Saying Goodbye to Winter

I don't know about you, but where I live here in the mid-west winter is one of those things about half way through you're just ready for it to be over. It's not that I don't like winter, because I do, but only if it's a "real" winter. What do I mean by "real?" Let me explain. When I was growing up I can remember winters where we had snow pretty much every year on Christmas morning. As a child I remember thinking the snow is what really made it winter, and made Christmas all the more memorable. Getting out there and building that first snowman and having snowball fights with friends and family.

Holiday Gifts for your Pets

Like many others we see our pets as part of our family. And that means they deserve gifts for the holidays too. Whether it be a nice new toy, a tasty treat, or even a fresh litter-box for your beloved fur-ball we like to show them they are well loved!

For the love of cats!

If you know anything about my family you know that we love cats. My kids have had at least one cat in theirs since they were born. And I've had a cat in my life since I was a kid myself. There's just something about the way a cat makes you feel calm inside that I really enjoy. So I guess it's only natural that our love for cats has overflowed into our every day lives too. From home decor to books about cats and everything in between you'll probably find it in our house. Starting with this beautiful 2 Cats Metal Sign from Metal Unlimited. The sign is cut from steel and specially coated to protect against the elements, so it can be used both indoors or outdoors! My daughter actually claimed "dibs" on this one as soon as I pulled it out of the box. It's two cats staring lovingly at each other. I think it's very fitting because it reminds me of the two of us, mother and daughter.

Metal Unlimited has a wide selection of stock metal and wood signs as well as customizable signs.

Another fun addition to our cat themed collection is this Cats in Origami book.

In the origami world, cats were traditionally under-represented, and the few existing models were rather flat and lifeless. But thanks to modern folding techniques, it's possible to recapture the true charm of our feline companions. This book for origamists of all skill levels offers 20 original designs that range from a grinning Cheshire cat and a snoozing feline to a walking cat, a seated cat, a Halloween cat, and the smug cat that got the cream, as well as cats on an envelope, a bookmark, a greeting card, and other figures.

Along with step-by-step directions and diagrams, each model features a full-color image of the finished cat. Projects are rated according to difficulty, and a brief introductory chapter explains folding techniques and suggestions for how to choose the most appropriate origami paper. These cute kitties, in addition to being fun to fold, make great little gifts for cat-fanciers.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Pet nail-care made easy with a Pet Nail Grinder

Part of having a pet and taking care of them involves clipping their nails. Some don't like to do it themselves so they choose to use a pet groomer. While others like myself like to save the money by doing it at home. I've always clipped our cats nails with no problems. Our dog on the other-hand isn't quiet as cooperative when it comes to using clippers. I think it stems back to when my son tried to clip her once and accidentally cut the nail back too far. So now every time she sees the clippers she hides. That's why I decided to give a pet nail grinder a try. I found a set on Amazon that even came with a pair of clippers and a nail file. To top it off it's even rechargeable so I don't even have to worry about batteries.

Gifts from and for the Kitchen

When you come to our house you will immediately realize we love cats. Besides having five of them running around between the house and yard we also have many cat themed decor items too. And thanks to CatLadyBox we have some new fun things for the kitchen! The CatLadyBox is a box of..you guessed it…all things cat! Each month you get a box full of cat-themed surprises. Now that’s what I’m talking about! There are two different boxes to choose from; the CatLadyBox or the CRAZY CatLadyBox. What’s the difference you ask? They both come with fun cat-themed gifts for you – the cat lady. The difference is the CRAZY CatLadyBox also has stuff in it not just for you, but also for your cat. And honestly would a Crazy Cat Lady have it any other way?

If you receive something you're super in love with you can also shop their past boxes and purchase items individually while supplies last too! I love this section because I can shop for individual items to compliment my box or as individual gifts!

