Julie's Journal

Every year we celebrate the holidays by hanging lights, putting up trees, and decorating our homes for families and friends. However, what may seem beautiful and harmless to us may pose hidden dangers to our pets. Don’t let an emergency spoil the festivities! Below are some common holiday hazards for dogs and cats and ways to prevent them.

• Dangerous Foods: The following can be toxic to pets: chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, garlic, onion, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, bread dough, and sugar-free candy and gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.
• Regular Foods: Despite tradition, bones should never be given to pets. Even beef, ham, and other “regular” foods that are not considered toxic can cause illness in pets. If your pet is a moocher, keep a saucer of his regular treats on the table to offer when he asks. He probably won’t know the difference!
• New Treats and Toys: Even a pet-safe treat can cause stomach upset if it is new to your pet. Offer only one of these at a time (ideally, separated by a few days). If your pet becomes ill after eating a holiday treat, it will be easier to trace the source and discontinue it. Also, check new toys for sharp edges, pieces that can be chewed off, or other potential hazards.
• Plants: Hazardous plants include mistletoe, some evergreens (including some types of pine), and holly bushes and berries. Try to keep these plants away from pets, or at least supervise pets when dangerous plants are nearby.
• Decorations: Tinsel, tree ornaments, ribbons, string, and garlands are some items that can be dangerous if eaten by pets. Keep these items away from pets — especially when pets are unattended. Don’t forget to cover any electrical cords or keep them out of reach.
• Fire and Carbon Monoxide: Monitor pets near fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, candles, and portable heaters. Also, don’t forget to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are functioning properly. Space heaters, furnaces, and idling cars (in a garage) can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in pets and humans.
• Christmas Trees: Monitor your pets when they are around your holiday tree. Pets may eat the needles (even from artificial trees) or drink water from the base of the tree, which can be toxic (especially if there are preservatives in it). Keep electrical cords and decorative lights out of reach, too.

In many cases, if your pet has eaten something toxic, warning signs will include gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs may include tiredness and lack of appetite, especially in cats that have eaten lilies. If your pet shows any of these signs, or if you think he or she has eaten something dangerous but is not showing any signs yet, please call your vet right away. Treating your pet as soon as possible is essential!

To celebrate the season of giving, Toyota USA is partnering Prius v – the newest member of the Prius family—with Toys for Tots to deliver more presents to children in need this holiday season. The “More Prius. More Giving.” online toy drive challenges everyone to virtually fill as many Toyota Prius v vehicles with as many toys as possible until Friday, December 23.

The goal: To donate $100,000 worth of new toys to Toys for Tots!

Simply click on the “Click To Give” button and donate a toy. It’s FREE!

When I moved from the Midwest to Southern California in the late 80′s I drove a U-haul and towed my 5.0 Mustang behind it. That was quite frankly the worst road trip I have ever taken. Going up mountain passes in the slow lane at 35 MPH was not my idea of how “moving out west” was going to be. It was awful. When I moved from Las Vegas to San Francisco I seriously thought about using an auto transport service to get my car up here. It’s only about a 7 hour drive, but I just didn’t want the hassle of driving. I eventually decided against it since I had to also transport 4 cats, but hadn’t it been for them, I would totally use this type of service.

No matter what your reasoning is for needing your car shipped an auto transport service is the best way to go. Moving is most likely the number one reason you would use an auto transport service, but there are many other uses as well. Buying a car off eBay? They’ll ship it to your driveway. In the military? They will ship your car to you and even give you a great discount for serving our country. If you have a high end sports cars or a classic car, they even offer enclosed shipping to keep it protected. With guaranteed delivery times, and virtual online vehicle tracking, it is definitely worth checking into when you need your car transported somewhere.

This is the cutest thing I’ve read all year! I want a baby seal to wander into my house and take a nap!

New Zealander Annette Swoffer got the surprise of her life when she found a baby seal in her kitchen, who later began to snooze on her couch, the New Zealand Herald reports.

According to the report, the seal wandered from the bay waterfront, through a residential area, across busy roads, under a gate, through a cat door, and up some stairs before he was found at around 9:30 p.m.

Read the rest of the story: Baby Seal Enters House, Sleeps On Couch

Pictures courtesy of Huffington Post

At one time holiday decorating was a highlight of my year. I have 5 totes filled with decorations that I’ve collected over the years, and I just loved making my house joyful and festive.

This all changed about 5 years ago when we adopted a new furry cat friend. She was the runt of the liter, and has remained really tiny making it easy for her to get into things. Including climbing to the top of an 8 foot Christmas tree and taking a nap. Seriously!

Every year around this time she just knows what’s about to happen. She sees those green totes come out of storage and her little face just lights up with excitement, and mischief. Within minutes of the tree going up, she’s hard at work destroying all my hard work.

We’ve resorted to having an artificial tree, because cleaning up all the pine needles from her destruction on an hourly basis got to be too time consuming.

The decorations stay on the tree just long enough to snap a picture every year, then they are strewn all around the house. Have you ever stepped on a ball hook with bare feet? Ouch!

Every single year I say, “Never again! I’m not dealing with that hassle and the constant cleaning up.” Yet every year here I am digging the totes out of storage and getting in the holiday spirit.

Oh LOOK! Just typing that sentence out on my blog brought her up on my lap. She knows what’s happening today…she’s ready and waiting! She’s lucky she’s so cute.

I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners.