How to get a Picky Dog to Eat

You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but there is certainly a way to get your picky dog to eat!  And it doesn't involve dog food. It involves human food.

Meet Faye, our wonderful baby girl and the star of her own book, What Faye Loves.  Well, it turns out, one of the things Faye loves...is being incredibly food picky.  So for the first 3 years of her life we tried over 15 different kinds of dog food across all spectrums: dry, wet, raw, frozen, freeze dried, and even the order online kind (e.g. Farmer's Dog).  No matter what we did, she either turned up her nose at the new food right away or within days or weeks.  On the rare occasion, the food gave her diarrhea and we actively chose to try a new food, because that's not good for her.  She's now four years old and eating smoothly, morning and night.  She's been eating smoothly for upwards of six months now, but it took me months of having to hand feed her wet and frozen dog food at every feeding all while crying because she refused to eat and would vomit instead because she was hungry.  I felt like I had failed as a dog parent.

But I remembered when we would travel she would love and survive on bits of human food - steak, turkey, cheese, carrots - and so an idea popped into my brain. I thought, what if that's just what she wants to eat?!  And so I set out to try.

Now, if you find yourself in a similar situation, listen to your dog and your dog's system.  My perfect combo may not be your dog's perfect combo, but after a little trial and error I am certain you'll find the right mix!  We tried: cooked (but not seasoned) stead, eggs, turkey, and ham.  I already knew both of my dogs can't do chicken.  We also tried: buttered or olive oil roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, zucchini, yellow squash.  And we already knew she loved cheese and cooked (but again unseasoned) oatmeal.

So after much trial and error, Faye's new meals are:

THE STAPLES

- turkey (unseasoned, but you can buy the turkey breast fully cooked at places like Costco and Sam's.  Try to stay away from deli meat because of the added salt and deli-counter meat often has seasoning on the outside.  But if you like, you can also cook a raw full turkey in the oven.  again, unseasoned)

- buttered carrots, roasted in the oven at 350 for 30 min.  (Faye, being the wonderfully picky delight that she is, prefers the carrots peeled over the already sliced rectangular ones, so I get a giant Costco sized bundle of carrots and peel and cut and cook 6-7 carrots at a time.  I add about 2 tbsp of butter to that, and it usually lasts me 1-2 weeks.  She gets about 7-8 pieces per meal)

THE ADD INS

- sometimes I add in (1) cheese (2) cooked (but unsweetened / seasoned) oatmeal or (3) roasted sweet potatoes or zucchini, cut into chunks, and tossed in olive oil only, then baked at 350 for 20-50 min, depending on how much is in there and how long it takes to soften everything.

Best of luck to you and your picky eater!

VOTE!

 It's voting season!  It overlaps so beautifully with the fall season, for those who love both.  Most places have opened early voting by now, so be sure to take the time to find your polling location and get your voice heard!

Remember the Little Moments are Great

Was sitting outside yesterday evening with my family, watching the giant forest trees sway in the wind, appreciating how magical the sound of swirling trees could be and how much they, like the sounds of the ocean, remind me that there are bigger things than me in the world.  It was that moment that I also found myself appreciating my life more than I had at any other point all day.  I told my husband, "I love our life" and when he asked if there was anything specific, I replied with all the seemingly obvious or mundane things: having a yard (coming from a condo), backing up to the forest, seeing the forest animals, having our own home, living somewhere where we have such great evenings, our dogs, our time together, etc.  Nothing from the list stood out as striking or "incredible", but that's exactly the point.  We need to remember to love and appreciate and be grateful for the seemingly normal and mundane, because those incredible moments are the ones that make up our life.

Some other things I find I love and look forward to because we have made them special:

- Special Coffee Fridays: we used to make this our Starbucks day, but since we work remotely now we make this our start of our Nespresso Weekend tradition.  I find I wake up Friday mornings excited because I get the 'special' coffee.

- Friday Lunch Takeout:  we spend most of the week eating and making food we have in the house.  But Friday lunch we treat ourselves to take out, usually of a sizable enough portion that it becomes lunch and dinner.  These tend to rotate between tacos, sushi, and pizza, but every now and again we'll try something new.

- Saturday Morning Movies: Sometimes we find we are busy doing individual things and errands not he weekends, so Saturday morning is when we come together to drink coffee, have food (take out or homemade) and watch shows.  Usually around 10/11 am we start a movie.  If not, we just marathon a few episodes of a show we are watching together.

- Afternoon Treat Playtime: Our two dogs get "treat balls" (or these treat ball / puzzle things that they have to roll and bite etc to figure out how to release all the treats inside).  Every afternoon they get them.  I love taking the few minutes out of my day to watch them fill with excitement and think and work hard to get every last treat out of their toy.  It's so rewarding to watch someone else fill with joy.

