Friday, March 21, 2014

Review: Natural Pet Company's Catnip


Back in January we received an email from Florina with The Natural Pet Company asking if Truffles would like to try out some of their products and we eagerly said yes. These items are only sold through Amazon so we received a coupon code in order to complete the transaction. Thanks to Amazon Prime just a couple days later look what arrived at our door: a 4 ounce bag of catnip, a cat toy variety pack, and a 32" interactive feather wand toy with two feather refills.



The Natural Pet Company was founded by two gentlemen who were looking for cat toys made with something other than plastics and synthetic materials. As a hobby they began playing around with a variety of eco-friendly materials making toys for their cats and eventually decided to release their toys to the world.


Their catnip is grown in the cool shade of the Rocky Mountains in Canada, where the air is crisp and the water fresh. This catnip is extremely aromatic and the bag is stuffed right to the top...how often do you see that nowadays? It's finely cut with no stalks, and would be perfect for refillable cat toys. I also think this nip would work great to mix into food for sick or fussy kitties! The Natural Pet Company even offers a 30 day money back guarantee if your cat doesn't go crazy over it!

So what did Truffles think?

Wheeeeeee this is some good nip!!!

Do I look like I inhaled?

To purchase your own bag of catnip, click here.

Stay tuned for our reviews of the other items we received!

The Natural Pet Company gave us a bag of catnip to review but we were not compensated in any other way. All opinions are our own.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

#BlogPaws Pet Blogger Education Month: 40 Bookmarked Posts


It's not an exaggeration when I saw that BlogPaws changed my blogging life. Their executive blog is one of my first stops every single morning, and I never fail to learn something new there. In my office I even keep a file folder where I keep print-outs of some of my favorite BlogPaws posts.

In honor of March being Pet Blogger Education month, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of some of my all-time favorite posts which I have returned to again and again for blogging inspiration. Even if you're not a pet blogger, their how-to's and hints contain indispensable pieces of information for any type of blogger.









































Wednesday, March 19, 2014

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Our Press Card!

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! Remember late last year when we announced that Mommy had been accepted as a member of the Cat Writers' Association? On Monday our membership card, which also doubles as a Press Card, arrived in the mail! I was so excited and proud that I wanted to pose with it :)


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Emerson's Attic: The Blue Velvet by Kathleen Andrews Davis: Guest Author/Review/Giveaway

Emerson's Attic: The Blue Velvet


Introducing Emerson McBride, by Kathleen Andrews Davis

Hello, my name is Emerson McBride and I’m a time traveler…

That got your attention didn’t it?  Well, nobody is more surprised than I am.  I thought I was just your average 14-year-old until it happened.

Let me explain.  I live in Pennsylvania with my mom Chris, dad Brian, and little brother Adam.  I’m in the eighth grade, my grades are good, and I love to play soccer.  My best friend is Sarah who lives down the street.  It’s an all-American apple pie life, at least that’s what I thought until one day something really big happened.

It started when Adam went into my room and took my I-pad without asking.  Of course, we got into an argument and Mom sent me to clean the attic as punishment.  I know I don’t have to tell you what it’s like, somehow the little people get away with murder and we big kids get it in the neck.  Anyway, I went up to the dirty, old attic and didn’t even know where to begin.  I found this neat old trunk and inside were all kinds of clothes and things I had never seen before.  There was a kind of pretty old hat that I tried on and that was it.  Zap!  I was gone.  Outta there!

I have to tell you, it was scary.  I landed back in the year 1892 in England.  Wow, that was a real eye opener! You should see the clothes they wear.  They don’t have cell phones, TVs, radios, or computers, absolutely nothing like that.  I was confused and frightened and didn’t know what to do.  The first person I met was a girl named Lizzy.  She was really pretty cool, and she helped me.  I don’t think she ever believed that I was from another time, but she was nice and I actually miss her.

While I was there, my grandfather watched over me in my dreams.  He was awesome.  He gave me clues on what to do and it turned out to be a real adventure.  I met new people…including a handsome guy who I hated to leave behind, and learned a lot about life at that time. 

There was a reason for my visit, but I’m not going to tell you what it was, you’ll have to read the book.