Of course another way you'll know you're in my house in the colder months is by the smell of a fresh pot of coffee. I brew at least a pot of coffee every day, sometimes more in my Capresso Coffee Pot. My husband takes a whole pot to work every day so there's one. And my son also takes coffee to work sometimes so that can be two. The thing I really like about this pot is the programming feature. I can set it to brew and be ready to go when he's up and ready for work. It gives him the nice aroma of coffee to wake up to and it's fresh! Plus with it's 12-cup capacity it fills his Thermos just right.

Of course if you're a coffee drinker you know a good Stainless Steel Tumbler like this one from Zoku is a must. With this tumbler cold beverages stay that way for up to 24 hours. And hot beverages do not lose steam, maintaining heat for up to 6 hours. It has both a drink-thru opening as well as one you can insert a straw in which I really love for my cold iced tea. Now if you ask me that's something to be excited about!

If you're not planning to drink your beverage right away you might prefer the 18oz Stainless Steel bottle from Zoku instead. With vacuum insulated construction, beverages stay cold for up to 40 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. Now that's an even longer time! This bottle would be great to use if you want to take a second drink with you and not worry about it spilling since it has a screw on lid. My son likes to use it to keep in his truck when he's working so it's there when he needs it. He's not as big a coffee drinker as my husband so he doesn't require an entire pot a day.

And just for a little added fun these Naughty Or Nice Ice Molds also from Zoku would be a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your list that likes to drink cold beverages. Each mold makes four naughty and four nice ice cubes.

Speaking of cold beverages and ice how about using that Naughty or Nice Ice in these super cool looking glasses from Coleman. New this year the Claret Insulated Stainless Steel Wine Glass and Sundowner Insulated Stainless Steel Rocks Glass with Slidable Lid from Coleman are sure to be a hit. Both feature padded bottoms for no clanking or slippage when sitting your glass down. The no sweat design keeps your hands dry and your beverages colder alot longer than traditional glasses. Available in the traditional Coleman green or other stunning colors these are sure to be a win with guys and gals alike!

If you've never cooked using a ceramic pan I would definitely recommend trying it. Ceramic pans like this Ceramic Earth Frying Pan from Ozeri utilize a 4-ply ceramic coating that is hardened to perfection for scratch resistance, long-lasting performance and non-stick perfection. Not to mention they are oven safe to 260 C / 500 F, with a comfortable heat-resistant under-coated handle. I've been using this one to cook our eggs in the morning for breakfast and I love that they just slide off onto the plate when finished every time. And I'm not left scraping food off the edges when I'm done either!

Still a hit for the holidays - the Instant Pot! The Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is available in three sizes making it the perfect gift for families of all sizes. If you've not gotten on the Instant Pot bandwagon I hereby invite you to join. It's a great way to quickly and efficiently cook an entire meal in no time at all. Hence the name Instant Pot. Once you've tried one you'll never go back to using your tired ole slow cooker. The Instant Pot really does spoil a person let me tell you. Being able to cook an entire meal in a matter of minutes instead of sometimes hours is a blessing on those busy days. And with Amazon's super fast shipping you still have plenty of time to shop, and send one to everyone on your holiday list!

If you're planning to host some guests this holiday season this Slate Serving Board from Frieling would be a great addition. At 11" in diameter it's the perfect size for serving up meat, cheese, and crackers - or other treats for your guests. It's made from slate so it's nice and heavy duty, plus it will look better on your counter than an old platter too!

The Coffee Cookie is a compact device that keeps to-go coffee hot. If you've ever had your Starbucks get cold before you got to the bottom of the cup than this gift is for you! Basically it's a rechargeable warmer for your to-go cups. You charge up Coffee Cookie at home, then drop it in your purse/pocket/ect. and take it on the go with you. Then when your beverage is at that perfect drinking temperature you attach Coffee Cookie to the bottom of the cup and keep it that temperature until you're all done. Now your last sip can be as refreshing as your first!

