Eureka AirSpeed EXACT Pet Vacuum Review #EurekaPower

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eureka pet cleaning

As every pet parent out there already knows, cleaning can be a real challenge! Having the right tools can make all the difference, which is why we were super excited when Eureka contacted us with an invitation to join the pre-release testing team and try out their brand new AirSpeed EXACT Pet vacuum.

You wouldn’t guess it by looking at her, but Daisy sure does SHED! And she spends quite a bit of time on our furniture, so you can imagine how eager Woof Woof Papa and I were to get started putting Eureka’s suction power to the test!

Designed to remove pet hair in your home, the AirSpeed Exact comes with a PET Power Paw which removes pet hair from carpet and upholstery. The on-board crevice tool and PET dusting brush with plastic teeth grab pet hair from hard to reach areas. Super easy to use, the vacuum’s suction control valve lets you direct all of the power to the floors or to the tools, so you can deep clean to stairs, furniture and crevices. Just turn the dial to TOOLS and start cleaning furniture with the PET Power Paw attachment!

eureka pet vacuum

The only thing better than getting a super powerful new pet vacuum, was getting Woof Woof Papa to help out with the cleaning! LOL! Just kidding…he’s great about helping out anyway, but it was easier for me to take photos while he did the vacuuming. Check out our Cleaning Challenge video to see him put the AirSpeed EXACT Pet to the test on our carpet and fur-covered sofa:

Based on independent testing, Eureka AirSpeed EXACT Pet cleans carpets better than the Dyson DC40. This model includes a washable dust cup filter that reduces maintenance costs because it is washable and reusable, requiring less frequent replacement. The AirSpeed EXACT Pet also features an 8 foot stretch hose and long, 27 foot cord to reach further without unplugging. Great for saving time AND hassles. The high efficiency allergen filter helps to eliminate 99% of dust and allergens…especially important for homes with pets and allergies! Experience Eureka Power with the Eureka AirSpeed EXACT Pet, available nationwide.

One lucky reader is going to WIN a Eureka Airspeed EXACT Pet Vacuum for their own home & family!

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Open to US residents age 18+, and ends 11:59pm ET on March 30, 2014. Chose as many or as few of the optional entry methods as you wish. Good Luck everybody!!!

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No More Boring Meals Thanks to Aikiou Interactive Dog Feeder

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aikiou box

Daisy and I recently had the chance to test out the award-winning Aikiou (pronounced “IQ”) Interactive Dog Feeder from PetPPI. Not only is it super fun and challenging, but it’s also a great way to slow down your dog if they tend to eat to quickly or gulp their food. This can be a real concern for certain breeds and types of dogs, who are more prone to bloat, or who are following strict portion control for weight loss.

For Daisy, we like that it challenges her problem-solving skills and reduces her anxiety over being left alone because she’s having so much fun trying to get the kibble out that she hardly even notices when we leave! Plus, I always try to find new ways for her to “work” for her food. She gets fussy about not eating sometimes, and changing up the “delivery system” keeps her interested in her food without me having to encourage her to eat.

aikiou feeder

Daisy received the Dog Interactive Feeder, designed for medium and large dogs. Aikiou also makes a Dog Junior Slow Feeder for smaller dogs, and the Stimulo Interactive Cat Feeder. They come in a variety of cool colors and although each style is different, they all work basically the same way: hide food or treats in the various compartments and your cat or dog goes to work figuring out how to get it out. This unit holds up to 3.5 cups of food and is dishwasher safe. Whether you’re looking for new interactive toy to keep things interesting, or need help slowing down your pet’s eating habits, these feeders are a sure way to add some FUN to your fur kid’s mealtime!

AEtK97 on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs

Making Dairy-Free Frozen Treats for Pets & People with Yonanas

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DIY Dairy-Free Frozen Dog Treats

If you follow us on Instagram, you probably already got a peek at how excited Daisy and I were when our Yonanas Dessert Maker arrived recently! We’ve been putting it to good use, making frozen desserts for Woof Woof Papa and ourselves.

If you haven’t already heard about it, Yonanas is a super easy to use machine that makes Dairy-Free frozen treats and desserts using only frozen bananas and other frozen fruits. You can add chocolate, cookies, nuts and other stuff if you want to get creative, but if you want to share with your dog just stick to fruit you know they can eat and do NOT add all the other stuff. Save that for the humans! Here’s a quick demo video on how it works, since I couldn’t use it and film my own at the same time LOL:

As you can see, it’s really easy. And I also like that cleanup is a breeze. When I’m done I take it apart (also super easy) and either rinse it in the sink or put the parts in the top shelf of the dishwasher. It’s very similar in design to a juicer, but way easier to clean and faster to take apart and put back together, in my experience!

easy yonanas cleanup

To make sure we’re always stocked up on frozen bananas, I buy large bunches so there will always be enough to eat AND some to freeze when they get spotted. And then when the freezer starts to get full, I like to make a big batch of Yonanas all at once. Usually Woof Woof Papa and I enjoy some while we watch a movie, and Daisy also gets a little cup for herself…but not too much at once! Most dogs do fine with small amounts of fruit but take it easy. We usually stick with just banana, or banana with a little frozen mango since that’s our favorite, but you can get creative depending on what you and your pup like! If you have human kids, they will love helping out and creating new flavor combinations, too!

To make sure I always have some frozen treats on hand, I take about half of whatever I make and put it into freezer molds so that Daisy can enjoy a tiny treat from time to time without over-indulging or having to wait til we have enough bananas to make a new batch. I like using these paw shaped molds but you can use ice cube trays or anything else you like!

