Every year on the day you were born, they make you a cake, put some candles on it, light them up, sing a song and the people who love you say “Make a wish.”
Birthday Boy
This week is Jack’s Birthday on August 28th, the day my Best friend was born. I got him when he was 4 months old and every birthday since then we have spent together. It feels like just yesterday I was holding him for the first time. How does the time go by so fast?! He used to fit in one hand and now he is so long and tall! He’s my big Pup now.
Personally, I’m not too keen on my birthday. It is just a reminder to me of all the things I haven’t done yet. A way for me to compare myself to other people my age and find new things I haven’t lived up to my potential on. Maybe I’m just a pessimist but for so many reasons it’s hard for me to be happy another year has gone by.
It might be that motherly instinct in me but I’m determined to make Jack feel differently about his birthday. So, It seems like a given, get your bestie a gift for their birthday. That shouldn’t change even if your bestie happens to be a dog, not a human, right? Every year I wish I could get my boy the perfect gift.
Now, you may not know this but I’m gonna let you in on a secret: My Jack Loves his Clothes. He hops around pouncing and prancing about in excitement the moment I pick up any of his clothes, because he knows what will happen next. He gets to wear them. And God Forbid I ever try and take them off to wash them, change his clothes, I don’t know let his hair blow in the wind or Omg SHOWER HIM, but hey that’s a whole ‘nother issue all together, we’ll get to that later. He throws the biggest fit crying and speaking what I refer to as his “Wookie language.” I’m convinced he is part-Wookie and somewhere out there they can hear him and know I am the worst for taking his clothes from him. But I can’t be the cool Dog Mom all the time, am I right?
The Big 5
Anyway – So every year I get him toys, treats, or I try to get him Clothes. But the clothes never seems to fit right. We all know there are so many options out there for dog clothes now, but not very many that fit just right. It can be so frustrating to shop and pay endless amounts of money always ending up with clothes that just won’t do. Is it so much to ask that we as Dog Parents have options that protect our pups from all weather types, still let them look cute and fit right all at once?
I know Jack can’t speak my language, so I have no idea if he wishes or what he wishes for, but I wish for him, for us. I wish every year I could give him the perfect gift. I wish I could give him the clothes he loves that would actually fit him properly.
This year he turns 5 and I can finally say our wish has come true. I can give him clothes that fit him perfect. Nothing is sliding off him. He doesn’t look like Winnie the Pooh in a crop top, with no bottom. He isn’t walking around hunching his back because the onesie is too short between front and back legs. He isn’t completely drowning in his clothes or can’t breathe because they are so tight. He finally has clothes that he can play and be happy in.
Dreams Do Come True
I have never been prouder as a dog mom as the day I tried on the first Jacky Moon design on Jack and it actually fit him. I Literally cried. All I have ever wanted was to be able to give back to him for all he does for me every day. He is so selfless and has such empathy. I am just so taken aback with his unconditional love and support every day, I feel the need to give him everything I possibly can. I have been working so hard for so long on this idea and to be able to give this to him is just so emotional for me.
He is about to be 5 years old and this year he gets a whole new wardrobe. I know he will be so excited for all the clothes. I deff have to change where we store them because he has found that cubby and is constantly digging in it to pull out the garment he feels like wearing today and bringing that to me so I can put it on him.
It should be enough that I have this for my Jack and Padme, but as you probably know I’m only human so…. That’s not enough. It’s not enough that only my dog has the perfect fit, I want more. Call me selfish but I want more! I want everyone else’s bestie to have that perfect fit too. That’s what this whole dream has been about: Sharing the love I have for my four legged best friend with you and your four legged bestie.
The Perfect Gift
So this year as Jack’s Birthday Quickly approaches, I wish that I can share with you all that I have with my Jacky Moon. So with all the love and care I could muster, I created 5 one of a kind designs for your four Legged Bestie. You can order them in a few pre-made sizes or custom, and I will make them the perfect fit for your bestie.
And Finally, as a Gift In honor of Jack’s Birthday, I am Giving you $10 off your entire Purchase that can be used through the end of the week, Sunday September 1st. Just use the Code JBDAY19 at checkout to get your Gift.
So from Me and My Besties to you and yours: Love the Clothes you put them in, Shop Jacky Moon.
