Nootie Dog Shampoo and Daily Spritz Combo~ Feature Review

Adopting our dog Ripley, a miniature schnauzer/yorkie mix, has brought our family many smiles and lots of laughter. Before we brought him home, we researched what his temperament might be like, what supplies we needed, and how to best take care of his grooming needs.

After some trial and error, we settled into a grooming routine and now take Ripley to the doggie spa about every six weeks. Even so, Ripley is a curious little dog and tends to get into things he shouldn't- like mud and deer doo, so there are times we have to bathe Ripley at home.

Fortunately, for times like those, I have a bottle of Nootie Shampoo and Daily Spritz Combo that I like to use.

{About Nootie}The inspiration for nootie began while searching for shampoo for our dog. We discovered most pet shampoo fragrances were not very appealing and thought, "Why not... indulge our dog with the same fragrances we so often enjoy ourselves?"
Hence, nootie was born. Many pet shampoo fragrances last a meager period of time as well as offer insignificant, if any, clinical benefit for your dog. We championed to find a solution. Our formulators, equipped with more than 20 years experience providing products to the veterinarian industry, developed a line of shampoo and spritz that offer long lasting, tantalizing scents as well as numerous benefits for your dog's coat and skin. With a plethora of naturally derived ingredients such as Aloe and Oatmeal, Essential Fatty Acids, Sweet Almond Oil, Rosemary and Jojoba oil, you will notice a distinct difference in your dogs coat and skin. Coats will be soft and shiny, while a multitude of skin problems will be alleviated.

Nootie sent us a bottle of their Shampoo and Daily Spritz Combo in their Cucumber Melon Scent. The fresh scent of cucumber melon combined with aloe and oatmeal helps relieve dry, itchy skin while leaving Ripley smelling fresh and clean. Not a huge fan of sweet smells, I worried at first that the smell would be too overpowering, but it isn't. The scent is subtle, light and only slightly sweet. It reminds me of the cucumber melon products at Bath and Body Works.
The top portion of the bottle contains 12 ozs of Soothing Cucumber Melon shampoo. The bottom bottle contains 4 oz's of Nootie's daily spritz in the same long lasting fragrance which conditions and freshens Ripley's coat.

{About the Shampoo and Daily Spritz Combo}
- Long lasting fragrance
- Made with natural ingredients
- Soap & paraben free
- No sulfates or harsh chemicals
- Safe to use along with topical flea & tick products
Ingredients Shampoo - Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Coco Betaine, Glycerin, Polyquat 7 (Conditioner), Oatmeal Extract, Aloe Concentrate, infused with essence of Cucumber Melon, Preservative Daily

Spritz - Purified Water, SDA 40 Alcohol, Nonoxynol 9, Polyquat 7, Glycerin, infused with essence of Cucumber Melon, Preservative
I have been using the Nootie Shampoo and Daily Spritz Combo on Ripley for about a couple of months now. I have noticed his coat seems healthier. There's a shine to it that wasn't there before. In between trips to the groomer, I use the daily spritz on Ripley. (I LOVE the spritz!) It is a terrific detangler! Ripley’s coat is shiny and soft, and he smells great too! Two things I like best about this product is that it is safe to use- no harsh chemicals, and the soft, great smelling fur lasts a long time.

{Buy It}
I highly recommend Nootie products for any dog owner. You can purchase the smampoo and spritz combo for only $19.99 on Nootie's website. It's worth every penny!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

Around the Collar: Feature Review

Life with Ripley gets more interesting by the day. One moment I have this adorable, fluffy dog, and the next, a dog with a lot less hair.

You see, I took Ripley for a spa day, assuming he'd enjoy (ha ha) a shampoo, nail trim, and after a soothing brushing, a little trim of his beautiful, curly coat. I didn't expect that when I went to pick him up after his four hour (Yes, it did take that long! Perhaps that should have been a hint to me.) stay at the groomer's, he'd have a whole lot less hair than he had when I took him in!! The groomer told me that she misunderstood me and thought I asked for Ripley to be shaved.

Regardless, my now short-haired pooch is able to properly review the simply stunning All-in-One Harness that we were sent by Sharon from Around the Collar.

