This post on A Packed Weekend with The Pack on Amazon Prime is sponsored by Babbleboxx on behalf of Amazon Prime Video #packedweekend
When Mathew and I got married nearly 9 years ago in December, I immediately wanted a dog. I had always lived with a dog in my home while growing up and wanted that for us as newlyweds. By February we were on our way to pick up our grumpy cat/dog, Pearl. Pearl was itty bitty, had a Napoleon complex, and sat on the top of our couch like a cat. Pearl was our first baby and I still love having her snuggle up behind my head on the couch. She’s also the coziest little foot warmer in bed, just don’t tell her I love it!
Fast forward a few years and we fell in love with Winky, a rescue that a friend had been fostering. We’d never met Winky, but knew we had to have her after reading all about her. She was sweet, spunky, and extra cuddly. Mathew thought Winky was going to be his dog, but she took a huge liking to Addie. Winky has fit into our family so well, has become Addie’s protector, and has a special job in my upcoming children’s book! She’s the cutest one-eyed dog you’ve ever seen, promise!
There’s nothing like having a dog. We knew both of our dogs were meant for our family the second we saw their faces. They are a huge part of our family and are super spoiled in the best way. It’s hard not to love them extra hard- they’re pretty amazing!Pearl, Winky, and I are so excited because The Pack is coming to Amazon Prime Video this Friday, November 20th. The Pack on Amazon Prime is debuting in over 240 countries and territories and includes a whole 3 day weekend event called Packed Weekend with experiences and fun for you and your favorite doggo. It’s like Amazing Race- but for dogs, and you won’t want to miss it.
Here’s what I love about The Pack on Amazon– it’s a totally global, unscripted series that celebrates the amazing bond between humans and their dogs. It’s hosted by Olympic gold medalist, Lindsey Vonn and her co-host, canine Lucy. There are 12 teams of dogs and humans that will go on epic adventures across multiple continents. The prize? $750,000 for the duo and their favorite charity, with an additional $250,000 donated by The Pack during filming to multiple charities and animal rescue organizations in each country. So amazing, right?! It’s going to be so fun to watch, full of excitement, and even better- they’re giving to charities.
Pearl, Winky, and I will be relaxing this weekend and enjoying The Pack prime. I’m excited to meet the teams and see what adventures they face. Packed Weekend has tail-waggin’ treats, a pack walk challenge, and even more. I love the excuse to get the dogs playing more in the backyard and going out for a walk. It’s great for all of us and I know they’ll appreciate all the extra attention. I know Pearl will have fun barking at all the dogs on The Pack prime video too (haha). We’re going to be having so much fun and we hope you will too!
Want more dog fun? Check out this post on Super Useful Dog Products Every Owner Needs!
Hands down the centerpiece to our Christmas decor this year is our King of Christmas tree. It literally is the best fake Christmas tree we’ve ever had. Growing up in Texas, we’ve always had fake Christmas trees. While I used to dream of having a real tree, as an adult I’ve found that fake are SO much easier, less messy, and worth the investment because they can be reused.
The King of Christmas tree we got this year is the third Christmas tree we’ve owned since we’ve been married, and absolutely the best. Our first tree was a hand-me-down, our second was the cheapest one we could get from Hobby Lobby, and then this year we finally got our King of Christmas Prince Flock. Immediately I noticed a difference with the King of Christmas tree.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE KING OF CHRISTMAS TREES:Full, sturdy branches that fan out nice and wideNoticeably less gapsEasy assemblyLooks more realistic than most fake Christmas treesLights, if you choose, are put on very well and cords are hidden nicelyFlocking, if you choose, is extremely thick and does not come off easily. Noticeably less mess than a typical flocked treeNeedle tips are a mix of realistic and classicEasy storage and reusable
I know some people have strong opinions about fake vs real trees, but less clean up, less maintenance- it’s a no-brainer for me. I don’t even miss that “real tree smell” on my King of Christmas tree because I have essential oils that I use to scent my tree. I put drops of oil on little reed sticks and just shove them into the tree. They work out well! Some of my favorites are Northern Lights Black Spruce, Cypress, Winter Nights, and Believe from Young Living. All smell amazing and get the job done!
I decided to decorate our King of Christmas Prince tree with rose, light teal, and gold ornaments. We have a kind of boho vibe in our living room with some macrame pieces and this flowed perfectly with it. I also grabbed a galvanized metal tree collar. I was surprised to hear many people hadn’t heard about a tree collar but I absolutely love it. In the past our dog, Pearl, would pee on tree skirts, so I was glad to see this alternative and I’d have to wash them over and over by hand.
Ready to grab your King of Christmas tree so you can also have the best fake Christmas tree? CLICK HERE and grab yours while they’re on sale!
Need more Christmas inspiration? Don’t miss Stephanie’s Favorite Things 2020 with tons of great gift ideas. You’re sure to knock off several people from your list!
