Well I could tell you about my day while you nearly fall asleep from boredom. Or I can answer some questions and perhaps still cause you to fall asleep from boredom.
I’m opting for the latter because I figure at least this way you don’t have to hear about how I worked on book edits and did a load of laundry.
Feel free to ask any additional questions in the comments. It gives me something to write about during these lazy summer days.
1. What blogs do you read regularly?
This is an excellent question. The truth is I used to read so many more blogs than I do now and I think that’s a combination of not spending as much time on the computer when I’m not actually working and the fact that many of my favorite bloggers no longer blog anymore. I’m much more likely to spend time on Instagram these days.
The blogs I tend to look at these days are usually geared more toward fashion, like CStyle, Sheaffer Told Me To, and Blonde Expeditions. I also love Go Fug Yourself which is all about celebrity fashion (They are the girls who wrote The Royal We, which I believe I’ve mentioned is one of my very favorite fiction books.) And What Kate Wore because I always like to know what Kate wore.
And just for reading, I love I Hate Green Beans by Lincee Ray and Boomama. I’d love any recommendations if you have them, but I don’t want to read anything too serious and I absolutely don’t want to read anything political. I need like the Gilmore Girls of blogs.
Speaking of, have you seen this?
That’ll be the highlight of my fall. In addition to college football season.
2. What is your favorite type of pen to write with?
A Sharpie fine point marker. I realize that’s not actually a pen but rather a marker. But I have gone through about a million of them when I sign books because I think they are the best and give me the nicest signature.
As for just a regular pen, I’m not picky. I’ll use whatever I can find and like anything as long as it isn’t an extra fine point and doesn’t leave a lot of ink residue because I’m a lefty and I’ll smear it down the page.
3. Just wondering how it is having two (highly spirited) dogs. They say getting two puppies at the same time changes how bonded they are to their humans. Did you see any of that? And how on earth do you keep your house free of dog slobber, fur, etc.? Can you please share how you potty trained Mabel and Piper? And do you kennel them at night?
I know it sounds crazy and there were times in their puppyhood that I thought Piper and Mabel might cost me my sanity, but I highly recommend getting two puppies at once. Our girls are sisters, but Gulley’s family got two puppies that are different breeds at the same time and she would tell you the same thing. They burn a lot of energy having a playmate and our girls stay outside when we are gone and it gives them company. Yes, it’s a little bit more work at first but having a puppy is just hard work so you might as well get it all over with at once. And ours are as bonded to us as any dogs we’ve ever had so I don’t think it’s changed how they bond. It really is all about how much time you spend interacting with them and we spend a lot of time with our girls.
As for keeping the house free of dog slobber, fur, etc., they are the main reason I had to get rid of our white slipcovered couch. There was just no way that couch and my mental well being could co-exist. They have short hair and don’t shed a lot so that helps, but they believe the best way to drink water is to put both paws in the dish along with their entire face so I almost always have a trail of water in my kitchen. I just sweep and vacuum a lot.
We potty-trained ours by taking them outside at least every thirty minutes and setting them in the grass. Whenever they’d go to the bathroom, we’d praise them profusely and give them a treat. If they had an accident in the house, we’d tell them no and then take them outside. It just takes a little time and patience, much like potty training a human.
(Piper says having a dog is super easy. She doesn’t know what any of us are complaining about.)
And we don’t kennel them at night anymore. We did when they were puppies but quit after they were potty-trained and could make it through the night without an accident. They sleep in their dog beds in the house, but stay put all night long. Of all the dogs we’ve had before, we’ve never had dogs that slept inside but these girls made it clear that’s where they were going to sleep best. Plus Caroline really likes to have them sleep inside.
4. Could you share your guacamole recipe again?
I really think the biggest key to good guacamole is good, fresh avocados. It’s best to buy them when they have a little bit of give when you squeeze them, but they can’t be too soft. I like Haas avocados the best. I usually just mash them up and add season salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste. Sometimes if I feel fancy, I’ll make some pico de gallo to mix in with it because that’s delicious.
But if you want to make a guacamole that’s a little fancier, there’s a restaurant on the Riverwalk in San Antonio called Boudro’s that makes the best table side guacamole. You can find the recipe here.
5. What game are you playing on your phone these days?
No one asked this. But my friend, Erin, introduced me to a game called Merged! and I’m a little addicted. (Plus, every time I play it, I say “MERGE” like Chandler Bing on Friends when he suggested he and Monica get that sign above their bed.) Caroline and I have been watching Alias every night and I play Merged! while we watch because it helps soothe my nerves over the whole Milo Rambaldi thing and what it all means. I actually watched Alias like it was my job back when it was on T.V. but that has been sixteen years and one child ago so I’m shocked at what I don’t remember.
You know what I do remember? How much I love Sydney Bristow.
Have a great Thursday.