Hello October. I don’t often feature the Amigo’s, so here they are in all their glory devouring their salad. Enjoy.
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by 
October
categories: Calendar
by by by Hello September
Hello September. Hello Spring.
September is one of my favourite months of the year, not only do we welcome Spring but it is also Oscar’s birthday month. September will always be Oscar’s birthday month!
Happy September to you all.
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by Happy Birthday Zara
categories: Oscar
Happy birthday to Zara! I can’t believe Zara is three years old today. Time sure does fly when you’re having fun. So much has happened in those three years… Two TPLO surgeries, we (Zara’s pawrents) got married, we sadly lost Oscar and we aded a tiny human into the mix.
Three years ago this tiny fluff ball crept into our home and into our hearts and we named her Zara. Zara has been there for me on my absolute worst days as well as the best days of the past three years and believe me when I say there has been plenty ups and downs in that time!
Zara’s birthday seems to have come round extremely quickly for me this year and I feel it’s partly due to the fact that I had to spend three months away from her because I had baby Gia in South Africa. However I do feel we have made up for lost cuddles and kisses in the weeks I have been home!
Last year Zara had to celebrate her birthday without her brother Oscar and although it was a happy day, it was a sad one too. This year we added a tiny human so she wouldn’t be alone 😉 Zara absolutely adores her baby sister. She loves her new role as protector of the tiny human and I know with time their bond will only get stronger and stronger. So today we celebrate Zara’s first birthday as a big sister.
Quite a few people said to me that once I have baby Gia, my animals will take a back seat. I always felt annoyed and agitated by comments like that. Yes, our family dynamics have changed, that one is obvious but I am hugely proud of myself for insisting that Zara is with us every step of the way no matter what we are doing and my way of showing her just how much I appreciate her is by celebrating her birthday (just like every other year) and making sure she knows that today is her day! Today Gia and I celebrate Zara.
By now you all know that birthdays are a big thing to celebrate in our household so of course Zara has a birthday cake and presents to make her feel extra special.
Zara’s birthday cake recipe
Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 packets of apple puree (I used baby food sachets)
1 egg
1 tbs honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups water
3 tbs thick plain yoghurt
Icing
1 tub plain cream cheese
4 heaped tbs thick plain yoghurt
Directions
For the cake, preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Combine all your ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat together using an electric beater until smooth. Pour the batter into a cake mould of your choice and bake for +- 40 minutes or until cooked through. The cake is quite a dense cake, not light and fluffy so cooking time may take longer. Remove your cake from the oven and allow to cool completely. For the icing, beat together the cream cheese and yoghurt. Once your cake is cool you can ice the cake and decorate it as your wish. Since Zara’s birthday is unicorn themed I have decorated it as a unicorn. Once your cake is decorated simply watch your pupper enjoy her treat!
Zara absolutely loved her birthday cake. She got icing everywhere and the top half even flopped on the floor-haha! But she had fun devouring it and that’s all that matters.
Along with her unicorn cake Zara of course gets to open presents. Zara LOVES opening presents-something her brother taught her. Keeping with the unicorn theme she got the cutest new squeaky unicorn toy which is quite loud and I’m pretty sure will be my morning gift for a while. Zara’s favourite activity is anything to do with water so we looked around and found something different for her, sprinkler flowers that go crazy when attached to the hose. They spray water everywhere! As soon as dad gets home we will connect them up and have some fun-photo’s to follow on Instagram for sure! We also got Zara a sniffle mat. Because of her two surgeries I don’t like pushing her too much with physical play but it’s important that her mind is kept entertained. The sniffle mat is going to be perfect for the long rainy months we experience when swimming and outdoor play is quite limited. Zara was a pro at sniffling out her treats that I had hidden away so I know this one is going to be a true entertainer.
