Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!

from the Lapdog household to yours...

Happy Easter!

EasterCard_2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

TGIF - Welcome Spring Weekend!

TGIF - although I wish I had today off like so many others around the country do.  A long weekend would have been very welcomed at our house.  We've had several late nights in a row, no thanks to a broken down car, extra long work days and a vet trip. 

Happy dog at the vet! #dogstagram #dobermanmix #love
It's so good to see this smile again!

Lola Update: Our vet visit went far better than I was nervously fretting over for two days had thought!  My baby girl has gained another full 2 pounds... in just over 2 weeks!  woot!  Dr. C aspirated the 2 lumps and was unable to find them to be of the same characteristics as the sterile granuloma/pyogranuloma lumps - even after doing a third needle aspiration, just to be sure she got a good sample.  She is fairly certain what we're seeing are those benign fatty lumps which we are so accustomed to with Zeus (and Lola did have some before the autoimmune diagnosis).  Treatment plan is to keep her on the 10mg of prednisone, twice a day for another 30-45 days, and to keep an eye on the existing 2 lumps.  If any other lumps appear, we'll go in and have them aspirated.  If not, we'll go back to visit in 4 weeks. 

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Lola did her best to scam about half a dozen treats during her visit last night.  Between giving Dr. C her "I'm starving!" look and then playing up to one of the techs, she made out quite well. Althought she was quite pleased with herself for scoring so many yums and endless attention, she was even more pleased with being the first dog to get to go for a R-I-D-E in Daddy's new (used) truck!

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shhh, Don't tell the boys about the truck ride!  They've been distracted with the warmer weather we've had the past couple of days.  Warmer temps = bird watching and driveway lounging.

My boys! #dogstagram #spring #coonhoundmix #mutt #labmix #love #adoptdontshop #rescue Untitled

It also equals selective hearing.  When I tell them it's time to go inside, Tut looks away and pretends he can't hear me, while Zeus gives me the "no comprende, my name is Hey-Zeus" look.

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While all this is going on, Sophie is just glad she wasn't forced to go for an R-I-D-E or the to V-E-T.  Princess prefers the comfort of her own home.

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Although if she doesn't stop with her itching and allergy issues in the next couple of days, guess who she'll be going to visit next week?  sshhh...

Enjoy the rest of your Friday and have a wonderful Spring/Easter weekend!

GIVEAWAY WINNER! Silicone Stitchery iPhone 4/4S Case

Review & #Giveaway on my blog tomorrow! #coatsandclark #siliconestitchery #iphone #case #diyThank you to everyone who entered to win a Silicone Stitchery iPhone 4/4S Case!

The winner was drawn by Random Number Generator.

Here are your random numbers: 8

Congrats to Ally! I can't wait to see what you stitch on your case!

Stay tuned for more reviews coming soon, including Biggan Design yarn (which includes a giveaway!), Brew Buddies dog treats, Go Dog Dragons and more!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Cross the Paws (again), please?

Happy Thankful Thursday and almost-TGIF!  Just two weeks ago I was extremely thankful for Lola's great check up with Dr. C and today I'm nervously fretting over our visit with her tonight. 

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Late last week, I discovered a lump on the side of Lola's chest and was really hoping it was just be one of those fatty tumors (non-cancerous), which she's had before (and big brother Zeus is full of).  Then, my optimism was dashed when another lump appeared in the past couple days.  Sigh....

The super high dose of prednisone we started with in January sure wiped those sterile granuloma/pyogranuloma syndrome lumps out fast... and we were pleasantly surprised.  Then, Lola began showing bad side effects from the high doses and we decreased it twice already.  The plan was to keep her on the current dose (10mg, twice a day) until mid-April or longer, but now I fear we may be looking at increasing the dose and that is not a good thing.

I'm waiting to talk with Dr C tonight to see what she suggests, however I'm also leaning towards taking my baby girl to visit a holistic vet who comes highly recommended from a dear friend.  This vet has done wonders for 3 of her dogs; 1 with cancer, 1 with cancer and an autoimmune issue and 1 with allergies (we might even have to get the hooey hounds over there for the allergies).  Of course, I want to discuss that all with our awesome Dr C tonight and see what her thoughts are.  Anyone out there have experience with holistic treatment?  Thoughts?

In looking back at my post two weeks ago, I realized I never updated Zeus' liver level status.  The blood work came back and they were up again, however Dr C wasn't too concerned. 

