If I Can Reach the Peddle. . .

I loves loves loves to go bye-bye. There is the excitement of a new place as well as the thrill of the open road.
Mommy is so busy these days, though, that I think I may need to TAKE MYSELF on a little adventure.

Does anyone know how to START this thing?

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Going on a trip is so fun and filled with adventures!

Wednesday Musings

Did I say MUSINGS or AMUSINGS????

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Work from home days are the best because I can sit at my Mommy's feet all day if that is what I want.

Remember to BLOG HOP

Taking Care of the Rain - A New Product!!!

Borrowed from CutePugPix online. My
Mommys are not THAT talented

It has not rained much in NorCal lately. We had all that rain from October through December - so much we thought we would have a very wet winter as well. Boy did we get fooled. It has hardly rained at all and the amount of rain we have received is not much, either.

That said, it is enough that Molly and I get soaking wet when we go outside to do our BIDNESS. In fact, if we ARE NOT soaking wet then we get TIMED OUT in the pen for peeing in the screen room. But I digress. Mommy keeps a towel on the door handle to dry us off when we come in so we do not muddy-up the rest of the house. This towel gets wet and dirty pretty quickly with two of us so it is always being laundered.

PoochieBells to the rescue. The good folks at PoochieBells sent us a TO-GO Towel, one of their newer products, when we tried out their PoochieBells (which are super duper). The TO-GO Towel is specifically meant to clean wet muddy dogs and prevent their tracking the filth inside. Plus it is portable so you can keep one in the car, one in the overnight bag (yeah, I have one for when I visit Auntie B), and one near the outside door.

Here is a comparison picture of my previous towel and the TO-GO Towel

Mommy can wrap me completely up in the TO-GO Towel and get all my muddy bits dried. Molly simply gets lost in it. To make it even better, it works really well to dry us off. Better than the cute micro-fiber towel we normally use. Convenience and usability - Mommy gives it a thumbs up.

However there are some untested issues with the towel that keep us somewhat reserved about regularly using it.

1. How long can it be used? We haven't had enough rain to adequately answer this question. It can be wrung out and dried between uses, we know that. But at some point it will wear out. We would like to know that point.
2. How green is it? It is bio-degradable, that much we know. But it will still add to the trash pile in our city. We try really really hard not to use too many disposable things in our home. As it is, we use a lot of paper towels for pee pee clean-ups (uh, I mean for MOLLY, not ME). So do we want to add to the waste problem? Again it comes down to how many times it can be used.

These are questions we will investigate more as we use it more. There is rain on the forecast for next week and I now I am planning on getting my Princess Pug Paws wet at least a couple of times.

Check it out for yourself, though. The TO-GO Towel can be purchased from here The PoochieBells Store.

We find the PoochieBells company is a very conscientious and friendly company to work with. I loves loves loves it and I think you will too.

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: I love rain. It makes the air smell so good and makes the cushy grass grow.

Arriba Awards!!! Rah Rewards!!!

These are Valentines but LOOK like awards, huh?

We watched the Academy Awards last night with our Mommys. It was pretty interesting and that Seth McFarland kept us giggling the whole 1 million hours of the show. It was fun to see all of the pretty people winning statuettes for a job well done.

I like to get awards. I mean WIN awards. One does not generally GET them just because. No - one must do something notable first.

I have won awards for Curliest Tail (twice) and in the THREE years I have been blogging I have won numerous BLOGGER awards (some I erased off my blog to save space only to buy memory and have plenty of space. Arrrgh.

Molly has been awarded Most Outgoing for her puppy class. That along with her PUPPY CLASS diploma are pretty notable.

Do you like to win awards? Let me know what you think about them.

Then there are the REWARDS I love to get. Those are generally in the shape of FOODABLES. Bring them on!!! Nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING is finer than a cookie or a carrot for being good.

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: It makes me happy to be recognized for a job well done.

Shared Real Estate

Once Upon a Time

Noodles: Princess Pug and Diva

I used to have my own space in my house. I had my own crate, my own beds, my own pen. Now-a-days I am FORCED to share everything, including my precious REAL ESTATE. I don't ask for much . . . just a small space I can call my own . . . where I can sleep alone when I WANT TO.

