Make Your Own Puppy Dog Pals Puppet & more FriYAY FUN with Disney Junior!

Today's discussion is sponsored by Disney Junior; regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

My baby girl is my side kick, my shadow, my mini me... She seems to love the same things I love and well, that's just heartwarming. While she shares my sassy side, I love already knowing that we also have common interests. From being a total foodie (who loves to occasionally watch cooking shows) to being a little fashionista who loves the camera, she's pretty much my twin - in a tiny, adorable form!

Here's the thing, if my daughter and I have one thing absolutely identical about us, it's our love of animals. She is absolutely gaga over birds and staring at dogs is probably her top favorite activity. I have a feeling she and I will likely surprise her daddy with a little puppy pal in the years to come, but for right now - we are savoring the time with the dog we already have and looking forward to adding to our family, someday! With that said, we have a not-so-little doggy visitor this week and she is loving the extra company!

Her and I are always admiring other doggies, whether it's at the park, on TV, or dog sitting - we love the company of puppies! So after catching an episode of Puppy Dog Pals a few weeks ago on Disney Junior, we are BIG TIME Bingo, Rolly, Hissy, & Bob fans!

And if I'm being frank, I suppose I can be a little bit of a "Bob" at times with my crazy schemes and ideas. Luckily, my little gal pal loves me as much as those puppy dog pals love their owner, so she just goes along with my crazy shenanigans just like Bingo & Rolly do with Bob!   

While we try to limit the amount of TV Delainey watches, I'm pretty sure we can count Puppy Dog Pals as "her show" now... she smiles and laughs when her favorite Puppy Dog Pals are playing and when they get into trouble, you can see her trying to help figure it out! It's just precious... and on that note, I'm fairly certain that D daydreams about the adventures she can get into with our dog. From plotting future mischievous deeds her and Pow can do, to dreaming of riding the visiting bear of a lab, Barkley, around the room - I can see the wonder in her eyes each time she looks at dogs.

Doggies really are her best friends and it's sad but this is the real world and our dog, the dog we are dog sitting, and even Puppy Dog Pals can't come with us all the time. So I decided to get crafty with my sidekick and make us some adorable little canine companions that we can take along with us everywhere from the library to the doctor's office!

It's super easy to make a little puppy puppet and the best part is you can customize them however you want, so your puppy pal will be your very own design and your best friend! While it may just be a piece of paper - I know Delainey loves our new little companions and while it isn't the same as taking our pups on adventures, I think she's pretty happy with her mama made paper pups.

For this project you will need:

Scissors
Printer paper or cardstock in a variety of colors
Markers

Tape (optional)

To start you'll want to fold your paper into a perfectly even square by bending one corner into the paper and making a giant triangle, cutting and removing any excess.

Next, gently fold the triangle into a smaller triangle, creating a mid-line for you to follow. Unfold and lay the "giant triangle" on the table.

After that fold the lower (open mouth) point over onto itself, leaving about a 1cm gap at the top.

Once you've completed that step, unfold and separate, laying the two pieces on top of each other and folding the top piece down slightly, creating what will be the nose area.

Following that step, flip the piece of paper over and fold the two edges in, creating tiny triangles down at the bottom and a "winged" looking piece of paper.

Again, fold those two piece into themselves, creating what will resemble a fox like shape.

Finally, fold the fox ears one more time to make them either more puppy or kitty like, leaving the ears pointy for a kitty like Hissy or folding the ears over and making them less pointy like Bingo and Rolly.

The last but most important step, decorate your pup! Add a nose, eyes, spots, and more with markers! Make a collar out of paper, maybe even a leash or like Bob, you could even try and make an "invention"?! Use your imagination and have fun!

And that's it, you have created the perfect puppy puppet, with your own two hands!

If that was too much to try and follow via photos and text, I decided it'd be easiest to show you how to fold your puppy puppet! Check out the video below and give this super easy origami puppy fold a try!

Once your puppy is completed, I made a super special Puppy Pal Certificate you can personalize and print, making each and every Puppy you create a real member of your pack!

After all that fun, I'm sure a break is on order! Want to catch the next episode of Puppy Dog Pals? Tune into Disney Channel  on FriYAY morning for new episodes... and if you miss those, check out our new favorite show on Disney Junior!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Disney Junior.

When Life Gets Messy, #HugTheMess!

It's been a crazy week, with all kinds of intense happenings here in our little Florida abode. From the loss of our sweet, spunky poodle just a few short days ago to family (from all over the country) visiting us during the same week, we have all had a lot going on!

