peeves.

A few friends and I were talking the other day about the things that really annoy us simply because they drive our dogs CRAZY. I've found that I can't really classify these things as "pet peeves", but I also can't classify them as "people peeves"... so I've settled on just calling them Peeves. Am I missing any?

1. Dogs in cars who bark out the window. Safety hazard for me and Claire!! She gets so irritated and gets all jumpy, and then I have to shield her from bouncing off the sidewalk into the street. Roll up your windows, people, or leave your dog at home!
2. People in cars who bark out the window. Yup. You're an idiot. Show some respect.
3. Small animals with tails. Squirrels. Cats. Chipmunks. Groundhogs (we saw one a few weeks ago). They should hibernate forever. Or at least exist in a wide open field so that Claire can chase them safely without me having to worry about all the traffic.
4. All the traffic. I'm sure y'all can agree, whether you have a dog or not.
5. An inability to climb trees. If she could, it would make #3 a lot easier. It would also be a huge help when the neighborhood kids play frisbee with her and get it stuck waaaay up in the branches.
6. An inability to eat chocolate. I like sharing snacks with Claire. And when I make delicious things like brownies and cookies, it hurts me to see her big brown eyes staring up at me when I know that she can't have the chocolate...
7. The depth of the PB jar. If it were short and stout like a teapot, her tongue could reach the bottom. But instead, she can only get a good half of what's left on the sides, and there's all that PB on the bottom that she just can't reach. It's such a tease.
8. Leashes. Roaming free would be much more fun for Claire, but I just tell her that she's the one taking ME for a walk, and that I'd get lost finding our way back without her. Makes me feel better.
9. Loud people. Calm the heck down!! Bring it from a 10 to a 2!! Claire is getting stressed out, and my ears are ringing!
10. Lack of personal space. Claire and I hate this -- me with strange people (airplanes give me anxiety because of this), and Claire with other dogs (aka: most puppies). Back it on up and trust that yes, we can still see and hear you from an arms' length away.

There are, of course, more things that could be added to this list. Give me some time and you may see a Part 2 sooner or later. Did I miss any big ones?

the holistic dog.

I started using doTerra essential oils about a month ago to help ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Both illnesses can be hard to get under control, and sleep issues are not only a symptom but also a perpetuating cause of flares.

Because of this, I first dipped my toes into the doTerra waters by purchasing lavender and a blend called Serenity. Before bed each night, I apply Serenity to the bottoms of my feet (the oils are more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream that way) and lavender to my neck and wrists.

This stuff works, y'all. But that's a different story for a different time (email me if you are interested in hearing more).

After a few nights, I noticed that, every time I opened the bottle of lavender, Claire's eyes would pop right open and her tail would start wagging. Every time. So, I began putting some lavender on her chest and behind her ears before putting her to bed. Since I started using it on her, I've noticed that she has a much easier time relaxing and falls asleep more quickly.

I started doing some research, and it turns out that you can use a number of oils on dogs for so many different things. Claire had another bout of acute pancreatitis last week and I rubbed marjoram and lemon on her tummy and between her paw pads to help with the pain. Lemongrass and peppermint combined makes a great insect repellent, as does the Purify blend. The combination of lemon, peppermint, and lavender provide great allergy relief (and I'll be starting both of us on this regimen early next week). Clary Sage treats dry skin. Digest Zen treats nausea and vomiting. Frankincense and lavender/Serenity calm stressed out dogs. THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS!!

I'm really excited about this discovery of doTerra, and it's worked so well for me and Claire that I'm now a Wellness Advocate for them -- after only a few weeks of being introduced to their products. If you have any questions about what essential oils might work for you and/or your dog, let me know and I'm happy to help! It's worth a try, right?

these are my confessions.

