Having both a cat and a dog means finding ways to make caring for them easier and faster. Amigo, my 8 month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, isn't a picky water drinker but he is active so he drinks more of it. Pearl on the other hand, my 7 month old kitten, enjoys playing with her water and making a huge mess every chance she gets. So naturally, this led me to investing into a water fountain for them both.

    I couldn't just get any water fountain though. I needed one that both Amigo and Pearl could use together so it had to be a decent size and a good weight. I also needed it to have a fountain spout and give off a cue when the water levels were low. An added bonus would be that it was cute and stylish which was really just for my own enjoyment. I didn't mind if there was sound that came from it as I really like the sound of running water. 

    My local Petsmart had many water fountains to browse from but they were all way overpriced! They had a cute Catit Pixi water fountain for $40 dollars but I knew I could find a better deal elsewhere. So I continued to search around other stores but found none I liked. Finally weeks later, I was walking through Marshalls and BAM! There was a Catit Pixi water fountain on sale for $19.99 and in the exact color I wanted too! Talk about manifesting huh?

    The Catit Pixi water fountain comes with cool features that beat any pet water fountain I've seen so far. It has two stream options for cats that are picky drinkers, an alert system that lets you know when the water is getting low, a filter that lasts 30 days, and of course the fact that it's shaped like a cat with a cute design on the front that lights up is top notch. I'm obsessed with it! 

   I also love how big it is too. Amigo drinks much more water compared to Pearl and the size is perfect for them both to drink from-even if at the same time. The height of the fountain also puts ease on their throats and prevents them from choking. While Pearl hasn't had any issues with drinking, Amigo often rushes when he drinks water and later ends up either burping or puking it all up altogether. Yuck.

    The filter only lasts 30 days but I can easily buy more so that I'm stocked up on it. I have read that water fountains can get pretty gross if they're not being regularly washed or if the filter isn't getting changed out as it should. Just so that I remember, and for my fur babies own safety, I've marked the calendar on my phone to remind me.  

The back of the box

Amigo taking his first sips

Pearl playing with the water...

    Overall, I can't believe the crazy deal I got at Marshalls for this amazing water fountain. If you're looking for a stylish water fountain that is also fairly quiet, you will want to buy the Catit Pixi fountain!

Until next time! - xoxo Sarah

    As I type this, it's currently storming outside and it has been raining for the past four days - four days! It's pretty nice when you can relax in the house and watch it all from the comfort of your own home but not so much if you're running errands. April showers are no joke, but, at least it means warmer weather is on it's way. Despite the cold fronts we often get here on the East Coast, I think Spring is here to stay.

    Now that the weather has started to improve, I have been taking Amigo on longer walks. At first, he was not happy about it and would often throw a typical Corgi fit! He would whine and pull in the opposite direction to the point where our walks took forever. But now, Dimitar and I both walk him consistently on the same path and he has slowly started to welcome it. We even managed to take some cute pictures of him on one of his good days!

Amigo is a big boy now!

    Also, can you believe how big Amigo has gotten though since I last wrote about him? He's only 7 months old now and he's almost 20lbs! Our Vet told us to feed him as much as he wanted until he was an adult and sure enough, Amigo has grown so much since then. I often forget how heavy he really is until he plops down on my lap; something he has always done since he was a puppy.

    I didn't write about it much but we also adopted a kitty. Funny enough, we had no intentions on getting a cat but Dimitar really wanted Amigo to have a cat companion. We applied to adopt one cat through a local Petco but the adoption process was so frustrating that we went to a shelter out of state where we were quickly approved for Pearl. She was very shy at first but after two weeks, she warmed up to us and her new "brother."

    We were told that Pearl was about 8 months old at the time of adopting, but she seems much smaller than that and undeveloped  (her teeth are tiny) so our guess is that she's about the same age as Amigo. It's worked out great though either way because both of them are learning from each other and it's the cutest thing ever!

Amigo & Pearl bird watching

    Apart from the animals getting used to one another and them literally becoming partners in crime, I have been staying busy with baking. I mentioned in a previous post that I wanted to start a home bakery and I underestimated just how intensive it was! Buying everything is the easy part but perfecting the recipes has taken up the most time. 

    Since I'm baking Keto baked goodies, they're a bit different than traditional desserts. For starters, the sugar I use (Monk Fruit sugar) is much sweeter than regular sugar so I have to have the perfect amount of it to make sure my desserts aren't crazy sweet. It's tough figuring out the measurements. Also, Monk Fruit sugar can sometimes leave a weird after taste in my desserts, something that effects each recipe.

