The Gift Detective » Isabelle

PupCakes 2 Go!

The Gift Detective — Fri, 21 May 2010 06:16:27 +0000

Yesterday, I received a sample of a Lucky Paws product, PupCakes 2 Go.

PupCakes 2 Go is a brand new gift that just launched on March 25, 2010 and is the first ever microwaveable treat for pets!

Purchase this Present! $9.95

It makes a great gift on many levels!

* It is super affordable! (under $10)
* It is organic and the ingredients are simple and healthy – nothing artificial and no preservatives (oat flour, rice flour, ground carob flour, wheat germ, flax seed, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder)
* Easy, so your recipient will actually use it! (or you will if it is a gift for your own dog)
* Unique – this is the first ever microwaveable dog treat so it is something unique to give to your friends or loved ones.

I made these for Isabelle last night and she absolutely loved her PupCake! (as have her friends so far…still have some more to share so will update when I get all the feedback) For the purposes of the taste test I did not frost these in any way (they include decorating tips on the box) because I wanted to see how Isabelle like the product by itself – her reaction? She could smell it cooking and came into the kitchen and when I took it out of the microwave I definitely had her attention. Heck, they smelled good to me! After letting them cool Alex and I gave it to her and she eagerly scarfed it down.

They came out perfectly my first try. Totally goof-proof. Add water and peanut butter to the dry mix that they provide, stir, pour into the greased, bone-shaped cupcake pan, that is also included, and microwave for two and a half minutes. They came out of the pan easily and they looked adorable! Honestly, it was so easy and fun to make her this special treat that I think I’m going to make these for her one day each weekend when Alex and I have a special breakfast, she can enjoy her own special treat!

Alex and I even tasted them and, although they smelled delicious to us, they were not sweet enough for our human taste buds (much to Isabelle’s delight! more for her!).

How do you personalize this gift?

* If this present is for your own pup, bake them! Bake them often. Make it a ritual. Make them with lots of love.
* If you are giving this gift to a friend or family member, make a batch and give it to them when you give them the kit (and give them a few refill mixes so they have them on hand as well). The PupCakes look impressive, even undecorated, because the perfect little bone shaped cakes are just adorable as-is, and if you arrange them nicely on a cute plate or in a dog bowl it will be a big hit for any dog owner and their dog. Another way to personalize this, is to include the PupCakes 2 Go kit in a gift basket – arranging this in a dog bowl with a ball or toy that the dog will love will look great and be useful and fun.

Thank you to Melinda for letting us try PupCakes 2 Go! This is a great gift!!! Photo courtesy of Lucky Paws.

Do you have a dog? Have you ever made them treats? Would you take the time to make them something like this? Could you see yourself bringing a gift like this to the next doggy birthday party or as a gift for the host of the next doggy play group, etc.? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Happy gifting!

Members Monday: Gifts? Yep!

The Gift Detective — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:01:44 +0000

Recent things that were gifts to me, even though the givers might not have realized that they were giving them…

This is a Please Login or Register to read the rest of this content. It is free and easy to become a member!

Toy Tuesday: Do you Mind?

The Gift Detective — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:01:54 +0000

No, I’m not being flip with that title…Do You Mind? is the name of a game for people and their dogs!

Photo courtesy of Darf, Inc. - Avalilable for $24.95 - Click to Purchase

Do You Mind? would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves to do things with their dog.

And this is why – here are some details along with my thoughts…

Portability – The game comes in a plastic container, about 6.5″ high and 3.5″ wide. The top of the container screws on (ensuring all your pieces stay inside if you toss this in your backpack or car!) and doubles as the handle. I think the portability really increases your recipient’s chances of being able to make the most out of this game, because it would be so easy to bring this to the dog park or a friend’s house to have some fun.

Fun! – The tasks range from super easy (get your dog to sit) to moderately difficult (get your dog to fetch something and drop it through your arms formed into a hoop). The game isn’t designed to stump you with impossible tasks, rather, it really seems to be designed for people to have fun and help both owner and dog grow – both the relationship and training will improve by playing this game.

Ease of Use/Time Efficient – Roll a die, pick a card and try to get your dog to perform the task on the card. How easy is that? If you have one minute you can play this game (the time you are allotted to try to get your dog to do the trick). Guess what? You are going to want to play it for longer! Easy to set- up, no complicated rules…just open it and play! This ease of use will allow you to easily get people involved and playing this game.

Variety – Not only are there 60 different activity cards to give you and your dog variety, there are also 5 different ways to play this game – Solitaire, Quick Play, Competition, First Dog and Not My Dog.

