How to make a Soup Can Safe

Came across this on the internet... great little item to hide your valubles or the chocolate from other household members

Happy Holidays from Rob, Romeo and Buddy

Time for me to take my long winter's nap

And I will leave you with a song...

CHRISTMAS CONES!

Every now and then I go into the past!. THis originally came from my former DIY blog. Love these cones. easy to make and easy on the budget! From Rob's DIY Blog November 28, 2008: DIY Christmas Cones
I watch Ms. Oprah every now and then- My mom usually has it on. I saw how to make these hot chocolate cones- a perfect gift for children, co-workers or keep on hand as an emergency gift for unexpected guests who pop in- Easy to make, the hard part is finding the piping bags (I went to Michael's and found them, I would think JoAnn Crafts would have them as well or any gourmet shop)Anyway here are the instructions for making Hot Chocolate Cones And when done you can put them in an inexpensive mug for next to nothing if you want, and fill the mug with hersheys kisses!

Blog "re-Gifting" Post : DIY Gift wrap

This post came from 12/18/12 I thought I would re-gift by reposting it! I like to wrap gifts, but chances are if you get a gift from me there will be an element of garbage on it, just to make it look good. That's right- I said garbage!
I make bows (using Jessica's "How about Orange" Tutorial) This year I forewent the used Frito bags and just went with newspaper. The "ribbon" is also from the same batch of newspaper.
NEWSPAPER-

DUCT TAPE-

Now that there are so many different patterns to Duct tape, why wouldn't one find a use for it for wrapping. I wrapped my cousins' boys (whom I lovingly refer to as Huey, Louie and Dewey) with duct tape as the ribbon and a bow made from same said duct tape!
GIFT BAGS-

Sometimes it just calls for a gift bag. I bought these plain Kraft paper bags at Staples, and just apply a stamp to them and  a bow!
PHOTO TAGS-

This year I found these cool photo frame gift tags at the Dollar Tree, so I perused my family's facebook pages for pics and printed them out in Black and white! There are some really good old pics in there!

Christmas Hacks!

Amazing Hacks for Christmas!!!!

This Years Christmas Photos

 

I just love my dogs' pictures with Santa. But unfortunately (or not) I was unable to do it this year as The B-Town Dog group was hosting Cocoa Bar to raise money for our local dog park. Anyway, we were able to get professional pics done this year, thanks to Mud Bay, a local pet supply chain, with  a fabulous store here in Burien. The photographer, Emily Reiman of Best Friend Photography took to kinda dumb dogs and made them pet models. I cannot get over how she got Buddy to behave and Romeo to listen. She will forever be in my debt!

Now to find a couple of nice photo frames and give to Ma as a Christmas present!

Worlds Easiest Cookie Recipe (Re-Post from a few years back)

Perhaps the easiest christmas cookie I make. Those who where expecting Krum Kake or Rosettes- those might be coming as well. These are ridiculousy easy to make. Just follow the Easiest Peanut butter Cookie Recipe and add a Hershey's Kiss on top!

WORLDS EASIEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE
1 c. peanut butter, smooth or crunchy (I use a 16 oz. Jar of Adams "no stir" Crunchy and double the recipe)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. sugar

Combine above ingredients. Roll into small balls, about 1 inch. Place on a cookie pan lined with parchment paper, Bake at 350 degrees until done (about 7-10 minutes). Top with a Hershey's Kiss while cookies are still warm. Let Cool on pan or place in a refrigerator for 10-15 minutes
UPDATE: Note there is no flour in this recipe. Not an omission on my part- just doesn't call for it! Try topping with a Miniature Reese's Peanut butter cup for something different.

HOWL-LOWEEN!!!

Romeo and Buddy are becoming big fashion icons in this town. Here is what I errr.... WE came up with for this years Boo In Burien event...
Ladies and Gentelmen, May I produce for your viewing pleasure, that unequal combination, everybodies favorite pairing, that breakfast of champions....

EGG'S 

AND

BACON!

It was pretty easy. I just followed Meg Allen Coe's easy directions on Instructables.com  (I adapted the egg costume to Romeo and followed the dog size instructions for Bacon/Buddy. The only thing different I did was add a velcro tie to the costume, making like a dog jacket!
So how do you spend your weekends?

HOWL-LOWEEN IS NEAR!!!

That time of year to be creative and drive your dog nuts! HOWL-OWEEN! In a couple of days I will debut Romeo and Buddy's look for 2014, But until then, here are some of my favorite costumes for 2014 (Courtesy of Instructables.com) to tide you over!

CORN DOG

What better way to celebrate than turning your pooch into tasty food? By Doggie Stylish

 Chi Chi Chi Chia Pet

Kkittle shows hoe to turn your pooch into a living chia pet!

Dog. James Dog.

This James Bond Dog by HenryBasenji costume has many of the elements of Romeo and Buddy's Rocket Dog costume from last year:

Never fear, UNDERDOG is here!

Instuctable contributor, soccerqueen, shows how simple it is to make an UNDERDOG cape!

