New Year Resolutions 🐶 for Your😻Pet

New Year’s Resolutions 

to Make for Your Pet

With January fast approaching, our thoughts have turned to New Year’s resolutions for ourselves – and our pets. If you don’t have any healthy goals for your pet yet, you may want to read the article below by Dr. Justine Lee, a regular contributor to petMD’s blog, The Daily Vet. It’s filled with simple suggestions that could make a big difference in your pet’s health in the coming year. Dr. Lee writes…

Pets love us unconditionally and seem to ignore all our faults, stress-attacks, and bad moods. And they make us better people. So, it’s our responsibility as pet owners to afford our dogs and cats (AKA, family members) the emotional, financial and physical attention that they need — to make sure we’re providing an environment that is healthy, safe, and mentally stimulating to them. As a small token of appreciation to our loyal four-legged friends, here are five simple, veterinary-recommended pet resolutions we should all stick to in 2013.

1. Cut out 30% of the food
Loving your pet doesn’t mean feeding it more. In fact, your actions may reflect otherwise. I generally consider obese pets to be poorly cared for and studies have proven it — the skinnier your dog, the longer he lives. On average, you can extend your dog’s life by almost two years1 by just cutting out the calories. The same is likely true for humans (and cats!) too. Being that an estimated 40-70 percent of pets in the U.S. are overweight or obese, I can recommend to almost all of you to cut back on 30 percent of the pet food right now.

First, use a measuring cup when scooping out your pet’s dinner, so you know just how many calories you’re serving, and when in doubt, cut back on the snacks and table scraps. Find low-fat, high-fiber snacks to make your pet feel more full. Canned pumpkin, green beans, carrots, and low-salt, low-butter popcorn are great places to start. Finally, consider switching to a senior pet food, even if your pet hasn’t technically fallen into that age category yet. It’ll contain more fiber and bulk. So yes, he’ll poop more, but he’ll shed more weight too!

2. Take an extra walk around the block

 After a long stressful day, the last thing you may want to do is take your dog on a time-sucking walk or run, but it’s important for you and your pet’s health. Take the extra ten minutes out of your day to take another loop around the block. For you cat owners, use a timer and laser pointer and dedicate a whopping five minutes of exercise time once a week with your cat. It doesn’t sound like much time, but it’ll help your cat to slowly shed the pounds. When you exercise with your pet, you release natural endorphins while burning calories, and it’s a great way for both of you to feel better.

3. Start a pet savings account
 If you can’t afford — or haven’t had time to research — pet insurance, do the next best thing: Start a savings account for your pet, and don’t dip into it unless it’s for a pet emergency. Simply saving a dollar a day will help pay for those middle-of-the-night emergencies — which are costly — and as your pet ages, the more you need to potentially save. For each year after your pet's tenth birthday, set aside (and save) that amount each week toward his or her health care needs (e.g., $11/week for an eleven-year-old dog, and so on).

4. Skip the vaccines this year
 Never thought you’d hear a vet say this, right? As your pet ages, he or she needs less vaccines — typically only those that are required by law. Instead, save the money for blood work, which evaluates your pet’s kidney, liver and thyroid function, and white and red blood cells. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can detect metabolic problems (like kidney failure or diabetes), and the sooner you can treat them. Talk to your vet about making this switch.

5. Splurge on a good toy
 If you can’t afford doggy day care or a dog walker, splurge on a good toy for your pet instead. Environmental enrichment (i.e., prevention from getting bored at home) is important for all species. For dogs, a treat-stuffed toy may provide hours of entertainment (just make sure to cut back on the dog food since you’re providing more calories this way!), while for cats, a sisal scratching post, feather on a string, or a laser pointer (human required) is a must. I also love cat window rests, so your cat can enjoy the great outdoors from the safety of inside.Sound simple? Then let’s stick to these five resolutions … not just for our sake, but for our pets.

What Resolutions did You make for Your Pet this Year?

If you are a Dog owner, 

consider adding the following Resolutions to your List this Year.

 1. Spend more time training your dog. Old dogs can learn new tricks. The trick is to spend a sufficient enough time working together and training your dog. Schedule some time, about ten minutes a day, to train and work with your dog to teach him commands and tricks. Your bond will be stronger and your dog will be better behaved.

2. Reevaluate dog food choices. Read the label. Make sure the first ingredient is real meat and there are some other real ingredients on the list.

3. Spend more time playing with your dog. Get down on the floor and play with your pet. You might be surprised how much stronger your bond will be by simply playing with your dog for five solid minutes every now and then.

4. Take more responsibility for your dog. It is not usually the dog’s fault if he has an accident in the house. A housebroken dog usually tries to get your attention and hold it as long as possible. However, he can only hold it so long. Make sure to pay attention to these signs to minimize accidents.

