FriYAY Favorites

I’m sure it’s been a drag for some of you but this week has just flown by for me. I can’t believe it’s Friday again. But I’m certainly not complaining. Let’s do another round of Friday, or should I say FriYAY, favorites to get the weekend started.

I love Hello Apparel. Their shirts are so soft and comfy and the simple messages that everyone can relate to get me every time. So it’s no surprise I was ecstatic to find out they have teamed up with Lucy & Co. pet products to make a Hello line for our furry friends. A dog wearing a shirt that says “Dog”, priceless. Not only do Ares and Chaos look super adorable in clothes, they love to wear them. And here’s the best part, today is Lucy & Co.’s birthday so doggie apparel is 50% off! You bet I scored a Dog tee for Chaos and a Hello tee for Ares. Since Chris and I both own Hello Apparel tees ourselves, now we can all match. It’s the little things that make me so happy.

Friday afternoons are for Starbucks. I look forward to treating myself and it’s become a great start to my weekend. Now what could be better than a delicious iced coffee on a summer day? One with a cute little crochet cozy. I discovered Knot Unraveled on Instagram and fell in love with the sweet little designs. And guess what? The summer sale is on so you can fancy up your coffee for just $7.

Stripes are my favorite. I would probably wear something striped every day if I didn’t think it would freak people out. I found the most adorable little black and white striped t-shirt dress here and I LOVE it! It’s easy to throw on and run errands with sandals or could be dressed up with some jewelry and wedges. The material is soft but definitely not see through, I was a little worried about that. You can’t beat the price and it literally arrived 2 days after I ordered it. Win, win.

I am a firm believer that when your home smells good, it puts you in a better mood. I always have warmers on or candles burning. Of course miss seasonal right here has to have summer scents only for another month or so and what could be more perfect than Summer Days? Candelles makes amazing scented soy wax candles that come beautifully packaged in mason jars. Yes, I’ve got this baby burning as I type and it smells like summer in a jar. If you hurry you can still get 20% off with code SUMMER20 until tomorrow when it drops to 10% off with code SUMMER10 thru 8/20. You’re welcome.

I don’t know about you guys but I love avocados. I’m always looking for different ways to eat them. A quick, healthy and yummy option I’ve been eating lately is spreading half an avocado on multigrain toast. Scramble 2 eggs whites (or whole eggs), add some diced tomatoes, some shredded mozzarella and a bit of sea salt + garlic powder and you have a nutrition packed meal. 

Let the weekending begin!

A Tail of 2 Divas

Dogs and cats are just like people in that they each have their own distinct personalities. A huge part of the fun of bringing a furbaby into your home is watching his or her unique traits come out. I cannot tell you how many times a week one of mine does something and I just wonder how I was ever entertained before them. It’s definitely like having furry little people who speak a different language in my home. And I love every minute of it.

I’ve talked a lot about Piper, Ares, Chaos and Little O individually and told you all countless stories that really showcase their personalities. So it’s probably no surprise that Piper and Ares are usually deemed most dramatic. If somebody looks at Piper wrong there’s a good chance she will hiss or start throwing punches. When Ares wants something it’s very clear that he needs it like 10 minutes ago or he’s going to die. Just picture him chirping and frantically pawing at the back door to go out even though he was happily playing around 2 seconds before.

Generally this pair is the more photogenic of the group and that may have to do with their diva like qualities. But when they are upset about something, they certainly aren’t shy about showing it. I think some of the greatest pictures of them are moments I’ve captured when they are pissed off and letting me know about it. Sure, the shots of Ares with his perfect camera ready pose and Piper looking right at me with those baby blues are amazing. But sometimes the dramatic diva ones are just as fun.

Show me your furry diva pics!

Over the River and Through the Woods

When someone asks me if I have kids my answer is always the same. Yes, of the furry variety. Regular readers and friends, you know that I very much consider myself mom to all 6 of the furry (and shelled) creatures I live with. Chris and I refer to each other as Mommy and Daddy when talking to them on a regular basis. So that makes our parents Grandma and Grandpa.

At first my mom was so against being called Grandma. But over time she’s just learned to ignore it or accept it, either way she doesn’t even flinch when I say it anymore. Ares and Chaos get very excited when we tell them they are going to see Grandma and Grandpa. Let’s be honest, they pretty much get excited to go anywhere, even the vet. But it’s an extra big deal when we go to my parents’ house and they get to come. Rules they have to abide by at home go out the window. Food Mommy and Daddy don’t ever feed them eat manages to get into their mouths. Can they run wild up and down all the steps and snoop around wherever they please? Of course. Because it’s Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

Grandmas and Grandpas of human children are known for spoiling them rotten and then giving them back to their parents. I’ve learned that furbabies are no different. When we visited over the weekend Chaos greeted my dad with half his body in his lap and later Ares hopped on the couch and stood on his chest. My mom even protested when we weren’t going to take them home leftovers from our grill out. Yes, we ended up taking home a big fat goetta dog just for Ares and Chaos. She also made sure they got some bacon. It was going to “accidentally” fall on the floor until Chris said they could do tricks for it.

