Friday's Featured Etsy: Istria Design

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a shop called Istria Design. Here you'll find a variety of quality handmade paper goods handmade here in Washington state. From recipe cards to greeting cards to even handmade altered journals, you're sure to find something lovely to gift or spoil yourself with.

Look at this lovely Bird Nest Tags, Shabby Nest Tags, Easter Gift Tags, Spring Nest Tags, Easter Eggs Tags, Shabby Bird Tags,Set of 4

I love these 50 Funny Recipe Cards, Retro Recipe Card Set, Shabby Pink Pin Up Girl Recipe Cards, Set of 50, 4 x 6 Recipe Cards

With Halloween just around the corner, check out this Halloween Spell Book, Goth Journal Mini, Witch Journal, Altered Art Journal, Halloween Journal:

Stop by Istria Design today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Giveaway: 2nd Annual National Family Pack Walk

Warner Bros.’ Scooby-Doo and Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan are teaming up for the2nd Annual National Family Pack Walk taking place September 29th in Washington DC! The 2012 Pack Walk brings families and their furry friends together for a 1.5 mile walk around the National Mall, led by Cesar Millan and Scooby-Doo, followed by an afternoon of Scooby themed activities.


Not near DC? Well, there will be several local walks throughout the country taking place September 23rd through the 30th. All proceeds from the National Family Pack Walk events will be donated to the Millan Foundation, which raises awareness and supports the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of abused and abandoned dogs. (Something you know I care about deeply!)

For more information, and to find out if you're close to a local walk, check out the site here, where you can also donate if you'd like to. The goal is to raise $100,000, and since they are only at $23,000, they still have a way to go!

Win it! One lucky reader is going to win a Pack Walk Prize package! Geared for kids, it contains 1 (3 pc) pajama set, 1 packet of wall stickers, 1 Scooby soap holder, 1 Scooby fork, 1 plate, and 1 pair of Scooby gloves. To enter, let us know if you've ever participated in a fundraising walk or run, and what the cause was for.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Scooby Pack Walk Prizes! http://bit.ly/N1XW6m ends 9/8 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends September 8th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I am not receiving anything for this post, but one winner will receive the prize package stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Recipe: Easy Freezer Blackberry Jam

Want fresh homemade jam, but don't own a canner yet? Here is a recipe that is quick and easy that you can make without a canner!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 quarts blackberries (roughly)
5 cups of sugar
1 package of Liquid fruit pectin
3/4 cup of water

canning jars & lids!*

*Since this is freezer jam, your jar lids do not need to be brand new as you really aren't making a seal. However, be sure to sterilize and thoroughly clean your jars before filling them, as you can still end up with toxins inside. The amount of jars you need varies on the size of the jas you are using - anywhere from 2 quart jars to 6-7 smaller ones.

Crush fruit carefully - you don't want to overcrush, and you don't want to undercrush. I use a potato masher. (This is a great kid friendly part of the job, but remember blackberry stains fabric easily, so be sure kids are wearing playclothes and they can't ruin any tablecloths, etc) Next, measure three cups of the crushed fruit into a large bowl.

Next, stir in the five cups of sugar - you can use less, I usually use only 4, but the original canning recipe used 5, and allow to sit on the counter for 10 minutes. (This lets the fruit absorb the sugar)

While the fruit is sitting, head over to the stove and bring the water and pectin together in a saucepan. Keep stirring it, until it's come to a full roiling boil, and continue keeping it at the boil and stirring for one minute.

Next, you'll want to stir this pectin mixture into your fruit and sugar mixture. Continue stirring this for about three minutes.

Now you're ready to add to your jars! Pour the fruit mixture into your canning jars, leaving at least 1/2 inch headroom at the top. Wipe off any fruit mixture that's gotten onto the side. Pop your lids on the jars, and sit on your counter on a safe space out of direct sunlight for 24 hours. (Set an alarm if you have to, because you don't want to leave them any longer than this, or it can invite problems!)

When the 24 hours are up, place in your fridge for up to 3 weeks, or in your freezer for up to 6 months. Remember, this jam is NOT shelf stable, so if you are gifting it to anyone, be sure to let them know to keep it in the fridge or freezer.

Did You Join the Dew Crew?

There's still time to join if you haven't already!

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew.

On top of getting to give your opinion and get access to exclusive Dale Jr and Team 88 content, you can also win some prizes! Check out these goodies I got as a member of the Dew Crew Insider Team:

There was a Diet Mt Dew hat too, but DH took off with it and I can't find it now - I guess it's in the truck. lol I love these little drawstring backpack bags, because they are just the right size to keep change of shoes in under the backseat - it cuts down on muddy shoes being trekked into the truck!

So what are you waiting for? Hurry and join! ;)

Second disclosure: you know the drill. I'm a member of the insider team, so I received the kit shown above for free in exchange for posting about the Dew Crew.

Book Review: The Serpent's Bite By Warren Adler

I recently received a copy of the new book The Serpent's Bite by Warren Adler to review.

George Temple hasn't seen his daughter and son since his wife passed away nearly five years ago. He plans the perfect trip to reconcile with his adult children: they'll go on a nostalgic horse trek in Yellowstone Park, just like they did nearly 20 years ago. He's hoping that the memories of that fun trip will help bring them all back together. It sounds like the perfect plan, except his children Courtney and Scott only are agreeing to come along because they want him to start giving them money once again. The potential for bonding quickly slips away, and on top of some serious family issues - their guide is a drunk and their horse wrangler dangerous. Doesn't sound good, does it? A drunken guide isn't the worst of it though, and George's children are cold, manipulative, and evil - especially Courtney. Will this be the trip George had dreamed of?

Oh. my. word. This book is full of twists and turns everywhere, and thanks to graphic descriptions and dialogue, will leave your eyes open WIDE. Let me repeat a word I used above: evil - Courtney is an evil psychopath with no sense of remorse. Not that anyone is innocent here, as you'll quickly find out. Both of these "kids" are spoiled, rich brats who can't seem to get anything financially off the ground, or make anything of themselves, and need their father's money to survive. This is the author of the book The War of the Roses (yes, the movie too), so if you are familiar with that storyline, I am sure you can guess that this one is just as dark and demented. Oh, you just wait.... you'll see as you keep reading!

