Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Apologies & Explanations for the Long Absence from my Blog

My dear friends, I want to apologize to you and explain a bit as to why I have been gone for so long from my blog. Pull up a seat and let me make you my favorite meal of chicken and rice with pumpkin blueberry puree as we visit. I'll explain as best I can the reasons for my long absence. It reads a bit like a "Lifetime for Women" movie... 

Let me start by assuring you that Mommy Jenny and I have thought about you almost every day, wondering how you are, if you think of me, and missing our interactions. Mommy and I missed doing posts, and longed for the day when we could truly get back to doing what we love best: writing fun, entertaining, educational, and informative posts and stories you love. Whether you are new to the blog, or have following for years, I owe it to you to share the reasons why I disappeared.

A little over a year ago, our family went through a traumatic event that started when Grammy's husband of 35 years abandoned her and our family in the middle of the night. It was a shock to say the least, but then it was a terrible battle after that for Grammy and our family. Mommy was so stressed all the time as she she helped Grammy and Auntie work through it all. Everyone was trying to deal with the aftermath he caused and the many struggles. It seemed endless. He also abandoned my now sweet, beautiful  little sister Jellie, whom I adopted immediately as though it was planned. The ONLY good thing in mine and Mommy's life at that time was sweet little Jellie, whom we had to protect. It took time to feel like writing or posting anything, but I did a couple of posts trying to keep things going on the blog and in my social media pages. I was honored to be asked to work with a fantastic high end dog food campaign during this time. It was fun to have Jellie be a part of it, and I loved the work as always, but after that things got worse.Now, come down here, closer to me, so I can whisper this next part to you...it's a hard thing to have to admit. For certain reasons, we no longer felt safe in our own home. It was necessary to move to a new place and start a new life, several states away from where the pain, uncertainty and memories were.
Mommy, Auntie and Grammy started the hardcore search for a new home in our chosen secret location, and Mommy visited a couple of "hopeful" new houses for us. It was a hard process. The blog suffered because of Mommy's full time work, the "struggle" and the new home search. Another blow to our family of women was that Peanut Pumpkin Pie got desperately ill and then died during the height of the struggle. It was the most tragic loss! We loved her so much, and she was only 11 years old. We were all devastated. I then became the eldest dog girl of the family, so I tried hard to take care of everyone, comfort and be there for every human and dog. So with all this going on,  I let the blog go and just focused on my family, bringing as much love, comfort and joy as I could. 
Sadly, we also lost our beloved 17 year old cat  Meow Meow the last week in August of this year too. She was a wonderful kitty and we miss her sweet ways. 

Finally, after what seemed like forever, it happened. At 4:30am one morning, Grammy found THE house on Realtor.com. All of us fell in LOVE! It was perfect in every way we needed. Mommy called our realtor, he raced to get an appointment to see it that day. He called Mommy while standing IN the house, gave it his full approval, and by that night, we had a contract going. When Mommy drove down to visit it, after just 5 minutes inside the house she felt like she was home. Finally!
Then came the packing, the move, the 3-humans-and-5-dogs-in-2-overly-packed-cars trip down (which took 59 days...okay, maybe only 3 or 4 days), the move in and then a hurricane. Yes, we arrived at our new home just a couple of days before a big hurricane threatened it. But we survived, the house survived, and we are now making our new house a cozy home. All of this took me away from my beloved blog friends, and from you. But the good news is, not only is the meal I made you ready to eat, but my little blogging paws are ready to start typing away at these keys once more. So, please dig in to the good food, the friendly smiles, and the new stories I'll be sharing. Just bear with me as I get back to writing, sharing my adventures, my product reviews, and my health articles for dogs. Though we might not have been writing and posting awesome photos for you as of late, Mommy and I have been making plans to expand our blog. And remember my new sister Jellie? Well, this little 7 lb Chihuahua mix beauty has plans too, and will be a regular part of my blog!
So, hold onto your hats, there's lots more coming from Pixel Blue Eyes and her Tails of Adventure!!
I Love You!
Pixel

P.S. If you've been through anything like what I've talked about today, please feel free to share in a comment. Believe me, I understand the struggles of abandonment, house buying and hurricanes, and Mommy Jenny would be glad to talk if you need a human connection or advice. 

