A holiday bonus for you & for the animal charity of your choice

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As I mentioned the other day, I’m taking part in a fantastic event this holiday season – Social Media for Social Good.  (Thanks to Two Little Cavaliers for the opportunity to be involved!)

The winner of this event will win cash and the chance to donate cash to the animal charity of his or her choice.  Pretty cool, right?  (For more specifics, check out my earlier post or visit Two Little Cavaliers.)

Today, I’m here to share another opportunity to enter.  Have a Twitter account? All you need to do is follow me on Twitter using the Rafflecopter below.  (If you’re already a follower, you can still earn an entry by confirming that you already follow me – just click on the Rafflecopter for instructions.)  You can earn additional entries by following the Twitter accounts of the other bloggers participating in this great event or doing the other items listed in the Rafflecopter.

Don’t have a Twitter account?  You can also enter using your Facebook account – please check out last week’s post to do so.  (Even if you have a Twitter account, feel free to do both!)

I loved hearing about the organizations some of you wanted to donate the prize to, and I’d love to hear from more of you.  If I won, I’d donate to a great local rescue like Friends of Homeless Animals. Check out some of their adorable adoptables looking for homes this holiday season in the video below, then scroll down to enter!

Such an adorable group…

Ready to get your entries on?  Here you go…


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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All I want is what I have coming to me…

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‘Tis the season for wish lists.  I  haven’t really created a wish list this year (other than a few items I added on Pinterest).  I’ve been a bit of a proCATinator lately, in fact.  (Apparently I need to take a cue from Sally and demand my fair share.)

However, today’s post is inspired by the almighty wish list.  For each link I share today, I’m going to tell you what it makes me want.  (Not all of my themes are gems, folks, but I’m giving it the old college try.)

  1. Before we get started, your punny pet name for the week would be perfect for a feathered friend: Wing Crosby.
  2. Up next, enjoy this bonus unrelated punnage: Wu Tang Flan.  This makes me want to cook lots of punny food and share it on my other, oft-neglected blog.  It also makes me want to sit around thinking up other punny foods.  I think I’ll settle in with a Donna Martini and a PBJT (Peanut Butter & Jelly Taylor) sandwich.
  3. Um… anyway… this story makes me want to move to New Zealand.
  4. Apparently I’m all about the big life changes today, because this video makes me want a baby… psych!  It actually just makes me want more puppies, as most things do.
  5. Up next, this video makes me want to adopt a cat to help me practice yoga.  Bella doesn’t do yoga with me – she just thinks I’m hanging out on the floor so I can pet her more easily.
  6. I played the piano as a child and want to get one for my house.  Although, Bella hasn’t shown any musical talent, this clip makes me want that piano even more.
  7. This post from Something Wagging made me want to make up a silly song about puppy balls. (I can check this one off the list.)  If also makes me want to post some more dog song parodies, this time with Christmas carols.  So… check back soon if that sort of thing interests you.
  8. In other news, this tutorial shared by Doggie Stylish makes me wish I was a better knitter. However, I’m still working on my first project – a scarf.  Someday…
  9. These cookie cutters make me want to go on a baking spree.  I’m due for a good baking spree. (See #2 above.)

Finally, this week’s video makes me want to pen a Christmas story involving a giant cat.  It’d be sort of a Pride and Prejudice and Zombies kind of thing…



(via Life with Cats)

So, what’s on your wish list this year?  I think Bella is just hoping she never has to see those antlers again…

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Bella’s 2011 Holiday Tip… revealed!

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Drumroll, please… you made your guesses last week, and now it’s time to reveal Bella’s 2011 Holiday Tip!

This face greets you on the front of the card:

Happy holidays!

Inside, you get another dose of Bella and this year’s tip:

Bella Holiday Tip #11


Even if you look good in antlers, you probably won’t be invited to join in the Reindeer Games.  Take a nap instead.

Finally, Bella leaves you with some additional advice on the back of the card:

It’s important to practice your landings.

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Cash for you AND for animals in need? Yes, please!

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As you may remember, a few weeks ago I mentioned a holiday blogging event created by Two Little Cavaliers to help animals in need.  Well, the time has come… the Social Media for Social Good event is here!

So, what’s in it for you?  You can enter to win a cash prize – if you win, forty percent will go to you and sixty percent will be donated to the animal charity of your choice.  It can be any 501(c)(3) that helps animals (or a properly recognized charity in your country if you’re not in the U.S.). 

Good for you AND for animals in need – what more could you ask for?

All you need to do is Like this humble blog on Facebook using the Rafflecopter below (after the jump).  Just scroll down to find I Still Want More Puppies on the list and click “Do it” for instructions.  (If you already Like our page, you can still enter – after you click “Do it” you should have the option to enter as well.)

For more entries, you can Like the other great bloggers participating in the event as well.  Check out the list via the Rafflecopter or through the Linky at the end of this post.  (You’ll have more chances to enter in the upcoming weeks using Twitter and Google+.  Check back on December 18 for another chance to enter.)

