more2lovemom

#DogCollarCharms Giveaway

2011-06-01T10:05:00.002-04:00

I was recently honored to be a part of trying out the awesome new Dog Collar Charms from DogCollarCharms.com. The customized charms were so easy to order and came so fast by mail...within a few days Jayda had her new personalized collar charm hanging from her collar and she was able to show off her new bling :)

As some of you know, I work at a big dog facility, Barking Babys Bathhouse. It is a self serve dog wash and a grooming salon also. I see so many dogs coming in and out the facility I wanted to do something different for one of my giveaways. I spoke with Mike from Dog Collar Charms and discussed it with him and we came up with this nice idea :) I made one of my charms for my coworker (who's dog is at the facility all the time with us as well as my Jayda ). Both Jayda and Zena are like little mascots there :) So showing off there new personalized collar charms to alot of dog owners is very easy. The other charm was made of the logo of the facility which I presented that one to the owner of the place. I also had asked for extra brochures and put them up on display for everyone to see as they check out off the self serve dog wash or the grooming shop. I had an extra one of my own, so I displayed that one as well for an example so everyone could see :)

As you can see here in the pictures... the displays are right on the counters where everyone can see them and check them out :) We have had alot of people ask about them already :)

The giveaways were a success. veryone there loved them :) I presented my first giveway to Nikky Speicher, who is a full time professional groomer here at the facility. She has a Husky/ Rottweiler mix puppy who is about the same age as my Jayda. Zena is 5 1/2 months old, as Jasda is 4 1/2 months.. They are the best of friends :) She first saw Jayda walking in with her charm and said right away "That charm is so cute... where did you get it?" Well after I heard that..I thought to myself, Perfect! At that time she had no clue she was about to get one for her own dog also :) As she was fussing over Jayda's charm, I got out the charm I had made for her. Her reaction was "These are awesome... I love it so much... Thank you Thank you :)". Nikky was so thrilled that she had one for her own dog and quickly put it right on Zena's collar. She said this was so nice for the puppy to have a family picture of her and her daughter.

My second giveaway was presented to the owner of the facility, Kathy Hallstrom. She came over and was wondering what we were all fussing over..lol. So I gave her hers which was the charm with her business logo. She was also very excited and said " These charms are so nice and creative" As she was looking at hers she also said " I wonder if we could sell these for this company?" I told her that I had talked to Mike and had told him I would set them up in the facility to promote them :) Kathy was very pleased, and was happy to have one with her very own business logo to show everyone that comes in to bathe their pets.

I have to say the charms so far have been the highlight here at Barking Babys Bathhouse and Grooming. Both my giveways were a success and by displaying the charms at my place of work, where most of our business are pet owners, I hope it is a great way to put the word out and that it helps DogCollarCharms with lots of successful sales :) I know I love my charm alot and love to show it off to everyone.

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are 100% my own.

#DogCollarCharms

2011-05-25T15:34:00.003-04:00

Do you love your pets? I love mine so very much :) I buy alot of things for my pets. I have 5 adult Chihuahuas(Cosmoe, Fudge, Tinker Bell, Fancy, and Precious) , a Black Lab/ Blue Heeler puppy (Jayda), and a Persian cat (Ava). We recently had 2 beautiful baby Chihuahua girls born last Friday :) All my chihuahuas have their own wardrobes! Jayda has lots of toys but no clothes lol... I spoil my 4 legged babies rotten!

I recently was honored to be working with DogCollarCharms.com through Social Fabric. DogCollarCharms have this really cool charm for your pet. I was able to try it out and I really love it. You can personalize this charm with a personal picture of your family or whatever else you want to use. I chose Jayda for this one because she is bigger and if I did one for 1 Chihuahua...I would have to make 4 more for the rest..lol

I love this charm so much. I take Jayda everywhere I go including work. She goes around and shows off her charm. Everyone has commented on this awesome looking unique charm. I definately recomend this to everyone.

Here is my "ThisMoment"... I hope you enjoy it and it also shows each step on how to make your own charm and of course also shows off my beautiful Jayda :)

This is a picture of Jayda with her new Charm on her collar. Doesnt she just look so cute? I recomend this charm to everyone who has a pet. These charms are personable and really nice. It is also a great gift idea for anyone who loves to spoil their pets :)

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are 100% my own.

Kibbles 'n Bits Coupon.

2011-02-23T18:18:00.000-05:00

Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro is a great food for your dog. Check out this great $3.00 off coupon. Go to the top right corner of the blog and click on the coupon...it will direct you to fill out your information and print your own coupon. Also please go check out this wonderful site I love my dog. You can also come see all the recomendations on Whrrl in the I love my dog society.

I was compensated for the Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro coupon widget by Collective Bias. All opinions are 100% my own.

Cold, Cough, and Flu Season

2011-02-23T17:55:00.000-05:00

Out with the old....in with the new :)
Getting ready for the cold, cough, and flu season.

Check out my Whrrl story :)

I was compensated by Collective Bias for this shop... All opinions are 100% my own.

DiGiorno Game Time!! #digiornogt

2011-01-26T02:16:00.000-05:00

Choosing a pizza with "great taste" can sometimes become frustrating especially with a wide variety of choices. Many brands... but do they live up to our standards with taste and satisfaction? As a Collective Bias member I got chosen to do a DiGiorno shop #digiornogt to taste one of the most popular pizzas in the frozen food section. And boy did it put a smile on my face!! I love pizza!! Yum! Yum!