It’s the fun time of the year where I’m sharing my favorite things of 2020! This list is comprised of all my favorite things I’ve used religiously throughout the year. If you’re looking for gifts for people on your list, this is one with some really great items! I hope you enjoy my favorite things and are able to knock out a bunch of people on your Christmas list with it!
1| Plush Cross Band Slippers– I’m not a slipper wearer usually, but I love my cross band slippers. They’re soft, cozy, don’t make my feet hot, plus they make me feel fancy. They’re actually so comfortable that on several occasions I have walked out my front door thinking that I had shoes on.2| Pearl Barrettes– Another thing that makes me feel fancy- pearl barrettes! These just add a little extra fun in my hair when I want to look nice in a Zoom call for a client, or when I just want to look less of a hot mess in general. If you’re looking for a gift these would be great individually wrapped and put in a gift bag.3| Weighted Blanket– Last Christmas everyone got weighted blankets, and I was the only one that didn’t ask for one. I didn’t understand the hype until Christmas morning when I couldn’t stop using my sister’s blanket. I was hooked. I asked the kids for a weighted blanket on Mother’s Day and have used it every night since.
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4| Oversized Vintage Sunglasses– I’m a sucker for a good, cheap pair of sunglasses, that don’t look cheap. I found these tortoise sunglasses on Prime Day and they’re my favorite purchase this year.5| Margrit Co Earrings– If you’ve been following me lately, you’ll know I’m a sucker for these gorgeous earrings and I have collected several pairs over the past few months. Maggie is a sweet friend of mine and I love that her business donates 15% of their retail sales to their Down With Business scholarship fund, supporting businesses owned and operated by individuals with Down Syndrome.6| Cold Brew Mason Jar Coffee Maker– Mathew asked for a cold brew coffee maker for his birthday and I’ll tell you- this has become something we use every day for the both of us. I love how the coffee tastes with this method and it’s so easy to use. You just fill the metal filter with your favorite coffee, add cold water, and stick it in the fridge overnight. Some cold brew makers use disposable filters, but using the reusable filter makes me happy we’re being eco-friendly. Not to mention we save a ton of money by not going to Starbucks.
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7| Katy Perry Jeweled Princess Flats– We all know 2020 has been a dumpster fire. So when my birthday rolled around this year I wanted something pretty that was just fun. I saw these on someone’s Instagram account and knew I had to have them even though I knew we weren’t getting out much. Where would I wear them? Who cares! I absolutely love my jeweled flats and think they’re so special. They come in pink, gold, black, and silver. I have the pink, but I am eyeing the silver too for the holidays.8| Opalhouse Blanket Throw– These debuted last year at Christmastime and I couldn’t help but give as many of them to people we love as possible for Christmas. They’re soft, not too thick, very well priced, and I love the tassels. I’ve already bought a bunch of these blankets to give to another set of our favorite people for gifts this year. They’re that good!9| Winter Nights Wonderland Collection– This one has been flying off shelves and I totally get why. I ordered the Winter Nights collection when the new Young Living holiday stuff came out and I fell in love. Winter Nights smells like winter snow falling in a forest. The oil is amazing diffused, the lotion is nice and thick (not watery but also not greasy), and the soap is foamy and perfectly scented. I’ve been telling everyone about it. It’s amazing! If you’re not a YL member already, my advice is grab a Basic Starter Kit as a member for $30 and then add the Winter Nights set to it. You’ll get 24% off the set and 24% off any subsequent orders.10| Tie Dye Pajamas– These pajamas are the best ones I’ve probably ever had. I get hot easily at night but I love the shorts and long sleeve combo. These tie dye pajamas are soft, comfortable, and legit make me feel so put together, even when I’ve just woken up. I’m usually the kind of gal that sleeps in a big t-shirt, but these have converted me and I just need even more colors of it.
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11| Impress Nails– We’ve been on a tight budget this year, but there have been some times for my job that I’ve needed my nails to look presentable. I’m loving Impress Nails because the designs are cute, the short length is perfect for me, and I can put them on fast. They’re much cheaper than going to the nail salon and I love the length they give.12| Echo Dot– Our Echo Dot gets used practically all day every day. I love listening to music as I cook meals and our family is big on dance parties. There are a ton of functions on the Echo, other than playing music, like playing audiobooks and podcasts, tell the weather and news, control your smart home and more. It’s one of the best purchases we’ve made for sure and makes an amazing gift.
Need inspiration for gifts for kids? Check out my favorite indoor toys and outdoor toys!
This post on Pumpkin Carving Fun Delivered by Walmart+ is sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Carving Pumpkins | Pie Pumpkins | Create Your Own Pumpkin Monster
Carving Kit | LED Pumpkin Light | Halloween Candy
Candy Bags | Halloween Stampers | Tablecloth
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It’s hard to believe it’s almost Halloween. I feel like time has flown this month! One of our favorite things to do as a family is carve pumpkins. It’s been a tradition ever since Mathew and I dated, and it’s so fun. With Mathew working, Addie having multiple doctor and therapy appointments, Lawson going to Mother’s Day Out, me working and keeping the house tidy… ok you get the idea- there’s a lot going on!
