A big paws up and thank you to everyone who entered to win a Bugsy's Box last week!
The winner is... Lara Elizabeth! Congratulations to you and your dog(s)! We just need your snail mail address, so get in touch soon!
If you didn't win the box, you can still take advantage of a great offer! Save $10 off your first Bugsy's Box with the coupon code LAPDOG at checkout!
Stay tuned for more woofilicous reviews and giveaways! Today is the last day to enter to win one of 10 Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solutions kit (your choice - dog or cat)!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Knitting, Knitting, Knitting!
TGIF! I'm not sure if I'm more excited about having some time to knit this weekend, or that we're supposed t0 hit 50 degrees tomorrow. Although it looks like a rainy weekend... which brings me back to the knitting. Speaking of which, it's been awhile since I've done a Fiber Arts Friday post, so let's get to it. My needles have been clicking a lot lately, and I've even gotten some projects off those needles!
I purchased two skeins of Puppy Love yarn from Still River Mill a few years back at Stitches East. It's 30% Samoyed, 20% Milk, 50% Merino and just luscious! The Samoyed hair comes from a sled dog team out of Vermont. My own puppy love did a great job modeling it...
Seriously, do I not have thebiggest ham most handsome hat model around?
Pattern was my own (80 stitches, K2P2 rib for 1.25"). I didn't have enough of the Puppy Love for an adult size hat and had to rip it back some to put in a stripe of all natural baby alpaca which I had leftover from these fingerless mitts. I should have ripped back a bit more to place the stripe further down, but ah well. I just wish I had knit it earlier this winter because it is seriously the softest hat ever! I think it's going to be super warm too.
Hat #2. As you may recall, I signed up for a couple of traveling scarves for cancer patients through ConnieCaps.org. I also decided to knit a couple of hats to donate as well using Cascade Cherub Aran, which knits up oh-so-soft and comes in some very beautiful colors. I was thinking spring when I put this one together.
I just started a second one using the pink as the main color, with purple and green in the brim. I hope the colors will bring a little cheer to someone soon.
I finally got my Mom's fingerless mitts finished a couple weeks ago. Pattern is Malabrigo Hand Thingies (a freebie on Ravelry) and yarn is Berroco Vintage Colors. My Mom wanted "something brown" and this self stripping worked up nicely. They are a quick knit in worsted weight yarn, however I had to tweak the pattern a few times and rip back one mitt (I still have a third mitt completed that's a bit on the small size - will have to decide whether to knit the mate or just frog it). My notes are my Ravelry project page if interested.
The Snow Cowl was a birthday gift for a dear friend a few weeks ago. It's a very quick knit using super bulky yarn and makes a great accessory! I'll definitely knit more (great Christmas gift idea)!
I've done a little stash enhancement lately thanks to my YarnBox March installment (that was a fabulous birthday/Christmas gift combo)...
The Loopy Ewe Spring Giftables Club box #1...
And, last but not least, the current Jimmy Beans Wool limited edition Madelinetosh colorway...
Whew, that's a lot of fibery goodness today. I hope you all have a great, crafty weekend! Our former foster baby Dustee (our first real foster... or at least the first dog we fostered and sent along to a forever home... and yes, I cried for days) had surgery yesterday to remove 3 teeth. He's at home and recovering comfortably, albeit not very happily from what I understand. Poor baby... please join me in wishing Dustee man well!
I purchased two skeins of Puppy Love yarn from Still River Mill a few years back at Stitches East. It's 30% Samoyed, 20% Milk, 50% Merino and just luscious! The Samoyed hair comes from a sled dog team out of Vermont. My own puppy love did a great job modeling it...
Seriously, do I not have the
Pattern was my own (80 stitches, K2P2 rib for 1.25"). I didn't have enough of the Puppy Love for an adult size hat and had to rip it back some to put in a stripe of all natural baby alpaca which I had leftover from these fingerless mitts. I should have ripped back a bit more to place the stripe further down, but ah well. I just wish I had knit it earlier this winter because it is seriously the softest hat ever! I think it's going to be super warm too.
Hat #2. As you may recall, I signed up for a couple of traveling scarves for cancer patients through ConnieCaps.org. I also decided to knit a couple of hats to donate as well using Cascade Cherub Aran, which knits up oh-so-soft and comes in some very beautiful colors. I was thinking spring when I put this one together.
I just started a second one using the pink as the main color, with purple and green in the brim. I hope the colors will bring a little cheer to someone soon.
I finally got my Mom's fingerless mitts finished a couple weeks ago. Pattern is Malabrigo Hand Thingies (a freebie on Ravelry) and yarn is Berroco Vintage Colors. My Mom wanted "something brown" and this self stripping worked up nicely. They are a quick knit in worsted weight yarn, however I had to tweak the pattern a few times and rip back one mitt (I still have a third mitt completed that's a bit on the small size - will have to decide whether to knit the mate or just frog it). My notes are my Ravelry project page if interested.
The Snow Cowl was a birthday gift for a dear friend a few weeks ago. It's a very quick knit using super bulky yarn and makes a great accessory! I'll definitely knit more (great Christmas gift idea)!