We had and still have a lot going on--I was overjoyed once we finally had a moment to relax. I knew making a mess was a must for Delainey and I, not just because she's a cute little terror that loves getting messy, but also because I knew I needed to let out some creativeness. When feelings get messy, I'm a firm believer that I should let that all out by getting my hands a little messy... and that's definitely something I want to teach Delainey! Productively expressing her feelings will be a common happening in our house and I can't wait to sculpt clay and finger paint with my sweet girl, but this time we decided tie dying was the way to go.

But first things first, prior to getting messy, I had to make sure D was out of her adorable clothes and ready to be around some serious mess. A diaper was her only attire for our fun little project and I wanted something reliable and comfortable so we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about D's bum - that's why I chose Huggies Snug & Dry. The perfect diaper for all kinds of activities, especially messy ones! With increased absorbency, I knew we wouldn't have a leaky problem mid-project and that was an absolute necessity, especially because I had a case of rainbow hands by the end of the whole ordeal.

With that said, we had a blast getting messy. Delainey talked me through it all while I dyed all the pretties! Side note: Instead of going out and buying a bunch of new onesies and tees, I used a handful of stained onesies we already had and made them adorable again. It's all about hugging the mess after all.

After our tie dye adventure was completed, I had to clean up quick because with an 8 month old, you have to do everything pretty speedy. I immediately grabbed for a One & Done wipe from Huggies and, as always, only one wipe came out - allowing me to speedily wipe off some of the dye and pick up my sweet girl quick! We all know having only one wipe come out of the package is a must when you are in a "messy situation", so I was more than pleased about this fact!

Do you have a mess you need to clean up? Maybe a little some booty wears diapers in your house? I suggest you check out the amazing deals on Huggies at Family Dollar, "clip" a few of their coupons for your next visit - like one for $2 off your diaper purchase, and then breathe easy knowing you chose a reliable diaper AND you get to save a little cash while you are at it!

Want to see our final product? I'll be sharing it on social media today! Keep your eye out for some pretty tie dye and don't forget to "snip" some Family Dollar coupons for your next visit!

Stay Accountable: 6 Ways You Can Include Your Dog in Your New Years Resolutions!

Celebrating the new year means there's all kinds of resolutions being made. Whether you're hoping to lose weight, you're trying to become a better person in general, or you just want to pick up jousting... It's easy to think about your resolution and talk about it, but to actually stick with it is a whole other ball game.

Speaking of ball games... This year I'm trying something a little different to hold myself accountable, I'm involving my dog in my New Years resolutions. Their loyal little personalities will be the reason I'm able to stick with my resolutions.

I was lucky enough to spend New Years with some of the best dogs I know, not just my own, but my mom's dogs as well, because we were dog sitting. After spending time in a household of dogs, I realized it wouldn't hurt to be a little more like them, hence today's post.

1. Be more outgoing like a silly poodle - I used to be fairly shy when meeting someone in person, but this year I have the goal of changing this. I want to be more like my poodle, he's a "yes" kind of guy and will do anything and is friendly towards everyone. Imagine if we all were more inclined to help others and flash a friendly grin. The world would be a better place if we all were a little more poodle-y. It's easy to be friendly and it goes a long way, in my personal experience... whether you smile and say hello to a stranger or you pay it forward the next time you are standing in line at Starbucks, being friendly is really the only way to be.

2. Don't be afraid to follow your instincts, dogs do it... we should too - Okay, well, maybe the logic is flawed on this one but I bet you can see the idea behind the thought here. This really goes hand-in-hand with #1 up there. I want to stop questioning myself and just do things, keeping my eye on the prize instead of worrying about what could happen. Every dog in my life has had this attitude towards what they desire and most of the time, they get what they want... maybe it'll work for me too? If you show determination, I think things are bound to happen for you... you just have to never give up!

3. Eat well - We feed our dogs Beneful because it has what they need, with real meat as the first ingredient. I'm doing the same for myself in 2017, I plan to add more protein and veggies and less of the other stuff. Adding healthy foods into your diet, isn't necessarily just for weight loss (although it helps), your body NEEDS those nutrients in healthy foods. If you are prone to choosing junk food over health foods, now is the time to start changing your diet, no matter your size! While your adjusting your diet, be sure to look into Beneful for your furry friend.

4. Exercise often and bring your dog with you - This may be my dogs (and your dogs) favorite part of the New Year... more walks means some happy pups in my house! Going for walks, or runs, will make you both feel better and stronger in the long run.