There's a touch of Shakespeare throughout that I just love too - references to King Lear and MacBeth, but I really could have lived without all of the anti-Mexican slurs at the horse wrangler Tomas. Other than that, I found this book to be very hard to put down - it really is a page turner.

By the way, if you purchase this book, you'll also be able to download the e-book version of The War of the Roses for free, so if you've seen the movie but never had a chance to read the book, here it is! Visit the author's website here.

The Serpent's Bite by Warren Adler is a hardcover suspense fiction book published by Stonehouse Press. It is 320 pages long. The suggested cover price is $21.95, but Amazon has it available for $15.77 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Free Arby's Turkey Roaster Sandwich 9/6

Mark your calendar! On Thursday, September 6, 2012, Arby’s will celebrate the launch of their new sandwich line by offering one free Turkey Roaster sandwich of their choice to folks who visit Arby’s locations between 11:00am and 1:00pm. There is no coupon to print, and it sounds like no other purchase is necessary!

There are three varieties of the Turkey Roaster sandwich to choose from - Grand Turkey Club, Roast Turkey ‘n Cheddar, and Roast Turkey Classic. (Now I crave a sandwich! lol)

You know the drill when it comes to these limited freebies: always call ahead to make sure your favorite local Arby's will be participating, and be sure to get there towards the early part of the freebie. Have patience with the employees working there, because it's sure to be a popular offer! And of course, don't forget to say thank you to Arby's and let them know what you thought about the new sandwich!

Wordless Wednsday - Yeah, I Have Counter Cat Issues Too...

(I turned back my for TWO seconds, and Solstice had a flour mustache yesterday! Luckily, I had only dumped a cup of flour in the bowl so far. This cat takes curiosity and "snooper-vising" to a whole new level - he's even outdoing Housekeeping Cat!)

Free Rudi's Sandwich Box With Purchase

If you already purchase Rudi's Organic Bread, this is a great deal for you. Now through September 30th, purchase three loaves of Rudi's Organic Bread, and you can receive a free official Rudi's Bakery sandwich box - this is a sandwich keeper with artwork on the front that was designed by a child who won their artwork contest.

To redeem, simply keep your receipt(s) and circle your purchase of Rudi's, then print and fill out this form here to mail in. Limit one per household, and allow 8-10 weeks to receive your goodie!

I keep a sandwich keeper in my purse with all of my odds and ends, so I'm not digging around for little things in the bottom of my purse. It makes things a little bit easier!

Review: Made From Earth Peppermint Herbal Conditioner

I recently was sent a bottle of Made From Earth Peppermint Herbal Conditioner to review.

One of my favorite organic and cruelty free brands is Made From Earth. I was excited to try out the Peppermint Herbal Conditioner because I knew it would be vegan and not tested on animals, unlike a lot of the products available in the hair care aisle. This holistic and chemical free conditioner uses Peppermint, which is known for providing relief from stress, as well as depression and mental exhaustion. Peppermint oil also tends to leave a waxy coating on hair, creating a protective layer and restoring moisture to the hair follicles.

Yep, they had me at reliving stress. ;)

To use, simply apply the conditioner to your scalp, massaging it down through your hair. (Obviously, if you have a lot of hair, you'll need a bit more conditioner than someone with short hair) The bottle does recommend that for best results, repeat the application again.

Frankly, the only time I ever repeat a conditioner is if I am dealing with some serious tangles - otherwise I feel it just goes down the drain, so I only ever used this for one application. The peppermint smell was definitely refreshing and uplifting, and pleasant - it's not overwhelming, and it also doesn't smell fake like some of the peppermint products I've used in the past. It was fairly easy to rinse out of my hair - keep in mind that I wash my hair in the sink though, so of course, your mileage may vary from mine on this one. While I can't say my comb went right through my hair when I was detangling it, it also was easier than some of the other natural/organic conditioners I've tried in the past, so I really can't complain there. All in all I am pleased with this product, and it feels good to know my hair can look good without sending a ton of chemicals down the drain only to end up in our drinking water.

For those who are searching and wondering if their hair DNA (lol) matches to mine: I probably should back up and say my hair is fine/thin, and easily tangled. I'm subject to frizz and kinks, and it's also long - to my waist. This is another product where I have to say if your hair differs from mine - for instance, is prone to being very oily - your experiences with this product may vary from mine.

Like all of Made From Earth's products, the Peppermint Herbal Conditioner is made here in the USA - even the ingredients are farmed here. It's free of petrochemicals and phthalates, as well as parabens and chemical fragrances. Because the ingredients are organic, they are also GMO free.

You can purchase the Made From Earth Peppermint Herbal Conditioner online via their website. An 8 ounce bottle retails for $14.99, and right now they have free shipping on all orders over $75.

I received a sample of the product mentioned above in order to try it out and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Did Ya Win? Come Look!

The winner of the Fiber One Brownies giveaway is:

EMSFS said... I would like the chocolate peanut butter flavor- I would also include a jar of peanut butter, tortilla chips and some dried blueberries.

And the winner of the Yoplait Greek 100 giveaway is:

Anonymous said... I would like to try black cherry.

Congratulations everyone! I am sending out emails right now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me!

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Just One Extra Hour A Day

I hope those of you in the zone of this hurricane don't see much damage, and that it brings much needed rain for everyone. I know it's too late for this year's crops, but let's get the ground ready for some winter planting and a good round next year!

I have so much to get done today, it just feels like there are never enough hours in the day lately. Well, at least the morning Swiffering/vacuuming is done. (Yeah, it's a twice a day thing here these days) And a load of laundry. The bathroom is staring at me next, so I guess you can guess why I'm sitting here procrastinating. ;)

So, my cell phone finally bit the dust. Sniff, sniff. It's taken its fair share of bumps, tosses, etc, so believe me, it was time. lol I'm waiting for a new one to arrive. And no, I didn't buy an iPhone. There's a limit to being connected to technology for me, and I don't really see the need to check my email when I'm hiking in the woods. ;) I will admit that the rumors of the Kindle Fire 2 have me intrigued, though. It would be a lot easier to carry that around into town for free wi-fi when we move than dragging this laptop... ;)

Red Robin, how dare you send me crack mail about your burgers... LOL I may have to have DH stop off at the butcher and pick up some ground beef, because now I am totally craving burgers!

