Building a Strong Relationship with Your Dog

 

Pexels - CCO Licence

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend, and this can definitely be true; when you go to the effort of building a strong relationship with your dog, they will always be there for you, and you will dote on them too.

But, how exactly do you build a strong relationship with your pooch? Here are a few things you might want to do:

Invest in high-quality training

When you get a dog, it is a good idea to invest in high-quality in home dog training. This will help you to build a relationship of respect and security with your dog while ensuring he also knows you are the head of the family and must be deferred to. Dogs need to know their place in the family pack if they are to feel safe and secure, so this is really important.

Understand their behavior

If you want to build a strong relationship with your dog, you need to be able to understand their behavior as well as possible, When you know why they do what they do, instead of getting mad at them for peeing on the floor, you will now that they are feeling anxious, and take steps to help them or instead of getting upset when they chew your shoes, you will know they are bored and get them a dog puzzle toy to play. You need to know them to love them so read up on some dog psychology.

Pexels - CCO Licence

Bond with them

There are no strong relationships with anyone without working hard to form bonds. When it comes to your dog, you can bond with them very easily by feeding them regularly, petting them often, playing with them wherever you can, and taking them for lots of walkies. The more tie you spend with your dog doing things you both enjoy, the stronger your relationship as pet and owner is likely to be.

Be calm, be patient

Dogs do not always behave in an ideal manner. When this happens, the worst thing you can do is to get angry with them. Your pet will feel most secure when you stay calm and treat them with patience, especially if they are new to your home and trying to adjust to living with your family. The more gentle you are, the stronger your bonds will be and the more you will get out of being a dog owner because he will love you like no other.

Create a safe space for him

As you can probably tell by now, dogs need to feel safe to build strong relationships, so creating a safe space in your home where your dog can retreat when he needs to - a crate in a quiet corner is ideal - will help him to settle in and feel comfortable being part of your wider family.

The stronger the relationship you build with your dog, the more rewarding having a dog will be for you, and the happier your pet will be, so what are you waiting for?

How to Make Working out Feel More Fun

 Do you feel as though working out feels like more of a chore than it should be? If this is the case, then you have to understand that you are not alone. So many people are in the same situation as you are but there are things that you can do to try and turn things around for yourself. By making your workouts more fun and by trying to cater them to the schedule you have, you will soon find that you can keep shedding those pounds without too much stress.

Workout with a Close Friend

Think about it, you would not blow off your run at 6am if you knew you had a buddy waiting for you at the park would you? This is why it is a very good idea for you to arrange some workout dates. Not only will this help you to get out of bed in the morning because it will also make your sweat session much more fun too. When you are done with your workout, you can even choose to go out with your friend after to grab a healthy smoothie or even a protein shake. When you do this, you will soon find that it is much easier for you to stay motivated and that you can get way more done too so be mindful of this if you can.

Add some Messages to your Alarms

If you have to set an alarm at 5am so you can get up for your workout, then why not make it a bit more tolerable by adding a label to your phone? Set yourself a nice motivational message and also make sure that you create something that puts a smile on your face every single morning. If you can do this, then you will soon find that those grueling mornings become a bit more bearable.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Get Your Gear Ready the Day Before

If you can, it is a very good idea for you to lay out all of the gear you need, the day before you intend to do your workout. If you can, it is also very wise go to bed in it as this will save you even more time in the morning. If you do this, then you will soon find that you are able to get the result you want out of your morning routine and you don’t have to waste half an hour digging out your running shoes from your wardrobe. The easier you can make your mornings the better.

Play Sports Some people really struggle with the idea of working out just for the sake of working out. Yes, you know that it’s good for you and helps you reach your fitness goals, but you find it difficult to have fun by doing exercises or jogging. In this situation, a sport might be the perfect thing for you. You have set goals each time you play or otherwise engage in your sport. It’s easier to stay motivated if you know what you’re trying to achieve, rather than the nebulous goal of “being fitter”. So, pick a sport like cricket, get yourself geared up with high quality equipment, and start practicing. You don’t have to go pro, but you can play in amateur leagues if you prefer a bit of competition. 

Sign up with a Class

If you want to make your workouts feel easier, then one thing you can do is try and sign up for a class. There are a ton of dance studios out there that you can sign up with and when you do, you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to move around without having to drag yourself out for a run. You may even find that it helps you to stay more focused on what matters too, which is having fun while getting the results you are hoping for.

Have Brunch after You’ve Done your Workout

This may sound a bit odd, but if you can create some plans with your friends after you have done your run or your workout then this will make sure that you do those miles. If you tell everyone that you are going to arrive for brunch after your workout, then this helps to ensure that you are accountable, and it also means that you have something good to look forward to as well. If you show up for brunch clearly not having done your workout, then your friends may begin to question why you haven’t put the work in and this can leave you feeling more fired up for next time.