The funny thing is, they seem to understand that there are a different set of rules at Grandma and Grandpa’s house (none) than at home. They always end up sleeping the night away when we get home from all the excitement. When we do have human children, there will be no chance for us to keep the spoiling at bay. Ares and Chaos will be teaching them from day 1 whose house you can get away with breaking all the rules at. But you know what, that’s what Grandmas and Grandpas are for, right?

Do your parents treat your furballs like grandchildren?

Friday Favorites

Summer is in full swing around here and since it's Fri-YAY I thought I'd share some of our favorites things lately. Most of these are going to be obvious if you've been reading the blog or following me on Instagram but I always like knowing why people love the things they love so much (and where I can get them!). So here's a little Friday love for our favorites and maybe they'll be some of yours too.

Converse Chuck Taylor Shoreline Sneaker - It took me a VERY long time to jump on board with the now oh so popular Chucks. My friend Lisa was wearing them long before they were so mainstream cool and I swore to her up and down she'd never catch me dead in them. Well, I was wrong. SO wrong. Last year I found a floral limited edition pair, fell in love and never looked back. Fast forward to this year when I got super lucky and won a pair of the slip on version. These babies are super comfortable and go with everything. I highly recommend getting a pair if you don't already have one. 

Fancy Feast Cat Food - Piper has been getting a 1/4 can of this brand of wet cat food daily (along with her dry food) since we lived back at home with my parents. I eventually found out that even though she goes crazy over the seafood flavors the most, she seems to toss her cookies after eating them almost every time. But there's nothing like some good seafood in the summertime and I can't deny her her favorites, even if it means cleaning up later.

Harbor Occasional Outdoor Dog Bed - You've probably noticed the dog beds that have resided in our living room for the past year and half in countless pictures of Ares and Chaos lounging on them. Those beds were so well loved that they finally had to go to doggie bed heaven. And now the dogs just don't know what to do without them. We've been using an old comforter but they don't feel like it's the same. And honestly I don't blame them. The beds were much comfier and definitely not eyesores. I'm now on the hunt for a bed (or 2) that could also be used outdoors. My hope is that a bed that can be used outdoors would be durable enough to stand up against all the furballs throw at it while inside and then of course be used outside as well. This one from WayFair is nice looking and neutral but also seems quality. Sure it's pricey but the amount of use it would get would be totally worth it. 

American Eagle Jeans - I have always loved distressed denim. I realize that I'm paying for ripped up jeans but there is just something about this look I'm drawn to. I can't wear them at work so they were absent in my closet for a little while, but the hiatus is over. These babies are only $25 and fit so cute. I've been wearing them on the weekends like crazy and don't plan to stop anytime soon.

Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappucino - If this doesn't scream summer I don't know what does. There is a Starbucks about a mile down the road from where I work and on Friday afternoons I like to treat myself. Typically it's my go to Skinny Vanilla Latte but every now and then a girl just needs an over the top something delicious to kick off the weekend. This seasonal favorite has been around for several years but I still get excited when it comes back out for summer. Happiness in a cup with a green straw.

Woven Pear Socks - My feet are almost always cold. Ice cold. Even in the summertime. So I tend to wear socks a lot when I'm at home. I found this brand on the Lilli & Tori website and thought they were so cute. I have the whales as well as a pair with roosters and I love, love, love them. They are so comfortable and keep my tooties warm. I definitely will be wearing them year round but how fun are the whales for summertime?!

Fruitables Dog Treats - Dogs need treats too but we like to save the high value, maybe not so good for them stuff for big things like learning a new trick or when we have to put them in uncomfortable situations. Daily training requires small treats that are delicious and still healthy. We've tried all the flavors of this brand and Ares and Chaos haven't turned down any of them. Right now we have blueberry because, if you haven't figured it out yet, I love to stay seasonal. 

Happy Weekend!

Flying Solo

Chris has been gone for work for the past week and a half so I’ve been flying solo. Of course he is missed while he’s away and having him home makes everything a million times better. But the furbabies and I have our routine (I do all the work and they watch) and it helps so much when everything is my responsibility.

 

Honestly I am so much more productive when it’s just me. I certainly don’t mean to say that when Chris is around things don’t get done, it’s just that not everything gets done. And that’s perfectly fine because we are far too busy spending time together to worry about the little things that can wait. As in the little things that can wait until he leaves again for me to tackle. I like to keep myself busy while he’s away. This past Saturday morning I was up just after 6:00AM. It wasn’t my intention but a certain orange kitty was hungry and demanding breakfast. I was awoken to paws underneath the bedroom door and VERY loud meowing. After a few minutes of me trying to sleep through it I think he got fed up and started throwing himself into the door. At least that’s what it sounded like. So I was up. By 9:30AM the dogs had been walked, I had a workout and a shower under my belt, dresses I had altered and Starbucks picked up. I saw the time as I was loading coffee and blueberry muffins into the car and thought who am I? 

