Tee Gee Eye Eff!!! The Weekend is KNOCKING On The Door

Knock knock

Who's there?

THE WEEKEND

I am so excited that the weekend is HERE. What can I tell ya? It is the best time of the week because BOTH of my Mommys are home and can spend a lot of time with me. And that always makes me so happy.

Weatherwise it is supposed to be very unfriendly for PUGS so I think I will do all of my outdoor exploring while it is still cool (in the morning). I am pretty sure Mommy #2 has some outdoor chores to do (poop patrol) and I usually help her out there. Then there is the usual house cleaning which is a constant. I admit I SLEEP through that one.

But in all of this is a lot of downtime to sit, cuddle as a crew, and just enjoy a movie or each other's company. That is golden to me.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Holy Holistic, Batman! #chewyinfluencer

I look good

It's so hard to maintain this fabulous physique. I have to SLEEP right, PLAY right, and most of all I have to EAT right. It is really difficult sometimes to find a food that makes you feel good, that tastes good and doesn't make you gain weight.

The June newsletter by Chewy.com contained the answer to my weight prayers -

Holistic Select Adult Health Duck Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food By Holistic Select

The manufacturers of this food, Holistic Select, claim that their recipe promotes BETTER digestion, BETTER nutrition and BETTER life. I am not sure how eating can lead to these three things but I am always willing to TASTE and SEE. So I selected it to see if maybe I could be a BETTER ME.

First off, let me tell you the DUCK formula is yummy. It has the right savoriness along with a very satisfying crunch. And the AFTER-TASTE in the bowl is supreme. I spent a good 10 minutes AFTER I had eaten just licking every taste molecule from the bowl. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

I chose DUCK because - well, Mommy said so. She said all we ever get it CHICKEN and it was time to venture out. I don't care. It's meat, after all. It's protein. That is all I care about.

About 2 weeks after I started eating the food, Mommy noticed I was losing weight. She was a little concerned because she wasn't actively making me DIET. Not only that, but I looked downright GOOD - all healthy and stuff. My coat looked good, my eyes were bright. She could find nothing to be alarmed about other than my looking thinner. So she upped my rations a little. THANK YOU, THANK YOU! More food! She reasoned, and has noticed in the past, that really good food means I can eat more (note: by more I mean closer to the suggested portions and not my usual TINY portion) without gaining weight. This is so important for a pug. When I went to the DOGTER shortly after Mommy noticed this, he was so happy with my weight and he called me

P-E-R-F-E-C-T!!

My SEXY sit

As the name implies. Holistic Select formulas rely on just the right blend of REAL FOODS and REAL MINERALS. Here are the ingredients for the DUCK recipe I chose:

Duck Meal, Chickpeas, Peas, Lentils, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Molasses, Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Pumpkin, Cranberries, Apples, Brewers Dried Yeast, Papayas, Choline Chloride, Blueberries, Pomegranates, Vitamin E Supplement, Inulin, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ground Cinnamon, Ground Fennel, Ground Peppermint, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus thermophilus Fermentation Product, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Trichoderma reesei Fermentation Product, Dried Rhizopus oryzae Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

Caloric Content
3,671 kcal/kg, 441 kcal/cup

Note how nothing is manufactured or a cast-off, by-product, if you will. This is why it tastes so good and is so good for a pup.

I really liked the Holistic Select Duck Meal and I highly recommend it to my pug furiends who are trying to keep their weight down. They will feel fuller and look better than they would on those so called D-I-E-T foods.

As always, Chewy.com carries a full selection of Holistic Select formulas and always at a bargain price. Check it out Here

** We received a small bag free of charge from Chewy.com of Holistic Select to try. We tried it and this post is our opinion of what we tried. We were not paid to write this post nor were we told what to write. This is our honest opinion.

While My Mommys Were Gone. . .

I think you might remember that my Mommys went to Walt Disney World last week? They absolutely DID and left me and Molly behind with Aunt T. I was a little upset - to say the least. I loves loves loves MICKEY MOUSE and I know I would have loved visiting his OTHER house.
Mommy said that is not true. I would have been miserable there as it was HOT and HUMID every day they were there and the only time it was MY kind of temperature was in the early early morning before the SUN came up.

