A Surprise Ending

Remember when I said I was going to make a quilt?  Yeah... That didn't go great.  

I had wanted to make a quilt to keep in my car for picnics, beach outings, etc.  The goal was to use the fabric in my stash and not spend any money on new fabric.  After I cut squares from my stash fabric, I  realized I needed way more squares than originally thought.  I went through my closet and picked out clothes that didn't look great on me.  I really love to wear "comfortable" clothing that sometimes makes you look awful in pictures.  And in my case, sometimes means always.  I cut up my clothes-- and some of John's too.  I didn't have enough of each fabric to make a pattern-- and definitely not enough variety for a patchwork quilt.  

To add some variety to my fabrics, I tried my hand with the Clorox pen on solid colored t-shirts.  I taped plastic grocery bags to my counter and drew designs on the shirts with the bleach pen.  It's kind of messy-- and the pen doesn't go very far.  I found the higher quality fabric has the nicest results.  (I didn't make the tiny polka-dot print above with the bleach pen.  I threw my red polka-dot sundress into the wash with the bleach shirts and it came out a pretty pink!)

This is my first attempt at "quilting" and it shows!  I was so frustrated with the sloppy "squares".  I folded up my homely piece, buried it in my fabric stash, and ignored it for months.  The other day I noticed it and felt the twinge of guilt that comes from hoarding craft projects that, let's not kid ourselves, I have no intention of finishing.

And then inspiration struck!  As Mister G gets older, he likes to walk in circles in his crate and find what I like to think is his preferred sleeping position.  Every night when I put G in his crate and I crawl into bed, his nails click-clack on the crate floor and I lay awake listening to him.  *lightbulb moment!*  Aha!  Sew the quilted material into a pillow for Mister G's crate!!! 

Mister G has had a few pillows before-- but he's mistaken every one for a restroom.  Have I mentioned it took 4 years to potty train him?  Let's hope for the best!  I'm happy to report that Mister G loves his new pillow!

If you want to make a pillow for your pups crate-- just measure your crate tray and add an inch to both the length and width for seam allowance.  Place right sides together and stitch 3 sides up.  Turn the fabric right side out and stuff it with a bag of loosely fluffed stuffing.  Tuck the edges inside of the pillow, pin the edge, and then stitch it closed.  Hope your pooch loves his new pillow as much as G loves his!  xo, Ashley and Mister G

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Favorite Things + Giveaway!

Hello there friend!  Hope you had a great weekend!  On Friday I took Mister G to the dog park and taught him to swim!

He has always been afraid of the water-- but I was really patient with him and I kept throwing the ball into the water just a tiny bit deeper each time.  Within an hour he was swimming out 15 feet from the shore to catch his ball!  I was so proud of him!  Here's a little iPhone video from our adventure--

I also was baking up a storm this weekend!  I'll share an amazing recipe with you tomorrow.  I brought treats into work on Sunday and let me tell you-- I made lots of new friends!  All that baking got me thinking about my favorite scents.  Here they are!

Favorite Things: Smells

1.  John's pillow.  John leaves the house for work before I get up.  I love to smell his pillow in the morning and nights when he's gone.  It smells just like him!
2.  Baby Ivy.  She smells amazing.

3.  Basically anything that comes out of the oven.  What can I say, I love to eat.  This could easily start it's own list-- but fresh bread, my mom's scones, and cookie are at the top of the list.
4.  Freshly opened can of tennis balls.  I love sticking my face into the can after it pops open!
5.  The ocean.
6.  Sand + Sunscreen
7.  Coconut
8.  Anything citrus!
9.  Old books
10.  Puppy breath.  I still love Mister G's stinky breath and he's going to be 5 this summer.  Whenever he yawns, I always get close to catch a whiff of his breath.

What's your favorite smell?

Be sure to check out my giveaway on Mom2MemphisAndRuby this week!  I'm giving away a $20 Etsy Shop Credit and a Medium Ad Space!

Have a great week, loves!  xo, Ashley & Mister G