Blackberries have been coming in beautifully! I'll have pictures (good grief, I need to download photos) of the jam I made too. I have a couple of easy peasy recipes to share, even one that you don't need a canner to make. Now I am just praying the apple tree hangs on another week or so! I noticed they look a little ugly, but I'll be making apple butter with them mostly, so it's how they taste that counts more! Which reminds me, next trip to Costco I need to pick up more brown sugar... (For anyone new to canning, here's a tip: you can never have too much sugar in your home. If you store it properly in a cool, dry place, it's always good for several years, so stock up when it's on sale during the holidays so you are ready to go!)

Zombie Candidate Crashes Republican Convention LOL I'm sorry, but I think this is funny. Really, I think we should just totally ditch "parties" at this point, not allow any campaigning until 4 months before an election, weekly debates during that time, and let us have around a dozen candidates to choose from. Things could get interesting... and hey, here's a thought - if there's no parties, maybe there's no Congressional stalemates.

Then again, I'm also the person who thinks any political position should be volunteer, not paid.

OK, enough with the politics.

Zombie Wedding: Couple Plans To Walk Down The Aisle Like Zombies As much as I love the idea myself, I preferred to keep my wedding day a splatter free zone. ;) I was good with simple goth.

We're getting closer to the release date! Resident Evil 6 brings back the zombies, but not in a way that you’d expect (hands-on preview) I can't remember if DH said he pre-ordered this game or not. (I just hope the movie is better than the last one, sigh!)

Yeah, um I won't be looking out for this one on the street anytime soon: The Gory Gourmet Zombie Food Truck Celebrates 'The Walking Dead' I don't think DH even would. The Corgis might, though... LOL

In all the times I've watched this movie, I never caught this before:

Now I want to see it again tonight to make sure it's really there. ;)

And here I thought five cats was a lot, ZOMG:

...that's a lot of litter boxes to clean. And bowls to wash! OK, enough procrastinating for now...

DVD Review: The Amazing World Of Gumball: The DVD

My family and I recently received a copy of the new animated DVD The Amazing World Of Gumball: The DVD to review.

One of the newest Cartoon Netowrk shows, The Amazing World Of Gumball follows Gumball, a 12 year old blue cat with a giant head. Just when you could start to consider this ahem, normal, his brother is a goldfish, he's being chased around school by a T-Rex named Tina, one of his friends is a piece of toast named Anton, and he has a crush on a peanut with antlers named Penny. If your head is currently spinning, don't worry mine was too. Next I had to ask, was someone on an acid trip?! LOL Geared towards the 6-14 crowd, this show definitely is a little off the wall - but it's not like it's the first show to ever be a little... different. (Ren & Stimpy, anyone?)

This is the first ever DVD release of this show, and it features twelve stories: "The DVD", "The Third", "The End", "The Quest", "The Laziest", "The Gi", "The Refund", "The Picnic", "The Mustache", "The Wand", "The Curse", and "The Meddler". (If you're not familiar with this show, each episode is usually two stories, and this is not all of the episodes from the first season)

There is also one special feature included on this DVD, a short featurette called "Meet The Wattersons", which introduces you to all the members of Gumball's family.

The Amazing World Of Gumball: The DVD be be released this coming Tuesday, August 28th, 2012. Widescreen format, the total running time is 132 minutes long. This is rated TV-Y7 (FV) with some cartoon violence (see above). The suggested retail price is $14.97, but Amazon has it available on pre-order for just $9.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title and show are not currently available, but keep your eyes peeled for it in the coming months maybe)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Rant On: I'm Letting It Rip...

When I was a senior in high school, we had a new principal come in. He was from the "city" (the big "D"), and as students we were all aghast at this man overturning just about everything we had ever known. We were no longer allowed to wear our coats in class, or carry a backpack into class. Neither of those brought out the rage as his next order of business: students were no longer allowed to park on school property with any firearms in their vehicle.

Keep in mind that this was the early 90's, and hunting season was a legitimate reason to be late to class or miss school entirely. Deer season was considered a holiday to most of the folks in the small town I attended school in. (My graduating class was the biggest ever at the time, clocking in at 63 students.) Pretty much every one learned to shoot at a young age.

Even animal hugging, anti-hunting little old me was taught to shoot at the age of six. My daddy was smart - he picked out the meanest shotgun we owned to teach both my brother and I on. Trust me, I never forgot the feeling of that recoil against my shoulder. I never touched one without permission. Neither did my brother.

Today, there was yet another school shooting - this time in Baltimore, and I have to admit, I'm tired of it. I'm just as tired of hearing folks complain about guns being the problem - the guns aren't the problems, the lousy parents are.

Yeah, I said it. Most parents these days SUCK ROCKS. I see it as a parent myself - I'm watching three year olds run the show, and it doesn't work that way. My daughter knows, and maybe it's the crazy Mexican thing - but she's the kid, I'm the parent, and when I ask or say something to be done, if it's not done in 3 seconds, there are consequences. There's none of this oh, you don't want to eat this for dinner? Let me make you some chicken nuggets. Pffft. Eat what's on the table, or stay hungry. There's no distractions at the table either, because there are no phones, computers, TV, games, etc. We eat, we talk, and no one leaves the table until dinner is done.

Parents these days need to put on their big boy and girl panties, and BE A PARENT, not their child's best friend. Don't avoid conversations, because they will only come back to haunt you in the end - yes, I'm talking to the parents who spell the word S-E-X out. You can teach kids about their body without turning them into a sl*t. As a 35 year old woman, I can only sit back and say HEY! I wish someone had told me more about my fertility when I was 11 instead of just telling me anytime I had sex I could get knocked up, because IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT! (Sure, any time you have sex it could be the right time, but ONLY if you are ovulating. If you have no clue what I mean, obviously you have never had a hard time getting pregnant and spent months charting. Anyways...)

To go back to the school shooting, maybe if the parent was being a parent, maybe it wouldn't have happened. Yeah, maybe is the word there - but maybe if all kids were taught to shoot, respect the gun - oh, and hey, RESPECT OTHERS like it used to be, we wouldn't have any school shootings at all. They were unheard of when I was a kid, and there probably was more guns lying around the house (not in safes like we're stuck doing these days). I recall one whopping incident when I was a kid - a bomb scare, from a kid doing a prank. (Ah, the days of no caller ID!) Zip back in your mind folks, do you remember high school incident after incident? I don't.

