Showing posts with label Canine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canine. Show all posts
Jan 30, 2016

Scrumptious Winter Goodies









Hi! Is everyone still hibernating like I am? I love that it's warming up a bit, but it's still cold and I still plan on a couple more months of hibernating. One of my favorite things to do during hibernation is read, and I love finding new books to get excited about. And when I do, I love to tell EVERYONE about them!

Since I've been a bit MIA from my blog, I have a ton of things to share today!

In the Bookworm department:


Curious Faith by Logan Wolfram from NetGalley.com, This book is exactly what I needed! Which, I'm sure if you're in a spiritual lull, you'll say the same thing.  Logan Wolfram refreshes your faith in a way that makes it feel natural, not forced. You walk away from this book with a sense of purpose, your faith is renewed, you have an inquisitive mind about the bible and God, and you dive into learning as much as possible just as you did when you learned it for the first time. This is a book that I will keep and read over and over, throughout the years when I need that extra bit of refreshing.


Now Your Speaking My Language by Gary Chapman from NetGalley.com,  Mr. Gary Chapman always says exactly what you need to hear in a way that rocks your core, and this book is no different! I believe that marriage doesn't get good, you have to work to make it good. And the biggest difficulty in marriage is communication. In this book, Gary Chapman teaches you what the bible says about husband and wife communication, and what a huge role intimacy between husband and wife plays in your marriage. I would suggest reading this to all married couples and even to some engaged couples. It never hurts to put forth effort in building a stronger marriage.


God is with You Everyday by Max Lucado from BookLookBlogger.com  Y'all, this little, or I should say thick devotional is amazing! Max Lucado is a personal favorite author of mine, so I may be a little biased when I say that this is the best devotional I've ever read! Messages are short, sweet, uplifting and perfect! I would recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a great devotional to keep in their collection for years to come.

101 Family Meal-Time Devotions by Greg Johnson from NetGalley.com,  I love a good conversation starter and this book is chalk full of them! But, not just any starter, these are family devotions! I love the fact that instead of everyone looking like a zombie in front of the tv screen, you can actually use dinner time to bond with your family over Christian devotionals. These devotionals don't have a correct answer, but rather encourages discussions amongst the family. The "What If" situations will provide even the shyest person a good prompt to speak up and enjoy the dinner table discussion! 



In the Doggie department:

                                               

 Dr. Harvey's Sweet Potate'r Chews from Chewy.com  These treats are the best in the world according to sweet Ginny Patrice! She LOVES sweet potato anything, but these are big slices of dehydrated sweet potato, so they're quite chewy and leathery, taking her a while to gobble it up. It says on the package that they are the natural alternative to rawhides and other bone types, and I'd agree! I'd much rather give my doggie these than rawhides! I will be purchasing these again, or, at least, making my own.

 In Beauty Products:


Winter wreaks havoc on my skin! My hands and cuticles become so dry and gross! Influenster was kind enough to send me a full sized bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion to try.  They say it's for sensitive skin, clinically proven to heal very dry skin in 5 days, and is very rich. Honestly, it felt a bit watery to me. It didn't feel very rich at all. And it took a few minutes to absorb, which I don't care for. I also am trying to get away from all the chemicals in my beauty items, so I don't want petroleum type of products in my home. I'm sure it may work for some folks, but for me, this is a no go. 
*All items were given to me complimentary, but opinions are honestly how I felt about the materials.*

 And that's it for now! What good books have you read this Winter? Comment below!
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Oct 12, 2015

I'll take a piece of Wisconsin, please and thank you!

Back in August, we traveled 8 hours to Northern Wisconsin for the annual fishing trip and it didn't disappoint. Much needed fresh air, beautiful trees, gorgeous lake, and even a bald eagle made an appearance! And, of course, Ginny had a ball, even if she was dog tired everyday... yes, I went there.

 Take a stroll through our photos...the many, many photos. You were warned!




















A photo posted by @theartsycajun on

Where is your go to place when you need a heavy dose of nature? Comment below!
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Jun 17, 2015

Allergy Blues, ahem, Reds.



Operation Healthy GinnySnuggles has commenced!