Compete with your Family and Friends

If you have a Fitbit or something else similar, then it is very easy for you to challenge your friends to some kind of activity. You can then see how you are moving compared to your friends and you can even go head-to-head if you want. By doing this you can then make sure that you are able to compete with each other while also working as a team to try and reach a common goal. It will work in your favor, and it will also make it much easier for you to stay motivated in the future when it comes to the goals that you set and the dopamine you get from achieving them.

 

Lego Stamped Pumpkin Art

 Harper and I love to paint with, well, anything but a paint brush! Last week she came home from school and asked me if I wanted to make something with paint, and how could I resist the invitation? This lego pumpkin idea was just the thing. It pairs cute and creepy together just right.

This is such an easy activity, and it is fun for kids of all ages! Even Rolf, who is 12 now, was curious about this and told us it was a "cool idea" before dashing back to his busy preteen activities. 

Supplies:

Orange Paint

Black Paint

Green Paint

Legos

Paper Plate

Paper

Directions:

Pour a small amount of orange, black and green paint onto a paper plate.

Offer your child legos in assorted sizes and paper.

Encourage your child to dip a lego into the orange paint and make the shape of a pumpkin.

Now, fill that shape in with more lego stamps.

When you have filled in the shape of the pumpkin, dip a lego into the black paint and make a face.

Next, give your pumpkin a stem with the green paint.

Allow to dry and display.

These were a really fun, kid led Halloween craft. I know your kids will love making pumpkin art this way.

You can find all of my Halloween crafts here

Painting projects here:

Reader favorites include:

Pumpkin Window Clings

Ghost Play Dough Ornaments

Freaky Halloween Foods

 Halloween is such a fun time of year. We certainly love to go all out with decorations, epic costumes for the kids, and of course, the best treats! This year why not bring the festivities to the dinner table with these Freaky Halloween Foods? These ideas are sure to delight your family and maybe even creep them out a little.

I have so many fun Halloween ideas on site. While you are here, you might want to check out these homemade play dough ghost ornaments.

This collection of freaky foods has some really fun ideas in it! From puking pumpkin taco boards to scary spaghetti and pumpkin stuffed peppers. I am sure you are going to find something you want to make for your family! Be sure to click through the links below to check out the full recipe.

Puking Pumpkin Taco Board by Maple and Mango

Meatball Mummies by Spend with Pennies

Deviled Spider Eggs by Living Sweet Moments

Scary Spaghetti by By Andrea Jannsen

Jack O Lantern Stuffed Peppers by Hip Homeschool Moms

Black Bean Pasta by Vegan Dollhouse

Trick or Treat Cheese Ball by Centsless Meals

Spooky Gnocchi by Wild Vegan Flower

Pumpkin Stuffed Peppers by Sula and Spice

Spooky Spaghetti by Summer Yule

Pretzel Mummy Snacks are a great freaky Halloween food for later in the evening, maybe as a movie snack.

Simple Ways To Use What You Love In Your Interior Design

Your home's interior design may occasionally change. It's bright and airy in the spring, helps your home stay cool in the summer, is warm and inviting in the fall, and you love to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in the winter. Overall, how you decorate your home speaks volumes about who you are and what you value most in life, but it can be challenging to know where to begin when coming up with decor ideas. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to use your own likes and loves to create your ideal interior design. 

 

Photo by cottonbro

 

Focus On Your Favorite Colors 

What is your favorite color? No matter what it is, even if it’s something quite unusual, this is the color to use most in your home. After all, why would you ignore it or use a color you don’t particularly like? You’re the one who has to live in the house, so it should reflect your personal tastes, and color is the easiest place to start. 

 

So how can you use your favorite color? Put it to work as an accent against darker hues in the bedroom, as a focal point in the living room, or as a dash of color in the kitchen or bathroom. If you have a white carpet or some plain hardwood, put a rug in your favorite shade down on the floor, then add bursts of that color in the cushions on your sofa to spice up the space.

 

Have A Feature Wall

If you don't want your own personality to take over the whole house, a feature wall is a terrific way to show off the items you love. A feature wall is a great place to showcase your eccentric interests, whatever they might be. 

 

And since feature walls make excellent focal points, you can use any unused wall. Places like the back of the sofa, the wall behind the TV, and the wall next to the door are ideal for displaying unique and well-liked decor. Plus, the next time you have guests around, you'll have something interesting to talk about.

 

Speaking of guests, if you have a guest bedroom, this is somewhere you can really experiment with. Since it’s a little used room, you can try out various designs there and see what works. Make sure you have a good bed and mattress and there is some storage, and then you have free rein on the rest. 

 

Get The Family Involved 

You love your family more than anything else, which can help you decide how to decorate your home. After all, you can have the kids make you some art, have your partner put up some shelves, and get an idea from each of them about what to do with an empty corner or wall.

 

The way you decorate your home can also show how much you love your family and want peace there. Buy some family sculptures to put around or put up some quotes about family on the walls. Feeling loved at home is a great way to make sure everyone gets along, and it's nice to see that in your decor.