3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Product Review

Day 85/365: Dog Toy Testing Continues

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Brody seems so happy, and he is, happy to destroy any squeaky dog toy that comes into the house.  If you read his previous toy escapade, you will see he is quite the toy enthusiast and he’s at it again, another dog toy test, another day with fluff littering the living room. Mighty Dog Toys are promoted as being tested by tigers (watch videos here) and encourages the consumer to rethink durability. 

Day 85: Brody's New Toy
Day 85: Brody’s New Toy

I signed up to be a toy tester with MyDogToy.com to save money, they are half price if you agree to review the toy on the website, now it’s become a challenge. I hope the feedback I give VIP Products will learn actually create an indestructible dog toy. Wouldn’t that be wonderful.

Dog toy test by a Jack russell terrier
Look at me, look at me!!

This has been the best squeaky dog toy so far. I liked it because it was big enough to grab and pull away from Brody without getting near his mouth. The Mega Gear Ring was much easier to play fetch and throw, I loved it and I  think Brody even loved the big size. The Ring seemed to fight with him as he ran and he carried it various ways with his head  the middle of the circle. Tried to get various pictures, but he moved too fast.

The outside fabric was quilted and prevented him from pulling all the outside cover off. That frustrated him to no end, he could only rip one square inch of fabric at a time. Mighty Dog Toys goes to great lengths to attempt to make their toys durable, and for normal dogs, or even persistent dogs this would work, as you can see below VIP Products tries really hard.

Seven Rows of Stitching Each toy’s seven layers of material are sewn together with two rows of linear stitching and two rows of cross stitching. The four rows of stitching are protected with an industrial grade luggage material that is sewn 3 more times. Seven Layers of Material Three layers of 600 Denier industrial grade material, three layers of plastic coating and finally one layer of soft fleece. All seven layers are rolled together and then sewn with a one inch cross pattern to prevent layer separation. Protective Webbing Additional industrial grade luggage material is sewn around the outside edge with three rows of stitching to cover and protect the first four rows of stitching. Squeaker Safety Pockets Each Squeaker is safe and quiet because they are sewn into a nylon safety pocket beneath seven layers of material.

Dog destroys a dog toy
Yes, I’m the destroyer, bring on the next one…

It took Brody almost 2 hours to penetrate and release fluff. This is the longest of any dog toy I’ve ever gotten him. Then it was only one of four compartments.
This was great!  He literally exhausted himself. The last compartment wasn’t breached for almost six hours. He eventually tore and ripped holes in the fabric, but threw and tossed it around for the next couple of days.

We had a lot of fun with this one, and if I had taken it away after a few hours, then given it back later, it would of latest for days.

Photoshop Notes:  Top picture, which really is my “photo of the day “,  normal action layers, but I erased the background in the upper left of the cabinet and Xbox controllers, it was distracting and messy

Have you had any luck with finding indestructible dog toys? If so I’d like to hear about them. Leave me a comment, or contact me on Twitter.

Tidy Dog trains pups to pick up dog toys, and makes me laugh

edit_5907_grande In the age of smart everything, it’s rare that a product actually makes me first laugh, then internally chastise myself for doing so after realizing the utility of the thing. When Tidy Dog creator Chris Lorkowski contacted me about his …
Watch and understand your dog

Ensure that you take away all the dog’s toys, bones and food that’s lying around. You may be able to pick up your dog’s bone, but your dog may be unsure about someone else picking it up. So what happened in this case? It’s hard to know without seeing …
Bad dog may be anxious

Bad dog may be anxious. Forbes Veterinary Clinic vet Saraih Werry with Remy, who suffers from anxiety issues, and some of the Kong dog toys available at the clinic. 0214politepets2. Tweet. Facebook. of. ╳ …
How to Clean Dog Toys – Two Little Cavaliers

How to Clean Dog Toys – Simple Steps to Keep Your Dog Healthy.
 

Day 69/365: It’s COLD in Nebraska!

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Day 69: Yes the thermometer is correct

Woke up one morning not wanting to climb out of bed. It was cold! Brrrr. Broke out my trusty iPod, (have I mentioned I love my iPod yet? Well I do!) and checked the weather. Yes, you read it correctly -2.1F, that is without wind chill which made it feel like -15 F, too cold for outside pictures, I think I’ll just stay under the covers and work from my iPod. I can do that, email counts.

