It’s Kiki’s first Gotcha Day and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this feisty little firecracker of ours! From day one Kiki was feisty, and she was fiery but she was full of love and she showed us who was about to rule this roost…
What a year it has been. When we welcomed Kiki into our family exactly a year ago today, our hearts were beyond shattered after losing our precious girl Zara. If you follow us on Instagram, then you’ll know exactly what I mean. Our family needed Kiki, we needed someone new to love and someone new to nurture.
Kiki is our first Boston Terrier and the smallest dog we have ever had the privilege of loving. But do not let her small size fool you! She is the boss around here and she will let anyone and everyone who will listen know. She is extremely playful and has loads of energy bursts, but when it comes to bedtime, oh Kiki can snore alright- but we wouldn’t have it any other way!
So today we celebrate Kiki in all her feisty glory.
Kiki’s Pupcakes
Because Kiki is so small, I thought little pupcakes would suit her perfectly for her birthday treats.
Ingredients
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 medium banana mashed
1 egg
50ml water
Icing
1/2 cup plain yoghurt
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Mix together the peanut butter, mashed banana, egg and water. Then sift in your flour and baking powder. Whisk together until properly combined and smooth in texture. Then scoop the batter into each mini cupcake holder. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked. Allow them to cool completely before icing them.
Icing Directions
Using an electric beater, mix together the yoghurt and peanut butter until smooth, light and fluffy. Once the pupcakes have cooled you can top with the icing.
These pupcakes are totally human safe too so go ahead and enjoy them with your pup!
Thank you for sharing Kiki’s First Gotcha Day with us! The birthday fun will continue on Instagram so be sure to follow along over at @stylish_paws.
Today is Zara’s birthday. Six whole years of loving our sassy Zara! And there’s been a whole lot of love in those six years, a kind of love I never imagined but a kind of love that I am so grateful for.
I often get asked how we ‘trained’ Zara to be so gentle and kind towards her baby sister Gia, how she tolerates her brother Ollie the cat and how caring she is towards our bunny girls Misty and Clover. And my answer is always the same… we never ‘trained’ Zara to do anything. We simply showered Zara with a whole lot of love and respect and taught her our ways.
My husband and I had a conversation the other day and I asked him if he thinks Zara would be as gentle, loving, kind and loyal in someone else’s home or is she as amazing as she is because of us and the love we have for our family and each other. His answer to me was that every dog is brought up in a different home and different environment and so their level of love and respect is different. Zara found her way to us for a reason and that reason is so we could show her what our love is and for her to be the best version of herself with us. I was pretty satisfied with that answer…
And so today we celebrate Zara in all her glory…
Zara’s Pup Cakes
It’s a tradition in our home to make something special for Zara to enjoy on her own so this year baby sis Gia helped make some yummy blueberry birthday pupcakes for our pup 😉
Ingredients- cake
1/4 cup blueberries (we used fresh but frozen would work too)
1 egg
1/3 cup plain yoghurt (we used plain double thick)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
Ingredients- icing
3 tbs plain double thick yoghurt
3 tbs plain cream cheese
*Fresh blueberries to decorate if you want
Directons- cake
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Prepare a cupcake/muffin pan with paper cupcake holders. In a mixing bowl using a whisk or electric beater, mix well the yoghurt, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Then add the flour and baking powder and beat for 2 minutes. Then gently fold in the blueberries using a spoon. Add some blueberry bater to each cupcake holder and bake in the over for +-12 minutes or until cooked through and golden in colour. Once cooked leave the pupcakes to cool down completely before icing and decorating them.
Directions- Icing
To make the icing beat together the yoghurt and cream cheese until light and fluffy. The spoon onto your pupcakes or pipe the icing. Decorate with blueberries.
Zara’s Presents
Zara also gets some new toys and special things on her birthday and this year baby sis Gia helped me choose some goodies she thought Zara would love. Some of them can be found in our amazon storefront so click here if you would like to shop any and some of them are local South African brands who we love 🙂
We will be sharing all of Zara’s birthday fun on Instagram so be sure to follow along @stylish_paws
Thank you for enjoying Zara’s 6th birthday with us!
Today Zara turns five! I have no idea where five years have gone but what I do know is that the fluffy bundle of fun we brought home back then has grown up into the most beautiful, kind, loving and loyal soul I could ever have imagined.