Since I'm not a big time coffee drinker like the boys I prefer to use my new BruHub from NuWave. Unlike your typical coffee pot this baby is a 3-in-1 machine. You can use it to brew a half or whole pot of coffee (8 cups), brew 8 or 12oz single cups of coffee (or other flavored beverage K-cups), or just provide you with the perfect temperature of hot water for things like hot tea or cocoa. The part I really like is that it has options for how strong you want your coffee (regular, bold or iced). This is great for me because I enjoy iced coffee and the BruHub knows just how to make it the right strength so it doesn't get watered down after your ice starts to melt. There's nothing worse than watered down iced coffee let me tell you. Another nice feature is that it's so simple to use even my daughter that's 12 can use it to make herself a flavored beverage or hot water for her cocoa without any help. I love it so much I make sure it's always filled with plenty of water so it's ready to use all the time.

DiamoTech has a line of pans anyone that loves to cook would appreciate. They believe in their product so much they call their pans "The Last Pan You Will Ever Need to Own!". With enforced aluminum for uniform heat distribution their pans can go from stove-top to oven (up to 500°) all while the handle stays cool to the touch. It's scratch and abrasive resistant and features a non-stick ceramic coating infused with Diamotech. The remarkable hardness of Diamonds infused in the ceramic layer forms virtually the strongest, most durable and longer lasting, ultra non-stick cookware surface.

And while we are talking about things for the kitchen a new anti-fatigue mat is something any cook will love. SmartCells Anti-fatigue SlimLine mats feature a low profile ⅜" height and a stylish basket weave surface. The optimized design of SmartCells SlimLine mats offer a stable surface over cylindrical cells which become softer under impact and resist bottoming out, this creates the perfect balance for maximum comfort while standing in a kitchen. The SmartCells are spring-like, in that they cushion as weight is applied, then rebound when the weight shifts, which returns energy and reduces fatigue. In addition to the unique cushioning technology, thanks to their rubber-based construction, SmartCells SlimLine mats will not absorb liquid and are easy to clean.

I received my mats just before Christmas and immediately switched them out with my old thicker mat (shown at the right corner of the photo). At first I had high doubts these thin mats would be better than my thick cushy mat. But boy was I wrong. They are honestly AMAZING. They don't squish down under your feet like the thicker ones, but you can feel it when you stand on them. I spent countless hours prepping food and doing dishes standing on them and my feet never ached. I am in love! They come in three different colors; gray, light brown, and black. I would personally recommended the gray over the black because even after much use it still looks nice. The black shows dirt very easily and would need to be cleaned often if you wanted it to stay dark black. Of course if you don't wear shoes in your kitchen any of the colors would be fine. At my house the guys wear their boots where ever they go so keeping up with their dirt tracking is near impossible unless I mop daily. No matter which you choose you will definitely be happy with this investment!

And for those holiday leftovers reach into the cabinet and grab your SmellyProof Storage bags. Smelly Proof Storage Bags are designed to create an “ecosystem” that blocks vapors & oxygen from entering or exiting the nylon reinforced FDA Approved Poly. Smelly Proof bags, whether the smallest to largest come with a double-track zipper ensuring the tightest seal possible. Smelly Proof bags also have “tear notches” to be used with most all heat and vacuum sealers for freezing foods safely up to 6 months without freezer burn. Perfect for saving those last slices of holiday ham for enjoying at a later time!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Don't forget your furry friends this holiday season!

If you have furry friends I'm sure you have lots of cute photos of them on your phone just like I do. And will probably be taking even more throughout the holiday season. And just like the ones we take of our "real" kids we don't want to lose those precious photos. Thanks to Pet Photo Saver you don't have to worry about that happening. The Pet Photo Saver is an awesome 2-in-1 tool that not only organizes your pet photos, but also backs them up on the drive for safe keeping.

