Pixel Blue Eyes' Top 10 Pet Christmas Shopping Guide (For Last Minute Shoppers)

 It's barely 10 days before Christmas and all over the world, little dogs are excitedly anticipating the giving and receiving of presents on Christmas Day. Many pet parents, family and friends are still bustling about shopping for "just the right gifts" for their furry family and friends. Whether you are a pet parent, a pet, uncle or grandparent, or are a pet yourself in need of finding the perfect gift for your fur sibling, I've got everything you need to know in my first ever "Pixel Blue Eyes Top 10 Pet Christmas Shopping Guide".

Since we are so close to Christmas, and lots of you are still trying to "wrap up" your shopping, I wanted to make things easier by giving you my expert Pixel opinion on the best of the best for presents and treats that your dogs will absolutely adore this Christmas. I know personally, because I did the research, I went out in the field, I tested each toy vigorously and tasted each treat myself! It was tough, but some doggie had to do it. It had to pass the Pixel seal of approval!
And all these gift ideas are available at stores right near you my friends. That's right! You don't have to order them online, risking them not coming before Christmas...everything I'm listing here can be found at your local pet store, specialty store or department store. I'm including links to learn more about the products, and of course information on the specific stores where they are available. I even have several "store locator" links to make things super easy for you. (You can thank me later.)

So, without further ado, here are my top 10 picks for holiday gifts and goodies for your dog:

1. KONG® Wubba Pull Toy  (approx. $7 - 15)

These are perhaps one of THE best toys on the planet. I mean that with all my heart. You know I've talked about the Kong Wubba many times before. You can simply Google "Pixel Blue Eyes Kong Wubba" and find videos, photos and blog posts I've written about this joyful toy. It's simply a perfect toy! It squeaks, it flaps, it rolls, it's durable, you can shake it, play fetch with it, and it literally lasts for years. Kong Wubbas come in many solid colors, patterns, cute animal faces, jungle themes and at least 3 different sizes. They have fuzzy Wubbas, string ball Wubbas....the possibilities are endless! They even have rattle ones for CATS...but don't tell my Pom sister Sassy, because she loves those too.
(Sold at Petsmart, Petco, Target and other fine stores)

2. Charming Pet® Longidudes Floppy Fun Toy (approx. $10 - $15)

I just recently discovered this amazing toy this past summer, when Mommy brought 3 home from Target. They are about 2 feet long, they are super fuzzily soft and cute, and they are FILLED WITH FUN!!!! Each Longidude Toy (my favorite is the bunny rabbit) has at least 3 very large squeakers in the body, then each end is filled with lots and lots of crinkly paper type stuff that makes it crackle and crinkle with every shake. It is sooooo floppy, I just want to shake it all day!! My sisters and I take turns dragging our Longidude toys around the house, and each one is so long that at least two of us can play with one at the same time. So even though they seem real big, little 11 pound dogs can take total control over them with no problem. BOL!
(Sold at Target and many other fine stores) Charming Pet Retailer Store Locator Tool
3. MultipetTM  Latex Ball Animal Toy (approx. $2.50 - $3.50 each)

These little guys are too cute and so much fun. Mommy had been trying to find me something to replace my beloved rubber duckies since Multipet ended their production, and these little squeaky ball animals certainly help fill the void. They are soft on the mouth, easy to hold onto for little and big dog mouths alike, and make the perfect sounding squeak. Meaning that it's incredibly annoying to some humans, but music to the ears of most canines. My personal favorite is the....wait for it....duck!
(Sold at your local Walmart store)
4. Kurgo® True-Fit Car Seat Belt Harness (approx. $29 - $45)
This might not be a super "fun" gift idea, but Mommy says that this one item is the greatest thing she has ever received to make her feel that I am safe in the car while we are travelling. She LOVES my Kurgo True-Fit Car Seat Belt Harness and I do too. It is so comfortable for me to wear, I hardly even know it is on. It fits perfectly over my shirts when I have to wear them, and it keeps me so secure in the car when we are travelling, running errands, just anytime I ride in the car with her. She never lets me ride without it on. And I am secured to an actual seat belt with the extra carabiner attachment belt loop that hooks me (in my harness) to the seat belt in the car. Every dog should have one of these for car travelling safety!! They come in sizes to fit pretty much every size dog, from X-Small to X-Large.
(Sold at Petco and many other fine stores near you) Kurgo Retailer Store Locator Tool Link
**Read my detailed personal review of the Kurgo True-Fit Car Harness from last Summer, that includes LOTS of photos and information.**
5.  Boots and Barkley Bear Pet Hat (approx. $7.99 - $10)
Are you prepared for cuteness overload for your pet? Well, this fuzzy pet trapper style hat definitely fits the bill! This adorably cute winter hat isn't just "cute", it keeps your dog's head and ears very warm. Whether they have floppy ears like me, or ears that stick up like my Pomeranian sisters Peanut and Sassy, this hat will keep a dog's ears toasty warm. The hat has ear holes to let the ears stick out, but you can also keep your dog's ears tucked inside on those wet winter days out in the elements. Target also sells a matching blue fuzzy fake fur lined coat that perfects the look.
(Sold at Target in stores and online) Target Store Locator Tool
6. KONG® Cozie Plush Dog Toys (approx. $5.00 - $12.00)

