Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Pixel Shares the Joy of the Real Meaning of Christmas

I have spent some time reflecting on what the real meaning of Christmas is, and how it applies to my life. Our family celebrates the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and what the gift of His coming really means for the whole world. Whether a person believes in Him or does not, Jesus still came to save us all. What He offers is a free gift of grace and love that knows no end.
I would like to share my view of Him...this is just little Pixel Blue Eyes sharing my heart for a moment. Jesus to the world is like an adopter/rescuer coming to an animal shelter. Think about it for a moment: a loving person comes to the shelter to save the unsavable, to rescue the unwanted, to give a new lease on life to those who have no hope, who are abandoned, lost, hurting, afraid, and trapped. The rescuer/adopter comes to the shelter, sees those in need of such love, and chooses to save the unwanted, unloved, and lost from certain death. That is exactly what Jesus is to the world. That is why we celebrate His birth, that is why this little dog knows that He loves me. I think it is a wonderful thing and I sure am grateful.
Merry Christmas my dear friends! I hope you can feel the immense love I have in my heart for you. I hope you can sense His presence in your life. I hope that you feel hugged! I love you! God loves you! May this day be full of peace, love, laughter and smiles.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Introducing Pixel's Mommy - Meet the Blogger Behind the Pet Blog

As a professional pet blogger, I've made lots of fellow pet blogging friends over the years. Believe it or not there are many other animals like me sharing their stories, lives, and adventures online, including dogs, cats, ferrets, turtles and horses. Who knew that us animals had so much to say? In celebration of the many pet blogs and their humans out there, and to challenge those behind the camera to come out and be recognized, several fellow bloggers have created a "Meet the Blogger" blog hop, to meet the humans behind the pet blogs. As with most writers, there is at least one person in their life who is a fantastic support. It makes all the difference in the world!
I'd like to introduce you to my Mommy (her name is Jenny) and share a little bit about her. First of all, we need to be clear that Mommy is 100% supportive of my blog and social media activities. My focus has always been to be absolutely kid friendly and full of fun, adventure, good information and sound advice. I must start by sharing that I adopted Mommy and saved her from heartache back in 2008. Of course she rescued me too. It was truly love at first sight! I had waited for her my whole life the day she walked in. I stared right into her eyes and deep into her soul. She knew in an instant that she was mine. She told me later she tried to give other pups a chance, but I was THE ONE. I knew that the whole time!
Mommy and I originally started this blog back when I was 9 months old. She says that I brought her so much joy that she couldn't very well keep that all to herself, so with my blessing she started my blog. Oh how I chuckle at some of my first blog posts! But I've grown a lot since then and Mommy has helped me along the way. At first we only posted occasionally, sometimes only every few months. But it has really grown a great deal in the last couple of years and we wish we could do it full time!
Our blog hop hosts have a list of questions for me to ask Mommy Jenny. She agreed to do this interview with me since so many other blogger Mommies are doing it. I hope you enjoy learning a little about the Mommy heart behind the Pixel Blue Eyes blog!

Pixel:  What is one of your favorite non-animal related book? 
Mommy:  Are you kidding me? I have to find one that doesn't have an animal in it? How fair is that? LOL! Okay, I will share one that doesn't have an animal in it as long as I can share one that does as well. 
Pixel:  Okay Mommy, I will humor you and let you share both kinds of books. 
Mommy:  I'd have to say that one of my favorite books NOT animal related is the Mary Stewart Arthurian/Merlin novels, written back in the early '70's, right around the time I was born. The first one is "The Crystal Cave" and I've read it a few times. I loved the series because she has the most realistic view of Merlin as a real person instead of some freaky evil sorcerer. Mary Stewart does a beautiful job of intertwining history and fantasy, and her attention to detail in her descriptions make me feel like I am right there. 
Mommy: Now, my favorite books WITH animals in it (you said I could include this Pixel) is the Chronicles of Mister Marmee series by H.L. Stephens. The first book is called "The Case of Jack the Nipper: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" and the second one, which just came out, is "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee". They are AMAZING adventures with Mister Marmee, who is a marmalade colored gentleman cat who lives in Victorian London and helps solve crime with the greatest detective ever, Sir Happy Heart. The two of them consult with Scotland Yard. The characters are so 3 dimensional, I feel like they are beloved old friends to me. You should know this Pixel, We've read these books together!