Repost: Cola Slow Cooker Pot Roast for 10/27/2011

I love using the crock pot... Sometimes I make an entire meal out of it- other times I simply make and entree!
I made a pot roast the other night. With Coca cola! So easy to do, I imagine the sugars in the cola help break down the fat in the chuck roast. So set it and forget it!

Cola Pot Roast
2 Cans French onion soup
1 Bottle (20oz) of Cola (not diet)
1 4-7 lb Chuck Roast

Start by opening 1 can of French onion soup, pour it into the bottom of your crock pot. Place the chuck roast on top of the soup, Dump the second can of soup over the Chuck Roast, Pour the Cola over all. Set you crock pot to high, until it heats up, then set to low, let cook for 5-6 hours. The soup/ cola mix makes and excellent sauce/gravy. Seriously!

REPOST FROM 10/8/2013- ROCKET DOGS!

Everyone knows that this country is guarded by an elite force of dogs. Dogs who wear rocket jet packs and fly. If you didn't know that well now you do!
I was first inspired by Natalie at Doodle craft to make Romeo and Buddy's "Rocket Dogs" halloween costumes, after seeing what she came up with for her young son to wear and play with. Thought it could be made into a costume for my dogs!
First I spray painted two water bottles:

And then added felt Flames:

Then I took two of the dogs old coats and made a t-shirt transfers for them

Then I simply attaced the water bottles with some Tywraps and ty-wrap self adhesive holders that where attached to the Rockets so I could re-use the dog's coats.
The end result:

2 HOWLOWEEN COSTUME FOR MY PUPS! A few decals from nasa and such on the jet pack rockets and it will be finished!

THINGS I NEED TO DO BEFORE RETIRING

Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.... I should be done with this long section of my life story at the end of January.
THINGS I NEED TO DO BEFORE RETIRING?

1. Get rid of Phone/Pay Channels/ and perhaps Cable TV.... I can lower my monthy bill to Xfinifty by a hefty sum. And I need to see if a HDTV Antenna set up will satisfy my TV cravings... As far as Network and Cable offerings I can catch them on netflix, amazon prime, etc.
2. Install "No Duct" Heat pump. Seattle City Light Guarantees my bills will go down, so maybe this is the last expensive house thing I need to do before retiring!
3. Set up my home business.
4. Sit down and explain to Romeo and Buddy Bucko that we are living to high on the hog and soem expenses will need to be cut. And start learning to groom them myself, rather than shelling out $500 a year for their grooming.

Repost: Adopting Shelter Dogs Works For Me! From 4/10/13

I have two dogs whom I adopted from less than Ideal situations. First, Romeo, a “Cocka-Poo” (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle). He is my calming influence. A good natured happy guy with good manners. Always ready for a game of “ball” or “stick”, plays well with others, as long as they don’t do much “Biting” (he hates that). I adopted Romeo when a gal at work, who owns a boarding kennel, put an ad in our Intra Net classifieds. It appeared Romeo was boarded at the kennel, and the owner, skipped out on paying and skipped out on Romeo. Well first look at Romeo and I was in love. I recognized his calmness, and his love of riding in the truck almost immediately (His favorite place to sit in the Truck is right on the back of the seat- I am thinking so he can look out both front and rear windows. Anyway He is a good dog, one of the best I have ever had!

   

 Buddy, my little “Cocka-Tsu” (Cocker Spaniel/Shi Tsu) on the other hand, well if Romeo is my calming influence, Buddy is my “Let’s go out and ride that damn roller coaster” influence. He is my little comedian. And a great source of entertainment. And when I say “adopted from less than Ideal situations, he wasn’t abused or anything. He was a foster dog at A.A.R.F. and waited a long time for a forever home. People that would try him out, I’m afraid were not patient, expecting a perfectly mannered canine. And get sent back. And while his “foster parents” are all great people, that has got to mess up a dog’s confidence.  Buddy likes to bark and play. And if he is hurting will bite (nip) when you touch him. I can’t blame him for that – I am the same way. So I let him bark when he is hungry until it is dinner time. And it is fine. So with Buddy you have to practice patience.

  

 My adopted pets work for me. Maybe it’s because they have such opposite personalities. Maybe it’s because I think of them as children. All I know is adopted dogs that others have work for them. Sometimes you just have to wait it out!

More Pin Heads

Some more ideas to help solve some of life's little problems!

Bacon Butty

pronounced bacon "bought-y"in Onslow speak, is a simple Bacon sandwich. I first heard about it watching "Keeping Up Appearances", a britcom. Hyacinth's slovenly brother-in-law Onslow and her sister, Daisy, were eating Bacon Butty's in one episode. You simply fry up a few slices, put on slightly toasted bread or a crusty bread or roll, top with catsup or "brown sauce" (which I have yet to find- I am thinking it is similar to steak or BBQ sauce) and there you have it- a sandwich which Onslow would utter Oh Nice to!

 

LIFE LESSONS FROM ONSLOW:

Seahawk Duct Tape Bow!!!

I needed a bow for one of the baskets for our upcoming Silent Auction, one that themed the basket to the contents, but couldn't find what I wanted. So I turned to my collection of Duct Tape- picked out the Seahawks tape and put it together like so...