Keep tabs on your cat's health with PrettyLitter

Are you tired of the smell coming from your cats litter box? Would you like to save money on litter every month and have it delivered to your front door for FREE? And last and definitely not least (actually probably the most important question). Would you like to keep tabs on your cat's health at home? If you answered yes to any, or all of these questions I have a solution for you that you're going to love. It's called PrettyLitter. It's a brand of cat litter that can do all that AND MORE! And we just recently tried it out for the last few weeks ourselves. No sooner than I had the litter box switched out one of our cats was right there checking it out...oh and of course going potty. So there's no worry they won't like the new texture of the litter. I actually left our other brand of litter in another box to do a little comparison and they actually used the one filled with PrettyLitter more than the other one. Once I realized how much better the box smelled I have to say I was happy. That's one thing I've always been very aware of with litter is if it has good odor control. I don't want guests coming over and smelling a dirty litter box in the next room. And it just so happened that the timing was prefect because thanks to PrettyLitter I was able to detect that one of our cats had a bladder infection. Of course if you have multiple cats like we do you'll have to check the box after you see each one go potty to see who caused the litter to change colors indicating their might be an issue. Thankfully I was able to quickly figure out which fur baby it was and get him into the vet for a check up. Want to know more? Check out the facts below about PrettyLitter.

• PrettyLitter's revolutionary formula means a single 4-pound bag lasts you an entire month. Unlike clumping litter which can require as much as 22-lbs. PrettyLitter absorbs and then eliminates moisture which means you do not need to keep replenishing your litter throughout the month.

• PrettyLitter's formula makes it easier for you to use and clean your litter box. Its highly absorbent crystals do not clump, but instead absorbs moisture, traps all odor, and eliminates the urine. That means less work, no odor and less mess. Only scoop the poop!

• PrettyLitter keeps tabs on your cat's health by changing color. Cats are notorious for hiding illnesses, so it's often hard to tell if they are sick or in pain. PrettyLitter makes it easier for you to know if your cat is experiencing a potential health issue before urgent medical care is needed, saving you money, stress and potentially your cat's life.

• It's cleaner and safer. Did you know that clumping clay litter often contains bentonite which expands upon contact with moisture, forming a clump around the urine. After stepping out of the litter box your cat licks their paws and that clay may expand within their digestive tract. PrettyLitter uses non-clumping crystals that are safe for cats, even when they breathe or ingest it.

• With PrettyLitter you can get kitty litter delivered hassle-free every month. They offer subscriptions for as few as one cat up to three to four cats to meet your litter consumption needs.

Buy it: You can receive 10% Off first order when you use code: AFF10. Applies to first charge only.  One use per customer.  No End Date.


This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Summer Crafting with MindWare

My daughter likes to pick wildflowers from our yard but I can't ever find the right sized vase to put them in. They are all just too tall and the flowers are just too short. So I end up using a coffee mug because it's the only thing that's short enough for them to reach the water and still be seen. That was until we stumbled upon this Paint Your Own Porcelain Vases kit. The vases are all 5" tall which is the perfect size for the wildflowers she picks for me. Plus since the set just so happened to come with three vases we decided it would be nice to give one to each of her grandmas so they too could have a place to put those little flowers too. Of course that would mean she would have to sit down long enough to finish them all. She hasn't been too good at that lately with all the activities we had going on this summer. Hopefully with school back in session she will finally be able to sit down and do it now.

Something else she's been working on this summer are some DIY projects for her cats. She has completed a few more of these than she has the vases though. Of course being for the cats she's a little more motivated I think. She's made some treats from scratch and made some cat toys.

She even played a few games of "find the treats" with her cats using these cute little cups and some treats she made for them. And proudly showed off one of the toys she made for her buddy Firestar. She made them a couple catnip filled fish too, but apparently they ran off with them when she left them unattended on her desk overnight because they've been MIA ever since. I guess that means she did a good job right?

You can find these and lots of other fun crafting sets on the MindWare website.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Lots of Fur Baby Love from Worldwise

My valued friends over at Worldwise, the makers of innovative brands of pet toys and gear, such as goDog®, Hear Doggy!, Petlinks®,  TrustyPup®, SHERPA® and SmartyKat® sent me an awesome assortment of toys for my fur babies to enjoy this summer. And I do mean AWESOME! They sent Java a super soft plush bed - which I'm not sure who loves more her or the cats. I've seen them both using it so I would say it's equally loved by both. And they sent her a nice assortment of toys. Some a little on the crazy noisy side like the goDog® Retrieval Sonic Stick (it lights up and makes crazy sounds) and some that are noise free like the ones from Hear Doggy! Honestly Java has not preference she plays with them all.

