Monthly Feature: Big Dog, Small Budget

**Thank you, K-Koira, from Life With Flyball Dogs for pointing out some inconsistencies!


We started this Monthly Feature to explain how we live with a big dog on a small budget.  Many people wrote they don't or can't even imagine how much they spend per month.  The simple fact is that we live loan to loan so we have to really contemplate the value of each $ spent.  Additionally, we thought that by sharing the various sites and coupons we use, we may give others good ideas.  Alternatively, if we're spending too much money - we were hoping you would share some good ideas!

So here is our October round-up!  

4 Dog Walking Sessions with RuffCity DogWalkers - $100

Evo Red Meat Formula from ProperPet - $59.99

Missing Link ProBiotic from PetsTruly.com - $22.64

10 Bully Sticks from DoggyLoot.com - $16.00

October Total: $198.63

June: $149.31

July: $111.99

August: $193.22

September: $182.83

October: 198.63

YTD: $835.98

P.S. Fun photos from Law Student's trip to Chicago will be up soon!  I am so sad I didn't get to visit with some of my favorite blogs at the Sociabulls walk, due to some MAJOR sightseeing.   PLEASE check out Two Pitties in the City site for an awesome fundraiser and cool raffle to benefit SuperLevi, one of our favorite fosters!

Weekly Feature: Tuesday Review

I have finished my 25th book out of the 36 I intend to read this year for my GoodReads challenge!
Plan B by Jonathan Tropper (4 out of 5 stars)
I love how Jonathan Tropper writes! Another great easy read on the complexities of life.  Five friends get together to intervene on another's drug problem.  It's a coming-of-age tale for people in their 20s and 30s.

Benjamin Retaurant via Groupon
This neighborhood restaurant is righ tby our apartment, and we went once for DS's birthday.  When we bought this deal, we hoped to have a great experience and find "our place."  We failed.  We ordered friend calamari that came with an interesting BBQ and pesto sauce and a caesar salad.  Then I ordered a fresh tuna wrap with french fries, except the tuna was not fresh.  DS ordered a yummy pasta dish.  For dessert we had a brownie sundae, my favorite!  Although it was a great deal $29 for all that food, plus tax and tip - it was not spectacular, and we will not go back after trying twice.

Ides of March
I saw this movie with Best Friend for our monthly movie.  I totally expected a fast-paced political drama.  It was a slow movie about greed and politics, but I really enjoyed.  In fact I enjoyed it more the next day as I really thought about it.  And there was definite eye candy!




Don't forget to Friend me on GoodReads or Like us on Facebook!

National Pitbull Awareness Day

We were advocates for many other things before we were pit bull owners.  Funny thing is, when we adopted Havi, she never told us she was a pit bull.  She thought she was a dog.  We don't advocate for pit bulls, we advocate for all the Havis of the world.  Havis are the people and animals who insist they are like everyone else, despite what society tells 'em.  

Havi's Feelings on Rainy Days...

She stayed like this until 11:00am...

When I finally took her outside she ran straight under the jungle gym until I coaxed her out of there!

Yea, I don't like rainy days either Havi, unless I get to cuddle with you!

Caption Time!

What is Havi thinking?

Weekly Feature: Love Letters From A Dogwalker

Well, to be honest, we omitted a love letter.  Last week, we got a pretty disturbing letter when Havi got sick and the dogwalker came to visit her.  Apparently Havi pooped four different times, four different places, including throwing up on the couch.  Eek.  Luckily, our dogwalker was honest about the situation, gave Havi some love, and we came home.  Here is today's letter!

You're so right, she was totally playing me about not being able to sit in the elevator. She did it perfectly today, sans treat! Little booger...

We made a date with Jax, Sophie and Kellie for the park and the temperature was perfect for them. Hav mussed up Jax's new hairdo but he didn't mind one bit. A schnauzer named Archie came to play and all was good for awhile, until the ball became a possession to Archie and he snapped at Hav.

It's frustrating because I've never seen her start anything, but she will not back down. She will play and play and play until another dog starts a conflict and then she's reactive and unaware of her strength. This incident was not a bad one and she never made contact with him (I think a choice of her own honestly as it took a few seconds for me to grab her). The owner even admitted most fault of Archie and after that we omitted the ball and they ran around just fine and played. Overall everyone had a great time!!

Like I've always said I'm completely comfortable with her at the park and will immediately let you know if that changes. And I'll always let you know of any altercations.

She pooped on the way there, it was very solid for her, and peed twice :)

We walked home with Jax and Sophie and it totally did the trick- no stalling and no slowness! We all said goodbye in the elevator and Hav and I went on to the apartment for some fresh spring water and a milkbone :)

P.S. Ive been a little behind on my comments on your blogs, sorry!