Good for one or more people and one or more dogs! This versatility reminds me of the game SET, only this one is for people and dogs. Really versatile with how many people and dogs can play – the score pad has 4 columns for names but this game could easily accommodate more than 4 people/dogs. Great game for a dog birthday party or any party!

This is a game that I will play with Isabelle often. At the park to help her train with distractions, with my boyfriend to have a little fun competition, at the dog park to meet people, their dogs and have fun, inside on a rainy day…I see so many opportunities to enjoy this game. I love that I have to be creative to try to get her to complete an activity she’s never encountered, while at the same time she has to think and focus – I think this kind of mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.

Great gift for a friend! With the number of dog birthday parties, play dates and dog parks on the rise – this gift will make you stand out from everyone else and will provide lasting fun for both recipient and dog.

If you have a dog, this would make a great gift for them from you! Sure, dogs love treats and toys, but this toy IS a treat because dogs love interaction and attention and this gift will give them both.

What kinds of games or activities do you love to play with your pet? Could you see yourself playing this game with a group of people or by yourself? Let me know by leaving me a comment!

Happy gifting!

Sleuthing Sunday: Last Minute Birthday Gift

The Gift Detective — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 08:01:42 +0000

The following is a true story…

It was late. Really late. After trekking through the new fallen snow and working a very long day, I was ready to relax. Somehow, I managed to work through dinner so I decided to oblige my snarling stomach and padded into the kitchen to pour a bowl of cereal, Isabelle at my heels checking to see if I put a tasty treat in her bowl.

I sat down on the couch and tucked my feet under me. Time to get comfy for a little Hulu watching. Ah, a new episode of Lie to Me. Perfect! I waited for the buffer to fill while I poured some milk on my “dinner”.

Because it was the holiday season with mere days to go until Christmas and Kwanzaa, I checked my e-mail one last time before settling back to enjoy my show. Phew! No new messages.

I pressed play and sat back with my cereal bowl to enjoy the show. Before the credits even began to roll, I heard the chime. A tad reluctantly, I paused the show. It had been a long day after all, but I love what I do so I decided to answer. A request for a present that needs to arrive by Wednesday…and it’s Sunday. Well, technically it’s already Monday. The good news, it’s an Amazon Prime customer – that will save us a bit of headache.

So, on to the detecting phase. I start off with some questions. Who is the gift for? What is the occasion? I learn that the recipient is a longtime friend and employee and it is her birthday. Ouch. A birthday a couple of days before Christmas? This is an important gift! It is hard for anybody to feel forgotten at their birthday, let alone for someone who has undoubtedly received a few too many “combo gifts” – no wonder my client was worried about nearly forgetting her birthday!

I began getting into more detailed questions and I started taking mental notes as I come across each clue – she seems to have a fun side, loves to entertain in her new home, though he just got her a housewarming gift specifically geared toward entertaining already. I immediately cross that off my list. No need to be repetitive!

“What colors did you see in her home?” I ask. “Did she paint the rooms herself or were they already those colors when she purchased the house?” Okay, now I have evidence of some of her favorite colors. Off to a good start.

Through a series of brief but pointed questions, I learn that she loves photography and she lights candles every evening. Oh, and she has a cat she adores that is pretty high ~~strung~~, er, energy.

Knowing that I have to perform quickly I promise to get back to him within 20 minutes. Ten minutes later, I e-mail him a list of urls with a brief note letting him know I will call him to discuss the details.

I go over my suggestions with him, one-by-one. I warm up with the subject of candles. Clearly she likes them so I explain it is safe gift…but maybe a little too safe. He definitely likes a few of the options that I sent, and we even talk about the newest craze, candle warmers, but it doesn’t feel like the right gift to either of us, so I move on.

She has a creative side and a new home that she has already been stenciling so I included a book I’ve seen mentioned a number of times. “Nope, I think she done with decorating!” is his emphatic reply.

Now I move on to one of the two ideas that I think are the winners – she loves photography, but he didn’t notice that she had a way to print her own photos, besides a regular printer. She loves to take pictures of her nephew and at social events, of her friends when they visit her…not a serious photographer but one who enjoys making memories. “How about this photo printer?” I can hear the delight in his voice when he says he loves the idea and I know we’ve found the perfect gift. This is the part I love! Solving the mystery.

Just to be thorough, I mention a few other ideas that I had, a neat camera that is pretty beloved to many (which was my runner-up bet) and some fun 3D photography items but he has already made up his mind – the photo printer it was! I suspected as much and I smiled to myself. Now time to add a little extra something to her package – I suggested a gift for her cat as well, mentioning that I included a few suggestions in my e-mail, the last being the best bet, in my opinion. (hopefully the cat agrees!)