Pixel: Okay, Mommy. Next question is:  What is your favorite non-animal related movie? 
Mommy:  Pixel, you're killing me! Okay, give me a minute to think... It is hard to pin down just one, because I love a variety of movies, so I will say the X-Men series and the movie "I-Robot" come to mind as ones I can watch more than once. One of my super favorites is "Avatar" but that has animals in it! To keep it well rounded though, I must include a comedy in here, so let's go with a silly favorite: Galaxy Quest!
Pixel: Who is your favorite actor? 
Mommy:  Well, I don't always know people's names, and most often I love actors that are excellent character actors. I might have seen them in a dozen things, but can never remember their name! Whomever was in the movies I mentioned, I like them!

Pixel:  What is your favorite holiday?
Mommy:  I love ALL the holidays, Pixel. But I really love Thanksgiving and Christmas because they are truly a time of celebrating togetherness with the family and eating amazing food. You know how much you love oven roasted chicken and sweet potatoes.
Pixel: I know what you mean Mommy! I love getting to sit at the table with you and share a good meal. But we do that all the time, as well as on holidays. 

Pixel:  Since we're talking food, what's your favorite meal? 
Mommy:  Any meal I can share with you Pixel!
Pixel:  Awe Mommy, that is the sweetest thing ever! But you're not getting out of this question. 
Mommy:  Okay, okay. One of my favorite meals is oven roasted turkey, homemade gluten free corn bread sausage stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, gravy, and a wonderful dessert of either a huge piece of your Auntie's gluten free pumpkin pie or her amazingly decadent chocolate cake. I can't get enough!


Pixel:  What do you like to do in your free time? 
Jenny:  That should be a given. Spend time with my little Pixel of course! I love being with you, whether we are playing, snuggling, writing or practicing your tricks. And I love having the two of us go out and run errands together, with you tucked securely in your harness carrier. I've come to accept the fact that you do go crazy barking in every single parking lot we have ever entered. But you are my guard dog as well as my child, aren't you. Of course, I also love spending time with our family. We are blessed to get to see each other every day. We have such fun together don't we?
Pixel:  We sure do!

Pixel:  What do you wish you were more skilled at? 
Mommy:  Sewing, playing the violin, juggling, and speaking sign language and Spanish...preferably all at the same time, LOL! Seriously, I can hand sew but need to take the time to learn sewing with a machine, I have a perfectly good violin but need lessons, I used to juggle but it's been years, and I know just enough sign language or Spanish to be an official interpreter (JUST KIDDING!). I would really like to get better at both languages, just because I like them. 

Pixel:  What is one thing that you've done that you are most proud of?
Mommy:  Truly Pixel, I'd have to say that I am incredibly proud of your blog and the online presence we've built surrounding your sweet, adorable, funny, smiling self. I never could have imagined 6 years ago that we would have the kinds of friends and followers we have that love sharing your adventures and joys in life! It's been a great blessing and it has shown me that I am a writer. I never knew that about myself. 
I also have to say that I am very proud to have gone back to school in my 30's and earned 2 degrees, both of them involving computers and digital media. Before I went back to school I'd never thought of myself as very "academic" or interested in computers, but my wonderful family was very encouraging and supportive. They helped me see I could do anything I set my mind and heart to do. Now, I work AND play on computers all day. 


