Sweet Puppy Diapers, Grandma!

January 2012 I was blessed with a rescue dog who was already two years old, had been found on the streets, and was in horrible shape.  He is a beautiful Maltese/Shih Tzu mix and I love him dearly.  It took me several months to figure out that he thought the floor towel was his bathroom spot and he had a lot of trouble holding it for more than a couple of hours.

This sweet baby would use the training pads if I put them on the floor, but then there were times when he just couldn't make it that far.  He needed a little extra help and some brilliant person out there made belly bands.

I go to Target and get their Up & Up brand of bladder control pads $3 for a package of 30 and then I cut them in half (because he's so little).  Just place it in his little belly band and he's good.

What lengths have you gone for your fur babies?

Desperately Preventing Impulse Purchases

Stolen from Target's website!

Way back when the Target REDCard first came out I was immediately on board.  I prefer the debit card because it is tied directly to my checking account and I get a 5% discount on every purchase.  I wish I had tracked how much that has added up to over the past several years.

Here is how I make many purchases that aren't dire emergencies and avoid impulse purchases.  If you use the REDcard, whether debit or credit, you can order online and shipping is free for all purchases.  Since I work from home this is a huge benefit since I am already here and I am really bad about impulse buys.

Another great benefit is that they now offer an additional 30 day return policy, too!  So, if you use the REDCard you have 60 days to return.  Click here for REDCard details!

Oh, how I love me some Target!!  What simple perks do you enjoy?

Dog Shampoo Lasts Forever! Well, Kinda ...

Many years ago I became frustrated with getting dog shampoo out of my Corgi-mix's thick fur.  Then it dawned on me to dilute it in a cup of water.  Then it didn't break down very well, but it helped.  Then one day I had a moment of dog shampoo clarity after emptying a container of dishwashing liquid.

Since about 2003 I have had a large dishwashing liquid bottle that I marked with a Sharpee "Dog Shampoo" and I keep it in the doggie bathroom.  I fill the bottle with water about 2/3 of the way full and fill the rest with dog shampoo.  I am able to squirt the shampoo directly onto my dogs and work it through their fur and it rinses out so easily since it isn't so thick!

It also helps to make your dog shampoo last a whole lot longer.

What pet bath tips do you find helpful?

Hot Smiling Coffee Cup ... Before You Pour

Don't you just hate it when you reach for your cup of coffee or tea and it is almost immediately cold?  I've purchased travel mugs for my desk, mug warmers and finally gave up and started drinking iced coffee.

Then I accidentally discovered that if I put water in my coffee cup and microwave it for 1.5 to 2 minutes then the cup stays hot and the coffee stays hot a whole lot longer!  

What do you do to keep your coffee warm?