Search Results for: blog homemade dog treats

Scrapping the State Fair

Last week we took our annual summer trip to the State Fair. We gorged on crazy deep-fried food-on-a-stick creations, rode the Sky Glider and learned exactly how a pig pees. Interesting stuff. I have way more than enough photos and memorabilia to craft an entire memory book of our family trip. I also jotted down some funny anecdotes for journaling purposes and scored some cool stickers from various vendors to add as embellishments. In between the grazing and game-playing, we spent a fair amount of time exploring the animal exhibits, and even witnessed a doggie wedding presided over by an … Continue reading →

Get the Kids Involved in Holiday Gift Giving

The other day my 6-year-old daughter informed me of her plans to raid her father’s coin container, so she could make my Dyson dreams come true for Christmas. I strongly discouraged her thoughtful, yet immoral plan, explaining that he had already gifted me with a vacuum cleaner a few years back and that I didn’t think he had $500 worth of coins in his container anyway. Still, the fact that my daughter actually thought of someone other than herself this holiday season got me thinking about ways parents can foster a child’s spirit of giving. Instead of choosing, wrapping and … Continue reading →

Rent Your Children for Extra Cash

This gets listed under one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” ideas. It is such as simple idea, and yet it can make you some easy money. Making ends meet can be pretty tough right now, and our kids tend to add to the burden with all of those extra expenses. Besides food, clothing and medical cares, there are toys, activities, school fees, etc. It really adds up. Kids really make you spend. Everyone should be involved in frugal living in a family, and that includes children as well. If everyone is on board with saving money and … Continue reading →

Indoor Activities for Stir-Crazy Pets

Bad weather can be tough on pets AND owners — your usual walks or yard time are cut short, sometimes for days on end. How can you keep your pets entertained and yourself sane? Here are a few ideas. Homemade toys can provide a few minutes (or hours) of entertainment so you can get some peace. I’ve been stuffing treats into paper towel tubes and then taping the ends shut, so the dogs have to chew or rip them open. Moose figured out that he can tear the tube on the seam and get to his treats quickly; Lally likes … Continue reading →

Feeding Tips from the B&B

It’s not rare for clients to ask you for pet care advice when you work in a pet-centric business. This morning, I was chatting with a cat owner about ways she could encourage her kitty to gain weight. One of the things I suggested was good old baby food — a standby for our guests who have food allergies, dietary restrictions, or sensitive stomachs. Plain meat baby food is usually appealing to cats but still gentle on the stomach… so it’s often a winner when a guest won’t eat or isn’t feeling quite right. The client was surprised that she … Continue reading →

Halloween Costumes for Cats

Last year I wrote about Halloween costumes for dogs, Halloween food goodies for pets, and Halloween toys for pets, which included a tub full of toys for cats, but I didn’t specifically cover Halloween products for cats. So this year I thought I’d shake it up and write about Halloween costumes for cats. Halloween costumes for cats? Really? Unless my two were sedated (heavily I might add) there’s no way they’d let me dress them up. Especially not in most of the costumes I’ve seen which all seem to include head gear as part of the getup. But if your … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Month in Review: August 2008

With August passed, it will be hard to hold on to summer, but fortunately, we have a lot of memories of the “dog days.” We also have lots of great articles about saving money, something that is pretty important these days. Take a look at what was posted in August. August 1st Frugal Living Month in Review: July 2008 July went by so quickly for us! There were so many fun and frugal activities and events for us to explore, from a science camp to free movies and sand sculpting. I hope your July was equally fun and frugal. Summer … Continue reading →

No Bones about It

I have an ongoing beef with residents of this apartment complex who don’t treat it like a home. The people who don’t pick up after their dogs are a big part of my irritation; people who are irresponsible with garbage are another. I’ve lost count of how many time Moose has found some kind of vaguely edible treat on the ground — bread, fast food wrappers, bones, and more. I hope the litter is accidental, but when I think of how often Moose has crunched down on a chicken bone in the parking lot, I fear that it’s not. I’ll … Continue reading →

Welcoming Puppy: Throwing a Shower

Since October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, perhaps you’ve decided to do that –welcome a dog into your family. Getting a new dog, be it a puppy or adult, is an exciting occasion. One worth celebrating. Why not do just that by throwing a puppy shower? What a Puppy Shower Is If you’ve ever attended (or maybe planned) a wedding or baby shower, it’s the same thing, just applied to a pet. It can be as elaborate an affair as you want, or you can keep it small and intimate. You can also invite other dogs to your party … Continue reading →

A Shopping We Will Go: Pet Easter Baskets and Bonnets

For kids, Easter basket ideas abound, from frugal, homemade, and simple, to the fillers and fun items that bring so much color and delight. But these days the Easter Bunny doesn’t just hop into town for the kids. Peter Cottontail comes bearing goodies for dogs and cats, too. (Not to mention the pets are dressing for the occasion by getting decked out in Easter bonnets and such.) So where can you find Easter goodies for your pet? I’ve listed some of my favorite shops and buys below: From Muttropolis • Furrberry Plaid Belt Dress: I’m not one to dress my … Continue reading →