-Talk soon
Jean Marie
Ps: I hope you and your besties can enjoy these Jacky Moon designs and If you want a Special One of a Kind Birthday Outfit for your Pup, message me on the Contact Us page and lets talk Details! In other News, a new post sharing our favorite dog food recipe will be coming soon. ‘Cause I think we all know the way to our pups heart is through the belly.
As humans we don’t go out shopping for a best friend. We don’t pick a day, do some speed dating, and then come home with a human that we dub worthy of our friendship based on the five minutes we interacted at a store or shelter. It’s just not logical, right? It’s a title someone in our life earns from shared experiences, long standing relationships and the willingness to be there for you through thick and thin. It is a hard earned title and usually well-deserved.
I am Lucky enough to have 7 best friends: 5 humans and 2 dogs. My human Besties and I deff earned these titles In each others’ lives and They are the best humans I know for putting up with me this long. It has been years in the making and I am grateful everyday that I have them in my life.
As for my dog besties, I would say they came into my life already knowing how to be my absolute best friends and I was the only one who had to earn the title, to prove my worthiness. I met them both at different times in my life and it was one of those Love-At-First-Sight moments. I felt an instant connection and knew they would be my besties for life.
If only meeting humans could be this way, am I right ??
So I took them home and this is the part where I had to start earning the Unconditional love they were already giving me. But how to Care for them properly?
Of course they have basic needs food, water, and sleep, but what about the rest? Love, Play, and Security? It can be Quite overwhelming to walk into a big Pet Store with so many things and not know what the heck you’re doing. Like a kid in a candy story where you’re just grabbing everything and anything, or like in the first episode of the show “Baby Daddy”, where two young guys are standing in the baby aisle grabbing food for toddlers when their baby doesn’t even have teeth.
So for all you first time Dog Moms and Dads, or those that are just needing a little help, I’m here for you. I’m going to break it all down here: What you Need, What will be nice to have but isn’t a necessity, What will be So Helpful for you as a pet parent and what is just a waste of your time/money, and how to keep track of it all to stay organized.
Okay, so First things first: Besties Gotta eat Right? Food seems like the easy part, but have you ever been in a Dog food aisle? There are so many options. Dry or Wet ? Puppy, Small Dog, Adult Dog, Senior, or Small Bites ? Chicken, Lamb, Salmon, Beef, Duck, Rabbit, or Venison? Brand Names? Big Bag or Small Bag? Portion Size? Grip on the bottom of the food bowl or no grip ? Bowl Size ? Raised bowls or ground level ? Dog food Mat ?
It can all be so daunting, but don’t worry, I’m here to help.
As for the Brand there are so many controversies over what they actually put in the food, how much of the good stuff is in it and how much is just filler stuff. Best tip I Ever got (from a Pet Value Friend) was to look at the first 10 Ingredients because that is what the majority of the ingredients are. You want to make sure these first ingredients are Your Protein, Veggies, Fruits and Grains to Ensure your pup is getting the proper balanced nutrition.
According to American Kennel Club the most Important thing to look for on your dog food is the phrase: “(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.” This isn’t just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs (or cats).”
Now which Protein to get? If you haven’t got your bestie an Allergy test yet and the Pet store/Shelter they came from doesn’t know any of their food allergies, then consider steering clear of chicken or beef until you know for sure, seeing as these are some of the more common food allergies for dogs. (This I learned the hard way after endless skin rashes, ear infections, weight loss, vet visits, and expensive tests and treatments for Poor Padme.)
As for Wet or Dry dog food I would say as a Pup or a Senior dog It might be nice to give your bestie some Wet food to make it easier to chew and get down. If you Choose to go with dry maybe every once and a while give them some wet food as a nice treat to switch things up. If you have a small or medium size dogs some small bites dry food will be just fine. If you have Big or adult dogs I would go for some adult Dry food and then add some wet food for fun sometimes. If you aren’t happy with any of the options out there for dry and wet dog food there are a few premade “Real Food” options or you can even make your own Real Food Recipes for yourself. ( I make all Padme and Jack’s food myself due to my Bubble Babies’ allergies and I am so happy with how healthy and strong she is growing again).