Kong created another winner in these super fun, durable, plush squeaky toys. The Kong Cozie is one of my ultimate favorite toys. In fact, my sisters and I have one of almost every single character! The Kong Cozie lasts forever it seems, and takes a real beating as far as hard core playing and chewing. They are super fun to flip around, shake, drag through the house, play pull toy with, wrestle with, play fetch with, and cuddle with. Your dog couldn't ask for a better toy friend!
(Available at Petsmart and other pet stores)

7. Charming Pet® Pulleez Plush Dog Toys (approx. $8 - $11)

The Charming Pet Pulleez toys are the cutest stuffed animal interactive dog toys that I am really hoping Santa Paws brings for me and my sisters this year!! They are totally adorable with lots of fun all rolled into one toy. The Pulleez Plush Dog Toys (I really want the light blue zebra one shown here) is super soft and cuddly, has rope toy arms for pulling and play tugging, has several squeakers for fun noisy mischief, and is perfect for shaking, and running around the house like a little hoodlum. Mommy says they are very well made and just too cute to pass up on.
(Sold at Target and many other fine stores) Charming Pet Retailer Store Locator Tool
8. Multipet Loofa Squeaker Mat Dog Toy (approx. $7 - $9)

The Multipet Loofa Squeaker Mat toys are a favorite in my house with me and my sisters. Dixie Mae especially loves her yellow one. One or two squeaks is great in a toy, but a dozen or more?? Absolute HEAVEN!! Every place you grab and bite on these toys squeaks in the bestest way, making it a joy for any and every dog in your life. The Loofa squeaker mat dog toy flops around and is easy for little dogs to hold onto (and big dogs too of course). And look at those fun colors! They put a smile on everyone's face.
(Available at your local Walmart, Target and other pet stores)


9. Hills® Ideal BalanceTM Oven Baked Naturals Dog Treats (approx. $4.50 - 6.50 per bag)

These treats are high quality and well worth the money for several reasons. They are gluten, soy, wheat, corn and grain free (for all us dogs with allergies and sensitive stomachs). They have real ingredients that are sourced in the U.S.A. and a few safe places in Europe. They break into small pieces for little dogs so that you don't give too many calories but we still get lots of yummy taste. They are DELICIOUS!!!! Hills Ideal Balance Oven Baked Naturals Dog Treats make a great stocking stuffer.
(Available at Petsmart, Petco, and many other fine Pet stores, including many Veterinarian offices who sell Hills products)
Hills Ideal Balance Pet Food Product Store Locator Tool



10. Dog for Dog Treats and Peanut Butter Bars (approx. $1.99 - $14.99 sizes/quantities vary)

The Dog for Dog company has one of the coolest things going when you buy any of their delicious products. For every single jar of peanut butter (made especially for dog!), bag of treats, bag of food, and other items they sell, Dog for Dog gives the same equivalent item to a dog in need at a shelter or rescue!! Is that not AMAZING??!! Well worth every penny spent. Your dog gets delicious food and treats, and another dog in need gets the same thing. Talk about a winning strategy. I love it!
(Available at Petsmart and many other fine pet stores)

Now remember friends, all these products can also be purchased online, I just wanted to make sure to give you options that you could purchase in the store since we are down to one week before Christmas. I hope this is helpful as you search for 'just the right gift' for your beloved dog, or you dear fur sister or brother.
So, which of these products do you think sounds like the most fun? Which ones do you want to try for yourself? Let me know in a comment below!

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

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.
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...

The Joy of Smiles and Laughter - Pixel Shares Lots of Happy Photos

 With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we must not forget the joy of being silly, the joy of smiling, of laughing and the joy of the season. So on this (mostly) Wordless Wednesday, I wanted to share some of my most fun times in the last couple of months with Mommy. She is, after all, always the one behind the camera as we play! Now, all I ask is that you tell me in a comment which one is your favorite photo...and you can pick more than one!

The shy, cover my face Pixel smile & giggle.

The super funny, laugh out loud Pixel smile.

The Bright Eyed 'glad to meet you' Pixel smile.

The Excited 'I'm doing my tricks so well' Pixel Smile.

The 'I am just having TOO much fun doing my tricks with Mommy' Pixel smile.

The 'subtle yet hopeful' Pixel smile

The 'Pixel as a motivational speaker' smile.

The 'I make a beautiful butterfly, don't I Mommy' Pixel smile.

The 'Princess Pixel of the Blue Fairies' smile.*

The 'Christmas Angel' Pixel smile.*

Now, which ones are your favorite? 
And do you think I should start my own line of 
Pixel Blue Eyes greeting cards?
*Princess and Angel image sparkles and illustrations provided by our dear friend Jessica Smith from 
Everybody Loves Sammy.

Thank you so much for sharing in some of my fun...now, click below to see what some of my friends are sharing on this mostly Wordless Wednesday.