Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The Joy of a Good Book & a Giveaway - "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" by H.L. Stephens

Merry Christmas Eve Friends! Although it's "Wordless Wednesday", I have much to say because I just finished a GRAND ADVENTURE without leaving the comforts of my home. There is nothing quite like reading a good book. No matter who you are or what your circumstances might be, a good book with a wonderful storyline can take you on incredible adventures you never thought possible. A well written story can take your wildest dreams, your deepest longings or your most elaborate imaginings and weave them into a reality of characters, adventures, and places you can visit and experience any time you like. Such is the case with the novel by H.L. Stephens, "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee". This is the second novel in the Mister Marmee series and let me tell you, it is even more amazing and incredible than the first adventure!
I reviewed the first novel, "The Case of Jack the Nipper: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" back in August, 2013. That first book introduced the amazing characters of Mister Marmee, a brilliant marmalade colored cat who is the narrator of the series; Sir Happy Heart, the greatest canine detective London has ever seen; premiere veterinarian Dr. Stephen Hanover, Sir Happy's beloved human; and Lady Jasmine, a noble and beautiful pit bull friend of Mister Marmee and Sir Happy who escaped a horrid past to find forever love in the heart of a young boy. The first novel also introduced the endearing Charles and Amelia Hurst, and of course Inspector Farley of Scotland Yard, who calls upon Sir Happy's keen intellect to help solve a most heinous crime.
In "The Case of the Wayward Fae", all these characters, plus a whole host of new and exciting friends and foes, are introduced. This second novel takes place in England's countryside, at Dawberry Manor, the country home of Dr. Hanover and Sir Happy. After the excitement, danger and adventures recounted in "The Case of Jack the Nipper" is closed, everyone is looking forward to a quiet time in the country. Life, after all, is slow and uneventful in the countryside, right? Not necessarily. After a series of strange and seemingly unconnected deaths and crimes occur in much too close succession in this sleepy country area, Mister Marmee and Sir Happy begin investigating as only they can! It doesn't take long before whispers of "fairy mischief" begin to spread among the country folk, adding an additional mystery that Sir Happy and Mister Marmee must dig through in order to find the truth. As Sir Happy starts fitting pieces together, he is wrongly accused of attacking a horrible man, and must go into hiding, leaving things up to Mister Marmee, who is not the master crime solver. It becomes a race against time, with Mister Marmee calling upon the help of a very special woman named Bitty Early, who lives deep in the forest where "the fairy folk" are thought to live. Sir Happy's life is in danger and only Marmee can save him, but...but... Oh, I can't say another word, you MUST read the book!!
The characters that H.L. Stephens creates for you are like no other. I cannot express enough how complete and multi-dimensional they are. H.L. lets you into their emotions, their feelings, sharing their wit, their innermost fears, and you see, feel and experience exactly what they are experiencing! It is truly unbelievable. They are not just words on a page, they are your dearest friends, your most loathsome adversary and you wait with great anticipation to read what will happen next.
Let me tell you, I was riveted with each turn of the page. I made Mommy stay up until the wee hours of the morning reading it with me. We could NOT put it down! We had to force ourselves to quit just to get sleep sometimes. It made us laugh with such humor our bellies ached, it made us cry to where we almost sobbed, and it always made us think.
Here is an excerpt from the book:
"With the solitude of darkness came the agony of a restless mind. My wearied body screamed for the comfort of slumber, but my mind would not comply with its demands. I was plagued by the events of the day, not just because a man had lost his life in my presence. It was horrific enough. What disturbed me and prevented me from escaping the reality of the daylight hours into the arms of my dreams was the feeling that the events as we knew them did not add together as I thought they should. Inconsistencies scratched at the back of my brain, but I was too drained mentally to put my paw upon their exact source. I was reluctant to agree with Sir Happy's assessment of Mowbry, but I was beginning to think my friend might be on to something in believing there was more to this incident than met the eye. 
I thought a nice midnight refreshment would help put my brain back in order and perhaps assist me in clearing my thoughts. After all, no truly gifted intellect could concentrate with a gurgling stomach nearby. I made my way to the cold store room to catch a smoked kipper or two. My grave mistake was forgetting that several of the villagers had laid the body of the dead man to rest there. What a sight greeted me when I eased opened the store room door!"
I bet you are dying to know what in the world Mister Marmee saw when he opened up that door. You are just going to have to read the book to find out! (I am going to help you get that book! Keep reading to find out how.)
Watch "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" Book trailer on YouTube.