Portion Size, This is super Important so Your besties Grow Healthy and Strong. I think we all know I’m learning personally how important Portion Control is for us Humans and it is just as important for our pups. According to Pet Md this is not as cut and dry as the food packaging makes it out to be. “If you have a 20-pound dog who lays around all day and has no interest in exercising, feeding him the maximum amount would almost certainly lead to unhealthy weight gain. Alternatively, an active dog who zips around all the time probably needs more calories than would be provided by the lower end of the range.” Another thing we should take into account is that the recommended Serving amounts are for the entire day not just one meal. So unfortunately I can’t tell you an exact amount of food to give your dog. I can tell you that I have two very active dogs one 9 years old and the other about to be 5, both small, and we feed them 1 ½ cups of Real Food a day.
When it comes to whether to get the big or small bag of food when you are just getting your bestie I would always recommend a small bag at first to wait and see how your dog will like or react to the food before you go spending money. Y’all know Dog food can be expensive.
For some ideas on the range of options available, click on each of the below pics and explore the details for each of these brands. I’ve personally tried each of the below and highly recommend them.
Last but not Least: Food Bowls. Of course we all want something cute for our bestie but most important is that the bowl does not go sliding away as they eat. Grips on the Bottom or Holders can help with that. If you have a small dog small bowls at floor level works perfect, but for a big dog having a stand that raises the medium to large bowl up will be much better for your pup. As for mats I personally don’t use them, My pups don’t usually let a drop of food out of their bowl, they love their food too much and even if they do drop any, they eat on the Tiled floor of our kitchen so it’s an easy clean up.
Next thing I find so Important is…. Treats! We all want that great connection with our pups and personally I feel giving treats helps solidify that bond right off the bat. Imagine if the first time you met a Potential friend they showed up with your absolute favorite snack of all time. It’s a snack that only a Bestie or a mind reader would know you loved because its so specific to you. Wouldn’t you feel fated to be Besties? Wouldn’t you be in disbelief ? Like OMG You Know My soul? Maybe that’s just me, but I feel like when you show up with the yummiest treats that pup is gonna feel fated for you. And after all, that’s what we want right? A pup that wants us as much as we want them. So let’s talk treats.
If you are anything like me you’re gonna use these for training, introducing them to new things and just as a little reminder that you love them. So I would recommend something that is not bad for them nutrition-wise. Something like freeze dried treats that are single ingredient, with usually a protein, or even getting a small bag of a healthier dry dog food that you might have passed on because of the price, can be a great treat. Go to the store ahead of time and get some of these treats and show up to the shelter or pet store with them. Then introduce yourself to the dog you feel the most connection to by letting them smell you and giving them a treat. I’m a true believer that the best way to their heart is through the tummy.
Since Padme has so many allergies we love single-ingredient treats in our home, like these ones below that we get from our local Pet Value (Click the pic for the link).
Now that they have met you, bonded with you, and you have fed them, let’s be honest this was an exciting day for both of you, so let’s talk about getting some rest.
Now I am no expert, but I have been learning about training my dog for a while now and so many trainers say letting your dog sleep in your bed teaches them that they are your equal and you are not their pack leader, but I disagree. I feel that when my dog sleeps next to me or at my feet he must really trust me. If you really think about it a dog is most vulnerable while sleeping and when they are taught that its ok to sleep next to you, you’re bonding. I wholeheartedly believe this is another bonding opportunity. You are teaching your pup right from the start that they can trust you. You are their pack and they are safe with you. I looked up pics of wild dog packs and they all sleep together so sorry-not-sorry, Jack will be in my bed every night.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with doggy beds! For some ideas, click the pics below to see some pretty neat options 🙂
If you choose to get a dog bed I would put it in your common living space or office so your pup has a place in the room while you work or have company. Dog beds come in so many shapes and sizes but the reality is your dog may shed, drool, throw up, or even pee on it if they aren’t trained. So getting a bed that is machine washable is a must. This would be the kind that have a cover that zips off or are thin and flat enough to throw in the washer with no problems. Trust me, this will be a life saver. As for the size if you have more than one dog you can consider one large bed they can share. Other than that I would just get one slightly longer than their body length. Dogs usually curl up when they sleep but sometimes they like to lay in weird positions or stretch out. For more options then the above, see more pics below!
