Wordy Wednesday

I had a really bad week last week, and just haven't been up to blogging or visiting anyone.  I try to keep things positive here, so I won't go into detail of what happened.  It wasn't any one big thing, just lots of little things that kept going wrong.  Lets just say a lot of tears were shed, but I'm moving on now and putting it all behind me.  I love cute animals, but decided to do something a little different this week -- inspirational quotes.

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Don't furget to sign up for Christmas in July!  I'm accepting emails to join in until next Friday, June 20th.  Only 2 bloggers have contacted me so far, so I'm hoping more will participate.

Half Full Friday

Half Full Friday is a series of weekly posts that Eyegirl originally started in June 2009.  We believe that a lot of our happiness is determined by our attitude about the things that happen to us.  So by participating, I'm deciding to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.  I'm choosing to concentrate on the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives.  The Half Full Friday posts are a way to do just that.  They're a list of the things in my life that have brought me happiness over the past week.  I'm determined to find something good in each day.  Are you?

For the next week, I'd like to challenge each of you to keep a list of at least one thing that brought you happiness each day.  And then come back here and tell me about it!

~I'm happy because...

Christmas in July sign ups have begun!  Only one blogger has signed up so far, so there's still lots of room for more!

Shiver seems to be feeling much better and hasn't gotten sick in the past couple of days!

I attended Arts and Roses this past Sunday!

The chi's cheered me up after a particularly BAD day yesterday!  (It was really, really bad.)

The swelling in my mom's eye is finally starting to go down after her cataract surgery!

Because I'm a participant and not a committee member this year, I can attend the big fundraising event and am not expected or required to spend the night  for an event I used to volunteer for!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

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Just a reminder -- see Monday's post on details for how to join my Christmas in July swap.

Christmas in July

Welcome to Christmas in July, fka Doggone Dog Swap!  This isn't a swap for yourself -- it's a swap for your pets!  No, we aren't swapping our pets, although sometimes I wouldn't mind trading mine in, lol!  This isn't limited to just dogs – cats and exotics can participate too!  Basically, you'll each buy toys and/or treats for your swap partner and they'll do the same in return.  You never know what you might get!

The deadline to enter is Friday, June 20, which gives you three weeks.  Once your swap partner has been chosen, you'll get an email with your swap partner's information.

I've listed the ground rules below.  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.  

1.  You'll enter each pet you have individually.  Since I have both Shiver and Chico, I'm going to fill out the questions below twice (one for each dog).  I'll try my best to swap doggies with doggies, cats with cats and exotics with exotics.  Depending on the participants, you may be partnered with someone who has pets of a different species than you do, so please keep that in mind.  That's where the questionnaire comes in handy!  You'll also have your partner's email and blog address, so that you can contact them with any additional questions.  

2.  The minimum spending limit is $20, the maximum is $30.  These amounts are before postage.  If you're swapping for more than one pet, I'll let you use your best judgment on how much additional to spend. 

3.  *You'll need to email me and your partner a tracking number for the package you sent out* and to let me know when you've received your goodies from your partner.  This part is crucial!!!!  A tracking number is provided automatically on your receipt if you're using the post office, FedEx or UPS.   Anyone living outside of the US is exempt from this rule.  If I discover that you received a package but never sent one out, you'll be outted and blacklisted from participating in the future!!!  Fortunately, this hasn't been an issue in the past, and I'd like to keep it that way.  I'll do my best to match pets from the same country, but please note if you are outside the US, you will most likely be partnered with another international pet.  If you live in the US and cannot mail internationally, please let me know.  Mailing to another country can sometimes be costly, depending on where you’re sending a package to, so I would hate for anyone not to participate because of that.

4. You must post about the swap once you receive your package.  We wanna see what you got!  If you don't have a blog, you can still participate.  Just email me the pictures of your loot, and I'll post them on my blog for you. 

5. You have until Friday, July 18th to get those packages mailed out. That's four weeks to go shopping and get those goodies sent. 

6. This is the most important rule - HAVE FUN!!!!!

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, no matter what your pet is, email the form below to sprinkles at everythingisbetterwithsprinkles1(at)hotmail(dot)com.