Zara truly is one of a kind and I’m not sure what I did in my previous life to deserve such a beautiful girl I get to love and who loves me back with her whole heart. I’m not complaining though 🙂 Zara fitted into our family from minute one! She knew she had found love and she knew she had found it good.
Fast forward to where we are today, and I could not be more proud of Zara! She put up with Oscar for the good part of 2 years. She’s shared her home with numerous bunnies, babies and all plus a pretty cool kitten who is almost a cat. But more importantly I am most proud of the way she has handled becoming a big sister to her tiny human Gia.
The relationship that Zara and Gia share is something unique. It’s also something I never had growing up so I am particularly in awe of how the two of them are together. Yes I grew up with loads of animals always around me, at family and friends homes but I tended to have the small critters in my home while I was younger. Zara is extremely tolerant of Gia, in fact Zara is extremely tolerant in general. I guess Oscar taught her that because he was forever putting her in her place- whether it was needed or not.
So today we celebrate Zara in the only way I know how and that’s by spoiling her with gifts, letting her eat all the cake and have lots and lots and lots of fun with her favourite humans US!
Zara’s Birthday Cake
Usually I make Zara’s birthday treats from scratch but this year something caught my eye.. The concept is awesome and the first of its kind to be available in South Africa so I thought let’s give it a try! The wolf & Women birthday pupcake. Not only does this make my life easier but I am pretty sure it is going to be one very tasty birthday cake fit for my Princess Zara.
Zara is not short of toys and things to play with so when it comes round to her birthday I always have a hard time finding that one gift that’s a little more special than the rest of her gifts. An obvious place to start looking was Amazon and oh boy did I find something awesome for her! This water obsessed pup is gong to have hours of fun with this gift and I am pretty sure her tiny human will join in too- just the way I love it 🙂
No birthday celebration is complete without some special birthday decor. Of course I had to get a special 5 balloon plus some other cute balloons too. Zara is not a fan of balloons at all so they’re just there as decor. Happy birthday signs and party hats also go a long way!
Happy 5th Birthday to you Zara! Today we celebrate all your amazingness. Thank you for being you, you sure are one of a kind special and we all absolutely adore you!
*Should you wish to spoil your furry loves with one or more of these goodies, we receive a small percentage of the commission (at no extra cost to you- It’s just Amazon being nice to us)
Happy 4th birthday Zara! I can’t believe Zara has been with us for four whole years already. On one hand it feels like the other day we went to collect this small(ish) bundle of fluff to bring home to Oscar. And then I think how much has happened in our lives the past four years and I cannot believe how times flies.
In the four years since Zara became a member of our family, the three Amigos joined too, she’s had 2 TPLO surgeries, I turned 30-eeek! We got engaged and married (officially), we lost Oscar, we had baby Gia, we traveled and we had a whole bunch of fun in between.
On Zara’s birthday last year, baby Gia was exactly that, a baby. This year she’s a tiny walking talking human who Zara can interact with. Zara loves having someone else to harass in the house and Gia is just as obsessed. So much can happen in a year and this past one was no different.
It’s fair to say twenty-twenty has not lived up to most peoples expectations however I do feel that having months of staying in rather than going out has made our family stronger especially the bond between Zara and Gia.
Zara is always close to Gia. If Gia is playing in her bedroom, Zara is there too just watching. If Gia is reading in her play corner, Zara is there too listening to Gia ramble on. If Gia is playing outside, Zara is watching over her and of course looking out for any lizard action too. If Gia is eating, Zara is right by her side waiting for any leftovers. If Gia watches Paw Patrol on tv, Zara is watching too. In the same way that Zara is always close by when Gia is doing something, Gia enjoys being close by when Zara is doing something. Gia loves exploring the garden with Zara, the two of them go looking for lizards and watch the birds fly in and out of the trees.
Since Zara and Gia are always together it’s kind of a no brainer that I wanted to include Gia in the birthday celebrations and that meant making pupcakes that both Zara and Gia can enjoy!
Zara’s Birthday Pupcakes
Banana bread & Peanut butter icing pupcakes
Ingredients
3 large very ripe bananas
1/2 cup melted butter
2 large eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
Directions
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Line your muffin tray with cupcake liners. Then in a large mixing bowl mash the bananas well and add the melted butter and brown sugar and mix well. Stir in the beaten eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Don’t over mix. Scoop your cupcake batter into each cupcake holder and place in the oven. Reduce the heat immediately down to 180. Bake for +- 20/25 minutes or until each pupcake is cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool before topping with the icing.