All in all I would say Zara’s third birthday has been one to remember! Zara had fun, Gia had fun watching Zara have fun and I have admired both my girls interacting on such a special day- and the day is not over just yet! Happy Birthday Zara, We love you to infinity and beyond.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and watch our InstaStories for fun of the day!
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by Acana Dog Food- Zara’s Flavour of the Month
categories: Product Reviews, Zara
Zara’s Flavour of the month this month is Acana Adult Dog. When Zara finally moved on from her puppy food onto adult food, I was slightly sad at the thought of her growing up. I know puppy days cannot last forever no matter how much I wish. As a pup Zara guzzled her food, but as an adult I can proudly say she eats like a proper lady.
Luckily for Zara, growing up meant we could switch her food up and offer her a variety of flavours that Acana has to offer. Acana Adult Dog offers the perfect balance of meat, fruits and vegetables because we all know that a well rounded diet is good for us! For Zara this is particularly important because she has had two TPLO surgeries within two years. Her recovery is on going so nutrition has never been more important to us. Acana Adult dog offers 60% meat which is made up of free run chicken and wild caught flounder and for added extra protein cage free eggs too. Fruits and veggies include fresh whole carrots, fresh kale, fresh spinach, fresh whole pumpkin and butternut, whole green peas, dried brown kelp, fresh whole cranberries and blueberries just to mention a few. No wonder Zara loves this flavour! I particularly love the fact that Acana is completely grain and gluten free.
Because of her surgeries and her leg issues we like to keep Zara more on the trim side, I believe Acana dog food helps us maintain this easily because it’s so full of proper nutritious ingredients that a little goes a long way! Zara’s coat is insanely shiny and she is constantly receiving complements on how clean and white her teeth are. I strongly believe it’s due to her fantastic nutrition! Proper nutrition starts from the inside and shines through.
Zara has matured from a super cute, raucous pup into such a well composed adult rottweiler. I am always extremely proud when we take Zara out because not only is she beautiful to look at but her personality is larger than life itself. As a mature adult, Zara knows exactly what she wants and how to get it-I could say she learnt a thing or two from Oscar in the moaning to get attention department! Either way Zara is a beautiful girl and we are proud to feed her Acana.
Acana offers a flavour for everyone so be sure to give them a try, your pooch will thank you later! Stay tuned for Zara’s next flavour of the month…
If you would like to find out more information on the entire Acana range, you can contact PackLeader South Africa on Facebook or Instagram or simply visit a reputable outlet.
Don’t forget to tag Acana_SA and use #acanadog in your social media posts for a chance to get featured!
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by Petqwerks FLiPST!CK
categories: Product Reviews, Zara
Petqwerks is without a doubt our most favourite international doggy toy company around! Not only do they constantly spoil Zara with the most amazing surprises but their toys are always interactive and extremely innovative!
I am always excited to test out their latest and greatest inventions. This time Zara and I were asked to review their latest interactive toy… The FLiPST!CK. Let’s just say I don’t know who has more fun with this toy, Zara or myself-haha! It is hugely entertaining for both of us and a serious workout for Zara.
I particularly love the fact that the FLiPST!CK interactive toy is so different compared to any other toy Zara has. I also love the fact that it is slightly easier on her body compared to playing ball which can get quite rough. Because of her two TPLO surgeries I am always mindful when we play and never allow her to push herself too much. I rather pack the toy away and let her rest then bring it out later again for another play session.
The FLiPST!CK allows Zara to literally go wild, but in a good, safe way! I love the fact that I have a lot of control over it and can bob it as hard or as soft as I like. I can keep it low to the ground so Zara doesn’t have to jump up all the time but I can throw a jump in here and there. I also cannot believe how strong the FLiPST!CK is. Zara weighs 53kg, and the FLiPST!CK sure measures up to her rottie strength. Any toy that can withstand Zara and her strength gets an extra bonus point in our ours eyes! She doesn’t quite understand why she can’t take the FLiPST!CK from me which makes playing with it more fun.