H.L. Stephens understands in every possible way, the incredibly strong and deep connection between animals and people. She knows full well that dogs and cats, as well as most all the animal kingdom, can understand humans perfectly. In fact, in the Chronicles of Mister Marmee, it is the humans who are lacking in their ability to fully understand the animals and their extremely high functioning brilliance. These are not just talking dogs and cats like a child's cartoon. Oh no...this is a well structured, classically written, high level vocabulary masterpiece. A tapestry of brilliant characters with as many facets to their characters as a diamond has on a ring. You simply will not be able to help yourself once you start reading The Case of the Wayward Fae. It's just that good!
You will finish reading this book with a longing for still more. This story makes you feel that you are right in the middle of the events, taking part if you will. Not only does each character come alive within the words of each page, but each true and noble character becomes a treasured friend, a cherished confidant and beloved part of your life. No matter who you are, whether you love history, animals, mystery, adventure, fairies, Sherlock Holmes style "who done it" novels or just are intrigued by the underdog concept of animals solving crimes, you are going to LOVE THIS BOOK. It is filled with laughter, gripping "edge of your seat" adventure, poignant moments that will make your eyes water, deep friendship that will make you wish you were Mister Marmee or Sir Happy yourself, and an adventure unlike any other you've read or heard. So go run out and get the book for your friends and family members. You can order H.L. Stephens "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play store, Smashwords, and many other online book stores.
You can learn a bit more about H.L. Stephens by reading her blog or visiting her Facebook page.
Pixel gives "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" 2 Paws UP! Safe and enjoyable to read for ages 8 - 108!
How would you like to win a copy of "The Case of the Wayward Fae: A Chronicle of Mister Marmee" by H.L. Stephens? How a set of BOTH books in the series? Tis the season of giving, and I want to give my friends some copies of H.L. Stephens' extraordinary adventure novels starring Mister Marmee. There are several prizes offered:
1st Prize ~ Autographed 2 Book Set "The Chronicles of Mister Marmee" by H.L. Stephens (1 winner)
2nd Prize ~ Autographed copy of "The Case of the Wayward Fae" by H.L. Stephens (2 winners!)
3rd Prize ~ e-Book copy of "The Case of the Wayward Fae" by H.L. Stephens (4 Winners!!)
To enter, simply use the rafflecopter entry tool below. It is quite simple. Just click on each question or instruction such as "Enter your name", "Leave a comment" etc, and further instructions will be provided for you. Each item gives you a certain number of chances to win. If you do ALL the items, you get over a dozen chances to win! Hurry friends, the contest ends at 11:59pm EST January 5th, 2015.
This is my Christmas present to YOU friends, in celebration of
the 12 Days of Christmas which starts
December 25th and runs through January 5th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Pixel Weather Adventurer Extraordinaire - Snow In Appalachia Virginia for Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend!