Please note MY pout and Molly's smile

To tell the truth, I can always go to my pen and my crate when I need alone time. And I do. It is my happy place - my safe place - my favorite place . . . other than my Mommy's lap.

MY HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: I love having a space to call my own.

Sun Bathing is the BEST Kind of Bathing

The sun came back again. The warmth did not but the SUN did. I have to say, I missed it so much even though it only rained for one whole day.

Molly and I had recently taken regular baths with water and stuff. I like them okay - especially that first step into the warm water. Mommy lets me wander around the tub, lapping up a bit of the water before it gets too soapy or dirty. The the LESS fun part begins when she wets my fur down (and believe me THAT takes a lot of water) and soaps me up. Molly seems to have the same feelings about the bath that I do. She RUNS to the tub when the water is drawn, wanders the warm waters for a while AND then resigns herself to the TORMENT of the actual cleaning process.

We look good after a bath - we feel good after a bath.

AHHHHHH! But then there is SUN BATHING! I loves loves loves it with a passion. Nothing is finer than a SQUAT and sometimes a SNOOZE in the sunshine. And we get LOTS of it here in Northern CALIFORNIA. Tuesday had been all gray and stormy - thunder storms, hail and uncharacteristic COLD rain. It was all Molly and I could do to go out and do our BIDNESS. But the clouds parted that night, the stars shown through and the rain ceased. Wednesday was sunny and bright and I couldn't wait to go outside for a while.

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Sun Bathing is my favorite kind of bathing!

Wordless Wednesday Happy Thought

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Snuggling with either of my Mommys MAKES MY DAY!

Blog Hops for today -

www.blogpaws.com

feelingbeachie.com

http://www.craftyspices.com

http://create-with-joy.com

Snow Business

Molly the Snow Dog - Just Kidding!

Molly went to the SNOW over the weekend. She had fun, I think. I wasn't there so she couldn't have had THAT much fun. I have PUGsonally never been to the snow so I do not know what to think of it. Well, I say I have NEVER been to the snow but I did go camping in June a couple of years ago when the temps were in the THIRTIES and there was some crusty WHITE stuff on the ground under the trees. But I don't think that really counts.

Molly went to the Lake Tahoe area. If you have followed me a long time you know how I loves loves loves Lake Tahoe and how many pictures I TOOK when Mommys and I stayed there for a week. Well, this was where Molly went for the LONG Presidents' Weekend only the OTHER side of the lake.

In my experience, it can get quite cold in the Tahoe region. It is WAY UP HIGH in the mountains, you know. But I think perhaps I am a little tougher than Molly - even tho' I am a PUG PRINCESS.

I mean, I never HAD to dress like this

Look how coordinated Molly's ensemble is. . . red plaid jacket, red boots. . .

She looks toasty even though it was cold there by Lake Tahoe.

Later on she even removed her shoes and walked BARE PAWED in the snow! That takes a lot of fortitude. Or stupidity, I cannot decide which.

Anyhooooooo
They frolicked and played and had a good ol' time. The HUMAN cousins even too skiing lessons and ice skated. We cannot do either here in the South Bay; but luckily we are only a few hours away from the high country.

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: I am so happy to enjoy the sun, the rain, the snow, the breeze. . . they all add new flavors to my day.

SOUR Subject

I was in the kitchen HELPING my Mommy #2. She was squeezing a lot A LOT of lemons for one of her PROJECTS. So, naturally, I was begging to try some. I mean the LEMONS smelled so divine that I KNEW I wanted some. Mommy kept scoffing at my whining saying "You THINK you want this?"

Truth was, I did and here is my reaction when I was finally victorious

It WAS yummy!!! It was one of those sweet Meyer lemons from my Auntie B's house. I got a little more off camera, BTW. It was equally yummy. Mommy did not want to give me too much, though, because lemons are very very acidic and could hurt my tummy if I ate too much.