Monday, March 20, 2017

"Leave It To The Experts" For Safe, Great Tasting Pet Food #WeBelieveInNB

Leave It To the Experts
 

I hear people say all the time, "Don't worry about that, Leave It To the Experts". We live in a hurried, worried society. As a highly engaged, interactive pet parent, Mommy has told me there are so many things to be worried about and try to figure out when it comes to me and my needs. Safe, nutritious pet food made with premium, high quality ingredients is a big concern for her, as well as for most pet parents. Thanks to Natural Balance® and their Limited Ingredient Diet, Mommy doesn't have to worry about how safe and nutritious my dog food is for me. Natural Balance has experts at all levels of the dog food process, so she can buy it with confidence and is rest assured I am eating well.


This post is sponsored by Natural Balance and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping to share my thoughts about why I believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for me as a dog. "Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure" only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Natural Balance is not responsible for the content of this article.

My Journey With Natural Balance


I started eating delicious tasting Natural Balance back in November. A few of my dog friends had told me at the dog park how good it was, and they really had my mouth watering at the thought. Then Mommy heard about their high standards for Premium Quality Ingredients and how important the Safety of their Products were to the company. We both decided we wanted to work with them and give them a dedicated try. Over the last 4+ months, we've had a fantastic journey with Natural Balance. The road has been paved with learning and trust, and filled with yummy food!

Heaven on a Shelf


That first shopping trip to purchase Natural Balance's Limited Ingredient Diet dog food was not only an eye opener, but it was so much fun!! I had no idea they had so variety for each recipe to choose from. As you know, I love sweet potatoes and chicken, so when I saw that they had a specific small breed L.I.D. recipe called "Sweet Potato and Chicken Formula", I thought I'd died and gone to dog food shopping heaven!! I had Mommy get some of everything so I could sample it all, haha! And I've been a super happy girl ever since. If you haven't already, make sure you read about our first experience shopping for Natural Balance dog food, and don't forget to read follow up blog post #2 about building confidence at mealtime and post #3 about showing your pet you love them with great food. The entire series is a dog food love story worth reading and repeating!

Is My Food Safe to Eat? You Bet!


Mommy has learned that Natural Balance goes above and beyond for pet food safety. They don't just use high quality ingredients and then put it all together in a manufactured dog food and send it out the door. Natural Balance has a rigorous 9-point safety testing protocol that every single batch of kibble (as well as soft food & treats) has to pass. The 9 potential dangers they test for includes Melamine, Salmonella, and Cyanuric Acid (a major culprit during the 2007 pet food recalls). Natural Balance Pet Foods doesn't want to leave anything to chance for pets like me, or for any one of your precious pets. That is a real comfort for Mommy because she treasures me more than anything!

Premium Quality Ingredients


Here's one of my favorite reasons to love Natural Balance: the Premium Quality Ingredients . The Natural Balance L.I.D. line of pet food is absolutely delicious, and perfect for pets like me who have food issues and need limited ingredient diets. L.I.D. means just that...Limited Ingredient Diet, so you can be sure there's no fillers, no artificial flavors, no 'by-product' meals (I mean, who knows what that even is!), and definitely no wheat, corn or soy, which can be high allergens for pets. Natural Balance L.I.D. pet foods use single source proteins (such as chicken and salmon), and only the tastiest, most nutritious ingredients (such as sweet potatoes, peas, brown rice, to formulate their food and treats. My friends at Natural Balance have perfected making such a great tasting kibble with so few ingredients that I stand with my paws on the kitchen counter shelf at every mealtime and "sing" to Mommy for my food! (Can you see me howling out a food love song in this photo?)