We celebrated the AFC Championship game with DiGiorno pizza which was a huge success. As we prepped our trip to Walmart everyone was excited!! What we didn't know was that there were going to be soo many varieties of DiGiorno pizzas to choose from. Other brands only have the usually selection to choose from while DiGiorno has many more like the limited edition game time "Bacon Blitz" and the "Buffalo Style Chicken." Both looked extremely delicious. So of course we had to get them :) :). We also chose the Rising Crust Pepperoni and the Rising Crust Supreme. Which looked just as appetitizing and appealing. With the great price of $3.98 we were able to feed everyone at the party for under $5.00 a person. Other brands ranged from around that price also but none presented themselves as well as DiGiorno did.

We went home and started preparing all of the pizzas for our Game Time DiGiorno pizza party. As the oven was preheating I noticed the packaging was easy and simple to open. The pizza itself looked very satisfying and exactly as the picture on the box, unlike many other brands. Each pizza took about 20 mins to cook. It looked very yummy coming out of the oven and smelled delicious.

We enjoyed watching the Steelers become AFC champions as much as sampling all of the different varieties of pizzas we had bought. It was a big success with all of the kids as much as the adults. Everyone invited couldn't believe it wasn't delivery!! The snacks were also a hit but they didn't tackle our taste buds as well as the pizza did. Every bite was full of play to play action!! We can't wait to celebrate the Superbowl with more DiGiorno pizzas. They will definately be on the menu for our Superbowl party.

Besides the great tasting Rising Crust DiGiorno, other tasty selections to choose from are the Garlic Bread Pizza, the Crispy Flatbread Pizza and the Personal For One Pizza. As the saying goes... It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno!

Here is my Whrrl story:

Disclosure~ I was compensated by Collective Bias for this shop. All opinions are 100% my own.

Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro dog food #ilovemydog

2011-01-25T23:20:00.000-05:00

Today I went to Walmart to shop for a new dog food for my 4 Chihuahuas. I was shopping for Kibble 'n Bits Bistro dog food, one of the new varieties of Kibbles 'n Bits. I was selected by Collective Bias and #ilovemydog to do a shop for the dog food. I always like to try new dog food and my dogs enjoy the changes once in a while.

As we went to Walmart, we went to the pet section. We noticed a huge variety of different brands of dog food, some higher priced then others. There were different flavors of all types. We got a bag of the Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro. A 16 lbs bag was $11.48, a very good price I thought.

I thought the bag was very appealing on both the front and the back. I noticed right away the 4 circles with the different nutrients in the food. 100% complete and balanced nutrition, antioxidents rich for a healthy immune system, high quality protein for strong muscles, and bursting oven roasted beef flavors and goodness with lots of vitamins and minerals. I also liked the easy zip closing to keep the food fresh. I noticed on the side the was a chart with a guide of the amounts per pound to feed your dog! The front of the bag showed an actual picture of the size of the kibble so I wasn't surprised when I opened the new bag. I loved the fact that there was soft and hard kibbles in the bag and also loved the variety of each kibble.

We came home and put the new dog food to the test. Out of my 4 chihuahuas, my 2 boys are always ready to eat :), the 2 girls are a little more picky and not as eager but they actually ate some and seemed to enjoy it...although they are more camera shy. It was hard to take pictures of them eating...but I had no problem with the boys :) They are always happy to eat especially when its a new variety to try.

I was very happy to see that all my dogs were happy and seemed to be very satisfied with this new brand of dog food. Taste is obviously a big success with them and the good nutrition is a big success with me.

I wanted to add that as I was doing my blog, Brian was going through this weeks coupons and found a $2.00 off coupon for the Kibbles 'n Bits Bistro dog food!!! Thats too bad we just saw it now but I guess I will use it next time :)

This will teach me to look at all the coupons before I go shopping next time!

Here is my Whrrl story:

I was compensated by Collective Bias for this shop. all opinions are 100% my own.

A Fresh Start To Our New Year! #31Days

2011-01-10T15:05:00.000-05:00

The beginning of the year can sometimes lead us to making unhealthy choices so... we've decided to make healthy eating our 2011 New Year Resolution. I got the opportunity to do a shop with Collective Bias on Lean Cuisine dinners and The Skinny Cow desserts #31days. I thought this would be a great start to our year. My family and I went to Walmart to purchase the products and found there were so many to choose from... a nice variety for everyday eating. The Lean Cuisine was at really great price of $1.98 and the Skinny Cow was a little more at $3.98 but still within the competitors prices.

I found that all the meals had a good source of fiber, were low in fat, and the calories were low for each meal. For example with Lean Cuisine... My son Tyler chose the Shrimp Alfredo. In that meal there are 250 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber per serving. I chose the Alfredo Pasta with Chicken & Broccoli. In that meal there are 300 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber. And for The Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches each are 140 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 3 grams of fiber. I personally thought this was very healthy.

Everything was very easy and convinient to cook. A very quick and healthy dinner for our busy family. I find it hard to cook homemade healthy meals on busy activity days, by the time I get home from work its already almost time for all the after school activities. We would always, in the past, eat unhealthy on all those days. This will definitelly be a great new way to eating quick and also eating healthy.

