My Furry Valentine

It's that time of year again! Time to tell your best friend how much you love them (as if you didn't already do that 50 times a day anyways...). And while you're at it, there might be a few Valentine's for you to enjoy too. Without further ado, here are Banjo and Millie's Valentine's Day 2012 Top Ten Picks!

(Wish Daisy)

(i lick you // Gypsy Tailor)

(Rhubarb Paper Company // Bubby and Bean)

(Hot Dogs Couture)

(Simply Silhouettes)

(Kattuna)

(Silly Buddy // Chloe's Collars)

(R.E. Stowe)

(Schmetz Petz)

(Tiny Confessions)

A Dog Inspired Home

I love shopping. I love dogs. And I know you all like at least one of these two, so you will probably enjoy these great home decor finds too! What's more fun than cozying up at home with your snuggle pup while being surrounded by these pretty dog inspired goodies?

French-inspired dog plates from Anthropologie

Bowl, knobs, and figurine from Anthropologie 

Tea towel and poodle bookends from Anthroplogie

Tea light votive and hooks from Graham and Green 

Lamps from Graham and Green

Box, lamp, and figurine from Jonathan Adler

Bookends and salt and pepper shakers from Jonathan Adler

Appetizer plates from West Elm 

Dachsund platter from Naked Decor and lamp from Howkapow

Banjo and Millie are Pinterested

You've probably heard of Pinterest already, but in case you haven't (I've been a late adopter on this one), let me introduce you. Pinterest is the digital equivalent the cork boards of yore that we used to adorn with all the cool things we used to pull out of fashion magazines, cookbooks, etc. You can save absolutely anything you want to your Pinterest from the entire world wide web. It's really cool. Of course, I have a Pin Board that is dedicated to dog items (whether they are for the dogs, or for humans). You can check out all my fun doggie finds from around the web here. 


There. Now you can join in my obsession. Good luck getting anything done now! <evil laugh> Enjoy!

Doghouses We Wouldn't Mind Being In.

What comes to mind when you think of a doghouse? A place you go when you've done something bad? Well, with these simply amazing doghouses, I'm afraid I would never want to be good so I could spend my time in my sweet doghouse crib! I think Banjo definitely needs a bachelor pad. And knowing how much Millie loves her cheap plastic crate, she would feel like royalty in one of these bad boys (or at least, I would feel like she would)!

**I found all of these amazing dog houses from various Dog Milk posts. If you aren't familiar with Dog Milk, you absolutely must be. This blog is amazing! Also, disclaimer: I can take no credit for photos, and I have no idea who should. Sorry!

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Check it out here.

Easter is Going to the Dogs

One of my favorite things to do for holidays is to think about how I can further spoil Banjo and Millie. And it so happens that Easter is one of my absolute favorite holidays! As a kid, I had a very large gray lop-ear bunny named Honey Bunny (who was so aptly nicknamed "Money Bunny" once she broke her leg and my dad paid a pretty penny to have it pinned), and I still have a very strong affinity for bunnies.  So I love bunnies. And chocolate. And springtime. Thus Easter.

My sister, Honey Bunny and Me in 1989.

But I digress. Back to spoiling Banjo and Millie. No holiday is complete without giving them special holiday treats or toys, and of course making sure they are dressed appropriately. Here are a few great Easter finds for your pup! (Yes, I know it may be  little late for this Easter, since it's today and all, but there's always next year!)

I seriously think Millie could rock this little bunny outfit from Bird in a Nest on Etsy. Though there's only one thing that gets Banjo riled up, and that's bunnies! He sees one and his inner hound comes out. Might be dangerous for Millie if she is dressed like  bunny.

I'm not sure Millie would enjoy wearing this adorable spring dress from The Doggie Market as much as I would like to see her wear it! So springy and feminine!

I think perhaps this pretty floral collar from Bows for Bs is a better option for a pup who doesn't quite enjoy wearing clothes. And it's great all spring and summer long!

Banjo loves getting decked out in his finest. He would certainly feel snazzy in this great seersucker Spectator Jacket from Rover!