Chat With The Experts at Natural Balance


With everything we've learned about Natural Balance Pet Food over the last few months, we're 100% confident that when it comes to a safe dog food, we really CAN
"Leave It To The Experts."
Visit Natural Balance to learn about the 4 pillars of the Natural Balance Buy with Confidence™ Promise. Which Pillar is most important to you for the health and happiness of your cat or dog? Leave me a comment below or on Facebook and tell me which one you chose.

Remember, you can actually talk live with a Natural Balance nutritional expert
during the day by  selecting  the Chat link on any of their pages.

Smiling From Ear to Ear


Go ahead friends, give Natural Balance a try, just like I did. I know your pet will love it, and YOU will love the confidence and security that they bring knowing you are feeding your pet tasty, nutritious and SAFE food that has been tested for quality. My Pixel promise is that you and your pet will be smiling with joy from ear to ear, just like me!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Show Your Pet True Love With Expert Nutrition & Great Food #WeBelieveInNB

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning starts her love poem out with a simple question about expressing love and the different ways in which it can be shown. As St. Valentine's Day draws close, all I can think about is how much Mommy and I love each other, and the many ways that she answers that very question the poet asks.
This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share my thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for me, a dog. "Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure" only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.



Mommy shows me in countless ways just how much she truly loves me. She's been my true love Mommy for 9 wonderful years, and she knows me inside and out. Of course we hug, cuddle, laugh, play, travel together, and learn new things together all the time. Taking care of my physical needs, including making sure I eat a properly balanced nutritional diet, is another important way to show her devotion.  













Mommy knows how much I love good food and treats, but because of my allergies & delicate system, she has to be so careful about what she feeds me. Imagine our joy then, when we were invited a few months ago to partner with Natural Balance® and try their delicious Limited Ingredient Diet (L.I.D.) dog food, made from premium quality ingredients that goes through 9 safety tests before it ever gets put on the store shelves.
I've been eating the Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Chicken Formula Limited Ingredient Diet since November and I love it! Just this one recipe has so many choices for my little palette to dine upon. There's the crunchy kibble that help keep my teeth clean, the soft canned food that looks and tastes just like a casserole, the finer chicken & gravy cups that Mommy pours on my food for special days, and then there's the delicious treats. They even have Jumpin' Stix treats with glucosamine in them! Oh my, this little girl has been so happy!! It has put more pep in my 9 year old step, and made me smile with every bite. As you can see, my latest open bag of kibble is well worn at the top from being accessed, haha! And I don't let a single morsel go to waste either. As a 'finder of lost kibble', if one goes rolling, I always make sure to hunt or chase it down so it won't get lost or lonely!
Mommy sure does love me to give me such excellent food. But how can you as a pet parent find the best food for your pet? There are several things to consider in searching for and finding food with high quality ingredients that are safe for your beloved pet to eat. I have some great Pixel Tips that will help you to make the right decisions.

Pixel Top 5 Tips for Finding the Best Food for your Pet:

1. Know what your pet likes/dislikes as far as food and ingredients. Some pets can't handle certain meats, others are allergic to things like corn, wheat and soy.
2. Read the Ingredients! This is critical for all pet parents so they understand what is going into their pets. If you don't know or understand what an ingredient is, look it up.
3. Talk to fellow pet owners and read cool blogs pet blogs to find out what they feed their dogs and why. It's always helpful to speak to others about their experiences because it will help you make an informed decision.
4. Talk to your vet. Veterinarians are often a great source of information on nutrition for your pet, especially since they know your pet's medical needs, current weight and general health.
5. Talk to the Pet Food Representatives and Experts. Some pet food companies have on site expert nutritionists and veterinarian technicians who would love to help you find the right food for your pet. Natural Balance has an entire team Nutrition Experts to helping pet parents find the most appropriate food for their pet. You can chat with them as soon as you get to the site. They are so friendly and very knowledgeable. Mommy has spoken with them a few times about my allergies and need for a limited diet.