About Around the Collar (from their website):
In 2001, with over 20 years in the leather accessories business, we entered the wonderful world of pets. We take pride in producing fashion savvy collars, leashes, harnesses and carriers with the same craftsmanship and attention we use to produce fine designer handbags and belts.

We truly believe that you and your pet should always be "well accessorized" and never compromise. At Around the Collar, detail is never forgotten. We use top-grade leather (even for our linings!), genuine Swarovski stones and create everything in our New York Studio to ensure your pet is stylish and comfortable. Every item is treated with love and care and dedicated to the ones we all adore … our pets.

I first stumbled upon the Around the Collar website when I was searching the internet for items with which to pamper the female miniature schnauzer we hoped to rescue, Bella. I was immediately drawn to the unique and stunning items offered by Around the Collar. Just glancing at the images, I could picture our new pup sporting a bubble-gum pink leather collar with white leather flowers and Swarovski crystals. I knew I HAD to have some bling for Bella, but without knowing her measurements, I had to put an order on hold.

Fast forward several weeks, and we found that Bella was not meant to be; rather, we were chosen by Ripley to be his forever family. Once again, I contacted Sharon, and after a wonderful chat on the phone where we discussed Ripley, blogging, her business, and San Francisco and NYC (I absolutely love her NY accent!), Sharon told me she and her husband (the creative geniuses behind the one-of-a kind Around the Collar designs) would custom-make Ripley an All-in-One Harness based on the measurements I provided her.

When the harness arrived in the mail, I was first impressed by the beautiful design and excellent craftsmanship. It is a soft brown leather with contrast stitching and an oval slider. On the slider is an image of a dog. Quite unique. After playing around a little with it on Ripley, I figured out how it worked (Poor Rip had to endure a bit of patience with me on this one!) If only I would have realized right away that the leather oval slider on the harness is what made the harness adjustable and secure. Silly me didn't even try that until after Ripley wore the harness several times!

I must say, now that we have had many walks with the harness, I love how easy it is to slip on Ripley. He looks handsome, and no matter where we go, we are stopped by at least one person comments on the harness. Everyone who has seen it agrees that it is truly unique. You simply will not find anything like it in your typical pet store.

If you are in need of a new collar, leash, or harness (or if you are like me and love to spoil your pet), then I highly recommend Around the Collar for your pet! Whether you are looking for some sweet bling, fancy flowers, tough studs, or some other design, you will find a vast selection of materials and decorative touches at Around the Collar. You won't find anything quite like their designs, and most definitely not with the excellent craftsmanship you'll get with Around the Collar.

After all, doesn't your pet deserve the very best?

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

Kyjen Hide-a-Squirrel Junior: Feature Review

Our little dog Ripley loves to play. All. The. Time. For the first few weeks after we rescued him, Ripley wore us out with his constant need to play tug-of-war or fetch. Then, I found out about Kyjen. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Kyjen was a life-saver for all of us.

{About Kyjen}

We design and make toys, games, puzzles, travel products and other quality dog products at fair prices. We have a passion for dogs, and thus feel that they deserve fun, functional products… products that last longer and challenge their minds and instincts so they can be happy and healthy, which in turn enriches all of our lives!

Kyjen offers many products for your pet, and the one that changed our lives is the Hide-a-Squirrel. This toy is an interactive puzzle toy. It comes with a plush hollow base/tree trunk with holes cut into it and three plush squirrels. I hide the squirrels in the trunk, and Ripley works at getting them out. I can make it simple for him, like I did when we fist got the toy, by only placing a small section of the squirrels into the holes. As Ripley learned how to use the toy, I made it more difficult for him by burying the squirrels completely into the trunk. Ripley will literally play with this toy for hours at a time!

If you live with an active dog, you can't go wrong with the Kyjen Hide-a-Squirrel toy! For a mere $12.49, you can make your pooch happy and buy yourself a little sanity as well. :)

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

If It Barks: Feature Review

Part of the fun of adopting a new puppy is getting to load up on lots of fun supplies! Ripley's foster mom and dad sent him home to us with a basic red harness and leash (which look smashing on him btw), but I wanted to jazz things up a bit with colors and patterns. If It Barks allowed me to do just that when they sent me a custom collar and leash in their Outback pattern. The Outback pattern is a beautiful red, orange, and brown stripe, and honestly, is stunning!