    I have been enjoying my new hobby though and Dimitar has also been enjoying it too. He likes being the guinea pig to try everything I make; sometimes he enjoys them and sometimes he doesn't which is totally fine; Keto isn't for everyone after all. Since he usually doesn't eat Keto, I figured it would be a good idea to let him try everything to get his honest opinion. 

Keto Chocolate Cupcakes - I didn't like this batch!

Billy the money tree enjoying it's new pot

   Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

    Before getting Amigo, my life consisted mostly of having small animals like guinea pigs, birds, rabbits, etc. When I grew up and I started working with Animals, I began interacting more with dogs. I didn't understand dogs very well and since I was much more introverted, I never thought about getting one either. It took about 10 years later for me to finally muster up the courage to get a dog and having one in my life made me happier than I thought it would. 

    I mostly put off getting a dog because the timing was never right. I  was either living with someone else or our apartment didn't allow dogs in general. I was also worried that I wasn't responsible enough for a dog so I mostly gravitated towards small pets that I knew I could manage. After all, I knew having a dog was like having a child and my life wasn't prepared for that!

    When 2024 rolled around, Dimitar and I found ourselves talking more and more about how having a dog would lift our spirits. The previous years had been rough on us and we wanted a companion that could grow with us. We were also at the point where we were heavily considering having kids so getting a dog seemed perfect. Sure enough, about a week later we ended up getting a Corgi puppy and named him Amigo.

Amigo's favorite sleeping spot

    Now, I'm not going to lie; Dimitar and I had no idea if we could make having a dog work out after we brought him home. Our lives were already hectic and with us even considering moving to a different state next year...we were nervous. But, we knew we had to get out of our comfort zone because if not, we'd constantly make excuses on why we couldn't get a dog even though we wanted one. So to be proactive (and responsible dog owners), we developed a training plan for Amigo and with each day, our puppy started to feel like our new family member.

    Training Amigo was just like having a child though! We had to get up early to walk him and feed him. He needed a strict schedule of training and was rewarded with playtime. We also had to make sure he had naps so we'd put him in his crate to make sure he slept enough. Our day consisted of walking him at least 4x a day and while it may not seem like a lot - when you live on the fourth flour of your apartment with only stairs, your legs definitely start to feel it!

Amigo after playing

    As we began to learn more about Amigo and he was learning to trust us, we realized that he was teaching us just as much as we were teaching him. He nudged us to live more in the moment, be more selfless, and offered us new ways to have fun. Our regular routine of working and coming home became much more exciting because now we had a dog that loved to to be with us no matter where we went. 

    Amigo's innocent and playful nature quickly rubbed off on us and we welcomed it. Coming home from work and seeing him waiting for us made our day sparkle a bit more. When I wasn't feeling my best, getting out of bed and playing with him made the day seem worth while. If the weather was nice, his excitement to go outside gave me something to look forward to. I never understood the love a dog owner had for their own dogs until the day Amigo came into my life. 

    So having a dog (as an introvert) has really improved my life in many ways that I underestimated it would. While Amigo is still growing and learning and life still seems unpredictable, we know having Amigo part of our family now will only make us stronger. He's the friend we all needed and seeing him bring joy to others around him as well reassures us that we have many happy years ahead of us. 

Amigo & Pearl bird watching

Until next time! - Sarah xoxo

    There comes a time in your life where you want better than what you have; where quality is much more important than quantity. Our very own human nature is to create and thrive and while we can't fill in every crack that we find along the way, our drive to improve the quality of our life is perfectly normal. In fact, it's necessary.

    For example, when our home is messy, we get an urge to organize and tidy up. When our job is no longer fulfilling, we suddenly want one with better benefits or pay. If you discover you spend way too much time on social media than your own hobbies, then maybe you'd adjust your priorities. The quality of our life matters and when we get that push to do or be better, it's our inner selves trying to bring more happiness into our lives.

    As complex as we humans tend to be, this internal system of ours attempts to guide us in a better direction so that we are more in tune with ourselves. Nature always finds a way to restore the balance and we are no different. If our lives do not reflect what we truly want from ourselves, we will naturally get situations that will challenge this. When this happens, something either needs an upgrade or needs to be replaced. We either have to let go and move on or welcome new adventures into our lives. 

    For the longest time, I didn't understand the importance of having a life of quality. I simply lived every day filled with obligations and I always ignored the signs from the Universe. I was on autopilot and internally suffering just like many others around me. It was only when I turned to my hobbies again that I found myself able to see beyond the walls I had built for myself. It was astonishing how a small tweak in my routine changed my life forever.

