Julie's Journal

WOO HOO! Blow kazoos, light fireworks, shoot your gun into the air (if you’re in the ghetto and don’t care about other people’s lives), kiss the cute boy (or girl) next to you…it’s the new year and time to celebrate!

It’s 2012 and I’m still rather pissed off that teleportation isn’t the norm. Even my laptop’s spell checker underlined that word alerting me to a possible misspelling.

What the what? This should be our main form of transportation by now. I’ve lived too long to still be driving a car to work. I fully understand why we can’t transfer matter at this point, but that’s for a different blog post (or not, how boring), and it should have been all worked out by now. Stupid scientist.

With the new year rolling in, that also brought my <insert age here> birthday. Everyone is generally too burnt out from the holidays to do anything on Jan 3rd, but my husband made dinner for me, and we made the best of it.

Speaking of burnt out, I was EXHAUSTED that day. I started my new job as a Social Media/Online Community Specialist at Tiny Prints, on the same day. This was my first day leaving the house to go to a job in three years. I’m one week in and I still don’t feel right. It hasn’t really clicked, although I love where I’m at, and the team that I work with is filled with amazingly brilliant people. I just need to find that groove and figure out where I fit in.

I hope the new year has been good to you so far and that it’s the best year ever for you, and your family. That’s all we can hope for. May the new year be better than the last.

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!

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.

Shopping during the holidays can be a stressful time. Well shopping in general is stressful to me. I’m one of those weird girls who doesn’t like to shop, and I haven’t stepped foot into a mall in over a year. I can fill up an online shopping cart in less than 5 minutes, but actually going to a mall isn’t how I want to spend my day.

T-Mobile brought a little holiday cheer to the Woodfield Mall in Chicago with a surprise performance of “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”. This is such an awesome video, and it helped me get in the holiday spirit. Enjoy!

This post is sponsored by T-Mobile.