Holiday shopping for pets!

Let's face it, the pets usually get the short end of the straw when it comes to holiday gifts. 

You buy gifts for your mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister, brother, bus driver, nanny, childcare workers, teachers, maids, postal workers, bank clerks, coworkers, pharmacists, little league coaches, charities, employees, children and sometimes even yourself, but what about the pets in your life? Are they often overlooked? They deserve something special too, don't they? Afterall they provide you with love an affection no matter what is going on in your life. Can you say that about ALL the humans on your shopping list? I suspect not. :)

I have put together an eBay gift guide to help you determine what gift or gifts are right for the pet (specifically cats or dogs) in your life!

There are suggestions for playful pups, or laid back old dogs as well as the curious kitten or the cuddly house cat! Something for everyone!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

GIVEAWAY: Smart Cookie Dog Treats

Smart Cookie Dog Treats out of Denver, Colorado offers pet owners the opportunity to create their own customized boxes of treats by picking the ingredients they want for their dog’s specific lifestyle, dietary needs, or preferences.

How it works: the customer selects a protein, cdog’s customized treats. The treats are then baked up and delivered right to the customer’s door.

arbohydrate, and fruit and veggie combination that are the three key ingredients that go into their 

Our black lab, Millie, was so excited about this delivery. She starts salivating at the thought of "treats" so a box of them sent her into overdrive. :) We were sent survivor treats. These are super healthy, protein-based treats made with human grade ingredients (they look like a doggie granola bar). 

About Smart Cookie

Smart Cookie is a custom dog treat bakery and treat tricycle. This Colorado based company is committed to personalized pet nutrition that focuses on contributing to and enhancing the health and well-being of dogs everywhere. Smart Cookie dog treats are made by hand using all human-grade ingredients like salmon, flax seed, quinoa, green beans and blueberries sourced 100% from the USA.  They contain no wheat, no corn, no soy, no by-products and are free of preservatives. All of the meats are ground in-house, the grains and flax seed are milled for each batch, and fresh fruits and vegetables are used for optimal nutrition.  To create a personalized box of treats and find out more, visit www.smartcookietreats.com.

Who wants to try it? One reader will have a chance to share the wealth with their pup.

WIN IT: One reader will win a box of survivor treats

HOW TO ENTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY: Don't forget your dogs this holiday season!!!

Vital Essentials recognizes that dogs naturally crave treats that are made of real, wholesome, healthy meats.  VE Vital Treats are just that – fresh muscle meats and fresh, whole organ meats that have been gently freeze-dried to perfection.

VE Vital Treats are made with fresh, whole, single-sourced USDA animal protein to provide essential nutrition that dogs instinctively crave. Additionally, RAW treats promote digestive and oral health and support overall health – strong bones, thick glossy coats, firm muscle tone and optimal weight maintenance.

Vital Essentials freeze-dried products need no refrigeration and the convenient, resealable pouch makes it easy to take VE Vital Treats anywhere - ideal for training, snacking or traveling.

As the holiday season approaches, consider giving healthy this year with VE Vital Treats. A recent study reports that more than 50 percent of pet owners include pets in holiday shopping. VE Vital Treats are the perfect stocking stuffer or small gift item for all your favorite furry friends.

Our black lab mix loved these, so I have a feeling your canine friend will too!

WIN IT: A complete set of VE treats. One of each of 6 FD flavors

HOW TO ENTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Say Goodbye to Mess with the Black & Decker Pivot!

Over the past month I have been using the Black and Decker Lithium Pivot to pick up all kinds of things like pet hair, litter, pet food, crumbs and dust bunnies.  We have one adopted son, one dog, two cats and a revolving door of foster children coming in and out of our home, so one can only imagine the number of times we are cleaning up messes, from our two-legged and four-legged children. I used the Pivot on a variety of surfaces such as the furniture, carpeted steps, tile, hardwood and our children's bedding. 

