Calling All Moon Doggies

YAY! The first ever Surf City Surf Dog Contest is taking place on October 11, 2009, at Huntington Dog Beach. San Diego's had a similar annual event for years, but this will be a Mid-Socal first. Visit the Surf City Surf Dog site for more info on times, vendors, etc. :)

Pretty Pink Poodle Party

Natalie from Little Shindigs puts together lovely tablescapes, and this is one of her most recent (puptastic!) creations. It's for a French Poodle Party! What a great idea for poodle-lovers, french-fanatics, and girly-girls.

Looking for some matchy-perfect party favors? Try these cozy (and cheapish!) plush purses from Oriental Trading Co:

...the cuteness runneth over...

Loving Leadership Tips

Just like human children, puppies need guidelines and boundaries to thrive.

Being a good leader will earn your dog's respect and help her to feel secure, safe, and loved. Although you might be a natural leader in the human world, dogs have a very different, dogcentric view of how leaders behave. If you're having trouble with your dog listening, don't take it personally... you're not alone. When people who speak different languages are communicating, a lot can get lost in translation. As you might imagine, when you're dealing with two different SPECIES, it can get even more tricky!

Here's a few of my favorite fun, easy tips that help with strengthening loving leadership skills.

Here's the first concept:

The Leader (that's you!) Controls Resources:

Just as a parent controls their child's allowance, curfew, etc., you should control the "good stuff" when it comes to your dog. The number one "good stuff thing" on most dog's lists is... food!

Three EasyPeasy Leadership Try-it Tips:

* In almost all cases, I recommend that dogs have scheduled mealtimes (rather than graze or "free feed.") When a dog understands that YOU are the important person who's responsible for all the deliciousness, it makes your respect level go up-up-up.

* You might also make a habit of taking a bite of a snack of your own before dishing out your dog's meal (maybe have a cracker, chip, sip of water, etc.) Let your dog see you eat or drink something before she eats. Amongst dogs, the leaders eat first, so this is an easy-breezy, visual way to use canine communication to your advantage.

* No free treats for puppies just for being cute (it's hard, I know!) Have your puppy do a simple command (like a sit-stay) before getting a treat, and before being served a meal. Being on a "learn to earn" program gives your puppy motivation to please you, and it helps promote polite behavior.

I've found regulating food is usually an easy, pretty-passive, baby-steps first step for puppy parents (especially for those clients who are inclined to pamper.) These are supersimple, almost-anyone-can-do-it ways to communicate to your dog that you are the leader, and none of them require being gruff, tough, or creepish.

*Reminder: When trying new techniques with your puppy, please keep in mind that all dogs are individuals, with their own unique temperaments and backgrounds. Some dogs have special needs. If you feel uneasy about working with your dog on your own for whatever reason, consult with a professional trainer who can help tailor a training plan especially suited for you and your specific dog.

Bat For Lashes, Yogurtland, Penelope

These are my THREE THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW for this week:

PERSON: Bat For Lashes (AKA Natasha Khan.) Wow. This is my latest favorite girly singer. I think you'll like her, too. Her newest album is really cool, her older stuff is just as interesting, and her cover songs are awesome. I especially love Travelling Woman, The Forest (The Cure cover), and the three gems that follow. Listen, listen, listen, and look, look, look:

Calling Moon and Moon (mp3 via quiet color.)

(very Donnie Darko)



(Karate Kid inspired... no, really, I'm not kidding, it actually, truly was...)





PLACE: Yogurtland. My brother introduced me to this place and it's just won-der-ful! They have a zillion flavors and you get to serve yourself any combination you like. So if you've ever got a hankering (yes, I said "hankering") for a special peanut butter-mango-pumpkin-mint chip concoction, this is the place to go. You can also choose whatever serving size you prefer, from teenytinytaste-sized to giantgiantbucket-sized, and the same goes for toppings (whatever combination, however much you like.) Then the Yogurtlandians weigh your finished masterpiece, and the price is based on... the weight. The yogurt is yummy, the toppings are actually fresh (some are even healthy!), and what's best is that the prices (at least for my concoctions) are really great (much lower than our local Golden Spoon.) Our location has the nicestever employees, and they're totally kid-friendly (pup-friendly, too, if you don't mind munching alfresco.) I loooove Yogurtland...