My sister sent me a link to this yesterday - the signs that you treat your dog better than you treat yourself. If you haven't seen it yet, you MUST check it out because the pictures are awesome. Here's what I have to say about the whole thing:

1. You shiver half the night because you let them steal all the blankets. Truth. I also sleep curled up in a ball because she tends to sprawl out in the middle of the bed.
2. They have their own personal tablet to watch animal shows on. Um, no, that would be weird. She uses the TV in our bedroom so she can get comfy and relax. Also, Animal Planet has some shows that are not age-appropriate for Claire, so she tends to watch The Food Network.
3. More people show up to their birthday party than to yours.  Again, truth. People and dogs. The neighborhood pups aren't willing to come to mine...
4. You take your job super seriously but you never get mad when they slack off at theirs. Yes. I mean, how can you get mad at that sweet little face?!
5. You sing them lullabies to help them get to sleep... every night. Well, I sing along with the Spotify playlist that I made for her. She finds The Civil Wars very soothing.
6. You pay top dollar for their groomer but you haven't been to a hairdresser in ten years. She has short fur so she doesn't need a trim, but she does get "manicures" - and I haven't been to get my nails done in a really long time... Pretend you aren't looking the next time you see me.
7. You took the time to teach them to surf, but you can barely swim. Not true; I'm a Cape Cod girl, so I love the water! Though I did take up running because it's Claire's favorite thing to do.
8. You take the day off work to make sure they don’t overheat on the hottest day of the year. I have done this in the past. Thankfully I won't have to do this at the job I have now because I can work from home and personally make sure that Claire is comfortable with the temperature set on the AC control.
9. You spend your life savings on emergency surgery for them and would definitely do it again. A few things about this: (a) I'm a social worker, therefore I don't make enough to have savings, and (b) I'd cash out the ol' 401K if I needed to. But praise God that she hasn't needed emergency surgery because my heart would break for her!
10. Your significant other is convinced you love them more. I don't  have a significant other. Probably because everyone knows that nobody puts Baby in the corner. No second place for my girl!
11. You take them to the dog park everyday after work instead of going out and having fun with human people. I did this every day for the first three years of her life - and I met some of my good friends because of it (humans, not dogs). Now she tends to have more low-key afternoons since she's a mature 4-year-old.
12. You sleep on the floor with them when they're not feeling well. I have done this on the few occasions that Claire was too sick to come to bed. When she had pancreatitis, she couldn't get off the couch one night, so she slept there and I slept on the floor next to her.
13. You spend more money on toys for them than your parents spent on you as a child. Hahaha! When we were home on Cape Cod, even my mother commented on the endless supply of toys!
14. You spent more time stressing out about their doggy wedding to the neighbor’s dog than your own. Not applicable, people! Besides, the neighbor's dog hates Claire. And Claire's many boyfriends would be jealous...
    
    

human obedience class [a shared post]

"Welcome to human obedience class,the class will meet every Tuesday night for four weeks,
do not bring humans who do not like other humans,
or cannot communicate in a civil way, this means
no Congressmen, people of the left or right, bankers,
tech support or customer service reps or
radio or TV talk show hosts.
We will teach basic obedience:
come when called, stay when told, feed when commanded.
The class will instruct you on  basic obedience:
how to get humans to stop
when you want to sniff something, pee on a bush, growl at a squirrel
or a cat, walk in a crooked line, throw a ball when looked in the eye
and given the command of three barks. How to make a  human take you into
bed, let you on a sofa, buy those gourmet bones.
In class two, we will learn how to maintain eye contact with humans,
triggering the "guilt response," where humans say "awww, puppy"
and offer a treat, a hug, walk or a meal.
In the third class, we shall learn to move pull humans along a path while
they curse and shout and make curious noises. We will
teach them to wait patiently while we sniff for food and sniff other dogs.
Class four is about learning to not emotionalize humans.
They are not like dogs,
they have poor instincts, are easily confused,
possess few natural hunting or survival skills,
and generally impaired senses of smell. It is impossible to train them
well if they are emotionalized, they are simple, elemental creatures,
very needy, with very short attention spans. They are not only
willing to be manipulated by dogs, they seem to love and need it.
Classes are important if you wish to live with humans.
Training is not about obedience, but communication.
We need to show them how to be safe in our world.
First, we will learn to read human body language,
how to read their posture, facial expressions, rear ends
when they move.
Humans make a wide variety of sounds, they are given to shouting,
waving their arms, making loud gutteral and whining noises,
especially when they are running after dogs, shouting commands.
They are nearly helpless when left alone, especially outside,
they have no instincts to speak of, speak too much and
need exercise several times a day.
Among the lesson topics: how to communicate with rescue humans
who have been abused – most humans seem to be – how to choose a human.
We all love humans here, and want to help them.
We believe the only way to choose a human is, in fact, to rescue one,
there are so many of them in desperate
need of a dog, it is almost immoral to choose a happy and healthy one.
Be prompt, bring leashes and some treats for training – humans call them donuts."

