Dogs Don't Have Souls, Do They?

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur.
You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flopping.
Once in a while, you'd let out a little yelp just to let me know this was your territory.
Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion, and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes, as if to say, "I'm sorry, but I'll do it again as soon as you're not watching."
As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by.
When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say, "Welcome home. I missed you. "You never had a bad day, and I could always count on you to be there for me.
When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap, looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than for me to pat your head so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.
As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then, one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn't stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and patted you lying there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me for one last favor. With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time, you were lying next to me.
For some strange reason, you were able to stand up in the animal hospital, perhaps it was your sense of pride.
As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say, "Thank you for taking care of me.

I thought, "No... thank you for taking care of me."

By Chuck Wells

G-O-D spelled backwards is D-O-G

Slobbery wet kisses all over my face, on their hind legs to eye level we embrace. Tails wagging like a pendulum on speed, a pat on the head a scratch on their butt is all the attention they need.
Always happy to see me no matter what my mood, that biped alpha figure is how I am viewed. Alpha I may be but some sure have their doubts, coming to my house my dogs will fight you for the couch.
Even though my best friends walk on all fours, I treat them as my equals-my dogs don't sleep on the floors. Ringing the doorbell can be quite the scare, but worse than that- don't wear black or you'll be covered in hair.
All the toys in the world, my yard is full - bring me the braided rope for a game of tug n pull. Having 4 dogs--toys they don't share, but what I find funny is that their favorite is MY UNDERWEAR!!
A sixth sense they have - if I'm feeling sad or blue, a lick to my face a head in my lap the message that's sent-love that is true. Keeping me safe they are always on guard - watching from the house and keeping vermin out of the yard.
Always ready to please me in every way - learning simple obedience: come, sit and stay.
Cats my have nine lives but dogs are womans best friend - how many things out there can be labeled unconditional till the end.

My number one secret for eating dessert without dieting is eating a large salad in a jar every day for lunch.

Here's why I, a reformed salad-hater, now love salad:

1. Limitless variations of dressing and add-ons

2. Gives wiggle room for small indulgences the rest of the day

3. Adds fiber and bulk to your diet

4. Fills me up with few calories

5. Gives lots of chewing satisfaction

6. Easy lifestyle change to implement and adopt forever–this is not a diet!!!!

Does it sound like a lot of work to prepare a salad everyday? Especially on a busy workday morning? Hang on!

I have devised a way to make salad for 7-9 days — at one time. My method takes less than 30 minutes (with a little bit of practice). It will stay crisp and fresh for more than a week.

Consider these benefits of storing salad in a jar.

1. No brown edges on the lettuce and no wilted leaves

2. No getting out the salad spinner every day to make a salad

3. On the run? Grab a jar and take it with you. Eat right out of the jar if necessary although I prefer a bowl or plate.

4. Save money–especially when you buy the lettuce in bulk from Sam's or Costco. No more wasting money on prepackaged salads that often aren't fresh the day you bring them home.

5. Glass jars are washable. Not only are you helping the environment, you are saving money.

My secret?? A vacuum-pack machine with a wide-mouth jar attachment. I have a FoodSaver brand but I'm sure other brands would also work if they have the right attachment. See this post for more advice on what to buy. Which Vacuum-Pack Machine Should I Buy to Make Salad in a Jar?

This will not work with the plastic bags and the vacuum. The lettuce would be completely squashed and bruised.

PLEASE NOTE: In my experience this technique does not work well with spinach or spring mix. I wish it did!

For a quick overview of the process, check out the video below.

Assemble equipment.....

* lettuce
* sharp knife
* chopping board
* salad spinner
* very large mixing bowl
* clean quart-size Mason glass jars with lids
* vacuum pack machine

If you are a mom on the go with long hair you HAVE TO try this. It will knock your socks off and have you wrapping your hair up in them! This is all about how to make your hair beautiful with no heat and no time. Curl your hair in your sleep with a sock.

Yup, you heard me right. Have you heard of this sock bun? You really can curl your hair in your sleep with a sock. If you have ever ran out the door in a sweat, with two different earnings in, desperately trying to throw some bobby pins in your hair in hopes that you don't look like a mess. You know what I am talking about Mom's – This is for you. In my house I get everyone else in the family ready first. They are all looking adorable for every function before I have even given a thought to what I am going to do to with my own hair. Any busy mom knows exactly what I mean. Whatever time is left is what determines your look for the day (good or bad), right?

I was on Pinterest a while back and spotted this post about the sock bun which links you to her video on YouTube. I have to admit, I was very skeptical at first. Basically they were saying that you could wrap your hair in a sock overnight and wake up with beautiful curls. Before I started staying home with my kiddos I was a cosmetologist by trade. I am forever trying new products and styling techniques, and love all things that have to do with hair. Now that I am a mom of two, my hair is at the bottom of the list of things to worry about. It's more about looking presentable than having a great style each day. This blows me away.

Why?

Because:

• It literally takes a minute to do
• NO heat at all – just a soft little sock in your hair
• No product (for me anyway)
• You can sleep in it very comfortably
• It works Marvelously and is simple beautiful

This is the sock bun before and after of my hair. I have long hair with a cut that includes a lot of layering. I have a natural wave to my hair and would say it curls very easily. From what I have read, this works on hard to curl hair too. I do not have to use product for this to work in my hair.

Here are the step by step instructions on how to make this work.

First steal a sock from your husband's dress sock collection (that is what I did anyway). I chose a longer, thinner dress sock. Cut off the toe of the sock.

Now roll the sock into a ring. View my video on how to roll a sock into a ring for a visual. This is now your new favorite hairstyling styling tool, I promise you! This is all you need to make the curls in the picture above. To do this you start with dry hair.



Put your dry hair into a high ponytail. Get it as high on top of your head as you can. I flip my head over and gather the hair to put into a ponytail. Secure the hair with a hair tie.



Now spritz just the hair in your ponytail with water. You do not want it to be wet. I would call it slightly damp. Remember you want it to dry overnight – if it is too wet it will not dry completely. After you have tried this a few times you will know the perfect dampness for your own hair.






Now grab your rolled up sock and put your ponytail through the hole. Pull the sock straight up to the tip of your ponytail. When you pull the sock to the top of your ponytail – slide it back down just a bit. With the hair that is sticking out spread it all the way around the sock evenly. After the hair is spread around the sock it should go up and over the sock and then get tucked under the sock. You should now have all of the ends of your hair neatly underneath the sock ring so you can begin rolling the hair onto the sock. Start rolling the sock down so your hair is being fed through the hole, then up and around the sock.



Now simply roll all of your hair onto the sock until you reach the base of your ponytail. Try to keep the ponytail straight up while you roll so that the hair is taught.



When you are finished rolling the hair onto the sock you have a bun on top of your head. I'm not going to lie I have dropped off my son at school with the bun in my hair. There is no need to secure it with anything else. It will stay put perfectly just the way it is. Now go to sleep and dream about how beautiful your hair will be when you awake! In the morning remove the bun and TA-DA!!! You have a head full of soft pretty curls.

This is my new go-to styling technique. I have been doing this at least four times a week to my hair. It looks great all down, in a simple ponytail, or half up. I would do this for a fancy evening out or to curl my hair for an up-do as well. It gives me such natural looking perfect curls. So simple and so beautiful. Anyone can do this. It is nice to be able to leave the house and not feel like a mess for a change. This look is quite different from my normal hair in a messy bun because I ran out of time to do anything with it look – and it takes the same amount of time.

Video Demonstration

If you are more of a visual person, I have put together a short video to help show the process.

How To Put A Sock Bun In Your Hair Video