2017

10 Good Things About Getting Older

Today I’m another year older. I’ve always hated birthdays. Please don’t ask me how old I am. I still look like a teenager and some people still ask me “How’s school?”. Geez!

Yep. I’m not kidding. So even though my age does not show, I still hate getting older.

I decided to think about some good things about getting older before I get all gloomy. This practice of listing positive things about a perceived negative situation will help a lot to put things in perspective.

Hello Everyone!!

Last year this time I published my very first blog post. Yep! It's been a whole year already. Yay!

I'm not going to make this a long post about what I've learned in my first year of blogging. I think the internet is full of those already.

You would think that after I read all the posts on what not to do that I will not make the same mistakes. Nope! I went ahead and made the exact same mistakes.

Not having my own domain, not having a clear niche, writing weird topics no one searches for, zero Seo, no clear plan, blah blah blah.

A million mistakes yes, but I had successes too. I also made a ton of online friends and furiends (doggies). For a loner and introvert, I surprised myself. Gosh! I surprised myself a lot in this blogging year.

Writing in different characters was not my intention at the start. It just happened! People liked it for some reason and I changed the blog name to Life and Dog Stuff after that. It was just Life and Stuff.

I thought about splitting up the two niches into different blogs a few times because the blog's followers are probably split. I'm not really sure. I always say, "It's my blog and I can do whatever I want to". I mean our blog!

My personality is splattered all over these pages and combined with my Buff and Fluff. These are our stories, our life. So splitting it would have broken my heart.

I'm happy with what I've done with it. It's my creation. For the first time in my life, I created something that I'm proud of. I've poured my heart out onto these pages. Something I was never capable of doing.

I'm planning on creating a spin-off blog soon that will be more niche, structured and optimized for search traffic. Of course Buff and Fluff will join me over there too.

Don't worry, this one will still be here with new weekly blog posts. We only get social media traffic on here. Damn you evil Google bots!

Lots of work ahead. It's still in the research phase. I'm just putting it out there in the universe so long.

I can get a bit lazy sometimes though lol, but it's a goal of mine to reach page one of Google for something I've written. #BlogGoals. Wish me luck! Even if I have to kidnap a Google bot and force them to rank me, I will! Grrr!

Sorry, Fluffy took over just now. She hates those Google bots. Run bots, run!

I have some more good news to share. We've recently been nominated for our third blog award! Guess that means we're doing something right.

Thank you, Kirstie, from the Enlightenment for Schmucks for nominating us for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Our second sunshine award this year! I'll do a separate post on that once I'm done doing the blog updates. I'm forever updating!

Please check out her award blog post so long Here. Kirstie and Trina's writing is beautiful and inspirational. It was such a pleasure to have met a pair of like-minded people like them in the blogosphere.

Happy First Anniversary Blog! Here's to surviving a full year. Almost giving up and then turning it around again. It was not easy, but it was loads of fun. That's all that matters.

A Big Thank You to those who have read our words and laughed at our pictures. For following, sharing, commenting and supporting us through our journey. Your support keeps our little blog alive. I appreciate it more than you know.

Lots of love to you all from Buffy, Fluffy, and Renza! ♥♥♥
Until next time
Goodbye

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates you guys. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading our blog. Thank you! :-)

Pic credit: Pixabay pic Renza edited.

Hey everyone!

Today is a very special day. Buffy is turning 9 years old!

I'll keep it short because I'm trying really hard to hold back the tears. Buff would probably say I'm overreacting again.

I made an "all the different faces of Buffy" collage instead of a long post. He's one special doggie and I feel so blessed to have him in my life.

Thank you, my sweet Buffy, for everything. You saved me when I needed saving. Thank you for your unconditional love and for always being there.

For being such a good big brother to Fluffy and for being a part of all our lives. Love you my sweety! ♥♥♥

PS: If you love our blog and want to show your support, just buy us some yummy treats
paypal.me/lifeanddogstuff. Thank you! Woof! ♥ :-)

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my Happy birthday Buffy post! Thank you!

Pic credit: Renza's pics of Buffy.

Arf! Arf! Hello humans! My name is Snowy. Renza asked me to introduce myself.

Apparently, she, the stalker and the one that looks like a cloud have a blog together. Help me!

I've been living with them for a little over two months now. Renza calls me Snow-snow then I get all excited and do my snowy dance for her. I like her a lot.

The puppy is very strange. She follows me around everywhere. Whyyy?!!

I stand still and wait till she goes away. Maybe if I don't engage she'll get bored. I think she wants to play with me.

I've seen how she plays. No thanks! There's lots of hair pulling and other weird stuff involved. I'd like to keep my hair thank you...and my sanity!

The cloud hates when I eat in front of him. We'll never be friends, unfortunately. He made it clear he's not interested in being buddies.

I hope it's not all my scent spreading that's bothering him. Everything here needs to smell like me. He keeps interfering with my business.

He sometimes makes himself comfortable on my bed. Not sure why when he has his own bed. Renza says I smell different to him.

I'm not neutered so Cloudy thinks I want to take over. I think Fluffy is taking over already. Who's in charge here anyway? I have no idea!

My human visits me once a week. I miss her a lot. I like Renza, but I belong by my human's side. I understand why I had to come stay here a little while. Only a few months to go then I can go home again.

I need to get some rest now. I'm not a youngster anymore and need loads of sleep. I might pop in now and again to update you on stuff.

