No More Smoking Power Tools And Mouse Turds For Us

Over the past couple of years, since introducing the idea of expanding Bodacious Biscuit Love beyond biscuits, we've received quite a few contributions of goods to assist with the process. This has included several used sewing machines, a handful of power tools, fabric, and other supplies. With every person who has come forth with stuff to offer, we are more than grateful and have extended some sweet thank-you-love. However, on the flip side, there's also a lot of frustration when these supplies fall into the category of, for lack of a better word, junk.

We're Lovin' Our Saturday Morning Shenanigans

When we adopted Willa on March 2nd, she was in full heat. Because of that, we limited her free roam within the house most of the time. This also helped with her decompression period. The bond she formed with Coco, Sophie, and Lobo was instant so there was no worry on that end. When she stopped bleeding, we allowed more free roam. Then, the first week of this month when she was officially out of heat, and after her initial appointment with the doctor to get updated on vaccinations and a slew of tests done, the gates were lifted. Since then, for the past few weeks, our weekend mornings haven't been the same.

I've Learned A Few Things Over The Past 2 Days...

It's Friday. Just 2 days after I gave myself 3 days to make 5 Bodacious Patchwork Doggy Quilts. That was quite a challenge. I typically only work on 1 quilt at a time and that takes most of a single day. The same holds true for a lot of the DIY Dog Mom Projects I complete. However, on May 20th we're participating in the Annual Spring Festival and Craft Show. It'll be our first event in the town we live in. I've only got 2 weeks to prep. The luxury of making 1 DIY Dog Mom Project at a time is not an option.

Lobo Gave Me The Look. I Gave Him The Look. He Slept. I Drank Coffee.

Our kids are pretty much in a routine, especially Monday through Friday. The weekends can be a bit crazy. I've noticed over the years, several times throughout each year, each of our kids break free from a tiny portion of their routine. They start doing something new. Out of the ordinary.

I've Given Myself 3 Days To Make 5 Bodacious Patchwork Doggy Quilts

When we accepted an invitation to participate in the Annual Spring Festival and Craft Show, it was a last minute decision. I knew it was going to be a lot of work. A good portion of our display will feature bags o' Bodacious Biscuit Love. I'll bake those the Monday and Tuesday before the event. The rest of our display will be DIY Dog Mom Projects. The dilemma that danced in front of my face was the simple fact that I had nothing made.

At The End Of The Day, It Has To Get Done. No Excuses.

I have a long distance friend who keeps up with my blogs and personal Facebook page. Every so often we chat via messenger on the overnight. I had that pleasure a few nights ago. After catching up on life's happenings, I told her about the event we're doing in May and how much work I needed to get done in a short period of time, our upcoming big paint project, DIY Dog Mom Projects I wanted to get done in the near future, and other stuff.

Our Long Weekend Was A Bit Different. In A Good Way.

Lisa took a vacation day today which meant a long 3-day weekend together as a family for us. I always love having her home for a long weekend. The kids enjoy the extra day with her. However, sometimes, the weekends, especially long ones, can get pretty crazy around here. The kids don't know what day of the week it is. When Friday rolls along, they don't know that the following day is Saturday and it's an entirely different routine for the weekend.

A Huge Thank You To The Talented Valerie E...

Last Thursday, Lisa ventured down to the Ledyard area. We had some biscuit love for a very special pup at the Ledyard Pound. After a wonderful visit with the ACO, Lisa had another stop to make to deliver some spring human cookie love and pick up something we've been anxiously waiting for. Decals.

I Made 3 Awesome DIY Dog Crate Cushions In 2 Hours

Up until March 2nd of this year, we've never used crates for our kids. Coco, Sophie, and Lobo are terrified of crates due to their horrible situations prior to being rescued. I'm aware that their fear of crates can be reversed with a lot of love, patience, and positive reinforcement, but we've never felt a need to do that. They don't get into things they're not supposed to. They don't have separation anxiety. They've never gotten into the trash. If we leave for a few hours, they're fine. No. Crates. Needed.

When You Enter The World Of Pup Parenting Blind, Bad Stuff Can Happen

It wasn't too long ago that I came across a Go Fund Me campaign for a family who's toddler had suffered massive facial wounds from a dog. The toddler was under 2 years old. The first thing I saw when I clicked on the Go Fund Me link was a photo of the child in a hospital. It was rather graphic. The first sentence clearly stated an in-the-nutshell recap of what happened. The child was allowed to play with their friend's newly adopted dog. That's all I needed to read. I left their Go Fund Me page.

We Had No Plans On Participating In Any Events, But This Came Up...

When we first launched Bodacious Biscuit Love in 2013, we did quite a few events for the following 2 years. During the Spring and Summer months, we had an event booked every weekend. Several times, we had an event booked both Saturday and Sunday. On top of that, Lisa and I hosted our Bodacious Yard & Bake Sale in the Summer and Fall. It was a lot of work.

Fur-Kids Are A Lifetime Commitment. Unconditionally.

I've learned a lot of things since being a Dog Mom and since the launch of Bodacious Biscuit Love almost 4 years ago. One of those has been not to judge. Or, at the very least, try not to. Passing judgment and ridiculing pet parents, who probably should never be pet parents, doesn't solve a problem. It just adds to it. One of my mottoes is, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

I Need To Reduce My Not-So-Graceful-Moments. A Lot.

My not-so-graceful-moments have become a standing joke. Over the years, I've learned to laugh at myself. My personal Facebook wall is plastered with a lot of these moments. Tripping over NylaBones or the throw rugs in the kitchen. Face planting the floor when I've attempted to climb the doggy gate. Cuts. Bruises. Dings. Falling backwards into the ironing board and having the iron fall on my head. People get a good laugh. Often times, they'll throw in comments that I need to bubble wrap myself. They're right. I am one of those people who can easily trip over air.

The Hailstones, From Life Below Zero, Have Inspired Me A Bit...

We end most of our days with family snuggle time on the sofa. During this time, we watch an episode or 2 of a TV show on Netflix or Amazon. For the longest time we watched House M.D. Unfortunately, after working our way through only a few seasons, Netflix discontinued the show as of April 1st. The following week, Lisa introduced me to Life Below Zero. She wasn't sure I'd like it, but after watching  a couple of episodes, I was intrigued. It caught my attention.

Happy Easter From Our Home To Yours

What a day. What a weekend. Easter is almost over. It was a rather fun day in our crazy Bodacious Dog Mom home. Although Lisa and I don't go over the top celebrating Easter, we enjoyed a few Easter goodies, surprised the kids with gifts, and made a big dinner. The kids enjoyed their NylaBones and Olivia happily munched on one of her honey sticks. I made Lisa a scrumptious breakfast of french toast with fresh raspberries on top and scrambled eggs. She surprised me with some of my favorite wine.

A Busy Day That Ended With Ice Cream For Dinner

We're on the tail end of our first pet and house sitting adventures. Lisa had a bunch of stuff she wanted to get done around the house. I had work stuff to do, blog posts to write, and my to-do list to tackle. Tomorrow is Easter. It's our only break between pet and house sitting adventures 1 and 2. However. That didn't stop us from venturing down to the Groton Pet Supplies Plus. Together. We were on a mission.

You Wait For That Moment. And, It Finally Happens.

Over the years, as our family has gotten bigger, with each addition, there's always been an adjustment period. It typically lasts between a month or two. Willa joined our family a month and a half ago. It hasn't been easy for a few reasons, but I knew, at some point, that pivotal moment would surface. The one that made my face soggy with tears.

Sometimes, I Forget To Do This More Often

My Mom ran a professional in-home Day Care/Preschool for over 20 years. She also has her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Development. Throughout her Day Care/Preschool and college adventures, I learned quite a bit. So much, that I was hired as a lead preschool teacher in my early 30's. One of the biggest lessons I embedded in my brain, early on, and one I've carried with me throughout the years, was the rule of height.

As Dog Moms, This Is One Of The Most Beautiful Things To Witness

We adopted Coco in August of 2012. Sophie joined our family in June of 2014.  Introducing the 2 of them was a little challenging. Coco had been the only child for almost 2 years. Sophie doesn't do too well with pups who are bigger than she is. The transition from "I'm not too sure about you" to being completely inseparable took about 2 weeks.