I’d love to hear about the organization you’d send the donation to if you won.  If I won, I’d send the money to a local rescue to help adoptable pets like this adorable guy, Riker.  He’s currently at Friends of Homeless Animals and is looking for a home in the Northern Virginia area.

What about you?  In the comments, tell me a little about the organization you would like to donate to if you win.  (As you can see from the Rafflecopter, commenting on this blog post will earn you another entry… so go for it!)

Good luck to everyone – hope you have a great Wednesday!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet the other participating bloggers…

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Adorable adoptables in northern Virginia: Desi & Ringo

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Every week, I’ll be featuring adoptable pets from local rescue groups.  (I usually post this feature on Sunday, but a combination of holiday parties and a stomach bug resulted in a delay this time around.)  This week, I’m sharing adorable adoptables from the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC) and A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (A Forever Home).  Ready to meet this week’s featured pups, Desi and Ringo? Here we go…

First up, meet Desi!  This cute Chihuahua is approximately 7 years old.   Here’s his bio from A Forever Home:

“Hello! My name is Desi and I am a purebred Chihuahua and
weigh only 7 pounds. I was rescued from a place called a puppy mill. I lived in
a cage 24/7. I received little to no socialization so I need a lot of patience to understand that people are okay. I just learned what toys are and I LOVE to
play with my foster brothers and sisters. My foster mom and her dogs are
teaching me what it is like to be a family dog.

In time I am sure I will
overcome my fear of people and the outdoors, but I am going to need a family to
show me lots of patience. I will need a family to continue my socialization, to
teach me that I do not need to be so fearful with strangers. I am going to need
someone to keep me on a schedule so that I know what to expect and help me get
house trained and crate trained. I am looking for a family with older or no
children, as the little kids are very noisy and intimidating for a nervous guy
like me. I’m hoping my family will have another small dog as they could help
show me the ropes.

Can you be that family, to help me learn what it is like to
be free and live without always being in fear? It may take me time, but I
promise once I learn to trust you I will be able to return your love ten fold.“

If you think you have the perfect home for Desi, visit A Forever Home for more information or email Info@aforeverhome.org.  To view the other pets available for adoption at A Forever Home, click here.

A Forever Home also has a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Chantilly.  For the address and to find out more info, click here. 
(If you have your eye on a specific pet, please email for information
first – not all pets will be at the weekly event.  However, there are a
lot of awesome pets in need of homes, so if you’re in the neighborhood,
stop by and meet some of them!)


Up next, meet Ringo!  This handsome pup is a Husky mix looking for a home.  Here’s his bio from HSFC:

“Ringo is a star for sure! This beautiful boy is only a year
old and already a favorite of our farm.

He’s very sweet, loves to play, is
wonderful with other dogs and has personality plus. His longhair coat is tan
and white and he knows he’s handsome.

Come and meet Ringo and make him the star
of your home.

Attributes: SUPERSTAR!”

 



Is this star the one for you?  If so, visit the HSFC website for more information.  To view the other pets available for adoption at HSFC, click here.

Do you have room in your home (and your heart) for one of these handsome guys?  Then contact HSFC or A Forever Home.  If you know someone else who might be in the market for an awesome companion, please share this post.  Let’s find some homes for Desi and Ringo!


Bios and photos used with permission from HSFC and A Forever Home.
 

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Ice Capades: Penguin Edition

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Someone totally needs to remake The Cutting Edge with an all-penguin cast, right?  (Perhaps I should add penguin movies to my imaginary dog parody production company’s portfolio.  On an unrelated note, apparently I’ve got ice skating on the brain this week.)

Bonus link: tiny penguins in tiny sweaters!

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Dance of the Sugar-Plum Puppies

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It’s Friday again, so I’m here with your weekly dose of linky goodness…

  1. Your punny pet name: Kitty Ya-meow-guchi.  (Fun fact: kittens are really into ice skating.)
  2. It’s definitely the party season – time to stock up on gifts for your hosts/hostesses.  If one of them happens to be a dog lover, here are some great ideas.  Another option – just get a gift for the dog instead.
  3. Once you have the gifts, you’ll need to wrap them. On that note, I have a feeling most cats would not be as tolerant as this one.
  4. Looking for some new Christmas music to sing while you decorate? Might I suggest The 12 Dogs of Christmas? (That post may inspire me to dogify some Christmas carols soon.  Stay tuned.)
  5. Does your dog inspire your holiday decorations? Maybe I should take a cue from Bo and make a Bella out of marshmallows and peanut butter cups.
  6. Speaking of my little blog star, want to see more photos from Bella’s holiday shoot?  Check out our album on Facebook. (While you’re there, you might as well like the page too, right?)
  7. Considering taking photos of your pet this holiday season but not sure where to start?  Lucky for you, I’ve rounded up some tips from our pals at Go Pet Friendly and Alfie’s Blog.
Finally, here’s a holiday treat – therapy dogs performing The Nutcracker.  Personally, I think the Mouse King steals the show.


