Little Tikes x Best Friends Animal Society = #RescueTales

Slight tangent, but we have to take a moment to show you these Rescue Tales toys from Little Tikes that benefit the Best Friends Animal Society. Not only do these pets make cute realistic noises and movements, but they also impart the value of adoption and taking care of a pet. In addition to single pets, they also have a really cute grooming set (pictured above), that has a working bath tub!

While taking care of Lady keeps us busy enough, we are very tempted to welcome one of these cuties into our home since the littlest human Barkzilla LOVES playing vet/groomer. You can pick yours up online at Amazon or Target, and I believe they are also available in stores!

xoxo

Hunt These: Rae Dunn Dog Bowls & Canisters

Here are two of our favorite finds which go perfectly with our Pioneer Woman doggy cookie jar! 

If you're an avid TJ Maxx, HomeGoods or Marshalls shopper, you are probably no stranger to Rae Dunn and her line of iconic white ceramics decorated with large letter writing. While these items rarely last more than a day on the shelves before they are snatched up by "Dunnies," we have had good luck lately finding pieces from her pet line!

Here are tips for how to get your hands on some of these super coveted pieces:

• Head to your store right around opening time.  No joke, there is often a line outside of our stores at 9:30 and we have seen people sprinting to the Rae Dunn section. In good news, the pet themed stuff is normally with the pet accessories (including the pet mugs!), so make sure to hit that area up first!
• Check your local buy/sell/trade sites. Though things are often marked up there, it will give you an idea of what's hitting in your area and if you should be looking out for new things. 
• Swing by the clearance section! While Rae Dunn stuff is super hot right now, the pet things don't seem to be as popular and we've found some good pet bowls marked down.

In addition to cute "Dog Mom and Dad" mugs, we've also managed to find some really cute dishes and canisters for Paddington. And fear not - if you're a cat person, she also offers cat themed mugs and bowls.

Check out the TJMaxx website regularly as sometimes her products show up there, otherwise head to your local store's pet section to see if you can score some of these beauties. Are you a Rae Dunn fan?

Disney Dogs x Dooney & Burke

Need a gift for the Disney dog lover in your life? Well look no further!

Can't believe we somehow missed the launch of these adorable Disney Dogs themed Dooney & Burke bags! This dog-centric print features classic characters like Lady, Tramp, Pongo, Perdita, Bolt, Nana, and even some other canine companions like the footstool from Beauty & the Beast.

The tote is already sold out, but you can still pick up the satchel or the crossbody bag from the Disney store online. There is also a really cute looking dress, but I am definitely not bold enough to pull it off. The bags rae expensive ($298 for the satchel 😱), but I'm hoping there might be some good pre- or post-holiday sales still!

Sea Bags: Pet Collection

If there's anything we can't have enough of, it's a good tote! Since plastic bags were/are no-go in California, we got into the habit of always having a reusable bag with us. Though we love the inexpensive ones from TJ's, there is something to be said for a reusable bag that is built to last AND stylish. While they are on the pricey side (OK, they're super $$), we are slightly obsessed everything the company Sea Bags makes. Their company takes recycled sails and turns them into highly functional, easy to clean bags that can take a serious beating. We particularly love how easy they are to clean - you can literally hose them down, let them dry, and they are as good as new!*

While checking out their site for a new summer beach bag, we spied an entire collection designed for pet lovers! Check out these super cute bags and placemats (seriously, such a good idea for pets!). They also offer collars and leashes, but these products caught our attention the most:

(Clockwise from Upper Left) Bucket Bag ($45), Chocolate Lab Tote ($150-$210), Paw Print Placemat (Small $15, Large $25), Paw Wristlet ($30)

Though on the pricier side, in our experience Sea Bags have definitely been worth the investment. In addition to these cute paw print adorned items, you can also create your own custom bag ( or choose from their seasonal designs. 

*Disclaimer... they may recommend a different cleaning process than the one we use hah...

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show "Barkets"

We've always associated January and the start of the new year with new resolutions, new goals, new diets, and of course-- the start of a new bracket season! Don't get us wrong... we are by no means sports experts, but there is something fun about filling out a bracket - whether it be for The Bachelor or the Super Bowl, we just can't help ourselves... (Ha, I bet you did NOT know that about us).

This is why were were SO EXCITED to get an email from the folks at Purina ProPlan about their Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show bracket.

YES! Finally a bracket we're actually qualified to fill out! Dog lovers can compete in this game of "barketology" to win $1 million*! (Side note, does this technically make it a "barket"?)

Simply visit www.dogshowbracket.com and use your canine intuition to pick your group and overall "Best in Show" winner.

Hurry and don't delay -- the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will air on February 13th and 14th at 8 PM EST.


Good luck!