Oh, wait, I forgot the time Jason K. tossed cherry bombs into the boys bathroom on purpose to set the fire alarm off to avoid a test. My bad. (I have to admit, that was hysterically funny...) Make that 2. In our whole county. Over years and years.

If you spoke to someone older than 18, you were expected to say "Yes ma'am" or "No, sir". Remember that? If you talked back, you were punished - and not just your video games taken away for a day or so like parents do today. You learned RESPECT.

Maybe it's time to rewind the clock and go back to what parents used to do, because it seems maybe they knew what they were doing all along. Imagine that!

And yes, you can disagree with what I'm saying - but chances are, you know I'm right.

Menu Planning Monday 8/27 - 9/2

Trying to menu plan when nothing sounds good to you is impossible, and makes it take forever! I have no excuse, because I have a full fridge and freezer at the moment.

Monday: Bacon Chicken BBQ Pizza

Tuesday: Mexican Bake (per DH's request, again. Guess he really loves it? lol)

Wednesday: Taco Night

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: breakfast for dinner - waffles, scrambled eggs, & fruit/yogurt parfaits

Saturday: picnic dinner out - chicken salad sandwiches, homemade coleslaw, watermelon

Sunday: DH is grilling

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

DVD Review: You've Got A Friend

My family and I recently received a copy of the new live action movie You've Got A Friend to review.

Starring John Schneider, Dylan McLaughlin, and Bitty Schram, You've Got A Friend is set back in 1976. A young boy named Bobby is sent to live with his childless aunt and uncle in Eagle Rock after his parents are killed in a car accident. Life is very different for Bobby, but this strong willed little boy is determined to follow in his father's footsteps by following his dream: winning the American Soapbox Derby, even it's against his uncle's wishes. Bobby finds a friend in Jim Klecan, a Vietnam War Veteran who is known as the town recluse. Jim, a former Soapbox Derby winner himself back in the day, helps Bobby to get his soapbox car ready to enter the race, and along the way, finds himself again. Will Uncle Jeff have a fit when he finds out?

This movie originally aired on the Hallmark channel a few years ago. No, it's not jam packed with exciting explosions and near death scenes that some people tend to find exciting, but it's a sweet family friendly movie with a good message of self confidence and never letting your dreams get away from you - no matter how young or old you might be. If you're looking for a touching movie for family night, this one is definitely worth renting.

You've Got A Friend will be available on DVD this coming Tuesday, August 28th, 2012. Widescreen format, the total running time is 85 minutes long. It is not rated, and safe for all ages. The suggested retail price is $14.93, and Amazon has it available on pre-order for $12.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: this title is not currently available, but check back to see if it is)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to watch it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Book Review: Where Azaleas Bloom By Sherryl Woods

I recently received an advance reader's copy of Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods to review.

Lynn Morrow is a recent single mother of two children, who like typical kids, could eat her out of house and home. Her soon to be ex-husband Ed seems to have tossed them to the wolves - he's not helping out at all, and Lynn can barely make ends meet, and is afraid she is going to have to sell their home. She'll take just about any job she can find at this point - well, except one that is overnight for her kids' sakes. Mitch Franklin is a widower with two sons, and a contractor. He once admired Lynn from afar, and offers her a job that she can take on top of keeping her other job at Raylene's. It's sweet relief. Mitch wants to help her, but he doesn't want to scare her off and tries to encourage Lynn as much as he can. Will Lynn end up falling for this white knight in shining armor? ;)

Where Azaleas Bloom is another part of the Sweet Magnolia series the author has written. (You'll see some of my other reviews for books in the series over the last few months here) While you can just jump into this story without reading anything else, if you've read the other ones, you'll recognize the setting as well as a lot of the characters mentioned in this book.

I felt really bad for Lynn in the beginning of the book and was completely ready to demonize Ed until a few other details about him came to light later in the book. Still, I found it sad that she was stuck struggling so badly to make sure her children had all they needed. I am really enjoying this fictional town, and all the fun characters that make up the Sweet Magnolias. I'm beginning to feel like I visit it myself, and I look forward to the next book!

Where Azaleas Bloom by Sherryl Woods is a paperback romance fiction book published by Harlequin MIRA that will be released this coming Tuesday, August 28th 2012. It is 384 pages long. The suggested cover price is $7.99, and you can purchase it at your favorite local bookstore, or online via sites like Amazon. It will also be available in large print hardcover and audiobook, as well as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received an advance copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or publisher.

Happy National Dog Day!

I'd love to have shared some wonderful photos today in honor of it being National Dog Day - you know me, I'll take any excuse most of the time to show off the furry ones. Alas, my supermodels would have nothing with it:

It's naptime! ;) There's no such thing as too pampered, right? I hope you are enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon with your loved ones - be they furry, or not. :)

Psst: I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that the shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with it being kitten and puppy season. If you can help, even by just donating old blankets and towels, they would appreciate it very much. Food and other pet supplies are always needed too. Contact your local humane society or favorite rescue group to get a list of items they have as a wishlist - sometimes deals pop up you weren't expecting (even free kitty food samples) and every little bit helps!

My Yard Will Definitely Not Be In Better Homes And Gardens...

I am so used to all the rain over here, that when it stops, it almost feels.... weird. In Texas, you're used to barely seeing any rain for a month or two at a time, but when it happens in Washington state, you almost want to panic! I feel bad for even bringing it up because I know there are drought conditions all over the country right now, but we haven't seen rain here in Port Orchard since July 20th.

Over the almost six years since we've lived in this house, we've had the grass go brown. I don't normally argue with it too much - we'll run the sprinkler here and there some summers, and of course, my veggie plants are always well taken care of. At the end of June, I was still using the fireplace (!), so you can imagine I didn't expect my grass to turn into this so quickly:

And that was taken at the beginning of the week. When you walk across it, it just breaks off. I have dirt patches all over, and I am wondering if it's going to be able to grow back without being re-seeded at all. Even three summers ago, when we had that patch of 100+ degree days for over a week, the grass didn't look like this. My apple tree started dropping apples last week WAY too early, so I started watering it each evening, sometimes I have never had to do before. It's probably too late, but the thought of losing all those apples of mine makes me want to cry!