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His levels seem to be bouncing up and down in a range that, while elevated, Dr C is still comfortable with... although I'd much prefer to see them stay down.  But hey, if she's good with it and Zeus continues to act like a big, over grown puppy, I'm good with it too.   

Can we ask everyone to please cross those paws for Lola again today?   

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

REVIEW: Nylabone Nutri Dent Complete

Nylabone Nutri Dent Complete

Grain Free Peanut Butter

Where to Find: Nylabone


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Like most human children, my furkids are not interested in having their teeth cleaned (never mind that the humans never seem to remember they should be brushing the Lapdogs teeth to begin with).  We rely heavily on bones and dental treats in our household and were very excited when we heard we would get to try Nylabone's new Nutri Dent Complete treats.

We're working on a #Nylabone #NutriDent #grainfree #peanutbutter reviewNutri Dent Complete is the first dental treat that has been clinically proven to clean teeth and freshen breath better than weekly brushing (did you hear that?  I'm not such a bad doggy Mom after all!).  The treat's unique 360-degree scrubbing nubs were designed to fight built-up plaque and tarter, the number one cause of bad doggy breath.

I was very pleased to learn these treats are Made in the USA, with natural ingredients - two very important factors in my treat selection for the Lapdogs.  Even better, the treats have been specially formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs, making them easy to digest.

UntitledNutri Dent Complete treats are available in Regular, Grain Free and Puppy varieties, as well as a variety of sizes.  We received a box of Grain Free Peanut Butter in size Medium.  I was very excited to learn about the grain free option, as I'm sure many of you will be as well.  With so many diet allergies in dogs these days, we are seeing more and more grain free options available, however this is the first dental treat I've seen.  

The Lapdogs didn't even know they were cleaning their teeth when they chomped up the peanut butter treats (after Zeus nicely posed with one on his head, of course)!  In fact, they were begging for more.  Clearly, that means Nutri Dent Complete treats have received the Official 16 Paws Up Seal of Approval!  It's a win-win for all - the dogs love them, and the humans feel good about helping to keep their teeth clean and breath fresh!

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Grab your pup some Nutri Dent Complete today!  Neither of you will be disappointed!  Besides, what's better than a loving pooch with clean teeth and fresh breath?


Disclosure: One box of Nutri Dent Complete treats was sent to Lapdog Creations, free of charge for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Black & White Sunday: Easter Mutt

Happy Sunday!  Will the happy Easter Mutt be visiting your home next weekend?

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Friday, March 22, 2013

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Silicone Stitchery iPhone 4/4S Case

Silicone Stitchery iPhone 4/4S Case

Where to Find: Coats & Clark


Review & #Giveaway on my blog tomorrow! #coatsandclark #siliconestitchery #iphone #case #diy

I have honestly never wished I owned an iPhone... until a pair of Silicone Stitchery iPhone Cases showed up on my door stop for review!  Techy meet DIY-crafter = Pure Fun!

iphone_green cupcakeLaunched at the CHA 2013 Winter Conference, Silicone Stitchery cross stitch kits contain a silicone phone case, instructions, designs, and all materials needed to customize your very own case for the iPhone 4/4S.  (separate kits are now available for the iPhone 5).

The iPhone 4/4S kits are available in 8 different colors and feature 4 popular designs: Cupcake, Eiffel Tower, Lace, and Plaid.  I'm partial to the Lace and Plaid patterns, as they make for endless color combinations! 


iphone_pink laceRetailing at just $9.99, Silicone Stitchery cross stitch kits are a fun and affordable choice to protect your valuable iPhone!  Best of all, this DIY project requires only a beginner skill level and can be completed in as little as an afternoon.  You know what that means, right?  Yup... you can snatch up 3 or 4 of these babies for the price of one regular iPhone case and be able to change it up to match your mood, outfit or whatever fancies you!

While I'm still not longing for an iPhone, I am hoping that the great folks over at Coats & Clark have plans to expand their line soon. Hello Crafty Marketing Gods, some of us have perfectly awesome Razr phones that we'd love to creatively cover!

GIVEAWAY! Are you ready to get your crafty and techy sides together for a little DIY and create your very own iPhone 4/4S cover with a Silicone Stitchery kit?  To enter:

~ Follow Lapdog Creations publicly (see "Followers" on the side bar)

~ Leave a comment below telling us what you like most about this kit and which color you want if you win (choices are orange or purple)

To be eligible to win, you must complete both steps above. Please be sure your entry includes a way to contact you (i.e. link to your blog or include your email address). You can get extra entries by sending your friends here to enter (be sure to have them mention your name).... blog, Tweet, Facebook and text away!