For more incredible writing, visit Jon Katz at Bedlam Farm. His books are wonderful, as well!

backyard dogs.

Hey y'all! Apologies again for the posts being so scarce lately. I'm pretty sure things will be back to normal around here come August, so stick with us, k?

Since our last post, summer's come to Nashville in full force -- high humidity (which my hair does not appreciate) and excessive heat. It's been a bummer mainly because Claire and I can only go for long walks and hikes early in the morning and late at night. Claire does not understand, nor does she like this arrangement. But God forbid we try to go outside in the middle of the day -- she walks like fifty feet and then starts panting like crazy and looks at me like, "Why would you ever take me out here in this heat?!"

As it's gotten hotter around here, I've been thinking more and more about the poor Backyard Dogs that are in our neighborhood. Backyard Dogs are the ones who live outside either in a fenced in area or tethered to a stake or a tree. I don't really understand this concept, nor do I like it. First of all, why would you get a dog (a companion animal) only to have them live a solitary life in the yard without any human or dog interaction? That's against all of their instincts! Secondly, dogs overheat really easily, and unless you live in San Diego where it's 70* all the time with low humidity, this is just unacceptable.

There's a couple living down the street from us who just got a 3-month-old pit bull puppy. At first they were letting her out off-leash in the morning to do her business, and then they'd call her back inside. When she started bounding across the busy street to say hi to us each morning, the girl must have realized just how dangerous that was; a few days later, as we walked by, I heard Sweet Puppy barking but I couldn't see her. I looked around the side of their house and saw that she was tethered outside with no water, no food, and no shelter. It was 95* that day. I brought her some water, and when I stooped down to pet her, I noticed that she had huge welts all over her stomach from bug bites. I think about the argument that people with Backyard Dogs often say: "They're animals! They are meant to be outside! They like it!" Well sure - a dog will love time outside if there are other dogs that they get along with, if they are with their people, if they aren't left alone, if they're given a mix of on-leash time and off-leash time, if they aren't too hot or too cold. But Sweet Puppy's situation is all too familiar, and it's extremely neglectful.

I said something about it to the girl the next time I saw her, and I haven't seen Sweet Puppy outside since then. I have to admit that I'm really concerned about how she's being treated, but I haven't seen her lately to assess how she's doing. You can be sure that I'm keeping an eye out for her, though.

If y'all have come across any Backyard Dogs, what have you done to help their situation? Have you said something to the owner or kept quiet? Are there any organizations in your area reaching out to these dogs? Are any reaching out to provide education to the owners?

Check out the following links for more information:

Paw Rescue's Tips

Backyard Dogs: No Way to Treat Man's Best Friend

The Backyard Dog Project

PETA Hearts Backyard Dogs

claire-friendly peach muffins.

Okay, so I'm about 3.5 months into this vegan thing, and so far so good. Interestingly enough, I've found that Claire and I now have a similar diet which is excellent for my grocery budget! Winning, all around!

I made some fantastic vegan peach muffins last weekend - for both of us - and they were so delicious that it's worth sharing with you all [and your dogs, of course]. Let me know how you like them!

Claire-Friendly Peach Muffins

1-1/2 cups all-purpose rice flour

(or whole wheat flour if your dog can have gluten)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 to 1/3 cup of organic peach jam

Preheat the oven to 400*F.

Coat muffin tin with non-stick spray, or use liners.

Scoop batter into muffin tins.

There should be enough for 12 muffins.

Bake for about 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite recipe that both you and your dog love?

Share it in the comments section below!

we know our memes.

I've been getting quite a laugh from a couple of the memes

that are circulating around the internet these days.

It's as if these were written specifically with Claire in mind...

The picky eater:

Flashback to when she was a puppy:

Every so often she tries to bury her bone IN the couch cushion

and this is what happens:

And then, of course, we experience this EVERY DAY:

What memes out there make you think of your dog?

Leave a comment or share it on the Facebook page!

   

our bucket list.