OurPets Electronic Cat Toys Keep Cats Healthy & Happy

In our house we have three fluffy fur babies. We like to think of them as part of the family so we do our best to make sure they have all the things they need to help keep them healthy. Recently the folks over at OurPets sent us a fun assortment of electronic cat toys to test our with our fur babies. They are electronic to help encourage the cats to play with them and be active. And in turn keeping them moving and getting exercise to keep them healthy. I tried out one of the smaller toys first with our cat Firestar and let me tell you he was really intrigued. He sat and studied it quite a bit before he took the leap and batted at the fluttering bird. From there it was non stop playing as he hopped around the toys batting at the birdie inside trying to get it out.

Research from The OurPet’s Company has noted that physical activity from play acts as a workout, keeping cats physically fit and enriches the pet’s quality of life and fosters a healthy relationship between the pet and their parents.

The 5 toys available are:
OurPets Pounce House Electronic Spinner Cat Toy
OurPets Mouse in Pouch Electronic Action Cat Toy
OurPets Catty Whack Electronic Sound and Feather Action Cat Toy
OurPets Twirl & Whirl Electronic Spinning Interactive Cat Toy
OurPets Bird in a Cage Electronic Action Cat Toy

OurPets® Brand
The OurPets® Brand offers product lines that feature a variety of premium and innovative toys, accessories, feeding solutions, and waste management solutions specially designed to awaken a pet’s natural instincts. Available exclusively at pet specialty retailers, no other brand offers products specifically designed to foster a healthy relationship between pets and their parents.

OurPets Cat Toy Rebate
Now through through July 1, 2018 submit your receipt from PetSmart and receive a $5 PetSmart gift card!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Protect your pets with Hartz UltraGuard Pro Triple Action

Are your pets are protected from fleas and ticks? If not I highly recommend you run to the store and pick up some protection now. I know we normally only apply protection to our pets that are either outside full time or go outside part time. However this year we will be applying protection to our full-time indoor cats too. With the prediction of a severe flea and tick season we want to make sure all of our animals are well protected. And thanks to the folks over at Hartz we are ready for that battle! It's not too early to start protecting your animals. Trust me it's better to be on the safe side and protect them before infestation occurs.

Pest control experts predict that 2018 will experience a severe flea and tick season, due to highly fluctuating weather patterns that have allowed these parasites to survive throughout the winter and continue their life cycles. To help prevent the frequent pet concerns that arise because of these pesky passengers, The Hartz Mountain Corporation is proud to lend a paw to non-profit animal shelters and welfare organizations with the launch of the Help Us Help Them™ initiative - a buy one, give one donation outreach program. Helping protect cats and dogs from fleas and ticks as they await adoption by arming shelters with free preventative solutions embodies Hartz’s vision to support a world where every pet leads a happy, healthy and long life with a devoted family.

While cats and dogs are under the guardianship of foster families, sanctuaries and shelters, staff and volunteers take great care to make sure all prospective family pets are healthy for their new beginnings. Identifying, treating and preventing fleas and ticks is an imperative step to making sure companion animals experience a comfortable stay while waiting for their forever homes. Flea and tick preventatives are among the top items requested by shelters to help reduce parasite-related allergies and diseases, discomfort and shelter-wide infestations.

The Help Us Help Them ™ campaign will donate one Hartz® Flea and Tick product to needy cats and dogs at shelters across America for every Hartz UltraGuard Pro® topical drop product that is purchased by consumers from April 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018. In the 1960’s, Hartz introduced its very first flea and tick collar. Today, Hartz® is the #1 Flea and Tick brand*, taking care of America’s pets for over 90 years. The Help Us Help Them ™ initiative impacts the comfort and adoptability of needy cats and dogs with the help of consumers who regularly purchase the Hartz UltraGuard Pro® topical products.