Pixel: Other than blogging, what are 4 things that you do that bring you joy?
Mommy:  Photography, being in the outdoors (even just standing in the yard is good for me), quilting by hand (though I haven't done it in a while) and volunteering my time and photography skills to our local shelter. I've been a photographer for almost 20 years now and I adore it! I started doing it well before the digital age, back when film was king. But I have moved completely over to digital and am amazed at how technology has advanced the photographic possibilities. I love nature and the beauty it holds. It just feels good to be out in it, whether it is sunny and 70F degrees or snowing and 20F. As for quilting, I have a lot of fabric I've collected over the years and several 'started quilt tops'. Unfortunately, I have yet to complete a full quilt project. Still, I enjoy the process of planning a quilt and choosing the design and material.
Pixel:  I can attest to the fact that Mommy has a lot of photos of the great outdoors, and lots of 'started' quilt tops. I am hoping to see one completed before I am a senior dog! BOL!
Mommy: I will see what I can do to make that hope and dream a reality my silly little flower girl.
Mommy:  Regarding my photography and volunteering, one of the greatest joys for my heart is the volunteering I do at the Smyth County Animal Shelter taking pet portraits of all the animals who end up there, ones who are either lost or are looking for their new forever home. I make posters for each one and put them up on the shelter Facebook page that I co-admin with Officer Kristy Moore, a wonderful friend and animal control officer. She started the Facebook page not too long before I called out of the blue to volunteer my services. In the last 2 years we've helped hundreds of dogs and cats find new, loving forever homes, or be reunited with their families after getting lost. We started with just a few hundred followers, and one rescue helping us. We've grown to a whole network of wonderful rescues and volunteers who help us save lives everyday, and the shelter Facebook page is closing in on 3,000 followers! It's a legacy that has forever changed me.
Pixel:  And I love sharing the dogs and cats and happy endings on my page and here on the blog. Which, by the way, we need to do another 'happy endings celebration' post on the blog!

Pixel: Alright Mommy, I have one more question to ask, and this one I made up. What are 5 things people might not know about you?
Mommy: Hmmm, I think I can come up with a few things for this one. 
1. I love snow and snowflakes. I love things with pretty snowflakes on them, and I even try to photograph snowflakes and snow crystals in winter when we get good snowfalls. 
2. I love silly socks! I wear them under my work clothes and boots. Hello Kitty, unicorns, you name it, and I will wear it. 
3. I worked in radio, TV, did night club deejay work and was a stage hand for concerts when I was a teen and into my early 20's. It was a great experience and I got to meet and work with some really fantastic artists.
4. I used to not like cats very much, but one day a very sweet cat changed my heart, and now I LOVE them!
5. I love box turtles and tortoises! Years ago I had a few and I loved their personalities. If I had a huge piece of land, I'd have a pet rescue sanctuary and turtles would have their own section to roam free in. 

Pixel: Thank you Mommy for letting me interview you for this special "Meet the Blogger" blog hop!
Mommy:  It was my pleasure Pixel. Thank you too! Now, let's go read about all the other bloggers. 

The links below are a doorway into many other fantastic pet bloggers that are wonderful and a real joy to read. I hope you enjoyed this special interview. Have fun getting to know about other pet bloggers.
Happy reading!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Joy of New Toys - Wordless Wednesday (on this lovely Thursday)

I love my toys a whole lot! They are like my children in a way. I care for them, love them, play with them, and make sure they get a good night sleep. Some of them are quite mischievous though! You tell me, is Bumble Snowman wanting to tell me a secret? Or is he about to nibble on my ear?
Leave a comment and let me know! Happy Wordless Wednesday a day late friends!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Pixel's Joy of Giving Ideal Balance Treat Giveaway Award Show

Welcome to the "Pixel's Joy of Giving" Ideal Balance Treat Giveaway Award Show!!
This is the 2nd Pixel Gift Giveaway sponsored by my friends at Hill's Pet Food. I can't wait to share the exciting results and name the recipients. Their names are listed here in this "secret ballot" envelope. I've enlisted the help of my friend "Little Blue Bear" to help me call out all the winner's names. No one has seen who the winners are, not even me. I had the names specially drawn by an independent panel. But before we name the winners, let me give you a little background on the giveaway.



I teamed up with my friends at Hill's pet food to introduce their wonderful line of Ideal Balance pet food and treats. As part of the campaign, we had this giveaway so folks could try the Ideal Balance all natural dog and cat treats. This giveaway started during the month of November and included the Thanksgiving holiday. As part of the fun of entering, I had everyone share messages of gratitude for the blessings in their life. There were all kinds of wonderful responses on Facebook, Twitter and here on the blog. The original blog post for this exciting giveaway can be read here. I received many wonderful comments about what everyone was thankful for, most notably the joys of family, animals, good health and the joy of laughter. It was so invigorating to see so many grateful sentiments!


Each one of the 20 lucky winners will receive 3 bags of either Hill's Ideal Balance dog treats or cat treats. Hill's has several varieties of dog treats and one kind of cat treat that are sure to please your little ones! Don't be surprised if some of the winning dogs or cats do what I did and jump right into the box of delivered goodies without a warning. And yes, this wonderful giveaway will be delivered right to your door. What a great way to celebrate the holidays by giving gifts! 


