Puppy Love

We've had Chelsea for over a year now and I can honestly say that she is the best dog I've ever had.
She is so sweet and well behaved that I can't really believe our luck.
I just love having her around and I've become so attached to her.
The feeling is mutual I would say because she pretty much follows me every where I go.
If I run upstairs for something, she runs upstairs.
If I sit (which these days feels like never) she sits.
If I'm in the shower, she waits on the bath mat. Slightly annoying when trying to maneuver around her and not slip and break my neck each morning.
When I eat, she gets her bone and starts chewing. That part is a bit disgusting, a quiet chewer she is not.
And trust me...the nickname Lulu came up with "snorter" isn't for nothing.
But I love her despite all the funny noises she makes.

I really love walking her and taking her to the dog park, especially when the weather is this amazing.
Bonus that I've met some really great people at the dog park. Who knew?
Big daddy has been away now for a little over two LONG weeks, but my little frenchy has really kept me company at night.
She even snores just as loud as big daddy, so it's kind of like he's not even gone..

Speaking of being away...we are going to San Fransisco in a week and my usual dog sitters aka. my parents are not able to take Chelsea for us.
I asked around and unfortunately no one else that I know is able to either.
So I asked my vet and they mentioned a woman who is great with dogs.
So Lulu & I went to interview meet with her to decide if we felt comfortable leaving our precious pup with a stranger.
Well we walked in her house and I did everything in my power from not just turning around and running for the door.
The overwhelming smell of cat pee was disgusting. Do people not notice things like that? crazy..
I guess having 15 cats and 2 chihuahuas might have had something to do with that...ugh...
The dogs kept yapping and growling at Chelsea (and poor Lulu).
So needless to say there is not a chance in hell that I would leave her there. Ever.
I would rather cancel my trip.

Anyhow I did finally find someone. Thankfully someone we know and trust.
She'll be in great hands and I'm so relieved.
I just can't believe how picky I am when it comes to who I'll let look after our pooch.
I'm not sure I was even this fanatical when looking for babysitters for Lulu. ;

But really, having a dog is so great.
No regrets at all.
If you are a dog lover like me you can always pick up a copy of this.
Sounds interesting..

Why do people who have dogs live happier, longer, and more fulfulling lives? Sociologists and veterinarians have spent years investigating the positive effects that dogs have on people's health and happiness yet their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals to be shared with other experts.

Now the international bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series has collected the most current and significant data from more than a thousand of the best scientific studies on the profound relationship between humans and our canine companions. These findings have been boiled down to the one hundred essential ways dogs positively impact our lives. Each fact is accompanied by a inspiring true story. If you love your dog, and science tells us that you do, this book will inspire and entertain.

Communicate Better: It sounds odd to say a creature that communicates with barking and body language can have such a profound effect on human communication. But by providing a common point of reference and concern, dogs help us to feel a connection to other humans. That connection makes us feel more comfortable communicating with each other. When meeting a new person, the presence of a dog reduces the time before people feel comfortable while talking with each other by 45 percent.

Live Longer: There is perhaps no better gift that dogs offer us humans than this simple fact. People who care for a dog live longer, healthier lives than those who do not. On average, people who cared for dogs during their lives lived 3 years longer than people who never had a dog.

No Monkey Business: Primates are genetically more similar to humans than any other creature. But try to tell a chimpanzee something and you will be hard pressed to get your message across. Dogs are uniquely attuned to the messages we send. Dogs study humans and have evolved to build social skills that help them to function around us. Dogs are 52 percent more likely to follow human cues such as pointing toward a source of food than are primates.

Around the Block: Good habits are often misunderstood as difficult or unpleasant chores. But there is tremendous value in the simple act of taking a walk. Walking not only burns calories, it also decreases stress. Having a dog means regularly talking walks – it's something you do for your dog but in truth your dog is doing for you. Dog owners walk 79 percent farther in an average week than non–dog owners.

fall fashion

This time of year I find it so hard to figure out what to wear.

It's not cold enough to start wearing earth tones,wool and dark denim.
Yet it's no longer hot enough for my very tired summer wardrobe.
A.K.A. white jeans, misc tops and havaianas.
I am so sick of all my summer clothes and can't wait to wear my favourite cashmere sweaters and fall shoes.
I love fall fashion.
But it's still too early to put all the summer things away and I keep jamming new stuff in my closet until I swear the bar is going to break in half.
Oh how I wish I had a huge walk-in closet with one half dedicated to spring/summer and the other for fall/winter....
A girl can dream..
Until then I need to purge.
Out with the old and in with the new.

Speaking of new, did a little retail therapy last week and picked up "a few" new shoes.
So comfy and so cute..
At least my feet will be happy this fall.

back to school

How is it already the first day of school?
It's crazy how fast the summer went by.
But I for one couldn't be happier.
I love the routine and I'm so happy that Lulu loves it as well.
She thrives when she is learning new things.
Then again, don't we all?
We find out in the morning of the first day who her teacher will be and who her classmates are.
This does cause a wee bit of anxiety. Admittedly more for me than Lulu.
But I'm so relieved that she really scored in the teacher department this year and as a bonus has a bunch of her favourite friends in her class which she was thrilled about. (me too for that matter..whew..)
I do have to say that we really have some phenomenal teachers at our school, so either way she would have been in great hands.
I feel so fortunate that she goes to such a great neighbourhood school with such a committed and enthusiastic faculty.
Despite the torrential downpours, the first day couldn't have gone better.
Although she had a super fun summer I think it's so great to be back.

I hope your first day back at school went as well as ours..