1.  The name of your pet and what kind you have 

2.  Male or female

3.  Breed of pet and size (small, medium, large, xlarge)

4.  Is there anything your pet cannot have?

5.  Is there anything in particular that your pet really likes?  Examples of this might be a certain kind of toy or treat.

6.  Your address.  Your information will only be shared with your swap partner.

7.  Your blog address, if you have one

Here's what we got in last year's swap.

Christmas in July Dog Swap Questions

So this year I'm doing the dog swap a little earlier than I did last year.  Just because it's my swap, so I can do what I want...  Look for the post on Monday with all the deets on how to join in the fun.  

I asked for feedback at the end of last year's swap and the one of the things that stood out the most was that there should be more time to promote/enter the swap.  Last year, I allowed two weeks to enter, this year I'm allowing for three.  Another blogger said that the swap due dates were in between paydays, so she wasn't able to participate.  Last year, there were 12 shopping days.  This year, I'm allowing four weeks.  

Is this enough time for everyone?  

Another question I have is about minimum/maximum amounts.  I've always set a maximum amount.  Rather than a maximum amount of money that can be spent on a swap, should I set a minimum amount instead?  One of my first years of doing the swap, I set up two bloggers as partners;  Partner 1 and Partner 2.  Partner 1 bought several items.  Partner 2 only sent one item in return.  It didn't seem very fair to Partner 1, and that bothered me.  But at the same time, the rules stated Partner 2 didn't have to spend up to the max amount, she just couldn't spend anything over it.  Should I say no less than $20, but no more than 30, or something to that effect?  What if it's more than one pet?  Should it be no less than $20 per pet?  It's hard to set limits, because I know some can afford to buy gifts much more easily than others can.  I don't want to eliminate anyone by making minimum amounts too high.  I do think some price limits need to be set though - whether it's minimum or maximum amounts, or both.

I've learned a lot from past swaps, and have this basically down to a science now.  Is there anything you like and want to continue?  Is there anything you don't like and don't want to continue?  There are some things I will insist upon, such as providing tracking numbers for mailed packages if you're in the US.  Others, I'm much more lenient on, such as setting minimum/maximum amounts.  If you have any ideas on how to improve the swap, please share.  I want to make this a fun event for everyone.  

Wordless Wednesday

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Happy Memorial Day!

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Happy Memorial Day!  Hard to believe it's that time of year again!  The year has gone so fast.  I plan to attend a Memorial Day service at the cemetery later on today.

I confirmed with the university's registrar's office last week that I *DO* have more credits than my adviser said I did!  So one more year until graduation after all!  Sooooo happy, but also a bit freaked out.  One more year until my real life begins.  I also made the Dean's List again this semester with 1 B+, 2 A-, and 1 A+.  I really doubt that my grades are going to help me find a job, but I'm proud of myself for doing so well.  I worked hard this semester, and it shows in my grades.

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Took this from here.

1.  One day you wake up to find your pet waiting for you at the side of your bed, sitting on your briefcase.  Cocking its head, it tells you that you won't be going to work today.  Why won't your pet let you go to work, and what happens?

I could sooooo see Shiver trying something like this if he could talk.  He would tell me that he misses me too much, and that I need to stay home and pay attention to nothing but him all day long.  He thinks that the entire world revolves around him.  

2.  Are you more likely to spend a gift of $1000 on practical things (food, bills, etc.), or on something you've been wanting but couldn't afford?

I would split it in half.  $500 would go towards bills, and the other $500 would be spent on something fun.

3.  Which items in your house will command top dollar at an antique store in a century?

Hmm, maybe a picture that someone painted for me when I was a kid.

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

It's pretty smoke.  I guess it reminds me of going out to a nightclub and they release smoke when the band is on stage, or when the everyone's out on the dance floor, and the different colored lights hit it.

Chewy.com Review

My boys always love it when they get to do a review for Chewy.com.  This time wasn't any different.

This time we chose the Orijen Black Angus Beef Dog Treats.  I didn't realize it when we ordered it, but these are freeze-dried treats.  It seemed fitting, since the boys reviewed Sojos freeze-dried dog food last month.