We've cleared all the dead bushes that we can, and removed all the plants around the house with the exception of one rose bush out front ever since we had smoke coming out of one of them. At this point, I guess it's damage control. I hate to have to do that, but it's preferable to having my house burn down from an idiot flicking their cigarette out the window. I've seen far too many fires over the last few weeks that could have been prevented if people would watch what they were doing with their butts and campfires, and be careful not to overload their electrical outlets. :(

They've seen more rain back home in South Texas over the last month than we have here! lol How weird is that?!

Times they are a'changin'. :(

Giveaway: Petco Gift Card Thanks To CouponCabin!

When I shop online, the first thing I always do is look for a coupon code, preferably for free shipping. Being able to save on shipping can save me anywhere for $5-15, and that helps me stretch out our money a little further.

CouponCabin can help you save on your online purchases because they work with retailers to offer incredible savings on quality goods. Users can quickly grab a code quickly or sign up for CouponCabin Rewards to earn points toward gift cards. They can also use the CouponCabin iPad app or the CouponCabin Mobile app, available for download in the GooglePlay and iTunes stores. One of the things I tend to purchase the most online are pet related supplies, so knowing I can look to CouponCabin for Petco coupons helps save me time AND money. Trust me, with 8 pets roaming around my house right now, I need to save all the money I can to keep up with the food and vet bills! lol I think my UPS driver mutters bad things when I get litter delivered, ;) but it helps cut down on one less trip here and there. (With the way gas prices are rising again here, I've got to order as much online as I can whenever I find a good deal!)

Win it! Thanks to CouponCabin, one lucky reader is going to win a $25 Petco gift certificate! To enter, tell us what you'd spoil the pet(s) in your life with if you won. (easy, right?)

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win a $25 Petco GC! http://bit.ly/OawWPP ends 9/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends September 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and the opinion stated here is that of my own. I was not influenced in any way. By entering this promotion, each participant agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor and its parent companies, affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective representatives, officers, directors, shareholders, agents and employees from and against any injuries, losses, damages, claims, actions or liability of any kind resulting from or arising from participation in this promotion.

Review & Giveaway: B Kids Shape ‘n Slide Pals

Blue Box Toys is an award-winning toy company celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. They recently introduced the B Kids line, designed specifically for newborns, infants and toddlers. Their goal was to turn tub time into fun time with a collection of bath toys, like the Ducky Spout and the Wacky Wand.

I was sent one of the Shape ‘n Slide Pals to review. This little dude is shaped like a turtle, and it's a two in one toy: kids can play with the shape sorter and a few small blocks, or the sliding rattle. Geared for ages 12 months and up, it encourages hand to eye coordination, color learning and shape sorting. It's really cute in person:

To be honest, I was a little worried when it arrived that my daughter might think it was too baby, but she actually asked to take a bath so she could play with it, so I guess I didn't need to worry. lol The shape sorting pieces float. By the way, this is one of those toys that they don't actually have to play with in the tub if you're avoiding bigger toys in there. (For us, it's anything goes as long as it's waterproof-ish lol)

The BKids Shape ‘n Slide Pals has a suggested retail price of $13.99. You can find it at places like Amazon, although the price there is a little higher. You can find BKids on Facebook or follow them on Twitter for sales and new product announcements.

Win it! Want to win a B kids Shape 'N Slide Pals Bathtub Toy for the child in your life? To enter, tell us how you make bath time fun. (If you're entering for this to be a gift, just share with us your favorite bath product scent!)

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Shape ‘n Slide Pals http://bit.ly/OftLs5 ends 9/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends September 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received the product mentioned above in exchange for my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Friday's Featured Etsy: Pippenwycks

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a shop called Pippenwycks. Take a walk into Wildwyck Woods, where you'll find one of a kind leather boxes and creatures who are in search of the perfect home to live in. Most have promised to be on their best behavior if you'll adopt them, so give them a chance. ;) Check out each individual listing to learn more about the creatures. (If you're like me, you'll sqeaul with delight - at the very least, you'll have to give the owner a A+ for creativity!) Guess who's my new favorite Etsy store? I now have a giant wish list!

Meet Ray Gooffie', the Storage Box Witch Tarot Stash Storage Box Pagan Wiccan Ray Gooffie':

My absolute favorite is Nibbin, the Halloween Desk Organizer Storage Tarot Witch Wiccan Pagan:

If you'd like to be able to take your creature with you everywhere, meet Baggen, the Leather Purse LARP Card Bag Goth Halloween Witch Wiccan Pagan:

Stop by Pippenwycks today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Giveaway: Fiber One Chewy Bars

Looking for a healthier snack to send along in your child's lunch or to take along on errands? Fiber One Chewy bars are an easy to pack snack with more than just great taste that appeal to both kids and adults. Each bar is just 110 calories or less, with a peanut butter or chocolate-flavored bottom, and no high fructose corn syrup included in the ingredients. They also contain much needed fiber, and 8 grams or less of sugar.

Thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills, we received a back to school package that contained some branded school supplies and a lunch tote. There was also two boxes of the Fiber One Chewy Bars in Chocolate and Strawberry PB&J varieties to try out. While we're not headed back to school per say - we are homeschooling - we still need portable snacks that are on the healthier side, especially over the last month with all the activities we have been participating in. I pack a cooler full of cold drinks and snacks when we head to places like the Renn Faire, and I tossed the packages of Fiber One Chewy Bars in. They were a hit with my family - the box of Chocolate especially was gone faster than the blink of an eye! (Sniff, I only got one to try! lol) I am pleased that they are high fructose corn syrup free, but I'd love to have them say whether the ingredients are non-GMO or not.

If you're interested in giving Fiber One Chewy Bars a try for your family, you can print an $.80 off the purchase of 1 box of Fiber One Chewy bars coupon here. (I wouldn't dilly dally, as these printable coupons are usually only available for a limited number of prints overall. When they are gone, they're gone!)

Win it! Thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills, one lucky reader is going to win a Fiber One Chewy Bars back to school prize pack with goodies just like the one I received! (There's a box of Fiber One Chewy bars in Chocolate, a box of the Fiber One Chewy bars in Strawberry PB&J, water bottle, lunch tote, a re-useable sandwich bag which is seriously nifty, Mini Lunch Notes, and a notebook mate) To enter, tell us which flavor you'd want to try first, and if you or your child(ren) are headed back to school this fall.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Fiber One Chewy Bars http://bit.ly/NjsIJo ends 9/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends September 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Book Review: Songs Of My Life ...Slightly Out Of Tune By Susan Dintino

I recently received a copy of the new book Songs Of My Life ...Slightly Out Of Tune by Susan Dintino to review.