Lastly don’t forget to get lots of rest, yourself, because tomorrow is the start of the rest of your life as a Dog Parent.
Talk soon
Jean Marie
P.S.: I will share some PDF’s below. A list of the Must haves for Dog Parents and An Inventory checklist I use to stay organized on things I’m running out of. Comment and let me know if these tips were helpful or if you have any tips of your own to share I’d love to hear from you! If you want to hear more about my toys, potty pad, harness, collars, carriers, clothes, and boots recommendations don’t worry, Next Sunday I will be Posting more on that.
Balancing it all, it’s something we struggle with everyday.
Or maybe it’s just me – sometimes it certainly feels like it’s just me, like I’m the only one who hasn’t figured myself out, the only one who hasn’t found my rhythm, flopping around like a fish out of water, sightless and aimless and waiting for someone to have mercy on me and throw me back where I belong.
But that can’t be true can it? In my clearer moments I can see the people around me sometimes just as lost but also equally driven. I think the reality is that my friends and my rivals and all my loved ones – we all struggle with it on the daily.
But it’s such a topic – how to admit we need help while still being a feminist and a girl boss and a mom, or in my case a dog mom. We should be able to do it all…. right? Juggle the Mom Life, the Self Care, Home Maintenance, Social Life, Personal Life, getting enough sleep and Still be the perfect Girl Boss that inspires our peers and all the young girls looking to us to see who they should aspire to be.
As a Girl with big dreams, I look to Classic Characters like Monica Geller (Friends), Carrie Bradshaw (Sex In The City), Cristina Yang (GREY’s Anatomy) and even newer characters like Olivia Pope (Scandal), Jacqueline Carlyle (The Bold Type), and Kelsey Peters (Younger) to show me the ideal lifestyle of the Empowered Woman that I strive for everyday. The type of woman who has this amazing life, somehow makes time for everything and still has this amazing career or at least is working towards it.
My reality though is nothing like a TV show – my reality is that trying to balance everything is a mission and a half. There’s just so many things to do, and how am I ever supposed to find a way to do them all and not run myself ragged?
A few years ago I felt like “That Life” of:
5am Work Outs
Outdoor Doggy Potty Trips
Doggy Breakfast
Human Breakfast
Pre-Work Girlfriend Coffee Meets
Work
Girlfriend Lunch Outings
More Work
Post-Work Happy Hour
Doggy Dinner
Human Dinner
Another Outdoor Doggy Potty Trip
House Chores
Self Care Hour
Healthy Romantic Relationship Interactions
Shower and Bedtime Rituals
Lather Rinse Repeat
Was not ever gonna be my life. I mean – look at that list. I was barely managing feeding my dogs, waking up 5 minutes before I had to leave for work and sometimes taking care of my house on my Days off.
But then Today I woke up at 5 am and worked out. I fed my dogs, myself and my sister, took the pups out for potty, worked on my blog, talked to my girlfriends, got ready for my day, worked on my Jacky Moon Designs, did some Social Media Managing, Did lunch, talked to my Girls again, Grocery Shopped, Made dinner, Fed the Pups their meal-prepped food, talked to my parents, watched a little TV and went to bed on time so I can do it all over again tomorrow.
I feel like that’s okay, I did as much as I could, and each day I try and do more. It’s hard and I’m so tired – why did none of the characters in those shows look like they felt as tired as I do. I am by no means a morning person, never have been, being up before 11 is a freakin’ miracle and its all new to me. Just last week my schedule was never awake before 10. I never got enough Work done, my dogs were dying to have all my attention and my sleep pattern was nonexistent.
So what changed? What made it so that Today could be a real day in my life that actually looks like other real days in my life that have actually taken place for real? Well a few weeks ago I had a long talk with my Fam, and together we Started to form a plan on how to fix things in my life to obtain some sense of balance.
Through their observations we realized I am less stressed and get more done with a proper sleep, eat and workout schedule. Which I haven’t really had since I started college. So we Started there, I came up with a Bedtime that I felt I could be okay with. I know, right: 26 with a bedtime, who am I? But it all starts the night before, a good night’s rest can change everything.