5. Take it easy - On that same note, exercising can be exhausting so be sure to allow your body to rest. Take a cue from your doggies and be sure to fit in some resting time too. Whether you decide to take a "cat nap" on a Sunday afternoon or you spend an entire weekend soaking up the sun, be sure to take a moment and relax so that your body remains healthy and stable!

6. Be a loyal friend- Being a good friend is so rewarding... and a dog knows that as well. Take some cues from your pooch and be there when your buddy needs you. Spend time with your friends, forgive them for their flaws and mistakes, be someone who just listens, and when someone reaches out, be there! Dogs make the best of friends because they do all of this and more.

With all of that said, I think we all can make 2017 great for ourselves and our dogs... it'll just take a little bit of determination (and maybe a treat or two for your little fido). So tell me, what resolutions have you AND your dog made?

Thanks to Beneful for sponsoring today's discussion, regardless all opinions expressed above are completely my own.

A Simple DIY Dog Toy Tutorial + an Update on Beneful! #FriendsofBeneful

Thanks to Beneful for choosing my pups and I to be part of the #FriendsofBeneful ambassador program, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

I've already shared the fact that my dogs and I are pretty big fans of Beneful and we were overjoyed to recently share the news about the Dream Dog Parks that are in the works this year, but today's news may take the cake. While Beneful was already an incredible food, in my dog's eyes and my own (for obviously different reasons), I'm excited to share that it's gotten even better recently!

The Beneful team has been working to evolve their food into the perfect food from a dog owner's perspective for the past two years and it's official, they've mastered their craft and my dogs love the new recipe.

With meat as the #1 ingredient in both the beef and chicken dry Beneful foods and Salmon hopefully joining the extra meaty-train soon, it's obvious why my dogs are totally gaga over the new formula... and why I'm a happy dog owner knowing I'm feeding my pups something they love and something that provides nourishment for their little canine bodies. Not only did they adjust their formula to include more meaty goodness, there's no added sugar in any of the recipes so your dog can eat without a worry.

The best part of the news I'm sharing with you today is this: Beneful is so proud of their new formula, they are offering you the chance to sign up for a free sample for your canine friend! Once the new formula of Beneful has received two "paws" up approval from your doggy, be sure to share a review on Beneful's website letting the world know how much your furry friend enjoys the new food.

While the change in Beneful is a good thing, I suppose I should note that you can't just switch your fuzzy friend's food first thing. You'll want to transition your dog to the new food, to ease their tummies smoothly. Want to master the art of changing your dog's food? Check out other helpful feeding tips and tricks from Beneful here.

Speaking of change, my dogs are going through quite a bit of change lately... we're moving furniture around and getting things ready for our daughter's arrival next month and so far, they've been so very good about all of the new-ness and adapting perfectly. While they've been adapting well thus far, I've been trying to think of fun ways to reward them and remind them we love them since a BIG change is coming soon, which led me to make them a new toy this weekend. I figured we could buy a load of toys, but making one out of stuff that already has our scent, would be a more significant reward.

I'm super excited to say that their new toy is easy enough for anyone to make and the best part is you most likely you have the materials laying around your house to put it together right now, if you want!

For this project you will need:

a water bottle

an old shirt or dress
an old pair of pants
scissors

To get this project started you'll want to remove the label from the water bottle and the cap as well. 

Next you'll want to trim the bottom hem of the dress or shirt off, this will be your ties for the ends of the toy.

Following this step, you'll want to use the water bottle and measure enough fabric on the pant leg to cover the entire bottle and tie the ends, then cut the pant leg as needed.

After your fabric is "measured", cut one slit into each end of the pant fabric and tie the bottle inside with a double knot on each end. Cut the dress or shirt hem into pieces and tie them around each double knot of the bottle.

Since my pant legs were choppily cut anyways, I went ahead and added a few extra slits to the pant fabric to make for some frayed ends, if you would like you can do the same to add some texture and make it easier for your pup to grab.

Now's the fun part for you and your pup, hand this cute little tied fabric toy over to your fuzzy best friend and let them enjoy!

It's that easy to give your dog something they'll adore... and it's all made with stuff that would likely end up in the trash or recycling anyways! The best part of this toy is the fact it smells like me somewhat... so while we're at the hospital next month this will be a great way to remind them of me. If I don't say so myself, this is a great toy for a dog going through a transition... and I think my poodle friend agrees!

So tell me, have you changed anything major in your dog's life before? Thinking it's time for a change? Don't forget to snag a free Beneful sample here, then let me know all about your doggy's life changes in the comments below.