Nicole Robbins, Creative Director and Founder of If It Barks, is wonderful to work with! She asked questions about my pup and my preferences in pattern and informed me how to get the right fit for Ripley. After sending Nicole Ripley's neck size, she determined that he would need a custom size and also suggested an aluminum quick release. She then informed me that the custom order was being sent to her seamstress and would arrive once it was finished. I expected this to take a couple of weeks, yet the collar and matching leash arrived in less than one week.

If It Barks offers collars and leashes in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns. For smaller dogs (like Ripley) there are narrow collars and leashes (3/4" wide) These collars and leashes are lightweight, and made of strong materials which are sized for your small dog. Tis size is recommended for the teacup Yorkies, Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier and other small dog breeds. You can also purchase the standard 1" width collar and leash, of for larger dogs, If It Barks offers 1.5" collars and matching leashes. In addition to width choices, you may also choose either a standard quick release collar or a martingale collar.

Something really unique about If It Barks is its Hardware RePawsTM Program. For those dogs who have outgrown their collars, owners can sand in their used If It Barks hardware and receive 25% off their next order. Isn't that great? Not only are you protecting our environment by recycling, you are saving money too!

Ripley's new If It Barks collar and leash are beautiful! (In the photo to the right, you can see the leash. The collar is hidden by all his hair.) The craftsmanship is exceptional, and the service has been perfect. I have received numerous compliments on them. I cannot wait to order the matching harness! (I have been informed that harnesses are in the product development stage. YAY!)

I highly recommend If It Barks to all who want classy, unique designs for their dog. You will not regret your purchase.

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

Diaper Pail Test Drive: Smell Containment

This is the second post in a two-part diaper pail test drive. You can read my first post on the ease of use HERE.

I have come to really enjoy being a part of the Mom Central diaper pail test drive. Dealing with kitty litter has taken on a whole new meaning for me, and thanks to this test drive, I have no more yucky kitty litter smell in my house!

Smell containment is a very important feature of a diaper pail. This is the issue I will detail in this post.The Munchkin Arm and Hammer diaper pail is powered by odor eliminating baking soda. Once the lid is opened and the cat litter/diaper is pushed through the opening, the bag twists, sealing the odor. Then, as I close the lid, the Arm and Hammer powder drops down to further eliminate any odor. I liked how this particular pail kept the odors away, even after I removed the bag from the pail. To remove a full bag, I merely pull off the plastic ring and then fold it in half to seal it. Once sealed, I slide it through the hole and remove the bag through the front opening of the pail.

Purchasing Refills:
Munchkin Arm and Hammer Refill Bags
Product Features-

• Each pack contains 10 disposable refill bags total 30 bags that shut tight with a snap
• Just snap, seal and toss no cutting or tying knots in the bags
• Each bag holds up to 25 diapers
• Cost for Munchkin Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail Refill Bags, 3 Pack through Amazon- $20.97

The Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite pail has a Double-Lock design which seals in odor. It also has a five-layer refill with odor-barrier technology. According to the manufacturer, the Diaper Genie II Elite pail is the only pail with Ultra-Fresh Antimicrobial Protection built into the plastic to inhibit odor-causing bacteria. Once I step on the pedal to open the lid, I simply drop the kitty litter into the bag and shut the lid. To remove the bag inside, I use the internal childproof cutter, cut it off, and then tie the bag so it is ready to be used again.

Purchasing Refills:

Playtex Diaper Genie Refills

Product Features-

• Five-layer refill with odor-barrier technology
• Ultra-Fresh Antimicrobial Protection inhibits odor-causing bacteria
• Refills have a multi-layer film for the ultimate protection against odor
• Each refill can seal up to 180 diapers
• Cost for Diaper Genie II Refills - Pack of 3 through Amazon- $20.57

Bottom Line:
When it comes down to which pail contained that awful kitty litter smell the best, the Munchkin Arm and Hammer diaper pail is the winner hands-down! I love how I have absolutely zero kitty litter smell when using this system. I will most definitely keep using it and would recommend it to other as well.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.