Since I am a kinda of SOUR SUBJECT theme, I want to discuss something that has been happening in Blogville lately - CYBER-BULLYING. And this bullying was all aimed at the lovely and well-meaning Ms Amanda - Puglet's THUMBS. See, Ms Amanda started this wonderful project called the 1000Pugs project where she would devote a year of her life (well, at the time she thought it would just take time and money) to photographing 1000 Pugs and creating a book from the photos. If ANYONE knows Ms Amanda, they know she creates wonderful ART with her camera. I couldn't wait to be part of the project and anything else associated with it. My Mommy literally scraped together the money to DONATE to the Kickstarter campaign AND for the photo session. We are STILL proud supporters of the 1000Pugs Project.
Fast forward some months later and Ms Amanda has fallen behind on her schedules and her updates. The nasty comments begin. They got nastier and nastier (funny thing is MOST of these comments were coming from persons called ANONYMOUS). The project was still going on - PUGS from all over the country were still being photographed - the project, although behind in updates and delivery of proofs, was still on target. Please check out Puglet's blog for a full recap of the year.
The BULLYING went on - is STILL going on. BLOGVILLE is NO place for bullies!!! This is the most UNHAPPY thing I can think of and ALMOST makes me want to skip the Happy Thought of the Day.

 BUT I WON'T GIVE IN TO BULLIES!!!

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

When Life hands you lemons, sweeten it up with LOVE and UNDERSTANDING.

Tee Gee Eye Eff

Here we are FURiends - on the BACKSIDE of the week. And what does the weekend have in store for you? I know for me it will be Molly-less because she and her 'rents are taking a trip to SNOW country. I, the SMART one, will be basking in the warm temps of the SF Bay area (projected temps in the 70s). I foresee a few walks, maybe a little dog park action, and a quite snuggle or two.

This has been a pretty fun week over all with Valentine's Day FINALLY arriving. We got extra special food (can you say frozen GREEN BEANS????) and extra time with Mommys.

Overall, I feel multi-blessed that

1. The GINORMOUS meteor in Russia do NOT fall here instead
2. The other GINORMOUS meteor will/has miss Earth altogether
3. Both my Mommys have a long weekend to spend with ME

That's about all I can say except

HAPPY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I loves loves loves it when school is out. It mean lots of time with my humans and that is what MAKES ME SMILE.

I Loves Loves Loves YOU

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYPUGGY

I am so happy today because it is Valentine's Day and that is the day we remind our FURiends and family that we LOVES LOVES LOVES them.

Do you see this cool COWL my Mommy #2 made for me? It's pretty cute, I think. And it doesn't make me look too jowl-y like a lot of clothes do.
I loves loves loves it too, but not in the SAME way I loves my Mommys.

Most of all, I love my Blogville FURIENDS - pug, non-pug, non-dog, non-pet ALIKE. You really make me feel so happy all of the time.

Happy Thought for the Day: I am happy to be SO LOVED.

Thinking of MY Furiend

Hi. I was thinking about my FURiend Angel Payton. I miss her and I still play with this gorilla she gave me.
I want to send a SHOUT out to her Brother, Donald. He is having some breathing issues. Let's all put our PAWS together and wish him a speedy recovery. And while we are at it lets wish Bellatrix a happy TUMMY.

POTP ROCKS!!!

Happy Thought of the Day:

It makes me happy to think about my FURIENDS.

Don't forget - today is also Blog Hop Wednesday. I am a regular on Blog Paws and I heard there are some new ones. Hop along with me and meet some new FURiends.

1. www.blogpaws.com
2. http://www.untrainedhousewife.com/how-to-treat-fear-and-anxiety-for-your-dog
3. http://www.feelingbeachie.com/
4. http://www.craftyspices.com

Warming My Tootsies

Whaddya think? See there on my delicate tootsies? Yes, pink CHEETAH socks! I have to say I actually like these soft and snuggly socks. Mommy got them for 75 CENTS when she took Molly to the PetsMart Groomers on Sunday.

It has been quite cold in the mornings here in SUNNY CALIFORNIA. Like FREEZING cold. Now I can come in from doing my bidness and put on my comfy socks and ROCK the warmth.

Happy Thought for the Day: I am happy when I am warm AND when I can lend my WARMTH to my Mommys.

Molly - You've CHANGED!

