And Cut...

I was going to save this post for Christmas Day, when so many of us who don't get presents, or meet Santa, or gather around the tree end up going to the movies instead, after eating Chinese of course. 

But, I think a lot of people end up going to the movies on Thanksgiving too, at least on the Friday after the Turkey Day. It's either the movies, or face the masses at the mall, and who wants to do that. 

A friend of mine in Austria sent me this link. It's a movie theater in Vienna that has Doggy Movie Day once a month! You can meet other dog lovers and catch a movie with your pooch in the next seat. How awesome! They even provide popcorn for the dogs...

European dog culture, at least in Germany and Austria, is so different than at home. I've mentioned this before on this blog but dogs can basically go anywhere with their humans. You see them at restaurants, in the subway, on the trains, and I guess even at the movie sometimes. 

I love it! Wish I could take my dog to see the new highly acclaimed Disney move Bolt! It's gotten rave reviews and I'm sure we'd all have a blast together. I don't think any movie theater at home would allow Gus and Charly to make it through their doors though. I'll have to wait some months and rent it instead. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your furry friends! 

My Boys

I miss my dogs. What else can I say. I'm needing some puppy love right now. A wet sloppy kiss from Charly, and a big hug from Gussie Goo. 

Yes We Can!

"Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House."

 -- President-elect Barack Obama, November 4, 2008.

Aw yeah! Obama's in the White House and he's keeping his promise to his girls: they're getting that new puppy!

I can't tell you how excited I was this morning when at 6 a.m. (Germany time) I heard Barack's acceptance speech on CNN. And loud and clear, in front of the entire country and world, the first thing he said to his daughters was that they'd earned their new puppy. I imagine millions of dog lovers all over the United States feeling the same way. Ecstatic because the time for change is now, a black man has been elected president of our country, AND a real shelter mutt is going to be the next First Hound. 

Check out Obama Dogs Unite for this awesome Bark For Barack image you can download straight from the site. 

It's A Wrap

The dogs have been over at grandma's a lot this month, seeing as I've been on my own since Dan left and needing the help. I know I'm going to go through some major withdrawal though next week when I'm in Germany, so I'm determined to spend as much time with them as possible in the next few days.

This weekend I'm planning on taking take them to their favorite dog park, and then to Dairy Queen for a couple kiddie vanilla ice cream cones. They love those! I hope the weather's nice and we can spend a lot of time outside. I'm planning the weekend already, even though it's only Wednesday, which pretty much means I've had it with this week... I'm checking out early!

Oh but no, there are still two days left of my work week, and I've got to wrap things up pretty tight before I leave. So much to do, so little time. Wish me luck.

I love this Dog-On-It gift wrap from French Paper. I'm always on the look out for dog inspired paper products because they're so hard to find, and this vintage style wrap is one of a kind.

A Tiny Case of Writer's Block

I need to start carrying a notebook with me everywhere I go. Sometimes the writing comes easy, but on days like today, I find myself wracking my brain for a story to tell, and wishing I had actually taken the time to jot down those great ideas I came up with before I went to bed last night.

Dog notebook from Propaganda and Panik Design.

Party Time

Last Friday I attended my 10 year high school reunion, and I'm happy to say I survived it! Actually, I had a pretty nice time, and I even stayed out until 2 in the morning, something I rarely do anymore. Granted the dogs were at my mom's house, and Daniel was on a business trip, so there wasn't much to pine for at home like I usually end up doing when I'm out on the town.

One of my favorite products that I've come across in the past month is this gift bag from Printed Puppy. In fact, I'm in love with the entire collection of luxe gift wrapping, inspired by Niva, an abondoned puppy who the designers rescued from Armenia and brought home with them to the US. You can read more about Niva and Printed Puppy here. Their story is pretty amazing, and yet again, reminds me of just how inspiring one little pup can be.

Baby Babble

This week has come and gone so fast. It seems like ever since we came back from Yosemite life's been hitting us on at full speed, and we've frankly been struggling to keep up. Dan's been incredibly busy trying to finish up an NSF grant proposal that's due today, and I've been drawing furniture plans all week for some upcoming large scale projects we're getting ready for here at the City.

I think we're both desparately looking forward to the weekend, which somehow we've managed to keep for ourselves, except for a Brit Milah we are attending on Saturday morning. One of Dan's colleagues and his wife had a baby boy last week, and they are welcoming him into this world in the Jewish tradition, with a Bris, a naming ceremony, and a celebratory brunch.

Two Trick Pony is a small paper studio that specializes in eco-modern stationary and notecards. All their products are screenprinted by hand on recycled materials using earth friendly inks. I love these baby announcement cards. Makes me want to have a baby, just so I can send these out to all my friends!

Bikers, You've Been Warned

I've been so busy the past couple of weeks that I've been forced to miss several days of blogging. I've been very consistent since I started this blog two and a half months ago, posting every single weekday, and taking the weekends off to refuel. I never really thought that I'd actually keep blogging for more than a week or two. I mean, how could I possibly think up so many dog stories, and if I did, how could I keep pretending to be a perfectly normal person, unfazed by the adorableness of puppies. It would be impossible.

Yet here I am, and this is my 58th post of the year. Woot!

Daniel and I biked out to Hopkins yesterday with some friends. We caught the Greenway and rode it all the way into downtown Hopkins, where a friend of mine from high school was participating in a semi-professional bike race. The ride out there was fairly uncomplicated, except for the 20 mile an hour headwinds, and a near collision with another bicyclist, who got distracted by a very cute Jack Russel puppy in a stroller, and rode straight through a stop sign, almost knocking Daniel over and causing a pile up.