Here is my Whrrl of my shop. With all the shopping, Preperations, and the family trying our new way of living :)

The meals were a success with my family and I feel this will be our way of staying on track from now on with our way of eating healthy.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this shop from Collective Bias. Any and all my opinions are 100% my own.

A Peanuts Holiday #canyoutopthis

2011-01-03T21:45:00.002-05:00

I wanted to share with everyone my #canyoutopthis project with the Elmer's Tri Fold Poster Board.

I am a huge collector of Snoopy and The Peanuts Gang, so I was inspired to do a Christmas scene of the famous Charlie Brown Tree with The Peanuts Gang. Here is my finished project...

Here are some of the supplies we used for the project... The Elmer's Tri Fold poster board, Elmer's glue, markers, coton balls, red colored poster board, blue paint, scissors, the famous Charlie Brown tree, a baby blanket, and a few christmas decorations.

This project was very time consuming but we had so much fun creating it :)

First Brian drew all the Peanuts Characters...

I then colored each character...

Once they were all colored...I cut out everyone.

We then painted the top half of the tri fold with blue paint, then we glued all the characters on it in their places. We then made the dog house out of the red poster board and decorated it with Christmas lights and stockings.

As we were creating this project... Brian of course had to make a little joke as the constant jocker he is... so here it is!!! lol

After everything was glued, we glued on the cotton balls for the snow falling and for the top of the dog house. We set the Charlie Brown tree in its place and Linus used his blanket for the tree skirt :).... and taa dah the project was final! I am so happy with the way it turned out... I never realized how creative I could be :)

Cecile

Tis The Season

2010-12-16T11:56:00.001-05:00

The time of the year has again arrived upon us... Christmas! This is a very special time for me :) My favorite holiday... I love giving gifts and seeing the smiles on all the kids' faces as they open their presents. I love the beautiful lights, I love all the decorations, the smells of all the holiday scents, the baking, the joy, and most of all spending time with family and friends.

This year was a really hard year for me, My dog grooming shop went out of business, and so I have been trying to support my son on a very low income. I had a job but it just wasnt enough.. Ive been trying to sell on ebay but that also is very slow moving. I am presently looking for a job but havent had any luck. I am trying to look on the bright side of all of this! I still have my family and my friends and I have shelter for my son and I. We don't always have food but we manage.

So this year this time of the year is especially hard. I did manage to get a little something for everyone on my list but to me its just not enough :(

I am thankful for everything that everyone has done for me, I appreciate it so much. This post is to thank all my friends and family for what they have done this year for me, each in their own special way. Thank you so much :)

I am hoping next year is a better year for my family. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011.

Much Love, Cecile

NEW VIDEO OF PUPPIES!!!!!

2010-08-28T16:43:00.000-04:00

I just made this Youtube video of the Chihuahua puppies! It is the cutest one so far! These babies are just soooo darn cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQaLZz3ryrg

"Tetris Party Deluxe" Review (Wii & DS)

2010-08-22T19:24:00.001-04:00

Tetris is Back!! Once again is another classic for those of us whom have grown up on this addicting puzzle game and for the new generation in which it has welcomed. It has everything we have grown to love and ALOT more. In the late 1980's Tetris was introduced to the world with it's simple and unique puzzle structure and since then has gained over millions of players with it's addictiveness.

In this new addition to the franchise "Tetris Party Deluxe", (for Nintendo Wii/DS) now features even more than it's original "Tetris Party" release which can be purchased on WiiWare for 1000 points. Besides the addictive multi player mode where you can compete against friends and against other users online using Wi-Fi Connection, you can now also play in 6 new game modes, but that's not all!! It's now compatible with Wii Speaker, The Balance Board and as well as the Wii Wheel.

With all of these new modes and enhancements, Tetris now takes you to a whole entirely new level. With more than 20 exciting modes you're sure to have fun with friends & family. The 6 new game modes include..

- Bombliss

- Sprint

- Master

- VS Sprint

- Co-op vs. Co-op

- All Clear Sprint

Everything you want and expect from the Tetris franchise is definitely in this game. Far from disappointing in my opinion. The Wii version is remarkable for those of us who enjoy interacting with games and the DS version is simply incredible for those of us who enjoy relaxing after a long day. I can't wait to see what's next for Tetris. The game has become more amazing and addictive with each addition. I definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys puzzle and mind boggling games. :) :)

New Photoshow of the Chihuahua Babies!!!

2010-08-22T17:56:00.000-04:00

Here is the updated show with new pictures! Take a look...they sure are adorable!

Peanuts "Snoopy Alarm Clock" Review

2010-08-21T20:31:00.002-04:00

It's Time for Peanuts!!

"Sleeping is an art" quotes Snoopy on the side of the box, and I second that!! LOL :) I was in Rite Aid's earlier this week picking up a few things and came across an aisle that was glowing. (note: the aisle wasn't actually glowing but the glow from my smile when I saw this beautifully crafted alarm clock with SNOOPY!) I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this, I was excited!! They actually had 3 different clocks to choose from but this one caught my eyes the most. They also had a stunning yellow Peanuts alarm clock with Charlie Brown on it and as well as a yellow wall clock with almost the entire Peanuts Gang on it. I couldn't resist especially it only being $9.99.