Hartz UltraGuard Pro® topical drops, provide dogs with fast-acting, effective monthly protection against fleas, Deer and Brown Dog ticks, and flea eggs that can cause pet and home infestations. Hartz UltraGuard Pro® starts killing fleas within 15 minutes and effectively prevents re-infestations for 1 month.

“Monthly flea and tick prevention is essential to the overall health of cats and dogs,” says Gregg Herman, Director of Marketing, at The Hartz Mountain Corporation. “The Help Us Help Them™ program runs during the onset of spring months, when it is important to protect family pets before the active season for fleas and ticks arrives. Because these parasites can also transmit diseases to humans, prevention methods are also beneficial to the people and these prospective pets they will share their homes with.”

Even after cats and dogs leave shelters, they remain at risk for hosting pesky hitchhikers, making them vulnerable to discomfort and disease. Fleas and ticks can be contracted year-round, both indoors and outdoors. Establishing an ongoing prevention and wellness routine is an essential part of ensuring long-term parasite prevention and happiness for all companion animals.

Hartz is committed to helping animal welfare organizations set the highest standards of care for every animal. This year, through its Hartz Loving Paws™ shelter benefit program, Hartz aims to substantially exceed its donation support compared to 2017 to help rescue groups make the greatest impact on pets and people.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Win a Hartz prize pack at the Rain Rain Go Away! Hop - #Giveaway Ends 4/24

Our cats have been big fans of Delectables treats for quite some time now. But I will admit this was their first time trying out Delectables SqueezeUp treats. I wasn't really sure how it would go so I had always stuck with the packages that you would squeeze out into a bowl to make it easy on myself. When I was offered the opportunity to try them out I thought, sure why not? And now I have to say I'm glad I got the chance to try them out because I really like them. It's a great way to have a little extra bonding time with your cat. These would especially be great if you had a cat that was shy, or were trying to get a new cat in the home to warm up to you. My daughter really likes them because it makes the cats want to sit on her lap longer. Ours are just over a year old so they don't usually stay stationary very long...unless it's nap time that is. Now if they realize you've opened a package of Delectables SqueezeUp they are right there climbing onto your lap patiently (okay maybe not patiently) waiting for their treat.

About:
Delectables SqueezeUp, available in Chicken and Tuna flavors, is a rich, thick puree in a lickable tube that provides cats with a fun and delicious treat. "Delectables SqueezeUp treats allow cat parents to hand-feed their cats out of a tube for a fun experience for both cat and cat parent," says Lester Ding, Brand Manager.

Ideal as an in-between meal treat or as a savory topper for dry food, Delectables SqueezeUp's convenient, single-serve tubes provide cats with tempting treats made with real chicken or tuna, without by-products.

Delectables SqueezeUp (an other Hartz products) are available at major retailers including Walmart, Chewy.com, and Amazon.com.

Connect with Hartz: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Win it:  One lucky reader will win a Hartz prize pack for cats (ARV $60+) assortment may vary from photo above. This giveaway will end April 24th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen.  Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

Pets top choice: "I and love and you"

We've been feeding our pets food and treats from "I and love and you" for quite some time now. I guess you could say it's one of our ways of saying "I love you" to them. "I and love and you" cares about animals and shows it with their natural, real-meat, grain-free pet foods and treats. They want to help pet owners get the longest and healthiest life possible for their pets. And that means feeding them foods that don't contain a bunch of artificial ingredients and additives. I know our dog and cats have loved all of the foods we have fed them from the "I and love and you" line of products.

DOGS & CATS: 
Lovingly Simple (just launched!): For dogs & cats with sensitive stomachs, this limited ingredient kibble offers high-protein while avoiding many known allergens like poultry and beef.

Naked Essentials: Pets know pants are overrated, and that's why they love the 5-star rated Naked Essentials kibble. Grains? Fillers? Artificial anything? No way. More like real meat as the first ingredient and our Happy Tummeez Prebiotics + Probiotics to keep your pet feeling just right.

