Cold Weather Stylin'

With the balmy and welcomed temperatures we had in the forties, I hesitate to say this, but I'm hoping for a few more days at least of some cold temps.  Not because I like the cold but because the boys have some new clothes to show off! 

Recently I was lamenting how hard it is to get a coat for a big chested dog that wasn't way too long and spamming Facebook wishing aloud that the talented owner of Lamae Designs would branch out and add jackets to her repertoire when she graciously agreed to make one for each of the boys!  We already had cozy and fashionable snoods and knew these jackets were going to be great. 

L., the owner and I messaged back and forth discussing fabrics and I told her my secret wish was for the boys to have their NFL teams but Ravens material is nearly impossible to find here in Indiana.  Luckily for me, she loved the idea and found some great fabric online and we discussed the lining colors as well as additional things like collars and such.  After measuring the boys for the golzillianth time I hopefully suggested that since she'd have to order x amount of fabric, wouldn't it be awesome to make them matching snoods!?  Luckily for me she not only agreed but allowed these snoods to qualify for her giving back project, so a portion of the price went to ACSPCA!

Ray-Ray Suavay

Keeping warm enough for a rousing game of bitey-face.

Julius might be too handsome for words.

These are great, because I really wanted them to velcro across the chest and under the belly.  If the fabric is stretchy enough I can usually get them into a pull over, but it's hard and for anyone else in the family who needs to let the boys out, the velcro is the way to go.

L. even came over to triple check the sizing on the  boys before putting the final touches on.  This was great just because we could really visualize the changes that needed to be made, if any.  As if that wasn't enough to knock my socks off, she made matching snoods for the Doggy Daddy as well, so Kevin will be styling with his boys.  (Keep checking Facebook to see if we can get him to pose for a Dad and Lad(s) photo.)

If the day ever comes that the Bears and the Ravens face each other in the Super Bowl, this should be their logo!

Snoods!

Ok, so here are two confessions:  1) my hubby kind of hates has asked me several times to curtail the amount of money I spend on the dogs and despite the fact that my mother says the boys have more things than some children, I 2) am a good bargain hunter.

I don't spend just to spend on the boys, but I find that I enjoy buying them different collars and changing up their look while I often realize I've forgotten to wear earrings on any given day.  I'd say the biggest purchase has been Ray's Paco collar, and let me tell you, as far as quality is concerned, it is a bargain. 

So, while I've been wanting fleece snoods for the boys, I've been hesitant to spend the money on those.  After all, I have boatloads of shirts and jackets that just don't fit them, so I just waited and secretly hoped that Lamae Designs would begin making snoods. In case you're not familiar, Lamae Designs began making incredible looking tutus for dogs then ventured into collars and bow ties.  She has always given back to rescues in time, financial support and as a foster parent.  In fact, she fostered then adopted Ray's littermate, Dahey.

Glamour, now Kya sporting a gorgeous tutu by Lamae Designs

Elephant collar and bow tie

So imagine how loud I squeed my delight when I saw the post on Facebook stating that snoods would be available for a limited time and  all sizes were $12 (yeah, twelve dollars) and when you order, you can choose to where Lamae will donate 50% of the money and ACSPCA was one of the choices! 

If you think my mind wasn't blown by then, just hold on to your toupee.  When I messaged her, she asked for the boy's neck measurement then said I could have them the next day!  Boom!

So, to say I was pretty jazzed would be an understatement, but then when the hubs saw the sno

ods and said, " I kind of really like those," you know I swooned for my snoods.

So, if you've been debating on getting a snood, I highly recommend checking out Lamae Designs.  These are high quality reversible fleece snoods and I opted for the opening to hook a leash through, so that is an option, if you so desire.  Plus, 50% of your purchase price will go back to one of four (cough ACSPCA) really deserving (ahem ACSPCA) organizations. 

*I was not compensated nor asked to review, I just LOVE these snoods. 