Hello my friends! Pixel Blue Eyes reporting to you LIVE from the Appalachian mountains of Virginia where we've had one heck of a lovely snow event for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!
I've been studying the weather for some time now and I'm a real champion for winter weather. Well, so is Sam Champion of the Weather Channel and his AMHQ team of fantastic meteorologists, so I'm channeling some of their fantastic weather reporting skills and giving it to you from a dog's point of view.
The snow we've seen in the last few days is perfect for people who love the beauty and wonder of snow but hate the shoveling. Early Wednesday morning we got about 2" of snow. It was so pretty, however it melted far too quickly. The good news was that it never stuck to the roads, so people were able to get out and about in their cars and not have to worry as much about snow covered roads. Of course, there's still always the risk of slick spots or unsafe drivers, so keep a safe speed friends, and always look out for other drivers and slick spots when winter precipitation is on the ground.
Thanksgiving morning we were blessed with a glorious blanket of sparkling crystal snow that was about 3"- 4" deep. It was just perfect for little dogs (and big dogs too of course) to run around and play in. My sisters Peanut and Sassy, the newest member of our family, had such a fun time outside in the snow. It was the first time Sassy had ever seen or experienced snow and it was love at first sight for this little snow dog Pomeranian. In fact, young Sassy, who is about 4 months old, was literally running circles around me  and Peanut while I was trying to test the latest weather conditions and Peanut was enjoying the Thanksgiving Day Winter Wonderland on our back deck. It was very charming, but I was glad we weren't doing a "live shot" weather report. That would have been interesting on TV with a tiny dog running laps through the report!
Dixie Mae, my short haired Dachshund sister, stepped outside in her warm coat but decided playing in the snow was not for her. She preferred to stay inside because of the cold, so remember that not every dog will want to go outside in wintry conditions to play. Some people believe that a dog must always want to be outside "where we belong" but we really want to be with our humans in comfortable conditions, preferably under a warm blanket by your hip on the couch. At least that's what Dixie Mae always says.
If you go outside with your pets, make sure they are well protected from the cold and elements such as rain or snow. Even though dogs and cats have fur, we still get cold, get achy joints and hate getting (or staying) wet in the rain. Just as there is for humans, there are rain coats, hats, winter coats, paw shoes and many other apparel made especially for dogs to keep them safe, warm and protected outside in the elements.

Dog weather reporting includes a few additional bits of weather information that dogs need to know about for the best outdoor weather experience, especially in snow. This includes:
1. Depth of snow - Dogs need to know this so we can calculate how much of our legs will either become wet or get those amazing little sticky snowballs on our fur if we have long fur. Very important information indeed. If a bath is eminent, we must plan for that as well.
2. Color & texture of snow - Since we love to eat snow, we must know if the snow is safe to eat. Snow must be clean, white and fluffy for best consumption. Dirty, yellow or icy snow is not a fun snack!
3. Anticipated snow melting days and/or rainy puddle days. Some dogs love getting muddy and then tracking those foot prints all over the place in their home, so dogs need to know the best days for maximum mud possibilities.
Well, I've now eaten several snow samples and verified that this is pure Appalachian mountain snow, fresh and ready for eating and playing in for dogs ages 8 weeks to 18 years! It'll be melting soon enough, so get your pups out there as soon as possible for loads of fun in the snow. Just remember to play it safe, stay protected from the elements and you'll have a great time in any kind of weather!
Sign up for my blog (in the upper right of the page) to get it via email so you'll never miss a single report from Pixel, the Weather Adventurer Extraordinaire!
Get social with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest! And don't forget you can see all kinds of fun videos of mine on YouTube.
So...what's the pet weather like in your neck of the woods??

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Nurse Pixel Saves the Day - Emergency Surgery on Randolph Monkey

When you are a nurse, you are always "on duty" in a way, because you never know when your helpful skills might be needed. This past Sunday was no exception. The day started out like any other. I was spending time with my family, laughing and playing, when a serious and life threatening accident happened. 















My dear friend Randolph Monkey suffered a severe 
spinal injury while playing an especially rigorous game of "Shake and Chase" and his tail came off! We've played many times before with no injuries, but this time proved to be different. 






At first I was mortified and feared the worst, but then my years of nursing took over and I jumped into action. I called upon the best person I knew who could sew him back up and save him. Time was of the essence and I needed Randolph Monkey to be okay. Luckily, Mommy was right there when it happened.
