So, by now, most of you have probably heard about this sweet story of a boy who created a bucket "lick it" list for his terminally ill service dog. When I read it, of course it got me thinking about all of the things I'd like to do with Claire in her lifetime. I have my own bucket list that consists of 90+ things that I'd like to do in my life [getting a puppy was one of them], but I decided to put together a separate list for me and Claire. Here are some of the items, in no particular order of importance.

1. Fence in the backyard so that Claire has more room to run when we're not at the dog park.
2. Go on a vacation to the beach, just the two of us - spend our nights staying at a dog-friendly hotel and spend our days playing by the ocean.
3. Share a cone of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream.
4. Walk a 5k together [I'd say that we'd run, but that would be a nightmare because she would think we were playing a game of chase, and I would die of either exhaustion or of embarrassment].
5. Have my friend and fellow photographer Erin do a photo shoot of me and Claire.
6. Let Claire lead a walk.
7. Have a birthday party in my backyard with a cake from See Spot Eat, and invite all of her friends. Send out real invitations, hand out party favors, and have decorations fit for a queen!
8. Go for a ride in a convertible. [I'll have to hold on to her so she doesn't jump out].
9. Take a picture of Claire in a field of sunflowers. Print it on a canvas to hang up in the house.
10. Get a tattoo of Claire's paw print.
11. Get 100 followers on Google Friend Connect, and reach 200 followers on our Facebook page. [This is obviously a personal goal, but I still felt that I needed to add it!]
12. Create another masterpiece and sell copies to raise money for the Nashville Humane Society.

What should I add to this list? What's on the bucket list for you and your dog?

  

true confessions of a dog owner.

It's time for some true confessions! Are you ready for this? I put together a list of twelve truths pertaining to being a dog owner. Know that I mean no offense, so I apologize in advance if anything written is taken the wrong way. But I figured it would be fun to let you all know some of my honest-to-goodness thoughts and maybe even share some of my own bad habits! Leave a comment below with some of your confessions - I love getting the scoop!

1. I am of the persuasion that raising a dog is just as hard as raising a child.

2. Every Sunday, when I go grocery shopping, I make sure to bring back a special little treat or toy for Claire.

3. It's very likely that I spend more money on Christmas presents for Claire than I do on all of my friends combined.

4. No matter how adorable I think your dog is, I'll always think that mine is cuter.

5. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat their dog. I tend to write people off if I see them treating their dog poorly.

6. It's really hard for me to like you if you don't like my dog. And please know that "like" does not mean "tolerate."

7. I have more of a problem with separation anxiety than Claire does. She usually does just fine when she's at Bark-O-Lounge while I'm on vacation. I, however, call/text a few times per day to make sure that she's all right...

8. I have been late to work a time or two solely because I've stayed in bed cuddling with Claire for too long.

9. Sometimes when we're at the park, I yell "SQUIRREL!!" really loudly because I think it's hilarious how Claire's ears immediately perk up and she looks all around to find it.

10. There have been many times where I have slept on the very edge of the bed as to not disturb the angelic sleep of Princess Claire.

11. Claire's vice is digging, and I even encourage it sometimes because I feel like it helps file those nails ;)

12. If I believed in past lives, I would definitely think that I was a dog.
  

walk for a cause. walk for charity.

There are two huge charity walks coming up in Nashville over the next few months, so I thought now would be a good time to start spreading the word.

The first one is Nashville's annual Music City Mutt Strutt which takes place on September 22nd and raises money for the Nashville Humane Society - which is where I adopted Claire! Some friends and I have formed a team called the SubWoofers [get it?!] and would love your help as we try to raise money for this cause. Claire and her pals are walking, too! Feel free to join our team!

The next one is Puppy Up, which is held on November 4th. The 2 Million Dogs Foundation puts on this walk to raise money for research that seeks to find common links and causes between canine and human cancers. I haven't yet registered for this walk, but I plan on doing so! Check out their website for more details about this awesome organization.

Of course, if you don't live in Nashville, you won't be able to participate in either of these events, but I'd encourage you to look for similar opportunities in your city!

  

a tired dog is a happy dog.