(Note: After personally checking multiple stores, not every Rite Aid's locations has them. Stores may vary.)

It has many incredible features, everything from it's original two bell design to it's classic Linus and Lucy song. This is definitely a great addition to any genuine Peanuts collector or anyone in general who adores Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang. With it's enduring icons Snoopy and Charlie Brown, the Peanuts Gang appeals to every generation with it's true simple everyday wisdoms, wit and unique perspective on life.

This is truly a beautiful designed alarm clock with a touch of an extraordinary icon who has made a name for himself throughout the decades, Snoopy. Celebrating their 60th Anniversary, you can definitely count on more Peanuts Collectables ahead for this year.

Hopefully soon there will be the release of the "Peanuts 1980's Collection Vol. 1" on dvd as well. The 1960's, 1970's Vol. 1-2 Collection was simply amazing remastered. I truly enjoyed them as much as I have throughout the years.

Disclosure: This product was purchased with my own money and all opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Invisible Nasties.

2010-08-19T12:25:00.000-04:00

Back to school means lots of shopping for clothes, school supplies, and of course... a new toothbrush! Here is a Whrrl of my shop experience for toothbrushes!

#invisiblenasties

Disclosure: I am being compensated by Collective Bias for my shop.

My Little Firecrackers

2010-08-11T22:35:00.001-04:00

My Chihuahua babies. They were born on the 4th of July! They are so cute! There is 4 males and 3 females available! They will be ready the begining of September. I will have more info at the end of this month.

Virtual Bag It Forward

2010-08-11T10:17:00.000-04:00

Join Bag it Forward

This Back to School season, Elmer’s is celebrating it’s every day low pricing on back to school supplies at Walmart by partnering with Adopt-A-Classroom to help make a difference in classrooms across the country.

Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom with your participation. Join now!

The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post or Facebook note and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written for Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

~Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post or Facebook note with specific rules described below.

~Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.

~You can give as many virtual bags as you want.

~The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.

~The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.

~In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

~Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.

~Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.

~Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.

~Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.

~Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
~Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It ~Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
~Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

My Discovery On My Cookies & Crackers Shop

2010-07-31T16:58:00.000-04:00

Today I went to Walmart to do a shop for #collectivebias on Cookies and Crackers! As I was going down the aisle... I found the cookies that I used to eat as a little girl in Belgium! I was so excited! Now I wont have to have my parents bring them when they come visit me! The cookies are from Leibniz. They are butter biscuits.
Here is my Whrrl of the Cookies And Crackers shop at Walmart:

Disclosure: I received a gift card from #collectivebias to document this shopping experience. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

Our Trip To The Beach With Cosmoe And Fudge.

2010-07-26T19:32:00.002-04:00

On the third day of our #holidayroads trip to Sandusky Ohio, we decided to head to Huron and visit 2 pet friendly beaches... but first we went to Walmart to pick up our second Bergan product! We had seen on-line that they had a Bergan dog dish, it was a round shallow dish. I thought it would be perfect size to clean off my 2 little chihuahuas' paws after they were in the sand!

On our way to the first beach, we stoped at a boat basin to see some of the boats. It was a cute and relaxing place. We took Fudge and Cosmoe down to the boat dock and visited the boats. They even had a boat decorated with all Christmas lights and Santa! I am thinking it was for Christmas in July! After we were done strolling by the boats.. we headed to the first pet friendly beach.

We went to Lake Front Park. This beach was the smaller of the 2 we visited. It was very nice tho, it had alot of shaded ares with picnic tables and a small beach to take Fudge and Cosmoe swimming. I gave some ASPCA Bergan Harness Giveaways there as well. We took the dogs to the beach area for a quick swim then had our picnic while the dogs took their nap in the stroller.

After our picnic we decided to go to the next beach, Nickel Plate Beach. This beach was the largest of the dog friendly beaches, and boy was it nice! So peaceful too and extremely clean! We set out all our things and went swimming with only Cosmoe this time... Fudge wasn't having anymore swimming! I gave out more ASPCA Bergan Harness Giveaways there as well. We ended staying their all afternoon and early evening! We swam, played with the dogs, played in the sand, and sun bathed! We really enjoyed our stay there, before we knew it it was almost 7pm!

As part of my campaign from Collective Bias we were to promote pet safety and ASPCA Bergan Auto Safety Harness. We were to choose some dogs we came across and give them an ASPCA Bergan Auto Safety Harness to keep them safe during their travels. We had 10 to give away. Here are some of the awesome dogs I met and handed each one an ASPCA Bergan Harness. http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Yb2Sr6Ec Check out the photo show of each dog with thier new ASPCA Bergan Harness. They were very happy doggies and it was a pleasure to have met them!

We had such a wonderful day visiting these places and would definitely recommend them if you are in this area, especially if you are traveling with your dog.

Please go to http://pawstoclick.com/ and pledge the safety for your pets.

Please go to http://holidayroads.info/ and see all the great stories of everyone traveling with their pets this summer. You can add your own also by using #holidayroads.

Disclosure: Collective Bias is compensating me for my trip. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own.