For a warmer day when a jacket is too much, a madras plaid necktie is always a great option to get dressed to the nines in the heat! I particularly love this one from Bull Fits.

In Honor of Millie's Cone of Shame...

In honor of Millie's cone of shame, I thought today I would share with you all a product review of Millie's new Comfy Cone! When Millie was spayed, we used a plastic cone, which we pulled back out for her recent hernia surgery. I quickly decided that she looked miserably stiff in the plastic cone. She couldn't rest or sleep comfortably, and she needed to get some rest in order to recover. I had heard in passing about the Comfy Cone so I drove out to Petco and picked one up. Here's the Good and the Bad:

The Good

• In the scheme of cone-wearing, the Comfy Cone really does appear to be pretty comfy. It's flexible so Millie is able to move more freely.
• Since it's flexible, you can fold the cone over (instead of taking it off) when she needs to eat or drink.
• Also since it's flexible, she can get in and out of her crate much more easily than the plastic cone. She doesn't run straight in to things quite as easily, since the cone gives when she bumps things.
• The Comfy Cone is easy to put on. The plastic cone we had previously used had snaps that were difficult to clasp, but the Comfy Cone is just Velcro. It's much, much easier to put on a squirming dog who has no interest in wearing a cone.
• If you have a dog who might be able to weasel their way out of a cone, the Comfy Cone has loops that you can run your dog's regular collar though. I haven't had to use this feature, but it seems useful.
• It's also padded, so Millie can put her head down and use the cone as a pillow.
• The cone has a reflective band around the edge for safety.
• Thanks to Millie's nasty poop-eating habit (which we thought we had solved with a pineapple diet... that's another story), we have experienced first hand that the Comfy Cone is pretty easy to clean up (but then again, so is the plastic one). Just a damp sponge and a little dish soap does the trick.

The Bad

• Maybe this is just the result of wearing a cone in general, but Millie has gotten very matted around her neck. This isn't an issue for short-haired dogs, but if you have a long-haired dog, it's something to consider. The cone is thick, so there is more room for it to mat her fur than with the thinner plastic cone.
• Millie occasionally gets stuck to things because the Velcro can become exposed. She also accidentally carries around a lost sock or two that sticks to the Velcro. It's not really a big deal, but it certainly makes for a good laugh.
• Compared to the plastic cones which go for around $10 - 20, the Comfy Cone is a little pricey. If you buy it in store, it's around $25 - 50 depending on the size of your dog. You can find it a bit cheaper online.

Though Millie would prefer no cone at all, given the necessity, we give the Comfy Cone an overwhelming 4 paws up! Millie looks like one comfy cone-wearing pup!

Eat Your Veggies!

To continue my Etsy kick, today I'm crushing on Etsy shop Wags and Wiggles and their super cute handmade chew toys! The shop owner creates these fun, fresh toys out of her very own little backyard studio, where she says she finds quiet time from her very busy household of 4 kids and 4 dogs! I think Millie would really love the carrot!

Nite IZE SpotLit LED Collar Light - Revisited!

In early January I wrote a review of the Nite Ize SpotLit LED Collar Light. In my review, I actually liked the product but was disappointed that one of the two lights that I bought had broken within two days of using. Well, after my review, the second light broke too, about a month later. I was disappointed because I really did like the product. It was perfect for our needs. So yesterday I decided to finally email Nite Ize and let them know my disappointment, and I am absolutely pleased with my experience. Not only did I get a response within a couple of hours, but Nite Ize is sending two new collar lights right away.

If you are looking for a safety light for your dog's collar, then I highly recommend doing business with Nite Ize. The inconvenience of the lights breaking is far offset by the fact that they were so pleasant and stand behind their product, so much so that they will send us two new ones at no cost. A good product and good customer service - somewhat of a rarity these days!

Atomic Attic's Handmade Suitcase Beds

If you've got a cat or a small dog and you're in the market for getting them a new bed, then check out Atomic Attic's vintage upcycled suitcase beds. I'm in love with the retro vibe, and they're well-priced for such cute, stylish, handmade beds. They aren't very large, so they would be best suited for a small, lightweight cat or dog. It wouldn't really fit Banjo, but it would be perfect for Millie!