Where everybody knows your na-a-ame

I just want to say how much I love all of my Cabana co-workers, and you should too!

Wassy has been BarfBoy for a few days now and the fanatastic girls of Wilsonville have been beyond sweet and helpful during this time. Marie, Amy and even Heather have pitched in to help a puke-covered mama out. The girls, and everyone at the Newb store, truly feel like a part of my family. I hope all of our customers can feel the love too when you come in, because we strive to include you into our big happy family anytime you come in to the stores. Your pets are our pets, your triumphs are our joy, and your questions help to challenge and teach us. Thank you Cabana staffers and our loyal customers!!

So go ahead, ask for a hug the next time you're in, and join our crazy family!

Good Clean Fun with your Pup!

Just in time for Howl-oween! I ran across this in Spot magazine and thought I should pass it on:

How to Dye Fido's Fur (don't stress PETA, it's only food coloring)

-Mix desired color of food coloring and water in a clean spray bottle
-Spray your pooch liberally (careful of the eyes and ears)
-Let Fido dry before you let him thank you for his cool new 'do
Remember that it is only food coloring so it's not permanent, but it should last long enough for a wild night out on the town!

Have fun, and send me the results, I'll post them here!

Thanks to Spot magazine. If you haven't read this month's issue come pick up your free copy at both Cabana locales.

A Mother's Best Friend

Being a mom is much more fun and rewarding than I ever could have imagined. When Bass reaches for me to pick him up my heart nearly swells with love for the little imp and I have to look around and double check that it is really me that he wants to love and not someone more worthy standing behind me. Not that parenting is super easy--I definitely have A Moment every once in awhile--but overall it totally rocks. Especially when you have dogs in the house. Seriously! I have a new parenting theory that I realized last week: Pets make parenting easier.

-Bass was crawling around like a drunken sailor because he was exhausted (but wouldn't admit it), so when he bonked his head that was the Last Straw and screamed inconsolably even after I started comforting him. So Bony wandered over to assess the situation and poof! Bass was instantly cured and even started laughing when Charles started his Bony Butt Wiggle (patented boxer dance).

-We had guests over the other night and everyone but me was hanging out in the living room. I was 'making' dinner (read: putting frozen pizza in the over) in the kitchen so I didn't realize that Bass was showing off his intestinal efficiency and reeking like an outhouse in the process, and my guests were too nice to mention it. But the dogs, oh the dogs, took it upon themselves to let me know by following the dude around with both their noses straight to his diaper until I finally clued in and rescued my poor friends.

-I was attempting to power clean the kitchen before said guests arrived but Bass was being unusually clingy until I looked down and he was gone and his whining had stopped. I found him by the french doors smiling and pounding on the glass while the pups entertained him on the other side. He stayed there for about 40 minutes, happy as a clam.

So far my new theory is holding strong, even as I write this Bass is staring out the window at Hobie and Bran while they endlessly entertain him by cleaning themselves in strange yogic positions....look out Dr. Sears, who needs parenting books when you have fur in the house!

The Reluctant Blogger

Hello Friends! So I am not an electronically correct person. It took me a year to figure out my smart phone and now it is falling apart and I dread the day that Matt makes me get a new one that I will have to spend hours agonizing over how to check my messages and which picture should be on my background. But alas, here I am. I guess the driving force behind this experiment is all of you...I want to stay connected to all the wonderful friends (both biped and quadriped) that I have made over the past nearly 4 years (yes it has been that long!) of Critter Cabana.

So here is an official intro to my family so you will know what I am bloggling about:
Matt is my husband/partner in crime/best friend/slave driver
Sebastian (aka: Bass, Boo, The Schnuz, Goose) is my much beloved little dude. He is 9 months of sweetness, mischief, and sense of humor, and pretty much the coolest person I have ever met! Now don't get jealous, I did birth the guy, so I am allowed to brag a little :)
Charles (aka: Bones, Woney, The Good Dog) is a Boxer and is my first dog ever and my first guide into the crazy fun world of dogdom. I didn't know I was a dog person until this pathetic, shaved, emaciated, but amazingly still loving rescue dog nearly jumped into my lap and begged me to take him home with me. He is hilarious and the greatest dog anyone could ever hope to have....which brings us to
Fiona (aka: Fig, Fleabag, Fleegers, The Crazy Dog) a 2.5 year old Miniature Pinscher holy terror! Of course I love the little disaster, but honestly, does she have to test every single rule I set?
Bart (aka: Barthog, Bartster) is a handsome little Fischer's lovebird who likes to chime in with whatever commotion Fiona is making.
Raisin Bran Muffin (she doesn't need a nickname) is my first-born furkid tortoiseshell cat. She is as feisty as her name is sweet and bums around with her arch frenemy Hayworth...
Hayworth (aka: Hobie, Hobie-won-Kenobe, Hayworthless) is a flamepoint Maine Coon hottie who spends all day pondering, well, nothing. Let's just say it is a good thing he has Raisin around to keep him from doing anything too stupid.

So stick around as I stretch the outer reaches of my technological abilities and afford you with priceless musings on life, love, babies, Critter Cabana, puppies, pet nutrition etc, etc ad nauseum...

Until next time!
Brittani