I can tell that Claire had a fun day at school because as soon as we got home, she put herself right to bed. She didn't come when I called her for dinner, which was odd, and when I went to get her, she had completely passed out. I brought her dinner to her in bed, which she was quite happy about [as evidenced in her wagging tail] and she ate while lying down. I'm not kidding. There's that quote: "a tired dog is a happy dog" - it's quite true! And I'm happy knowing that Claire is happy.

You might be wondering why Claire is so tired. Well, this is what she did today while I was at work - and please note: this is the first time that she willingly immersed herself in the kiddie pool! We're making memories, here, people! When I got this picture, I was so happy to see that she was having such a great time! Courtney said that Claire would stick her face in the water, splash around, and then go zoom around the yard. She does that at the river, too - it's like she just gets so excited that she can't contain herself!

Share pictures of your dog's summer fun on our Facebook page - we'd loved to see what you all are up to!

   

say hello to captain.

Okay, guys. Remind me that I am not allowed to go to the Nashville Humane Society unless I am able to adopt all of the dogs another dog. I stopped by with some friends last weekend because they volunteer there, so we spent some time loving on the sweet dogs. It was my first time back since I adopted Claire three years ago, and I was reminded why I don't frequent the NHA more often: I cry. I cry when I see all of these incredibly amazing dogs who don't have loving homes. I cry because I can't take them all in myself. I cry because I want them to all be adopted right now!!

We spent a lot of time with a 9-month-old Boxer/Chow/Sharpei mix named Captain who was such a fantastic dog. He was trained by his previous owners, so he was really well-behaved, and he loved playing fetch and running around with us. I loved him - and I would adopt him myself, except that everyone agrees that Claire needs to belong to a one-dog family, at least until she's older. But Captain very clearly chose my friend, anyway, and when a dog chooses someone, it's a connection that can't be denied. Sadly, my friend can't adopt Captain because he and his girlfriend live in an apartment with two dogs already. Don't worry. I'll keep trying to persuade them! Do you know anyone who might be interested in adopting this love bug?

Captain.

to restore your faith in humanity.

The main purpose of Life with Claire is not only to keep you updated with all things related to... well... life with Claire, but also to keep a smile on your face. A few months ago, I included a link with this post that was only sort of about dogs, but my find on Buzzfeed was just too good to not pass on to you all. Here is another one that will also make you smile. Or it will make you cry some happy tears. We'll take what we can get.

The relation to dogs and other animals? #3 has a sheep; #7 has a tiger and giraffe (kind of); there are kittens in numbers #10, 13, 14, 21; and #17 and 20 feature dogs. Done deal.

my attempt at an "about me".

"Tell me a little about yourself" is a phrase that usually scares the hell out of me. It's so... open-ended. I do much better with specific questions so that I can tailor my answer to whatever you're looking for. You know, like if you ask what my favorite color is, I'll tell you that it's the numerous shades of the ocean. Or if you ask what my favorite song is, I can immediately tell you that it's "Grace's Amazing Hands" by Dave Barnes. See? I like questions with direction.

I realized the other day that the only thing most of you know about me is that I love my sweet black&white dog who has added lots of color to my life. Unlike most bloggers, I don't have an "About Me" tab on the sidebar, mainly because the thought of writing about myself is so unpleasant. But I think I've hesitated long enough, which is where this little attempt comes into play. List-form seems a little less intimidating, so... here's some things about me.

• I am going to Africa in October 2012 to work at a few orphanages in Uganda with Visiting Orphans [shameless plug: if you'd like to donate to help me get there, go here, select the Uganda 2012 trip, and preference your donation to Lauren Ferzoco].
• I love all things that sparkle.
• I was born and raised on Cape Cod but have lived in multiple places along the coast of Massachusetts, and I'd love to move back someday.
• There is no better way for me to describe my emotions than to play you a song that reflects how I feel.
• I'm an outgoing introvert. And no, that is not a contradiction - look it up :)
• Sarcasm is my second language.
• I have a tattoo and have ideas for three more.
• I believe that I was made for a grand adventure. Even though I haven't quite figured out what that adventure is yet.
• Some people-peeves include: constant chatter, doctors who smoke (aka hypocrites), feeling like I'm being micromanaged, hipsters, married individuals who speak in the plural. To name a few.
• I sing, play the piano, and write songs in my spare time.
• I'm a pediatric medical social worker, but I'm also a pet lifestyle photographer [website under construction] in Nashville and I freelance for pet lifestyle magazines.
• I have a huge crush on Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. And in case you didn't know, that's the best.show.ever.
• I consider eating to be a hobby. I'm Italian. [That should explain everything].