...this guy not so much... (be sure to bring puppy treats for your more carnivorous-leaning canine friends.)




THING: Penelope. The movie. I love it. Penelope has a swing in her bedroom. She creates lovely terrariums. And I suspect she shops at Anthropologie.

(pretty soundtrack, yes?)

So, those are three things I love right now. If you have a blog, maybe you'll want to try sharing three weekly things, too... then there'll be six happy things, then nine, then... maybe one week...2,400!

Happy Pet Parent's Day

Yep, apparently there is a Pet Parent's Day (who knew?) Send a free cutesy card to someone special, and mark the date on your calendar... maybe next year you can demand gifts :)

Yummy Funny Faces

I love silly snacks, and these two from Sycamore Stirrings are just waysupercute (and perfect for animal-obsessed preschoolers!) Take a peek at this creative Luxembourg-based blog for directions (and lots more fun, kidlet-inspired tips & things.)

* Reminder for Pet Parents: Please remember that many human foods contain ingredients that can be tough on a pup's tummy. If you're looking for a special way to treat your dog, there are lots of great cookbooks these days with appropriate recipes made especially for canines :)

Pet Airways (For Puppy Passengers!)

Pet Airways is the firstever airline for pets! YAY! Instead of getting packed away and locked up in the spooky, stuffy back with all those crates & boxes and things, pet travelers get to curl up cozy and safe inside the main cabin :)

Don and Alysa Binder started the new airline because of their own dog, Zoe. Like many pet owners, the Binder's love to travel, but they never liked the thought of their furry loved one flying in the cargo hold. As they talked to friends and neighbors who felt the same way, they saw a market for this new, exciting airline.

According to Alysa, "On Pet Airways, your pets aren't packages!" and all pet handling procedures are conducted under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Here's the process:

1. Drop your pet off at the Pet lounge in the airport a minimum of 2 hours before take off .

2. A Pet Attendant monitors the last time your pet had a potty break and makes sure they get regular breaks along the way (anyone who's struggled getting their pup housebroken knows how priceless that is...)

3. Pets board the plane and cozy-up in their custom-sized carrier.

4. Pets are monitored every 15 minutes during the flight. Once they land, pets are escorted off the plane, given a potty break and taken to the Pet Lounge.

5. Your pet will be waiting for you at the Pet Lounge at your destination airport. If your travel times don't line up exactly, your pet can stay overnight at the PAWS Lodge until you arrive.

Pet Airways sounds like a wonderful option for dogs who are too large to fly with you as carry-ons (and what a lovely, new way for breeders* to start making the transporting process a little less stressful for pups, too...)

Right now they're offering an introductory price of $149 each way for all flights, and they serve these cities: Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York (including New Jersey, Connecticut and Philadelphia) and the Washington DC/Baltimore area. Flights from East to West are on Tuesdays, West to East on Thursdays. Woohoo!

* A quick word about out-of-state breeders: Unless you know the breeder, or have a direct personal reference, I always recommend clients get their purebreds from a breeder they are willing and able to actually visit. To avoid problems with health and temperament, it's important to see your breeder's facilities, practices, and parent pooches for yourself before bringing a new pup into your home (and heart!)

Happy Earth Day!

Celebratory Tunes:

Gallery of Globes

Have you heard about this supercool art project called Cool Globes? Here's a sample of some of the amazing pieces (some by artists, some by nonprofits, some by creative kiddos...) Visit the site for a complete project explanation, details about each individual globe, and to learn more about how you can help stop global warming...

Matchy Music:

World Turned Upside Down, by Coldplay (mp3 via Carl Sandburg Visits.)