I know that the anticipation to name the lucky recipients is growing in leaps and bounds right now, so without further ado, let's announce the winners, shall we? 
1. Cindy Ky Blazavich Dickey (her Dad has Abel the Service Dog)
2. Charlie the Lucky 7 (family of rescue dogs)
3. Maureena Lucas (has 5 rescue dogs)
4. Stephanie Lynn McGlocklin (has several dogs)
5. Rebecca Boren (3 dogs - Charles(15 yrs) Miriam & Bandit)
6. Brittany Phillips (her dog is Spencer the Goldendoodle)
7. Leonard Davis
8. Kimberly Clark (has 4 dogs)
9. Sharon Myers (wishes to donate hers to a local shelter)
10. Kimberly Oestrike Daniels - (2 dogs - Buddy & Girlie dog)
11. Tori Leigh
12. Hadley Anne Monge (Pam Monge)
13. Emily Lee Decobert (parents take in stray dogs)
14. Loretta Jeffcoat
15.  Liz Gullet and Pippy her dog
16.  Jean Griffin-Young (Mitzi Jo and siblings)
17. Natalie B. (1 dog, 2 cats, parakeet)
18. Elizabeth Arant (Kermit the dog)
19. Einstein Smith
20. Missy O'Reagan (Dachshunds French Fry and Low Rider)

IF YOU ARE A WINNER, YOU MUST CONTACT ME ASAP TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE AND GIVE SHIPPING INFORMATION TO MOMMY JENNY LEWIS! Please email me at: pixelblueeyes.blog at gmail dot com, private message me on Facebook or direct message me on Twitter. I need your name, physical address with city state and zip code, phone number, email address and pets names. 

Congratulations to each of the lucky winners of the "Pixel's Joy of Giving Treat Giveaway" sponsored by Hill's Ideal Balance pet food. I hope you enjoy them and I can't wait to see photos! Photos of our past winners from my other Hill's Ideal Balance giveaway will be posted soon here on the blog. 
Thank you for participating friends and have a wonderful week!!

Monday, December 2, 2013

The Joy of Gift Giving - Pixel's Special Pet360 "Cyber Monday" Offer



Happy Cyber Monday friends! I know, I know, that sounds a bit strange coming from a little dog like me, but I am a social media doggie, so I must keep up with the times. Since Hannukah is upon us and Christmas is just around the corner (not to mention December Birthdays and "Gotcha Days" for all my anipal friends), I am teaming up with Pet360.com, a fantastic resource for all pet parents, to promote a special offer they are having TODAY ONLY.
Pet360FreeTote Pet360 is giving away a free canvas tote bag to every single person who places an order on their online store. So for every purchase that is made, even if you only get one thing, you get a free tote! It's a nice one too. Mommy uses them to carry my stuff around when we go out and about. She also uses them to carry the stuff she gets at craft fairs, Christmas bazaars and farmer's markets. They are quite versatile! So my friends, to get this free tote, all you have to do is select the Pet360 button link above or in the top right corner of my blog here, and start shopping! They have so many cool things, Mommy loves the site! She just told me earlier that she got me something for Christmas from there, but doggone it, she won't tell me what it is. Guess I will have to wait until Christmas morning to find out...don't worry, I'm a very patient little girl!

I wanted to make sure and tell you though, that Pet 360.com is more than just an online store, they are a whole community for pet parents. They offer the latest news, the latest pet care tips, helpful information on health and wellness for your pet, and so much more! So go check them out and don't forget to shop today so you can get the free canvas tote bag!! Hey, if you find something and get it from Pet360, I'd love to hear what it is (might even give me a hint as to what Mommy got me, BOL!), so leave me a comment and let me know, okay? Now, to figure out how to bribe the delivery driver to let me look in the box when it arrives before Mommy gets home! I could at least tell all my toys that a new toy friend might be joining the ranks soon...

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The Joy of Giving and Being Thankful - Pixel Hosts a Hill's Treats Giveaway!

