No, We're Not Going To Spend $200 On A Doggy Cake...

A day or so after posting the DIY Dog Mom Project we made for Lobo's 2 Year Gotcha Day, an acquaintance of mine reached out to compliment our hard work. Towards the end of our brief email chat, she sent a few links to various sites that offered custom made doggy lounge areas and canopy beds. Some were posh. Some were simple. Most were between the two. Considering the work that went into these pieces, the prices were reasonable ranging anywhere from $65 to over $300 plus the cost of shipping.

"You and Lisa could have saved a ton of time and bought one for under $100."

I didn't bother to explain our decision to go down the route of DIY and the reason behind repurposing our old entertainment center.

We're not posh. We love our kids to the moon and back and beyond and our entire world revolves around them, but we're not about to spend $250 on a doggy canopy bed or an elaborate doggy lounge nook. Why should we? Lisa and I can make one for right around $30.

I know this because a few weeks ago, that's exactly what we did. 

I apply that philosophy to a lot of things from doggy patchwork blankets, dog treats, and Gotcha Day cupcakes to larger projects like leash holders, doggy toy boxes, and dog beds.

Sure, it involves time, effort, and creative ingenuity, but for us, it's totally worth it. The added bonus is that once these projects are done, we can take a step back and say, "We did this. We made this. How awesome is that!"

On the flip side, I'm not criticizing those who opt for store bought or dole out big bucks to spoil their pooch. I've come across several Dog Mom blogs that lean more towards the extravagant. Their fur-kids are sporting boutique clothing and crystal encrusted collars.

I've known a dog parent or two who think nothing about spending $200 on a birthday cake for their fur-baby.

And, the total for the entire birthday party extravaganza exceeds $2,000 and the planning process is almost as tedious as planning a wedding.

Don't get me wrong, I think that's great. I really do.

However, that's just not us.

Every pup deserves to be loved and spoiled. There are too many pups out there who will never know what that feels like.

However, is the pup who gets the $200 birthday cake spoiled or loved more than our kids because they get homemade cupcakes made by me?

Nope.

Is the DIY Doggy Platform Bed or lounge nook that Lisa and I made any less functional or eye appealing than the $300 versions?

Nope.

Our babies love their blankets and beds and treats and cupcakes. They're happy. They're loved. They're spoiled.

We're proud Dog Moms.

We're proud of what we do and what we've made so far.

And according to our kids who have upcoming Gotcha Day celebrations, we're going to be very busy with Gotcha Day gifts...