(Visit here for more information about this performance.)

I was joking about creating a candy Bella (I blame last night’s Parks & Recreation for putting that notion into my brain), but now I’m wondering –  what candy would you use to make a replica of your dog?

(P.S. Parks and Recreation, much like Community, has a documented love of puppies. Yet another reason I love these two shows.)

Happy Friday!

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Can you guess Bella’s holiday tip?

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It will probably not surprise you to learn that Bella is always the star of my holiday cards.  You may remember that Bella is also full of holiday wisdom – as usual, she’ll be sharing a Bella Holiday Tip this year.

I’m not quite ready to reveal this year’s photos and tip – if I did, it wouldn’t be a surprise when people open their mailboxes!  However, today I’m sharing a few photos from our holiday photo shoot. (I took over 155 photos that day – so this will probably not be the last of them I share with you.)

Think you can guess Bella’s 2011 holiday tip?  (Hint: it involves antlers.)  Give it your best shot in the comments!

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Adorable adoptables in northern Virginia: Princess & Buttercup

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Every Sunday I’ll be featuring adoptable pets from local rescue groups.  This week, I’m sharing adorable adoptables from the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC) and A Forever Home Rescue Foundation (A Forever Home).  Ready to meet Princess and Buttercup?  As you wish…

First up, meet Princess!  This Shepherd/Rottweiler mix is approximately 5 years old.   Here’s her bio from A Forever Home:

“Princess is a sweet girl. She is housebroken, polite, good with
children, other dogs and cats, and has an endearing disposition. When
you give her any attention she looks at you with her big brown eyes and
melts into a puddle at your feet. Princess needs a home without small
children.”

If you think you have the perfect home for Princess, visit A Forever Home for more information or email Info@aforeverhome.org.  To view the other pets available for adoption at A Forever Home, click here.

A Forever Home also has a weekly adoption event at the PetCo in Chantilly.  For the address and to find out more info, click here. 
(If you have your eye on a specific pet, please email for information
first – not all pets will be at the weekly event.  However, there are a
lot of awesome pets in need of homes, so if you’re in the neighborhood,
stop by and meet some of them!)


Up next, meet Buttercup!  This Puggle is approximately 20 lbs. of cuteness.  Here’s her bio from HSFC:

“This adorable little girl came to us with just days to
go until she gave birth. Now that her 3 pups are ready for their forever
homes, it’s time for Buttercup to find hers.

She is a total lovebug,
who is great with people of all ages. She’s a happy girl, with little
short legs and big floppy ears. Her tan and black coat is short and she
is only 1 and 1/2 yrs. old. She’s great with other dogs but loves people
first. Come and give Buttercup a chance to show you what a great girl
she is and how complete she would make your home. 

Attributes: Super Sweetie!”

 

Is this sweetheart the one for you?  If so, visit the HSFC website for more information.  To view the other pets available for adoption at HSFC, click here.

Do you have room in your home (and your heart) for one of these lovely ladies?  Then contact HSFC or A Forever Home.  If you know someone else who might be in the market for an awesome companion, please share this post.  Let’s find some homes for Princess and Buttercup!


Bios and photos used with permission from HSFC and A Forever Home.
 

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A paw in the hand is worth two in the grass

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Please excuse the tortured saying in today’s post title. I wanted to share a few photos I shot as part of the Daily Dog Challenge group on Flickr (created by our pals at Tales and Tails and BZ Training), and my brain apparently decided to stop working properly.

Anyway, the Daily Dog Challenge is pretty fun… there are daily prompts that encourage you to take photos of your furry friend.  It’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing while working on your photography skills.  (After all, practice makes perfect).

For example, I took the photo below in response to this prompt: “Take a photo today that shows a paw in a hand.”

View on Flickr

Bella doesn’t really like when people mess with her paws… so I took a rather liberal interpretation of the “hand” part of things. Want to see what other photographers did with this prompt?  Check it out!

Another recent prompt was: “How does your dog react to his reflection? Show us today with a photo!”  I submitted the shot below:

View on Flickr

There were a lot of great photos submitted for this one.

As you can tell, I’ve been experimenting with the mood of my photos lately – these photos were taken with customized settings to create an amber glow.  (Camera settings – and great Nikon D7000 user’s guide – courtesy of Ken Rockwell.  If you want to learn more about photography, check out Mr. Rockwell’s site – you’ll find user’s guides for a variety of cameras as well as some fantastic tips.)

For good measure, here’s one shot outside with a different feel, shot in response to the prompt: “Around the world, the seasons are different. Take a picture today that shows us what it’s like in your corner of the world!”

View on Flickr

You can see the other photos submitted in response to this prompt here.

Feel free to check out my other submissions here, or visit the group pool to see what others have submitted.  I don’t manage to keep up with every challenge, but I really enjoy it! 

Sounds like fun right?  If you’re interested in joining the Daily Dog Challenge, go here to learn more.

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