Nope. It's not the PINK sweater

Molly with my Mommy and her Mommy went out on Saturday evening for THREE HOURS!!! I was perplexed about what it all meant - especially since the MOMMYS came back 2 hours before Molly. That's right, you heard me. They came back WITHOUT Molly.

I have to admit, I was a little worried that they might have FORGOTTEN her someplace. Or worse . . . that they had taken her SOMEPLACE else to live. That seemed very VERY out of character for all of the Mommys in this house, though. 

Well when she came back I HARDLY recognized her! She had lost a lot of weight and I swear she got taller as well. I wondered aloud just how she could change so dramatically in just THREE HOURS' time? Silly Noodles, my Mommy said with a giggle. She didn't change - she went for a SALON treatment and a HAIR CUT.

Get a load of Molly now

I PUGsonally think she looks really really CUTE.

Happy Thought of the DAY: A bath and a PAWdicure make me look and feel so special . . . because I am.

Fun Day Friday

We can all use a giggle today. I just heard that Amber Da Weenie's brudder Rusty couldn't overcome the post-op complications. RIP Rusty - run free over the Rainbow Bridge. Amber and family I am so sorry for your loss. Hold onto your memories of dear Rusty as they will provide many smiles down the road.

I am EXHAUSTED from all the JUJU dancing I have been doing this week. Although I can barely CURL MY TAIL, I will not leave anyone JUJU-less. LET it be known that I am here TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN to minister to your JUJU needs.

So Frankie (http://frankiefurterprice.blogspot.com/2013/02/funny-friday.html) suggested a day to let loose and be carefree and what better day than a Friday?  Not to FORGET, mind you; but to recharge and regroup. I love that idea and that is why I chose the pictures from our day in the PARK. I mean, what is sillier than 2 pups on playground equipment?

What makes these pictures even better is we had a lot of fun taking them. A little silliness is WORTH it for a sunny day in the PARK.

And NOW it is time for

Our Happy Thought of the Day

I am happy when I can give someone comfort

 in their time of need 

Ring My Bells

Not long ago I was approached by the fine folk at POOCHIEBELLS to use and review their product. Me, being a curious PUG decided I was up for the challenge and said yes. I am so glad I did because this has turned into a really fun and really successful project.

Again, this is NOT me

For those of you who might not have heard, POOCHIEBELLS are used as a communication tool between pets and their 'rents. They come in several styles from the colored grosgrain ribbon kind to the stylish and lovely leather kind. We have the grosgrain ribbon kind, just like in the photo to the left. Needless to say, they look darn good decorating our door.

The bells came with a set of instructions on how to train your pet. Mommy #2 also printed out the guide and taped it on the glass doors the bells are hung on. She KNEW that some peoples would NOT remember a things she said about training on the POOCHIEBELLS.

One of the main reasons Mommy and I agreed to review POOCHIEBELLS was for Molly. She was pretty good on potty training  BUT she was not pretty good at communicating when she needed to go out; AND that led to more accidents than the humans could tolerate. So we NEEDED some way for her to let us know she needs to go outside. Mommy #2 had been thinking of introducing bells in the door anyhow

It only took THREE DAYS for me to respond to the ringing bells. I DO NOT ring the bells myself as I am very capable of communicating when I need to go outside and do my bidness. So instead I run as fast as my PUGGY legs will take me TO the door when someone ELSE rings the POOCHIEBELLS.

It took Molly almost TWO WEEKS before she was hitting the bells to go out. She GETS IT!!!! She really really gets it!

Here is the process, as paraphrased by me, that the nice people at www.poochiebells.com recommended:

1. Hang the PoochieBells on or next to the door your PUG or dog uses to go OUTSIDE.
2. EVERYTIME you take your PUG or dog (I don't think they work on cats but then. . . what does?) outside to do their BIDNESS, let them sniff the bells, then say the BIDNESS command you usually use and then ring the bells. After you ring the bells, repeat the command and take them outside. It is not recommended you give them a treat as they will then associate the bells with treats and not the real purpose which is BIDNESS! Instead, just give them lots and lots of praise.
3. Be consistent by using the bells AND saying your BIDNESS command everytime the PUGS and dogs go outside. Heap praise on them when they cooperate.
4. Repeat the method until the dog (PUGS will get it right away, after all) begins to use the POOCHIEBELLS on their own.