Peanut butter icing
Ingredients
2 cups plain thick yoghurt
2+ tbs less sugar less salt peanut butter
Directions
Place the yoghurt and peanut butter into a mixing bowl. Using an electric beater, beat until the peanut butter is whipped into the yoghurt. Whip for about 2-3 minutes.
Once your pupcakes are cool, pipe your peanut butter icing and decorate as you wish.
You can store un-iced pupcakes in the freezer in an airtight container, simply take it out the freezer and let it defrost on its own before serving.
We love spoiling Zara with gifts on her birthday and this year was no different. If you follow us on Instagram you’ll know how much Zara loves to swim! Zara’s pool broke just before winter so an obvious gift was of course a new pool for her, I can’t wait to set it up and fill it so she can have some pool fun again. I also added some fun pool toys and some pretty pool floats all bought on Amazon.
We love celebrating Zara’s birthday, after all she is a very important member of our family. To some she’s just a dog but to us she’s one of our baby’s and always will be!
If your pup is having a birthday soon or you just feel like baking something yummy we hope you try out this pupcake recipe and don’t forget to tag us @stylish_paws
Wow, my baby girl is two years old today. Time flies. Zara has grown into a beautiful mature young lady. I am so proud of her and how she handles situations, both stressful and exciting ones. Her ability to listen and learn is incredible. And of course she is extremely pleasing to the eye, even if I am a little biased-haha.
Just seven weeks ago Zara underwent TPLO (tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy) surgery on her cranial cruciate ligament in her knee. The surgery was big, but all we wanted for our girl was to give her back playtime and swim time. Recovery has been long, slow and intense but she has handled everything like the princess that she is and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She will be swimming and running after balls again very soon. Even while she hobbled around she still had a huge smile on her face! She is the ultimate happy girl.
So it’s Zara’s second birthday and of course the day is filled with tons of spoils and excitement. Her birthday theme this year is ‘colours’. Anything bright and fun goes! She loves new toys and presents, she is grateful for anything she receives but she usually has a favourite amongst her new goodies. This year I decided to round up Zara’s birthday favourites from Amazon. Yes Zara loves shopping on Amazon 😉 and here’s what she got: You can shop each item by clicking on the image!
(this post contains affiliate links)
Happy Birthday Plush Toy
Everyone deserves a plush toy on their birthday.
A Benebone
She loves her chews and things and Benebone makes a wonderful range.
Five Senses Ball
This ball is fantastic because it stimulates all five senses.
Petstages Sling Sock
Because Zara is the sock thief queen!
Chuckit! Ball
Because all her Instagram besties have one and she needed one too…
Kong Squiggles Toy
I love the durability of Kong toys.
And a few other goodies I found on my shopping rounds. I love spoiling my babies especially on their birthdays. They need to know it’s an extra special day, and Zara sure does know today is different from any other usual day.
Zara’s Birthday Pupcakes
Of course Zara has a birthday cake to devour. I decided to make little pupcakes this year, instead of one big cake. Keeping with the colourful theme, here they are…
Birthday Pupcakes:
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 shredded coconut
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup organic peanut butter
1 cup grated carrots
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup water
Directions
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Prepare your pupcake holders-either silicone or paper and lay them out. In a large bowl, mix together all your ingredients and stir until well combined. Scoop the cake batter into each pupcake holder and into the oven for +-20 minutes or until cooked through. Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool down totally.
Pupcake Icing:
Ingredients
1 cup natural greek yoghurt
1 cup peanut butter
Can of whipped Cream- because yes it’s a special day!
chopped fruit, different colours (strawberries, kiwi, pineapple etc)
Directions
To make the icing whip together the natural yoghurt and the peanut butter. Then spoon over and decorate your cooled pupcakes and top with different fruit of your choice.
When it’s your pooches birthday we sure do hope you celebrate and spoil them with these awesome present suggestions and yummy homemade pupcakes! It’s safe to say Zara is loving her birthday and all her spoils. Her smile truly is infectious.
We are running a giveaway on Instagram for Zara’s second birthday. Be sure to follow us and join in for a chance to win an awesome gift box of goodies. Head over to @stylish_paws and let’s have some fun together!
This is the first celebration without Oscar. He never leaves our minds and we all had birthday treats in his honour! Happy second birthday to Zara…
A very happy 14th birthday to my baby boy. Yes he will always be my baby boy!!!