We received a 2 oz. bag to try, which is currently on sale for only $7.49.  This is a 25% savings.  Or you can go for the 3.5 oz. bag, on sale for only $12.49.  I'm not sure when this sale ends, so you'll want to get in on it quick!  These treats contain only 3 ingredients -- Angus beef liver, boneless Angus beef, and Black Angus tripe.  

Sorry these are such bad pictures, the boys wouldn't stay still.  I tried to get pictures of them WITH the treats, but they gobbled them down before I had the chance.  A second attempt wasn't any more successful.  

And this is Shiver immediately after eating his treat.

 As you can tell, he just loved it!  He's lickin' his lips for the last bit of taste that might be left on them.

Here's why you should try Orijen:
Orijen is made my Champion Petfoods and is produced using only the freshest regional ingredients.  Their foods are perfectly matched to the digestive systems of both dogs and cats.  Orijen brings peace of mind to owners by promoting peak health.  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again!  Chewy's customer service is quick and friendly.  They're available hours a day, so you can order whenever is convenient for you.  They're only a click of a mouse or phone call away.  Or you can set up auto-delivery, so you don't ever have to worry about running out!  Any order over $50 gets free shipping and handling.  Their website has lots of amazing links and features - it's not all just about dog and cat food and treats.  I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an excellent pet food company.

We were not compensated financially for this post, but were provided free samples of dog treats in return for our honest opinion.

I'm Baaaaaaaack!!!

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Don't know if any of you have noticed, but I've been missing for the past two weeks.  Finals are over, so now I'm out of school and work for the summer.  So far, I've been spending my time catching up on sleep, consuming mass quantities of television, light housekeeping, spending quality time with the chi's, and checking my grades obsessively.  Only one grade has been posted so far, and it's killing me!

On the plus side, I really think my adviser was wrong in telling me that I'd have another three semesters left.  I've gone over and over and over my transcripts repeatedly, doing the math, adding up my credits.  And I'm pretty sure that I only have TWO semesters left!!!  Keeping my fingers crossed, because I want to graduate sooner rather than later.  If I'm right, that's only a year left of school!  It's hard to believe I've made it this far already.  

I will try to get around to visiting everybody later today.  If not today, then later in the week for sure.  I've really missed everyone so much!

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Took this from here.

1.  When did you have the weakest self-confidence ever?

It was after I got fired from a job that I hated with every fiber of my soul.  I applied and applied and applied for jobs and just wasn't having any luck.  I rarely heard back from any of the employers, although I did some interviews that lead nowhere.  I remember going to the Dept. of Labor and having a meeting with them to see what I was doing wrong.  They reviewed my cover letters and resume, and we did mock interviews.  Overall, it wasn't super helpful and they didn't have much advice to offer in regards to my resume.  

Over a year later, I was still unemployed and extremely depressed.  It did not help to have my mom and various friends comment about it.  My mom told me that I needed to stop only applying for my dream job and start applying for others as well.  If she only knew how many jobs I applied for and did not really want!  Then there was the friend who said, "I can't believe you still don't have a job yet.  What's wrong with you?"  Yeah, that's a real confidence booster right there!  There were many other comments as well...

What finally pulled me out of it was going to school.  I finally had a reason to wake up in the morning and to go out and see people every day.  I really feel like school is where I'm supposed to be right now.

2.  Among the people you know, who would you choose to be able to read all your thoughts?

No one!  

3.  How old were you when you realized that other people's families live totally differently from yours?

I don't really know.  My father was in the military, and we moved around frequently.  I went to a new school almost every year up until high school.  It felt weird to me when I finally did realize that other families did not move every few years, and that manly of my friends had never even been out of the state they were born in. 

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

These past two weeks have been extremely stressful with a lot going on.  Now that they're over with and I can actually relax, I've been doing a lot of this!  The only real difference is that my chi's are curled up next to me.  

Wordless Wednesday

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Monday Meme

Took this from here.

What is the best thing you've ever won? 

When I first read this question, I couldn't think of anything that I've ever won!  But then I remembered that I used to win a lot of blog giveaways back in the day.  And then I couldn't remember what I've won.

I do remember my very first prize was a package of fortune cookies.  That was the start of my winning streak, so that'll be my favorite!