She grabbed her stitching kit as I lay Randolph on the sterile white sheet in preparation for his surgery. Once she prepared what was needed for his surgery, I inspected the needle and ensured all was in order before we began. This had to be done right the first time! Of course, I didn't doubt her precision hands, I was just very worried about Randolph, as I hoped he was strong enough to take this type of injury and subsequent surgery to patch him up. 
"As bad as it looks right now, I have a good feeling about this Pixel. He's made of some pretty tough stuff(ing)," Mommy said as she began her work. I silently prayed as I assisted through every stage. 
Seconds seemed like minutes, minutes seemed like hours, then suddenly she was done.
I could not believe my eyes! Not only had she mended his back from being torn open, but she reattached his tail perfectly as if it had never been ripped off! Surgeon Mommy told me that she used extra strong reinforced stitching techniques so that his back and tail would be stronger than it was to begin with. He's practically Robo-Monkey now! Randolph needed to rest of course from the entire ordeal, but I was able to snuggle up to him and let him know it was all better and he was going to be just fine. Nurse and patient were two very happy campers!
So, the day ended well, in spite of this serious emergency, and that's all any of us can hope for. Just remember, if a sudden emergency occurs in your life, keep a level head, ask for help and do what you can to be of assistance.
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I am taking part in the Thursday "Barks and Bytes" Blog Hop, hosted by Heart Like a Dog and 2 Brown Dogs. Check out some of the links below to see what other blogs are sharing today.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Joy of Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

I have been away from my blog for over a month now and I've missed it. I've missed you. But I've been away because my Mommy has had some very serious medical issues occur that required my full attention, and while I was able to do the occasional Facebook post, I could not commit to a full blog post. I know you all understand these things.
This time away has made me think of how important time is. We are all only blessed with a short amount of it, so it is up to each of us to make the most out of each day we have. So I say, take time to be kind to a stranger. Take time to tell a loved one how much they mean to you. Take time to look at a sunset, and take time to stop and smell the flowers.
Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers. Photo of Pixel smelling flowers.
"You are only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. And don't forget to stop and smell the flowers." 
~ Walter Hagen

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Pixel's Answer to Writer's Block on #WordlessWednesday

I've been suffering from a bit of writer's block as of late, so today's #WordlessWednesday seemed like the perfect time to "fess up" to the fact and perhaps break the trend.
They say that a writer should write everyday, or at least least make an attempt to write. I come from a family of brilliant writers, so I listen to their sage advice as well. My Grampy says that a writer needs to "show up" in front of that laptop or keyboard each day because inspiration can come at any moment. I say why sit in front of the computer when I can lay my entire face and head on the laptop?
I'll let you know when inspiration arrives.
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A special message from Pixel and her Mommy Jenny:
The pet blogging world and veterinarian world lost a dear person yesterday when Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM passed away suddenly from a severe illness that caught everyone who knew her off guard. We are all in shock. We got to meet her at the BlogPaws 2013 Conference. She was so kind and a pleasure to talk to as she shared her expertise and love of animals. The BlogPaws team is helping to find homes for her 6 cats.
Please hold your loved ones tight, tell them you love them every single day and if you are ill, let someone know so that if anything ever happens to you, they can help. Wishing all my pet blogging and pet loving friends lots of love, hugs and happiness!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Joy of a Bad Hair Day - Pixel's Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Pixel's Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Smile & Go With It!
I'd like to share some simple yet very helpful "Wednesday Words of Wisdom" with you my friends. It's made a huge difference in my life, and it might make a difference in yours as well.
My advice is simple: next time you have a "bad hair day" don't let it bring you down. Don't fret over it being "unruly". Let your bad hair day become a joyful day!
Let your hair do it's own thing. Just walk out the door with your hair all crazy, face the day and SMILE as big as you can...as if you wanted it to look that way. Walk with confidence. Walk with swagger. Tip the waiter an extra 10%. Make others feel good throughout the day and it'll make you feel good too!
Who knows...you might even start a new hair trend!
Do you have some Wednesday Words of Wisdom to share with me? I'd love to hear them. Just leave me a comment below friends!
And don't forget to see what my fellow pet blogger friends are up to on this Wordless Wednesday. Some of us are more "wordy" than others, BOL, but I promise it's always entertaining.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

We Will Never Forget - Remembering 9/11 on Patriot's Day

Today is the 13th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. It happened on September 11, 2001, well before I was born, but my Mommy remembers it like it was yesterday. You can read all the details about that tragic attack on our great nation on hundreds of websites, in thousands of books, and see it in countless videos, but today I'd like to share with you what my Mommy says about it.