My dear friends, as the holiday season approaches, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I can't help but think of all the things I'm truly thankful for. I have the most wonderful Mommy & family who loves me beyond measure; I have two extra special fur sisters whom I adore; I have a good vet who helps keep me as healthy as possible; I have lots of wonderful friends whom I love sharing with; I get to eat really good food everyday; I get to blog about my adventures and joys with people from all over the world; I have the best collection of toys a girl could ask for; and I get to be spoiled with special treats everyday. Oh, I could go on and one, but that gives you an idea of why I am so thankful.
The treats that I have fallen in love with are my Hill's Ideal Balance Oven Baked Naturals. Oh my goodness, they are so yummy-licious! I remember the first time those treats were delivered to my house, back when I first started blogging for Hill's. I could smell the yummy goodness even before they came out of the box!
Mommy always wants to give me healthy dog treats, so she read the ingredients thoroughly and liked what she read. We could see what the treats looked like right through the front window of their very appealing packaging. Mommy likes that you can literally see the little chunks of fruit like cranberry and blueberry pieces in each treat. I like that they taste so good. Hill's Ideal Balance treats are all natural, and there's no soy, wheat or corn in them. And U.S. chicken is the number one ingredient!
As you all know, I love doing my tricks with Mommy. We've trained for years mastering each one. Although I certainly can do them without treats now, Mommy always likes to give me little treats as a reward. She appreciates the fact that the Ideal Balance treats are easy to break up into smaller pieces, so I get several little treats that actually is only one treat. It makes me feel extra special getting so many little ones!
Sometimes I get so overly excited to do my tricks that I almost shout for joy as I do them! Here I am doing a combo of my "Paw" trick (where I give Mommy my right paw) and my "Smile/Sneer" trick (where I give Mommy my best toothy grin). Of course, I get a little treat after doing several tricks in a row...and what better treat is there than a healthy dog treat that is grain free and made right here in the U.S.A.?
Would you like to see a video of me doing five of my tricks? I do love sharing my abilities with you, and it might just bring a smile to your face and laughter in your heart. Oh, and I guarantee that you will LOVE my "Pixel the Nascar Dog" trick video!
All of this talk of giving great tasting treats is making me hungry for some, how about you? Would you like to try Hill's Ideal Balance treats for your dog or cat? If so, then I want you to enter my "Pixel's Joy of Giving" Ideal Balance Treat Giveaway, sponsored by Hill's Pet Food!! 20 lucky winners will each receive 3 bags of either Hill's Ideal Balance dog treats or cat treats. It's very easy to enter, just follow the instructions below.
Here's what you need to do to be eligible for the giveaway. You only have to do ONE of these, but if you want to do more than one, your name goes in for each one you do. You just MUST let me know so I can verify:
1. Follow my blog here by signing up with the "Join This Site" button to the right of this post (you might have to scroll to get to it), then leave a comment here on the blog post letting me know what you're thankful for, why you want to try the treats and whether you want it for cats or dogs.
2. Follow me on Facebook by "LIKING" my page, then leave a comment on my Facebook timeline letting me know what you're thankful for, why you want to try the treats and whether you want it for cats or dogs.
3.Follow me on Twitter, then send me a tweet letting me know what you're thankful for, why you want to try the treats and whether you want it for cats or dogs.
4. Share this blog post via Facebook or Twitter and make sure to tag me so I know you did it.
5. If you get one of your friends to follow me in one of these steps above, tell them to LET ME KNOW and I will enter YOU in the drawing again.
Here is a list of the yummy varieties of dog and cat treats that Hill's offers:
1. Hill's® Ideal Balance™ Crunchy Naturals with Real Tuna cat treats
2. Hill's® Ideal Balance™ Oven-Baked Naturals with Chicken & Apples dog treats
3. Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Oven-Baked Naturals with Turkey & Cranberries dog treats
4. Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Soft-Baked Naturals with Beef & Sweet Potatoes dog treats
Now don't wait to enter friends, you haven't a moment to lose! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and you must enter by November 30, 2013. I will announce the winners the first week of December. If you have won the previous Hill's Ideal Balance Gift Basket Giveaway, you cannot enter this one as we want as many different people to have a chance to win as we can.
I think it is always best to give than to receive, so I can't wait to give 20 lucky winners a goody bag of treats. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving and Hanukkah holiday next week! Remember to try to always be thankful each day and to look for the joy in the little things in life. It makes life so much more enjoyable!
Author has been compensated for completion of this article.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Another Monarch Monday - Pixel's Monday Mischief

Mommy told me about this song she used to love back in the 80's when she was a teenager and I really liked it too, so I thought I'd dress the part and sing it to you. Here goes....