So, I implore you to keep finding ways to appreciate and acknowledge all the little moments in life that are so paramount to your everyday but also foundational to your happiness.  Share your little joys with us!

Stop "If I Could Just"-ing Your Life

As the new year came around, I started doing all my "new year" routings: thinking about all the things we could do in 2022, planning our 2022 budget, looking at needs -vs- wants, etc.  And as I started through my list, the first few weeks of the year past.  Suddenly it was middle-end of January, and the questions started.  

"Are we going to (blank)?"

"When can we (blank)?"

"What about (blank)?"

"Can we get (blank)?"

And in response to them all, I found myself saying "As soon as...." and "If we can just get to...." THEN we can do XYZ.

After a few days of that I found myself a tad dumbstruck.  It's not for poor planning or uninformed intentions, and I'm a full proponent of taking control of your life so you can live the life you want (which sometimes means putting off the immediate gratification for the long-term dream), but EVERYTHING I was responding to included those phrases.

So I took a moment and stepped back and really looked at what I was saying and how I was thinking about 2022.  Not everything can wait.  Not everything should wait.  Sometimes, some things are just "do now and enjoy" things.   And that's what I wanted to relay.  Stop "If I could just"-ing your life and live it.  Now.  If you "If I could just get that raise" or "If I can just make it to next week with what I have" or "If I could just get a nice day out so we could be outside to do those thing", you'll find you spend more time waiting and less time enjoying.  It won't always be perfect, and it won't always be the way you imagine.  So maybe you get the burger without the large fry and drink, but you get to enjoy your favorite burger.  Maybe you finally buy the lawnmower because yours has been on the fritz for two years and in the long run it will make everything better.  Maybe you just call that person back and appreciate the gaps in the familial relationship and stop waiting for him or her to make the move.  Maybe you start saving for retirement - not as much as you had wanted, but at least it's something!

There's always "something else".  Gratitude means appreciating what you have (now, not later).  So to really enjoy 2022, I hope for you that you can stop "if I could just"-ing your life, and find the joy in living it now.

What Faye Loves Gives Back 2021

 YAY! So excited to announce that What Faye Loves reached $200 in total proceed donations for books bought in 2021.  That's all THANKS TO YOU!

*YOU'RE AMAZING!!!*

So if you purchased a What Faye Loves book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble (online) or at the local Charlotte Fullwood Market or Park Road Books, please know how much we appreciate you!  Please also leave a review so others will know how wonderful the story is and help be a part of this wonderful community who gives back to local rescues.

This year, the local rescues included:

• Angela's Ark
• Billies Buddies
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
• C2CND rescue
• Carolina Animal Network
• Halfway There Pet Rescue
• Humane Society of Charlotte
• Lancaster SPCA
• Southeast Corgi Rescue
• Two Girls Lots of Dogs

We also did a local book signing at Pet in the City that gave back to Charlotte Black Dog.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!  Can't wait to see how much we can give back to local animal rescues in 2022.

If Books Gave Back

After publishing What Faye Loves, a children's story that follows Faye, a young corgi, through her day to discover what she does and does not love about her life, I realized something:

• Not enough goods give back

Yes, more and more companies are starting to do this: Bombas (socks), Toms (shoes), some local eateries (depending on where you live), etc.  But as a whole, this is not a common practice.  Even Jamie Lynn Spears tried to give a portion of her proceeds to a mental health charity (regardless of your feelings towards her and the Spears situation, this is still not a common practice).

What Faye Loves and any future books including Ein and Faye will do just that - give back.  A portion of the proceeds will go to local animal rescues!  I'm so thrilled to be able to do this, but I think it's time more authors and companies started to make this a practice.

• Goods and services should (at a minimum) give to a portion of all proceeds to a charity that does something represented by the book/good/service.  

I think if you're making a profit, you could do so much good for the world around you - and thank your customer base at the same time - by giving back regularly to something mirroring what it is your good/service provides.

What Faye Loves - October Kickstarter Campaign

 Hi everyone!

I am so excited to announce that my first children's book, What Faye Loves, will be available online soon!  While a portion of online sale proceeds will go to support local animal shelters, in October, we are actually running a Kickstarter campaign to jumpstart Book #2! 

What is Kickstarter?  It's crowdfunding with a twist!  Our project only gets the donations individuals pledge if we meet our goal...plus...those that pledge money can actually earn rewards!

For What Faye Loves, our rewards include:

• Signed copies of the book (paperback or hardcover)
• Thank you cards
• Digital prints

So if you or someone you know has little ones in their lives or is a dog (or corgi!) lover, please come to our Kickstarter page and support Ein and Faye in Faye's first children's book!

Help us reach our goal!  We appreciate your support!

Sometimes Gifts Come Early

My dad's birthday is in December right around Christmas.  Every year my brother and I connect with Dad and figure out what he wants because sometimes he wants one larger gift and it's best to combine, even though it's a historic downfall for those who have birthdays near holidays.