Hurry up and freeze already!

Since I cannot resist that FACE, I usually let her lick the bowl too. I’m sure she likes to think of it as “helping” clean up!

lick the bowl

Besides serving Yonanas frozen desserts in a bowl or freezer mold, you can also make popsicles, creamy cold cantaloupe “soup” and loads of other healthy, non-dairy treats and dishes.

Do you and your dog love frozen bananas and other frozen treats? Want a deal on a Yonanas Machine? Check out the options on sale at Amazon.com!

frozen paw

Paw Shaped Silicone Molds for food and treats

Get Healthy, Stay Healthy with CVS MinuteClinic #MC

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Since I know we are all trying to make healthy changes and keep our families well, I’m participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for CVS/pharmacy MinuteClinic to help spread the word about their programs and services to help you get healthy and stay healthy. I received promotional items as a thank you for participating.

cvs weight loss

How are YOU doing with your New Year’s resolution so far? This year, the hubby and I resolved to continue our healthy eating, keep up the exercise and look for some new hobbies and activities to join. It’s going pretty well so far, but I remember how hard it was back a few years ago when we both started to think about making serious changes to our lifestyle. We were lucky that we had each other, as well as the support of great doctors to encourage us and provide us the tools we needed to both get serious about weight loss AND to quit smoking. It’s been over 4 years now since we quit smoking (after many previous attempts) and I still remember how tough it was even with professional help! And the battle with weight and healthy eating is an ongoing challenge for us and many other people we know.

That’s why, when I heard about the new Weight Loss Program and Quit Smoking Program offered at CVS MinuteClinic, I jumped at the chance to help spread the word!

The Weight Loss Program at MinuteClinic is personalized, provides ongoing coaching and medical supervision. The program is easy to follow, focuses on healthy eating and is clinically proven to promote weight loss. It also has the added benefit of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. With your initial assessment, you’ll receive membership to DASH for Health™, a great online resource to help you stay on course between visits to MinuteClinic. The Weight Loss Program is covered by most insurance plans, but contact your insurance company prior to visiting MinuteClinic to verify coverage as well as any copays, co-insurance or deductibles.

Want help quitting smoking? Studies show that smokers assisted by a health care provider have a greater chance of kicking the habit. MinuteClinic created this program that’s covered by most insurance plans to help those over 18(and you don’t even need to make an appointment). The program includes one-on-one consultation with a practitioner, including a nicotine dependence assessment. You’ll get an individualized smoking cessation plan and education based on your needs and goals, ongoing coaching and support in your efforts to quit smoking, plus Nicotine-replacement recommendations or prescriptions, based on what’s appropriate for your needs and situation.

stay healthy with CVS screenings

Want other help keeping yourself and your family healthy? In addition to weight loss and smoking cessation, MinuteClinic has a series of wellness services designed to help you identify lifestyle changes needed to improve your current and future health, including screenings and monitoring for diabetes, blood pressure and high cholesterol.

MinuteClinic is also there to help you with year-round common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. Minor wounds, abrasions, skin conditions and joint sprains are treated, along with common vaccinations and walk-in camp, sports and school physicals are available.

Whatever you need to get healthy and stay healthy, MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics, located inside more than 800 CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide, are there to help you stay on track with inspiration and support along the way! They are open 7 days a week with evening hours and you don’t need to make an appointment. Go HERE to learn more & find your nearest CVS MinuteClinic location.

Dogs Will Be Dogs — STAINMASTER PetProtect Helps #UnShameYourPet

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Dirty Daisy rolls in mud

Let’s face it pet parents, dogs will be dogs. They like to roll in stuff, sometimes they have accidents, and they are sloppy eaters. But we LOVE them anyway! How could you not…just look at that face! That’s why we’re participating in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for STAINMASTER. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating and helping to un-shame pets everywhere!

Whether you’ve got a new puppy, an older dog, or just a really active adult dog, if you’re like us, it’s always a challenge to keep your home looking and smelling its best. You can’t really blame the fur kids for tracking in dirt or eating so quickly that they throw up their food on the carpet. Daisy is guilty of BOTH of those but we don’t get into the whole “dog shaming” thing over it.

blame the carpet not the dog

Daisy Says “Blame The Carpet, Not The Dog!”

Instead of blaming or shaming the dog for how bad our carpet looks, we’re checking into what WE can do about it and were recently introduced to the new STAINMASTER PetProtect carpet system.  Designed to be exceptionally durable and easy to clean, this new carpet system helps reduce pet odor with a special STAINMASTER  carpet cushion that helps keep spills and accidents from soaking into the cushion and subfloor, reducing odors when cleaned.

It’s also specially designed to more easily release pet hair while vacuuming, cutting vacuuming time. And what busy pet parent doesn’t need THAT?!?

I love that STAINMASTER PetProtect features professional-grade material and comes in a variety of styles and thicknesses. In addition to finding it at STAINMASTER Flooring Centers, it’s also now available at select Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores nationwide so you can check it out at a location near you and find just the style to fit your home and family!

To learn more about PetProtect Carpet, visit the STAINMASTER website. And also be sure to check out their Facebook page for more cute and funny #UnShameYourPet photos! Connect with them on Twitter by following the handle @STAINMASTER.

Do you have a funny pet and carpet story or photo? What pet parent doesn’t! Be sure to leave a comment below and share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #UnShameYourPet when you do!