"It's just another Monarch Monday, Oh-woe.
I wish it were Sunday, Oh-woe.
Cuz' that's my fun day!
My 'get to run around' day, Ohhh....
It's just another Monarch Monday!"
Since it's from a group called the Bangles, that must be sort of like "bling", so wearing my Princess Pixel outfit seemed fitting. Since we're talking princesses and monarchy, I wanted to introduce a couple of other princesses I know. They are very sweet and nice and are humble in their Princess-iness.
Photo used with permission by Sharon Elliott
This is Precious Princess Hope. She is a very special girl who lives in Florida. She was born with some front paw limitations, but that doesn't slow her down from being the sweetest, prettiest Florida princess I know! Her Mom Sharon is super cool too, and even made me a beautiful purple animal print dress that is so pretty. They love each other so much! I know Hope would love to make some more friends on her "Precious Princess Hope of Northford" Facebook page. Go visit her sometime, like her page and get to know her.
Photo used with permission
 by Amy Martis
My friend Princess Ellouise is loads of fun too! She's a beautiful pit bull Princess who is a great ambassador for the loving and noble breed. She is also silly and loves her Mommy Amy so much. They take great care of each other! Princess Ellouise's Mom made me two lovely tutus and sent them with the tiara and feather boa I am wearing for "Monarch Monday" today. But don't let the tiara fool you, Ellouise is just as laid back as they come, just like me and Hope. I bet she'd love to make some new friends too. Visit her Princess Ellouise Facebook page and say hi!
So, now that we've really celebrated Monarch Monday with style, let's get back to that song...
"It's just another Monarch Monday, Oh-woe!
I wish it were Sunday....cuz that's my fun day....."
This Blog Hop is brought to you by Alfie’s Blog, Snoopy’s Dog Blog, and My Brown Newfies.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Joy of Dancing to the Music in your Heart

I love to dance. I find just about any reason to twirl around joyfully with Mommy. I think that dancing is such a joyful expression of your heart and soul. I believe I was born with the heart of a dancer. I didn't know it though until I adopted Mommy; then one day, clear out of the blue, I did a double pirouette twirl for her as though I was a prima ballerina. It made her so happy to see me do it, so I've been dancing for her ever since. It is an expression of my love. I dance for her. I dance for me.

Do you dance? I hope you do. You can do it when you're all by yourself so no one sees, but I suggest trying it. It might just bring a smile to your face. Dancing has always been a joy for me and Mommy, and I hope it is for you too.
My Pixel advice is simple: Listen to the music of your heart and dance. Find a reason to dance and just dance! I love you my friends!