Geared towards women (and men, too) over the age of 40 who are dealing with every day challenges of life - like paying for braces, aging, marriage, etc, Songs Of My Life shares stories from the author such as her fear of going to the dentist, alongside gentle advice and revelations she has had. Written in a very friendly manner, you almost feel like you are having a conversation about your "out of tune life" over a cup of coffee in your own kitchen. With a touch of giggles, of course, as she also discovers the first time she learned about "landscaping" (Ahem. lol) among other things.

The part that probably resonated with me the most was where the author - who has been married for over 40 years - discussed some of the issues she had with her husband in the beginning of her marriage (he was always late - gee, what a coincidence? lol) and how she had to learn that screaming gets you nowhere. It's a Mexican thing in my case. lol ;) I try to keep it to a minimum, but sometimes I just cannot stand it anymore, and out comes the mujer loca (crazy woman). The author points out that rather than complain (or in this case, scream lol), just do something about it. If your husband is always late, leave without him. (Course, not driving in my case nips that idea in the bud)

Don't pick up this book thinking you'll have a million and one revelations, but if you're like me, you'll walk away with a few good messages we all could learn from. (Think positive!) It's a very short read, and it's easy to just read a chapter or two at a time.

Songs Of My Life ...Slightly Out Of Tune by Susan Dintino is a paperback mind/body/spirit book published by Hay House Insights. It is 136 pages long. The suggested cover price is $13.95, but Amazon has it available for $10.21 as of this posting. It is also available as an e-book for the Kindle and other e-readers.

I received a copy of this book in order to read it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own, and not that of the author(s) or the publisher.

Wordless Wednesday - A Proposal Of Epic Proportions?

Side Note: ZOMG - I just realized this is post number 4,000!

Blu-Ray Review: Chimpanzee

My family and I recently received a copy of the latest DisneyNature Blu-Ray/DVD release, Chimpanzee, to review.

Meet Oscar, an adorable little chimpanzee living in the African Rain Forest. The world is his playground, and just like any young human child, he loves to play and cause your usual array of silly mayhem. ;) He's an amazing little guy, and you'll see Oscar, his family, and friends in this nature documentary that brings you up close and personal with a world many of us will never see in person. Tim Allen (yes, the Tool Time Man lol) narrates this story.

If you don't fall in love with Oscar and his friends, I don't know what to say. The colors of the rain forest are AMAZING in high definition on the big screen - it's almost like you are there in person! Jane Goodall must be so pleased. The documentary itself really does a wonderful job of sharing these animals' lives and showing us that they really aren't any different from you and me. (If you can watch this, and still agree with the testing they do on these chimps, then I'm sorry, you're the psychotic one, not me!) Here's a small clip from the show:


Sorry, feedreaders, you'll have to click over to my blog for this one!

While this movie is rated G, be aware that there are some mature themes throughout, as we're discussing nature here, and Oscar is an orphan. Chimps are also not vegetarians. (Ahem) Be prepared to discuss the circle of life with your kids if you are viewing this with young children.

For every couple of this movie purchased through August 27th, a donation will be made to the Jaane Goodall Institute to help conserve chimpanzee habitat, as well as education other and provide care for orphaned chimps. (yay!)

Chimpanzee is a two disc combo set featuring both the Blu-Ray edition and the standard DVD feature film, so you if you don't have a Blu-Ray player as of yet, you won't have to re-purchase this title down the road. It also works great for computers, portable DVD players, etc that may not be Blu-Ray capable.

Both discs do contain some special bonus features. The DVD contains the feature film of course, plus a short featurette letting you know that by buying this DVD, you can help save chimps, "Disney's Friends For Change", and "Disney's Conservation Legacy", both of which are also little featurettes talking about what the Disney company is doing to help. The Blu-Ray disc contains all of those, plus another featurette called "On Location: The Making of Chimpanzee", the "Rise" music vieo by McClain Sisters, and another featurette that's a behind the scenes look at the song.

The discs use Disney's Fast Play, a navigation utility that automatically starts the disc as soon as it's put in the player and pretty much remembers your viewing preferences. It also qualifies as part of the Disney Movie Rewards program, so be sure to enter the code inside the box to get your reward points. Also keep your eyes peeled for stickers on the DVD boxes that will help you save $10 off when you purchase this movie plus any other one of six Disney combo packs together.

Chimpanzee is available today on Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack wherever DVD's are sold. Widescreen format, it is rated G (see above), with a total running time of 78 minutes long. The suggested retail price is $39.99, but Amazon has it available for $22.99 as of this posting.

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

DVD Review & Giveaway: Rock 'N Learn: Preschool! Ready For School

Back to school season is here - are your kids ready to get back to learning? One of my favorite educational companies, Rock 'N Learn, is offering a series of value-priced preschool DVDs at Sam’s Club locations nationwide. Instead of the regular retail price of $14.99, these will be available for just $7.98 for a limited time through September, so hurry in!

Rock 'N Learn sent my family on over the Preschool! Ready For School DVD. Time has really flown, my daughter is turning 4 next month (sob!), and with that comes starting her on her homeschooling journey. This DVD was perfect timing! Geared towards the 2-5 crowd, it helps preschoolers learn things such as tying shoes, printing letters, listening skills, getting dressed, and cleaning their room. It has a short running time - just 30 minutes - so kids don't get bored watching it. Like other Rock N Learn titles, it uses animated characters with songs that kids can sing along with to help them remember how to do things. This was a great little DVD for my daughter to watch and learn, while getting her excited about starting "schooling" next month.

On top of the title I received, there are other ones in the value price range available at Sam's Club that can help your child(ren) learn specific things or brush up on areas they were struggling with, like Alphabet Fun, First Sight Words, Learn To Tell Time, and more. There's even a Spanish for Beginners DVD, which I'll have to send my MIL to get my daughter since we don't have a Sam's Club close here. All run 30 minutes long, and they are excellent ways to get acquainted with the Rock 'N Learn family of videos!