Cut or tear an 8" strip. Place it face down. Take a plain piece of Duct Tape match it up to your nice piece of tape and place sticky side down to your nice tape, making a two sided duct tape strip. Make 2 or 3 more strips. THen make two strips at about 7" long. Place them together in an X formation and attache them to the first. Then take a Piece about 4" long and make a loop for the center. Attach it to the center of the bow. You can use these directions from Jenny at How about Orange.com for more detailed instructions. I found using duct tape requires fewer loops.

Raspberry Ginger Snaps

Easiest. Dessert. Recipe. Ever.
Amaze your family and friends with your Culinary talents.

I discovered this at Trader Joe's, with the Demo-Diva's. So easy to make

1 box of Ginger Snaps
1 pint of fresh raspberries
1 container of Creme Fraiche

lay out some ginger snaps. Top with 1 teaspoon of Creme Fraiche. Top with a raspberry.
So Simple! So delicious.

The Whatever...

We at B-Town DOG are getting ready for our annual Silent Auction. This year we are having a party with an 80's theme, The Whatever... at local Burien Restaurant of the Year, Black Zia Cantina! This year we will feature a local band, The Auqa-Nets who promise a totally Awesome performance. Also this year we will feature a quilt raffle.It is on Sunday June 1st, 7pm - 9pm, at Black Zia Cantina, 15212 6 Ave SW, Burien, WA

BAGEL PIZZA

I was at work the other night, and it was lunch time ... I meandered over to the refigerator... Bagels, Pizza sauce, a hunk of summer sausage... so I made Bagel Pizzas

1 Bagel- split
two tablespoons pizza sauce
about 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese
Meat- a small amount of prosciutto or pepperoni- in this case I used summer sausage- whatever your heart desires!

Layer the bagels with the sauce, cheese, meat. Heat in toaster oven at 450 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Eat!

Romeo turns 9!!!

Romeo enjoying Morril Off Leash Dog Park in Kent, Wa

Forgot too mention that my big old fluffy dod Romeo turned 9 on the 24th. He had a good day at Morill Meadows Off leash Dog Park in Kent, WA, the weekend before his birthday. Interesting dog park, about the same size as Lakeview, where our off leash park in Burien is supposed to go, with some good, inexpensive amenities that also are recycled.

Nice reuse for old tires

Super simple jumping gates made from Galvanized Elbows and 18" nipples

An example of a climbing apparatus for agility

And another!

 Romeo had a great day, the boys got to see a great park and we had some lunch, courtesy of a local eatery! I enjoy days like this one!

Peppermint planter

Spring is sprung! And so are new ideas for containers for planting! I like to re-use things in my garden like a peppermint tea tin to plant peppermint in....

Does anyone else have unusual planters in their gardens? Please Comment!

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Drool. I came across these from a Bacon Calendar I got for Christmas- These are super easy to make.

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls:
1 tube of Cinnamon rolls
8 slices of bacon

Separate and unroll one tube of cinnamon rolls, unrolling each cinnamon roll. Slightly precook bacon in the Microwave for 1-2 minutes (if you like your bacon well done.

 Lay one slice of bacon on top of each cinnamon roll and roll it back up pressing the dough together as needed. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until rolls are browned and bacon is completely cooked. Spread frosting from the cinnamon rolls package on top of rolls while still hot.

I went a bit crazy and thought, what if I use Nutella instead of the frosting... So.... I did!!! Even more wonderful!!!

I am Sunny Anderson

Ever take one of those Facebook Quizzes that say's who you are most like? Well I took the Which Food Network star are you most like... and it came back as Sunny Anderson. Not surprising, that, Ms. Sunny and I seem to have similar personalities, and both love an easy recipe.

FUN FACT:
Did you know that Sunny is the only Food Network star to comment on one of my Blogposts? The proof is here !!!

Cove To Clover

It's just about time for the Annual Clove to Clover. Around these parts, this 5K Race plus a 1 mile "Wee" race for the little people is a sure sign of spring. And a sure sign that Burien folk are ready to get out and support many charities. Held on the 16th,the C2C was originally sponsored by a local Irish pub, organizer John Nelson had made it one of the go to and do events in our little city. And he is also very generous, offering the B-Town DOG group a Canopy at the finish line, to deliver information about our up and coming Dog Park here in the city. My only complaint, is that They use to offer "Angel" Sponsorships, which allowed me to be involved without having to run my fat ass all through town. But the old way was a hassle, and they still get sponsorships to the school district, allowing many kids to race for free! So a big thumbs up there. \
And if liquid sports are more your thing There is also Ye Ole Snake Crawl, A pub crawl were you can win prizes, on Friday the 14th, from 5pm (Registration)
So if you are not doing anything on Sunday, March 16, and feel a little energetic, Put on your running shoes and come on out to the Cove to Clover. There is a beer garden at the end! A great way to support local Charities!

Cove to Clover Classic
March 16th, 2014
Ye Ole Snake Crawl Pub Crawl
March 14th
Burien WA