Friday, November 8, 2013

The Joy of Perfect Balance & Nutrition - Hill's Ideal Balance Pet Food

Come a little closer, I have something important to say.
Perfect balance is very important in so many things. People need to have a balanced checkbook, car tires need to be balanced for safety, babies must learn to have balance before they can walk, good balance is ideal when you are dancing, and just life in general should be a good balance of work and play. The concept of balance is everywhere! I'm even balancing on this shelf to talk to you.
I love running as fast as I can, with my ear flying in the wind!
Mommy talks a lot about having a balanced meal for the family, a healthy amount of protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals that come from the food to help everyone stay healthy. Of course, dogs and cats need to have balanced meals too. Since I love to run, I need to have a good balance of nutrients to support that kind of activity and exercise.
I don't get to choose what food I get, so Mommy has to make sure that my meals are a perfect balance of key nutrients that my body needs to maintain good health, energy, and a proper weight.
No, Mommy...I'm pretty sure I can open the bag by myself.
I've heard the phrase, "if a little does a little good, a lot must do a LOT of good!" With that idea in mind, if it were up to me personally, I'd eat anything and everything that's good! I'd eat a whole bag of Ideal Balance Baked Naturals Chicken and Apple treats a day if Mommy let me, just because it tastes so good, and especially because it is so good for me. But I guess that's why I'm not in control of my own feeding regiment, haha! (Is that why the bag is up on the top shelf Mommy?)
Seriously though, I asked Mommy why precisely balanced nutrition is so important for me. She says that each vital nutrient, such as protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and fiber, has a specific job to do to keep my body in shape and nourished. Nutrient excess or deficiency can lead to a number of health conditions.
Here are some of the key nutrients that are important for good health, and a brief explanation of what each one does for the body.
1. Protein helps support lean muscle tissue in adult pets, and helps nourish growing muscle tissue in puppies and kitties. A pet's body can only absorb a certain amount of protein though, so too much protein in a diet can stress the liver and kidneys as it tries to process it and get rid of excess nitrogen. Over time, that can have an effect on those organs.
2. Fats, in the appropriate amounts in pet food, is excellent for healthy, soft skin and a beautiful, shiny fur. Too much fat in a diet can cause all kinds of issues like weight gain and blood problems, yet too little fat can be trouble too.
3. Fiber is great for healthy digestion, a healthy heart, and keep your cholesterol in check. Too much or too little can cause an upsetting imbalance in the intestines and cause unhealthy bowels.
4. Vitamins and minerals are essentials for so many reasons. Vitamins support the immune system. If levels are deficient in a pet food, fatigue or weakness can ensue, yet if vitamin levels are too high, organ stress can occur. Minerals help grow and maintain strong muscles and healthy teeth. Yet if mineral levels are too low or too high, serious health issues can arise.
I've got the moves....cha, cha, cha!
Hill's Ideal Balance natural and grain free pet food seeks out that perfect balance of these key nutrients for your pet...not too much and not too little. They use high quality ingredients in every recipe. As with any food, when ingredient quality increases, so does a pet's ability to absorb and use the nutrients for optimum health. Plus, it just might help them dance better, too. I mean, check out my samba...I'm workin' it over big time thanks to my healthy balanced diet! Now, all Mommy has to do is give me that treat!
Are you feeding your dog a perfectly balanced nutrition? Find out if your dog's food contains properly balanced nutrition and how to make a change if it doesn't. I invite you to the Hill's Ideal Balance website and do a self assessment of your current food vs. Hill's Ideal Balance. They also did their own comparison of some of the biggest dog food brands and share their findings here.
Just remember, whether you are seeking the right food for your pet, or seeking to master the perfect twirl, BALANCE IS THE KEY. Would you like to try Hill's Ideal Balance for your pet? I say, go ahead, give it a whirl!! Or should I say give it a TWIRL! You'll be so glad you did.

A healthy, balanced, nutritious diet helps Pixel joyfully twirl all day long!
  

Author has been compensated for completion of this article.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Happy Halloween! Pixel the Prison Pup Tells Her Tail

Happy Howling Halloween friends! They say that prison changes a dog, but I'm still the happy, joyful Pixel I've always been. Mommy says I'm the best cell mate she's ever had, which makes me wonder....should I do a background check on her? And where is HER prison shirt? BOL! I really don't mind being in-car-cerated, as long as Mommy drives and I get to look out the window.
They feed me well here, and I get along with everyone too. There's this one fellow inmate though, they call her Meow Meow. She really likes to come up close and rub against me. That makes me feel uncomfortable. I think I will have to tell the warden about it. Maybe Meow Meow is just sick & tired of me stealing her food...but I haven't stolen it in weeks!
The accommodations are quite comfy. The beds are incredibly comfortable, I get yard time, access to a computer (which is why you are reading this now), and I still have a nice stash of toys. All in all, I really can't complain.
Mommy even said they might let me out early for good behavior!
Now, you might ask yourself, "How in the world did little Miss Pixel get to be an inmate?" Well, this innocent, pumpkin covered face will never tell. Okay, maybe I will tell...I'm a prisoner of LOVE!! I love my Mommy and she loves me, so I am locked up in her heart forever! And gladly so.

I hope you enjoyed my little bit of late night Halloween fun! I hope your Halloween was super fun as well. I'd love to hear about it. Just leave me a comment below....

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Pixel's Latest Pixenator 5000 Invention: The Joy of Being Inspired

   I'd like to introduce you to my latest invention, which I currently having in testing phase...it's the new Pixenator 5000 Personalized Fave Toy Living Blanket Heat Generator. No need for electricity or actual blankets when you have one of these around. I was inspired after every single toy, dog and bed in this photo got a bath. So there I was, squeaky clean and mostly dry but a bit chilly. And there they were, all fresh out of the dryer. It's amazing how inspiration comes to you at the oddest moments. My favorite part of the whole image is that little Lamby totally photo bombed the shot! She is such a nut....