    So, here are some ways you can improve the quality of your life right now and you may be pleasantly surprised by how easy it really is!

1. Develop A Hobby

    If you have an itch to try out something new, find ways to start now. Take that art class you found on Groupon, join that Facebook group, or buy the supplies you need from Amazon. Starting your hobby sooner than later can really enrich your daily life. 

2. Spend Time In Nature

    Do you spend too much time indoors and can hardly remember the last time you felt the sun on your skin? Go to your nearest park and explore the trails or bring some friends along to enjoy outdoor activities. Being in nature is a great way to move stagnant energy while getting some fresh air at the same time. 

3. Have Fun

    If you're all work and no play, you'll eventually get burnt out! Whether you like playing video games, going out to social events, or even engaging in your own hobbies - everyone should learn to embrace their own inner child.

4. Quality Time With Loved Ones

    If you know you have been absent from those you love, reach out to them and plan something that everyone can get involved with. Check up on those you haven't heard from in awhile or invite friends over to lighten up your home. The best memories are the ones we can share with others!

5. Mend Your Finances

    It can be absolutely hard to enjoy life when you have a dark cloud of debt hanging over you. Rather then letting it suck the life out of you, find small ways to tackle your finances. Or, if you want to start increasing your earnings, look for ways to bring in passive income or learn to invest. Money dictates a lot in todays modern world so finding creative ways to improve your finances will give you more freedom.

6. Follow Your Passions

    At the end of the day, if you aren't doing what you really want to do, you aren't going to be happy. You will either find external objects to make you happy, or live with a void in you that you'll try to cope with. If you aren't satisfied with your career, change it in a practical way. If you want to start a business, give it a shot. If you start living a life driven by your passions, the quality of your life will increase dramatically!

7. Meet New People

    If your circle of friends is small or a bit...outdated, why not meet new people? The power of having friends that compliment us is so rewarding. If you're an introvert like I am where making friends can be a bit challenging, make connections through social Apps and see what interesting souls you meet.

8. Work/Life Balance

    Similar to having more fun, establishing work/life balance is paramount for everyone. Work can often find it's way into our homes, disrupting the time we spend either with our loved ones or the time we spend on ourselves. Whether you work from home or not, find creative ways to keep your work separate from your personal life. If this means being more upfront with your employer or even switching to a new job, it's worth considering if you lack work/life balance. 

9. Declutter

    Personally, I find that having junk around me is a representation of my mind. A clean home is a home with better energy and it's much more inviting to those around us and our own psyche. Spend time cleaning your home (or wherever needs cleaning) and getting rid of what no longer serves it's purpose. By freeing your environment of junk, you'll feel so much lighter. When you think of quality, it involves higher standards; bring those standards back into your life by keeping your environment clean and organized.  

10. Travel More 

    I'm guilty of this but I do not travel as much as I want to. If you're like me and you need a vacation, start planning or saving up for one. It's been statistically proven that even a short vacation is enough to improve our level of dopamine and that says a lot about traveling. Whether you travel to a new city or out of the country, traveling is a great way to change up your daily routine. 

11. Treat Yourself 

    Restricting your ability to treat yourself can easily become overbearing. You can treat yourself without overdoing it by simply giving yourself small rewards that are of high value; monthly get-a-ways, eating out every now and then, or even having a savings account that is specifically dedicated to splurging. Try not to be so caught up in the destination and learn to enjoy the journey as well. 

12. Take Charge Of Your Health

    One of my goals this year is to lose weight in a healthy manner; meaning no strict diets. For many, tackling their health goals can be exhausting and intimidating but in the long run, it's so worth it. If you're ready to turn your health around, consult with your doctor or start changing your shopping habits. Maybe even consider joining a gym with a friend too if you want to exercise more. You can't enjoy your life to the fullest if you don't look and feel your best!

13. Limit Social Media 

    We all know it; social media is fake! Nothing is what it seems on most social media platforms and sadly, many of us fall victim to admiring false idols. The best thing many of us can do is limit how much time we spend on social media so that we can start prioritizing our life instead of idolizing others. 

14. Relocate

    As a city lover, you wouldn't find me moving to the country side anytime soon. I thrive from activity and interacting with my surroundings which is why I have plans to move to Florida. I've always lived in Virginia but Florida resonates with my energy. Sometimes the hard truth is that where we live may not be right for us and it may be worth relocating.

    And that's it! This small list should get you started towards a path of improving the quality of your life. Such changes will always require you to be honest with yourself, but it will only benefit you in the end. So if there is a part of you that is trying to reach out from within, have courage to see what it's trying to say because it may just change your life forever.

Until next time! - Sarah xoxo