Way too often now I'm seeing posts on social media about dogs that are lost and found.  It breaks my heart so I decided to put together a post with some tips to help prevent that nightmare from happening, or at least doing the best you can to stop it.

 

1\\ Leash Your Dog Inside

When you answer the door make sure your dog is already on a leash so that there is no remote possibility of him slipping out when the door opens.  If someone is watching your dog, make sure you tell them to do the same.  When they take your dog outside they should always have him fully secured before they open the door.  

 

2\\ Don’t Trust A Fence

A fenced in yard can be fantastic however there’s always the remote possibility that your dog can crawl underneath to chase after something so make sure you either have an electric fence, or you get a tie down stake (or the type of leash that gets attached to two items and gives your dog a full yard’s length to run).

 

3\\ Keep Your Dog Inside

If there are fireworks, make sure your dog is inside versus outside on a leash.  When a dog starts to panic they can break free with their superhuman anxiety strength.  If you are having a cook out or having guests over, make sure your dog is kept inside or even closed off in a crate or a room with the door shut so that he can’t  slip out and wander off unnoticed.

 

4\\ Microchip or Collar Your Dog

A Microchip is a great way to be quickly reunited with your dog if he ever gets lost and then found.  A vet, humane society, and other places can easily scan your dog and bring up the owner’s info.   If you don’t have a microchip, make sure your dog ALWAYS wears a collar.

 

5\\ Never Let Him Outside Without A Leash

Even if your dog stays in the yard most of the time, you should always have him on a leash so that he doesn’t get that little taste of freedom that may someday pop back in his head when he’s chasing a squirrel or another dog. 

 

6\\ Mind Your Door Manners

If you are having something delivered or you are moving things out of your house and you have to leave the door open for an extended period of time (even just a few minutes!) make you’re your dog is secured in a crate or in a room with the door closed. 

7\\ GPS Tracking

There are apps and products out there that actually have GPS tracking so if your dog ever gets loose you can use a cell phone app to track his movements.  If you have a dog that tends to escape a lot, this may be a worthy investment.

 

8\\ Spay or Neuter

It’s super important to spay or neuter your dog  so that temptation doesn’t get the best of them when they want to escape and find a boyfriend/girlfriend.  

 

9\\ Take Immediate Action

If the worst case scenario does happen and your dog runs away, immediately contact police, the humane society, social media, local veterinary offices, etc.   Start spreading the word. The sooner the better!

 

Have you ever lost a pet?   What steps did you take to get him or her back?

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10 Ways To Decorate A New Home on A Budget

Most people don't have the luxury of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on home décor and organizing supplies when they move into a new house.   But that's okay because you don't need to!  I put together a few ways I found that you can actually do it with only a small amount of cash or even things you already own! Just click on the link below each photo to get the tutorial.

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5 Amazing Things You'll Experience When You Pay Off All Your Credit Card Debt

So back in April I paid off all of my credit card debt, and then I bought a house in May.   I know, that's debt but it's a different kind of debt.  Let me tell you though, everyday still feels like a celebration of being debt free.   So are you wondering what it feels like? Well... let me explain 5 things you will experience once your credit card debt is paid off.

1. Guilt-Free Spending
Imagine being able to do whatever you want with any extra money you have each paycheck because you DON'T have to throw it at your credit card debt!  No more feeling guilty if you splurge on something!   Heck, I bought a patio set for my new house that I could never have had before because there was just no way to justify putting money towards that, while I still have credit card debt!    There is no longer a battle in my head between SPEND IT and THROW IT AT YOUR DEBT DUMMY!

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Entertaining in My Porch + A Giveaway

This site has affiliate links and sponsored content. Read my Disclosure Policy.

So ever since we set our screened-in porch up, that's been the main area for entertaining.  And I just have to show you one of the great ways I prevent spills and breaking cups.   These are the Tiki Collection Pint Glasses from Silipint.

Not only do I love the fun bright colors and the festive designs but they are made of 100% food grade silicone so drinks stay cooler instead of baking in the sun and I don't have to worry about anyone breaking a glass, or creating a lot of trash if we use disposable cups.  These are also SO much easier to hold onto which means less spills! And they are dishwasher friendly so that's even less work for me!

 

When you entertain you want to create as minimal a workload for yourself as possible so that's why these are a great alternative to your regular cups.  They are also freezer and microwave safe and the silicone based inks won't chip or fade so these things are gonna last a really long time!  

And guess what?! One winner will get a set of Tiki Pints from Silipint!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

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Our Front Yard Makeover

Today I have an amazing reveal for you guys! Our front yard makeover! When we moved into our home in mid June, there was a lot of shrubbery, plants, and weeds around the entire house. 

So first we had to remove it...



Let me just tell you... removing hostas was a b*tch!!  Those roots are terrible.   And the crooked bush, it just had to go!! It's amazing how much it opened up the entire front yard and even makes the house look bigger.   I spent a few days chopping away at bushes and roots and removing tanbark mulch.

The next step was to level the ground and  put landscaping fabric down to block weeds. Then the fun began with the rocks.  I can't even tell you how many bags of rocks we had to use from Home Depot.  The reason we went with rocks was because it's less maintenance and it will be easy to get leaves out of it in the Fall.  We don't have to replace it or redo it every year, and I don't like gardening. I do, however like flowers in pots so I will definitely embrace that!