I've done a little stash enhancement lately thanks to my YarnBox March installment (that was a fabulous birthday/Christmas gift combo)...
The Loopy Ewe Spring Giftables Club box #1...
And, last but not least, the current Jimmy Beans Wool limited edition Madelinetosh colorway...
Whew, that's a lot of fibery goodness today. I hope you all have a great, crafty weekend! Our former foster baby Dustee (our first real foster... or at least the first dog we fostered and sent along to a forever home... and yes, I cried for days) had surgery yesterday to remove 3 teeth. He's at home and recovering comfortably, albeit not very happily from what I understand. Poor baby... please join me in wishing Dustee man well!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Wordless Wednesday: Woofs and Purls
Happy Wordless Hump Day! Just a few reminding words today about two giveaways I have going on right now for pet parents: Hills Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution and Bugsy's Box. Now, let's get wordless...
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Bugsy's Box
Bugsy's Box
Where to Find: BugsysBox.com
Who doesn't love getting a box of goodies delivered right to their doorstep every month? You can get just about anything through a monthly box service these days... candy, fruit, yarn, cosmetics, baby items, and yes, of course, doggy items!
When the folks over at Bugsy's Box asked if we would like to review one of their boxes, of course we said yes!
Now, you're probably asking who is Bugsy and what's inside his box, right? Bugsy is a handsome 3 year old pug who just happens to be best buds with the founder of Bugsy's Box. After said best bud tired of finding nothing but the same 'ole, same 'ole basic treats and toys at their local stores, he (or she? Bugsy is a little mysterious about his best bud) got to thinking and Bugsy's Box was born.
Each monthly Bugsy's Box contains 5 to 7 carefully picked, high quality items which are a variety of dog treats, toys, care items, health supplements, and accessories.
We received a February Bugsy's Box for this review and inside we found:
- Smart n' Tasty treats in not one, but two different flavors - Duck & Sweet Potato and Tuna. These all natural treats are Made in the USA and contain no grain, gluten, soy or dairy While the Lapdogs love their taste, I am hooked on their cuteness. The Duck & Sweet Potato treats are shaped like ducks, the Tuna like fish.
- Venison Jerky chew from Superior Farms. They are Made in the USA and all natural - no artificial colors or preservatives! While the Lapdogs immediately sniffed out the 5-pack, I have yet to allow them to have these (mostly due to Zeus' mega esophagus).
- Canine Calm Spray from Earth Heart. This spray is not new to us, but we're happy to see it being promoted in a monthly box. The very pleasant smelling spray helps your furbaby stay calm during stressful events like thunderstorms, vet visits, baths, parties, etc. Made in the USA from pure essential oils, you can also use the spray on bedding, in the car, on crate blankets, etc.
- Rubber Spiked Ball from Bow Wow Pet's. The spikes add a new twist to a classic dog toy, and give this ball lots of crazy bouncing action. My only complaint is it's made in China.
It's easy to sign up for Bugsy's Box. Just choose your dog's size, then your plan (Monthly, 3-Month or 6-Month) and let the waiting begin! Bugsy ships out on the 15th of each month.
The Lapdogs were very intrigued by Bugsy's Box and think every pooch deserves a box full of surprises each month! They've even arranged for a special coupon code to share with all of you for $10 off your first Bugsy's Box! Just use coupon code LAPDOG at check out!
And, as if that was not enough, they got Bugsy's best bud to agree to let us give away a Bugsy's Box to one lucky reader! Enter through the Rafflecopter below, but make sure you leave a comment on this post as well (that's a mandatory entry). You must be a resident of the USA or Canada to win.
The Lapdogs wish you all good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: Bugsy's Box sent a February box 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 24, 2014
Monday Mischief: Zeus Health Report
It's been a bit over two months since Zeus had a check-up at the vet and I got a cytology report. While he's mischievously taken to becoming the "doggy vacuum cleaner" (he's literally licking up the lint from our carpets... I am not sure if this is a symptom of his mega esophagus, old age or if our lint has begun to taste like peanut butter), I've mischievously avoided blogging about the "C" word.
See that lump on Zeus' right front leg? It may be cancer... it may not be.
I'm actually surprised no one has commented on the lump here or over on Facebook (my sister thought he looked a bit thin in a photo last week, but I honestly think it was just a "thin angle" -- you know, the one all of us humans hope to nail in our selfies?). This is one of many lumps Zeus has had for years, and we've had the vet do needle aspirations on it a few times before, only to be told the cells looked much like all of his other non-cancerous fatty lumps (my big boy is full of them... he's been quite lumpty-dumpty for most of his life). However, it has grown considerably over the past year or so. If you ask me, I think I can see it actually growing inches right in front of my eyes. Although, I know that's not the case as in mid January the lump was 2" x 2.5" and two weeks ago it was 2.5" x 3" .... so yes, it is indeed growing, but not at the rate I swore to the vet it was.