Win it! Thanks to Rock 'N Learn, one readers is going to win the Preschool! Ready For School DVD! To enter check out the value page and let us know which of the titles (besides the one you can win) you think would help the child in your life learn with the most.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win a Rock N Learn DVD! http://bit.ly/QWV0nK ends 9/1 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends September 1st at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to view it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own. One winner will receive the prize stated above, as fulfilled by the giveaway sponsor.

Random Thoughts Tuesday - Where'd The Sun Go?

Hola, my lovelies! Someone stole our sun - it's overcast! It feels like it could rain (at least to my lungs!) but the weather report says nothing. Hmmm.... I guess we'll see? I want the rain for all my plants, but I am still trying to get caught up on laundry and I need to hang it all outside!

...what I want to know is how the neighbor's lawn still looks like a green jungle and seems to keep growing? And why they won't cut it? Grrrr....

Really, I should strike - isn't there an unwritten law for us housewives about doing chores on our birthday? And yet, here I am! LOL Actually, I'd rather ignore my birthday all together today. 35. The number we said when we got married we'd stop having babies. And here we are, with only one. :( Infertility is a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

Kitty update: My boys are starting to get along fabulously. Once Magick discovered Solly was no threat to ruling his "pride", the world was fine. The girls? Still mean and nasty to him, although the hissing is down to about 25% of what it was in the beginning. Progress. ;) It's fun to watch his personality come out - he's the biggest "snooperviser" I've had since my old man. I can't do anything without him wanting to see what's going on... and that means he has a bad habit I am desperately trying to break: he won't stay off the counter. I turned my back yesterday, and he jumped right up and started eating the flour. LOL!!

The Renn Faire is now over, but this weekend we have a little Pirate gathering, and then the next weekend is the Celtic festival. Oh, and the county fair is this week, so I can get my dose of the fabulous smell of hay and animal droppings. LOL!! A lady at the Renn faire had this beautiful mini horse - dogs are bigger than he was! - and that is ALL the kiddo is talking about. Apparently, she gets it from me - because one of the jousters had this GORGEOUS TDF black horse (I have to get some of my pictures posted!) that I haven't stopped yipping about, either. I'm willing to bet that horse cost more than most people's cars. He knew he was hot stuff, too. LOL You could see it. Well, horse people could see it.

I'm getting a little tired of the political whining, so I found this kind of funny Vote “A. Zombie” For President. Sorry, but it's always the same - Candidate A: will do this Candidate B: will do the opposite. No matter which you choose, the candidate won't follow through with his promises, partly because Congress will try to deadlock him, and partly because all politicians lie. Same old story each year. I'm telling you, we need a stay at home mom who's run on one income to run this country....

Zombie-proof architecture: When the dead start to walk you'd better start building Ooh, don't wait - build it now. After all, if it can survive zombies, it can survive hurricanes and tornadoes too. But of course, one million dollar price tags? Excuse me while I laugh.... zombie proof houses do not need to be that big!

Stone Age people may have battled against a zombie apocalypse Yeah, I think not - but it certainly just brought in some readers.

And finally....

Giveaway: Yoplait Greek 100

Yoplait Greek 100 just hit the shelves, and it's the only Greek yogurt endorsed by Weight Watchers with a PointsPlus value of 2 per serving. Greek yogurt has two times the protein of regular yogurt, and Yoplait's Greek 100 lives up to it's name with just 100 calories. It's available in six varieties: Black Cherry, Key Lime, Mixed Berry, Peach, Strawberry, and Vanilla.

I was sent on over some of the Key Lime and Strawberry varieties to try out. Usually when we purchase Greek style yogurts around here, it's usually plain, honey, or blueberry, so it was fun to taste a summer-y flavor in the Key Lime. The Strawberry tasted yummy too! If you've never had Greek style yogurts before, you'll find that they have a little richer taste than regular yogurts. I like that the Yoplait Greek 100 has just 100 calories in each 5.3 oz container, because even though I don't actually watch calorie consumption for any of us in our family, I know that calories can add up fast! This makes a healthy snack even more healthy.

You can find Yoplait Greek 100 at your favorite local grocery store or big box store with a suggested retail price of $1.29 - of course, keep your eyes peeled for sales to find it even cheaper!

Win it! One lucky reader is going to win a case of Yoplait Greek 100! To enter, tell us which of the six flavors you would try first.

And as always, you can receive extra entries for:

-Subscribing to my feed OR publicly following my blog via GFC or Facebook
-Blogging about this giveaway with a link back
-Tweeting about this giveaway 1X (leave the link in your comment below or @psychotichouse)
example: #win Yoplait Greek 100! http://bit.ly/NcYRC7 ends 8/25 @psychotichouse

That's four (4) possible entries! Giveaway ends August 25th at 11:59 PM PST, and please leave your email address in your entry or have it available in your profile. US only, sorry :( Good luck everyone!! :)

I have been contacted on behalf of Yoplait with the information in this post. I did receive product samples, but all opinions are my own. PointsPlus is the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc., and is used with permission thanks to General Mills.

DVD Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1 Volume 1

My family and I recently received a copy of the new DVD Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1 Volume 1 to review.

Ah, it's time for another walk down nostalgia lane as Shout Factory brings us the much anticipated release of the old school Power Rangers - almost 20 years after it originally aired! Hard to believe it was that long ago, but I remember all the hoopla when this show first came out. DH thought it was the bomb, too. LOL This series follows a group of young teenagers named Jason, Zack, Billy, Kimberly, and Trini along with Tommy (later in the season) who received powers and would "morph" into superheroes, showing kids the importance of team work and helping others while giving a few laughs at Rita Repulsa and her silly bad guys who couldn't quite bring it together. ;) What was great about this show wasn't the cheesy effects, but rather that it showed girls could play with the boys, and appealed to both boys and girls because of that. There's not a lot of live action shows geared towards the age range of 4-12 that can say that.

