Showing posts with label pet food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet food. Show all posts

Monday, March 20, 2017

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

Leave It To the Experts
 

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


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

My Journey With Natural Balance


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

Heaven on a Shelf


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

Is My Food Safe to Eat? You Bet!


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

Premium Quality Ingredients


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

Chat With The Experts at Natural Balance


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

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

Smiling From Ear to Ear


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

Monday, February 13, 2017

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

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

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



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













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

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

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


Show Me You Love Me with Great Tasting Food

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


Reassured and Confident

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


Some Important Questions to Ask Yourself...

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Pixel's Joy of Hugs, New Paula Deen Dog Food Review & Giveaway

Pixel Blue Eyes, Her Tails of Adventure is not being compensated for this blog post. We were contacted by the company, sent the dog food and asked to do this review.

Pixel's a Southern Dog

I love being a southern dog, I love hugs, and I love good, home cooked food, so imagine my excitement when I was asked to try a new dog food by the quintessential queen of southern home cooking, Miss Paula Deen. I know how much she likes pets so I knew it had to be good, and I jumped at the chance!
Introducing new Paula Deen® Hugs® Premium Select Dog Food. It is specially crafted in 3 scrumptious flavors: Chicken and Rice, Beef and Rice, and Lamb and Rice. Leave it to the queen of good down home cookin' and warm southern hospitality to create a delicious and nutritious gluten free dog food called Hugs! I just want to hug her for it.

Lovely Warm Smiles

It's not widely known, but Paula Deen and I have a lot in common:
1. We both love good food.
2. We both love our family.
3. We both have warm smiles.
4. We both have sparkling blue eyes.
5. We both have great hair.
6. We both have names that start with the letter "P".
7. We're both from the south.
8. We both love to dance! (Be sure to watch and support Paula on Dancing with the Stars on ABC)
Paula Deen loves her pets, and she wanted to create flavorful, nutritious food that dogs would enjoy. The new Hugs Premium Select dog food is made with 100% American raised chicken and beef, has no artificial colors or flavors, and is a fully balanced meal for your dog. The kibble is small and easy to chew for little dogs like me, but large dogs can easily enjoy it too.
When I first heard the Hugs kibble fill my bowl, I couldn't wait to dive in. I always like trying new things. It smells good Mommy!
I went over to my spot in the kitchen where I always eat and gave Mommy my best and most charming southern smile, as she placed the bowl of Hugs Chicken and Rice kibble down for me to try out. Everybody knows chicken and rice is my favorite meal.
My face was in that dish in a flash and I was eating it up faster than you can say "southern fried chicken"! It was delicious! Mommy loved how much I enjoyed it.

Learn More About Paula Deen's Premium Select Dog Food

Here's a few things to know about Paula Deen's Hugs Dog Food:
- Wheat gluten-free
- Ingredients include brown rice, peas, flax seed, and beets (great fiber source)
- All natural with added minerals and vitamins
- Rich in blended Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin, shiny coat and strong immune system
- Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of Adult dogs.
Their recipes do contain corn, so keep this in mind if you have a dog with allergies, as corn can cause issues with dogs who have skin or other allergy issues.
Paula Deen Hugs Premium Select Dog Food is a good mid-range dog food that is not overly expensive and provides a good balanced nutrition for your pet. And right now, my friends at Paula Deen's General Store are offering all my readers $5.00 off ANY SIZE BAG of Hugs Premium Select Dog Food. Just use the coupon code "PDDOGFOOD" when you checkout at the register online.
Get social with Paula Deen by following her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Youtube.

Pixel Blue Eyes is Giving Away Paula Deen Hugs!

BIG NEWS FRIENDS...AND I'M HOWLING WITH EXCITEMENT!!
There's nothing like getting a big hug to make you feel special right? Well, I'm having a huge giveaway right now that will make every recipient feel that way. 10 Lucky Winners will each receive a Bag of Paula Deen Hugs Premium Select Dog Food!! I have my little red wagon filled with the scrumptious Chicken and Rice formula and the delicious Beef and Rice formula, both in 4.5 pound bags, ready and waiting for me to give to you.
Imagine....FREE FOOD for your dog to try....delivered to your home. It's every dog's dream. Makes my eyes glisten just thinking of it.
Simply enter below and MAKE SURE TO ENTER A VALID MAILING ADDRESS when directed. Enter all the information requested friends, the more information you fill out, the more chances you have of winning! So don't wait, ENTER NOW FRIENDS!!
GIVEAWAY ENDS 11:59 PM EST FRI, October 23, 2015! Don't wait, enter today!!
(Must be a resident of the Continental United States to enter the contest.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Pixel Believes Consistency is Key for #PerfectWeight Management

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but 'Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure' only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.