Ginny Patrice (yes, her middle name came from Robin Scherbatsky off of How I Met Your Mother, yelling at her co-worker- Patrice)

Weight: 36 lbs.
Yoga Breaths: Pretty frequently, but now panting like a mad woman.
Food:  Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon recipe (can find great deals off of Chewy.com)
Feedings:  Twice a day, 1.5 cups each
Exercise: 3 walks a day, 10 mins each. And about 30 minutes of play time inside (tug of war, chasing the laser pointer)
Treats:  Wellness TruFood Chicken, Beets, & Coconut oil, and the Lamb, Purple Carrots & Coconut Oil 


It's so warm out, and I'm so thankful for that! This past Winter was BRUTAL, so I'm happy to get outdoors. Couple of things, though-

  1. I have horrible allergies and anything longer than 30 minutes with a high pollen count day, and that's an instant migraine. And those aren't pretty, folks.
  2. Ginny has horrible allergies and her beautiful little eyes get all red and leaky. Then, her pale pink skin gets bright red- everywhere. She itches so bad that she's even more clingy because she knows if she comes to me to cuddle, I will scratch her. 
Needless to say, we both have been doped up with benadryl for a month now.  I just don't want to stop our walks because it helps my Fibromyalgia to move my muscles at least 30 minutes a day (aside from regular house keeping chores/exercise) and it helps my morale to get some nature therapy. PLUS, if you remember from last Ginny check in, girlfriend needs to tone up, (don't we all) so we're trying to not let our allergies get in the way of all this!

That being said, I think if we limit our other allergy triggers, then we can tolerate a few more precious sunshiny minutes outside. My other main triggers, besides everything under the sun, are dust, dust mites, and bed mites, oh, and Ginny. Yeah, I'm a sucker for punishment. So for me, it's vacuuming & dusting every.single.day, changing our bed linens every.other.day, and by doing these, it's *in theory* going to give me those extra minutes outside. 

*Chewy.com gave me this product to review. Ginny's thoughts (as well as mine) are 100% honest opinions*

Ginny's triggers, aside from pollen is grain in her dog food. SO, we've kept her on the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon & rice, which is grain free. But, you know every dog needs treats, so this month, I've tried the Wellness TruFood treats from Chewy.com .  She's in LOVE with the Chicken, Beets & Coconut Oil one as well as the Lamb, Purple Carrots and Coconut oil. These treats are small, so I don't feel as bad giving her a couple throughout the day, after our walks. She gobbles these things right up! 


I know, you're reading this and thinking- those gals are a hot mess. And we are. I'm not arguing this. But if you have any other tips about avoiding allergies, we are all ears! Leave a comment below! 
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May 29, 2015

Books & Bones

**I received these products complimentary. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**


Yep, you heard right, I have books and bones on the blog today! It's time to review a few things!

From Chewy.com
   First up, dental chews from Chewy.com. They sent Ginny the grain free Greenies Dental Dog Treat. I tell you, when I say she couldn't wait until I opened the box, then the bag, and finally gave her one- is a major understatement. Girlfriend was drooling a huge puddle on my carpet before I could get the bag open! I've never seen her drool so much before! She gobbled it up so fast, so I know it's delicious to her. And since she is shedding her Winter hair, AND battling her pollen allergy, I was so happy that these particular bones were grain free because she also has an allergy to grain! The last thing this doggie needs is more allergy/shedding trouble! All in all, if Ginny could talk, she'd give these a 10+!

   Next up are the book reviews. This first book has set my world upside down! I review it from Tyndale Publishers

The Set Apart Woman: God's Invitation to Sacred Living by Leslie Ludy


Synopsis:  In The Set-Apart Woman, women of all ages will be encouraged to stay grounded in Jesus amid the many distractions and temptations of their daily lives. Biblical truths will help readers understand what it means to live the consecrated life, set apart for God’s purposes. Readers will apply these truths to practical areas of struggle that women face on a daily basis, such as sinful attitudes and patterns and other hindrances to our souls.