Winner will be selected by random number generator. Deadline for entries is Thursday, March 28th at 11:59pm EST (midnight)


Disclaimer: Coats & Clark sent 2 Silicone Stitchery cases to Lapdog Creations for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Seriously?

What does Spring look like to you?  Let me show you our view for the past three days.

Tuesday, aka the snow day...

Snow day.... Another #snow day! #newengland #spring #march

Wednesday, aka the First Day of Spring...

#snow #tree #FirstDayOfSpring

Good Morning! #FirstDayOfSpring #newengland #snow #spring Untitled

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Today, aka one step closer to Friday...

#spring in #newengland

Ice Ice Baby #newengland #spring #ugh

I don't know about you, but we're sure ready to spring ahead to some good weather.... and we're not looking forward to the mud this mess is going to leave behind!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

REVIEW: Knitter's Pride

Knitter's Pride

Magma Pattern Holder & Notions

Where to Find: Knitter's Pride


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Pretty.  Useful.  Organized.  Those are three little words every crafter desires to have associated with his or her tools.  When you can add Affordable to that list, things get even better.  I've found those four things in some Knitter's Pride notions and want to tell you all about them!  I was given the opportunity to review five items from their line...

KnittersPride_213eAluminum Stitch Holders - Hold your stitches in style with blue, pink and gold holders. These lockable holders are easy to use, without snagging your project, and come in three convenient sizes.  I really appreciate how smooth the tips are, as I have others in my notions bag that could double as weapons!

Aluminum Cable Needles - These traditionally shaped cable needles add a little kick to your notions bag in shades of blue and pink.  The smooth tapered tips allow you to easily grab stitches, while the V-shape holds them in place.  The 2-pack consists of US sizes 2 and 6.

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Dreamz Cable Needles - This set of three colorful, lightweight wooden cable needles has instantly become a favorite of mine!  I tend to lean towards wooden cable needles and these ones are, as the name implies, a dream to work with!  I adore the blue, pink and green colors, which certainly make these cable needles the prettiest in my knitting bag.  The smooth tapered tips easily glide through stitches and the grooves cut into the straight needles prevent the stitches from slipping off.  The 3-pack consists of US sizes 3, 6 and 9.

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DPN Tubes - These little cylinders are designed to hold and protect your double-pointed needles... with or without your project still attached!  The rigid, telescopic tubes are made of recycled acid-free paper which give them a rich, leatherette look. While I've seen these available in lots of catalogs and on several websites, I realized I've never seen anyone actually use them and now I know why.  While they are perfect for storing delicate DPN needles without a project attached, I'm not sold on using them with a project attached.  I tried a tube with two different projects, socks and mitts, and was not pleased with either outcome.  After some wiggling, I got the projects to fit in the tubes, but not without fear of snagging said project or damaging the yarn.  Final verdict on the DPN Tubes: I will certainly use them to store DPN needles (especially when transporting in a knitting bag or for travel - they truly are perfect for that), but I will not use them to store a WIP.

KnittersPride_213bMagma Pattern Holder - Truly the mother of all pattern holders!  Magma lays flat when folded, stands upright (vertically or horizontally), has a pocket to hold your pattern or notes, as well as a pen pocket, and a snap closure to make sure everything stays put.  The three small magnets hold your patten in place and the extra long magnet works as an indicator guide, making chart reading a breeze.  With useful fully covered, Magma then brings the pretty with it's black poly-jacquard fabric cover.  Available in two sizes, small and large, I was sent the large size for review.  Measuring in at 10" x 12" closed, and 20" x 12" open, the large Magma is ideal for all of your chart reading needs and is truly a lace knitter's dream.

If you're looking to add useful, pretty tools to your knitting bag, Knitter's Pride is where they're at!  Get - or stay - organized!

Disclosure: Knitters Pride sent a the above items to Lapdog Creations, free of charge for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday Mischief: Got Kong?

Dear Monday, why in the world did you come back so fast?  Do you think you could stay away a little longer next weekend?  The Lapdogs would like to have their humans home with them a little longer... perhaps stuffing kongs with peanut butter and mini cookie treats.

Saturday morning #peanutbutter #kong #dogstagram #adoptdontshop =love

Got Kong? #peanutbutter #dogstagram #kong

Do Not Disturb! #peanutbutter #kong #dogstagram #dobermanmix #adoptdontshop

Who doesn't love #peanutbutter for #breakfast   #dogstagram #bigdog #love #kong
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