Keeping in shape and making sure I am at my optimal #PerfectWeight is a top priority for me and Mommy at all times. Healthy weight for your pet adds to a better quality of life and a possible higher life expectancy, and that is very important. A healthy pet is a happy pet!

We agree with our friends at Hill's Pet, makers of Hill's Science Diet, that consistency is a key factor in a pet's life. We need and crave routine! And that routine should not be changed if something changes around us. So, if Mommy has to go away and I am watched by a family member, they still feed me at the same time each day. Even when we are away on vacation or on a business trip together, we do not deviate from the food we eat, our feeding routine or our schedule. Let me give you an example...
Our family went on a big beach trip this year and we travelled for two days to get there. In addition to my doggie camera, extra harnesses, lots of duckies and a couple of hats, Mommy made additional preparations for how us girls would be fed while on the road. In preparation for the trip, all our food was prepared/packed special beforehand specifically for the travelling portion of the trip. We packed a "doggy bag" contained the needed bowls, measuring scoops, etc that were needed for each meal for each dog (there's four of us girl dogs).

We are little dogs that love to eat, so we get four mini meals a day that (when you include our allowed treats) add up to our total food intake for the day. Mommy and Grammy both have alarms on their cell phones programmed in to our feeding times. Grampy kept watch for the closest places we could stop and Auntie headed up the food distribution with Mommy at each meal time. We never missed a meal time on the road!
It was also important that we not miss potty breaks and daily exercise. That was easily remedied on the road by stopping at rest areas with pet friendly sections, and of course staying at pet friendly hotels allowed us the chance to run free in designated areas.
**Always remember that a measurement of food is not a random scoop of loose food. Always refer to either your  vet's in structions or the  instructions on the food bag/can/container for the proper amount of food to give your pet to ensure they are not getting either too much food or too little food.**
Once at the beach house, it was "business as usual" for us pups. We figured out where the kitchen was pretty fast, so when we heard our food alarm go off, all four of us would come barreling in to stand and wait for our meals. Here we are looking all cute and "doe-eyed" for Mommy while she prepared our lunch.
Mommy sneaks us one little lick of her fingers on occasion when preparing meals. It's hardly anything, but makes us feel special. Some people give a lot of treats to make a dog feel special, but too much can add up to an unhealthy weight. Mommy always thinks on the fact that more than 50% of pets today are overweight to some degree, so she is very careful what she gives me.
While staying in the hotel and while staying at the beach, we went to bed at the normal time, got up at the same time, and always made time to play inside or outside or go exploring (my personal favorite)...all in an effort to keep our routine as normal as possible. While it might sound like a lot of extra effort, if it is part of your everyday routine, making a few adjustments for vacation or other changes shouldn't be a big deal.

Here are some ways you can keep a consistent and fun routine for your pet:
1. Set An Alarm!
Set the feeding time(s) for your pets on your watch or cell phone to ensure you don't miss a feeding time no matter what your daily activity schedule might entail.
2. Download the Hill's Perfect Weight 10-Week Challenge Calendar:
You can track your pet's weight, take notes, and post photos. It includes information on how to introduce the Hill's Perfect Weight pet food into your dog's diet.
3. Check out the cool Hill's "Tips and Tools" page that has excellent information on various kinds of exercises for your cat or dog, including levels of effort from light to 'resistance' and 'enhanced' plus fun things like 'ab' workouts for your cat!
4. Visit the petMD 'Healthy Weight Tool' Online - helpful question and answer tool to see where your pet might be weight-wise.
Just remember that a healthy pet is a happy pet. But take any kind of a new exercise or weight loss plan slow and steady for both you and your pet. If your pet has any kind of a weight issue, especially a little dog like me and my sisters, Hills has an excellent new Adult Perfect Weight for Small and Toy Breeds that could help. It can be purchased at Pet360 or at your veterinarian's office.
ENTER TO WIN!!
I have some exciting news to share...For families that need a little help kick starting their pet’s weight loss, Hill’s Science Diet has a sweepstakes going on where you can enter to win 10 Weeks of Perfect Weight pet food ! Enter the sweepstakes today http://blogp.ws/1Ded0VZ for your chance to win friends. Don't wait another minute...go enter now!

