Tonight we got together with some of Karen’s friends, who happen to also be the parents of one of my sisters good college friends: The Blakeys.
Our dinner wasn’t until 7:30 and at about 6PM my stomach was growling for dinner! I can ignore the general build of hunger before a meal, and I generally hate to snack before dinner, but I cannot ignore growls!
I had a yogurt with some Hemp Plus granola plus a Carrs cracker to tide me over
For the second time this week, we took out-of-towners to Mono Loco! [And we may be returning for a THIRD visit to take the new set of Great Harvest people for a Spice-a-rita. Word has gotten out they are famous!]
You just can’t ignore the festive patio and large delicious menu.
I decided to be uber-adventerous and order a different drink. I decided on a Hibiscus, White Tequila and Lime margarita
It tasted good, but it was pretty sweet and it just didn’t taste well with our food. Once I’d sipped it down 1/3 I asked our server if I could have a glass of club soda to water it down with to try to dilute the sweet. I just don’t like sweet!
When she realized I wasn’t 100% happy, she offered to get me a new drink to replace it. I felt bad, but I agreed and she was SUPER nice. Thanks, Mono Loco, for the excellent customer service!!
Can you guess which drink I returned to? Spice-a-rita. Not too sweet and perfectly mixed. I’m never not ordering this again!
Our table shared the nachos to start. Boy were they cheesy!
For tonight’s dinner I had a burrito-as-a-bowl with cod and crispy avocado. Crispy because I think the avocado was seared! It didn’t change the avocado much, but you just can’t go wrong with the delicious green cream.
I ate about 2/3 – also can’t go wrong with the Mono Loco burritos!
After dinner, we promenaded along the downtown mall. We contemplated Sweet Frog but we’d had so much to eat we all turned it down. Imagine that.
Time for bed!! In clean sheets!!
And speaking of bed, I’m on the market for a new mattress topper. We have a foam mattress and have had the same bunched-up, cheap foam pad on our bed for 6 years now. It’s got lumps where the sun don’t shine, and we could really use a new one. I’m thinking about a featherbed but I’m also thinking about a memory foam topper. Any recommendations!? I’m willing to spend more if something comes highly recommended.
I can get 15% off here PLUS 5% cash back through Ebates so I’m debating buying one there!
One more day off before Opening Week begins!!
Baking 'n' Books says
How long are mattresses good for? I’ve had mine about 3 years now. Just a cheaper queen size – but I’ve moved a couple of times and am paranoid about it having been “out” in trucks, etc…even though it was covered. 🙁
Holy cheese! My kind of nachos 🙂 That place looks so cool – I’d want to stay out with drinks for hours I think!
Rae says
They are supposed to be good for 10 years but I think it varies depending on the brand-most have a 10 year warranty 🙂
Katherine says
I say the first one, Down Life.
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says
oh yey for another sunny night out with great drinks and wonderful company! 🙂
Those nachos do look cheesily delicious! 🙂
I wish I had advice re the featherbed covers, I can’t wait to get one myself!
I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing Sunday, I am positive that the opening week is going to go fabulously! 🙂
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
Everything just looks delicious. It was very nice of them to switch your drink, I think most places just want to keep their customers happy
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I can’t believe it’s time to open! I’m so excited for you guys! I always order through ebates! I love the cash back! Have a great evening Kath!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
Any of those toppers look good — my advice is to get a Sleep Number Bed which is probably not what you’re looking for right now! We just love ours.
I love when restaurants do what they can to make you happy!
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
I totally feel you on drinks being too sweet. I water almost everything down!
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) says
feather bed all the way!!!!
have you ever used a memory foam pillow? they just make my head feel weird after awhile…I cant imagine my whole body laying on it. I am a huge believer in featherbeds if you need to make a mattress more soft and comfy (we went el cheapo on guest bed mattress…and topped with a $99 or $149 type feather bed from BB & B with a 20% off coupon…and everyone says it’s so comfy) So that’s my vote.
And what GREAT cust service. A free drink/replacement that you didnt even have to ASK for…that’s attentive service. Awesome!
Silvia @ skinny jeans food says
This might be out of left field because it is not on your list, but I have a tip: I slept in a few Marriott hotels that have exceptional bedding, so good that I actually noticed it every time I slept in one of the hotels in Boston. And…. they sell them! They are not cheap (I have not bought them) but well worth it, especially the down mattress topper. http://www.shopmarriott.com/index.aspx (click through to bedding).