He’s a frequent Amazon shopper so he needs little help with the check-out process, but I stay on the line with him anyway. I make sure he’s sending it to her new home instead of her previous address and remind him to check the option for adding gift wrap and a personal note. Since he contacted me about thirty minutes ago, he’s gone from stressed out to confident that, with a little guidance, he has picked out the perfect present. Instead of feeling frazzled he is now excited to be giving her something that he is sure she is going to love. Now that he is relaxed, he has no problem writing her a lovely note, explaining why he thought she would love the photo printer, writing a brief story about how he loves one of the photographs she’s sent him. As he read me the note, I was really touched by why he chose the photo printer because, although I followed the evidence to be able to make some suggestions, he was the witness that told me what clues I (we) were looking for and came to me with the desire to give, not just a present but of himself.

Nearly done he adds the cat toy to his cart as well and balks when I remind him to add the gift wrap for that item as well. He insists that the cat doesn’t need the present wrapped so why spend the $4 to wrap a $6 present? Because it is a present, and she will be opening it, never mind it is a present for the cat. He is adding the cat toy because she loves her cat, and so they present for her cat will still be a present to her. The wrapping will make her feel remembered instead of feeling like her birthday is an afterthought.

I ended the call satisfied that she had gotten a nice gift. Because he was stressed out to begin with, he might have accidentally picked a token “I didn’t quite forget your birthday” gift. Instead, he was sending her a thoughtful, “I thought about what you liked and wanted to show you that I appreciate you, your friendship and all of your hard work!” gift.

After I hung up the phone, I made a note on my calendar so that I could offer my services next year and, at the very least remind him of the upcoming date. I wrote up some notes for my files and since I already had my creative juices flowing decided to save a few ideas that, if we had more time to work with, may be good options for other occasions.

It was too late to go back to my show so I wrote up my notes instead and, satisfied that I had helped find the perfect present, I hit ‘save’ and closed my computer.

Case closed!

Here are the actual suggestions I sent my client:

OIL WARMER WITH 6 TEALIGHTS AND 6 ASSORTED OILS VOT-008

Bath & Body Works White Barn Everything Apple Home Fragrance Gift Set including Perfect Autumn Apple, Alluring Apple, Applemint, and True Temptations Warm Apple Pie Scents, PLUS an Oil Warmer!

Biedermann & Sons Glass Mosaic Vase-Shaped Candleholder and Oil Warmer, Mirrored

Stencil 101: Make Your Mark with 25 Reusable Stencils and Step-by-Step Instructions

The winner! Canon Selphy CP780 Silver Compact Photo Printer Under $75

Lomography Diana Mini- 35mm Camera

Mission 3D

KONG Squirrel Catnip Toy, Cat Toy, Brown

FroliCat BOLT Automatic Laser Toy for Cats

Sm. Talking Babble

KONG Daddy Pompom Legs Catnip Toy, Cat Toy, Brown/Black

KONG Kickeroo Pattern #3 Catnip Cat Toy, Tiger

And the second winner! Play-N-Squeak Ball of the Wild

Do you have an upcoming holiday or occasion you need some help with? If you fill out a Sleuthing Sunday request form you might get free help from me!

Happy gifting!

TigerBelle or ‘How to Make Your Dog Look Like a Tiger in 10 Easy Steps’

The Gift Detective — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:11:35 +0000

This isn’t quite gift related, but it is holiday related and I have LOTS of folks asking me every day how I got Isabelle, my dog, to look like a tiger.

TigerBelle

Here’s the deal – Isabelle was a tiger for Halloween. Now, I know that there are some people who may think it is cruel and unusual to dress up a dog in any way but seriously, if you knew Isabelle you would know that she loves attention. In fact, only one person thus far has had a negative reaction to her costume because everybody who sees her realizes what a happy dog she is – she’s pretty transparent that way!

Because I have gotten so many questions about how she got to resemble a tiger, I have promised people that I would post the “recipe” online. So, here it is! I’m not advocating that you do this to your dog. Only you know your dog well enough to know if they will enjoy getting “dressed up.” Also, I cannot vouch that this is safe for all dogs, I only know that it didn’t hurt my own dog, so use your own judgement.

This “recipe” is for an 18 pound Poodle mix. Adjust quantities as needed. I don’t think the “recipe” needs to be too exact to work well. You’ll need: Orange and Grape Kool-Aid packets (no sugar, just the unsweetened packets), conditioner, warm water, towels, rubber gloves, mixing bowl, two brushes – one about two inches wide, across and the other a finer, more precise brush, like an artist’s paint brush, that is about 1/4 inch in diameter and a pup who thrives on attention because this costume is definitely an attention getter! Also, be forewarned that your dog will smell heavily of Orange Kool-Aid for several hours. This didn’t seem to bother Isabelle in the least but it was a pretty distinct, although not really unpleasant, odor. The “painting” of the orange and the stripes each took about 10-15 minutes to do so that part is actually pretty easy and stress free!