DOGS: 
Super Smarty Hearties Treats: Delicious and nutritious, they come in so-cute heart shapes and contain DHA and Omega 3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and brain development. With real salmon as the first ingredient and only five calories a pop, they’re great for training or rewarding.

Puppy Starter Kit: Get your puppy started out on the right foot… paw! Puppies need more protein in their diet, so start here until they celebrate their 1st birthday.

CATS:
​Cat Can Variety Pack: Break out the can opener, human. Our carrageenan free recipes will make your cat unconditionally love and adore you. Or at least, stop giving you looks of disdain.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Pet Pita

If you've ever tried to clip a cat's claws you know it's no easy task. I've actually even tried wrapping our cats in a blanket before to keep them from getting away. Didn't always work, but it helped. Thankfully now that we have a Pet Pita on hand I don't have to fumble with that blanket anymore. With our cats held steady in the Pet Pita we area able to clip their claws with so much more ease. One of us holds the cat while another gently clips each nail. It's also great for accessing the backs of their necks to apply flea medication. It keeps them still and doesn't allow them to shake and possible cause the medication to go all over. I am loving this thing!

Christmas treats for the pets

Every year for Christmas we always get our pets treats. We feel like they are a part of the family too so they deserve something special. This year we gave them an assortment of treats from WHIMZEES and WELLNESS brands. These treats do more than just give them a snack, they also help with dental health too!

Wellness® Holiday Kittles:
Wellness® Holiday Kittles are tasty crunchy cat treats, with under two calories per treat. The #1 ingredient is real turkey.
Flavors Include:
Turkey & Cranberry

Wellness® Soft WellBites
NEW Grain-Free Formulas for Dogs: WellBites are free of corn, soy and artificial color and flavor, and they are sold in re-sealable packages for easy storage and transportation.
Flavors Include:
Gingerbread
Turkey & Duck
Lamb & Salmon
Chicken & Venison
Beef & Turkey
Chicken & Lamb
Rich in Omega fatty acids

WHIMZEES has revolutionized the toothbrush with its newest shape – Brushzees!
• Designed with tons of grooves and ridges to help remove plaque and tartar
• Pawfect Paw Pad design helps paws grip more easily
• Available in Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large
• Color options: Green, Brown, Orange

Alligator Chews
Now your dog’s dream of catching an alligator can come true. Made with all-natural ingredients, the vegetable-based texture will help remove plaque and tartar as they chew.
• Available in Small, Medium, Large
• Color options: Green, Brown, Orange

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Pets Guide for the Holidays

If you've ever wondered what your pet might want for a Christmas gift then let me give you a little glance at the lives of our cats and dog. Through their lives you can see some really awesome pet products that they are ready to show you they love. To start it off right Java wants to share her new and luxurious pet bed from Petlinks. It's made of a unique mix of reclaimed memory foam to relieve achy joints, while the gel beads help with keeping them cool and comfortable. Java loves her bed so much she spends most of her day napping on it!

SmartyKat® is the maker of electronic and innovative cat toys, scratchers, catnip and cat product accessories. We have several products in our house form the SmartyKat® line. Our cats just love playing, or laying around in them. It gives them a place to fulfill their need to scratch (instead of using furniture) and a place to just relax when play time is over.

Developed in conjunction with the One World Play Project™, goDog® RhinoPlay™ helps to promote play and enhance the human-animal bond. These are actually the one line of toys that are Java will play with for hours and not completely shred. They are super durable, and they come in different sizes to accommodate different sized pups!

Hear Doggy!™ Ultrasonic Dog Toys will keep the peace in your home during the holiday season. Using innovative squeaker technology, Hear Doggy!™ squeakers are tuned to a pitch outside the human hearing range leaving all the noisy fun to your furry companions. These are great for those of us that can't stand the sound of a squeaker over, and over, and over, and well you get it..over!