Halloween is literally around the corner and I didn’t want to miss carving pumpkins with the kiddos. In the past we’ve used a grocery delivery service, but when Mathew was looking for a job it was one thing we cut in our budget. Now that Mathew is working again, we recently started using Walmart+ so we could get groceries, decor, and more delivered as early as the same day. Even better, there’s free unlimited delivery with a $35 minimum order (restrictions apply) and I’m able to enjoy the same everyday low prices I expect from Walmart. We’re also eligible for mobile scan & go with our membership so next time we have time to go in-store we can have a contactless checkout experience.
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We grabbed a ton of fun stuff for carving and paid barely over $35 for it all. We also were able to get candy, treat bags, and non-candy stamps for our trick or treaters. We plan on putting the bags of treats on a table for kids to grab safely while we watch from a distance. Halloween is a favorite holiday in our house and I can’t wait to put our pumpkins out to display.
We had so much fun carving our pumpkins with the carving kit and adding this fun pumpkin monster kit to the kids’ pumpkins. It really was so helpful to have Walmart+ on hand so we could get what we needed without running around to get it. I love making memories with our family and I wasn’t sure if we’d have time to carve pumpkins this year. It was the icing on the cake for a fun and festive activity.
Love Walmart as much as we do? Don’t miss this post on Frozen 2 Fashion from Walmart!
This post on Super Useful Dog Products Every Owner Needs is sponsored by BabbleBoxx, but all opinions are my own.
Mathew and I will soon celebrate 9 years of marriage in December. Only 2 months after being married we welcomed Pearl into our home, and for Addie’s 3rd birthday we welcomed Winky. I’m pretty sure we would be more lonely without these two crazy dogs of ours. They make life more fun, and they make the best cuddle bugs. Our friends at Babbleboxx sent us this amazing box of super useful dog products and if you have a dog or plan on getting one soon, you won’t want to miss this roundup.
Pumpkin Treats from Fruitables
I’m really conscious about the products I buy for our family, and that includes the dogs. I look at the ingredients, see if they’re healthy or have superfoods, and more. We love the dogs as much as the kids and want them to live a long time, so quality ingredients are very important to us. Fruitables Pumpkin Spice Skinny Minis and the Fruitables Pumpkin & Cranberry Baked Treats passed Winky’s and my tests. Winky wouldn’t stop eating them out of my hand! The Fruitables treats smell like muffins right out of the oven. They’re also the perfect size for training dogs. Everyone wins!
iDig from iFetch
You want to talk about useful dog products? The iDig Stay by iFetch is my new favorite. Pearl loves to dig and scratch at things. It’s definitely her favorite thing to do and I hate it because sometimes she does it to the doors in the house. It’s been a hard habit to break and we’ve finally broken it with the iDig Stay. The iDig Stay has layers of flaps where you can add treats or toys. Digging gives dogs mental and physical stimulation, and finally Pearl can do it without me worrying about my furniture.
Kids n Pets Stain & Odor Remover
As much as Pearl and Winky are little angels in our eyes, sometimes they like to make it known that they aren’t happy with us. Let’s be honest- accidents on furniture or carpet happen from time to time. Kids N Pets Stain and Odor Remover is non-toxic and uses enzymes to break down messes. You can use the Kids N Pets Stain and Odor Remover a few different ways- pre-treat fabric, spray it, pour it directly on, or even add it to your carpet cleaning machine. This is one useful dog product you won’t want to skip having!
FloorRover Dash from Eureka
Somehow I always find dead grass in my house despite our rule of not wearing shoes in the house. I figured out the culprits- Addie’s wheelchair and the dogs. Our house has a mix of wood floors and carpet, so a vacuum that can tackle both is important to us. This Eureka FloorRover Dash is amazing for powerful carpet and hard floor deep cleaning. I really like this Eureka pet vacuum because it has a multi-cyclone filtration system and HEPA filter for allergy-free cleaning. Both Pearl and Winky are hypoallergenic so we don’t worry about fur, but we always worry about our air because of Addie and her health issues. A good vacuum is really important for our house and we’ve needed a new one for a while now. I’m so excited to have this one!
Lemi Shine Disinfecting Wipes
If you’ve been around here at all, you know that we are a family that values toxin-free products. I usually make my own wipes, but I am glad to have Lemi Shine Disinfecting Wipes on hand for dog emergencies. We aren’t strangers to having Lemi Shine products in our home. Lemi Shine products are eco-friendly and use natural disinfectants- both insanely important in our home. We’ve been toxin-free in our home since Addie was in the NICU and it’s one thing we don’t budge on in this house. In any case, it’s hard to be upset about cleaning up dog accidents when you’ve got a chunky little dog giving you a sweet eye.
I’m super happy to have all of these amazing products in our home to make pet life easier. Being that we’re so picky with the quality of ingredients in products, I love that Babbleboxx knocked this one out of the park. Every single one is a super useful dog product that’s perfect for our home, and I know it will be for yours too!
So there you have it, so many super useful dog products every owner needs! Which is your favorite?