I am impressed with the lightweight design, onboard tools and the suction power packed into this Pivot Vac.  The Vac was easy to use and the pictures on the buttons were also very helpful.  In my opinion, one of the best things this Vac has to offer are the onboard tools.  It comes equipped with an onboard crevice tool and brush that are always at hand and the pivoting nose feature enables easy cleaning for all those hard to reach areas.  We have owned other dust busters in the past and always had a hard time keeping track of where we left the attachments.  Hats off to Black and Decker for the onboard tools that will never get lost!  

The sound of the motor is also something that needs to be mentioned.  It is not loud like other Vacs and therefore does not scare our children or animals.  If you are a parent, you get my drift :)  

My one recommendation would be that the crevice tool was a bit longer and sleeker. When using my Vac in the kitchen, I tried cleaning under the stove and refrigerator, but the tool was too big to fit in those areas.  Also, when trying to clean under the entertainment stand, it would have been helpful if the tool was a bit longer.  

Overall, I am highly satisfied with this product and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars!  In a few months many of you will be cleaning up pine needles, tinsel, glitter and all other things associated with Christmas decorations.  Now is the perfect time to think about purchasing this Vac for those nuisance messes that are bound to be here before you know it.  

You can learn more or purchase online here: http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/BDH2000PL.aspx

GIVEAWAY: Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats & Recipes for Humans too

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Nutrish for Cats. I received a sample of Nutrish for Cats to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

As cat owners, our furry friends hold a very special place in our hearts. Growing up our family cat would greet me at the door, and follow on my heels until I scooped him up and gave him my undivided attention. Now that I'm grown and married, I have two cats who are family, and while they don't both run to greet me when I get home, this little love bug certainly does. She knew what time I got home every day and waited anxiously by the door. My husband thought it was hilarious, but I call that love! And like any member of the family I want to make sure they get the best of what I can offer, and that includes their food.

Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats makes cat nutrition a priority, just like I try to make nutrition a priority for my family, including my furbabies. Real meat like chicken or fish is the #1 ingredient in this line.  I know I don't like eating processed meats, so why would our pets? Instead of consisting of fillers and artificial flavors, the number one ingredient in Nutrish for Cats is real meat, followed by wholesome veggies. I love that this line is inspired by recipes from Rachael Ray’s kitchen. Rachael Ray is so entertaining; I just love her show! Nutrish for Cats is available in wet and dry formulas, including Ocean Fish-alicious, Chicken Purrcata, and Lip Smackin’ Sardine & Mackerel.  Look for these wholesome recipes where you currently shop for your family's groceries.

Chicken and Salmon are two staples in our diet. We probably eat each at least once a week, and usually give the cats a little taste of the salmon because they love it so. One of my favorite easy salmon recipes is maple salmon (Recipes at the bottom) and one of my newer favorite chicken recipes is flaky crust pot pie with belchamel sauce from scratch. It's a lot of work, but oh so good!

Maple Salmon Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/maple-salmon/

Pot Pie Recipe: http://www.comfycook.com/2011/09/greek-phyllo-chicken-bundles-kotopita.html

As you can see from the image below, our cats LOVED the Rachael Ray Nutrish wet food.

If you would like to try it, head on over to this link to find some Nutrish coupons.

If you want to know where you purchase Nutrish try this link. 

For more general information, or to follow Nutrish, visit these links:
Nutrish Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nutrish
Nutrish Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/nutrish
Nutrish Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nutrishforcats

WIN IT: One reader will win samples of Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats

HOW TO ENTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Dog's Story

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Purina One, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ONEDifference http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Okay, so in the interest of honesty I should start off by saying I was not a dog person when I met our dog, but I've grown to love her. She is part of our family now; here is our story.

Our dog spent her first 2 years in Georgia where she was basically a puppy making machine, and at age 2, after recently having a litter of puppies, she was left at a shelter to be put down. I guess she had weened her babies, and was of no more use to her owner [so sad]. We were told that she was within hours of being euthanized when South Jersey Rescue found out about her and arranged for her to come up to Jersey to live with a foster family until she could find a permanent home. SJR said that being as young as she was, with such a sweet loving temperament, they couldn't let this dog be put down just because of lack of space/finances, etc. At this time our family had already grown by 2 cats, who were a BOGO deal from the SPCA, but my husband and I had a deal before we got married. He was a dog person and I was a cat person, so we either had to have BOTH or NEITHER....you can see which way this is going...We were going to have BOTH. 

After having our cats for a year we started the dog search and found this lab online and my husband kept saying "Labs are too big; I don't even want to meet her," but I kept bugging him [as labs were the only dogs I'd ever known in my extended family and 'tolerated'] until he finally agreed, and it was love at first woof. Turns out she's the size of a beagle, so not too big at all. This story gets even better though. Not only is she AMAZING with our 2 cats and other dogs, she also loves all kids. We currently have a 17 month old son and a 2.5 year old foster child and they pet/push/pull/lay on her, and she doesn't even bat an eye. We couldn't have asked for a better dog than our Millie!

Since Millie had a rough start we want to ensure that she has a happy, healthy life moving forward, and we are looking forward to participating in Purina One's 28 day challenge. Trying Purina One for 28 days should lead to a healthier dog in the following ways: eye health, dental health, digestion, energy, healthy skin & a beautiful coat. We can't wait to see how much she loves it, which I'm sure she will. She seems to love all foods!

To try it yourself,  you can sign up for the challenge and get a $3 off coupon here: http://www.purinaone.com/dogs/28-day-challenge 

Window-Mount See-Through Clear Plastic Bird Feeder

Oh the weather outside is frightful, very frightful this winter, but not to fear, we've got the birds covered. 

Plow & Hearth provided us the chance to review their Window-Mount See-Through Clear Plastic Feeder.  The feeder arrived promptly, fully assembled, and was meticulously packaged so as not to damage the product. 

I'll be honest, I had my reservations about reviewing a feeder that was only mounted by suction cups, but I must say I have been impressed!  Southeastern PA has had a brutal winter, with temperatures getting down to the single digits.  Despite the cold temperatures, the suction cups have remained adhered to the window.  Filling and hanging the feeder was very simple as well. Our son, two cats and dog have enjoyed watching the birds.  This feeder is not only functional, but allows for hours of entertainment. My sister-in-law has been eyeing our feeder and is considering purchasing one for herself. 

I would recommend this product without reservation.  Happy bird watching to all!
Check it out here: http://www.plowhearth.com/window-mount-see-through-clear-plastic-bird-feeder.htm

GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR PET!

What’s inside the box?

Every month we will surprise you with 5-6 of the most amazing hand-selected, all natural dog treats, toys and other super cool dog products picked by our experts with love and care. These are products we have scoured the country to find and are things you can't find at the typical big-box pet store. We conveniently ship

this box of delicious and useful gifts at no charge right to your door

I think this is such a great idea. There are beauty boxes for girls/teenagers and there are healthy food boxes for those who like to try unique fruits and veggies and there are gluten free boxes for those with gluten allergies, so why not something for our pets???  Happy Dog box is such a great idea. Our lab absolutely loved her box, although the red iced cookies made her sick, but she loved the toys and other treats in the box!

I was sent a sample and contacted directly by the company!

Holiday Gifts for Man's Best Friend

About Kyjen
Kyjen designs and makes toys, games, puzzles, travel products and other quality dog products at fair prices. They have a passion for dogs and thus, feel that they deserve fun, functional products – ones that last longer and challenge the minds and instincts of their pets so they can be happy and healthy.www.Kyjen.com

We have a black lab/beagle mix dog. She's a little over 30 pounds and very sweet, but when it comes to dog toys she's brutal. We've only found 2 toys that will withstand her chewing and pulling and playing, so we were skeptical about these. We received the Bottle buddy mummy and the Invincible Santa. While it only took her 5 minutes to break the bottle top in the mummy, the Santa is still going strong over a week later. She's punctured one or two of the squeakers, but still loves chewing on it and flipping it around the house. It freaks our one cat out, but the dog loves it.

Visit their site and check out their variety for yourself. It's a great gift idea for that four-legged friend on your shopping list!

 

Dog Friendly Travel @ Inn at Huntingfield Creek

Located in Rock Hall, MD is a gem called the Inn at Huntingfield Creek. This bed and breakfast property has everything you could ask for in a getaway property: 70 acres of land, including a private dock on the Chesapeake Bay (boats available for guests to use), saltwater pool, 5,000 sq. ft. of manor house/private cottages, a pond, wildlife, gardens, an event barn, wifi for those who need it, library,  complimentary breakfast as well as complimentary wine and beer...what more could you ask for? 

Oh, and I forgot to mention the two things that make this location stand out even more - they have dog-friendly and kid-friendly cabins.

Rock Hall, MD is a small town about 2 hours from Philadelphia, 1.5 hours from Wilmington, DE and about 2 hours from Baltimore/Annapolis, MD. It is a perfect location for individuals seeking to get away from the fast paced city life and enjoy nature and the great outdoors. Rock Hall's town consists of a few blocks of shops and restaurants, including Java Rock coffee house, but it has activities close by. The marina is a few minutes away where you can charter a boat to go fishing or crabbing. The Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge is down the road where there are trails, gardens and an abundance of wildlife. Finally, depending on the time of year you visit you will find events like the Rock Fish Tournament in June, Pirates & Wenches Fantasy weekend in August or the Fall Fest in September which all draw quite a crowd.

From our time here we have nothing but positive things to say about this property and its owners. We stayed in one of the dog-friendly cabins, the Island Cottage, which was equipped with a kitchenette, comfortable sitting area, bar height table, desk, king-size bed, whirlpool tub, fireplace, microwave, stove top, grill and private Adirondack chairs behind the cabin. One of the things that I've never seen offered at any other B&B was the option to sleep in and enjoy your complimentary breakfast in town, which I thought was a great idea. I'll be honest when I heard breakfast is served at 8:30am my first thought was, so much for sleeping in. Guests of Huntingfield can either dine on site in the manor house with the owners, Jim and Joann, or they can take a voucher into Rock Hall's town and enjoy breakfast at the Java Rock coffee house a few minutes away. 

We had a chance to enjoy both dining options, and both were a treat. The other unique feature of this B&B that not many have is the dog and kid friendly options. Inside our cabin was a pack n play available to guests with small children. I thought this was a fantastic idea. So many B&B's put an age minimum on their guests, but not here. Because of this, we plan to return with our dog and future children once our family begins to grow.

The owners, Jim and Joanne, were a treat to get to know. They were so open and welcoming, making us feel like part of their family. We were also greeted, upon arrival, by their three friendly dogs - Gracie, Jes and Java, which our dog Millie enjoyed. Another thing we appreciated about the owners was their sense of community. They are active in the community and constantly referring their guests to shops of interest or restaurants, to keep the small town thriving.

If you want a location where you can shop until you drop and enjoy the hustle and bustle of town life, this is not the place for you, but if you want a place to retreat to and enjoy nature this is the place to go! We give it 5 out of 5 stars:

For information or to book your stay, visit: http://www.huntingfield.com/

Dog Friendly Travel @ Cafe De Paris

 Cafe de Paris is a French themed restaurant located in Columbia, MD. Its menu selections are plentiful and change seasonally with entrees ranging from Beef Bourguignon or Pork Tenderloin to Crab Cakes. Next door to the Cafe is the Crepe Cafe, where you can find Crepes of all kinds - meat and cheese crepes, breakfast crepes and dessert crepes which are my personal favorite. 

While there we had a chance to sample several items, starting with the salmon soup which had a robust tomato flavor and hint of salmon which was just perfect, as sometimes fish can overwhelm the palette, but it was balanced well with the soup base. Next we had a chance to try the herb roasted chicken with whipped potatoes, asparagus with garlic tomato pistou and grilled ribeye with house made fries in a demi glace. The chicken was perfectly prepared, slightly crispy skin and moist tender chicken. The ribeye had char-broiled flavors, tender meat.

Following our meal came profiteroles [three puff pastries stuffed with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with warm chocolate sauce] and an apple tart [traditional French baked apple tart garnished with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce]. The dessert options were definitely different from what you see in many restaurants, so I did appreciate this, but while the profiteroles were true to their name being light and airy and doused in chocolate, the apple tart fell short. While I really enjoyed the apple tart, I couldn't get past the strong rum-like taste of the caramel sauce which distracted me from the appeal of the apple tart itself.

Our service was excellent and we would definitely go back when we're in town next.

For more information visit their website here: http://www.cafedepariscolumbia.com/index.php

Dog Friendly Travel @ Peralynna Inn - Columbia MD

Located in Columbia, MD is Peralynna Inn, which is a stone's throw away from major cities such as Baltimore, Washington DC and Annapolis and about a 40 minutes drive from the Chesapeake Bay. This B&B was built in 1996 and is comprised of units for dog friendly travelers as well as units for those that travel without man's best friend.

While staying here guests enjoy a breakfast of their choosing, made to order, along with snacks and beverages available throughout the day and night. In addition Peralynna offers several public spaces where guests can relax such as their great room with tables/chairs and plenty of natural sunlight, a library with plush seating, guest kitchen, and DVD library, as well as card table and pool table. Around back guests have access to a large deck where they can sun bath, read or grill and enjoy the outdoors.  Down the road are several parks with trails, fields and much more for those who enjoy an active vacation. If your idea of vacation is getting away from society, then this location has plenty to keep you occupied between the pool table, dvd/book libraries, grill, parks close by etc. And for those of us who enjoy shopping, it's about 20 minutes from Baltimore Harbor and shops as well as the Columbia Mall which was large and impressively clean compared to others I've visited.




If you are traveling with your pooch, as we did, it's great to find activities you can do with them so here are some suggestions:

• Baltimore Harbor - while the shops are not "dog friendly" there is plenty to see and do outdoors and a handful of outdoor restaurants that allow dogs.
• Centennial Park - trails, pond, boating and more and our pup especially enjoyed watching the ducks on the pond. They're her new obsession.
• Bengie's Drive-In Theater - Open Friday through Sunday, they are dog friendly but the dogs must be kept on a leash
• Cafe De Paris - a local restaurant whose menu features many French-inspired dishes, and their outdoor area is dog-friendly
• Great Harvest Bread Co. - Open Tuesday through Friday and offering breads, soups and sandwiches

We really enjoyed out stay at Peralynna Inn; however, like anything, had it's pros and cons. I really liked that they allow their guests a list of breakfast options and can order what they want, as some guests may have dietary restrictions, so this is very considerate of guest diets and tastes. I also liked that our room had a private entrance to the outside, so that we could take our pup out anytime without bothering other guests. The location is close to major highways and within a 30 minutes drive to many things, which makes it ideal for people who want a bit of everything - countryside, nature, shopping, dining, and a "city" experience. Customer service was also exemplary. Renee at the front desk was amazingly helpful and on multiple occasions offered suggestions of where to eat, things to see and do. Peralynna's downsides were that the room we stayed in was on the small side and was missing several things I felt should have been included like a clock and our kitchenette was lacking dishes and silverware while it came with a fridge and microwave. My other qualm with this dog-friendly location is that I wished dogs were permitted in the common areas, as we had to keep her in the room while we relaxed in the other areas of the B&B.

All in all, it was an enjoyable experience and great location for a vacation. I would give it 3.5 stars out of five.

To find out more information or to book your visit go here: http://www.peralynnainn.com/