The Most "Paw"fect Christmas Dog Treats Ever!

Well, I realize it's about a month away from Christmas and I am just posting these pictures of my gourmet Christmas dog treats but that's because I took pictures way back in September for my Christmas line and then ended up hating them. So I just had to remake and retake all of my pictures! and now, I am proud to say, they are PERFECT!

Without further ado, here are my Homemade, Gourmet Christmas Dog Treats for 2014

To start us off, we have my most adorable grain-free pumpkin reindeer dog treats.

You get 12 in an order and, are they not the cutest things?

These snowmen are SO much easier than the snowmen I had last year, but I think cuter even though they are so simple! Sometimes, simplicity is the key.

And the focal point of this shot is my mug, which is not for sale, but I just love it so much and thought it was pretty much precious for this shoot.

10 snowmen come in an order.

Oh Christmas tree..... These will always be one of my favorites for Christmas. It may just be the vibrant green that gets me.

I don't know, but I love them.

The classic santa hat. You can't go wrong with Santa.

Also top on my favorites to decorate!!! Gingerbread men!! Funny story....the cookie cutter I use for this little gingerbread man is always, ALWAYS missing! I swear it jumps about at night while I'm asleep...

10 gingerbread men come in one order.

I am tempted all the time to eat these. They look so delicious! I love them!

I resist however. They are grain-free and delicious but I guess I will pass this time..

And now, the masterpiece for my Christmas collection......

My Christmas Gift Box!

How many parties to you go to and have no idea what to take as a hostess gift? This is perfect! I have taken it many many times! It is just $25 and comes perfectly wrapped and packaged and ready to go for that dog lover at heart!

All the treats are grain free, homemade, handmade and ready to be devoured!

Now on to the all natural treats!

I know many dogs and dog owners who need and want only all natural treats. The ingredients in all of my treats are all natural. The only thing not natural in my treats is the dye I use in the frosting, but I wanted a great option of non decorated treats that dogs could have that would still be festive.

These are all natural as well because there is no dye in them.

Just plain, great yogurt icing drizzled to make the perfect snowflake treats!

You can check all of these out on my website at www.treatdreamsthedogbakery.com

Hurry! I close up shop for the holidays on December 15th!

Livin' the "twenty-something" life!

Two weeks ago I had the privilege to embark on a cruise with one of my bestest friends to - a. get away, b. have fun but ultimately to celebrate turning 25!

We had always talked about turning 25, I don't know why? I guess it's a big age because you are over the twenties "hump", I am not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. I am choosing to believe it's a good thing.

I have nothing but good memories of my "younger" days at a "twenty-something" year old but I am definitely looking forward to the future, I mean it could hold (and hopefully does hold) some of my best days! I have never been in love, never been married, have no kids, and am just beginning a very exciting and fun business, so surely there are good days ahead and I choose to not look back. Getting older simply means I have been blessed to live and experience a number of days, memories, experiences, opportunities and I regret nothing.

Many of those experiences have involved travel. I love traveling! I don't actually like the traveling part (buses, planes, cars etc) but being in those places is indescribable. If any young person is wondering what to do, TRAVEL! It will only make you better.  I have traveled for business, pleasure and mission trips and learn something about others and myself on every single trip.

After college graduation, I had this incredible opportunity to travel to the Philippines with my brother to live and work with some kids there that forever changed my outlook on life.

My first thought when traveling that far distance was "God is so amazing! There are literally billions of people in this world and he is involved and passionate about each and every one individually just like he is me." It overwhelmed me.

Later that year I was able to check something off my bucket list - Travel Through Europe

I have always wanted to visit Paris. Yes, typical girl, I know. But there was something magical about it, something captivated me. I had planned countless trips. With parents, friends, random people who wanted to go, I was going to get there somehow, some way!!!

Then a friend of mine told me she was traveling to Macedonia and invited me to join her to see if perhaps, something there would grab my heart as I was very undecided in what I wanted to do with my life. 

Well,,,,,,what am I supposed to do when I've worked since I was able to babysit and saved every penny and I get a chance to go on an adventure??? "Oh, and by the way, I leave in 3 days"----be very careful telling your mother that.

And so it happened, that I went to Macedonia with three days notice.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND just leaving. Tell your dearly loved ones, of course, but then leave...do it, you will never be able to do it again....do it now!

Once in Macedonia, I realized this wasn't the place God had for me, but while I was in Europe I was thinking I needed to get on that!! So....what does the family of a wacky 23 year old do at the drop of a hat? JOIN ME OF COURSE? "So wanna meet in Prague next week?"

And so it happened....that my uncle, aunt and my mom traveled on such short short noticed and joined me in Prague where I had a dear friend working...and we began an adventure I could never have imagined.

It's worth it. It's worth the saving and the packed lunches and working long hours and not buying the latest and hottest fashion items, it's worth it. So just do it.

Recently, though, I went on a cruise. With my friend to celebrate being 25. And it was absolutely everything we wanted it to be.

This was my first cruise experience and so I wasn't sure what to expect and I was blown away. The ports were top notch! The crew was unbelievably friendly and efficient and we had the time of our lives.

It was much needed from work and from life. I highly encourage a vacation in the mid twenties to forget you are in your mid twenties. To forget everything really and just enjoy life, turn off the phone, forget what Suzy had for breakfast this morning on her Instagram and how fit she is and healthy and just be and enjoy your life and refocus. Go somewhere that brings you back to life and connects you with your Creator and remember why you are blessed with the life you have and what you are supposed to do with it to serve a bigger purpose, to impact people, to make a difference for somewhere, somewhere, for something. 

That's my hope and prayer anyway. 

TREATS OR TREATS! New Halloween Dog Treat Gift Basket

Who wants tricks when you can always get treats?? 

This is the beginning of my favorite time of year! You simply can't beat boots, scarves, coffee mugs, football and of course the holidays! 

I am so ready to be rid of the warm weather and I am helping myself prepare by getting Halloween treats going early this year! (It seems early when it's still 90 degrees outside, but I guess it's not really early).

Last years treats were maybe my favorite to make ever. I don't know why? Halloween has never been a favorite holiday of mine, I do not celebrate it (unless you count eating all the candy I can get my hands on "celebrating" it).

So I didn't change any of the shapes or designs from last year. Why veer away from the classics?

I DID however add a new Halloween gift box. AND, I'm a little obsessed with it!

Many people reach out to me about making them a gift box and especially around the holidays, it makes it so much easier if someone knows that their treats will come ready to be given immediately.

This gift box is full of 12 handmade, hand decorate, homemade, made to order grain-free, pumpkin dog treats. 2 ghosts, 2 mummies, 2 candy corns, 2 jack o'lanterns, 2 cats and 2 bats.

They are perfectly placed inside a gift boxed and adorably wrapped with Halloween themed chevron ribbon. And don't forget about the note attached......

This is ready to be given, no extra work needed.

These treats are just fun!

I think I love them so much because they represent the beginning of change for the weather and the treat season. Other holiday's aren't as popular as Halloween and Christmas so I very much welcome to excitement of the season.

On top of them LOOKING like fall, they TASTE and SMELL like fall too! Other than opening a brand new fall candle, not much can beat the pumpkin and cinnamon'y' smell and taste of these treats.

My favorite compliment was when a little neighbor girl walked into my house while baking up a storm of pumpkin treats and exclaimed "It smells like Christmas in here!!!"

Come quickly cool weather! I'm ready for ya!