Now don’t get me wrong, going to sleep earlier was a hard adjustment and sometimes I couldn’t do it. Years of being a night owl trained me against it. But the important part is each day I tried again until I got it. Next thing I knew, in the matter of a Week I slowly trained myself to wake up a little earlier everyday until I got to my desired wake up time.
Which, sidebar but I think that part is different for all of us right ? It depends on our life, the amount of things we need to get done in a day and what our responsibilities and schedules will allow – everyone’s life is different and we should all find what works best for ourselves. My wake-up time and bedtime are what they are because they allow me to fit all of my daily responsibilities in and to still get a good amount of sleep every night.
And then since the most Important part of all of this is consistency, Once I Picked the time, “I stuck to the Plan” as Keith says (My Survivor Fans will get that one 😉 ).
Next was food. This part was daunting for me seeing that I’ve never had a good relationship with food. I have always either ate too much or not enough food and always the wrong foods. As a Mexican, cooking everything in Oil with lots of seasonings and even sometimes with “lard” (yuck) was just the way things were done. I have always been picky, The pain in my mother’s bottom growing up ‘cause I wouldn’t eat my food. As a daughter of two Teenage middle class struggling parents, Veggies were not a thing in my house. This was partly because they were too expensive and partly because my fam wasn’t well educated in Nutrition, an unfortunate but common case for a lot of families out there passed down from generation to generation. Knowing how to cook has not been a problem since I was 10. No, the Problem was nutrition knowledge.
So as any good millennial would, I took to Youtube.
I am in No way an Expert but I found videos of people who were and I educated myself. I found things all the videos had in common and came up with new meal plans that worked for me. This part I did mostly cold turkey. I cut out everything that I knew would not Bring me Joy, as Marie Kando would say, and I kept everything that would be good for me.
At This Point I was getting the right amount of sleep and learning to cut off my work and personal life if need be to get to bed on time. I had been waking up early enough to feel like I was making progress but I was still feeling a little stress and anxiety. I was wondering if this would really work because nothing I tried before had. So I had to find my inner strength and I listened to my Grams Words in my head: “Just Do It” (Nike who??? No no, My grams!).
So I pushed myself further and added working out every morning to my schedule. It was so good for my stress and anxiety – it cleared my mind and helped me start each day. Things were coming along just as planned. Then I got on the phone with my Dad and he helped me break down everything I Need and Want to get done on a daily and weekly Basis, Writing down the everyday things In one column and the weekly things In the Other. With everything written out like that it was easier to see how things would come together.
From There I was able to make my To-Do List for each day. On top of working out and eating right, I was sure to include Self Care, Work, DogMom stuff, my Home maintenance tasks and time to socialize, ‘Cause we gotta make time to take care of ourselves, right? And Spending time with our friends and fam is so important. It helps keep us motivated and on track with “the plan”. My pups are my everything, as I’m sure you dog moms and dads can relate to, so of course that was a must. The Mexican im me knows if my grams knew I had my house a mess there would be an endless lecture and a lot of curse words. Clean clothes, clean rooms, clean dogs, and a clean house all lead to good vibes for a neat freak like myself, I gotta say I do get it from my grams. And as for the last item on my daily list, well, everyones got bills to pay, am I right? So work has to be fit in. I know we all want that stay at home dog mom life, But whatever pays the bills.
After this it is all about “sticking to the plan”. And “The Plan” is:
Abide by my sleep schedule
Take it One step at a time
Re-work Daily/Weekly tasks on regular basis
Take breaks when needed
And most importantly:
No Giving Up
I made this plan and I can amend it if something isn’t working but the fact is that within two weeks I proved to myself that I am capable of creating balance and consistency in my life. The kind I never knew I could have. I am trying so hard every day – that has to count for something, right?
Maybe this whole Girl Boss Dog Mom Self Empowering life can be my life. Maybe I can do it all…..
Talk soon
-Jean Marie
P.S.: I will keep y’all updated on how “the plan” is working out and any amendments I had to make as it happens. I left a few .PDFs to help you make your perfect plan that creates balance in your life and help you achieve your goals. There is also a sample of mine so you can see the choices I made in creating my schedule. Whether you are a girl boss, a parent, or a dog parent, balance can help you live your best life. Share in the comments if these tips were helpful and if there are any tips or tricks y’all have to help you “do it all” in your life.