We received our FLiPST!CK during our winter months so I cannot wait for the weather to warm up so we can play with the FLiPST!CK in the pool. The water is easier on Zara’s joints and will allow us to have a different kind of fun- I’ll keep you posted!
Of course Petqwerks loves to spoil Zara A LOT so we also received TWO new chew bones! The Boar BarkBone in pork chop flavour plus the BarkBone STICK in peanut butter flavour. We’ve had a few BarkBones in the last couple of years and I will be completely honest in saying they are the best nylon chew toys around! Again they can withstand Zara’s intense chewing for hours on end. She loves nothing more than getting herself comfy and chewing.
Since having baby Gia, I cannot always be there to entertain Zara. Gia is far too small right now for us to all play together so it is amazing for me to know Zara is relaxed, happy and entertained while gnawing on her favourite chews!
Thank you Petqwerks for always making us feel so special and part of the Petqwerks family! We absolutely love testing out your new products and giving you our honest opinions. We look forward to some more fun and interesting toys…
If you would like to spoil your pooch with fun and unique toys then Petqwerks is your place to shop! Visit their website and social media pages NOW! Don’t forget to use our DISCOUNT code “ILOVESTYLISHPAWS30” to get 30% off your order….
And don’t forget to tag them in your social media posts for a chance to be featured.
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by August
August is probably one of Zara’s favourite months of the year… Not only is it her birthday month but it is also the month where our weather starts warming up, which means only one thing in Zara’s mind… SWIM TIME!!
We hope you enjoy your month of August just as much as we will.
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by July
Happy July! Winter is well underway here in the Southern Hemisphere, so we are all trying to keep warm!
Oscar was the cutest and cuddliest snuggle bug ever. He loved nothing more than being snuggled in his Egyptian cotton duvet!
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by Acana Dog Food: Zara’s Flavour of the Month
categories: Product Reviews, Zara
Zara’s flavour of the month this month is Acana Yorkshire Pork which is another flavour within the Singles range. Acana Yorkshire pork is suitable for all life stages of your pooch and is loaded with fifty percent pure pork! What’s not to love…
It’s no secret that Zara absolutely LOVES her food! In fact Zara lives for food. Most times I watch her eat and think to myself, did you actually taste that? I love how much Zara enjoys her food because it means I can use her food as a means of rewards for training and good behaviour.
Zara gets fed twice a day, morning and night. When it comes to meal times she will do a back flip if you ask her to. Her excitement level goes through the roof when she sees me start preparing her meal each time. It was through this excitement that enabled me to teach her how to eat appropriately because for a good few months with us Zara guzzled her food in less than 30 seconds-yes we timed her!
To start off, I placed a big clean blanket on the floor and I would scatter her food all over the blanket. At first she panicked and vacuumed her pellets at the speed of light, but slowly she learnt that actually her pellets don’t have legs and will not go anywhere. Then I introduced an interactive food dispenser ball which meant she would have to work to get to her kibble. At first she got immensely frustrated and she would throw it all over the place, but she slowly learnt that by being gentle and slow she gets more kibble out. And finally I introduced her to a slow feeder bowl. Again she was seriously frustrated by the obstacles in the way of her gobbling her food, and slowly she learnt the technique.
Fast forward almost three years and she eats like a true lady! She even pauses during bites and if I call her she happily stops to look at what I want or what I am asking her to do, this of course gets her extra treats! I am so proud of how far she has come with her eating habits.
Acana Singles range means each flavour is a single protein based food. Acana Yorkshire Pork forms the main base of this food along with other hugely nutritious ingredients such as garbanzo beans, whole green and yellow peas, red lentils, fresh pumpkin, dried brown kelp, whole blueberries, turmeric root, burdock root and milk thistle just to name a few.
I love being able to change up Zara’s food and give her different flavours. Acana sure does have a variety to choose from so stay tuned for next months flavour!