A Fun Day At The African Safari Wildlife Park

2010-07-26T10:16:00.001-04:00

On the second day of our #holidayroads trip, we went to see the animals at the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton, Ohio. It was so much fun and exciting. We were able to drive through the park with our vehicle, and they gave us a free cup of food to feed the animals. The animals were right there next to us! There were giraffes, zebras (even a white one), Buffalo's, deer, Scottish highlanders, llamas, and many more! We had our windows down and they would come stick their heads in the van so we could feed them! We had so many giggles and laughs. The animals were sooo friendly and up close and very personable! Sometimes even too friendly lol.

We also parked the car and went to the Safari Junction where the Simba Lodge Gift Shop was located. We toured the walk-thru part of the park and visited the monkeys, a baby kangaroo, the tortoises, a porcupine, and many more. We watched an educational show with the adorable hedgehog, the baby raccoon, and the big snake! then we saw the Pork Chop Downs (pig races). They also have camel and pony rides there!
I loved the drive through part the best! We went through twice since it was so fun! This time around we bought another cup of food and a bag of carrots which were the giraffe's favorite!

Please watch my Photo Show! http://www.photoshow.com/watch/th7IG4ya

I can't say enough good things about ASWP..I loved it and made so many new memories there! We will be back there in the near future to enjoy it all over again.

Disclosure: Collective Bias is compensating me for my trip. All opinions are 100% my own.

My #holidayroads Trip to Sandusky,Ohio With My Dogs.

2010-07-25T21:26:00.002-04:00

On July 20th we headed out to Sandusky, Ohio with our Dogs, Cosmoe and Fudge, for a fun filled #holidayroads trip sponsored by Collective Bias for a campaign to promote the ASPCA Bergan Auto Safety Harness. A couple days before the trip, we made sure the dogs were bathed so we took them to the grooming shop. Also we packed them a suitcase, Yes they needed their own suitcase! They were all excited and decided to help pack! We packed their blankets, food, treats, toys, leashes, collars, Shampoo, and bowls. They were ready for the trip!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

On the morning of the trip, I woke up to pouring down rain! But by the time we had to leave it had slowed down a bit! Packing the van in the rain wasn't fun! We strapped the dogs in their new ASPCA Bergan Auto Safety Harness and settled them in the van. They seemed to get situated quite fast! We made sure they were safe for the car ride. ASPCA Bergan Auto Safety Harness are a great thing to own! I recommend it to anyone traveling with their dogs! It keeps them safe as well as keeping you safe from them jumping around while driving. The harness lets them stand, sit, or lay down with enough room but restrains them from jumping up front. The ASPCA Bergan harness is also ASPCA approved and a portion of the sales go to them (1.5-4%). Also the harness and tether meets pet safety durability test V9DT B2009.1.
Everyone is loaded and the van is packed full, off to Sandusky we go! We stoped at a few rest stops along the way and finally arrived at the hotel. We stayed at the Knights Inn. Check out my Whrrl I made of the trip that day.

This was the first day of our travels with #holidayroads come back and see us at the Safari zoo and at the beach with the doggies. Lots of cool videos and lots of laughs! You can also check out all the other trips everyone had with their pets @ http://holidayroads.info/ it's a fun page to explore! Look under stories for the different trips, or under photos for all the great pictures of everyone's travels. One other thing, please go pledge your safety for your pets @ Paws To Click , it will be greatly appreciated.

Disclosure: Collective Bias is compensating me for my trip, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Rollie Pollie Chihuahua Puppies

2010-07-09T22:27:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share with you my chihuahua babies.. they were born on July 4th! There are seven of them! They are so darn cute!!! Here is a video...

My Trip with my Pets #holidayroads

2010-07-03T15:00:00.009-04:00

I so excited to be one of the 10 contestants chosen by Collective Bias to go on a trip with my 2 doggies. I have 2 chihuahuas that are going to travel with me to Sandusky Ohio in late July. We are using the Bergan Auto harness so our chihuahuas can have a safe trip with us. As I go on my trip..I will be doing alot of videos and taking lots of pictures.. Stay tuned for more as our trip begins. http://berganexperience.com/travelharness/index.htm Here is the start of my getting ready! This whrrl story is our shopping trip to Walmart to buy our Bergan Harnesses.

More check-ins at Walmart

Throughout my trip I will be keeping everyone posted on our fun! So make sure to check back. I will have a giveaway also! #holidayroads Please feel free to visit and post your summer trips to the Holiday Roads site. http://holidayroads.info Cecile Disclosure: I am being compensated for my trip. My thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own.

Febreze Gift Pack Giveaway

2010-06-28T21:19:00.004-04:00

I am giving away a gift pack from Febreze. Included in the gift pack is a Febreze Home Collection Scented Reed Diffuser (pomegranate mango), a Febreze Set & Refresh Air Freshener (hawaiian aloha), and some money saving coupons. How you can enter to win: 1) Become a subscriber to my blog. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed. 2) Follow me on Twitter @more2lovemom. Leave a comment telling me you are following me. 3)Tweet "win a Febreze gift pack on @more2lovemom blog here http://bit.ly/9oMOkV ". Leave me a comment wit the tweet thread. The giveaway starts from now until July 5th at 10pm est. The chosen winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or a new winner will be picked. I will not email you, you must come back to my blog and see if you have won. One winner is going to be chosen via random.org. The giveaway is only available to the 48 contigous states. Good luck, Cecile

1970's Peanuts Collection Vol. 2 Review

2010-06-01T20:31:00.010-04:00

A true timeless classic revisited...