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make a test batch of the recipe below and apply to a small area of your dogs hair (I’m not sure if this would work with breeds that have fur) to make sure that it doesn’t irritate their skin in any way! I tested her about a week prior so that I had time to make an alternate costume in case it didn’t seem safe.
Day 1: Mix Orange Kool-Aid with your dogs conditioner (I used Tropiclean conditioner for dogs and cats) and about a Tablespoon of warm water. I used about 3-4 packets of Kool-Aid and about a Cup of conditioner.
Wearing rubber gloves (so that you don’t end up with orange hands!), brush the mixture on dry hair in the areas you want to be orange colored. Why on dry hair? Isabelle doesn’t really like to be cold and usually bath time will make her shiver, even on a warm summer day, so to make sure I didn’t cause her any discomfort, I brushed it onto her hair in the areas I wanted to be orange colored before her actual bath with a brush similar to what they might use in a salon – about two inches wide with plastic bristles. Isabelle seemed to enjoy this because she was getting attention and it probably felt similar to getting pet, although she was standing in the bathtub! I looked at photos of tigers on the internet to get the look right. You’ll notice tigers don’t really have any orange around their eyes, parts of their muzzle and undersides, so avoid these areas. Try to work quickly so that this isn’t torture for your dog, merely some nice attention. It doesn’t have to be perfect to get the right look (Isabelle certainly wasn’t perfect!) – I think it is about the wow factor more than anything.
Get an old leash and collar and while the color is setting in go take a nice walk to keep them active and warm and to prevent your carpet, sofa, etc. from getting a tiger ‘do as well! I left this on for about 15-20 minutes. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it on for any longer than that because I don’t know if any ingredients in the Kool-Aid would cause skin irritation if left on unwashed skin.
Rinse really thoroughly. Really. You can’t rinse thoroughly enough! As I said above, who knows if prolonged contact of Kool-Aid on their skin would be advised, so rinse until the water runs absolutely clear. I warn you, this is the most tedious part and you will have one sore lower back from bending over your pup to rinse well. Be strong and keep rinsing! Your pup’s health and safety is worth it.
Grab some towels and dry your pup and give them extra love!
Day 2: Mix about six packets of Grape Kool-Aid with 2 packets of Orange Kool-Aid, about a Cup of conditoner and about a Tablespoon of warm water. This mixture should be looking pretty black right about now. If it doesn’t, add more Grape or Orange Kool-Aid until it does.
Take a regular artist’s paint brush (I got one from the grocery store in the section where they have crayons and the like) that is about 1/4 inch in diameter and brush on the stripes! Again, look at pics of real tigers to get a sense of what they should be like. Warning: If your dogs hair fluffs out (like Isabelle’s) when it gets a little bit longer, no matter how artistically you think you are making those stripes (i.e. thicker in some areas and thinner in others) it will fluff out when the hair is drying and you’ll have oddly exact looking stripes. Who cares though? This doesn’t have to be perfect and should be fun for you and your dog so don’t stress about any of it! Have fun, praise your dog and just work to get the overall effect, not perfection. I put Isabelle on a bathroom counter so that it would be easier for me to see and reach her sides and back and had her stand for this. You may want to wear rubber gloves for this part too, otherwise you may end up looking like you were just fingerprinted or something.
Again, throw on an old collar and leash, take your dog for a walk while the color is setting (I waited a bit longer, perhaps 30 minutes, for the stripes) and then follow step 5 and 6 – rinse until you think your back will break and dry your pooch. Surprisingly, it takes just as long to rinse a few stripes as it did to rinse a lot of orange. It will look like you are rinsing all your hard work down the drain – don’t despair! It really doesn’t come off that easily. It is 16 days after I originally colored her and she still looks like a tiger! Whatever is going down the drain just didn’t get absorbed into the hair shaft so keep rinsing!!!
Enjoy! I got a light chandelier chain to use as her leash with some caribiner clips to augment the “ferocious tiger” look and dressed up in a safari outfit to be the best supporting actress I could. She jumped through a small “hoop of fire” that was made from tubing I got at the hardware store wrapped with red garland. Guess what? The dog won’t stain your hands or furniture or anything else after you’ve rinsed for nine years but that garland? The hand I held the hoop in for a few hours while at a Halloween parade turned cherry red. Go figure.