We Enjoy The Extra Time With Our Fur-Nieces And Fur-Nephews

We're at the beginning of a 3 1/2 week stretch of pup and house sitting for several of our neighbor friends. It's a lot of work. For the duration, we have to adjust our schedules. We take turns spending an hour or two at the homes of our neighbor friends. It's worth it for so many reasons.

A Fenced In Yard Is Not Foolproof. Protect Your Babies.

The warm weather months are upon us. This week, we're supposed to have a few days that'll soar into the 70's. Rumor has it that by Saturday, it'll be even warmer. With the warmer temperatures, there's always an increase in the Facebook posts I try to avoid at all costs. The ones from dog parents who continuously allow their pups to be outside, by themselves, for extended periods of time.

Real Maple Syrup. Wine. Fried Clams. It Was A Great Day.

Lisa had a work event to attend today. A banquet. Food. Drink. Door prizes. An afternoon of fun. I was almost able to go, but today begins our long 3 1/2 week-long stretch of pup and house sitting for several of our neighbor friends. The banquet was held out of state, in Rhode Island, almost an hour away. It's too far away and we would have been gone too long. So, I stayed home.

Aside From The Kitchen, Our Home Office Is The Heartbeat Of Our Home

When we first moved here, almost 5 years ago, the home office was set up where it's located now. In the front room. The largest of all 3 bedrooms. My large desk was close to the windows. Lisa's desk was on the other side of the office. The only other piece of furniture we had in the room was a gigantic book shelf that we filled with knickknacks and treasures.

If You Have That Person In Your Life, Embrace Them

Two months ago, we received a message from a mutual acquaintance asking if we could "pet sit" their pup. Their regular pet sitter wasn't available the week or so needed because of a family emergency. I replied immediately and asked lots of questions. Long story short, they needed a "pet sitter' who could take their pup in-home for the duration they were gone. Unfortunately, we are not able to do that.

As Moms, We Just Do It. Unconditionally.

An acquaintance of mine, who obviously reads this blog and keeps up with my personal Facebook page, reached out the other day. Her message started out with the usual greeting. Then, she threw in a few compliments about the fur-kid and food porn photos I frequently post and how much she's entertained by my not-so-graceful moments. I was almost on the verge of being delighted by her thoughtful message. Then, I read the last paragraph.

Paw-Licious Soft Baked Peanut Butter And Jam Dog Biscuits

The inspiration behind the last couple of homemade dog treats I created was a sweet pup who had oral surgery over a month ago. She had quite a few teeth extracted and could no longer enjoy our crunchy Bodacious Biscuit Love Peanut Butter Dog Treats. When I heard about this, I made it my mission to create a soft baked version of these peanut butter dog treats. I also wanted to create more homemade soft baked treats so this sweet pup could enjoy a variety of flavors. That led to the recipe I posted a few days ago for my Bodacious Apple Cheddar Dog Treats.

Chocolate Pastry And Coffee For Breakfast

Last night, our incredible neighbor friends, K and A, surprised Lisa and I with a couple of decadent treats from Sweet Peas. I saw the white bakery box on the table after waking up from a short nap. I immediately started drooling. Inside the box were 2 insanely scrumptious chocolate treats. Total. Chocolate. Bliss.

Welcome To The World Of Store Bought Food And Treats

One month ago yesterday, Willa joined our family. The easiest part of Willa joining our family was Coco, Lobo, and Sophie welcoming her. The bond was almost instant. The not-so easy part has been almost everything else...

The Universe Chuckled And Said, "Here. Hold My Beer..."

It happened. I suspected it would late yesterday. By the overnight I knew. Tight chest. Sore throat. Chills. I felt like crap when I woke up this morning. My morning coffee tasted like rancid mud. When Lisa got home from running a few errands earlier today, I had no voice. Laryngitis. Chest congestion. She took one look at me and said, "Looks like a repeat of January..." Yep.

Here's The Recipe For Bodacious Apple Cheddar Dog Treats

When I started baking homemade dog treats, almost 5 years ago, my focus was crunchy treats. It didn't take long to realize that it was a process not only requiring the perfect baking time, but drying time as well. Our original Bodacious Biscuit Love Peanut Butter Dog Treats are crunchy, but it takes a couple of days to achieve that. Once baked and cooled, they have to sit on trays in our temperature controlled biscuit room for 36-48 hours.