Even with missing my family and the scary parts, I think I’d like to do it again.  I’m not sure how to make it happen, but maybe in the future I’ll get another chance to time travel.

About the author: It's never too late! That's my new motto! As a semi-retired grandmother I felt incomplete and wanted more. Amazing what becoming a grandparent does to you. I decided to leave our granddaughter a legacy of words and a simple idea turned into Emerson's Attic, The Blue Velvet.

I live with my husband in the mountains of central Pennsylvania where I have put all my other interests on hold so that I can write. It's taken a very long time, but I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up...an author.

Visit me at http://www.kathleenandrewsdavis.com or look for Emerson's Attic at http://amzn.to/13r1lCr to purchase the book.

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Dollhouse similar to the Victorian house that Emerson lives in:


Author's kitty Nicholas with the dollhouse:

Blurb: Emerson McBride is a normal American teenager. She goes to school, plays soccer, and roams the mall with friends. Her life is just like that of any other 14 year old's until she is sent to clean the attic in the old Victorian as punishment for fighting with her younger brother. Suddenly she is thrown back in time to a totally foreign world. Frightened and armed only with dreams of her grandfather, Emerson ventures into the unknown. How did she get here? Who are these people? Who is she and why is she here? These questions and many more follow Emerson into a new life in a new land.

My Review: I requested this book because of it's cover, and ended up captivated by the story inside. Emerson is 14 years old and typical in every way, until she gets into trouble and sent to clean the attic in her Victorian home. She opens up an old trunk and tries on a blue velvet hat, and soon finds herself in 1892 at an English country manor. Hidden passageways and secret doors lead Emerson (now known as Emma) on the adventure of her life with only dreams of her grandfather to guide her. There is a very cool twist at the end, too!

This book is completely original and perfect for readers of all ages who enjoy YA, mystery, romance, historicals, or time travel. I understand the next book in the series is coming out in a few weeks and I can't wait to see where Emerson finds herself next!

Giveaway: The author is generously offering a print copy of Emerson's Attic: The Blue Velvet to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment with your email address; US entries only, ending March 21st at noon eastern.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Book Review/Giveaway: Steeped in Evil by Laura Childs


Steeped in Evil (Tea Shop Series #15)


Blurb: Theodosia Browning has never considered herself a wine connoisseur—tea has always been her forte. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to pass up an invitation to a fancy wine-tasting party at the upscale Knighthall Winery, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

But a sweet evening takes on a bitter aftertaste when a dead body is discovered in one of the wine barrels. The son of proprietor Jordan Knight has been murdered.

Dissatisfied with the police investigation, Knight turns to Theo for help. She’s heard through the grapevine that there are both family and business problems at Knighthall. They say in vino veritas, but everyone at the winery seems to be lying through their teeth. Sorting through the guest list as well as family and staff, Theo has her pick of suspects. It may look like the killer has her over a barrel, but cracking tough cases is vintage Theodosia Browning.

My Review: It's hard to believe that this is the 15th book in  Laura Child's Tea Shop mystery series. It's one of the very first series I started reading when I fell in love with cozies, and although in my mountain of books I've missed an entry or two, it always feels like coming home when I get to spend time with Theodosia and her friends in charming Charleston.

This book features something extra special: not only tea, but wine! Theo is invited to a wine-tasting party which goes horribly wrong when the winery owner's son is found dead in a wine barrel. Potential suspects are easy to find in both the victim's business and personal life. A highlight scene for me was afternoon tea at the Indigo Tea Shop with a Downton Abbey theme!

This isn't a series that's getting old, it just keeps getting better, and thanks to the author I have autographed copies of Steeped in Evil to give away to 2 lucky winners! Simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cat's Meow Mews & Mailbox #27







Cat's Meow Mailbox is inspired by the great weekly recap book memes (Mailbox Monday, Waiting On Wednesday, It’s Monday! What are you reading? and Sunday Post)







Review Requests:
Ghostly Paws Memoirs of a Cool Cat

Bought:
Plain Murder 

NetGalley:
    

Audible:
Down Home Murder: Laura Fleming, Book 1 | [Toni L. P. Kelner]