What is one thing that repeatedly makes you angriest?

People who never follow the rules and nothing ever happens to them.  I think this has happened at every single job I've ever been at, but I've also seen numerous examples just in life in general.  It's like they can do whatever they want, and they're never held accountable.  This bothers me, because I'm usually the one that's the first to get caught if I do anything wrong.

What song makes you laugh, no matter how often you hear it?

Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.

I'm probably way off, but it kind of reminds me of a sea anemone.

Wordless Wednesday

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Monday Meme

I hope everyone who celebrates it had a Happy Easter!  The Easter Bunny left lots of chocolates for me at my mom's house.  He also brought my boys both a squeaky stuffy.  They're in Heaven!

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So this weekend was interesting!  I found out that one of my coworkers quit mid-shift on a VERY busy day.  Still not sure what went down to make her do that.  I'll have to see if I can get the gossip when I go in to work this morning.  Can't say I'm too disappointed.  She was the absolute worst one there, and I can't believe she hadn't been fired already.  Now if only the other really bad coworker would leave...

I also discovered this weekend that I won't be graduating in a year, because I calculated my earned credits wrong.  I'll still have another semester left after that, which makes me really sad!  I love school, but I'm sooooo over it now!  I'm ready to move on and start my life.  Plus, when I graduate, it'll be December.  Who hires in December or January?  No one!  Ugh!  I spent the weekend feeling sorry for myself, but then I realized that I'm still a senior and the end is in sight.  

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Took this from here - another oldie, but goodie.  

1.  When you were a child, was there something you looked forward to doing when you grew up? What is it, and have you done it? 

I remember going to a friend's house as a kid.  My friend asked her mom if we could have a snack.  She said no, but then she opened up a small drawer that was filled with gum and allowed us to each have a piece.  So that's what I always wanted to do as a kid - have a drawer full of gum!  My mom almost never bought us gum, so it was a real treat when I got some.

As an adult, I haven't actually filled up a drawer.  But I always have more than enough in my pantry, and have to stop myself from buying more when I go to the grocery store.  

2.  If you had a guardian angel, what would you name it?  

Hmmm...  Depends on if it was a boy or girl!  If it was a guy, I'd name him Michael, after the movie of the same name.  (If you haven't seen it, you really should check it out.  Love that movie!)  If it was a girl, I'd name her Angel.

3.  What have you done in the past week to help someone else?

I feel bad, because I haven't done anything all that spectacular.  I probably held the elevator for someone or something.  What did you do?

4.  If you were reincarnated, what would be the worst thing you can think of to come back as?

A serial killer

5.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.  

My dad always said brown eggs tasted better.  I can't really tell the difference, but he always swore they were better.  

Chewy.com

Kira from Sojos asked if I might be interested in having the boys try out their dog food, we jumped at the chance!

I chose the Sojos Complete Dog Food with freeze-dried raw turkey, so that's all that we expected.  But we opened up the box and were quite shocked to find so much more!

One 2 pound bag of Sojos Complete Dog Food with freeze-dried raw turkey (large blue bag).  Four sample size bags each of Sojos Grain-Free fruit and veggie (green bags), Sojos Complete with freeze-dried raw beef (yellow bag), and Sojos Original wheat- and corn-free (orange bag).  Two bags each of Sojos grain-free treats lamb and sweet potato flavor (brown label) and Sojos chicken pot pie flavor (orange label).  It was an overwhelming choice with what to try first!  The boys were in HEAVEN!

Ultimately, we went with the Sojos Original wheat- and corn-free sample.  

Since it's freeze-dried, it doesn't look the same as regular dog food that you're used to buying at the store.  I mixed it with half a cup of warm water, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then let the boys try it.  Some of the samples suggest adding raw meat.  Since I didn't have any on hand that I was willing to share with the boys, they haven't tried those yet.  

I mixed one sample size bag up in one bowl and split the food into two bowls after adding water and letting it sit.  Shiver and Chico couldn't get enough of it!  They cleaned their bowls and went looking for more!  (I had just mopped the floor and didn't know if the dogs were going to make a mess or not, that's why I laid the newspaper down.)   The dog treats have been just as big of a hit with them.  They just can't get enough!