 My opinion:  Give yourselves at least a good 2 weeks to 1 month for this, you will need it! This book isn't a light read, and it isn't designed to be so. It's going to get under your skin, and toss your life up in the air in the hopes that, along with your help- God puts the pieces where they need to be. And that's exactly what it did! It has taught me so much by pointing out what I've allowed to be wrong in my priorities and taught me what God wants for me, allowing me to put the pieces exactly where they need to be. I will sing the praises of this book to everyone who will listen! 
Lastly, I've read from Blogging with Books.org, 

 Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan D. Chittister

Synopsis:   “There is a part of the soul that stirs at night, in the dark and soundless times of day, when our defenses are down and our daylight distractions no longer serve to protect us from ourselves,” writes beloved author, Joan Chittister. “It’s then, in the still of life, when we least expect it, that questions emerge from the damp murkiness of our inner underworld…These questions do not call for the discovery of data; they call for the contemplation of possibility.” 
   In words as wise as they are inspiring, Between the Dark and the Daylight explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart. These are the paradoxical—and often frustrating—moments when our lives feel at odds with everything around us. 
   Only by embracing the contradictions, Chittister contends, may we live well amid stress, withstand emotional storms, and satisfy our yearnings for something transcendent and real. By delving into the chaos, this book guides us through the questions that seemed easier to avoid and enlightens what has been out of focus.    With her signature elegance, wit, and spirit, the bestselling author of The Gift of Years and Following the Path opens our eyes and hearts in these times of confusion. With simple and poignant meditations, Between the Dark and the Daylight reveals how we can better understand ourselves, one another, and God. 

 My opinion:  This was another heavy hitter book. Joan D. Chittister doesn't hold any punches when it comes to telling you how real God is. She will challenge you, but doing so in such an inspiring way that you feel many emotions in the same paragraph! Her style of writing is absolutely breathtaking, so allow some time to devour the sentences. Grab a pen and highlighter so you can make notes without skipping a beat! 


  There you go! If you're looking for good for your doggie treats, or books that really shake up your faith, I've got you covered!

What are you raving about lately?

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May 15, 2015

These Wild Moments



Happy Friday!  I'm sharing my favorite gal, Ginny! She's been extra needy this week since she is shedding her Winter coat and she knows that if she comes to you all cute, that you will scratch her! Girlfriend knows how to get what she wants! Oh, if you haven't already, go check out her very own Instagram hashtag-  #GinnySnuggles. She doesn't disappoint in the cuteness factor!


Don't you just want to cuddle that hot mess?!
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Mar 19, 2015

We got dog treats, coats, moisturizer and some salads here

*This post contains affiliate links and items that were given to me for free, in exchange for my honest opinion.


 While I thoroughly enjoy working with companies and getting to review amazing products, for free, and let you know what I think about them, I know that too many product reviews a week can really turn away readers.

 So, I decided that just one post a week, most likely on Wednesdays, with all of my reviews crammed into it will do just fine. This is that post, just a day late.

  First up is a product that came to me from Influenster, the Neutrogena Hydro Gel. I was, as always a little skeptical of products like this. I have the typical T-zone type of skin, so I don't like slathering moisturiser all over my face because it tends to feel like too much gunk on my face, and never completely soaks in. And the last thing I want on a hot Summer day is a face as shiny as a new penny.


  This product promises that it is light, and soak in quickly- your perfect Summer moisturiser. I have tried it for 2 weeks now, off an on, and I do like it. I feel like at night, it's perfect. For the morning, I use a moisturizer with SPF, so I had been in the market for a lighter one for nighttime. I checked prices in my local stores, and it's a tad expensive for the amount you get, $29 for the bottle. At least, pricey for me, but I did check and it's cheaper online, so I may have to order from there.  I have yet to check the ingredients on Ewg.org- Skindeep to see exactly what it is I'm putting on my face, but I think if that checks out, this is my new summer moisturizer!




  Next up on the list is this gorgeously girly coat from eShakti.  You may have noticed a couple of dress reviews going around the blogosphere over the last year, and there is good reason for that. This company is awesome! You choose what you like, and then they customize it to your exact shape! I mean, for a tall girl who isn't a bean pole, this is music to my ears!

  The ordering process was a breeze, the hardest part was choosing only ONE thing! And then, of course, measuring yourself to make sure your item is going to fit perfectly.  This coat was so comfy, I feel like I can wear it on an all day outing and not feel like a giant marshmallow smothered in layers. Very well made and  oh so pretty. Once it warms up a bit more, I'm going to put some black leggings and my black knee high boots under that baby and be able to get actually cute sightseeing photos rather than the old black (or green) Winter coat hogging up the photo.