And this year it appears that gift not only got combined, but also came early.  Out of the blue I got a text from my brother.

Brother: We are getting dad a driver for his birthday

Me: Cool.

Brother: Shipping only takes a few days

Me: Cool.  Maybe there will be a sale for Black Friday

Brother: Sale now.  Arrives next week.

Me: *counting*....Sept...Oct...Nov...Dec....

Brother:  Yeah I know, but this way he can use it now and enjoy it.

Me: ....k....

Brother:  He knows and is excited.

Me:  Cool! Then totally on board.

And once we figured out the rest of the logistics, it turned out it arrived in a matter of days, Dad called, he's thrilled, and he is most elated to get use out of it this year.  

So, sometimes, a gift fits best off-season, and as long as the receiving party is on board, it can mean just as much if not more to have what you want or need when you want or need it.

A Well-Improvised S'more

 As someone who grew up in a home with electric stoves, I didn't think anything was weird about using the microwave to make certain things.

And then my husband decided he wanted a s'more, and he about fell over when I told him that instead of turning on the firepit at midday in 90 degree weather, he should just microwave it for 10-15 seconds.

Once we both finally picked his jaw up from the floor, I showed him by making my own.  I placed the graham cracker on a plate, the piece of chocolate on that and the large marshmallow on top.  I kept the top graham cracker in my hand and microwaved it for 15 seconds, watching it the entire time.  Mine only took about 11 before the marshmallow started ballooning and I knew it was time to pull it out of the microwave (b/c the marshmallow will basically explode).  Then I placed the top piece of graham cracker on the microwaved portion and handed it to him.

He, silently and looking at me strangely, took it, bit into it, and then lit up.  It had worked, he was elated, and he now had a means of making "s'mores on demand" whenever he wanted.

Hint: if you have a gas stove, you can 'roast' a marshmallow on the flame, but just be careful b/c it's an open flame in your home.

Enjoy!

Leaving Reviews

As an author, I can say reviews mean the world to me, especially ones that are thoughtful and well-considered.  Consumers look to reviews to understand value, especially as reviews become more and more commonplace.  

So as a gentle Public Service Announcement, if you have enjoyed my novels (especially from Amazon), please leave a review!  

Giving Back

There is something beautiful about the feeling you are filled with when you help another person/animal/organization.  My husband recently signed up for the annual Extra Life charity event, which donates money to Children's Miracle Network hospitals.  The event itself is in November, but registration is open, and this will be his fifth or sixth year participating, if I remember correctly.  He loves doing this because it combines his love of video games and connecting with friends with giving back to sick kids, as he is a childhood cancer survivor himself. 

For me, I find I'm partial to animal rescues.  There are a number of local shelters to whom I donate run by both formal organizations / humane societies and individuals.  The include:  Two Girls Lots of Dogs, Lancaster Animal Shelter, Humane Society of Charlotte, Billie's Buddies, Southeast Corgi Rescue, and C2CND, to name only a few.

The point?  Giving back not only helps the team that received the money, but it makes you feel good to.  It helps you see you're connected a community, to something larger than yourself.  So whatever your passion or heart, find a group to whom you can make a difference.  Because to them it will mean the world.

Juneteenth!

Congratulations to the USA for finally commemorating forever (as a Federal Holiday) Juneteenth!  It is the oldest national holiday commemorating the end of slavery.  For more information, visit www.juneteenth.com.

Mom's Recipes: Two-Egg Cake

 This weekend I tried out another inherited recipe from Mom's recipe box.  My selection was based on what I already had in the house, so the winner was:  Two-egg cake.

At the onset, it is simple enough.  Mix together ingredients, bake for 50-60 min, and finish with frosting if desired.

However, this simple process creates the most delectable and versatile dessert!  This is definitely going to be a regularly revisited keeper.

For variations, you could even do:

• 1/2 sugar for a less sweet bite
• add blueberries and bake in a cupcake tin for muffins
• remove vanilla, bake in a donut pan, and add frosting as desired for cake-donuts

I plan on also trying different variations to see if it can be translated into a chocolate cake option and a vegan option at some point in the future.  For now, it's gluten free and delicious!