There is so much more that I could share but I'll stop here, mainly because this is such a narcissistic post and it's kind of making me cringe. To make me feel better, leave a comment below and tell me something about yourself, okay? Thanks, friends. :)

     

a giveaway brought to you by: barkbox!

Remember how, just a mere two weeks ago, I wrote this post about BarkBox? Welllll... because of all of your comments here, on FB, and on Twitter, they have decided to participate in a giveaway! Pretty sweet, right?! What can I say; you asked for it and here it is!

For those of you who didn't read the product review that we did a few weeks ago about this awesome service, here's a quick synopsis, but for more details about the items featured in March's BarkBox, go here!

Please let us introduce you to BarkBox. Here's how it works: you subscribe to this service and you get a package delivered to your house each month that is full of hand-picked treats, toys, and products galore! Basically, it's like BirchBox for dogs - but it's even better, since 10% of each subscription is donated to shelters and rescue groups.

TO ENTER:
...leave a comment below to let me know that you want in!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: [and leave separate comments, please!]
...follow this blog with Google Friend Connect located on the left sidebar
...blog/tweet/FB the giveaway and leave the URL

This giveaway will be closed as of Sunday, April 15th at 12:00pm.
  

   

having a rough day?

I have many an awesome thing to blog about, and rest assured, I am keeping a list so that I can eventually get to all of them. I was going to start tackling said list with tonight's post, but then I came across THIS and, because I love you faithful readers so much, feel that it trumps what I had planned. You will thank me.


And please leave a comment after you check it out and tell me if you laughed as much as I did. For those of you who are shocked and thinking, "What?! This has nothing to do with Claire!" please follow my line of thought: Claire = dog = #2, 6, 7, 11.


You are very welcome!
  

the best thing since sliced bread. (for real).

Guys. GUYS. We received the most awesome thing in the mail. Well, Claire did, but it was actually addressed to me, so I feel like I am allowed to get excited too.


Please let us introduce you to BarkBox. Here's how it works: you subscribe to this service and you get a package delivered to your house each month that is full of hand-picked treats, toys, and products galore! Basically, it's like BirchBox for dogs - but it's even better, since 10% of each subscription is donated to shelters and rescue groups.

The goods in this month's BarkBox included...

• All natural Jumpin' Ginger Snap treats from Bing's Barkin' Bakery - Claire is obsessed with these babies. I don't know if ginger is as soothing to dogs' stomachs as it is for people [note to self: ask Anna], but that would be an added bonus with all of Claire's tummy issues lately! Either way, she can't get enough!
• Nature's Miracle bath wipes - They are supposed to freshen your dog's coat between baths, and I can tell you that they actually do! I would like to say that Claire smells like roses all the time, but that would be a lie. I have been wiping her down with these when we get home from the park, and they even remove dander. Lovely!
• Himalayan Dog Chew - Marketed as high quality and long-lasting. Don't you love when what ads claim are true actually turn out to be true? These "bones" are made from yak and cow's milk. Again, with Claire's tummy issues, I didn't want her to have the whole thing at once until I knew how she would tolerate it. I originally attacked it with a saw to try and break it into small pieces [I'm exaggerating. I mean, why would I own a saw?! I really just tried using a really sharp knife] until I read the package which said to microwave it for 30 seconds to soften it. It was much easier to cut into then. [Imagine that]. Claire's stomach handled it well and once she had a taste, she kept licking my hands until I gave her more.
• The Holobal - So far I've only stuffed this ball with treats, but I'm going to put a tennis ball inside next time to see if it will enhance Claire's fetching abilities. She's very particular about what tennis balls she will retrieve, so I'm interested to see if this will help! The only negative thing about this toy when it comes to Claire is that I have to watch her when she has it, or else she will use it as a chew toy. Given that it's 100% rubber, it won't have a long life in our household if that happens...

Want a BarkBox for your dog? A one month subscription is $25, a three month subscription is $21 per month, and a six month subscription is $17 per month. The gifts in the boxes are tailored to your dog's size, too!