 I had ordered a dress first of all, and it turned out to be too big once I actually got it.  I contacted them, and they were happy to send over a return postage sticker, and were so helpful when I ordered the coat instead. Good customer service saved this review! I mean, the coat is nice, but what is nice things when you have tons of trouble with the company?



Another thing I reviewed from Chewy.com is these Blue Buffalo Dental Health Chews. Y'all, Ginny devoured this big bone in mere seconds! Girlfriend couldn't get through it fast enough... which caused her to hack for the majority of the day to cough up a piece that wasn't chewed properly! I know it's for their teeth, but this was just a little too big for her, so I'm cutting them into smaller pieces and also researching the doggie heimlich and CPR... ya know... just in case :) Chewy also included a little squeaky toy for her, which she loves but she's so awkward she doesn't know quite how to play with the rubbery things yet. She's all about the cloth squeakers. Never the less, I will be buying these for her when she runs out, just the smaller sizes!




Lastly, I have a new book from Blogging for Books.org.  If you haven't signed up with them, you are really missing out. Just this year alone, I have about $100+ worth of cookbooks from them, and they are all so sweet! OK, ok... the book I received now is Salad Love by David Bez.  This guy tried a salad a day for a year. Now, I'm going to admit here that some of these salads sound kinda wonky to me. I do take calculated risks in the kitchen, but some ingredients just don't sound like they'd mesh well together. Maybe I just need to shut my mouth and try them to know for sure!
  The book is thick, with heavy pages and gorgeous photos of the salads on every page. I find that nice so you at least know what you're dealing with! Recipes seem simple enough, some of the ingredients are a bit pricey, especially if you are feeding more than one person, but all in all it's an okay cookbook.



The one thing I feel this book was missing is calorie counts. It isn't a necessity, but I am going to more salads because I want to eat healthier and lose some lbs, and this book doesn't have that kind of info. Not a bad book, and one I will definitely break out when I'm tired of the same ole salads, but it won't be my go-to for salads like I was hoping it would be.


What are you loving lately? 
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Mar 3, 2015

Operation Healthy #GinnySnuggles and a GIVEAWAY!




  In the spirit of us cleaning up our act meal wise and trying to get healthier, I've also noticed Ginny has packed on a few pounds. Homegirl does these loud yoga breaths either because she's too chubby and/or because she really enjoys folks loving on her. Either way, it won't kill her to clean up her act, too! So, I began checking out her dog food--- I'll save you some time and say, it was pure crap! Also, this little round lady sheds like nobody's business. Don't expect to come into our home and leave without a nice fur coat of Ginny hair!

  We also noticed her scratching a lot and asked the vet what the deal was. It's a food allergy, most likely from grain, and she recommended a fish based, grain free diet. I'm not sure if you are familiar with dog food, but the ingredients are crazy! Most dog foods have corn as the first ingredient, which means they are mostly corn. I became determined to find one that would help her skin/shedding problems AND be good for her, but I'm not quite ready to do the whole cook-veggies-and-meat-for-your-dog thing, so I spend hours researching everything I could read. Ultimately, I found Blue Wilderness food to fit our specifications, and it seems to be working!

  Now, I feel like all this work I've done shouldn't go to waste, and since Ginny is my fur child (and spoiled beyond repair) I thought I'd start a new blog series:

Operation Healthy #GinnySnuggles 
Find her on Instagram! 

 Yes, girlfriend is going to get healthy, and y'all are going to read about every other month or so!


Ginny Patrice (yes, her middle name came from Robyn Sherbatsky off of How I Met Your Mother, yelling at her co-worker- Patrice)

Weight: 36 lbs.
Yoga Breaths: Pretty frequently
Food:  Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon recipe (can find great deals off of Chewy.com)
Feedings:  Twice a day, 1.5 cups each
Exercise: 3 walks a day, 10 mins each. And about 30 minutes of play time inside (tug of war, chasing the laser pointer)
Treats:  Right now it's Pedigree treats, but I'm thinking it should change as soon as these are gone.


My goals are to share with you how I'm going to get this lazy doggie in shape and healthy so I can have as many years with her as possible! And, since I love animals so much, I have a GIVEAWAY for you thanks to the nice folks at Chewy.com 

This is what you get:

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Displaying bluewildernessduckfood.png

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats Duck Biscuits Grain-Free Dog Treats, 10-oz bag

Displaying bluewildernessducktreat.png

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Bones Regular Dental Chews Grain-Free Dog Treats, 10-oz bag
Displaying bluewildernessdental.png



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the contest!