Secrets and Siblings

Hi Everybody!  Mama said I could talk about our really exhausting day we  had since I haven't written in about four months a really long time.  There are a few things I could start out talking about so I'm just going to jump right in.  You know how Moms are usually really eager to tell all about the really embarrassing things that their kids do?  Well, my Mama didn't tell you something and since I'm almost a grown-up now, I'll tell you.  The day that we went to the Parade-a-bulls and met Gremlin and The Stig?  Mama wondered if we were going to drive for two hours just to sit in the car and watch the goings-on.  You see, I had a better-in-arian appointment that morning for my shots and even though I like going there every month and standing on the big boy scale, I don't like to go in the room where I had my stitches out. The man better-in-arian seems to be nervous of me.  I think I make him nervous and he makes me nervous and so when I got on the table, I opened my mouth and stuck out my tongue, opened my mouth wide, and  I screamed.  I screamed and screamed and no one was even touching me yet.  Mama said I sounded like someone was peeling the skin off of my bones.  Mama said that even though I am de-sensitized to her touch, I'm not so down for anyone else.  Sooo, she made an appointment for me to visit with my friends at green DogGoods.  I was going to get some  nails trimmed, but since I started screaming as soon as I saw the clippers,  Miss Leslie and Miss Jodi just worked on making me brave de-sensitizing me. 

I did pretty well and when I was done, Mama was waiting for me with a big surprise! 

Me and my mama, and my brother Dahey and his mama went on a bro-pack walk!  It was just the four of us because we both are awesome have issues and our mamas want to let us get used to each other without any pressure.  First my brother and his mama were in front, but Dahey didn't like that so my mama and I led for awhile.  After a few blocks we were able to walk abreast on opposite sides of the street.  We are going to go really slow and eventually be great buds.  His Mama is very, very talented and she made us matching bow ties.  Check us out.

Aren't we some handsome dudes?

We didn't sit next to each other today, because I was goofy and rambunctious but someday we will.  And look!  I have a new harness on.  I got a Freedom Harness just like lots of other famous pups. 

You would think that was enough excitement for one Ray-Ray but Mama had more planned.  We went to see Daddy at work and I met one of Daddy's co-workers.  This guy was nervous to meet me, but after I said Hi to him so nicely and he petted me, he decided that he was ridiculous not scared.  Mama and I even took another short walk so I could show off get used to my new harness.  She only got a picture of us in a window but you can see just how incredibly handsome good I was.

Ever since we got home I've been suffering from a fun hangover relaxing.  Because I allowed my Mama to volunteer all weekend at the Pet Expo, I insisted that she take this whole week off of work to lavish attention  on me, but I'm thinking that she might just wear me out!  She calls it a good mix of mental and physical activity.  I call it ...Ray and Mama time, but that can be very, very tiring. 

What special things did you do with your mama?

The Snow King

When we decided to adopt a Pit Bull type dog, I had every intention of collecting an entire wardrobe of cute clothes for him.  I'll admit, that even though I pretty much had my heart set on Ray, there were some moments of doubt as to whether or not to adopt his only sister.  Cuz, one word:  tutu!  After reading so many other blogs wearing cute, snuggly sweaters and wraps, I just knew my pink piggy of a boy would be grateful for a nice fleece or sweater to ward off the chill of the snowy days here.  In fact, last year, he wore a fleece and/or a coat nearly every day while it was cold and as a rapidly growing pup, had a pretty impressive wardrobe of discards.  I found that something more fitted and snug without buttons or velcro worked the best.

This one worked out so well, that I bought it in several sizes and it made the transition from late January through March or whenever the weather turned a bit milder.   It's amazing how hard it is to find a shirt or jacket that will fit a big chested dog, even a puppy. 

While this one technically fit, it didn't last very long because the buttons presented a challenge in that they demaded to be eaten, or at the very least, removed. I think I ended up purchasing more that he didn't wear than things that he did wear. We also went through quite a series of wraps with a velcro closure.  I believe velcro is code for Pit Bull Crack, judging by how joyously Ray set about attacking the velcro.

So, with all of the snow we've gotten in the past few days, I figured that Ray would be a shivering mess who would run out to do his business and run back inside as quickly as possible.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  My thin haired, pink skinned little piggy seems to be a snow dog.  He's been zooming through the snow all around the pool, knee deep in snow, plowing drifts with his snout, chipping ice chunks with his massive clubs that he calls paws and running proudly around with is prize.

Standing outside in Uggs, jacket and heavy sweat pants, I usually have to demand Ray come inside because if my legs are cold under all the layers, this naked little pooch has to be cold.  I think he'd just play out in the snow as long as we'd let him.  In fact, I've never seen him so much as shiver, not even a little bit.  We've been fortunate that the temperatures haven't been too severe yet, but I think I'm going to have to find a coat or sweater that fits well and start getting him used to it again just in case it gets bitter outside.  Then maybe we can work on rebuilding the wardrobe again.  Hey, if you can't play dress up with you dog...who can you?

So, tell me, do you dress your dogs and do you have a special trick for success?