#TodaysReasonToSmile ~ My Sweet Puppy Dog!

So, I've had a pretty crappy day today.  I woke up fine, and then when I stood up from working on my computer to get ready to walk the dog, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Nothing felt right.

The world seemed like it had shifted a bit to the left.

And my head didn't feel totally connected to the rest of me.

All day today I've had to wait out the vertigo and dizziness.

Finally admitting defeat, I sent out email apologies for my absences at meetings today, piled up some pillows, crawled into bed, and rested propped up against the mountain of squishiness.   And you know who snuggled with me for the next four hours while I slept it off?  My sweet Barley-Dog.

So, today's reason to smile is dedicated to a pup who definitely ought to rank in the top 100 of the sweetest dogs in the world.

Enjoy the precious pictures!

 Barley keeping me company while I write my comps.

 Barley cuddling with his favorite person - the hubby.

 Barley expresses how much he missed his favorite person one afternoon by crawling into his lap and promptly melting.

 Barley waits patiently for morning walk time.

Barley very sweetly asks to for morning walks when I oversleep one morning.

Today's Reason to Smile: Barley-Dog!

also known as Nurse Dog, BatDog, Cuddle-Buddy, Bathroom Mat Crumpler, and Enemy of the Skateboard

Tasty Treats + Pleased Puppy = Happy Home!

Hi! My name is Barley, and I am so excited to be publishing my debut doggy product review!

I wasn't too sure about lying next to this tub of treats, but my person was extremely persuasive.  And those treats are really tasty, so eventually I gave in.

Steward Pro-Treat sent me this huge tub of 100% Pure Pork Liver Treats for Dogs for me to taste and review on my person's blog.

My three favorite things are cuddles, walks, and FOOD!  I really enjoy my tasty dog food.  But what gets me really excited are great tasting treats!  I love it when my humans use treats for training, trick shows, and to reward me for going on good walks . . . you know, those times when I don't chase the neighborhood cats, skate boarders, or motorcycles! 

My favorite thing about these treats is that they are delicious and easy to eat!  I also like that there are no grains in these treats, since grains make me itchy.  I am excited that the package is so big!  It means I'll enjoy these treats for a while!

My humans' favorite things about Stewart Pro-Treat is that they have no additives or preservatives.  Plus, they are rich in protein, which makes me feel great!

You can find these wonderful treats on Amazon (affiliate link) for $19 for a generous 12 oz!

Puppy's Verdict: A Tail Wagging Beg!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Steward Pro-Treat.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Happy Holiday Memories with Puppy and Hubby!

I'm tired.  As I think about my "Suzanne Saturday" post, I am finding that I don't have the energy for many words.  So, I'm going to share some of my Christmas memories with all of you through pictures.  Enjoy!

Christmas in Evanston, IL - north Chicagoland.  Barley puppy has to wear boots because the salt on the sidewalks burns the pads on his puppy-feet.  He really hated those boots.  But he loved helping to open his own Christmas present boxes that year!  Our tiny Christmas tree found its home in the (nonworking) fireplace with a gorgeous tree skirt my Wanda (stepmom) made me a few years ago!  I loved the way that little tree could light up the room!

Hubby and I traveled to Albany, NY in December 2011.  We had a Christmas celebration in NYC with my Dad and my Wanda.  We had the most fantastic day - went to the Empire State Building, saw the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, and drank great coffee!  After a long day of sight-seeing in the city, we collapsed while waiting for a table at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square!

Christmas in El Cerrito 2012!  We finally got a "real" size tree!  Hand-me-down Christmas decorations arrived, and we decorated our tiny Bay apartment in style!  We hosted a chocolate and wine party with friends.  We enjoyed a quiet day just the two of us and Barley-puppy that year.

Last Christmas, my mom & "baby" (half-)brother joined us in CA to celebrate!  So, of course, I took them across the Bay for the famous Street Car ride!  It was wonderful having them in our home for the first time for Christmas.  The trip was filled with good food, catching up, and lots of mom & daughter shopping!

Participate in the Comments!
What is one of your favorite holiday/ winter memories?

BarkBox Unboxing and Review

One of my dearest friends ordered my sweet puppy a BarkBox!  And I am so excited to share this experience with you!

When I received notice of my gift, BarkBox gathered all kinds of questions about my pup; his size/ weight, allergies, age, etc.  And they catered his box to him!

It opens with lovely information cards about BarkBox's Bark Shop as well as the products inside.  I was determined to photograph all the goodies before puppy (aka Barley) dug into it.  He is quite obsessed with opening boxes, a trick he learned from receiving Christmas presents from our parents for several years now . . . ah the joys of not having children! ;-)

SO MANY GOODIES!!  I'll break them down by food and nonfood items.

BarkMade BarkBox Flexi Dog Bowl ($6) and PetProjekt Football Tretball ($9) are both great products for my Barley-boy.  He's getting a little older and needs more water on long walks, so this flexi-bowl will be great for that.  Its very light weight, bendable, and easy to throw in our long-walk doggy pack.  The Tretbal kept Barley engaged for a while tonight; he loves treat puzzles.  This flexible ball requires a bit of work to get treats to fall out.  We still have some work to do to figure out the treats that will work best with this toy.

I am thrilled that all of the treats in this box are grain-free!  BarkBox takes doggy allergies seriously, and I am so thankful.  (Grains turn Barley into a sad, itchy mess.)  Barley definitely nosed for the treats immediately upon getting into the box.  His first note of interest were the No Grainers BBQ Chicken Jerky Chews ($13).  These can be easily broken into a smaller pieces, which is helpful for portion control.  I can't wait for him to try the Yeti Corporation Yak Chew ($11).  This is made from Yak and Cow milk, and is supposed to be a very healthy alternative to rawhide.  I think he'll also love the Etta Says Duck Chew (3), which should promote healthy teeth and gums.

As a dog-owner who received this as a gift, I highly recommend BarkBox as gifts from dog-owners to their pets or from you to a dog-lover you know!  For more information, you can check out BarkBox's website, here (not a referral link).

How do you feel about presents for our furry-friends?  What is your pet's favorite treat?  When do you splurge on them?  I'd love to hear your stories!