Your Dog Deserves a Dream Dog Park! #FriendsofBeneful

Thanks to Beneful for sponsoring today's discussion and helping several doggies and communities by building awesome dog parks! #FriendsofBeneful #DreamDogPark

My dogs are my little best friends, I love spoiling them and I'll be honest, being able to take them places is always a treat (for me and them). While I wish they could tag along on my trips to Target to grab them Beneful or my little jaunts over to Tampa for stuff for Delainey, they can't always come with me. That's why it's special when we make the day all about them and take them everywhere with us, like we did yesterday.

We spent a good portion of the day at our favorite dog park, fine tuning their skills with the agility course and having a great time letting them run free-as-can-be through out the entire park. The best part, in my poodle's opinion anyways, was rolling around in the muddy shade in the corner of the park.

That's the thing about our dog park, it's full of stuff for doggies to do and it's just fun to wander around with your pooch too. I know other communities aren't lucky enough to have a dog park like ours so I wanted to let you know that Beneful is doing everything they can to help you get one like ours in your community.

The Beneful Dream Dog Park Project helps further Beneful's mission of celebrating the joyful life dogs and owners share together by supporting dog park improvement and construction projects across the United States. Since 2010, they've helped bring dog park dreams to life in more than a dozen communities! In 2016, Beneful will support at least 12 dog park projects in the U.S. by improving existing parks and helping get new projects off the ground through a mix of financial support, hands-on volunteerism and shared dog park expertise. Interested in finding out more about how they can help you and your dog get a "Dream Dog Park" nearby? Click here to find out more or to help support the cause!

Friends with Beneful

Thanks to Beneful for sponsoring today's discussion, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

My dogs have been part of my life for what feels like forever, the past 8 or so years have been the best of my life with this little fuzzy gal and guy by my side. It's pretty easy to see why they say dogs are man's best friend when you see how sweet and loving my little pooches are and that's why I always want to show them love in return.

With so many different ways to show doggies some affection, it's actually pretty easy to make sure my dogs know they're loved. They are constantly getting pet, snuggled, and occasionally even kissed upon, but their main "love language" is food and luckily it's pretty easy to please their bellies.

That's why we became "Friends with Beneful" this year. The Beneful line of dog food is one of their favorites because it has REAL beef (or chicken) as the first ingredient! So when they asked me to start sharing all the awesomeness behind the brand with you, you better believe I had to say yes!

While their food is amazing for my pups, I'm pretty excited to share some new developments with you soon, like their new recipes coming out later this summer, for example! Plus, the ways they can help a community like yours! This year is going to epic for all Beneful doggies!

Have you tried giving your pups Beneful yet? I'm sure you will find something they love with 8 different varieties of dry dog food, 20 varieties of wet dog food, and 11 different kinds of treats!

Get Answers from Your Dog with Wisdom Panel 3.0 [+ Information on the Upcoming Holiday Pet Festival in Scottsdale, AZ]

Today's post is sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

If you're anything like me, you fall in love with the under dog - you know, the odd one out, the funky one of the bunch. I've always had a big heart for dogs, especially little mixed breed pups from the pound like my little rugrats I adopted. While they may not be "pure bred" their hearts are full of love and they are both sharp as a whistle.

That's why I really want to know what my little pooches breed specifics actually are... Sometimes when I'm walking down the street with Miley, my tan mystery breed dog, people say she looks like an oversized Chihuahua and other times I'm asked if she's a Pit Bull puppy. My "poodle", Gnarly, has always been referred to as such, but we're almost certain he's actually partially schnauzer based on his coat and his ornery attitude... but instead of guessing, I'm glad to say we can actually find out with Wisdom Panel 3.0.

I'd love to find out all about my dogs, not just for my own amusement though. Knowing more about the breeds that make up my precious pooches could change all of our lives. Learning more about how their bodies process medicine with the advanced testing in the Wisdom Panel 3.0, could actually save their lives. You can visit the website to learn more about the MDR1 mutation testing and how it will benefit you and your dog.

While the testing for the mutation is vital for your dog's life and finding out the breed specifics is important, finding out the results from a test like this means that your dogs training program, diet, and even just their daily routine could be altered to suit their specific breed as well - These DNA tests for dogs are life changing.

What does the Wisdom Panel 3.0 do exactly? The test covers 250+ breeds, types, and varieties of dog recognized by the AKC and can be run for mixed breed, designer, or pure bred dogs. The test also provides ancestory information back to the grandparent level and a predicted weight profile, both of which can definitely be vital information about your pup that you may not already know.