Heart Patch Jeans

Kidlets are famous for ripping holes in their jeans (hey! it's rough learning to run & climb & stuff...!) Koala Brains has a sweet, simple, planet-friendly solution: instead of tossing the jeans, cut a heart shape out, and fill in the space behind it with a happy-patterned fabric. Take a peek at Boo's Mom's blog for step-by-step instructions :)

Little Laura, Happy Hype, Instant Animal Masks

These are THREE THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW:

1. PERSON: Laura Marling. Yet another wonderful girly singer who you're sure to fall in love with. I tend to fluctuate my stalking from kooky, happy, upbeat singers to kooky, sweetlysemigloomy, slightly-darkish singers. Laura's more on the sweetlysemigloomy, slightly-darkish side :)

Take a peek at her felt-story-inspired(?) video for Ghosts (mp3 via Blisslist):


..and paper-crafts-creative My Manic And I (mp3 via Blisslist):





2. PLACE: The Hype Machine. This is a wonderful site that searches through established blogs for mp3s from all the new & quirky-cool musicians. You can sample entire songs for free, and then link your way to where to buy them. This is my new first stop before heading to itunes... I LOVE IT (thanks, Heather, for the rec.)!





3. THING: Instant Animal Masks. Ever seen those paper plates with the cute animal faces on them? Marie from Make and Takes came up with a brilliant semihandmade use: turn those suckers into semihandmade masks! It's easy: you can pretty much just cut out eye holes and then hot glue/tape on a Popsicle stick. Pretend play is wonderful for a kidlet's imagination... (show me how your animal moves... how does your animal sound?... what does your animal eat?...) And wouldn't these be fun for a zoo or farm themed party? Love this idea.





So, those are three things I love right now. If you have a blog, maybe you'll want to try sharing three weekly things, too... then there'll be six happy things, then nine, then... maybe one week...2,400!

Chit Chat Cats

This is just too cute!

From Blossoms to Berries

YUM! This week our local springtime strawberry booth reopened, and we even have wild woodland strawberries cropping up along the quarter mile trail at work (the bunnies will be pleased...)

Matchy Music:
Nothing But Flowers, by Talking Heads (mp3 via Snuh.)
Strawberry Swing, by Coldplay (mp3 via Carl Sandburg Visits.)

Free Kiddie Craft Workshops

Michael's has a new program for parents, teachers, and kids called "The Knack" (and I have no idea why it's called that... really, what's that all about?... I sort of don't get it...)

Anyway, they're offering all sorts of fun, FREE, seasonal craft workshops for kids. The next one is coming up this Saturday, 4/18/2009, @ 10am, for kids ages 5-12, and they'll be making some pompom critters like the silly spring chicks and bunnies shown above. The crafts all seem sort of stepsy-cookie-cutterish... but whatever... they're FREE (!) and the kiddos get to socialize & make new friends :)

Next up is a series of Mother's Day crafts (on 5/4 corsages, on 5/6 mom coupon booklets, etc.)

Call your local Michael's for details.

Music for Monkeys

You need to hear the song All The World, by U.S.E. (mp3 via The Late Greats.)

Ohmygosh... I'm addicted! I play it over and over. And, yes... over. I can't help it... it reminds me of a happy, hyper muppet. And it's perfect for wiggly preschoolers to dance to.

The band is also soverynice. I emailed them to get the lyrics, and they actually emailed me back :)

First Puppy Press Conference

Here's the latest Presidential Pooch Footage at Bo's official Meet & Greet for the press:

Special YAY! Moment: Listen for Obama's mentioning of Positive Reinforcement :)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"That's A Good Looking Dog, Though, Let's Face It!"

Presidential Pooch

YAY! The Obama girls finally got their puppy. I'd heard about the different breeds they were considering, and was really excited to hear they might choose a Portuguese Water Dog. This weekend, the Kennedy's gifted the new first family an adorable six-month-old PWD pup named Bo.

During dog training school, I did what would be considered my "dog breeds thesis" on Portuguese Water Dogs, so I have a special place in my heart for this lovely, rarely-heard-of breed. Besides being beautiful, these dogs have a wonderful coat that's ideal for allergy-prone humans (btw, despite popular belief, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic pooch...)

