Woah! It's been a while!

Wow, I have been terrible at keeping up with this whole blogging thing. I am jumping back into it though. I like being able to share some hints and tips and anything else bouncing around in my brain. Since the last time I posted I have had another baby. A boy this time and he is 4 months old. Between him and my two and a half year old, my creating time is very limited. Thank goodness for coffee and nap times! I am working on so many new things these days. I get so many new ideas and am trying to implement as many as I can. Take a stroll on through my Etsy shop and browse around at some of my new things. Until next time.... Hope all is well!

http://www.stylinpuppillows.etsy.com

I'm making my own dog food!

So, many of you know that I make and bake my own dog treats. I love doing this and being

able to share it with all of you. It's great to know that those little treats are home made, natural and super healthy for my pups. So, I have been researching and talking with my vet because I want to start making all of my dog's meals. I wish I could make and share with all of you but they have to be refridgerated. So, instead I am going to share my recipes. I'll be putting them up as I make them and my dog's approve.

It is super simple to make your own food for your dogs. They need protein, veggies, grains, fruit and calcium. Check with your vet before switching your dog especially if they have allergies or any other health problem. Also be sure to slowly wean them off of whatever they are currently eating or you will really upset their digestive system. You also need to switch up the meals so they get a little of everything in their diet. I have six meals and I run through all of them in order throughout the week.

You'll also need to speak to your vet about the amount of food to feed your dog. Every dog is different and you will need to figure out what is best for your dog.

So, here is recipe number one. My dogs gobbled this one up and were in the kitchen for about 5 minutes afterwards, licking their bowls free of any tiny morsel that may have been left behind. I made a huge portion of this and have it stored in the fridge and freezer in meal sized portions for my two.

Meal #1:

*box of whole grain rice

*bag of frozen corn, peas, carrots (important... do NOT feed your dog corn on the cob. They can easily choke on the cob pieces)

*diced, cooked chicken pieces

*1/2 can sodium free chicken or beef broth

*1/2 package of blueberries

*6 tbs cottage cheese

1. Cook rice a little longer than the directions call for (extra couple of minutes)

2. Add vegetables and cook an additional minute

3. Mix in all other ingredients and serve at room temperature

4. Refridgerate or freeze leftovers and nuke meals just long enough to bring to room temperature.

Who got an Etsy ad??

Congrats to everyone that snagged on Etsy

ad in Bust magazine. I am so jealous!! I wish I had the money to do the same, fingers crossed I will one day. Here

are pics of the ad for anyone that got one and hasn't been able to see it yet.

I got a spotted box!

Well.... this is my second month participating in The Spotted Box. I got enough samples (60) together this month to earn my very own box. I was super excited when I saw the box sitting in my box this afternoon. I took some pictures but haven't tried anything out yet. The thing was loaded! Here is breakdown of what I got. I HIGHLY recommend this box for both buying and participating. I will post again after I try everything out and let you know how it all goes but it all looks amazing to me!









I got:

1. Cute little jewelry sample from http://www.silverhuggers.com/
2. Neat zipper pull from www.hyenacart.com/lililutu
3. Adorable pink bow from http://www.socialbutterflies.etsy.com/
4. Bookmark from http://www.babyofmine.net/
5. I'm not quite sure what they are (sorry!) but little cloth samples from http://www.weeones.biz/
6. Smell good dishwasher detergent from http://www.cleanrinse.etsy.com/
7. Neat little catnip toy from http://www.coloradocatniptoys.etsy.com/
8. Super cute felt play food from http://www.thelittlelovebug.com/
9. Way cool felt scrambled egg from http://www.felthungry.etsy.com/
10. Lotion sample from http://hyenacart.com/countrysoapsbymarlene that smells great
11. A wipe solution bug from http://www.lilbirdiebottoms.etsy.com/
12. Very cool sample of laundry detergent from http://www.simplycleanok.com/
13. Thank you card from http://www.freewebs.com/moosemountaindesigns
14. Very cute magnet from pipinghotpapers.etsy.com
15. Two really cute cards from http://www.1stcomeslove.net/
16. Coupon to use at www.hyenacart.com/2by2boutique
17. Lace ornament from http://www.flutterbydesignsgonewild.com/
18. Nice ponytail holder from http://www.butteredparsnips.etsy.com/
19. Cute green hairbow from http://www.imprettyboutique.com/
20. Cool iron on transfer from http://www.bumblebearwear.com/
21. A beaded stitch holder from http://www.memarcierenee.etsy.com/
22. Very cool melted toddler crayon from http://www.sunshinewishes.com/
23. Beautiful iron on patch from www.hyenacart.com/fishnoodles
24. Cute little candycane earrings wrapped in a lace sachet from http://www.laughingdaisy.typepad.com/
25. Smell good lotion sample from http://www.faceofthewave.com/
26. Soap sample from www.hyenacart.com/zupkozencreations
27. All natural Bar soap sample for my dogs from http://www.benanddutchess.etsy.com/

Holiday Collars!

I've started a few holiday collars but they are flying out of here as quickly as I can make them! Here are a few pictures to hold you over until I can get the new ones up. Ooohhh! I got a new camera too, much better, can you tell the difference?

New treasury

It's been a while but I finally snagged a treasury for the SEUS team. Check it out here and get in the mood for the holiday's.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=19135

Please Read if you are a pet owner!

Even if you don't have a pet, please pass this to those that do. Yesterday one of our dog agility friends experienced a tragedy and wanted me to pass a special message along to all of my dog loving friends and family.

Please tell every dog owner you know. Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled, and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden.
Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enou
gh to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.
Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees depending on each individual dog). 'However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.'

This Snopes site gives the following information: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution, check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, axanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.