They've since tried the Sojos Complete Dog Food and the boys loved it just as much.  I've been feeding them this and supplementing it with dry food to get them used to it.  I love that it's all natural.  When Chico went for his annual shots recently, the vet said that he had a galloping heartbeat.  Feeding him this has given me peace of mind that he's eating healthy.  I want him to be around for a very long time, and this will help keep him in good condition.     

One two pound bag makes up to ten pounds of food.  This is going to last my boys quite awhile, along with the other dog food samples we received.  However, I have no doubt that we'll be ordering another bag when this one is finished.  Chewy offers auto-ship so that you never have to worry about running out of food, which is always handy!  Plus, any order over $50 gets free shipping and handling.  

Have you tried Sojos yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?

We were not compensated financially for this post, but were provided free samples of dog food and treats in return for our honest opinion.

Monday Meme

I meant to post a review of Chewy.com last Wednesday, which would have included pix of my handsome boys.  Unfortch, things have been crazy busy lately, and don't seem to be slowing down any time soon.  The end of the semester is nearing, so things are really getting down to the wire in regards to assignments.  I'm really gonna try and get that posted this Wednesday instead.

I've been noticing a lot of comments by new bloggers the last few weeks.  Welcome!  I don't know what's drawn you here.  I haven't gotten any new followers in awhile (haven't lost any either, so thank you!), but I do hope you'll come back and visit from time to time.

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Took this from here.

1.  If you auditioned for American Idol, what song would you sing? 

I like to think I have an excellent voice when I'm in the car with the windows rolled up and the radio blaring, and I can't really hear myself.  In reality, I probably don't really have the best singing voice.  However, I can't help rapping along to this song whenever it comes on the radio:


2.  What subatomic particle would you be and why?

I'm embarrassed to admit that I had no idea what a subatomic article actually is, and I had to google it.  To be honest, I have no clue how to answer this question.  So I'm moving onto the next one...

3.  If you had the choice between an RV, a sports car, an SUV, or a bicycle, which would you choose and why?

I should probably pick the bicycle for the exercise.  But I'mma go with the sports car, just because I've always thought it would be fun to have one.  Which would you choose?

4.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.

We used to call these roly poly bugs when I was little.  I remember one house we live in, we used to have a bunch of these in the back yard and I always enjoyed playing with them.  When you touch them, they curl up into a little ball.

Monday Meme

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As of 8:00 AM this morning, I get to register for classes for the beginning of my senior year of college!!!  Woo hoo!!!!!!!  I'm both very excited and very freaked out about this.  Once school ends, I won't have an excuse to stop putting off starting my "real" life.

I have a lot to do this week, but I'm going to try to post pix of the boys on Wednesday.

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Took this from here.  It's an oldie but goodie.

1.  When you walk past mirrors or large windows, what's the first thing you check in your reflection?

I generally will look away as quickly as possible so I don't have to see my reflection.  Sometimes I'll look at my hair though, just to make sure it looks okay.

2.  When you were ten years old, how did you spend your free time?

I don't remember exactly, but I'm guessing I was probably still playing with dolls, and looking for friends to join me.

3.  What person in your life defines the word "kindness"? 

I don't really know.  I know who inspires me, and the work that she does makes me want to be a better person.  I don't really know her all that well, but she must be kind to do all the things that she does.   I met her when we used to volunteer together.  Her grandson was diagnosed with cancer at a very young age, which has made her do anything and everything she possibly can to raise money for cancer research.  She also regularly hosts fundraisers for those recently diagnosed with cancer, so that they can pay for treatment.

Her grandson seems to be doing quite well, these days.  I think he's about three now.

4.  How does purple (the color) make you feel?

Purple has always been my very favoritest color, so it makes me feel happy.  I went off on a pink tangent for awhile, but I'm back to purple again.

5.  Show and tell.  What comes to mind first when you see this picture?  Or tell a story if it reminds you of one.

This reminds me of high school.  I thought I was too cool to use a backpack, so I carried my books back and forth.  I most definitely use a backpack these days!  And I rarely carry books to school.  I have too many, and they're too heavy to carry around all day.

Wordless Wednesday

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