The Peanuts Gang is back once again with another true timeless classic for all of us who has enjoyed, and loved, the comical gang growing up as a child. These six classic episodes are now remastered and brought to you on this amazing 2 disc dvd set.

All of the classic tv specials are on here, which originally aired from 1975-1979...

(Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown) Originally Aired 1/28/75

This is one of the last Peanuts episodes to become a true perennial classic. With Valentine's Day approaching... Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts Gang prepare themselves in various ways. From Charlie Brown waiting at the mailbox to Snoopy putting on a dramatic "Pawpet" show, every moment will surely have your attention in awe.

(You're A Good Sport, Charlie Brown) Originally Aired 10/28/75

Peppermint Patty gets her good ol' pal Chuck to participate in a motocross race which has many challenges to overcome. Including a mysterious Masked Marvel. Another true classic.

(It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown) Originally Aired 3/16/76

While researching for her report on Arbor day, Sally insists the gang turn the ball field into garden and orchard with a tree on the pitcher's mound, and a scarecrow in the outfield. It's during the 1st season that the plants on the ball field turn out to be an unexpected advantage against Peppermint Patty's team.

(It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown) Originally Aired 10/24/77

Charlie Brown must escort the little red-haired girl to their homecoming dance even though he had trouble kicking the ball during the homecoming football game. "Good Grief!" Another true classic to watch and relive.

(What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown!) Originally Aired 2/23/78

Finally making it's debut on dvd... Snoopy dreams he's an Alaskan sled dog, after eaten too much. Personally one of my favorite's because the story is based around Snoopy, which is my favorite Peanuts character. Woodstock 2nd :) :)

(You're The Greatest, Charlie Brown) Originally Aired 3/19/79

Charlie Brown participates in the Junior Olympics Decathalon, which he completes against other contestants including the mysterious Masked Marvel. A classic episode that is still truly timeless.

Also as a bonus feauturette on this 2 disc dvd set is "You're Groovy, Charlie Brown." All six episodes are remastered and in full frame, and in my opinion... truly stunning. I have enjoyed this dvd set just as much as the previous collections "1960's Peanuts Collection" and "1970's Peanuts Collection Vol. 1."

Snoopy and The Peanuts Gang has always been my favorite growing up, and now being able to relive all of the memories I've had of them as a child and during holidays. is simply a feeling that is beyond incredible. This is truly a timeless collection no one who has grown up on them should pass up. I can asure you I'll be patiently waiting till the release of the 1980's Peanuts collection. :) :)

Summer Saftey Tips For Pets

2010-05-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

As summer is rolling upon us, so is the heat! Our 4 legged friends depend on us to be safe and comfortable during the peeks of summer. Hot summer heat causes alot of risks for your pets. Weather you are in your own backyard, traveling, or at the beach, the sun is still shining down and temperatures are still rising. Making it uncomfortable for them to stay cool.

Also remember as the heat and humidity rises, short faced dogs such as Pugs, Boxers, Bulldogs, etc, should never be in the sun for more then 15 minutes at a time. They have a harder time panting as the long faced dogs do. Older pets should also be kept indoors.

A pet is best left inside in the air conditioning, but if you must have your pets outdoors... here listed are some tips and precautions to have a happy, safe, and a cool pet during summer.

I am listing the most important ones first, then I will add some for different catergories such as traveling, vacationing at the beach, swimming pool, fireworks, fertilized lawns, grooming and health safety. Wherever you are with your pet, please keep in mind the most important tips in addition to the ones in the different catagories.

MOST IMPORTANT TIPS TO FOLLOW...

- Always have fresh and cool water at all times. (adding icecubes to it is always fun too!)

- Make sure to have some kind of adequate shelter for some shade. If using dog house, be sure that it is very well ventilated, and in the shade.

- Never ever leave your pet in a closed vehicle. It can get over 120 degrees ina matter of minutes, even parked in the shade or with the windows slightly cracked. Pets can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die.

- Fill a child's wading pool with fresh water for your pet to cool off in. You can also wet your pet down with a sponge.

- Limit excessive exercise. Take walks in early morning or late evening. Humans change the type and amount of clothing worn, and we sweat more. Pets are still jogging in their furry coats! Make sure to carry some water for them too.

- Keep your pets off the pavement for long periods of time. Hot Pavement or asphalt will burn their sensitive paw pads. Pets can't perspire and can only cool themselves by panting and through their paw pads.

- Never leave your pets unsupervised by a swimming pool.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET: (Always keep recent identification tags with your pets at all times)

Keep your pet leashed. It can be tempting to let a pet roam of his/her leash... but even the best trained pet can slip out of sight and end up in trouble, be it from an encounter with another animal, a car, or a chemical hazard.

Always know of several vetrinarians in the area of your travel destination, you never know when you might need it.

"BY CAR"

The best way to travel is by putting your pet in a well ventilated crate. If your vehicle does not have air conditioning... Icepacks can be placed in the crate. A sunshade for the windows is great also. Fresh water and a bowl should be with you at all times. A spray bottle can be used to cool your pet down.