If you would like to find out more information on the entire Acana range, you can contact PackLeader South Africa on Facebook or Instagram or simply visit a reputable outlet.
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by Dogs and Babies
categories: Zara
On 30 September last year, we found out that we were going to be parents to a tiny human! Nothing can describe that feeling of utter happiness and excitement. That day will always be extra special to myself and my husband because that same day is Oscar’s birthday, and it will always be Oscar’s birthday!
Our biggest wish was to make Oscar a big brother, unfortunately the universe had other plans but I now understand why. In Oscar’s eyes I belonged to him and only him. My husband will even admit to that-haha. I am not entirely sure Oscar would have been able to share me, let alone get through the eleven weeks of separation.
Most of you know that we live in Zambia, but I travel to South Africa fairly regularly for various business and personal engagements. Because the medical facilities are not up to scratch in Zambia, we decided as a family that I would give birth to our nugget in South Africa. This also meant that we would all have to endure eleven weeks of separation…
On 17 May, our beautiful daughter Gia came into this big bright world! We could not be happier and more proud of our little angel. Gia means “A gift from God” and I do believe she is our gift from God and Oscar, who is by my side making sure I look after our tiny human in the best way possible.
Zara on the other hand is going to be the best big sister we could ever have asked for. Zara is extremely intelligent, loyal and a little OTT on the affectionate side, but we love that about her. From the moment we found out about our little Nugget, we spoke to Zara and explained what was happening inside my tummy. Believe it or not Zara would just sit and listen to every word. She stopped body slamming me in the middle of the night when she jumps on the bed for a cuddle. She became mindful of my growing tummy and was careful not to bump me or push me. That’s how clever she is.
We wanted to prep Zara for what was about to happen, because ultimately her life is about to change forever too! So here are the things we did to help ease Zara into the role of becoming a big sister…
Baby Room Prep
We had to shuffle things around and swap the spare rooms to make Gia’s room closer to ours. While sorting through a pile of things we didn’t need anymore, Zara was right beside us! We never once chased her out or got mad because she dug through a pile of rubbish we just sorted through. After all this is a readjustment for her too. Once the nursery room was cleared out we painted and began furnishing it-the fun part!
Doll Practice
We decided to buy a doll and introduce it to Zara. We wanted Zara to get used to us holding something in our arms quite a lot. She needed to learn that sometimes there will be an extra person in the bed in the form of her baby sister, and she needed to be a little careful. At first Zara was unsure especially when the doll made a noise. But with patience and time Zara began to recognise that this little thing is quite special and lives in the newly decorated room.
Our Scent
When I left Zambia in April, I left behind a shirt that I had worn to remind Zara of my scent. My husband says she loves sniffing that shirt! After Gia was born I sent my hubby home with another shirt that smelt like me and baby Gia. We decided to do this so Zara can get used to the scent of me with someone else. Zara is so intelligent she knows exactly what we are trying to do, I just know it!
Zara’s Gifts
Often articles will tell you to separate your pets from your baby and to never allow pets into the nursery. We have been the total opposite with Zara and have allowed her to walk in and out of Gia’s room as she pleases. As a result, Zara now delivers one of her toys (her most prized possessions) and leaves it either on the rug, the chair or in a corner for her baby sister. When Zara gifts you with one of her toys, you know she loves you! It is something she started doing all by herself, we did not teach her to do it. So by Zara leaving presents for Gia I know that they are going to be the best of friends!
Of course this chapter is not complete yet because Zara still has to meet her tiny human. I am in South Africa until the end of June so I will be sure to post an update when Gia and I have settled back home…. But for now we continue to video chat, where Zara is most intrigued by her baby sister especially when she moves or makes a sound.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the goings on.
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by June
categories: Calendar
Brrr it really is getting cold on our side of the world! Nothing a big blanket and lots of cuddles can’t fix…
Wishing you all a wonderful month of June
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