Homemade Frosty Paws

Rasta LOVES Frosty Paws--if you own a dog, you know that Frosty Paws is ice cream for dogs.  However, Frosty Paws can be expensive, so I was excited when I found a recipe for homemade Frosty Paws on one of my favorite blogs, MyPetSavings.com.  Here it is:

Homemade Frosty Paws
Ingredients:
::1 cup peanut butter (I suggest all-natural so there is no added junk)
::32 oz Vanilla Yogurt (I suggest organic yogurt, again,so there is no added junk such as artificial sweeteners)
::2 ripe bananas
Directions:
::Blend all ingredients together. Separate into 3 oz paper cups (Dixie cups for example). Place in freezer, once frozen put into ziplock freezer bag. Yields 16 servings.

And voila--a yummy summertime treat for your pups!

Another Book Review - A Thousand Splendid Suns

So, after finishing The Kite Runner, I really needed to read Khaled Hosseini's newest book, A Thousand Splendid Suns.  And let me tell you, Hosseini's second book did not disappoint.

I read A Thousand Splendid Suns in two sittings (probably could have finished it in one, if I would have had the time!)  When I had to put the book down to go to work, it really irritated me, because I needed to find out what happened to the two female protagonists.

This time around, Hosseini focuses on the plight of Afghanistan women.  He shares the ordeals that Afghani women had to go through under the Taliban.  Women who had once been doctors, students, free-loving spirits, were forced to degrade themselves and submit to even the most vile men around them.  The book made me incredibly sad and fiercely angry for these women, even though they were fictional--I've read enough about how women were treated under the Taliban to know that what these women went through in the book was what women really did go through in real-life.

Anyway, if you have not read either The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns, I recommend you run--don't walk!--to your nearest Half-Price Books (or order off of Amazon) and grab these two novels.  You will NOT be disappointed!

Craft Attempt numero...oh hell I've lost count

So I disassembled the previous craft attempt and went in a completely different direction.  I found an old frame at my mom's house and that sparked this idea:

I painted the mat inside gold, then used antiquing paint to dull down the brightness of the gold.  Then I laid the fabric out in the pattern I wanted, taped them to the mat, and inserted into the frame.  And voila!  Instant wall art.  I'm really happy with the way it came out this time.

This is my favorite piece of fabric:

Last week we also welcomed a new addition into our home.  Meet Bentley:

Bentley is a 2 month old miniature dachshund.  We love him already.  However, Rasta is having a little bit of trouble adjusting to being a big brother, but I'm sure he'll get the hang of it :)

Book Reviews - August

1) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
So, I know this is not a particularly new book; in fact, it's already been made into a movie.  I just never read it, for some reason, until a few weeks ago.  Maybe because I knew it would be a tear-jerker, and I have a history of letting books really get to me.  Exhibit A: Bridge to Terabithia.  I was in the 4th grade, I believe, when I read Bridge to Terabithia and when I finished it, I sobbed for well over an hour.  This is the first book I really remember affecting me in that way.

Anyway, I digress.  The Kite Runner was definitely as sad as I expected it to be and more.  It was a difficult read, but an excellent one, at that.  I'm glad that the author (Khaled Hosseini) didn't try to sugarcoat the very real nightmare that is still going on in Afghanistan.  To portray how the children are suffering made it even harder to read, but, I think it's important that he came out with it.  Do we really know what the people of Afghanistan are going through?  In the US, everything is given to us with a spoonful of sugar to wash it all down.  The truth is not nearly as sweet.  If you haven't read The Kite Runner, I strongly suggest that you pick up a copy as soon as possible.

2) The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
I saw this book at Barnes and Noble almost six months ago (or maybe more) and wanted to read it but ended up buying a different book instead.  Then, the other day, while browsing at Half Price Books, I found it: a single copy on a bottom shelf.  How on earth I spotted it is still beyond me!

Now, if you love mysteries, then this book is definitely for you.  The fact that I finished the book in a single sitting resonates for how suspenseful the book really is.  However, it also kind of tells you that it's not exactly a difficult read.  Nancy Pickard definitely spins a good story, however, the writing itself got a bit dry in certain places, perhaps a bit hokey in others.  The novel in all reminded me of Twilight--spellbinding story, mediocre writing.  As far as mysteries go, however, it's one of the better ones I've read in awhile.

3) The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This was a reading assignment for the summer tutors at the Blinn Writing Center.  And let me tell ya, I can't think of a better assignment than to read a good book!  This particular novel did not disappoint.  In fact, even though the W.C. provided us with copies, we couldn't take them home; so, I went out and bought my own so I could finish it!

The Help is another one of those difficult reads.  It's about how black women were treated in the 60s as maids in white homes.  The truth of the situation was hard for me to read--particularly as a Southern woman.  There is a lot of pride in being "Southern"--if you are, indeed, Southern, then you know what I'm talking about.  However, this book made me quite ashamed of our history, because our history is in fact one of bigotry and hatred.  I think, though, that this is another book that is important to read to be able to gain the truth of what really happened in that time.

Freebies, oh Freebies, Wherefore Art Thou...?

So I'm here to get on my soap box about signing up for freebies online.  Usually, freebies are little samples--nothing big.  But sometimes you can really luck out and find full-sized or high-cost freebies, which are what I aim for.  I use these as "fillers"--that is, if we run out of toothpaste, shampoo, etc., there is always something in the cupboard to use as backup.

For example, in the past week, I've gotten the following in the mail:

1-1 serving box of All-Bran Cereal
1-1 serving package of All-Bran flakes
3 Kotex Tampons
1-2 serving box of Da Vinci Stuffed Tortellini

So, for example, if I run out of cereal or tampons I'm set :) And the tortellini looks awfully yummy and I can't wait to cook it!

I've also received full-sized samples of dog food and dog treats, which have come in real handy when we've been running low on dog food.  Other freebies I've received include Crest Whitestrips, Starbucks Via Instant Coffee, and a full-sized Gillette men's razor. 

If you decide to start signing up for freebies, however, keep in mind that these full-sized offers are few and far between.  And, you most likely will never receive all of the freebies you sign up for.  But, it's always nice to go to the mailbox and find something in there besides bills :)

Also, I learned the hard way that it's a good idea to make a separate email address to use when signing up for freebies, or else your main inbox will be filled with spam!