The free App is @Thermometer, simple, but does the trick. I’m really addicted to Scramble, it’s like online Boggle. Don’t even ask what level I’m on, it’s embarrassing.

Day 61/365: Easy Apple Muffin Recipe

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My Kids Titled me the Muffin Queen.

It is this easy muffin recipe that helped me earn that title with my family.

Easy apple muffin recipe
Day 61: Apple Muffins

Blueberry, Apple, or Chocolate Chip muffins, I can crank them out in 30 minutes whenever anyone wants a snack.  Here are some apple muffins and the very easy recipe that my daughter brought home from her Elmwood-Murdock high school foods class.

Apple Muffin Tea Pairing

Now, you can’t just eat a muffin without something to drink. This fresh apple muffin recipe is a perfect pairing to my Apple Cider Tea

But before baking your fresh apple muffins recipe, make sure you have the following ingredients. and supplies. When I sold muffins at our local farmers market , I loved using the wrapping papers below.

Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Cups and Spoons by Cooking Gods with Bonus Magnetic Chart. 12 Piece Stackable Metric Cup and Spoon SetStainless Steel Metal Measuring Cups and Spoons by Cooking Gods with Bonus Magnetic Chart. 12 Piece Stackable Metric Cup and Spoon SetRachael Ray Oven Lovin' Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin and Cupcake Pan, OrangeRachael Ray Oven Lovin’ Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin and Cupcake Pan, OrangeBob's Red Mill Super-Fine Gluten Free Almond Flour, 3 PoundBob’s Red Mill Super-Fine Gluten Free Almond Flour, 3 PoundHoffmaster 611120 Tulip Cup Cupcake Wrapper/Baking Cup, 2Hoffmaster 611120 Tulip Cup Cupcake Wrapper/Baking Cup, 2

Ingredients for Easy Apple Muffins

  • 3/4 cup Milk
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup apples
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg

Cinnamon Crumble Muffin Topping

  • 1 TBSP flour
  • 2 TBSP sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 TBSP butter

Easy Apple Muffin Directions

This is my Basic muffin recipe that you can customize to any flavor. For step 4 add in “special” ingredients of your choice. Such as blueberries or chocolate chips. 

I use a large liquid measuring cup and this is easy.

  1. Fill measuring cup with 3/4 cup milk. Add oil to the 1 cup line, add egg and mix.
  2. In a small mixing bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Form a hole in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients. Quickly mix with a fork about 20 seconds.  Batter will be lumpy.
  4. Add in the apples and gently mix them into the batter.
  5. Scoop into lined, or greased, muffin tins about 3/4ths full
  6. Mix topping ingredients in a small bowl with a fork. It will be crumbly. Sprinkle on muffins.

Bake at 400F for 15-18 minutes.

Depending on the size of your muffin tins or muffin wrappers, this easy apple muffin recipe makes 6-9 muffins.

 

I LOVE my Ugg Boots

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Fashionable Ugg Boots and slippers
Day 47/365: Ugg Boots

I love my Uggs!

What’s even better is I got them almost 15  years ago, before the Ugg fashion craze, brand new (no tread wear), for only $5.00, at a Goodwill store. They are original sheepskin and are the best boots I’ve ever worn. Even in the coldest Nebraska winters, my feet have never gotten cold. Sometimes they are too warm, but you won’t find me complaining.

My Uggs are  so warm I only wear them a few months of the year, that’s why they are in such good shape. Sure, they don’t stand up straight and tall anymore, but don’t they look comfy cozy on a cold January winter day?

This style of Tall Classic Uggs sell for well over $100, at that price I would be afraid to wear them. But at the bargain I got, I go out in everything!

My UGGs  have proven themselves worthy. It’s one of the reasons why I’m a thrift store addict, you never know what you will find at bargain prices.

Why pay full retail for designer clothes when you can pay a fraction of the cost?

You can pay $170 for Uggs from the upscale stores, but me I prefer to buy a whole wardrobe by thrifting for the same price that includes fashion designs such as Ann Taylor, New York  & Company, Nordstroms, Eddie Bauer, and LL Bean.