She says she had fun. Me. . . not so much. We are having some work done to the kitchen so ALL DAY, EVERY DAY the house was noisy and dusty AND I was locked away in MY BIG ROOM all day. Haarrruuummmppphh!

This is the CASTLE from the Magic Kingdom. Mommy said it was really pretty and honors a DIFFERENT princess from our castle in Disneyland - The Sleeping Beauty Castle. This one is Cinderella's castle. It is quite large. I am pretty sure it is AIR CONDITIONED and I would have totally enjoyed hanging out there while Mommy and Mommy wandered about in the HEAT and HUMIDITY going on rides and eating some treats native to WDW.

They were gone for A WHOLE WEEK. In that time, I went on ZERO walks; had ZERO cuddles without Molly hogging space; and got ZERO treats (okay, I lied there. . . I got probably more than usual). I missed Mommy a lot and Mommy also. I spent any time I was FREE of THE BIG ROOM going to places they usually are - like the toilet, the bedroom door, the garage . . . and sometimes I would just sit in the entry way, waiting.

SEVEN day and they finally returned. I missed them LOADS.

Me and ONE of my Mommys         



COUNT DOWN TO MY BIRTHDAY:
T Minus 7 days

The Chewy.com Choo Choo Arrives With A Challenge #chewyinfluencer

All Aboard! The Chewy.com Choo Choo TRAIN is now at the CASA DE NOODLES Station with stops at YUM, GIMME MORE, and GOOD FOR YOU. Don't miss your chance to take a ride around the HEALTHY LIVING preserve in the land of MEALTIME.

Hello, Noodles and Molly here with another exciting THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE. This time we are embarking on the tasty adventure of Stella and Chewy's Duck Duck Goose dinner patties (not just dinner, any meal is fine). If you are not familiar with Stella and Chewy, you best start doing your research (here is a link to get you started Stella and Chewy). Stella and Chewy is a RAW DIET in a freeze dried patty. These patties help make the meal more convenient and consistent. Why RAW you ask?

Eating a raw diet is believed to give a poochie a more healthy and natural meal - similar to what canines (and felines as Stella and Chewy have a full line of Feline products) would eat in the wild.
So when Chewy.com asked if we were interested, we said SURE. We are all about the HEALTHY eating (I am all about the eating, period).

So join us for this JOURNEY into RAW eating and we will share with you all of the TASTES, AFFECTS, and THOUGHTS we encounter along the way.

ALL ABOARD!

** We received free of charge from Chewy.com enough of the above mentioned product to eat for a month and see how it affects our health, our outward appearance, and our overall wellbeing. We are not being paid for this review and all opinions are ours alone.

Words Are Not Enough Wednesday

More Perfecter In Every Way

I had to go to the DOGTER on Friday. No, I am not sick or anything. It was just a yearly check-up. Oh, and I had to get a couple of shots so I can go to places like the dog park and other social events. I was not too happy when Mommy opened the door to go into the office. I came to a complete STOP! Up until then I was happy go lucky and was pretty sure I was going to someplace happy - like PetSmart or something. Boy was I wrong. And it wasn't that Mommy was deceptive or anything. She kept saying stuff like "you LIKE this place" and "It won't be a long visit." The clues were there.

I actually like my DOGTER a lot. For the most part my visits there are nothing to worry about - the Dogter listens to my heart and lungs and takes my weight. Then he and Mommy discuss how I am and that is all. A couple of times, thought, it was not so nice like when I had the operation on my FOLD and the couple of times I had my teeth cleaned and a few extracted. I remember those times a lot. Maybe I shouldn't dwell on it, though, since I really like all the humans at the office.

The Dogter was very very pleased with how healthy I am. He said my weight (16.38 pounds) was PERFECT , my temperature was perfect and my coat looked bright and healthy. He said my bones look strong and my teeth looked pretty good, too. In fact, he actually said I was a great patient and was one of the few in that day who was not SICK. I was happy with everything he said.

Finally the tech came in and she did something I didn't LIKE at all - she gave me two shots in my BUM. I was not too pleased about that but she gave me a cuddle and said I was a good pup.

Before I knew it, it was time to head home. And when I got home, I got a treat. A TREAT! Boy was that a worthwhile trip.