It’s nice to be caught up on cleaning, laundry and errands but relaxing is important too. The furbabies are a parent down so I try to make sure each of them are getting enough of my attention. Ares can get downright mopey when his daddy isn’t around to fawn over him and Chaos doesn’t like having to share mommy so much. O and Piper fight over who gets to sit on my lap on the couch, because heaven forbid they should sit on me together. I do my best to see to it that each furball is getting enough love and no one is feeling left out. And among all the business of working, dog walking, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and snuggling, I take a few minutes for myself.

 

 

 

Sure, we do okay when Chris is gone, and lots of things get done, but we like it so much better when he’s home. Thankfully our little family will be reunited this weekend and Goetta Fest (for all you Cincy area peeps) is on the horizon. I don’t plan to partake in the eating but Chris will do enough of that for the both of us. I am however looking forward to hanging out together and letting the little things pile back up!

Carrots vs. Cupcakes: Finding the Balance

I received an e-mail from a reader who pointed out to me that I often talk about living a healthy lifestyle myself as well as for the furballs. But recently my posts have included ice cream for the dogs and beer and donuts for me. Oy. This person, who chooses to remain anonymous, isn’t calling me out as a hypocrite but instead just asking me to explain how I find the balance. So today’s post will be just that.

I’ve enjoyed eating healthy foods since I was a kid. Thankfully I truly like fruits, veggies and whole grains so making these choices on a daily basis isn’t usually difficult for me. I was an athlete when I was younger so my exercise was built into those activities. In high school I ate my fair share of junk on the weekends with friends but at home my mom kept lots of healthy foods around so I was still mostly eating nutritious meals. I didn’t work out but thanks to a fast metabolism and good genes I stayed slim. And then there was college. My metabolism slowed and I was constantly stuffing my face with late night pizza, calorie laden cocktails and hangover breakfasts. I noticed I had to buy my jeans up a couple sizes and I was basically a fluffed up version of my former self. Enough was enough. I joined the gym, read up on nutrition and changed my thought process when making food choices.

Now, at 28, I am fairly strict with myself during the week. I keep all my meals healthy, pack lunch for work every day, count cardio as walking the dogs and add in about 20-30 sessions of strength training 3-4 times a week. My rule is, if I want something bad for me during the week I won’t eat it but if I still want it on the weekend, bring it on. Special occasions like birthdays and holidays are a free for all. When Friday night comes if I want a beer I have a beer, or 3. Saturday I will generally eat healthy, at least for breakfast and lunch. But from Saturday night on I eat and drink what I want. Sometimes I still choose healthy foods and sometimes I don’t. Same goes for the dogs. They get their portioned breakfast and dinner of Blue Buffalo dog food and only small treats for training during the week. We walk every day that we can, including Saturday morning, but take Sundays off. During the weekend regular meals are still on the menu but more exciting treats make their way in as well just for fun.

What about Chris, you ask? Well, he really loves his junk food. And when he was still single, he ate it all day every day. He has the metabolism of a 2 year old. My husband is not fond of fruits and veggies but I have found easy ways to get them into his diet. Toss veggies in with eggs, chicken tacos or whole wheat mac n’ cheese and he’ll eat them right up. Put berries in whole wheat pancakes or muffins and they will be gobbled. When he travels he eats whatever is available but at home, he will eat healthier meals.

I firmly believe in living a healthy lifestyle, for both people and dogs. But I also believe in cheese fries, donuts, cocktails & ice cream in moderation. It keeps me sane. We don’t ever feed our dogs off our plates but we do let them indulge in made for doggie treats now and then and the very occasional human food treat, like ice cream. If you don’t ever give into a craving or reward yourself for something good, I think that’s when you feel like you’re on a diet. This is a way of life so it can’t feel too restrictive. Every month at work we celebrate all the birthdays of employees for that month with free cupcakes. I’m talking about the bakery cupcakes with the giant piles of icing on top. Normally I can pass because I know I can have a cupcake on Saturday if I really want to. But there has been a time or two that I just really wanted a damn cupcake. So I ate one. And then I went home and worked out and ate a healthy dinner.

So, finding the balance isn’t always easy, and it won’t be the same for everyone. This is just the way we live and what works for us. I don’t have any training on nutrition or fitness for people or dogs, just knowledge acquired over years of my own research. The goal is to keep myself and my family healthy from the inside out so we can have long, happy lives. If anyone would like to see future posts on this topic, please let me know.

Now put down that cupcake and go eat some carrots! Just kidding, eat the cupcake and then eat the carrots later J.