The coolest part about this test is that it can be run just about anywhere, including your home or the upcoming Holiday Pet Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona. My pooches and I were really hoping to make it out to the event scheduled for December 5th, but won't be able to make it this time. With so much furry fun going on, I'm disappointed we won't get to partake - especially because I was hoping to finally find out more about my dog's and literally, what they are made of!

Are you interested in finding out what breed your dog actually is? You can have the test performed at the Pet Festival for a discounted price of $39.99! If your pooch can't make it to the event, you can grab a kit and send in the swab for another awesome deal, $49.99! Don't fret if you can't make it to the Holiday Pet Festival though, you can visit WisdomPanel.com and get a kit as well! So what are you waiting for? Today is the day to find out more about your dog!

Don't miss your chance to score a discount again,
follow Wisdom Panel on social media:
Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | Pinterest

"I and Love and You" Pet Food Giveaway

Thanks to I and love and you for providing samples for my pooches & for providing one lucky winner with a prize,
all opinions expressed below are my own.

Choosing the right food to feed my pups has been an experience, to say the least, with so many brands and so many ingredients in every brand - I feel overwhelmed a lot of times. Trying to decipher labels and decide what they really need in their food has been a learning process but I think we may have finally landed on a food that we all can agree on. I love my dogs a lot and they love me a lot, so "I and love and you" is the food I choose to make sure they are healthy, happy, and satiated.

With a picky and particular little poodle and a muscular mix of a dog that seems to have an aversion to most dog foods, we are constantly trying to convince them that dog food is actually made for them. Luckily we found "I and love and you". We all love it so much because it's a wholesome pet food formulated by holistic veterinarians with the highest standards and made with quality food ingredients, found right in the grocery store with our food!

Our particular poodle seems to have warmed up to I and Love and You and will nudge the bag when he's hungry and our little muscular mix scarfs her food down every time we fill up her bowl, so I think it's safe to say we have found the food for our pups.

I&L&Y's ingredients include the things I look for when choosing food for myself: grain-free, real meat as the first ingredient, prebiotics, probiotics, no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors... I choose to buy food like this to promote optimum health for my dogs and I've noticed they really seem to love the flavor! Plus with a formula made to make their tummy happy &to help them look more beautiful, what more could I ask for in a dog food?

Do you want to let your dog sample I and love and you? Maybe your little feline friend would like a taste of their cat food line? Enter to win a giveaway for an awesome sampler pack with the giveaway form below:

One lucky winner has the choice
between a dog box or a cat box!


Dog Box
(approx. $150 value) includes:
5lb Kibble - Red Meat Medley
1.5lb In the Raw - Raw Raw Beef Boom Ba
Nice Jerky - Venison + Lamb Jerky Bites
$100 in coupons (5 coupons with $20 value each)


Cat Box
(approx. $125 value) includes:
5lb Kibble - Poultry A Plenty     
2 cans - Chicken Lickin'
2 cans - Oh My Cod!
2 cans - Puurky Turkey
$100 in coupons (5 coupons with $20 value each)

Entry-Form

Now that I've shared our new doggie food and how much we love it, I'd love to hear all about your dogs (or cats) and why you think I & Love & You would be a good fit for your little furry friend!

Save Money & Treat Your Dogs to Nylabone Natural Healthy Edibles WILD!

Around these parts, we spoil the kind with four paws... it's just what we do.

Being able to give my dogs treats they love is something that just makes me happy. Especially when the treats occupy my poodle long enough for me to get something accomplished without him interfering... I love the little guy, but any time I'm taking photos I swear he tries to photobomb my shots. That's where Nylabone's Healthy Edibles WILD line comes into play...

I hand over a WILD bone to my furry friends and they feel like they are in heaven, while I get the chance to work without a photobombing poodle in the background... and well, sometimes, I just take pictures of him being cute waiting for his bone too.

We all love the bones because they are all-natural with real meat, available in all kinds of flavors that your dogs will love ranging from bison to wild turkey, and their proudly made in the USA! What more could you ask for in a dog treat?

How about a money-saving offer to add to all the goodness? Click here to score a $1.00 coupon and you can combine this offer with the in-store $1 off coupon (while supplies last)! Plus, if you use the Ibotta app, you can score another $1.00 off... That means you'll save big time and be able to treat your dogs to a bone that you both can love... It's time to get WILD, Nylabone Healthy Edibles WILD to be exact!