We will be replacing the hose spigot and then hooking up a hose and putting down a hose box so that's what the pavers lead to. 

 

 

I put some solar lighting in to keep the house bright at night and next year we will bring the rocks around to the side of the house.   I am absolutely in love with the new look.  It took A LOT of energy, sweat, a few hundred bucks, and some adorable flower pots from Ross!

 

 

Stay tuned for a house tour and more projects! 

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<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/" title="TDC Before and After" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" alt="TDC Before and After" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Hosting A Pamper Party: A Guide To Everything You Need To Know

 

We all love being pampered; there is nothing more enjoyable than spending a couple of hours at your favorite spa. But with the state of the economy and the rising cost of living, checking into a spa isn’t the best idea. 

 

However, just because you can’t afford to spend time at a spa, that doesn’t mean you can’t be pampered. Many women who are strapped for cash, have started holding their own DIY pamper evenings at home.

 

Over the past few years, DIY pamper parties have become incredibly popular. Each year, more and more women swap from visiting spas to hosting DIY spa evenings and events. If money is tight, holding your own pamper night is definitely, the way to go.

 

Picture link

 

While planning your first pamper evening might seem a little overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. Just like when planning any event, the key is organization, the more organized you are, the better you pamper party will go.

 

To help you plan the best possible pamper party, here are a few simple tips and ideas:

 

Ask each friend to bring something along

 

To save yourself money, ask each pamper party guest to bring along something. This could either be one of the beauty products you need, a scented candle or a bottle of wine.

 

It might be your pamper party, but that doesn’t mean that you have to cover all the costs. Create a Facebook invitation and write a list of everything that you need for the party, and ask each guest to bring one thing along.

 

Transform your living room into a beauty center

 

Fill your living room with throws, oversized cushions and a couple of coffee tables for your beauty products. Aim to make the room as comfortable and relaxing as possible - the more like a spa it is, the better.

 

Spas always smell amazing, so if you want your pamper evening to be authentic, it’s a good idea to make your home smell nice. Invest in a couple of room diffusers, as well as some scented candles and dot them around the room. Opt for lavender candles and diffusers, as lavender is a calming scent, perfect for using to aid relaxation.

 

Serve fresh fruit and champagne (or fizzy wine)

 

It’s nice to have a little something to snack on, and fresh fruit is perfect for this. When you are being pampered, the last thing you want is to wolf down a bar of chocolate, but fresh fruit is perfect. If you have asked any of your friends to bring snacks along, make sure to ask them only to bring healthy snacks. The best fruit to get is berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, as they are easy to eat.

 

Along with your healthy snacks, serving champagne or fizzy wine is ideal. There is nothing nicer than being pampered while enjoying a nice glass of bubbly, and snacking on strawberries. If any of the guests will be driving, you could get a bottle of alcohol-free champagne for them to enjoy.

 

Make your own face masks

 

Photo from Flickr

 

If you have a lot of your friends coming along, it will be more cost-effective to make your own face masks, instead of buying them. Plus, homemade face masks are often much better for your skin and can be used by everyone, even those with sensitive skin.

 

There are lots of great recipes for homemade face masks; you can find plenty of these online on health and beauty sites. One of the best recipes for red and dry skin is avocado, greek yogurt, honey, and aloe vera inner leaf gel. You can create this mask by blending all the ingredients up in your blender, and then applying them to your face with a makeup brush. This mask should be left on for 15 to 20 minutes and then washed off with cool water and a clean cloth.

 

Get hair removal equipment

 

A big part of spending the day at a spa is getting a hair removal treatment, so make sure to incorporate this into your party. Invest in some wax, an epilating machine and a home laser depilation machine, so that your guests can remove any excess hair.

 

Make sure that if you will be performing each hair removal method for your guests, that you read up on what to do, beforehand. For waxing and epilating tips, have a look at health and beauty sites. To find out more about laser depilation, check out Aquilah's guide on home laser depilation machines. You will find lots of fantastic tips and advice on here, so it's worth having a look. 

 

Do each other's nails

 

Ask everyone to bring along a pot of nail varnish, so that you can give each other manicures. Invest in a nail manicure kit, including a shaper tool and nail and cuticle cream.

 

If anyone has a gel manicure machine, ask them to bring it along. The DIY gel manicure machines are great for doing home manicures, and so, are perfect for a pamper party. Just make sure to get a few of the specialist nail polishes in, so that everyone can paint their nails in the color of their choice.

 

Don’t forget the essential oils

 

If you plan on giving each other relaxing massages, don’t forget the essential oils. Ask if anyone has a massage table that you could use, if not, place a sheet over your sofa and use that instead.

 

If you haven’t given massages before, don’t worry, they’re easy. There are plenty of online tutorials that you can check out for some pointers if you want to get an idea of what you should be doing. There are plenty of essential oils scents to choose from, from sweet jasmine to orange. Just make sure that before using the oils on anyone, that you check they have no allergies.

 

If money is a little tight, organizing a pamper party for you and your friends is the perfect alternative to a spa day. By following the tips and advice in this guide, you can host an amazing pamper party with very little stress.

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