So, back to the possible "C" word. Our vet did another needle aspiration of the lump back in January and sent the slide out to the lab. While the results are inconclusive, we did find out:
After weighing the pros and cons, we have decided not to do a biopsy. I'm simply not willing to take the risk of putting Zeus under for the surgery. While our vet does not think his age is a high risk factor, as I do, she does share my worries for the other factors involved: his liver issues, mega esophagus, and the fact that she was not sure how well the wound would close up on his leg (i.e. a possible lack of skin to cover the incision). Besides his age, my biggest fear is that he would aspirate or have another issue due to his mega esophagus. If the lump is indeed a soft tissue sarcoma (aka the "C" word), she says it is not very likely it would spread to his organs, however it is very likely that it would come back, even if we did remove the lump. Plus, we had one of those non-cancerous fatty lumps removed when he was a youngster and he had a bad reaction to the sutures. So, we've opted to watch it. The vet says it could get rather large and ugly, but she feels we are far more likely to be forced to make decisions down the road from his mega esophagus than from this. Please keep those paws crossed for my big guy, as I certainly hope I do not have to make any decisions for a long, long time.
Just before I started typing this post, I was downloading photos for a review and came across the pics I snapped of Zeus last week. He was modeling the latest knit hat I finished (in a Samoyed dog hair yarn blend mind you). I just can't help but smile and laugh out loud at the above shot. It's totally my big boy saying "Cancer Schmancer, I got this!"
See that lump on Zeus' right front leg? It may be cancer... it may not be.
I'm actually surprised no one has commented on the lump here or over on Facebook (my sister thought he looked a bit thin in a photo last week, but I honestly think it was just a "thin angle" -- you know, the one all of us humans hope to nail in our selfies?). This is one of many lumps Zeus has had for years, and we've had the vet do needle aspirations on it a few times before, only to be told the cells looked much like all of his other non-cancerous fatty lumps (my big boy is full of them... he's been quite lumpty-dumpty for most of his life). However, it has grown considerably over the past year or so. If you ask me, I think I can see it actually growing inches right in front of my eyes. Although, I know that's not the case as in mid January the lump was 2" x 2.5" and two weeks ago it was 2.5" x 3" .... so yes, it is indeed growing, but not at the rate I swore to the vet it was.
So, back to the possible "C" word. Our vet did another needle aspiration of the lump back in January and sent the slide out to the lab. While the results are inconclusive, we did find out:
The mesenchymal cells have a mild degree of atypia. These cells could be from a soft tissue sarcoma (such as hemangiopericytoma, fibrosarcoma, or nerve sheath tumor), but they may also be reactive fibroblasts present from fibrosis.The report goes on to state that it's difficult to differentiate between the two without evaluation of the tissue architecture, and it recommends biopsy and histopathology.
After weighing the pros and cons, we have decided not to do a biopsy. I'm simply not willing to take the risk of putting Zeus under for the surgery. While our vet does not think his age is a high risk factor, as I do, she does share my worries for the other factors involved: his liver issues, mega esophagus, and the fact that she was not sure how well the wound would close up on his leg (i.e. a possible lack of skin to cover the incision). Besides his age, my biggest fear is that he would aspirate or have another issue due to his mega esophagus. If the lump is indeed a soft tissue sarcoma (aka the "C" word), she says it is not very likely it would spread to his organs, however it is very likely that it would come back, even if we did remove the lump. Plus, we had one of those non-cancerous fatty lumps removed when he was a youngster and he had a bad reaction to the sutures. So, we've opted to watch it. The vet says it could get rather large and ugly, but she feels we are far more likely to be forced to make decisions down the road from his mega esophagus than from this. Please keep those paws crossed for my big guy, as I certainly hope I do not have to make any decisions for a long, long time.
Just before I started typing this post, I was downloading photos for a review and came across the pics I snapped of Zeus last week. He was modeling the latest knit hat I finished (in a Samoyed dog hair yarn blend mind you). I just can't help but smile and laugh out loud at the above shot. It's totally my big boy saying "Cancer Schmancer, I got this!"
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Black & White Sunday: The Fox & The Hound
For those of you who asked about the fox in last week's post, it is a crochet basket that my Mom made for me. When I was trying to snap a picture for that Wordless Wednesday post, this happened...
And for those of you with "pudgy" pets who missed my post (with giveaway) on Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, go check it out! I have 10 kits, each valued at $70, to giveaway (both dog and cat).
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Dreaming of Green Grass
Happy First Day of Spring! This is what we woke up to...
We're dreaming of this...
Ok, well maybe it's only me who's dreaming of baby otters (seriously... Did you know the Australia Zoo does Otter Encounters?!?! It's on my bucket list for sure!), but I think everyone would like to see some sunshine, warm temps (note: I did not say hot!), and green grass. In honor of our dreams and Throwback Thursday....
Ok, well maybe it's only me who's dreaming of baby otters (seriously... Did you know the Australia Zoo does Otter Encounters?!?! It's on my bucket list for sure!), but I think everyone would like to see some sunshine, warm temps (note: I did not say hot!), and green grass. In honor of our dreams and Throwback Thursday....
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wordless Wednesday: Will Winter Ever End?
Happy day-before-the-first-day-of-Spring. There is still plenty of snow on the ground (and yes, mud too) and we're expecting a "wintry mix" tonight. I think Mother Nature is on an extended vacation... or else she misplaced her calendar.
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