Jill says
I can’t believe you passed on Sweet Frog! Ken and I talk about it daily! There is nothing like it in Asheville.
I am regretting not getting that drink…
Jill says
I am going to channel your willpower once this holiday is over. You are such an inspiration!
Donna says
Huh? I guess I must be missing something because I don’t know what you’re saying:
“I can ignore the general build of hunger before I meal”…”before I meal”…what does that mean?
“For tonight’s dinner I had a burrito-as-a-bowl with code”…don’t understand “with code.”
Help me out.
KathEats says
Sorry, both typos that I fixed.
I = a
code = cod
Kelly says
I used to swear by 3 inch memory foam toppers, but I’ve slept on this { http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Beautyrest-GeoMatt-Therapeutic-Foam-Mattress-Pad/2679877/product.html } for the past year and I LOVE it! Check out overstock.com, shipping is so cheap (and sometimes free) and there are tons of reviews. Good luck!
KathEats says
So many choices – thanks! “I LOVE it” is what I’m looking for!
Kris says
I was going to recommend Overstock too. Lots of choices plus reviews. Our topper is from Target. I think it’s just fiberfill though. I’d love a featherbed, but alas, it’s far too hot for that in FL.
Lauren says
Hey Kath! My mom and I are going to be in Cville Sunday and Monday. It’d be so funny to run into you! I know the bakery isn’t open yet but I can’t wait until it is to stop by! Love Mono Loco-so many memories from when I was a preschooler! 😀 -Lauren
KathEats says
Stop by the bakery anyways – we might be there and you can see what it’s like!
Lauren says
Thanks! Definitely will!
Morgan @ moments of mmm says
Oh I love down bed covers! Soooo comfy. I also really like the memory foam bed covers. My boyfriend had one in his old place and I would always wake up feeling super refreshed.
Lissa says
Kath, I think I would check into how warm the feather bed might be. We live up north and I used to have a feather bed, I thought it retained the heat in the bed and not sure you want that down south. Also, good luck with the opening, admire you two for your work ethic.
KathEats says
this is the kind of feedback I need – are they really hotter? Do any other southerners (who don’t use AC!) have them?
My foam thing is fine, but feathers..I could see how that would get hot
Sonia says
That’s not 100% true. I have a feather mattress topper and while it does retain your body heat in the winter, in the summer something about the feathers allows air to circulate through them and the topper stays cool. I have use one in the south (Charlotte, nc) and I never felt hot at night.
Shannon says
When we bought our sleep number bed the guy told us that the memory foam was not recommended for “hot sleepers” i.e. people who get hot when they sleep.
[email protected] says
I had a feather bed and in my book its not worth it. ALthough if you get one, get one that has many squares where the feathers will stay in place. The one I had was like rows of feathers and after a while you kind of had to separate the feathers because they all became bunched up. I gave up on it after a year. I like in Chicago but I slept on it year round and never was too hot in the summer because of it. Your drinks look so refreshing!
Maria says
Hi Kath,
I’m SO excited for the opening for you both! 🙂
I love the feeling of the feather bed topper, but I agree with Lissa about retaining the heat. I can only use them during the winters.
Alicia says
My mom put a really nice feather topper on her guest bed—and I hate it. By the next morning all the feathers are squished and you can feel the old mattress underneath. I have to take the fitted sheet off every time I make the bed to plump up the feathers again. I would go with a memory foam topper.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Be careful though, if you guys are ‘hot’ sleepers, the foam toppers can get really really hot (why my hubby doesn’t love them). If you can, go with a sleep number bed.
I love your idea of a great dinner. Looks so yumm!
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
LOVE the color of your drink – even if it was a tad sweet! and the meal looks fantastic.
Lucinda says
I’ve never seen one of those before :-s Maybe we don’t have them in Australia or NZ, hmm will be on the lookout when I move to Toronto though!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
I really want to try one of these Spice-a-ritas after all this hype!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
My mom has a foam topper and loved it at first… then it got old pretty quickly. My dad; however, still loved it. They ended up splitting the bed in half – her side is a feather mattress (which I LOVE) and his was the foam.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I had no idea what a foam topper even was! My mattress is almost 80 years old… it was my great aunt’s, haha!