And if SILLY MOLLY gets it, I am sure almost any dog will do likewise. It just takes time - that's all.

I have to say I loved, loved, loved dealing with the POOCHIEBELLS humans and NOT just because they said I, Noodles the Pug, was BEAUTIFUL. I mean, duh! But they were also quick to answer all of my questions and gave me tons and tons of information. In addition, the company is environmentally and community conscientious, and its product is more than just a gimmick.

Take time to look at more of their products and CHECK OUT THE SAVING SPOT page, especially. I will write more about that later. I am also going to review ANOTHER product POOCHIEBELLS sent me that has only a remote connection to doing BIDNESS.

Saving Spot

Happy Thought Wednesday - Blog Hopping

One of the things that make me happiest is BLOG HOPPING. I meet so many new FURiends this way.

So HAPPY WEDNESDAY and HAPPY BLOG HOP!

Fireside Chat With Noodles

Report on the Homefront

It has been some time now since I have addressed you, my readers. We are entering our THIRD year of blogging and I have to say - it has been a fun and exciting road. I have "met" so many new FURiends through Blogville. I have learned about new products, new toys, new foods, etc. I have been made aware of the plight of the homeless pets, the abandoned pets, and the aged pets. This is a forum which I cherish and which I am proud to be a member.

I am no longer an only DOG (ahem, that should be PUG) with the addition of Molly in October. I know I complain about the little weasel sometimes, but overall I like her. And it is so NICE to have someone to CUDDLE with during the day when the rest of the family are at work or school. In summation, having a sister AND sisteroid are a GOOD THING. I have to admit, the stinker has taught me a thing or two - like  how to play and how to relate to DOGS.

Finally, who DOESN'T like a nice cuddle by the fireplace with the HUMANS they love? This PUG loves it and barring the all-too-frequent Spare the Air days, is happy to idle away the evening by the fire.

HAPPY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

I am happy being a part of BLOGVILLE and having so many FURiends.

Bay Area PROUD

HAPPY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: 
Bay Area Sports Teams make me HAPPY

Mommy's phone has no FLASH so I look really pensive

Well, we had a not-so-good weekend, Sports-wise. First MY Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks hockey team suffered their FIRST loss of the season. It was a grinder and I was HOARSE from barking at the screen. But it was still fun and I see a strong sense of community among SJ Shark fans. That can only be GOOD!

Second MY Colin Kaepernick was defeated in his FIRST EVER Superbowl game. It was a long time coming that the Niners were even in contention for the BIG GAME! In fact, who but ME and MY MOMMYS thought they would even win their DIVISION? And here they were in the SHOW. Well, I am so proud of my team even though they did not win. It was such a good season.

On a brighter note there is the San Francisco GIANTS who went on to be the WORLD CHAMPIONS. AND Stanford who won the ROSE Bowl.

I am not even mentioning some of the others that are WAY GOOD like the Athletics, Warriors, Earthquakes. . . the list goes on and on.

We are blessed in the BAY AREA. We have perfect weather and THE MOST EXCITING sports teams ever.

Oh yeah, I watched the PUPPY BOWL as well. Here is a video of me cheering.

SuperBowl SUNDAY

In a RARE weekend post, I am here to declare my love for the

One Hundred Days of. . .

Hi EveryPUGGY (and some non-pugs, too. I LOVE you all)
Well here is the awaited surprise. Me, Molly and Sunshine have decided to CELEBRATE ONE HUNDRED DAYS.

ONE HUNDRED DAYS of what? 

Well that is what we had to decide on AND WE COULDN'T AGREE on anything. Finally the collective MOMMYS put their heads together and came up with

OF HAPPINESS

I don't know about you but I think it is an excellent idea. So beginning today, February 1, 2013 through June 21, 2013 (I am not counting weekends cuz they tend to be HAPPY anyhow) I am going to post 1 (ONE) HAPPY THOUGHT -- Each DAY!

And Please, Please, Please leave your HAPPY THOUGHT for the day in the comments. It will be so fun.

Happy Thought Feb 1, 2013

Family - my family keeps me warm and safe and that makes me HAPPY