Mommy #1 Has Come HOME From College

I wait for this ALL year - the day Mommy #1 returns from university. It seems like she is gone for such a long long time, even though she does come home now and then. BUT this time, she carted home all of her clothes and stuff so she is home for a while.

First Mommy #2 brought home a lot of boxes from Mommy #1's dorm. So I knew something was up. Then a WHOLE WEEK later, Aunt T brought Mommy home with a whole bunch more boxes. And Mommy stayed.

THE NEXT day, she took out a bunch of furniture from her room, vacuumed, and then got the carpet cleaner out and cleaned her carpet. Then she put everything BACK in her room and changed it around a little. But the point is - she stayed.

And she will be home ALL SUMMER.

Except for this week. . . she is visiting that M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E again!

Sheesh.

If You're Looking For ME, I'll Be Under The Bed

I need to get away. Sometimes a PUG just needs a little quiet and space. I found the perfect spot UNDER Mommy #1's bed. She put it on RISERS and it made a lot of room where she can store stuff (like old costumes). I found this green flat thing and I think it makes a PERFECT bed for a little PUGGY like me.

So if you call me and I don't come. . . check under the bed. I am sure to be here. . . chilling and taking time to MYSELF.

If the Bed FITS . . . or Even if It Doesn't

This purple bed is Sunshine the Cats cocoon bed. She was STEALING my bed so I decided to steal hers. We are, for the most part, the same size - at least dimension-wise. But I outweigh her by 6 pounds AND I have a lot less dexterity. So the fact that she can squeeze into something does not guarantee that I can.

I do have to explain that when my Mommy puts me in the bed, I fit. But to wiggle in through the little hole and position myself correctly is just TOO MUCH work. I won't do it. So I ADAPTED to the situation and MADE it work for ME.
Here are the fruits of my labor - a little more ON the bed rather than IN the bed.

I think I deserve an A for effort.

Power On! (A Non-Chewy Review)

This is my Auntie Lorraine. She is not my real Aunt. That is what I call older FURiends. She developed a special sock for dogs having mobility issues called Power Paws. I reviewed her product some time back (here's the link to the original post) and I loved them then. If you look on my sidebar you will see a link to her website as well. 

I don't have a real NEED for Power Paws, I have no mobility issues. But I do occasionally drag my knuckles when I walk and I have worn them raw before. So Mommy thought the Power Paws might help keep FUR on the tops of my TOES. Since Mommy and I like to promote local businesses on this here blog, we approached Auntie Lorraine about her product. We have been FURiends ever since.

Auntie Lorraine has a new product designed to AID humans in putting socks onto dogs. In the past, it has taken TWO humans to put socks on dogs because canine feet are clawed AND canines are wiggly. And for humans with hand issues (like arthritis) this is an especially difficult process.

Except for me. I am pretty easy to sock. But Molly . . .

Power On! is Auntie Lorraine's answer to the problem and she let ME test the tool before adding it to her product list. Mommy bought me some PINK Power Paws to use for trial (I admit I trashed my previous pair (like I said, I drag my feet)). The following is a pictorial essay of my trial.

I "loaded" the Power On! tool prior to this photo

Loaded, locked, and ready

Clear, concise instructions are included

Success on the FIRST try

Sock it to ME in less than 10 seconds

Molly's furry limbs and excess energy made
SOCKING it slower - it took 15 seconds to do
her feet

So as you can see, this is a really really GOOD idea that Auntie Lorraine came up with. Coupled with the Power Paws, it is a win win solution for disabled dogs of all sizes. Power On! tool and Power Paws come in all sizes for all dogs - because as you know, SOCKS like dogs do NOT fit all.

We learned a few tricks during our TESTING phase; like

1. Load all four socks before attempting to SOCK it to your pet
2. Use the LOGO as a guide for where the top of the sock is from the bottom
3. Push the Power On! tool all the way up to make sure the sock is FULLY on the foot, especially the toe

We are even BIGGER fans of Power Paws now that there is NO struggle to put them on. We wore them ALL day after the last experiment even though it was HOT outside. 