BUT IT GETS EVEN BETTER!!!! Depending on the number of comments on this post that show interest, BarkBox said that they would donate a subscription for a giveaway hosted by none other than... us! AHH. You know you want the opportunity to win one for you or a friend, so puh-lease leave a comment below!
   

three lies and a truth.

My pal Lauren at Life with Desmond told me about this little gem of a game - which is commonly used as an ice-breaker in a variety of different environments (camp, work, etc) - and she started it on her blog today as well. I'm a "Life With" girl too, so I figured I should join the fun!

Here are four things that could be true about Claire. Your job is to guess which one is actually the truth amidst the three other lies. Within the next few days, I'll reveal which is true along with the story behind it.

1. I have taken Claire to see my chiropractor before.
2. I recently bought sheets of Egyptian cotton to put over Claire's "couch" - only the best for this sweet girl!
3. Claire's newest trick involves making me a waffle. [We were inspired by our dear friends Lauren&Paige who showcased this trick on David Letterman - watch their practice session here!]
4. I am considering adopting a kitten solely because Claire is enamored with cats.

Alright, leave a comment and let me know which one you think is true! My sis is coming into town this weekend to spend some time with me and Claire [YAY!!!!], so I'll be back on Monday night to reveal the truth and share the details!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

  

angel eyes.

When I went to BarkWorld back in October, I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Courtney Johnson from Explore.org - an organization that uses media to promote the philanthropic acts of others. Amazing, right?! Well, interestingly enough, Explore.org has a social media community on Facebook called Dog Bless You, which specifically focuses on the selfless acts of animals. [Seriously, how much more incredible can this organization possibly be?!] Courtney contacted me a few days ago and let me know that they are currently running a Facebook campaign called "Angel Eyes" - and I want to challenge you all to join in this very worthy cause.

For the remainder of this month, Dog Bless You is running a "like" drive: for every 5,000 new "likes" on the Dog Bless You Facebook page, Explore.org will donate a guide dog to a blind individual through an accredited guide dog organization. There are two ways in which you can get involved - and my hope is that you will do both! First, take two seconds and click the "like" button on the Facebook page for Dog Bless You. Next, spread the word! Share the link to this post on your own Facebook page to let others know about the amazing work that Explore.org is doing. The more people who know about this campaign, the more people can help!

  

the dearest of the dear.

We're baaaack! We took a couple days off from blogging while my cousin Caroline came to visit, and both of us are very sad that she had to return to Boston. But what better way to raise our spirits than to see that we got another blog award! YAY!!

According to my pal Katie who passed this award onto us, liebster means "dearest" in German. I have to take her word for it because... well... I don't speak German. This award is intended to help up-and-coming blogs get the attention they deserve, so in accepting this award, I now have the honor of passing it on to five other blogs who have less than 200 followers!

1. The Giving Paw - Neely's organization is amazing. It is a wish list service that allows your family and friends to give cash gifts to help pay for pet care - including food, toys and treats, unexpected emergency medical expenses, etc. In addition to helping you put together a wish list for your pet, this site is also the home of Neely's blog. Check out both!

2. Ours for a Lifetime - Cabana was placed with Mimi for training, as the intent was for her to be a guide dog for the blind. However, Cabana decided on a career change and is now happily enjoying life as Mimi's playful pup instead.

3. Live Bark Love - Kas has FIVE dogs - Evee, Bailey, Diesel Wayne, Kylie Anne, and Cinco - and they are all incredible at agility. Her blog has a variety of pictures and videos, which are sure to keep you entertained for hours on end!

4. Smart Dog - Laurie's blog has the best of both worlds - informative posts and funny posts. Her style of writing pulls you in and keeps you hooked, and you'll be checking back daily to see if there's an update. I feel like I know her and her dogs personally, so giving her this blog award is the least I can do!

5. Ossian and Koda - I met Ossian and Koda (and their parents) at BarkWorld 2011, and I fell in love with them instantly. I think I can safely say that Ossian fell in love with me too, but Koda was a little wary. I'm hoping that I'll see them again at BarkWorld 2012 so that I can sneak Koda some treats to get into her good graces. Anyway, one one of the things that I love about this blog is that some of the posts are written from their point of view!

So there you have it: five up-and-coming blogs. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!