PWDs are also superduper talented: they can be trained to be exceptional swimmers and divers, and were originally bred to work with Portuguese fishermen... among their many duties, these pups were known to actually herd fish! I'm sorry, call me a dog-loving nerd, but that is so cool!

*White House photos by Pete Souza, via Whitehouse.gov.

Sunny Roads, Disapproving Rabbits, Happy Hands

These are THREE THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW:

1. PERSON: Emiliana Torrini Um, LOVE her! She's from Iceland (home of my beloved Bjork.) You will want to buy all her songs, but probably most especially the lovely Birds (mp3 via Untitled Records), Sunny Road (shown below, which reminds me of a pretty picture book), and the more upbeat, silly-fun Jungle Drum (mp3 via HighFi Heart.)






2. PLACE: Disapproving Rabbits. It's a site devoted to pictures of bunnies with displeased expressions. Anyone who's ever loved a bunny knows the look... it's a special blend of snobby, disgusted, and cute... it's as though they transform into uptight, old, portly British fellows... you can imagine them muttering "unacceptable! unacceptable! ...why, I never!.."

3. THING: Pink Grapefruit Foaming Handwash, from Bath and Body Works. This is the best smelling soap ever. Ever. I always thought foaming soap was sort of creepy... but the wonderful smell overrides that 100%... it's the ideal scent for spring and summer... clean and lightlylightly citrus.




So, those are three things I love right now. If you have a blog, maybe you'll want to try sharing three weekly things, too... then there'll be six happy things, then nine, then... maybe one week...2,400!

Happy Easter!

Hope your day is filled with bunnies, baskets, and all things cuddly-cozy :)

The Best Smelling Alphabet Book Ever

Another wonderful book with a title that says it all. Remember how much fun scratch n sniff books were when you were a kid? They're sort of rare these days, and this one is scratch n sniff at it's best :) Readers follow a family of hungry, adorable mice, and watch as they discover a yummy food item for each letter of the alphabet ("A is for apples", etc.) The illustrations are really supercute. I use this book to introduce my preschoolers to nature-related topics like: food (what do we like to eat? what do other animals like to eat?), exploring the five senses, animal families, colors, etc. You could also use it as inspiration to make your own alphabet book. Funfunfun.

Earth Day Art

What a fun idea! Stop by the Greeblemonkey blog to get your own little artists involved (or to find out how to buy some beauties) all in the name of Mother Nature. Make it snappy... the project closes April 22 :)

Looking for a couchpotatoy way to make a baby steps difference? Try watching the new Sesame Street DVD Being Green: Elmo Goes Green to Help the Earth! staring Elmo (duh!), Abby, Telly, Cookie Monster, and a freakin-hilarious Paul Rudd, as Mr. Earth, himself (take a sneakpeek at this footage... you may die laughing at his suave dance moves...YAY Paul Rudd!)

Hawks Gone Wild!

BABIES: All the hawks are going nutsy right now at the Nature Center... soaring, hunting, squawking, and getting ready for babies (like the ones from last year in the picture above.)

BUDDIES: In Long Beach, we have several kinds of hawks, but my favorites are the Red Tailed Hawks and Red Shouldered Hawks. Here's a wonderful illustration from The Birding Sonoma County Blog, explaining the differences:

BEAUTY: And speaking of hawky things, did you know there's a fun girly singer named LadyHawke? I've been playing one of her songs over and over (and over.) It's called My Delirium (mp3 via awmusic...) and I looove it!

Easter Bunny Cupcake Toppers

Don't you just love these bunnies? Visit My Crafty Mess for a handy template & directions. What a supersweet way to dress up your holiday cupitycakes and apps!

Easy Easter Ideas

Looking for some last-minute ideas to steal for Easter? Check out these cute eggy chair backers (from Southern Living), above, made with empty plastic eggs & ribbon....

...delightfully delicious desserts from Bright Ideas (those bird nests are really mini cheesecakes...YUM!)

...cheerful chick chic bookmarks, from Jinjerup...

...adorable, affordable nesty placecards from No Fuss Fabulous...

...and printer-print-it simple bunny egg holders , from Skip To My Lou (visit the site for a darling downloadable template & tips.)