For me, POWER PAWS is a fashion statement. A WIN-WIN fashion statement.

https://woodrowwear.com/

**I received a set of Power On! tools from Woodrow Wear free of charge for the sole purpose of testing the product. All opinions in this blog are mine alone and I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Mona Lisa Smile

This is my enigmatic look. You cannot tell if I am happy or sad when I use it. That is on purpose. I like to have a little mystery about me. It is so important. If everyone KNOWS you and can predict what you are going to do or say, well it takes the FUN out of doing something.

Plus, when you always act according to a plan, then you never get the chance to do something different and challenging. And I firmly believe that nothing beats a good CHALLENGE to keep your mind in the game.

Also, being a little mysterious is . . . mysterious. You never know what is gonna happen.

Give It a Whirl

I have decided on a new MANTRA for me. I call it -

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

Basically, what I mean is every time I think something might be hard or uncomfortable, then I will tell myself to

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

If I don't try new things once in a while, then I will never know if I like them or not. And in the past, new things have proven to be a pretty positive thing for me.

So from now on if -

There is a new food out there in Wildebeest flavor?

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

There is a new bed made to order but made of Rock?

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

I get an offer to travel to Antarctica?

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

There is a new Dog in town and he's 7 times MY size and scares ME?

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

I think if I do this more often then I 

1.  Won't be intimidated by strange people and things so much
2.  I will see more of this magical wonderful world
3.  I will be living my life more completely

Why don't you join me? What have you got to lose? Come on -

GIVE IT A WHIRL!

I'm Happy, Are You?

I wasn't gonna be serious today but I HAVE to. It has to do with the NEWS lately and sadness.

Generally speaking, I like to keep my blog light and bright. But once in a while the world gets scary and sad, AND I think it is my duty. . . no my HONOR. . . to discuss the things that make life a little harder.

Today it is DEPRESSION. I am talking about the EPIDEMIC depression spanning the globe these days and almost DOMINATING the news. Today's news of yet another celebrity taking his own life is indicative of what I am talking about. This is serious stuff, dear FURiends. And I think we need to

1. Identify it
2. Help anypuggy suffering from it
3. Find a solution

I'm just a little PUG PRINCESS, but I am going to give it a whirl. But first and more IMPORTANTLY, I wanna say

How to Identify DEPRESSION (this is a link, BTW)

1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
2. Loss of interest in daily activities
3. Appetite or weight changes
4. Sleep changes
5. Anger or irritability
6. Loss of energy
7. Self-loathing
8. Reckless behavior
9. Concentration problems
10. Unexplained aches and pains

How to Help is You or Someone You Know is Depressed (this is a link, too)

If this describes you or someone you are close to then there are STEPS to take to help

1. Express your concern if it is someone you know OR TALK to someone if it is you. Talking and showing care can save a life
2. Exercise can ease depression symptoms - so engage that person or get yourself out on a walk. Especially now when the weather is so nice, taking a nice long walk can clear your mind and make you feel better
3. Advise your FURiend or loved one to seek professional help
4. MOST OF ALL, if you or someone you LOVE, LIKE, TOLERATE, PASS BY, and so on are contemplating SUICIDE, 

S-T-O-P

     5. And call this number:  1-800-273-8255

There are additional lines to call if you are seeking advice on what to do for a suicidal person: 1-800-273-8255 

OR

• Para apoyo de crisis en español, llame 1-888-628-9454.
• For the TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community, call 1-866-488-7386.

MY SOLUTION:

Be nicer to one another

This is the best advice I can give as a little puggy. Imagine how much better everypuggy would feel of they weren't MARGINALIZED, EXCLUDED, HATED, SUPPRESSED, et al. 

• When you see someone different than you APPRECIATE the differences
• Understand that not everyone is as - rich, poor, young, old, smart, silly, etc. as you and ACCEPT IT
• HELP someone who needs it. This can be in small ways like returning the dollar they dropped
• Always remember to be KIND to others just as you like them to be KIND to you

Did Someone Say . . .

W-A-T-E-R-M-E-L-O-N

It is that time of year! Summer time is around the corner and that means an abundance fresh fruit. One of my favorite fruits is watermelon.

Ah the lusciousness!     

Ah the sweetness!

Ah the juiciness!

I loves loves loves Watermelon.

Or Wally Melon, as I call it.

Well, actually I call it GIMME!!!!!