Season One, Volume One brings us the first 30 episodes of the show on a three disc set: "Day of The Dumpster", "High Five", "Teamwork", "A Pressing Engagement", "Different Drum", "Food Fight", "Big Sisters", "Switching Places", "I, Eye Guy", "Foul Play in the Sky", "For Whom The Bell Trolls", "Happy Birthday, Zack", "No Clowning Around", "Power Ranger Punks", "Peace, Love and Woe", "Dark Warrior", "Green With evil Part I: Out of Control", "Green with Evil Part II: Jason's Battle", "Green With Evil Part III: The Rescue", "Green With Evil Part IV: Eclipsing Megazord", "Green With Evil Part V: Breaking The Spell", "The Trouble With Shellshock", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "The Spit Flower", "Life's a Masquerade", "Gun Ho!", "Wheel of Misfortune", "Island of Illusion Part I", "Island of Illusion part II", and "The Rockstar".

I'm not quite sure why, but once again someone's dropped the ball, and there's no special features included on this set. DH says "Boooooooo!".

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season 1 Volume 1 will be released tomorrow, August 21st, 2012. Rated TV-Y7 (FV), it is safe for most kids ages 3/4 and up, with just silly fake fighting, and no bad language, etc. The total running time is about 10 hours long. The suggested retail price is $19.93, but Amazon has it available for $14.99 as of this posting. (Netflix users: you can also watch instantly seasons 1-4 at the moment)

I received a copy of this DVD in order to watch it and share my thoughts on it. All opinions are my own.

Redbox Summer Nights Winner!

The winner of the Redbox Summer Family Night giveaway is:

Leslie S. said... My family would love to Paranorman.Thanks!

Congratulations! I'm sending out the winning email right now - remember you have 48 hours to get back to me! :)

Menu Planning Monday 8/20 - 8/26

I have a well stocked freezer and fridge now, but we're still stuck in schedule chaos! Boy, August sure has been busy!

Monday: Mexican Bake

Tuesday: Creamy Cheese Chicken

Wednesday: Italian herb chicken salad sandwiches, fresh salads

Thursday: recipe of the week

Friday: dinner at the County Fair

Saturday: DH is grilling

Sunday: DH is grilling

Check out Organizing Junkie for other great Menu Plans!

Friday's Featured Etsy: Witches Cauldron

Welcome to my Friday's Featured post, in which I showcase Etsy stores and small businesses from folks like you and me. Recession, smession! ;)

This week's stop in Etsy land is a shop called Witches Cauldron. Here you'll find stenciled wooden signs, paper mache crafts, and journal pages perfect to decorate your home for Halloween and every day. And, if you're into black cats (after all, it IS Black Cat Appreciation day!), I think you're going to covet half her store just like me! ;)

Check out this Primitive Black Cat Inn Sign:

One of my favorites is this Magical Black Cats Guard This Home Handpainted wood Sign:

And how about this Primitive Halloween Unique Witch Sign "Black Cat Daycare" Handpainted:

(Really, I think I need this one! It sums up the current chaos very well! LOL)

Stop by Witches Cauldron today and have a look around! Support handmade!

Black Cat Appreciation Day

Today is Black Cat Appreciation day. If you didn't already know this, black cats (and dogs, rabbits, etc) are usually the last to be adopted from shelters thanks to an incredibly ignorant superstition that for some reason, still hangs around these days. Unfortunately, some people still seem to think black cats are possessed:

Weeeelll.... ;)

I can honestly say I've seen the discrimination first hand, as two of our five members of the "Black Cat Brigade" were on death row when we got them out. Housekeeping cat was in her last hour. I find that absolutely shameful, as she's one of the easiest going cats I've ever had. Magick too - he's a giant lovesponge that can take anything a three year old dishes out to him. That's rare in a cat. It hit me the other day that other than the very first kitty I had when I was a little girl, a gorgeous grey girl named Missy, my beloved orange stripey goodness Trigger, and Syberia, a tortie, all of the rest of the cats who have "owned me" have all been black or mostly black. (We're talking close to twenty here!) Black cats just seem to land on my lap... under the car... on the porch... (Did you know it's good luck to have a black cat walk across your porch? Hopefully this means we're about to have some serious good luck, because...)

I've spoken about him, but I haven't had the chance to properly introduce the newest member of the Black Cat Brigade to waltz across our porch, Solstice:

It's a bit of over the top chaos at the moment with everyone getting used to a new member (can you believe it's been three years since we found little Mystery in the Walmart parking lot?), but like I said the other day, every pet arrival can't be expected to go smooth as silk.

Solly as he's been nicknamed isn't overly thrilled with becoming a "prisoner" (I can see it in his eyes! lol), but we all know cats live much longer indoors. He is enjoying being pampered though, and has discovered the joys of sleeping in:

Yes, that's what I woke up to this morning. The other half of the bed had the other Corgi furkid (That's the Grumpy Princess in the photo) and Sabbath. An empty bed to me, because usually I have at least four cats on there plus the dogs. Oh, and DH too. ;) lol

Someone commented to me the other day when we took the four cats in to the vet that it must be difficult to tell them all apart. Really, it's not - they all look different, and of course, they all have very different personalities. Well, it wasn't difficult until this morning when I went to use the bathroom. Magick usually follows me in there, so when I saw black I said "Morning, Magick"... then I realized the cat was too small to be my behemoth cat (Magick is 22 pounds for anyone who doesn't know this already) so I said "Morning, Mystery"... only to realize as the cat jumped up onto the edge of the bathtub that it was poor Solstice! Third cat's the charm? (I think my sight is going the older I get! LOL)

I hope if you're contemplating adopting a new furkid into your family, that you'll give black pets a chance. They are just as deserving of a loving home as any other pet!

Take The Free My Well-Being Assessment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of My Well-Being Powered by Humana. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Well-being isn't just about how physical health; it's so much more. Just as each of us are unique, so is how we go about making our well-being as perfect as it can be. My Well-Being Powered by Humana can help you get personalized help to make your world as healthy as you can make it, thanks to you being able to create the website that's right for you. From expert articles to read, videos to view, and daily tips to help you make lasting choices - there's a bevey of information you can save in one place, and share it easily with others.

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OK, OK, I know time is scant for us all these days, but take a moment and check out the site. I noticed some great tips, such as "5 Ways To Make Walking More Effective", and if you're a social person, you can even apply to host a "Trash Cancer Party" in your own home. And don't think we're back onto just mental and physical health here, the site covers financial health too - which is very important not just because of the stress the lack of money and struggling to pay bills can cause, but because we all know staying healthy and eating right isn't cheap. (Unforunately)

Did you take the My Well-Being Assessment? What did you think about the results?

About MyWell-Being from mywell-being on Vimeo.