Show Me You Love Me with Great Tasting Food

I can't tell enough how reassuring it is for me to know that my one and only true love, Mommy, cares for me so much that she would spoil me with such amazingly good food! For Valentine's, she's been making little hearts in my food to make me smile even bigger. It's little things like this that makes life extra special. And it's one of many ways she shows me she loves me.
She surprised me this morning with a special treat...my favorite Natural Balance L.I.D. Sweet Potato and Chicken Formula dog treats, an adorable squeaky toy and a homemade card. I am one very lucky (and very loved) pup! The L.I.T. treats taste sooo delicious, I can't wait to eat one (or two)!!


Reassured and Confident

Pixel standing on the floor beside her dog food and food bowl Mommy is reassured knowing that Natural Balance has their Buy with Confidence Guarantee, and that they conduct stringent 9-point safety testing of every batch of food and treats that are made in their facilities. We don't have to worry about what is in the food I eat...we are confident knowing the only things in there are high quality ingredients and lots of love! Are you that confident about your pet food?


Some Important Questions to Ask Yourself...

So now I must ask you to think about some things friends. Take my paw, look me in the eyes and ask yourself these questions:
1. Does your pet food have a "Buy With Confidence" Guarantee?
2. Do you know for a fact that your pet food company has a panel of Nutritional Experts just waiting to speak with you about all your pet's nutritional and dietary needs?
3. Does each batch of your pets' food have 9 separate safety tests performed by highly qualified microbiologists and chemists before it is purchased?
If  you aren't sure and are looking to make a change for the better with your pet's food, why not give Natural Balance a try. Start by talking to one of their Nutrition Experts about your pet. And read all about their Buy With Confidence Promise and 9 point testing, then tell me what you think about it in a comment below, on my Facebook page, on my Instagram page, or send me a tweet on my Twitter page! I'm everywhere and I'd love to have a conversation with you. We believe in Natural Balance and I know you will too!

Happy Valentine's Day!!
Don't forget to  show your love to those you care about. 

Natural Balance is a very socially oriented company and they'd LOVE to hear from you!
Visit the following links to get connected and learn more about the quality of Natural Balance:
Natural Balance on Facebook
Natural Balance on Instagram
Natural Balance on Twitter

I love getting social with my friends too. Visit me on all my social media sites. 
I'd LOVE to connect with you!
Pixel on Facebook
Pixel on Instagram
Pixel on Twitter
Pixel on Pinterest
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Sister Selfie Sunday: Jellie Learns To Love The Camera


I've been working real hard to help my sister Jellie get more comfortable in front of the camera. She's a real cutie patootie and should be photographed and celebrated as much as any other super model.
Problem is, she tends to freeze up, look away or just get super self conscious whenever the camera comes out. I keep telling her she's a natural beauty and that she's got a lovely smile, but I suppose we all have our insecurities. So, for today's "Selfie Sunday" I got some of our fur sisters in on the act.
Dixie Mae (the black and tan Dachshund) and Bella Boo (the copper Dachshund) really know how to work the camera! It certainly helped bring Jellie out of her shell a bit, and it was really fun doing group photos with them.
We let Jellie take photos of Bella and Dixie Mae to see how fun it was...this helped her feel more comfy in the group shots.

We put the camera back on the tripod, set the timer and took more group shots. Jellie's looking right in the camera now. Way to go Jellie!

In the end, Jellie was giving silly faces. It was hilarious! I think this last one could be a great music album cover don't you agree?
We had so much fun taking part in today's Selfie Sunday Blog Hop. It is hosted by my dear friend Janet Blue & her Kitties on their blog Cat on my Head. This is such a fun hop! I hope you'll visit some of my friends below to see their cool and entertaining selfies.