I'm sure I can dig up some dirt on the three wannabe "alphas". Seriously, who's in charge here?!!!

Arf!!! Arf!!!!

PS: If you love my writing and want to show your support, just buy me some yummy treats
paypal.me/lifeanddogstuff. Thank you! Woof! ♥ :-)

Author: Snowy aka Snuffy
Job: Co-guard dog
Likes: Watering everything, tummy scratches, sleeping
Dislikes: Being forced to play with crazy puppies and being yelled at by clouds for eating and because they can't water stuff like me.

Pic credit: Pics human Renza took with her cheap horrible phone camera. The main pic was when I came back from the parlor.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates you guys. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my Guest post from Snowy post. Thank you!

Hello, Everyone!

We've been on a break for a while because of endless issues with everything. Not just the blog but some personal stuff too. Luckily everything is mostly sorted out now.

Life is never without challenges, but the storms always pass. I got a nice reminder of this a few weeks ago when I saw a really bright sunshine pic and my name linked to it.

Our Life and Dog stuff blog was nominated by blog friend Theresa Jacobs for the Sunshine Blogger Award.

Thank you so much, Theresa.

It came at a time when I needed a little sunshine. Not just because we're in the middle of winter (on my side of the planet), but because I forgot the reason why I started this blog. To spread a little sunshine of my own.

Theresa is a very talented writer/author and has published a few books already. I highly recommend you check out her work.

Here's a link to her blog theresajcbs.blogspot.com and her author page theresajcbs.wixsite.com/authorpage. For the horror fans, she's a contributor to 1428elm.com too.

Theresa is an inspiration to all the writers out there, including myself.

Sunshine Blogger Award Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the questions sent by the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate other blogs to receive the award and write them new questions to answer.
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

My Answers

1. How many animals do you own? What types and names?

I have two doggies of my own. Their names are Buffy and Fluffy. I'm looking after my cousin's dog Snowy too. Snowy is a male Maltese (11). Buffy is a male Maltese poodle mix (8). Fluffy is a female Maltese poodle mix (7 months).

2. How do you keep a blog fresh from a pet's perspective?

My dogs are crazy! They always do weird and funny things. I love their personalities. Fluffy always wants to take over at home that's why her character is planning world domination. I adapt to her personality and place myself in her shoes. Paws?

Buffy is more laid back and cool. He gives advice to other doggies about being better at being a dog although he struggles a bit too. He's honest. I couldn't write for Fluffy in the beginning because I did not know her personality yet. Once we bonded it was easy.

The two of them give me enough writing material with the things they do all day long. Snowy might join us soon for a guest post or two.

He's kinda freaking out because Fluffy is stalking him and Buffy watches and waits for him to make the wrong move. Yep, my two dogs are like a small little gang. I'm really sorry Snowy.

3. What made you decide to write about or with your animals?

When I started my blog I wanted it to be an advice blog where I share my stories. I wrote about dog stuff in my own voice. About things, I've observed and learned in my time while helping and training my Buffy.

One day an idea popped into my head to let Buffy do a guest post. He wrote a few and a fellow blog friend said she loved his perspective and others said the same. It became a regular thing.

Soon Fluffy came and she wanted nothing to do with the blog. In time her need for fame and taking over grew so much that she had no choice but to join and use the blog as her platform to be heard by the masses.

4. If you could tell the world one thing that is most important to you as a pet lover, what would it be?

My dogs are my life. I get very defensive and protective if anyone says or does anything to them. That's when my claws come out. You mess with them, then you mess with me.

Protecting them is something that's important to me. All pets should be protected. I love taking care of them. They've shown me so much love and it's so easy to love them back.

Don't be scared to love these furry friends. Life is short. They only add to your life. Without them, I'm empty. Love for my sweeties! ♥♥♥

The nominees can nominate anyone they choose with their own set of questions. I only have two, but you can nominate more if you choose. Buffy and Fluffy decided who to nominate. The nominees can choose to join in and pass it on.

The Nominees

Shaun the Labrador - Buffy nominated his new online buddy, Shaun dog. This sweetie runs the Blogrador blog and his view on everyday life is hilarious. Check out Shaun and pet parent Anna's blog www.blogrador.com.

Alice in the dog zone - Fluffy is very curious and nominated Alice because she has loads of info about doggies on her blog. Besides giving dog parents advice and tips, she also does profiling on all the different kind of dog breeds. Check out her blog inthedogzone.com.

Questions for the Nominees

1. What made you decide to blog about dog stuff?

2. If you could tell the pet-less one thing about having a pet, what would it be?

3. How many pets live in your house and names, please?

4. What is your dog's favorite treat, meal, and toy?

5. Buffy wants to know what special skills your dogs have that make you do anything they want?

6. Fluffy is planning to become Queen of the world. She wants to know if you think she'll have competition from your dogs? Are they willing to risk everything and possibly go to the mysterious Fluffy island?

7. What piece of advice can you give dog parents (especially new ones), that helped you a lot when raising your dog through the years?

Congrats to the nominees! I'm looking forward to your answers. Shaun dog you can just adjust the questions and answer from a doggie's perspective.

Thank you again, Theresa. Please make sure you check out her blog and the nominated blogs as well.

Until next time
Goodbye

Pic credit: Pixabay free pic Renza made into a Sunshine Blogger Award.

Never miss a blog post by Joining the fluffy pack for updates you guys. Please share if you think your friends will enjoy reading my Our Sunshine Blogger Award post. Thank you! :-)