Khushboo says
Passing up on Sweet Frog is seriously commendable! I’m such a fro yo junkie!
Charlotte says
Go with the featherbed!!! Ahhhmazing. You feel like you’re sleeping in a cocoon. They’re honestly the most comfortable things on earth. On my bed at home, I have one from The Company Store, I believe. I got an inexpensive one at Bed, Bath, and Beyond (I think?) for my bed at school though. I say splurge on it a little, because it makes SUCH a big difference and lasts for so long.
Angel7 says
I am not a fan of sweet drinks either. I would rather have a frozen margarita 🙂
It looks as though you had some great food for dinner! Margaritas of any kind always go good with Mexicano-like meals 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Molly @ RDexposed says
We ate on the patio too tonight. Still a bit too cold in No-IL. :/
lynn @ the actor's diet says
when you keep bringing peeps to the same place it’s a good sign! i feel like it’s been a while since we’ve found a restaurant like that…
Leanne says
We have a 2 inch memory foam topper from Target (on top of a pillow top mattress). I love it. Before we got it, I would always wake up sore and after buying the topper no more sore wake ups. It also doesn’t get hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Adjusts to your body temp which I really like also. Its also nice that when you move around it doesnt disturb anyone else. This was a big plus for my husband when I was tossing and turning or up and down out of bed when I was pregnant.
Hannah says
Good service makes so much of a difference at restaurants! Well done to your server here 🙂
chickster says
It is such a shame people sweeten up hibiscus so much! On it’s own, it’s really tart and I’m sure would’ve been fantastic with the lime and tequila. If you ever get the “passion tea” at starbucks, try it unsweetened or with 1-2 pumps and it’ll rock your world.
Cara says
We used to have a memory foam bed, and it was AWESOME – you literally feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. BUT, it retained heat a LOT, and it’s not good for cuddling, because you get kind of wrapped up in your own little cloud. 🙂
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
That all looks AMAZING. I’m quickly growing tired of Huntsville’s food choices. And seeing everyone else’s great food isn’t help. Hope you guys had fun!
Jennifer says
I’ve never had a feather bed but I have had feather pillows. I remember the feathers constantly poking through like little points. Very annoying and uncomfortable. I’m not sure if eventually the mattress would do the same thing. We have a pillow top mattress that is heaven. We got it ten years ago and it feels brand new. We often joke how it has some sort of magical power because the minute you lie down on it, you’re out. (haha)
Ann says
I have had a feather bed in the past and now I’m on my second 3 inch memory foam topper. I prefer the memory foam. While a soft, fluffy feather bed is nice, the memory foam gives you a soft, supportive sleep which I love. I had minor hip joint pain occasionally which disappeared when I got the memory foam. I purchased my foam toppers from Overstock, they have some of the best deals on them.
Tori (Fresh Fruition) says
Those nachos are intense! Where are the nachos? All I see is cheese! haha!
[email protected] Flying ONION says
Thank you for such a summery post. And thank you also for the reminder that I need to go out to eat with friends & family very soon. Glad you guys had a fun night out! 😀
Lea says
Several people above have mentioned that featherbeds get a little tiresome after awhile, and I agree. I had one for years (a high-end one with lots of sections) and it required near-daily fluffing. So every day I had to remove the fitted sheet and shake the whole dang thing out. Otherwise it was just uncomfortable to sleep on. I got rid of it and replaced it with a 4-inch foam topper and I’ve never looked back! The foam topper feels more supportive to me, though not as fluffy and cocoon-y as the featherbed. My one complaint echoes another above, that the foam topper is a little warm at times…but I think it is well worth the trade-off. It’s contributed to the best bed I’ve ever had.
Melissa says
I love my feather bed but need a replacement soon so I love reading all the comments. My ex-husband and I got the featherbed as a wedding present. With both of us sleeping on our separate sides of the bed the feathers did make a big hump in the middle (where I sleep now that we are divorced and I can hog the whole bed!).