I will NEVER forget.
I remember everything about the morning of 9/11. Who I was with, what I was doing, how I found out that planes had flown directly into BOTH World Trade Center buildings, what the towers looked like as they burned, as they fell. I remember the horror, the shock, my tears, my fear, even though I was safe in my little town hundreds of miles away...but was I safe? The concept of terror did indeed strike true.
That day, those horrific events in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC changed everything for everyone in America. I remember the chill of the perfectly cloudless, blue sky. I remember the stillness of the air and how not a single aircraft could be seen or heard that day. So much to remember. So many images from the TV news, from photos, from the stories of lives lost, heroes made, families torn apart, but miracles that happened in the midst of terrible destruction. People came together like never before.
No, I will never forget. Never.
~ Jenny Lewis
God bless all the people who survived, all the souls who were lost, and all the people who lost loved ones and friends on 9/11. We will always remember you!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The Joy of Flower Power - Beautiful Dogs for Adoption with Sophie Gamand Photography

In celebration of National Dog Day, I wanted to share some extraordinary portraits of some extraordinary dogs by a very talented photographer. I first saw the #PitBullFlowerPower portraits by Sophie Gamand a few weeks ago and I fell in love with every single one of them. She has a real gift for  pet photography and a heart for helping pets in need. Sophie chose to do this series only of pit bull breed dogs because they often get a bad rap for no reason. The "pit bull" is actually any one of several breeds including Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, or any mix of those breeds. Sometimes even English Bulldog or Boston Terrier mix dogs are grouped in as pit bulls.
This is what Sophie Gamand says on her website about this project: ""Flower Power" is about challenging myself to approach pit bulls with a fresh perspective and an open heart. I invite the viewer to do the same." To me ALL dogs are beautiful, and these amazing portraits highlight just how beautiful they are! Some of these dogs have since been adopted, but most of them are still in need of a loving forever home. Please share this post with all your friends, on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media pages and let's find ALL of them a home this week!! Doesn't every single dog deserve a loving home?
Lovely Lucy is a 9 year young female pit bull/Labrador mix with the most infectious smile and beautiful amber eyes. Lucy is loyal, smart, sweet as can be and very affectionate.
Lucy was abandoned at a vet's office this past June unable to walk. She was taken in by Animal Haven rescue who got her the surgery she needed. Lucy is still healing and they are unsure if she'll be able to fully walk again, but she's still the sweetest girl around! Lucy would love nothing better than to spend her days bringing smiles and joy to her forever loving best friend or family.
For more information on how to adopt this beautiful flower they call lovely Lucy, visit Lucy's Animal Haven page.
This unique blue & brown eyed beauty is Cali, a beautiful two-and-a-half-year-old Pitbull Terrier mix. Cali is a very sweet pup who loves to play and give kisses. She is very obedient and loving, but she does require some leash training.
Mommy & I have found that positive leash training is a great way to bond, especially when you are a dog who wants to obey and please. So, I bet Cali and her new loving pet parent would pick it up in no time!
For more information on adopting this captivating sweet faced girl, visit Cali's Petango adoption page.
Dharma, the gorgeous geisha girl dog, is a 5 month old female pit/Whippet mix (yes, that's right) with the most beautiful golden green/ice blue eyes you've ever seen. She's just a baby, ready to start a new life with a loving forever family. Dharma is so sweet, long legged, delicate and aims to please. She will make someone a fantastic best friend! She will probably be on the smaller size too.
For more information and to put an application in to adopt this beautiful flower, visit Dharma's Animal Haven adoption page.
Thank you Sophie Gamand, for doing this beautiful flower series for all these pit bull pups. Thank you for believing in them and helping others to see the beauty they've always had! To see many more pit bull flowering beauties up for adoption, please visit Sophie's special #PitBullFlowerPower page.
This is a "Tuesday's Tails" blog hop, where homeless pets are featured to help them find homes. It's sponsored by our friends at Dogz & Paws. To see other pets up for adoption who need loving homes, visit some of the other blog links below.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Joy of Wash Day...but are the Toys Happy?

