Sharon Montrose on 20x200

I love Sharon Montrose's work. (You've got to check out her new-to-me Dog Photo Booth if you haven't seen it!)

Today, her Baby Giraffe No. 5 is on sale at 20x200.  They're almost sold out of the 8x10s, and I'm seriously considering springing for the 11x14 at $50. 

Have you ever purchased anything off of 20x200?

P.S. In other animal news, tonight is a Wüf Wedding at Lee Park here in Dallas. Your dog can be joined in holy muttrimony with another pup, complete with a reception and doggy and human wedding cakes.  (The canine bride and groom exchange biscuits as a sign of their affection.)  Totally crazy or makes-me-wish-my-dog-had-a-significant other? Maybe in the next year or so she'll find her soulmate, she's only 5-7 dog years right now.

Lucky Dog

I cringed at my misspelling this morning when I shared this post about this dog mustache chew toy and added the comment that I wanted one with "Mrs. Potatoe lips". I knew it didn't look right, but I always think about Dan Quayle and want to add the "e", thinking he insisted it didn't have one.

(If you're interested, here's the feed for my Google Reader Shared Items.)

Anyhow, I did find some smiling versions:

Fetch Art Dog Lips

Fetch Art Clown Lips

Love the tongue:

Humunga Tongue, tongue and stached also sold at Petco and Amazon

I don't know if my dog would grab it properly, but it would make for a funny photo op.

I had some dog drama tongight. J texted me after picking her up from his parents, where she spends her days while we're at work. She had darted out an open door at their house for what I think is the third time in the last few weeks, and then she alluded them for half an hour. And she pulled all of this paper out of their recycling bin to chew up. Needless to say, FIL doesn't want to watch her this weekend when the rest of us go out of town this weekend.

Then I came home to find the cutest doggy care package from my friend that included this St. Patty's "Lucky Dog" tee and frog. It was such a sweet surprise, even though this baaaad puppy didn't deserve it.

It's no bueno that she's not behaving, and I think she's acting up more now (she's 8 months) than she ever did as a younger pup. So I had a nice chat with a PetSmart guy tonight, and we are enrolling her in some training classes, something we probably should have done from the begninning. It's going to be great. We will go on Saturdays so J can join, and we will once and for all establish that I am the pack leader.

My hope in 8 weeks that she will:
Respond to "Stay" and "Come here"?
She better!

Stop barking at
a) dogs on TV*, b) doorbells on TV, c) screaming children on TV, d) sketchy people on TV, e) grocery scanner beeping on TV, f) hospital maching beeping on TV?
g) All of the above

* I often marvel to J about how we picked such a good dog because I always wanted a dog that would watch TV and chew ice cubes, something my dogs growing up never did and she does.

At first it was cute when she'd stop playing with her toys to look up at something interesting on the screen, but it quickly became annoying once she started barking and/or growling at it constantly. Who knew dogs and wild children were so prevalent on the shows we watch? Now J and I say things like "Oh yeah, Trixie doesn't like Frasier; there are a lot of doorbells on this show. However, Will & Grace is coming up and she likes it just fine." and "Change the channel, the M&M's commercial where Red's running on the grocery conveyer belt is coming on!".

What about you? Any dog training tips to share? Any pet products you're loving? Any interest in seeing the fun pet collars and tags I've found in search of the perfect one for our pampered pooch?

Ribbon Watch

We're going on Day 8 of the Ribbon Watch, and these babies show no signs of falling out.



No, we're not frilly poodle owners. And the Trixster's not a frilly poodle. (See how excited she is about shopping for down-and-dirty home improvement items?)

But the groomer puts bows on her ears, much to J's chagrin, and this is the first time they've lasted more than 10 minutes. I'm curious to see how much longer they'll make it. (I'm thinking they're going "mysteriously fall off" soon.)

I May Look All Sweet and Innocent

Trixie: "Aren't I like, so adorbs?"

Mom: "What do you have in your mouth?"

Mom: "An eyeball! For shame!"

Frog: "I feel so violated."

Trixie: "What's it to you?"

Oh My Goodness

Today's the last day for our health insurance open enrollment. I'm freaking out a little bit about my choice. I picked the option that's $1500 cheaper (which is a big deal because this "cheaper" option is already about $1500 more than I paid last year), doesn't have a deductible, and pays 100% in-network. But it doesn't cover out-of-network unless it's an emergency, and there's no out-of-pocket max. I kept going back and forth, and although I'm thinking about a surgery, the cheap-o option *should* actually be better, provided I can ensure that all providers are in-network, since I won't have a deductible and co-insurance like I would with the other option.

Blech, this is giving me a headache. I always wondered at what point I will feel like an adult. I've decided that feeling like one may never come, but actually being one happened once I started having to deal with figuring out health insurance and the tax code.

This puppy is helping me freak out a little less. I was thinking about putting a photo of our pup in a winter scarf on our Christmas card (yes, I am now one of those crazy dog people), but maybe I should give her some cute bling instead!

via Oh Joy!