(Chewy.com sponsored giveaway) 
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Dec 29, 2014

Christmas Recap, Y'all

Well hello there! I know it's Monday, and that stinks! The Mondays after a holiday break are just the WORST! This particular Monday, I am dealing with a fresh case of the cruds, which is no fun at all! The official worst! So, let's recap our Christmas break and relive fun times!

This Christmas, we made the brave decision to drive to my parents house, yes, you heard me right, DRIVE, all 1000 miles with a doggie that gets car sick, myself who's body is against her, and a Mr. who doesn't seem alive before 11am. Yeah, this was either going to go two ways- bad or really bad!

The Mr. takes his morning sleeping time seriously!


Poor puppy is so out of it, she uses the car basket for a pillow...

We made it in 15 hours or so, drunk Ginny was drooling or snotting all over her pillows and blankets in the back, the Jeep is less than fuel efficient, so it was a lot of stops at sketchy gas stations, and I was doing everything in my power to NOT catch every truck driver germ in the world. There may or may not have been acrobatics to avoid touching surfaces.

Look at that drool!

Once at my parents, we had glorious plans of venturing out to New Orleans for sightseeing and going to my favorite beignet place- Cafe du Monde. We were going to shoot guns, slosh around in our rubber boots, let Ginny run wild over acres and acres of nothing, and just have a down home Christmas... umm... yeah, not so much.

After the trip, the next day I was dead. I just lounged around and did nothing all day. We chatted with my folks and my Mama cooked for us, which, let's face it, Mama meals are the best when you're not feeling well! I was in incredible pain, but didn't even have the energy to get up and try to distract myself, so I wallowed. After that, it was helping with things they needed to do, organizing and such. I still had a couple of totes to go through from when I poured all my belongings into them before jetting off to live in Hawaii. We also made a couple of wreaths, which made Mama happy!


We talked, ate, talked more, ate more, talked more... this pretty much continued until it was time to get out and do things! We went to Noel Acadian au Village in Lafayette, La. This is one of my favorite sights. The church there is absolutely stunning, and when they light it up with hundreds of lights, it's breathtaking. I make it a priority to go whenever I'm down there for Christmas.



Blue dog decorated house.
An original Blue Dog from George Rodrigue. 




Christmas carols being played made the magic even greater.



The next big event is when my sister and all my niece and nephews come over. It's a house full of noise and craziness, and I love it! I stir them up and we have a ball! But, while Dad was prepping food for gumbo, he decides he doesn't need to use a cutting board to cut frozen chicken, and does it over the sink with his hands, and... you guessed it... sliced the pad of a finger nearly off! It looked like a horror scene and he was just going to throw a band aid on it & keep on trucking! I convinced him to go to the ER when the bleeding was really bad, which he insisted he didn't need. When the Doctor said it would've kept on bleeding until after Christmas (her words exactly) I did a little "I told ya so" dance and they stitched him up as best they could and wrapped it. I tell ya, it's not a holiday unless someone goes to the ER!
He insisted on driving, this man is a mess!

Niece and Ginny just hanging out.


We had lots of giggles and cuddles from the nephews, as well as the nephew-doggie! Andy is my brother's service dog, and when he was allowed to cuddle, that's all he wanted to do, regardless if there was room for both of us in the recliner!


Ginny also had a blast being off her leash for the first time. She listened pretty well, but when she ventured too close to the pond, which, most likely has an alligator in it, she didn't listen fast enough for my liking!


That night, we bundled up and ventured outside to pop fireworks. My reaction time was too slow to catch most of the pops, but I did manage to get this one of the Mr. and it's pretty cool!



It was a great time. And thankfully we made it there and back in one piece. I don't know if we'll ever drive again, but it was an experience, that's for sure! I did capture some gorgeous views, although all of these were taken with my phone, it still gives you an idea.





Now, I'm still unpacking and organizing, despite waking up with the crud this morning. When it rains, it pours folks. Good thing I can swim! (Just keep swimming... oh come on, you know you were thinking it, too!)

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