*The prize will be split amongst all of the verified owners of a perfect bracket

Spotted at Kate Spade - Dalmatian Purses & Accessories for Spring 2016

Check out these adorable dalmatian themed purses and accessories for Kate Spade Spring 2016.* While the standout by far is the wicker bag, we were kind of surprised not to see any dalmatian themed jewelry or tech accessories.

While sadly all of these items -will- possibly break the bank, a girl can dream, right?

Here's to fingers and paws crossed that not all of these items get snatched up and some of them show up online during one of Kate Spade's regular online sales.

Rose Colored Glasses Origami Dalmation, $298

Rose Colored Glasses Wicker Dalmation, $448

Rose Colored Glasses Dalmation Baby Bag, $378

Rose Colored Glasses Dalmatian Coin Purse, $98

Origami Dalmation Keychain, $58

All of these items are online exclusives and available from katespade.com. Did you spot something you must have?

p.s. Is it just me, or is dalmatian spelled incorrectly in some of their product names? 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: For Fashionista Dog Lover

If you're like us, you can never have enough jewelry or dog-themed decor. These super cute Pampered Pups Jewelry Holders from Pottery Barn Teen meet both criteria and would make the perfect stocking stuffer for the glamorous dog lover in your life. 

They'd also make for a great Secret Santa gift! (Pssst, our favorite is the dalmatian bangle holder!)

Sold separately, ranging from $35-39, they're currently on sale! Available from PBTeen.com.

MAC Haute Dogs Collection - Fall 2015

So I know we're a little late to the game.... but we couldn't resist blogging about the latest Haute Dogs Fall 2015 Collection from MAC Cosmetics. While we're not really sure we get the inspiration, the shades are pretty and the accompanying press photos are a hoot. It's also the perfect intersection of this blog and our past life (yep, I used to work in the luxury cosmetics PR world, but that's a whole other blog in itself).  Even those this hit shelves and the internet a little while back, most of the collection is still available online or from various retailers.

Haute Dogs includes a variety of canine inspired glosses, eye shadows and polishes including our favorites - "Dressed to the K9s" a "deep burgundy plum" lip gloss and the plum-y "Pure Bred" Eye Shadow palette. Both are still for purchase on MAC's website.

I'm pretty sure that MAC had a cat inspired set a few years ago, so it only seems fitting that the dogs are finally getting their day! What do you think of this collection?

Mother's Day Gift Guide for Dog Lovers

Do you know a #DogMom? Most likely you do! And while Mother's Day is traditionally only for those with human babies, who says the mother of your fur-baby doesn't deserve a little appreciate too? Check out some of our favorite picks for the dog mom in your life (or any mom who love dogs!).

For the Dog Mom Chef:

Hello Cupcake! Cookbook
This is one of our all time favorite cookbooks! Though I am not nearly talented enough to pull off most of these recipes, I love looking at the photos for inspiration. We also did try making the doggie cupcakes and they were much easier than you'd think! Available from Amazon for $11.48  (and with Prime shipping you'll have it easily in time for next Sunday!)

For the Social Media Savvy Dog Mom:

Mark & Graham Chelsea Dog Leashes & Collars
We've talked about how we're kind of obsessed with all things Mark & Graham. Our new favorite gift are their customizable dog leashes and collars. Why not stick your Dog Mom's favorite hashtag on there? (Or even #DogMom... or #Barkzilla, hehe.)

Available from Mark & Graham's website in a variety of colors and sizes starting in the $30 range for collars.


For the Fashionista Savvy Dog Mom:

Helen Ficalora Paw Charm 
The necklace I never take off is from Helen Ficalora. Over the years I've added charms around different milestones, and of course one of my most treasured is this simple 14K gold paw for Paddy. Available from Helen Ficalora's website starting at $105.






For the Hard to Shop for Dog Mom:

Barkbox Monthly Subscription
Each month we always look forward to getting our Barkbox! A curated box of toys and treats, we get so much joy out of Paddy's excitement and we know the Dog Mom in your life will probably be the same. Buy a gift voucher (can be delivered online or printed and put in a card), or even ship a gift box. A 3 month subscription starts at $72. Purchase directly from their website.

PB Teen Divine Canine Catch-Alls

Pottery Barn Teen is one of those secret sites that we like to occasionally peruse for home storage ideas/knick-knacks. While some of the décor is more suited to teens (duh), we sometimes stumble upon great finds like these "Divine Canine Catch-Alls."

At $38 apiece, the won't break the bank, but are clearly perfect for dog lovers who are looking for a cute way to store change, jewelry, etc. Though there is no Morkie option, we are partial to all three!

Available online and possibly in stores. 