REVIEW: Purrfect Play Pet Toys

In an earlier review of Purrfectplay's products, I tested some amazing products with our cat Tony and puppy Harley. Since that review, Harley died of a heart attack. He was just over a year old.

We all struggled with Harley's death, but no one in the family took it harder than my youngest son, Ian. You see, Harley was HIS puppy.

In November, we decided that we would adopt a kitten from the shelter. We took both boys, but the decision on which kitten we brought home with us was ultimately Ian's.

I saw an adorable caramel-colored long-haired female kitten I secretely hoped Ian would choose, but he didn't. Immediately, he went for the black and white short-hared male. He was older than most of them, which was a bonus.

Ian played with the kitten for a little while, and then reached down to pick him up. Right away, the kitten took to Ian, even allowing him to hold him on his back while Ian rubbed his tummy.

It was truly love at first sight for Ian, so the kitten, named Flip by Ian, came home with us.

Pam from Purrfectplay (makers of organic, dye-free, natural fiber toys for pets. Dye-free organic fibers are naturally toxin-free. This is important to us. ) very generously sent Flip and Tony some toys to play with.

The Wooly Dust Bunnies have been a HUGE hit with Flip and Tony! They are the perfect size for both kitties! (Flip is still small for 8 months, and Tony is a very large 5 year old Ragdoll.) I love watching them bat the balls with their paws and chase them all over the living room. Having hardwood floors really makes these balls go, so the cats are often zipping past us in chase.

From the Purrfectplay website:

So many kitties love a really small chasing ball. These little "bunnies" are perfect for just this kind of play! We wrap organic dye-free wool into pompoms and felt them . Light weight and fuzzy, these little balls are super fun to chase across the floor. They can get lost so we sell them in half dozens. Each bag comes with 6 wooly dust bunnies, a little packet of catnip for encouragement, and a simple organic cotton washing bag. Machine wash and dry. Please don't let big dogs swallow them! Made in the USA (Indiana).

If you have cats, you need to try these toys with them! They have provided countless hours of pure entertainment for out cats!

Another simply fabulous toy Flip and Tony had the pleasure of testing is the Chubby Snake. This toy is FILLED with catnip. What cat doesn't like catnip? Seriously, when I first tested catnip toys from Purrfectplay with our cat Tony, I didn't think he would play with anything, regardless of the catnip. He has always been a sedentary cat, even as a kitten. So, imagine my surprise when the Purrfectplay catnip toys transformed him from a lazy cat to an extremely playful cat?

The Chubby Snake is a great toy for cats who like to wrestle with their toys. Flip and Tony wrap their bodies around the Chubby Snake and kick at it. It is hilarious to watch! Flip will even cuddle up to the snake and sleep with it.

From the website:

At approximately 13 inches long by a chunky 7 inches wide, our new snake is a great alternative for those kitties who hug and kick their toys. This lovable toy is made with a soft but durable outer layer of fluffy thick organic Colorgrown fleece and tied with sturdy hemp cords. Inside you will find a separete organic cotton tube stuffed with our wonderful organic catnip and organic cotton batting. Hug it, kick it, wrestle with it, and sleep on it-- no matter how you play with it, it's great!

Pam also sent Flip a Baby Happy Carrot to try. Tony tested the larger carrot last year, and it was quite amusing to se Flip react the same way as Tony did when he was first given the toy. Flip meowed and purred quite loud, and then he grabbed the carrot and rolled onto his back while he played with it. So cute!

From the website:

Some of us live with cats that love everything small. We now offer our popular Happy Carrot in a smaller version perfect for these kitties. Each baby carrot is just over 3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Handcrafted from exactly the same lovely organic dye free fleece, they are filled with our amazing certified organic catnip and topped with little hemp leaves. Ideal for chewing and tossing! We offer these baby carrots in clusters of three. Tied together and labeled with a tag we craft from repurposed kitty calendars, they make great gifts for your kitties or the kitties of those you love.