Wash Day. 
Mine and my sisters' toys had that "not so fresh" feeling to them, so I put them in my "Pixenator 5000 Super Ultra Toy Cleaning Machine" to ensure they came out smelling and looking newer than the day they came home to live with us.

Some of them protested. I'm not naming names, but green dragons and large ginger breads can be fussy.

However, I understood their concerns completely, as I'm not crazy about bath time myself. So I promised them it was perfectly safe and that they'd all get treats afterwards.

Everyone agreed...

...except Mr. Deedle-deedle Dee. Don't let that smile fool you...he's always been a trouble maker.
Are your toys happy on Wash Day? I'd love to hear about it in a comment. And don't forget, you can follow my additional adventures on Facebook and Twitter too.
This is a Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!! Hosted by my good friends at BlogPaws. Want to join in? See below. Want to see what my fellow pet blogging friends are up to? Visit some of their blogs in the links below and have fun!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Joy of a Good Book - Pixel Reviews "A Doggy Daycare Day" by L.J. Burns

There is nothing quite as cozy as a warm bed, a snuggly blanket and a good book on a rainy day or a lazy afternoon. I especially love books with or about animals. I like it even better if an animal WRITES THE BOOK. Yes, animals are quite prolific, as you know well from my own musings here on my blog. Animals have a lot to say, and writing is a perfect outlet for us, just like it is for everyone else.

What a joy it was the day I found out my good friend Mitzi Jo (she likes to be called MJ by her friends) co-wrote a book with her Mom L.J. Burns called "A Doggy Daycare Day".

Let me give you a little background on them before I delve into the book. MJ, who has been in TV commercials (including one with the dog whisperer for National Geographic), and can do all kinds of tricks, has been helping run a wonderful doggy daycare with her Mom, who professionally trained dogs for Hollywood for over 20 years before opening the doggy daycare. They share a very special bond. The real life doggie daycare that L.J. owns and operates is called "Camp Jean". If I lived nearby, I'd certainly want to stay there! They have a fantastic looking facility, with several acres of property, all dedicated to making the most fun doggy daycare you've ever seen or experienced! M.J. also has a blog where you can read up on her activities throughout the year.
The book, A Doggy Daycare Day, details a typical day with MJ, her siblings and all the dogs that come to stay with them at the doggy daycare facility. They have all kinds of interesting little adventures. MJ keeps everyone in check and they all have loads of fun. It is a lighthearted look at "a day in the life" of a doggy daycare out in the country.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Andrea Vitali, an incredibly talented artist and children's book illustrator.

WOW! Look at the detail in his work. I feel like I'm in the same room with MJ and her friends in the book. I can almost hear them saying the words I read because they really look like they are talking. His artwork is absolute Disney quality, isn't it!
It is perfect for the very young, the young learning to read, adolescents or just the young at heart. It could really teach kids about how fun dogs can be.
The book itself is in paperback or e-book format. I always think it's more fun to get the actual book, especially one that has such pretty illustrations, not to mention such a well written one by a friend.
"Look Mommy! MJ signed the copy of the book she sent me! It even has her "pawtograph" mark on it." I sure feel special.
So friends, you've got to go get a copy of this book. You can purchase either a paperback or an e-book version on Amazon here.
Do you have a dog book you love? I'd love to hear about it. Leave me a comment and tell me the name. Maybe I can read it or even do a review of it. And of course, if you've written a book and would like me to review it, simply contact me via email at pixelblueeyes dot blog at gmail dot com. 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Pixel's Favorites - 10 Safe & SUPER Foods for Dogs