P.P.S.  Go to our Facebook for more Havi love!

Wordless Wednesday

Someone's got a case of the Monday's...

Feature: Book Review 24, 25

I have finished two more books toward my goal of 36 books in the year 2011.  Check out my GoodReads Widget on the right to become my friend on GoodReads and see other books I have read this year!


Everyman by Philip Roth (2 out of 5 stars)
I read this book with my amazing work book club. I enjoy Philip Roth, and I learned this book is similar to his life. It was the story of one man and how he lived. It was an ultra quick read (1 week, but I didn't even read some days). I like quick reads, but hated the one character that is developed so much that this book left almost no impression on me. The club realized that we did not know the name of the main character, when we researched, we learned that was on purpose. The point of the book was the character is the "Everyman.


Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult (3 out of 5 stars)
Not Jodi's best or worst. This is the story of a woman whose son is abused. I am not sure if any parents can read it. As always, Jodi does her homework. In his case, its a courtroom drama and a sexual harassment survey. I love her invariable twist at the end. Not sure I really understand the title.


What have you read lately?  I am reading Devil in the White City and cannot seem to get into it...

Havi's Best Friend!

After chatting about Jax, Havi's best friend, all the time, we thought we'd introduce you!

Jax is a Miniature Goldendoodle from the midwest.  He is two years old, and named after Jax from the Sons of Anarchy TV show.  He also lives 15 floors above us, so is great to play with and always up for a good walk.

Here is a typical Jax-Havi play session!

Monthly Feature: Big Dog, Small Budget

We started this Monthly Feature to explain how we live with a big dog on a small budget.  Many people wrote they don't or can't even imagine how much they spend per month.  The simple fact is that we live loan to loan so we have to really contemplate the value of each $ spent.  Additionally, we thought that by sharing the various sites and coupons we use, we may give others good ideas.  Alternatively, if we're spending too much money - we were hoping you would share some good ideas!

So here is our September round-up!

4 Dog Walking Sessions with RuffCity DogWalkers - $100

Evo Red Meat Formula from ProperPet - $59.99

Kong Baton birthday present and Kong Ball for her BFF from PETCO - $22.84

August Total: $182.83

June: $149.31

July: $111.99

August: $193.22

September: $182.83

YTD: $637.35

Favors: DS parents helped us by babysitting Havi for a few days for Rosh Hashanah and giving us a box of Milkbones.  

Weekly Feature: Love Letters From A Dogwalker

As a special surprise, we got Havi a birthday walk!

Is it her birthday?!?! I wish I had known! I gave her some extra bday lovin though.

What a great day! It was one of those walks where I wish I could videotape the whole thing and send it to you guys...she had SO much fun.

It started out with a little cute roly poly action while trying to harness her up. Then we were off! We were about five minutes behind Jax and Sophie so they still had plenty of energy when we arrived. We were the only ones there and they went NUTS! She is so gentle with Jax considering her size and he proved his toughness with her. It was so fun to watch the three of them.

After they left we still had a few minutes so we just hung out- she was pretty pooped. The walk home was a bit difficult. I ended up using treats but then she had to stop to eat them! I noticed though that she responds better to sporadic tugs than to constant leash tension so I was letting her fall behind a tiny bit and then bringing her forward again. 

She pooped at the park and it was large and more solid than usual-yay!

Back inside I gave her a new bowl of spring water and a milkbone. Then she settled in on the floor for her afternoon nap.

Have a great holiday!

Havi's 2nd Birthday!

When we first got Havi, all the doctors and foster peeps had a different opinion on how old she was.  We took an average of everyone's ideas, and that landed us in September.  Everyone in my family was born on a 7, and DS was born on the 20th.  So, Havi's birthday became September 27, 2009.  Little did Havi know, in the Grad Student household we do birthdays in a BIG way!

The day started with the signs at 12:00am.  Everyone in my family gets a sign on their 1st birthday, that gets custom made and is hung up for one full month.  DS surprised Havi with some of her own!

Then, she woke up to EXTRA belly rubs.

Later, DS took her to PETCO where she engaged in a careful toy selection process...

 Her day ended with a playdate with her BFF Jax, the ferocious goldendoodle!

P.S. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

P.P.S.  Here is a photo of Cooper Bob, Havi's first cousin once removed!  DS and I spent one night of Rosh Hashana with this cutie!

Stayed tuned for this week's double Weekly Feature: Love Letters From A Dogwalker, Monthly Feature: Big Dog, Small Budget, and an update on my challenge to read 36 books in one year!

 

Happy 2nd birthday Havi, so happy we are able to share it with you!!