love me some books

These two new books will be making their way to my bookshelf. The cover on the first one alone was enough to hook me. Check out Oogy and The Lost Dogs.

kids say the darndest things...

Can't take credit for this one... my friend was passing it around on her Facebook page, but it's so adorable that I must share. My bully lovers out there are going to be very happy campers.

SUV dog crates

I pride myself on knowing most of the handy gadgets and helpful everyday items for dog owners that are out there. (That happens when you have five dogs and your entire life revolves around them.) So how did these extra-narrow, SUV dog crates escape my notice? I had a friend mention them to me recently, and I was like "WHAT?". So I immediately tracked them down.

I'm sort of ashamed to admit that I am REALLY excited about these. But at least I'm among dog lovers here. You can order them at Amazon for only $80 each (that's for the large size) and it easily will fit my largest dog (around 62 lbs). For those of you with really big dogs, never fear. They have an even larger size that is still the same width.

I've also been searching for a new vehicle (since my poor little Escape was sent to car heaven when I had my wreck), and I'm pretty settled on the Chevy Traverse.

It is deceptively roomy... and the available cargo space is considerable - 116.4 cubic feet! And it's pretty too. I will be able to fit FOUR of the SUV crates in the back if I need to (which I do... because I have 100 bajillion dogs). And it gets much better gas mileage than something like a Tahoe or Expedition.

I also considered the Honda Element, and it was a strong contender. But its cargo space - even with the back seats removed - couldn't compare to what the Traverse could offer. So I'm currently on the hunt for a Traverse that has all the features I want. I can't drive right now anyway (lovely cast on my right leg and all), so I have plenty of time to make sure I find exactly what I need.

dusty girl

I love chalkboards. I realize that it's strange to love chalkboards. But I do.

I love making lists and writing things out, and chalkboards - although messy - are just better looking than most white boards.

So this chalkboard - with it's little doggie shaped eraser - is right up my alley.

furbish dog beds

I don't know if you guys read I Suwannee, but if you don't... then get on it. Jamie has an awesome blog, and she now has an fantastic store - Furbish - based in Raleigh, NC. I love that she's taken the big step to open up her own shop... she's working hard, but I can tell she's loves what she's doing. I'm super inspired and envious... I'm always dreaming of what I hope to do some day, and I'm working toward that goal, but so far, I'm still going through the daily grind until I reach the point where I can leave my job with a steady salary and benefits and live my dream.

But I digress. Jamie just unveiled her new line of dog beds at Furbish. Can you say eye candy? And she also has an adorable schnauzer Rowdy that is with her at the shop most days (also super jealous that she can take her pup to work with her). And if you happen to live near Raleigh, you can head over to Rowdy's birthday party this Saturday at the store! If you bring a puppy friend, you get a storewide discount and there will be all kinds of fun doggie things for our four-legged friends.

And even if you can't get to the store in person, you can email Jamie for pricing information on her new dog beds. She ships straight from the store. Happy shopping!