I love food! I love to eat it, and I love to wear it. I really celebrate a good meal, as does my Mommy, so we always enjoy a good meal together. We both have several smaller meals and a couple of snacks a day, equaling up to what we should have total in a day. Now, we've all heard that dog's shouldn't "eat off the table" or "eat off your plate". I am a refined young lady you know. So of course I don't grab food off of Mommy's plate and she does not give me any of her prepared foods.
There are a few reasons why it is not a good idea to feed your dog directly from your plate, no matter how cute we look as we give you a big smile and sad puppy eyes. Some foods have damaging high fat, high salt, or ingredients that dogs either can't process or are toxic to us, such as onions, raisins and certain spices. But just because we can't eat some human foods, does not mean that dogs can never have people food at all! In fact, lots of dogs have their daily meals made all out of human foods exclusively, such as my friend Susie-Belle from England, who was rescued from a terrible puppy mill and now lives the good life with her Mum & Dad (a chef).
Here is my top 10 favorite human foods (in no particular order) that are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are actually SUPER Foods that provide amazing nutrition that keeps us healthy, fights disease, provides building blocks to a long life and bring lots of yummy to our tummy.
Pixel Blue Eyes' Top 10 Safe SUPER Foods for Dogs
1. Green Beans - omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, K. Good source of calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, beta carotene. Super low calorie, a virtual "free food"
2. Sweet Potatoes - great source of vitamins E, A, B-6 and C, as well as calcium, iron, folate, potassium, copper, thiamine and iron
3. Pumpkin - High fiber, essential fatty acids, promotes digestive & urinary health (Other squash such as butternut is good for us too!)
4. Beets - Excellent for dogs with liver issues, full of beta-carotene, fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B and C
5. Oatmeal - Essential source of fiber, grain protein, stabilizes blood sugar, high magnesium, contains lignans which protect against heart disease & cancer, antioxidants, boosts immune system, protects against heart failure
6. Bananas - Lots of amino acids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins B6 and C, potassium, fiber and manganese
7. Zucchini - Good source of calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and folate. Zucchini is best fed raw or frozen but can also be served cooked
8. Blueberries - high levels of resveratrol, which helps fight against cancer and heart disease. Contains tannins which help prevent urinary tract infections similar to what cranberries do.
9. Watermelon - Lycopene, vitamin A, B-6, C, thiamin
10. Brussel Sprouts - (I know, freaky, right?) vitamins K and G, manganese, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A, B1 and B6
Mommy and I have done extensive research, gleaning information from expert resources including well known veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and professional dog sites known for their scrupulous knowledge and information. Some of these foods are best cooked a certain way for optimum nutrition absorption, while others can be raw or  just lightly cooked.
Things to keep in mind as you go through my list of favorite human foods that are safe for dogs:
1. Not all dogs will like all foods. Just like people, dogs can have finicky tastes, though generally, we're happy with most any snack or food you give us. If you really want us to eat a certain "good for us" food...hide it in something else we like.
2. Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and are not able to digest the skins of things like raw or even cooked peas or blueberries. ...we've found that all natural and/or organic baby food versions of these fruits, vegetables and grains are FANTASTIC and in a perfect, easily digestible form for little dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's already pureed for you, so it makes for easy snacking and food preparation, depending on your needs, for your dog. Plus, if it's good enough to feed babies and toddlers, it is certainly good enough to feed your dog. Happy Baby Foods and Gerber are two of our favorite brands!
My basic meal at home is a foundation of fat free ground up chicken & a little white rice, then Mommy "mixes it up" for me with different fruits and veggies.

And everyday I get oatmeal in two of my meals. The moisture from the pureed fruits and veggies (sometimes additional water is added as needed) gives it a great consistency when mixed with the chicken!
My sisters, Peanut Pumpkin Pie and Dixie Mae Doxie, have fallen in LOVE with a new all natural fruit combo that is a mix of bananas, blueberries and beets. Talk about a powerhouse of healthy elements, vitamins and minerals!! Plus, it makes each of us look like we're wearing lipstick when a family member squeezes it out of the package and we lick it up with joy! See?

So, look in your cabinets, run to the store, visit your farmers market or dig in your garden and get YOUR pup some super foods to add to their daily diet. Trust me, if you weren't already their favorite (of course you are!) then you surely will be once you start adding these tasty bonus treats to their daily routine!
Healthy eating is never too late to start and always a good idea! If you'd like special instructions on cooking some of the veggies listed, or info on where Mommy orders some of the items we mentioned, leave a comment and we'll contact you!
Now....who wants a banana, blueberry Pixel kiss???