Showing posts with label #PuppyBowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #PuppyBowl. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2016

Pixel Blue Eyes - Puppy Bowl Special Report and Carolina Panthers Fan Forever

Well, Super Bowl 50 is over, and so is my beloved Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. I had fun yesterday watching and rewatching the plays by all the exciting players at both games. I just want to say, that no matter who won, and who walked away with their ears held low, I am proud of every single one of you. You gave it your all, all season, and look at how far you got! You made it to the biggest game of the year. And I'm so proud of you!!! You MUST be proud of yourself! Remember, just because you don't carry the trophy, doesn't mean you're still not a winner. You tried your best and that's all any of us can do. Never give up, whether you win or lose. I think we all can carry that truth with us no matter the circumstance in life.
And having said that, Mommy and I just want to say that we always have been and always will be Carolina Panthers fans, now and forever! You don't have to win a prize for us to be faithful to you.
Now, regarding the Puppy Bowl, as you can see, I've got at least half a team already in my family with my sisters Sassy, Bella, Dixie Mae and Peanut. We have a great time playing and running around together so we had a GREAT time watching it on TV yesterday. I'd like to share something that hits close to home about this year's Puppy Bowl.
One of the puppies, Charlie, a 16 week old male Feist/Whippet mix, who played in the first quarter for Team Fluff, was from City Dogs Rescue out of Washington DC, a rescue that Mommy has worked closely with. Great job out there Charlie!! Nice footwork and fantastic teamwork.
Here's a special story done by the Wall Street Journal done about Charlie and City Dogs Rescue. The rescue representative being interviewed, Amy Bandyk, is a friend of Mommy's, and loves the dogs very much!

Image of Mommy Jenny with Smyth County Animal Shelter Volunteers and City Dogs Rescue team
Jenny with Animal Control Officer Kristy (pet photo partner)
Smyth County Animal Shelter Volunteers and
City Dogs Rescue Team
City Dogs is one of the very first rescues that Mommy (Jenny)  got associated with through her work doing pet portraits for the Smyth County Animal Shelter. They were one of the first rescues that started a partnership with the shelter to pull some of the homeless dogs, foster and spay/neuter them, and then find them an amazing home. Mommy's photos of the dogs that she took while working with Officer and friend Kristy Moore at the shelter helped them first find the shelter! So it was really neat to see City Dogs represented in the national Puppy Bowl! City Dogs Rescue has helped rescue hundreds of unwanted dogs and puppies from just our one shelter alone in the last 2 years. And they do amazing work like give each dog training and follow up on the homes and pups for months after they are adopted. Yet another winner!!
So, did YOU watch either the Puppy Bowl 2016 or Super Bowl 50? How about the Kitty Bowl? I didn't get to watch that one... Who did you root for? What are you thoughts on all of this? I'd love to hear them.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Adventures in Snacking: Pixel's Top 5 Dog Super Bowl 50 Pawty Snacks

Super Bowl 50 Sunday is today, which means that the ever so fun Puppy Bowl 2016 is playing (and replaying) on TV, so no matter who you are, there's lots of exciting action to watch on television and the internet. Whether you will be attending a party, throwing a party or just hanging out with your friends and family at the house, there will be loads of snacks and fun foods for the humans, but what about the dogs? You'll want to have some fun snacks on hand for the dogs too, right?
Do not fret if you hadn't thought about it. Help is here. I have some wonderful and simple dog snack and beverage ideas you can do for your beloved canine companions that they will simply love.
Peanut Butter covered Rice Chex 
This treat is super easy to fix.
1. Lay out individual pieces of Gluten Free Rice Chex pieces on a tray or large plate.
2. Using a butter knife, spread small amounts of peanut butter on each little piece of Rice Chex.
Voila! Instant super fun snack for your dog that is absolutely delicious!
Chicken and Rice Pate
Ingredients:  1 lb. Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cooled
                     1 c. Cooked White or Brown Rice cooled (slightly warm) NOT cold
                     3 Tbsp. Instant Baby Oatmeal Cereal (Optional) for extra smoothness
                     1.5 - 2 c. Filtered or Spring Water
 1. Grind the chicken in a food processor until finely chopped
2.  Add 1 cup rice (and the 3 Tbsp. of baby oatmeal if you have it) into food processor
3.  Add 1 cup of water into food processor
4.  Place lid on top and grind all ingredients together
5. As it is grinding, add the additional half to one extra cup of water until you have a nice chicken and rice paste/pate that you could put on a cracker.
Keep refrigerated.
You will know it's done when you can scoop up some in a spoon and your face when you taste it.
Now, with this chicken and rice pate, you can do anything you like! Scoop it with biscuits, use as dip with Rice Chex, or form it into cute shapes like footballs, bones, flowers or other shapes.
If you create shapes, you can then use baby food puree squeezies like icing and create all sorts of fun designs and patterns. See the photos below as an example of one fun idea we did using Banana, Beets, and Blueberry puree for the flower color and Green Bean puree as the flower stem! It was DELICIOUS!!!






Sweet Potato Wedges
Super Easy and OH SO GOOD!!
Ingredients:  2 - 4 Sweet Potatoes
1.  Peel sweet potatoes 
2.  Cut potatoes into little bite-size pieces about 1 inch wide or larger (depending on dog size)
3. Place in microwaveable bowl and cover with either a paper plate, plastic wrap or a vented lid.
4. Microwave until fully cooked, checking every 3-4 minutes.
5. Once cooled, serve as doggie hors d'oeuvres or treats!
Chicken Broth Water
Ingredients:
Low sodium , fat free Chicken Broth
Filtered or Spring Water
1. Mix half chicken broth and half water in one or more bowls, and share away!
Fruity Water
Ingredients:
Baby Squeezable Fruit Packets, such as Bananas, Beets & Blueberries by Happy Baby, Strawberry/Apple, or any flavor that sounds good
Filtered or Spring Water
Mix 1/3 fruit puree and 2/3 water in one or more bowls...it will appear lumpy at first, just mix with a spoon or finger until smooth
Share and enjoy!
NOTE:  Normally, Mommy only lets me drink about 1/4 cup at a time of any kind of mixed/flavored water, because it's so good, I'll drink too much and get bloated. So keep that in mind for both the broth and fruity water with your dog.
These are favorites in my house any day of the week, for dog parties, weekend TV watching or picnics. So have fun and let me know which ones sound good to you! Also, I'd love to hear if you watched the Puppy Bowl or Super Bowl. Which team is your favorite??