I really like the toys from Purrfectplay. Not only are they safe for our cats, our cats absolutely love them!

Purrfectplay is the purrfect solution for people who want safe, natural toys for their pets! It is definitely our new favorite place to shop.

Purrfectplay Pet Toys Review and Giveaway

My house is not only home to human kids, two furkids live here as well. Tony is our four year old Ragdoll cat, and Harley is our seven month old Golden Retriever, Standard Poodle, Irish Wolfhound mix puppy. I have done a great deal of research when it comes to making sure that my furkids eat natural, healthy foods- no byproducts. Their health is of great importance to me.

When we buy toys for Harley, I make sure not to buy cheap rubber toys that are a potential hazard for him. Harley is easy to buy toys for because he'll play with anything! Tony, on the other hand, never has had much interest in kitty toys. We have tried to interest him in toys, but ever since he turned about two years old, he could care less for the most part.

One afternoon, I was browsing around online for safe toys for Harley, and I found Purrfectplay. They are makers of organic, dye-free, natural fiber toys for pets. Dye-free organic fibers are naturally toxin-free. This is important to us. Wanting Harley to have safe toys, I contacted Pam Wheelock, Purrfectplay's owner. After a little discussion, it was determined that Tony should try the Purrfectplay's catnip toys and Harley, the wool balls.

I knew Harley would love the wool balls we chose for him. I just didn't hold out much hope for a great reaction from Tony with the catnip toys. He has had other catnip toys, and while he liked them for the first five or ten minutes he had them, he quickly lost interest. Yes, I completely underestimated the ability of the toys to excite our cat.

When the box arrived from Purrfectplay, Tony would not leave it alone. I mean, seriously. That little stinker about bit me when I moved the box away from him so I could open it! He loudly complained as I carried the box to the kitchen and away from him.

Once I opened it, the complaints grew louder. I removed a Happy Carrot and set in on the floor in front of Tony. His reaction was hilarious. He meowed; he purred; he jumped straight up in the air, and he rolled all over that carrot! He carried it around in his mouth by the hemp strings, and wherever Tony went, the carrot went too.

My cousin Judy was visiting, and I sent home with her a small wool ball to give to our friend's puppy, Clancy. She kept the ball in the same bag that the Happy Carrot was packaged in and had it in her purse when she got home. Her cat Norgay, an older cat, licked her purse and rubbed against it, and she realized that he must smell the catnip that was in the bag before.

Now, you have to understand, Norgay has even less interest in toys than Tony does. We decided that we had to test the Happy Carrot with Norgay. It was decided that if Norgay played with the toy, then Purrfectplay was a genious.

Sure enough, Norgay loves the Happy Carrot, and I decided that we would let him have it, and we'll have to order Tony a new one from Purrfectplay. :)

Now, I did mention that Harley will play with anything, right? Well, his wool ball is more like a lovey to him. That silly pup will fetch the ball, but he doesn't bring it back! He carries it around in that sobbery mouth of his. I am pleased to say that this is the most durable toy Harley has ever played with! He's had it now for several weeks, and it has held its shape.

Purrfectplay is the purrfect solution for people who want safe, natural toys for their pets! It is definitely our new favorite place to shop.

WIN IT:
One living life one day at a time reader will win a great set of wool balls for their furbaby.

HERE’S HOW TO WIN:
• Visit the Purrfectplay website, and then come back here and tell me tell two products you would love to own for your pet.
• If you are not a blogger, email 3 of your friends telling them about this giveaway, and cc me at colleenstearns@gmail.com.

SCORE EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to my site and Purrfectplay (be sure to post your link here so I know where to find it.)
2. Subscribe to my blog via email.
3. Click on the FOLLOW THIS BLOG link on my left sidebar.
4. Tweet about this contest on Twitter (Be sure to follow me on Twitter too- see link in my sidebar.).

IMPORTANT: Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

*Enter by 9pm (EST) on Saturday, January 17, 2009.
One lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified via email, so make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email. If she or he does not respond within 48 hours, a new random winner will be chosen.