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???

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!!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Joy of Gourmet Meals & Giveaways - Ideal Balance Gift Baskets!

Eating good food and giving gifts are two topics I love talking about! First let's talk about food, then we'll talk about gift giving. To me, a good meal is as enjoyable an experience as you can get. My favorite type of meal involves moist savory morsels, a little dry kibble and a lot of love. I am on a wheat, soy, and corn free diet, so Mommy is very finicky about the types of foods I ingest. I, on the other hand, just want it to taste good. I savor every bite! When I eat my meals or have a treat or two, I never let even the tiniest bit of food or crumb escape my clutches. I am, after all, the official "Finder of Long Lost Kibble", so I take eating very seriously and believe a good gourmet meal that is well balanced helps keep me strong, healthy and active.
My friends at Hill's Pet Food feel the very same way. They too take food very seriously and believe that a pet's daily feedings should include a combination of dry kibble (my favorite!), wet food and little treats throughout the day. Now that's MY kind of thinking! Hill's has an excellent new line of food for dogs and cats called "Hill's Ideal Balance" that is wheat, soy and corn free. Some of their recipes are Grain Free as well. Ideal Balance is a perfect blend of all natural ingredients like chicken meat, sweet potatoes, peas, and apples, plus there are no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. When you feed Ideal Balance foods, you can be assured that your pet is getting natural ingredients in perfect balance.
When Mommy and I wanted try Hill's Ideal Balance complimentary nutrition of wet dog food, dry dog food, and treats for ourselves, she said we would be getting a special delivery of it. I couldn't wait for that package to be delivered to our door. I hung out near the front door for days just waiting. They say a watched pot never boils. Well, a watched driveway never has the delivery man show up either. Finally, several days later, the package arrived. I was overjoyed!
The moment Mommy opened up that box of heaven and started viewing the contents, I dove in before she could even see what all was inside (even though she kind of knew already). We wanted a good well balanced sampling of their dry, grain-free foods, some of their wet canned food, and some treats...a dog can't live without treats. Mommy says it's very important to feed your pet gourmet meals filled with love that combine wet/dry food and treats throughout the day.
My sisters Peanut and Dixie Mae were on hand to check out what we'd had delivered. Dixie and I looked deep into Mommy's eyes, clearly letting her know we needed to try one of the treats first. "Which one do you want to try first?" she asked.
Peanut already had her eye on one of the treat bags while Dixie and I were staring Mommy down. She had picked out the Soft Baked Naturals with Beef and Sweet Potato dog treats right away. Look at how excited she was! I thought she was going to paw the bag open herself.
But Dixie Mae and I really wanted to try the oven Baked Naturals treats because we love the crunch! I gave Mommy my best puppy dog eyes and said, "Please Mommy?" She gave in and we all got our wish. Now, you must understand that my sister Dixie Mae is pretty laid back about everything; you might even say she's a little reserved in her judgement of things. She doesn't always show a lot of excitement...
So imagine Mommy's surprise at the sheer joy and exuberance that Dixie Mae showed over the new Hill's Ideal Balance Oven Baked Naturals with Chicken and Apples treats. She was absolutely giddy about them! They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so this photo says it all.