Breathlessly Late and Wordless BUT I'll still HOP

                                                                       HOP HERE

June is Busting a MOVE All Over

What's that black stuff that keeps following me?

I loves loves loves JUNE. The weather warms up and the yard looks so good. And best of all, the garden starts to grown and the fruits and veggies start to ripen. It is just magical. My Aunt T takes care of the yard (Mommy #2 has a BROWN thumb and stays away) and this year she planted a lot of yummy things.

These are tomato and pepper plants. I am not sure what either of those are because I am not fed any peppers. I have had tomatoes. One time when I was quite young, we were at a cousin's house and she had this great garden BURSTING with tomatoes. Well, you know who thought is was a PICK YOUR OWN TREAT buffet and ate A LOT of tomatoes before Mommy caught me. Then she made me stop. I had the most delicious belches for the rest of the day, though.

This is one of TWO apricot trees. I loves loves loves APRICOTS. In fact, under the trees are the ONLY place in the yard BLOCKED off from me. I tend to sit under them GORGING myself on dropped 'cots and NOT listening when called. Of course, I would always eat too many and end up BEGGING to go outside a lot or I would have the belches. Again, delicious BELCHES.

I think I have established the fact that I loves STRAWBERRIES. These are just some of our strawberry plants. The humans have to BUY their strawberries because Molly and I have claimed these as our own. We pick and eat them BEFORE there is enough for a human to enjoy. In the middle of the strawberries there is a small BLUEBERRY bush that is NOW producing. YUMMY.

No, we (1) do NOT grow wine and (2) are not wine lushes. . . they make great waterers for our miniature lemon and key lime trees. Can't wait until these produce. They have tons of blossoms but have yet to produce any viable fruit. Soon, I think.

This is me at my ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH - the Honeysuckle vine. It is the length of the side fence and when in bloom (late summer) it is the sweetest smelling place in the yard. Every morning around 6:30, I stand out here and "chat" with the world.

Ahhhhhh, the sweet smell of roses. We have about 12 rose bushes of different kinds all over the back and front yards. Take a deep breath, they smell soooooo GOOD.

This is why I spend so much time out in MY yard during the SUMMER months. It is a magical place to be. I hope you enjoyed your tour nearly as much as I enjoyed TOURING you.

EveryPUGGY's Getting One So I HAD To!!!

I had been seeing everyPUGGY getting these new NEST BEDS from Costco and I pondered long and hard on DO I NEED IT? I mean, my STAR TREK bed is my absolute FAVE bed and I really only need it during the day (cuz I have maneuvered my way on to Mommy's bed); and not really even then. We have, hmmmm let's see, a brown pillow bed, Star Trek pillow bed from PITK, round red snuggle bed, blue Martha Stewart bed, a Shark bed, and a purple cocoon bed. We all take turns sleeping in all of the beds, depending on mood and room (they are not all in the same room. Sometimes we fight over the bed and then we get in TROUBLE. But you see, other than the Star Trek bed, all of the other beds belong to MOLLY (and the purple cocoon is Sunshine's). So at any given time, I can be BOOTED from a bed because it is NOT mine. And Mommy did not feel right putting any of those beds in her room for when we are just hanging out. So we put our heads together and took a look at the Costco NEST BED.

The thing about the NEST BED is the size. It is PERFECT PUG size. Molly, too, but she can actually fit anywhere, like a weasel (oh! That was not nice. Bad Noodles). Unlike me. I need a little more space to maneuver. But the NEST BED was a little pricey compared to all of our other beds. Even the Martha Stewart ones because we got them on CLOSE OUT. But Mommy prevailed and said I deserved a nice bed once in a while. And so she went ahead and ordered it.

It arrived yesterday and HONESTLY, I didn't know what it was. It is TALL. It is ROUND. It is unlike all of the other beds - the red one being the closest.

Mommy got tired of me looking at it and not climbing in it. She picked me up and placed me in the bed. I felt myself being enveloped in incredible softness like I have never felt before. It was HEAVEN!

This is where I slept ALL NIGHT. Not in any other bed, including Mommy's. For the first time in about 7 years I slept on the floor, off Mommy's bed, and ALL NIGHT LONG.

It is safe to say I LOVE MY NEW BED.