I cannot believe that Oscar has been my little sidekick for fourteen years already. Time really does fly. In some ways it feels like I don’t know a life without him and in other ways it feels like yesterday that this bundle of skin and ears came into my life. We sure have had our fare share of adventures together and I wouldn’t have it any other way! He is such a gentle yet feisty soul. A real contradiction I know.
I am not quite sure where I would be without my little man. He sure made new beginnings a little easier. At times he was my only friend, now I have two friends-Oscar and Zara hahaha-True story! From day one we were inseparable. He came on his first beach holiday just a few weeks after joining our family, and he loved it. From then on he grew into a mature sidekick and very loyal best friend, it was a love me love my dog situation and luckily for us both, I found the perfect human companion.
Oscar has never been the adventure outdoor junkie like Zara is. He has always opted for the couch, snoozing being his favourite activity. After all, what could possibly be better than a nap? His puppy naps were rather long and his playful outbursts were short and sweet. I think Oscar takes the crown as King Snorer too. I am so used to it now that I actually struggle to fall asleep without him snoring next to me! It can be 100 degrees outside but Oscar sill wants to be covered with his special duvet and rests his head on his pillow for a good nights sleep. Oscar has always been the best snuggle bug in the world!
He is the fussiest eater on the planet but apparently I only have myself to blame for that 😉 They say your pups take after you, and well yes I am quite a fussy eater too. Although I do believe Oscar knows how to act up for me when it comes to breakfast and dinner time because I am the only one who seems to have an issue when I feed him. Yes, he knows he is wrapped around my little finger and will give in sooner rather than later…
Like most boys, Oscar has had a few scuffles. Rather scary scuffles for me but Oscar being Oscar made sure his bigger opponent didn’t walk away unharmed. And luckily for Oscar all his extra skin and wrinkles served as a protective layer. His dislike for bigger dogs was converted into complete adoration and love for smaller creatures. When Valentine and duchess came into our lives he honestly loved those babies with his whole heart. He was so patient and nurturing with them. He even taught Zara how to behave around them. When we lost them he mourned their loss too, showing me once again just how sensitive my boy is.
Oscar allowed Zara to become his sister. The bond they share is unique and wonderful. He showed her tough love when it was needed and he plays with her to keep her happy. He is a true gentleman and will stop drinking water if she would like to drink, waits for her to finish before he carries on drinking. He doesn’t know that I know this but he leaves just a little of his breakfast and dinner each day so Zara can finish it off for him, his way of telling her he loves her!
Today we celebrate 14 years of love, loyalty and companionship, with many more to go!! Of course Oscar loves celebrations with cake, treats and presents. This year Oscar’s cake is a little different, here is the recipe…
Cake
Oscar’s ice cream cake:
Ingredients
1.5L plain greek yoghurt
1/2 cup carob powder
1 cup coconut oil (melted)
1 cup fresh or frozen berries
Honey
Directions
Pour the yoghurt into a cake tin or mould of your choice. Slice up your berries and stir them gently into the yoghurt. In a separate bowl mix together the carob powder and coconut oil until combined and a liquid consistency has formed. Then take a spoon and spoon the carob mix into the yoghurt so it forms swirls through the yoghurt. Don’t mix it too much because you want the carob to show when you cut the cake. Do the same with the honey. Place the tin into the freezer for 24 hours. Remove from the freezer, cut into slices and watch your pup enjoy his ice cream cake! Keep frozen.
Presents
Oscar absolutely loves opening presents and of course I love buying and wrapping presents for him. This year we ordered him a birthday box from Four Paws and Me. This birthday box is AMAZING! Not only does it include gorgeous goodies for Oscar but it includes something special for me too. We got him a new bed for my study/office, one that will help his joints but keep him cool during the hot summer months too. No doubt I will have to bring along a blanket for him to snuggle up with 😉 He also got some yummy treats, a ball that growls and a treat toy. All in all some lovely spoils for a very special fourteen year old!
Oscar really is the light of my life. He has never been too lazy to get up and follow me to the loo, kitchen, outside or even sit with me while I bath. He is constantly next to me, walking around the house or resting on the couch. Whatever I am doing, my sidekick is right there beside me. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Follow us on Instagram where we are hosting #oscarsgangstagram party. Everyone is invited and anyone can join in the fun! Simply post a photo with the hashtag #oscarsgangstagram and you’re in. Watch our Instagram story to see all the fun we are having celebrating this very special day.
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