Ingredients

• 10 tbsp butter, softened
• 1c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 c milk (I used oatmilk and it was wonderful)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 3/4c flour (I used Gluten Free)
• 1/2 tsp salt (if you use unsalted butter)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Blend butter and sugar together until creamy
3. Blend in two eggs and vanilla until well-mixed
4. Slowly add in the milk to keep it well-blended
5. Mix dry ingredients and then add to wet ingredients
6. Pick your baking dish of choice.  Either line with parchment paper or grease thoroughly
• I used two small bundt pans
• You could also use one 9" cake ban or a 8x8 or 9x9 square pan
7. Bake 40-60 minutes, depending on the pan you chose.  (e.g. two small bundt pans in a convection oven took about 40 min)
8. Let cool completed before cutting or frosting

I did not add frosting to this cake.  I left it a stand-alone bundt cake, and it was devoured in 48 hours.  It keeps well in a cloche.  We put ours in our glass one on our counter and cut slices from it throughout the day to enjoy.  It is a little on the sweet side, though not so sweet it makes you pucker.  I tend to like desserts that are more buttery than sugary, so I might try it with 1/2c or 3/4c sugar the next time.  However, 10/10.  Absolutely wonderful.  Nicely done, prior family members!

Mom's Recipes: Dutch Crumb Cake

 So I realized the other day that we have gotten into an eating rut, where we just keep eating the same things over and over again, which ends up meaning that we just eat more.  I knew I needed to change something, so I started going back to the farmer's market.  Yes, I pay more for veggies, but they're fresh and I can get a variety.

But that wasn't enough.  I have this 'sweet tooth', and I use quotes because it's less like an "OMG FEED ME SUGAR" tooth, and more of an "I need something buttery and dessert-like" tooth.  That typically lends itself to home-baked cakes and cookies and the like.

So, I found my mom's old recipe box.  It's a precious moments box with all the recipes written on index cards that are now a solid shade of brown and smell like they've been forgotten for over a century.  I started looking through them to see if any caught my eye, and I realized that my mom never made any of these.  I recognized one or two from the whole bin and that was about it.  Even then it was "lemon chicken" and that was a recipe from our neighbors when I was growing up!

So I have decided I am setting out to "cook / bake my way" through the box.  I will re-write and keep the recipes I like, and I will graciously discard the ones that I do not.

And first on the list?  Dutch Crumb Cake

Two things I noted:

1. All these recipes used shortening, and I don't. So I had to look up a conversion chart for shortening-to-butter ratios.  It's basically "1-1 plus a little extra".  So in this recipe, when it called for 3 Tbsp of shortening, I used 4 Tbsp of butter.
2. The directions were awful.  The whole thing said:  "Mix like a cake."  I had no idea what that meant, so I mixed like ai was making cookies (in that order) and looked up how long to bake what I decided were going to bake cupcakes, and I crossed my fingers.

Luckily, they were AMAZING!  Pictures on pinterest: @sdcaprini.  Recipe below:

Ingredients: Cake

• 2 c flour (I used gluten free flour - like Cup4Cup or the like)
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt (or about 4-5 turns of the salt grinder, if that's all you have)
• 3/4 c milk (I used oatmilk)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c sugar
• 4 Tbsp (=1/4 c =1/2 stick) butter - softened

Ingredients:  Crumble Top

• 4 Tbsp (=1/4 c =1/2 stick) butter - softened
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1/4-1/2 c flour (depending on how much crumble you will need.  I also used gluten free flour here, too)
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F (i have a convection oven, so cooking times may vary slightly)
2. Make cake
1. mix butter and sugar
2. add egg until well-mixed
3. add milk SLOWLY, stirring as you pour
4. add salt
5. pour in flour and baking soda and mix slowly (fold) until completely mixed together
3. Pour in preferred pan and make sure it is evenly distributed
1. I used a 12-cupcake tin, lining the cupcakes with paper
2. You can also use two cake tins or a 9x13 pan, but be sure to spray it before adding batter
4. Make Crumble
1. mix butter and sugar together
2. add cinnamon
3. add flour
5. Evenly distribute crumble over cake
6. Bake for ~30-35 min 
1. Again, I used cupcake tins.  This time may change if you use cake pans or one 9x13 pan.
2. Remove when a toothpick comes out clean after being stuck in the middle

I highly recommend eating it warm, but it is completely delicious after being cooled fully.

YUM!  Onto the next one!

Needed a Good Show

Recently my husband and I have felt a little underwhelmed with the available show options.  Some of it is the result of having gone through a number of "hit and miss" selections lately.  Other parts is that there are so many to pick from and we neither know anything about them nor feel captivated by the trailer or blurb.  

So the other day I was perusing through all the apps and all the shows and remembered "oh! I should check Apple TV."  And as I did, I noticed one of the shows in our menu was "Ted Lasso."  I have always enjoyed movies that Jason Sudeikis has been in, and, yes, many of them are on the sillier side.  But something about it intrigued me, so I tried it.  I figured if it were a dud, I would have only wasted my own time instead of both of ours. Yet, within the first eight (8) minutes, I was hooked, and I knew my husband would be, too.

We have enjoyed it so much we have had to force ourselves to only watch 2 episodes a day so that we actually have something to watch and even look forward to.  Tonight will be the last two episodes, and we are so excited.

So if you need a recommendation, and if you have Apple TV, let me (be the first?) to recommend "Ted Lasso".  It's amazing.