Riders, take note, cute puppies are irresistable, and you must stop your bike if you are going to ooh and aah over them. Merely turning your head around backwards and losing sight of the road in front of you is dangerous!

I saw these cards for sale on Etsy a while ago and have wanted to feature them here since. They're made by Angela from Paper Menagerie, and inspired by her own Jack Russel Terrier, Chesney. The "dog pun" here seems particularily appropriate.

Two For One

This weekend, while shopping at Bone Adventure for these super cute Euros bumper stickers I'd seen online, I came across the artwork of Doug Talalla. I was immediately drawn to the hand made wood frames and the whimsical nature of each piece. I love finding new local artists that feature dogs in their work. Stop by Bone Adventure to see the gallery show. You won't be disappointed.

Free Wheelin'

Daniel can't stop reminding me of how lucky we are to live in Minneapolis, a city where getting some fresh air is as easy as hopping on our bikes and riding down the Midtown Greenway, a 5.5 mile long bike path and walking trail through our neighborhood that connects with other bike paths around the city. He insists that Minneapolis is one of the best cities to live in if you enjoy spending time outdoors, because nature is just so much more accessible here than other places he's lived in or visited.

Yesterday we strapped on our bike helmets and took a ride down to the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center, a new boutique bike shop right on the Greenway, offering bike sales, rentals, repairs, parts, and biking accessories. On our way we saw so many dogs enjoying the trail with their owners, which made us miss Gus and Charly who have been at grandma's for the past two days.

I fell quite hard for one particular dog we met, an 11 month old pit bull named SziSzu. He had one blue eye and one brown eye, like some Huskies I've seen, and he was so friendly and smart. Daniel and I have a special place in our hearts for Pit Bulls, and this dog confirmed yet again that despite what some people may think, Pit Bulls truly are one of the most loving and loyal breeds.

Show your love for this breed with a bumper sticker from The Pit Bull Project. Mail in a donation of 20 dollars or more and you will receive their new Pit Bull 2008 calendar and a bumper sticker promoting responsible Pit Bull ownership. The proceeds will provide daily and emergency care for the Pit Bull Project's rescue dogs.

Turning Heads

Oh, how did I miss this last week? I read Design Sponge almost daily, sometimes several times a day, but somehow I managed to miss this post featuring fantastic wrapping paper by Whigby. I love this very urban pet wrap titled "Heads Of State". I also love that these Whigby products are made from recycled paper and water-based ink.

Schnau 'Bout It

I would like to credit Daniel for coming up with today's post title. He has a talent for being awfully witty, a skill that I seem to lack most of the time. I just can't think fast enough.

This Schnauzer card is from Clever Violet over at Etsy. I love the bright purple background and the inscription at the top : "if awsomeness was a commodity you'd be rich". This card is available in custom colors and I think it would be very cool to buy several copies in different background colors, then frame them and hang'em up side by side to create a modern slightly psychedelic look.

Dan, this Schnau is speaking to you! I think you're awesome, the most awesomest. Thank you for coming to my rescue when I need a clever post title.

Grandpuppies

In honor of my mother on Mother's Day, I'm posting about this bumper sticker I found on Cafe Press. If you knew my mom you would know why this sticker is so perfect for her. If you don't know her, I'll tell you why.

See, Charly and Gus are so very much loved that Dan and I have had to set up a joint custody agreement with my mother, so she can get her weekly dose of puppies. These boys are lucky because they visit grandma's house two or three times a week, and even get to sleep over. We're lucky too because she takes them whenever we go out of town, or just need a break from walking them in these 20 below zero Minnesota winters.

So all of this puppy time gives her hours and hours of stories to tell anybody who will listen. In fact, my mom will tells everybody about our dogs, whether they want to hear about them or not. She can't live another day without this sticker.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Last weekend was my dad's 60th birthday, and to celebrate, we had a small family brunch at our house. This weekend, tonight, we're having a slightly larger birthday party for family AND friends. I waited until the second birthday party to give my father his birthday present, which means I have some wrapping to do this afternoon before the party. The problem is, wrapping presents was never a major priority in my family growing up, and I never really learned how to

do it.

I didn't care much about my lack of wrapping present skills, until my brother brought home Alicia, his girlfriend, now wife. Alicia is a professional when it comes to wrapping gifts, and though my brother used to be worse at this art than me, with her help he's become much much better. So now, whenever I have a gift to wrap, I end up fretting about how much worse it will look than the gift Bruno and Alicia are wrapping. Maybe I should call her up and see if she'll wrap some presents for me today.

I'm so excited to post about this very special wrapping paper from Whimsy Press. I've been searching for tasteful dog wrapping paper for quite some time now, and this wrapping is by far the best I've seen. Whimsy Press is a team of graphic designers and art directors who produce and sell their own line of paper goods, including wrapping paper, notebooks, and ribbon. All of the products at Whimsy are made of substantial, high quality paper, and if you suck at wrapping presents like me, you'll still have the coolest looking gift at the party.

New Yorkers

I have a special love for New York dogs. Gus, our Pit Bull mix, is a New York rescue. He was hit by a truck on a street corner in The Bronx, and left for dead on the side of the road. A kind passerby rescued the poor injured stray puppy, and took him to an animal hospital, where Gus endured surgery and months of recovery. Gus's story and how he came to be part of our family is a long and inspiring tale for another post. But suffice is to say that Gussy was a stray dog in the Big Apple, saved by the kindness of strangers.

I love this Boston Terrier card from Beau Ideal. Jill creates hand screen printed cards, stationary & art prints inspired by her own love for dogs. The best part about her work is that 30 percent of the proceeds from every dog card purchased will be donated to a NYC animal shelter. And when I think of that, all I can see is my tired and scared stray puppy, who by some stroke of New York magic, became a part of our lives.