Mommy feels good knowing that, in Hill’s tradition, making nutritious food is at the core of their philosophy; quality and safety first is above all else. You will surely have peace of mind when feeding any Hill’s food and treats to your pet. Knowing that it tastes really good and that we all love it is very reassuring, because like all pet lovers, Mommy wants us to be happy with and enjoy what we are eating.
As you know from other posts of mine, Mommy works out all my meals and treats so that I am not getting over fed, but that I feel special with every tender morsel. Instead of feeding me one big meal a day, my sisters and I get several small meals that equal out to the right amount of food for each of us according to our ideal weight. So, let's talk about the logistics of a typical day for me and my food loving self, shall we? Remember, a perfect balance of nutritious gourmet meals and treats keeps me healthy, energetic and very, very happy.
First off, I feel it's important to mention that breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day for your body. You are literally 'breaking the fast' from a night of sleeping. Pets need to break that fast just as much as humans do, so me and my sisters get an early morning meal. Hill's Ideal Balance wet grain-free dog food is a great way to start off the day. I tried the "Braised Lamb & Vegetables Recipe" first. That sounds like food fit for royalty! The meat pieces were pretty big, so Mommy was kind enough to cut them up into more manageable pieces for a little dog like me. Mommy says a Princess of my stature gets special treatment when being fed a gourmet meal. I love it when she talks like that!
I get fed again around midday and then in the afternoon. Sometimes it's dry kibble (kibble is my affectionate word for dry dog food pieces) and sometimes Mommy will supplement the dry food with some wet food. I absolutely LOVE the Grain Free Natural Chicken and Potato Recipe. I scarf that down before you can count to 10. It has all natural ingredients that Mommy feels good about. She loves knowing that Hill's Ideal Balance creators care as much about what is going into my body as she does.
Of course, I can't forget to talk about the treats. Whenever Mommy leaves the house and I can't come with her, she always gives me a treat. That is her way of reassuring me. Without fail I always do at least one full twirl for her, then I gently take the treat from her hand. She loves my pirouettes, and I love the treat (and her of course), so we both enjoy our ritual. Mommy makes me feel special by giving both treats and attention to me. Hill's treats are yummy and so nutritious...a perfect balance of nutrition when given in conjunction with Hill's Ideal Balance wet and dry food.
Well, I am sure by this time that you are incredibly hungry, I know I am just talking about it! What if I told you that I am giving away 20 Hills' Ideal Balance Gift Basket to 20 lucky recipients...10 for cats and 10 for dogs? It's true friends!! Are you excited to try this wonderful, well balanced gourmet food for yourself? Then keep reading and I will give you ALL the details. Now, just because I talked about the dog food doesn't mean I'm leaving ALL my many cat friends out. I'm an equal opportunity puppy. First, I will tell you all the goodies that are in each cat and dog giveaway, then I will tell you what you have to do to have your name put in the running to win. Of course there will be two sets of drawings...10 names will be drawn for the cat gift baskets, and 10 for the dog gift baskets.
In the Cat Food Gift Basket Giveaway, the following items are included:
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain-Free natural Chicken & Potato Recipe Adult, 2 lb bag
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ wet food variety pack, 6 cans case
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crunchy Naturals with Real Tuna
- Cat bowl
- Place mat
- Drinkwell Pet Fountain
(Photo of the cat giveaway items coming soon!)
In the Dog Food Gift Basket Giveaway, the following items are included:
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Grain-Free Natural Chicken & Potato Recipe Adult, 3.5 lb bag
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ wet food,
6 cans
- Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Treats,
2 bags variety
- Dog bowl
- Plush Blanket
Here's what you have to do to get in on all this action for your chance to win a fantastic Gift Basket from Hill's Ideal Balance and Pixel Blue Eyes. You can do one or more of the following things but I have to know you did them...it's only fair:
1. Sign up to follow my blog on the right side of this post by selecting the "Join this Site" button. Leave me a comment letting me know you've completed that action and tell me why you think Hill's Ideal Balance is a good food to try and why you would like to get the gift basket. Any reason is a good reason.
2. LIKE my Pixel Blue Eyes Facebook page , then post on my wall telling me you've done so and explaining why you think Hill's is a good food to try and why YOU'D like the gift basket.
3. Follow me on Twitter (@pixelblueeyes) , then send me a tweet telling me why you think Hill's is a good food to try and why YOU'D like the gift basket.
If you do more than one, your name goes in the drawing more than once. Pretty cool huh!
**NOTE: Make sure to tell me if you want the cat basket or the dog basket. I will immediately put your name in the cat or dog drawing.
I will have the drawing on SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 and and announce the winners right here on the blog in a special post. Don't forget to check back here to see if you won. If you are a winner, I will then have you email me your Address and contact information so we can be sure to send it out to the right place.
Just think, any one of you could be a winner!! And there are 20 winners! Each of you will get a fantastic Gift Basket from Hill's Ideal Balance delivered to your door.
**NOTE:  Unfortunately, this giveaway is only for those with a U.S. address. Please forgive those limitations...if I could, I'd make this global! I love all my friends from all over the world.
Good luck friends and let's have some fun! I can't wait to hear from you....
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Author has been compensated for completion of this article.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.