Never ever travel with your pet losse in the back of a pick-up truck. It is extremely dangerous and illegal in some states. If the bed of the a pick-up truck is your only option, make sure the pet is in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

If you pet is not traveling in a crate inside your vehicle, a safetl pet seatbelt should be worn. Do not let your pet put his head out the window, flying objects could cause serious injury to their eyes.

"BY AIR"

Many airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to dangers caused by the hot weather. Make sure to check with your airlines for specific rules.

"BY RV"

Follow tips for car. Never depend on a generator for the air conditioning if the pet is left in the RV unattended. If you leave your pet in an RV with the generator running. Check it often or have a camping neighbor monitor it. Always keep some windows cracked at all times.

THE BEACH & SWIMMING POOLS...

- Always have a shady spot for your pet to rest in and once again... plenty of fresh water.

- Pets can sunburn, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin. Apply sunblock to the ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside, and limit the sun exposure.

- Check with a lifeguard for daily water conditions. Pets are easy targets for sea life and jellyfish.

- Keep a limit on running in the sand, it is strenuous exercise. Sand can be hot and can burn the paw pads.

- Do not let your pet drink the water due to the salt or chlorine could make them sick. Make sure to rinse your pet off after swimming. The salt and the pool water can damage your pet's coat.

- Always make sure the beach you are heading to allow pets, not all beaches do.

- Always be careful of strong tides while swimming with your pet.

- Remember... swimming is very strenuous so don't let them get too exhausted.

- Never leave your pet unattended in the water.

- Provide pets with life preservers when going on to boat trips or if your pet is not a great swimmer.

SUMMER GROOMING:

- Shaving a hairy pet for the summer may seem like a good idea, but they can actually get a sunburn. Shave your pet at the beginning of the summer before it gets too hot. A lightweight summer haircut helps prevent overheating. Shave down to a half inch length, never to the skin, so your pet still has some protection from the sun.

- As far as skin care, be sure that anu sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

FERTILIZED LAWNS:

- Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. It's a good idea to keep pets off of the lawns that have been fertilized for 72 hours and away from potentially toxic plants and flowers.

- Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.

- Talk with the neighbors to see if they have treated their lawns, as even walking through fertilized grass can trigger a deadly reaction in a pet who happens to be allergic to a particular chemical.

HEALTH HAZARDS:

- Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date.

- Get a flea and tick preventative from your vet. These preventatives help prevent flea infestation and tick bites.

- Mosquitos, which carry heartworm disease, are more prevalent in warmer months. Also get an effective preventative to keep these parasites off your pet.

- In areas where Lyme Disease is prevalent, consider getting your pets vaccinated. Particularly during the summer months.

- A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must.

- Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets' reach.

- Antifreeze is actually a year-round hazard. With the warmer temperatures of summer, cars over heat and may leak antifreeze. (This is a bright green liquid.) Also, people may change their antifreeze and may spill, or leave unused antifreeze out where pets can access it. Antifreeze tastes sweet and is inviting to pets. It is also extremely toxic in very small amounts. Call your Veterinarian immediately if any ingestion is suspected.

FOURTH OF JULY:

- Please leave pets at home when you head out to any Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma to curious pets. Even unused fireworks can be hazardous as well.

- Don't take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat... can be stressful and dangerous for pets.

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE:

- Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a pet's prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your pet is overcome.

> Heavy panting.

> Rapid breathing.

> Excessive drooling. > Bright red gums and tongue. > Unsteadiness, or a staggering gait, in an attempt to mantain balance.

> Glazed eyes.

> Vomitting.

ADVANCED STAGES:

> White or blue gums.

> Lethargy, unwillingness to move.

> Uncontrollable urination or defecation.

> Labored, noisy breathing.

> Shock.

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of a heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:

> Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog's paw pads.

> Apply ice packs to the groin area.

> Hose down with water. Wet the paw pads.

> Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.

> Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.

Check your dog's temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog's temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degress... you can stop the cool-down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Review

2010-05-23T16:26:00.001-04:00

An Epic Journey Through the Galaxies...

Explore the galaxies with Mario on his epic journey once again through Super Mario Galaxy 2. The follow up to "Super Mario Galaxy", which is one of Mario's outstanding and truly incredible games, has fanboys and gamers in a frenzy from it's new release.

I truly believe no Mario fan will be disappointed, nor any new gamers interested in what the Mario franchise has to offer. Dating as far back as the 80's, Mario has been quite an addictive game for all ages. In this new adventure... Mario travels from galaxy to galaxy collecting stars (and now, comet coins which will unlock much hard challenges for more skilled gamers) to lead him on saving his beloved Princess Peach who once again has been capatured by the infamous Bowser.

Yoshi now joins Mario on his quest through the galaxies and he comes with a few tricks of the trade. With an interesting diet you can say, Yoshi can eat Dash Peppers that gets him so hot and frenzied that he can run up steep inclines and even vertical walls. If that doesn't seem impressive enough for you... He can also eat Blimp Fruits which inflat him like a balloon and have him float to new heights.

Also... Mario has a few new tricks up his sleeve this time around. He can now transform into Bee Mario, as well as Cloud Mario. Both which helps a lot through certain galaxies. This may be the Game of 2010. It's storyline and gameplay is filled with nothing less than awesomness. It's incredible how much the Mario franchise has grown since the very first Super Mario Bros. If your looking for a game with non stop fun or even a game that has just an amazing feel to it while your playing... Then this is definitely the game right here!