The feather bed is the baffle box style and filled with feathers and then it has a little pillow top on top that is filled with soft down (so it isnt so prickly). the only issue I have is that the pillow top part is only on one side so you can rotate the feather bed but can’t flip it over for even wear. The feathers are also treated with Allernon-21 so they dont bother my allergies (purchased at the Bay Home Outfitters in Canada for about $200 in 2003)
Sandy says
We bought a foam mattress topper at Sam’s Club. We both love it and I can’t wait to crawl into bed at night it’s so comfortable!
KathEats says
Thank you all for your recommendations!!
Nancy says
I have a foam topper which is super comfortable. I do love it, but it does retain heat. If I don’t have the air on in the summer, it can be uncomfortably warm. I got the foam topper to replace a feather bed topper I had before. If money weren’t an issue, I would ditch the foam and go back to the down topper. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The one thing I would absolutely suggest is getting one sewn in the box style. It doesn’t allow the feathers to shift or pool into one area, and it fluffs up nicely if you give it a shake.
Katherine says
I have a memory foam mattress topper and absolutely love it! They’re extremely affordable on overstock.com- I have the 4 inch thick one, and it really is amazing. If you like the feeling of memory foam then you can’t go wrong with these mattress toppers!
Andrea says
Do you have a Costco? Or maybe they have on the website….when we moved tom china I got a great pad…was memory foam plus a feather topper! It was so comfy. They have terrible mattresses there and this was key! I think for a king it was close to 200, but so worth it. Sadly, in our last shipment home, I was already gone and my husband forgot it!??? Hello??? He is lucky I am still married to him!
Mackenzie @ Eat. Exercise. Evolve says
Costco sells a great memory foam mattress topper. I highly recommend it!
Ruthless says
Foam anything makes me sweat like I’m in a Sauna at night. If you find foam comfortable, it may be good for you but I find it’s much too hot and I don’t find it really that comfortable
Kerstin says
First time commenter here. Kath- I love your blog and found it after the Marie Claire article. Its so fun watching your bakery progress- good luck next week! My dream is to have a bakery someday.
Regarding the mattress pads: I have had both. Feather pad bunches up and the feathers poke through, but was OK temp wise here in CA with no AC. Then we got memory foam topper from Costco and while it was comfortable we could not get over the toxic smell, even months later. Also made us sweat more. Now we have a regular cotton mattress pad from BBB that is so comfy and can be put in the washing machine. Love it, I think its similar to this one http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=126591&RN=559&
Susan says
I was interested in a foam mattress topper then I read about all of the chemicals used in them and I changed my mind. The ones made in China also posed more of a risk. They do have organic ones, but they are more expensive.
Kelly says
Memory foam toppers are AMAZING. Ever since I bought one for my dorm in college I had to buy one for my bed at home, and I gave my one from college to my boyfriend once I was done living in the dorms. Memory foam is pricey, but not as much as a new mattress; and it changes your bed/sleeping experience completely.
Christina says
Hi Kath!
I couldn’t resist chiming in on the mattress stuff, since I work in a furniture store with a mattress department.
You really ought to test out a featherbed before you up and buy it. It’s definitely a difference from foam and if you buy it and don’t like it you’re pretty much SOL. If you’re sleeping on a memory foam topper then you’re used to quite a bit of support. A feather bed will not offer you nearly the same amount of support as a memory foam bed will. It will be quite a different sleeping experience, so it’s worthwhile to try it first – or find a place that will let you exchange it if you don’t like it. Some of the better mattress/furniture stores will offer you something like a guarantee that allows you to try the beds for 60 days and if you don’t like them you can exchange them for a different kind of equal or lesser value, if you’re in the market for a new mattress all together.
Just some helpful advice! Congrats on the bakery and best of luck from a former EMA-er!
KathEats says
I think I’m opting for a memory foam instead!
Man EMA was soooooo long ago!!
Deny says
Didn’t you say you have a foam mattress? wondering why you would get a foam topper. I have a memory foam mattress and suddenly I am having pain upon waking ( oldage) but I think I wil try a topper for it. I but a reg topper. I was hoping for an answer! If you do feather bed, you have to get the kind that has a lot of cells in it, ( looks like a windowpane pattern) that will keep the filling in place. actually any fluffiness needs the cells.
KathEats says
Our mattress is foam, but not memory. It’s just kind of flat and I like to be on something fluffier when I sleep
Lindsey says
One of Target’s daily deals today is a feather bed topper. It is 35% off and the daily deals are free shipping! http://dailydeals.target.com/