Gifts for the Dog Loving Host/Hostess

With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to start stocking up on hostess presents! It shouldn't surprise you that most of our friends have one or two canine companions, so with that in mind we always like to bring a "thank you for having us" gift that's doggy-inspired. (After all, what are you really going to do with another bottle of mediocre white wine or some floral cocktail napkins?) Here are our budget-friendly suggestions that are worth tucking away into your present closet:

One can never have enough cheese or enough cheese knives to cut them with. We picked up this set last time we were at Anthropologie, and at $12 each, the trio makes for a lovely gift. The quality is absolutely amazing and they definitely look and feel more expensive than they are.

Available from Anthropologie.com or in stores.

What could be more appropriate than a set of leopard print tennis balls for your next Upper East Side cocktail soiree? The perfect balance of posh and playful, this set makes the perfect "add on" item; we're definitely going to snag some of these!

Available from HarryBarker.com, from $8.

 This porcelain dog treat jar is stylish enough to live on your kitchen counter. While you could use it to stash treats/chews, we'd fill it with Paddington's knick knacks (how does she have so many random things?!), like business cards, tennis balls, backup squeakers and clickers, etc.

Available from C.Wonder for $40.

 How cute would these handmade ornaments look tied onto your hostess gift? Though a little on the pricey side ($28/each), they come from Peru and are crafted by fair-trade artisans who use traditional needle felting techniques.

Available in a variety of breeds from UncommonGoods for $28 each. 

And finally, a bag of delicious dog treats is never NOT going to go over well. A tin of luxury treats from a canine bakeshop, like Bocce's Bakery, is always going to be well-received-- especially in a gourmet flavor like Chicken Cordon Blue or limited-edition Holiday Feast!

What are you go to hostess gifts?

Holiday Gift Idea: @PotteryBarn's Doggy Storage Chests

Well, this is at the top of our holiday list. 

So far, we're loving Pottery Barn's dog-focused additions to their line of home goods, and these bone-shaped storage chests are just the bee's knees! If you're doing the apartment living thing like us, odds are you have one main space that is your family-living-dinning-study-room, that also doubles as your dog's main hangout. These adorable wicker baskets make it easy to store your dog's stuff in a way that is attractive and won't detract from your decor.

While the price tag may keep you from picking them up "just because," we're thinking of filling them with dog treats/toys and giving them as gifts to our favorite four-legged friends this holiday season. Fill the chest with goodies and tissue paper, tie it with a bow, and voila!

Available in small ($69) and large ($99) sizes from Pottery Barn's website.

 

Original Sock Dogs = SQUEE!

WELL. This is DEFINITELY going on the holiday wish list. Looking for a unique gift for the dog-lover in your life? You're welcome.

We are kind of obsessed with these sock based replicas of your four-legged pal. For $95, the folks at Original Sock Dogs are going to recreate your four-legged pal out of footwear accessories!

Handmade in the USA, 10% of each sale is donated to shelter and rescue groups, which in the past have included Humane Society of Greater Kansas City and Angel City Bull Rescue. 

Look at these adorable little faces!

For more info, and to place your order, please visit: http://www.sockdogs.com/

The Dog is Not a Toy

We are moderately obsessed with this doggy scratch post out of Germany. And at a whopping 490 Euros (aka mucho dinero in US dollars),  it's arguably more artwork than cat toy, though I guess at that price the dual functionality is a plus! Made from polyester resin and sisal cord, it's (hopefully) designed to withstand kitty's claws and the test of time.

Designed by Erik Stehmann and available from www.pet-interiors.de.

Our FouFou Dog Prize!

Recently we entered a giveaway hosted by our pals over at PriskyPaws, and guess what-- we won! Yup, that's right, we scored some super cute FouFou Dog swag! Seriously, how adorable are these accessories And yes, we took the pen to work. In addition to snagging the cutest bag tag ever and our new favorite pen, we got our paws on two Yorkie Key Chains, a Key Cover, and a blinged out sticker!

Want your own FouFou Dog accessories? Make sure to follow FouFouDog on Facebook and Twitter as they regularly host giveaways, or head over to their website for more info. Tell them the Barkistas sent you!

Dogs at Work Stamps

It's not often that you actually receive an email about the post office in your inbox...

Sidebar: Holy moly, last time I mailed letter, I'm pretty sure the cost of a stamp was like 29 cents... 

Anyway, check out these cute stamps from the U.S. Postal Service which celebrate "Dogs at Work," and are good for sticking on First-Class Mail (up to 2-ounces) and "square greeting cards subject to additional postage because of their shape."

Each design was created by John M. Thompson, who painted each of the subjects based off of photographs he had taken.

Our favorite has to be the Welsh springer spaniel therapy dog as we recently passed our Delta Society certification exam!

While we're not stamp collectors, we definitely might ask for these next time we have to post something. Swing by your local Post Office to purchase, or visit the USPS site/store for more info.