No matter what your travels plans are for the holidays, your pet can can travel in style AND comfort with SHERPA® Comfort Ride Carrier and Comfort Strap Widely recognized as the premier producer of the soft-sided carriers, SHERPA® is the innovator of function and style for pet travel and the only line of carriers that is backed by the Guaranteed On-Board® promise.

I had full intention getting a video of our pup enjoying her new Tether Tug, but by the time it arrived our yard had fully froze. So for now there's no easy way to get it anchored into the ground for her to use, and I don't want to try and damage it. But from this video you can see that she will be having loads of fun once we are able to get it in!

And of course if all else fails you know any pet would love to receive some special tasty treats for the holidays! Evanger's Dog and Cat Food and Against the Grain Pet Food are both perfect choices to give your pet that extra special treat they deserve. I know my cats and Java all enjoy their fresh and scrumptious canned and dry foods, as well as their treats.

Another great choice for treats are WHIMZEES Natural Daily Dental Treats. They are recommended as a daily treat to help with daily dental health to help remove plaque and tartar. Java loves these and looks forward to getting hers every day when we sit down for lunch. It's amazing how pets can learn a routine so quickly. She goes right to the treat bag and sits and waits on me even!

And of course no treat is complete without shiny new bowls to go along with them! These treats and bowls from Loving Pets are the perfect combination! In four sizes and five colors there's a bowl that's the perfect fit for every size of pet.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Real food..for real pets!

What does that mean "Real food..for real pets!" you ask? Well I'll explain it to you. It means serving up fresh (and real) foods to our pets instead of something that comes in hard pieces in a big bulk bag. I mean our pets are read right? They live and breath just like we do, so why not give them the same nutrition we give to ourselves. With a little help from Freshpet® you can do just that, and quite simply I might add. Freshpet® is the first company to install fridge’s in the pet food aisle to house their fresh foods for pets. They care that much about our beloved furry friends they want to make it as simple as possible for us to provide them with the natural nutrition the need..and deserve.

In preparation for Cat Day on September 29 Freshpet® is going above and beyond by showing the love for our feline companions in a big way: they are helping cat shelters across numerous states with special cooler bags and more! Now that to me says alot about the company and how much they care!

I know our cats and the dog have always gotten more excited about me opening a can of wet food for them then when I dump some hard kibble into their bowls. I guess I should have taken that as a hint as to what they really wanted to eat all the time. FRESH food not something hard from a bag that's been sitting for possibly months on a shelf. I mean wouldn't you rather eat something that's soft, moist and fresh?

Freshpet® for cats:
Unlike traditional dry cat food, every Freshpet® recipe starts with moisture rich, high quality poultry, meat or fish which helps provide cats the natural hydration they need.  Cat’s tend to have a natural low-level thirst drive and Freshpet® products were made to retain high levels of moisture and provide natural hydration.  All the healthy, protein-rich Freshpet® cat meals are grain free and made in the USA  using only the highest quality natural ingredients. Freshpet® believes all pets deserve to benefit from eating fresher, less processed foods just like we do to stay healthy.

Freshpet® for dogs:
We know a growing number of consumers are making their own dog food. However, it may not have the right balance of protein and nutrition for their dogs. This is why Vital® hand-crafted Fresh Cuts™. It provides the goodness of a home cooked meal with a medley of shredded chicken, antioxidant-rich cranberries, and vegetables like sweet potatoes and green beans for the optimal mix of protein and nutrition.

About:
Freshpet®, headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, is the only company providing fresh, all-natural dog and cat food nationwide. Founded in 2006 by pet lovers and pet food industry professionals, Freshpet® identified an opportunity to improve the pet food market and introduced fresh dog and cat food as a healthy alternative to dry and canned food. Freshpet® only uses the highest quality meats, poultry and fish combined with fresh vegetables and fruits—with never any byproducts, fillers or pre-processed meats like those found in traditional dog food. Nutrient rich recipes allow pets to have the same healthy eating habits as their owners.

Freshpet® foods are available at Pet Specialty retailers and local independent stores.

Connect with Freshpet: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.