There's so much to this game that it's simple incredible. From the beginning till the end, I can ensure you there isn't a dull moment. With Yoshi this time around who adds new possibilities to this defying game play... You will come to realize this "Super Mario Galaxy 2" is everything you loved about the first game and more!

Feeling Divine At Divinity Salon

2010-05-23T00:43:00.000-04:00

Divinity Salon was an amazing experience for me... On Sunday, May 16th which was my birthday... I received a delightful treat from my dear friend Beth, http://www.theplussizemommy.com/ . She informed me that she was taking me out to get my hair cut, styled, and colored. They were having a big Pittsburgh blogging my hair day and she thought it would be not only be a great birthday present, but also a great way to continue the start of my blog. I thought "what a treat since I haven't been to a professional hair salon in years." When we got to Divinity Salon, http://www.divinity-salon.com/ (334 1st St, Aspinwall), we noticed they had brought out the red carpet for us. It was exciting. It made us feel like movie stars! Divinity Salon had drinks and yummy treats for us. Colleen, a representative from Alterna, was talking to us about all their different products they have. All their products are made with natural ingredients such as caviar for Anti-Aging, which was the main line we were concentrating on. After she spoke, we got to talk to Michael Shawn Corby on speaker phone, he is the Big Boss of Alterna, http://www.alternahaircair.com/ . He was very informative about his products, and spoke very highly of Divinity Salon. Then we all got to meet the owner of Divinity Salon, Donnie, and also we were introduced to all the wonderful staff. They each told us their name, the years of experience they had, and what they each specialized in. As I waited to get my hair done, I was offered a wonderful scalp massage using the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo. It felt amazing. Cooper, from... http://www.themotherhood.com/ was going around taking pictures of the "Before" looks. As I was getting pampered, Colleen came over and we chit chatted about my hair and the texture of it. As my hair is very oily, she recommended and gave me a lot of samples (Alterna Life Solutions - A volume restore shampoo and conditioner as well) to use for the type of hair I have. She was very helpful.

Then the stylist Kelly Lapinsky came over and took me to get my hair done. I had brought a picture of what I wanted to go with. She said she can do that. I had asked for blonde highlights but she recommended the red ones with the color of my hair... after all it is the color for the summer this year. She also felt it would blend in better as my hair grew since I don't make it to the salon as often as I should. I needed something that was easy to maintain but also a big change that would look nice on me. she was very nice person and made me feel relaxed and comfortable since I was so nervous for the complete change. I am very satisfied with what she did for me.

After I was all "made over and looking very beautiful", Cooper took some pictures of me for the "After" beautiful look. When we put the 2 pictures together, it was amazing how a new style and haircut has made a difference for me. I felt like a new person.

As I was waiting for Donnie to be done with Beth's hair. He was talking to us about his job and all the shows he does to... it was very interesting listening to the joy in his voice as he was speaking about his job. It truly shown he was very passionate with his work. When everyone was all made over into exquisitely beautiful ladies, we got a nice gift bag with all kinds of big samples of the caviar Anti-aging line. I have been using it on my hair each day and I am very happy with the results it has given me.

I wanted to thank everyone at Divinity Salon for making me feel welcomed and making me feel beautiful. Thank you to colleen and Sean David for telling all of us about their wonderful line of Alterna Products. Thank you to Cooper for putting this truly wonderful day together for all the bloggers. And last but not least, a special thank you to Beth for taking me on this amazing event and making my birthday one of the best ever.

Disclosure: We were given the hair cut, color, and style at no charge to us for The Pittsburgh Mom Blogger Hair Day. This in no way swayed our opinions on the experience and my opinion is 100% honest. We were also given hair products in a gift bag to take home at no charge to us.

PoochPads for puppies

2010-01-05T10:59:00.000-05:00

My litter of puppies is 4 weeks old now and starting to move about.. Momma is not cleaning after them as well as they are getting older! The best thing to use now are PoochPads. I use them faithfully and get the babies ready and used to them for their new home!

The PoochPads are made with microfine fibers and antimicrobial technology. They are super absorbent, it quickly absorbs the liquid and does not leak through the pad. They are great for puppy training or also great for old dogs, or just use them if you're going to be gone all day from home! The PoochPads are very odor controlling too, with an antimicrobial non toxic agent in the fabric. You can use the pads anywhere...crates, the floor, their bedding, in your vehical, or any area where accidents are prone to. The PoochPad is washable and reusable. Guaranteed for at least 300 washes. They are enviromental friendly.

Go to http://www.poochpad.com and check them out. The best thing if you have a new puppy or if you have a litter. Or if you have an old dog that just cant hold its bladder as well anymore. I use them and absolutely love them.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T09:07:00.000-05:00

It's New Years Eve! I want to wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year 2010! I woke up this morning and saw something soo beatiful... snow..we have so much of it!! Last snow of 2009! Here is a picture from my house!

My first blog...

2009-12-30T21:02:00.000-05:00

I am new at this.. so bear with me!! This is my first blog and Im totally confused..lol I am sure I will get the hang of things.. I am now going to go explore all my options and st my blog up as best I can!! bye for now!