A FETCHIN' WAY FOR YOUR DOG TO PLAY

This post is sponsored by Chuckit! but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

If you’ve been following us for awhile now, you know that Reggie (our 4 year old Cocker Spaniel) is not just our pet, but truly is part of our family!!  From his obsession with belly-rubs and walks outside, to his quirky grin, he makes us smile every day!

It’s important to us that we keep our furbaby healthy and active, so Nathan and I are always looking for ways to get exercise with Reggie. One of our favorite things to do is play “fetch” !  We go to our local park, or even right in our own backyard, bring the good ole ChuckIt! launcher and off we go!  It allows us to get outside and enjoy the weather-plus its a great way to stay active!  Thats why we are super pumped about celebrating National Fetch Day this year!  Did you know that the 3rd Saturday of October is Chuckit! National Fetch Day?!  You better believe that the three of us will be heading to the park on October 19th to celebrate this fun holiday with our furry best friend! So grab your toy, get your dog, and come join us for a fetchin’ way for your dog to play!

Here’s a couple of reasons why we personally love celebrating National Fetch Day :

• Dogs have an innate instinct to retrieve things…its part of their hunting nature! A day that promotes this instinct, helps with training and good behavior!

• Your furry friend needs exercise as much as we do! Playing fetch is a great way to increase stamina, and keep your pup fit and healthy.

• Last but not least, my favorite reason: playing fetch helps us to bond with our dogs! Any holiday dedicated to the union between man and his best friend is pretty cool in my book!

So grab your toy, get your dog, and come join us for a fetchin’ way for your dog to play on National Fetch Day!

Do you celebrate National Fetch Day with your furry best friend?  If so, I’d love to know what you plan on doing!!  If you’re still trying to come up with some fun ways to celebrate, here are a couple of ideas!  

• Host a Fetch Day party
  Corral all the neighborhood canines at a local dog park and host an epic game of fetch. Bring some balls, sticks, chew toys, and of course, your Chuckit! launcher and watch your friendly doggies compete to be the best dog on the block!
  

• Hit the lake
  There are few places better suited for a great game of fetch than the water! The terrain changes and the water will give your dog the added exercise they need. Plus, tossing a ChuckIt! ball into the waves adds an extra layer of excitement for your furry friend. If you don’t have a lake nearby, a pond or even a stream would be just as fun! And don’t worry, the ChuckIt! Ball, ZipFlight and Kick Fetch toys all float!
  

• Train a pup in the ways of being “so fetch”
  Yes, it may be in their nature to retrieve, but some puppies still need training in the game of fetch. Choose one of the ChuckIt! toys that your dog likes best! Toss it and chase the ball with your dog. Use phrases like “go fetch it” to add verbal cues. Then of course, reinforce their good behavior with treats….because who doesn’t like treats?!

So grab your toy, get your dog, and come join us for a fetchin’ way for your dog to play on National Fetch Day! And don’t forget, you can celebrate National Fetch Day in person with other dog owners by attending one of the the official ChuckIt! Parties ! To find a location near you, Click HERE. 

THE FALL SHOP

Design: Amber Interiors

Photographer: Tessa Neustadt

This week I started pulling out a few of my fall decor pieces, and while I’m not huge on seasonal decorating, there are a few items that I like to change out and new items I incorporate into my home decor to make everything feel a little more cozy! This living room design by Amber Interiors is the perfect inspiration for my fall home decor theme this year: a neutral palette complimented with warm woods, vintage art pieces and rich accent tones.

I have curated some of my favorite fall home decor items (and fashion/beauty as well, because let’s be honest, my fashion preference is the same as my design preference: neutral haha) for you to access as the weather starts changing! My hope is that this page will give you inspiration on simple + affordable ways to bring the feel of autumn into your own lifestyle. Be sure to check back throughout the season as I add more fall finds!

DECOR

PILLOWS/THROWS

SAM'S SLOPPY JOES

I don’t know what came over me, but last week I got a craving for some good ole sloppy joes! I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one but I knew I needed to make them right away haha! Typically I just throw a bunch of things in a pot, add some tomato sauce, and call it a day..but this time I decided to actually give some thought to what I was doing and I’m sure glad I did because they turned out REALLY good! Like eat straight from the pot (which I caught Nathan doing a couple times) good! My version of Sloppy Joes is slightly sweet (from the Molasses) which is a fun twist on the traditional flavor! You can go the classic route and pile it high on your favorite toasted bun, but these Joes are also really good served over a baked sweet potato, a Yukon gold potato or even in a zucchini boat for a super filling low-carb option!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 3-4 fresh garlic cloves, minced

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 whole carrot chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, chopped

• 1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey)

• 1 Tbsp. steak seasoning blend

• 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

• 2 Tbsp. Molasses

• 2 cups tomato sauce

• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste

WHAT TO DO:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat

2. Once hot, add garlic until it becomes fragrant

3. Add onion, carrot, and red bell pepper to skillet. Sauté until onions are softened (5-7 minutes)

4. Transfer veggie mixture to bowl and set aside

5. Add meat and the steak seasoning to the same skillet

6. Once meat is browned, add the veggie mixture back to the skillet

7. Add red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to skillet, and cook with meat and veggies for 5 minutes

8. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and molasses to skillet and stir to combine

9. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a simmer

10. Cook until sauce reduces, and mixture becomes thick

11. Serve on a toasted bun, in zucchini boats, or over roasted sweet potatoes!

HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE CREAMER

After the crazy hot summer we have had, I am gladly welcoming open windows and cool morning breezes. And I swear, as soon as the slightest hint of cooler weather approaches, I get excited for all things fall…including pumpkin spice everything! Now I know I may upset a few people when I say this, but I’m not actually a huge fan of the coveted Starbucks PSL. I know, GASP right! There’s something off on the flavor, plus has SO much sugar. Trust me, I’m all about balance in life but in my effort to be more conscious of my sugar intake, I decided to create my own healthy twist on Pumpkin Spice Coffee creamer!

This creamer is made with real pumpkin puree (my favorite is Trader Joe’s Organic version), pure maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and the milk of your choice. So the only “added” sugar you are getting is from the maple syrup..but trust me, it’s WAY less sugar than any store bought version so you can still feel good about it!

This Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer is so easy to make! You can play around with the type of milk you use (I prefer using coconut milk, but you could also use half and half or whipping cream for more indulgence) and feel free to add more maple syrup or liquid stevia if you’re needing a touch more sweetness! Pour directly into hot black coffee, cold-brew concentrate, or even tea and you have yourself the perfect fall treat, ENJOY!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 C unsweetened almond or coconut milk

• 3 Tbsp. pumpkin puree

• 2 Tbsp. natural maple syrup

• 1 Tsp. pumpkin pie spice

• 1 Tsp. vanilla extract

WHAT TO DO:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan

2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking frequently

3. Once all ingredients are combined, remove from heat

4. Use immediately or transfer to a container and refrigerate

TIPS FOR A PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE:

Hot Version: Heat pumpkin spice coffee creamer if previously stored in refrigerator. Add strong coffee and the pumpkin spice coffee creamer to a blender, mix until combined and foamy.

Iced Version: Shake or stir pumpkin spice coffee creamer to re-combine ingredients. Mix with your favorite cold-brew concentrate. Add ice.

FRENCH PRESS COLD-BREW COFFEE CONCENTRATE

Save money and make delicious, naturally sweet cold brew coffee concentrate at home using your french press.

Have you jumped on the cold-brew train yet? Well I sure have, and let me just say: I LOVE it! I actually prefer it to hot coffee most of the time. I guess I should back up, and tell you how my love for cold-brew began. If you’ve been following me around here for awhile now, you know that I implement intermittent fasting into my daily routine. This means that I don’t typically end up eating until around 12:30 pm each day. To help prolong my fast throughout the morning I will drink coffee, tea, lemon water, etc. Through this whole process, I was trying my hardest to like coffee black or with a minimal amount of unsweetened almond milk (so that I wouldn’t break my fast)….but I just could NOT get into it. If i’m going to drink hot coffee, and actually enjoy it, I need half-and-half….sorry, it’s just the way it is. ENTER: Cold Brew.

Cold-brew is not only slightly sweeter (because of the way the coffee is extracted from the beans during the cold brewing process), but also way less bitter than a traditional cup of hot brewed coffee. So for me, this meant I could have my morning cup of coffee, add a splash of almond milk, and actually enjoy it! However, in this coffee journey, I realized I was spending way too much money on store-bought versions of cold-brew. I’ll admit, I was really intimidated to make my own at home…I thought it was going to require grinders, scales, beakers, and other fancy coffee equipment that I didn’t own. Turns out you just need a French Press (which I already owned), a measuring cup, ground coffee (I get fresh, whole beans ground for me at a local coffee shop), and water!

So if you enjoy a naturally sweeter, less acidic cup of coffee, then this homemade cold-brew coffee concentrate is meant for you. Feel free to customize to your liking with sweeteners, spices, milks or even my Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer for a little touch of fall!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 1 1/2 C coffee, course ground

• 4 C filtered water

• French press

WHAT TO DO

1. Add coffee grounds to your french press

2. Pour in water and stir vigorously to combine

3. Cover and allow mixture to steep overnight (8-12 hours) at room temperature

4. Gently press down on French press plunger to separate grounds from liquid

5. Pour coffee concentrate into another container. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to use.

   ICED COFFEE:

• For strong coffee I like to use a 1:1 ratio. Pour 1/2 C coffee concentrate and 1/2 C water into glass, add ice.

• For standard iced coffee, use a 1:2 ratio. Combine 1/2 C coffee concentrate to 1 C water ( I will typically use 1/2C water and 1/2C unsweetened almond milk). Customize your iced coffee with milk, cream and sweeteners as desired…or for a little fall inspired drink, try adding my Healthy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer !