by Dee | Aug 24, 2016 | Featured, General
The day has arrived and all the preparations are in place. Vaccinations and micro-chip booking has been made. I had been contacted by the breeders who have given me a five week free Insurance from the Kennel Club.
I am still checking out on the comparison websites the various pet insurance companies, and am still investigating which one is the most cost effective, without the hidden caveats eg the uplift in price after a period of time versus a fixed rate for years. I will report back to you when I have made a final decision.
Princess Milly is a golden Labrador puppy and when she finally arrived on Sunday, I had her cage comfortably fitted with a furry blanket and safe toys – all purchased from Pets at Home. I would recommend this pet outlet as they are completely geared up to new pet owners and have fantastic assistants who will reassure you and get you started on this exciting adventure.
I was lucky enough to find Nicola in the Maidenhead store who spent half an hour taking me around the various isles, and advising me exactly what to do and what to buy. She also worked within my budget and advised me for instance to buy scented nappy sacks at Asda which were cheaper than the Pets at Home poop bags. A breeder herself she also advised me to get tennis balls and squeaky toys which have already proved to work with the new puppy.
The breeders and my local kennel owner advised putting her in a cage overnight and ignoring her cries like a baby. I was really dreading this part of it, as I was never good at leaving my daughter to cry as a baby. But the first night I pulled the puppy cage into my bedroom – still locked the door but to my amazement Milly slept through the night and only woke early to let me know that she needed to go out for a toilet break.
I decided to take the first week with Milly with no other commitments, as my friendly local kennel owner and trainer had offered to assist me with the toilet training process for the first few days.
To my utter delight and amazement, Milly has had no accidents in the home as a result. It may sound tricky, but I have acted on the expert advice, and take her into the garden every hour, and as a result she is practically toilet trained after only three days. I do believe she had a good start with the breeders, but apparently any animal will welcome boundaries – as they feel nurtured in the same way that children respond to discipline.
A couple of useful tips – I have been setting Milly up by calling out ‘pee pee and paw paw’ as I take her outside and congratulating her when she does both. It has certainly worked so far.
My visit to Vets at Home yesterday for Milly’s vaccinations and micro-chip and flea and ringworm treatment went without a hitch. She received cuddles from the fabulous staff, and the vets bill was reasonable for the entire package, and I have taken out a monthly cover for flea treatment which includes nail clipping and a puppy check for around £14 per month.
My next appointment is in a month’s time, and even though I was warned that she would be quiet for the first 24 hours after her jabs, she has displayed no signs of distress, and will be ready for her first walk and social meet and greet with other doggie neighbours tomorrow.
Check back here for more Milly news next week – I will keep you fully updated.
Need some ideas on activities to do with your pooch? then check out Breedadvisor
by Dee | Aug 9, 2016 | Featured, General
A recent sequence of events has guided me into a life change that even I hadn’t considered an option. As a confirmed Londonite and urban stalwart of 30 years, the country life has never been my bag. But as I have braved the delights of English village life for the past few months, am now seeing the advantages of this less frenzied lifestyle.
It has been many years since I owned a pet, and I have secretly longed for a dog, having been brought up with a variety of animals ranging from a boxer, a poodle, a great Dane and a pony. So when the opportunity of a Labrador puppy was presented to me last week, all my animal-maternal instincts came to the fore, and after much deliberation, I have agreed to take on the huge responsibility of owning a female honey blonde girl puppy – in erm two weeks time. Yikes!!!
I have to say that without the local kennel owner promising me huge support with training and dog sitting, plus other neighbours saying they will dog sit, I would not be going ahead. But now that I have made the commitment it feels right, and I am excited about the prospect of owning a doggy.
My daughter who has just given birth to twin boys is over the moon as is my granddaughter, now aged 5, as it is easier for them to visit than take on another responsibility at this stage, so good all round. They have already named her Milly, and so Milly it is.
So what next, well you will be pleased to know if you are pet lovers, that I will be documenting this exciting new journey, with all its challenges and delights, and giving you complete and utter ‘hands on’ advice if you are thinking of acquiring a pet, or are already a pet owner.
The first task I have been strongly advised to do is to insure Milly from the outset, with the ‘no ceiling’ option on the insurance as people have been caught out with the plan. Plus it does not cost a lot more, and could save you a great deal by selecting this option.
Then ensure you have all the toys and comforts in place for your new arrival – including a puppy cage for those first few months. The latter has been highly recommended by a pet lover, who has offered to lend me theirs. It is amazing the amount of support you will get when you put the word out.
I will also be giving you some incredibly invaluable training tips from an expert to help you with those first few weeks of settling the animal into your home.
But all in good time, and will be back to you soon as I am just off to Pets at Home to book Milly’s jabs – they are the less expensive option to the vet – which you should investigate as you embark on your new pet ownership adventure.
http://www.petsathome.com/ Have stores Nationwide for all your pets needs.
by Dee | Jul 19, 2016 | Featured, GloBeauty
My story begins in post WW1 London in 1925 – a young aspiring dress designer Beatrice Thomas is dating a notorious Boxer named Tiger Thomas. In those days boxing matches were a bit like rock concerts, and the performers similar to rock stars – bad boys with a reputation but fiercely attractive to the opposite sex. But the cultured Beatrice Aberdeen was a cut above the ‘groupies’ with her stylish outfits and flawless skin.
Beatrice had already discovered a great skincare revelation, Crème Simon, which was her beauty ally for the rest of her life. Beatrice was in fact my grandmother and mother to Sylvia Anderson who went on to be one of the most successful and revered Film Producers of her time, also inheriting her mother’s love of beauty and fashion.
The story of Crème Simon begins in 1860 in France. Joseph Simon, a gifted young apothecary (and widely regarded father of modern cosmetology today) loved to take long walks along the River Rhone. The sight of laundresses working by the great river inspired him to seek a natural remedy to relieve their dry, chapped hands.
See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/discover/#sthash.tkfTICcm.dpuf
At the turn of the century in 1900, Crème Simon was awarded Number 1 Skincare prize, and went on to be used by movie stars and supermodels throughout the Century. Icons like Brigitte Bardot in her heyday and Dominique Wilms endorsed the magic of the brand. 
As word spread of this miracle cream, they delighted in the discovery of extraordinary results on their complexion. Joseph Simon’s humble remedy soon became Crème Simon, the era’s most coveted beauty treatment – sold out in Paris, New York and the Far East Orient.
See more at: https://www.creme-simon.com/discover/#sthash.Ob6yonuW.dpuf
Meanwhile as a child, I was being given an early induction into the benefits of using Crème Simon on my frequent visits to my grandmother’s home and her beauty cabinet, which she allowed me to explore under her watchful eye.
I clearly remember the crème being applied all over her face and neck and then onto her hands, there was just two types of crème in those days, and she always insisted that it had to be the one which was simply labeled ‘Matt finish’.
I recently revisited Crème Simon and am now as passionate as she was, and swear by many of its products. It has recently been relaunched and developed into a climate customized skincare, being alcohol free and recently being featured in Elle magazine and appearing on their IT list.
The ranges have been expanded and some of my favorites are the Crème Universalle at $68, the Restorative Sleeping Mask at $68, the Lymphatic Contouring and Lifting gel at $98 and if you want to try out the best of the range, you can invest in the Starters Essential gift set at $158.
They say talent and truth remain, and will win in the end. Crème Simon is testament to this belief and has stood the test of time, which is why it is still a top skincare product 150 years after it was first invented.
