Home & Garden

Honestly, I’ve never been diligent about using reusable shopping bags — because most are just too small. And you still have to carry a ton of bags from the shopping cart to your car… and then from your car to your kitchen. But since I’ve had these 4 large Lotus Trolley Bags, I use them all the time! Grocery shopping has never been easier. Here’s why I like the Lotus reusable shopping cart bags so much and think you will too!

Does your dog like to play with water bottles or plastic 2-liter bottles?Mine does. Now there’s a REAL dog toy that is similar to a 2-liter bottle… but safer, and lots more fun for the dog. It’s called the Tug-A-Jug interactive toy for dogs. It a multi-sensory toy that dispenses treats as your dog plays with it.

Prefer using a DIY organizer rather than buying a product or gadget that does the same thing? These are some of the best ideas I’ve seen for getting organized without spending a dime! See my personal recommendations before trying each of these DIY organization ideas. These are the best repurposing tips to help you get organized… for FREE!

We own 16 Kong toys (2 dogs). While dogs can have hours of fun trying to get the goodies out of their Kong toys, CLEANING them isn’t quite so fun. Here’s the easiest way how to clean Kong toys… all my best tips for cleaning Kong dog toys when there’s food stuck inside!

How will your dog be spending Thanksgiving this year? Chances are, most of our four-legged friends will find themselves smack dab in the middle of the holiday festivities. And many will be on the prowl for turkey treats, table scraps, and dropped food particles! Here’s what dogs can and can’t eat on Thanksgiving day. Plus lots of fun ways to include your dog in the Thanksgiving feast — by making your own Thanksgiving food for dogs with these recipes OR by serving these one-of-a-kind dog-friendly Thanksgiving foods and treats that are now available in stores!

Can dogs eat turkey? Yes… but they might get an upset stomach. See which Thanksgiving dinner foods are safe for dogs, and which ones aren’t. Instead of giving your dog Thanksgiving turkey & all the fixin’s, try these easy homemade Thanksgiving dog treats — to avoid bloat & canine pancreatitis!

Planting a new tree in your yard? You can save money by doing the tree planting yourself… it’s easy! (I know because I just planted a new elm tree in my backyard myself.) See how to plant a tree step by step — in just 4 steps!

Looking for the best dog gifts for yourself or a fellow dog lover? Here are 30+ clever gifts for dog owners. Helpful dog Christmas gifts they’ll really use! I know, because I’ve had dogs all my life, and I actually use every single one of these items and my dogs like ’em too.

A list of acceptable household medications for pets, according to vets. Plus the correct doses for dogs & cats. Before giving your dog medications from your medicine cabinet, be sure to check this list of human medicine safe for dogs first!

Heard warnings about the downsides of using fabric softener and dryer sheets? There are so many opinions out there about whether or not you should use fabric softener. You might’ve heard it can stain your clothes, start a fire, cause buildup in your washer & dryer, scare away mice, ruin sportswear, soften hard water, and cause acne — among other things. It’s time to sort out the facts from the myths about fabric softeners and dryer sheets!

Water won’t drain from your dishwasher? There are 2 reasons for this: 1) Food is blocking the drain basket in the dishwasher tub. 2) Food is clogging the drain hose under the sink. See how I fixed my dishwasher myself… and you can too! Here’s how to fix a dishwasher that won’t drain water.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to clean out all of the black gunk and slimy food debris from the dishwasher basket in the far back. The first time, I was able to fix the dishwasher not draining. THIS time, there was no water backing up… just a bunch of food and grime buildup which was making our dishwasher run poorly. Here’s how to clean a clogged dishwasher and remove the black gunk quickly & easily.

It can be difficult to outwit a smart dog that is determined to get into the garbage one way or another. These are the best dog proof trash cans (including DIY dog proof garbage cans!) and tips for keeping your dog out of the trash once and for all!

We have 3 dogs and 2 vehicles. I use the 3-in-1 iBuddy dog cargo cover / dog car hammock to protect the inside of our SUV from dog fur, dog drool, and dog toenail marks. See how I also use this dog seat protector as a cargo kennel — and why I love it!

As someone who works from home and spends a lot of time in my house — I LOVE receiving clever (and useful) home gifts. If you know someone who recently moved into a new house or someone who appreciates owning one-of-a-kind items… then you’ve come to the right place to find something special for them this year! I own most of these items myself and I know that your friends and family members are going to enjoy them too!

It wasn’t until I tried a Candleberry candle that I discovered just how ‘average’ most scented candles are! No joke. Candleberry is the only company I’ve found that makes scented candles that truly last… AND the scent fills the entire house!

Obviously, you wouldn’t want your dog to become ill or injured due to your own negligence. Your dog trusts you to keep them safe. Your best bet is to keep your dog indoors and away from the commotion on Halloween night — to prevent them from becoming frightened, anxious, or injured. Here are some ways to include your dog in Halloween, without stressing out your dog!

Wondering what the best long lasting dog chews are? Me too! So I did a big ‘ol experiment with my dogs to find the differences between all of the most popular dog chews. Antler dog chews rank way up there. So do real bones from the butcher… and cow hooves! See the entire list of 12 best dog chews that last the longest.

Need to replace a toilet seat? I just replaced three. Here are the choices and characteristics of toilet seats that might affect your decision when picking out a new toilet seat and lid.

According to veterinarians, when is it time to euthanize a dog? After working at a vet AND having 2 of my own dogs put to sleep recently, I can help you get through this difficult time. Here’s everything you need to know about when to euthanize a dog. Here are 5 signs that it’s time. Plus advice that other veterinarians have personally given me. And the official Quality of Life Scale for dogs — to help you gauge your dog’s quality of life.

Should you have your garage sale in the spring, summer, winter, or fall? Which months are best for yard sales? Which days are best? What’s the best time to have a garage sale? The answers to these questions depend on where you live. Here’s the scoop…

Here is a list of common everyday objects we all have in our houses that I’ve learned firsthand (and while working at a vet) can be deadly to a dog. See what you can do to modify these things to keep your dog safe. Plus, my own DIY puppy proofing tips that I use to keep my dogs safe at home.

Trying to find the right puppy feeding schedule and puppy potty routine for your new dog? See why it’s important to get your dog peeing and pooping on a regular schedule every day — and timed perfectly with your dog’s feeding schedule. Plus, how to tell when your dog needs to go outside — specific signs to watch for. I’m going to show you how to set up a daily dog feeding schedule and a dog routine for going outside.

Thinking of getting an orthopedic dog bed for your furbaby? I made my own no-sew cheap dog beds from memory foam for about half the price of buying new extra large dog beds. See how we created a separate dog mudroom area in our house (to keep the dirt and mud to a minimum inside) and how we made DIY dog beds ourselves to keep them comfortable in their new space.