5. Learn from your dog. Dogs are always happy to see you, no matter what you said or did before you left the house this morning. Learn to forget and move on, like your dog.  Dogs live by instinct. Learn to trust your gut more.

A dog can communicate withot speaking our language.
Learn how express yourself better through body language and by your actions rather than relying on words so much.

6. Get organized. This year, take some time to organize all of your pet’s information. Locate all of her medical records, tags, and any other information that is important. Schedule vet appointments, renew your dog’s license, and make sure all immunizations are up to date.

7. Take longer walks. By getting outside and taking longer walks with your dog, you will not only be improving your dog’s health, but your own as well. Not to mention, you may make some new friends, meet new neighbors, and bond with your companion more.

 

   

New Year 🎨 Art

J. Allen St. John (1875-1957)
Artist and illustrator
Cover to Mystic Magazine. 1953

James Allen St. John (October 1, 1872 in Chicago – May 23, 1957 in Chicago) was an American author, artist and illustrator. He is especially remembered for his illustrations for the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs, although he illustrated works of many types. He taught at the Chicago Art Institute and with the American Academy of Art. He is considered by many to be 'The Godfather of Modern Fantasy Art'. His most famous disciples were Roy Krenkel and Frank Frazetta, the latter of whom has also been styled as the grandmaster of the Genre.
St. John's artistic career began in 1898. He studied at the Art Students League of New York which included William Merritt Chase, F.V. Du Mond, George de Forest Brush, H. Siddons Mowbray, Carol Beckwith and Kenyan Cox. This was followed by his first commercial relationship with the New York Herald. During this period he spent time in Paris from 1906 to 1908 at the Académie Julian, then moved to Chicago around 1912 and would eventually live at Tree Studios art colony until his death. While in Chicago he became close friends with artist Louis Grell. Here he began his work with the publisher A.C. McClurg & Co., although he had already produced his best-known work for this publisher back in 1905, The Face in the Pool, which he had both written and illustrated.

What To Eat 🍾When You're Hungover 🍷

🍷  Hangover Food Recipes 🍾

That Will Save Your Day

What To Eat When You're Hungover

We're officially in the thick of celebration season. Holiday parties, drinks with friends to catch up, Yankee swaps, New Year's Eve cocktail parties -- we're all going to need a little... detoxification soon. While we recommend that you eat lots and lots of leafy greens, drink plenty of water, etc., we know that in the moment, you're going to need some hangover food.

We asked our friends and colleagues what they need to jolt themselves out of a post-celebration funk. 
What did we find? 
Lots of coffee, more egg dishes than we realized and plenty of hot chiles . Be advised: most of this food is not healthy . But healthfulness is usually not what we're considering when we're dragging ourselves around with one eye open.

Water

Increasing Water Intake

Drinking plenty of water or other hydrating fluids is a simple way to treat hangovers. While it won't offer a complete hangover cure, it definitely helps. "Alcohol thins the blood, which is 70 percent water, so it can affect the fluid balance," says Pete McCall, M.S., an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise. "Drinking water helps restore necessary fluids and can help the bloodstream and circulatory system carry nutrients and oxygen to the tissue and remove the wastes from a night of excessive consumption."
See how much of this stuff you can get into your face. Really test the limits.

Guzzling Sports Drinks

Here again, the extra electrolytes -- really just salts and sugars -- found in sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade might give them an edge over plain old water to treat a hangover. "Sports drinks will elevate blood glucose and can elevate sodium levels, which helps muscle cells uptake and use water, leading to quicker rehydration," says McCall.

Coffee

You don't need a recipe for this. It's coffee. Get it Hot, cold, fast, slow, weak, strong - doesn't matter.

Sipping A Cup Of Joe

The caffeine found in a classic cup of coffee can give you a short-term boost, but its dehydrating effects could limits its effectiveness as a hangover cure, says Weiss."Caffeine, which could wake you up, can also dehydrate you, potentially making the situation worse," he says. Though having coffee has only temporary and limited effects, it remains a popular way to initially ease a hangover.

Eating Some Asparagus

The Journal of Food Science has revealed that this spring vegetable might be the cure for your post-partying pain. A study from the Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University in South Korea tested the effect that eating asparagus has on hangovers. The results showed that amino acids and minerals found in the vegetable can protect liver cells from toxins. This process can help prevent nausea, fatigue and headaches

Nibbling Toast With Honey

This is a traditional method used to treat hangovers, but evidence suggests that any high-carb, high-sugar snack might give you only a temporary boost. "Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect the metabolism of glucose, so having a snack like this that is high in carbs and sugars (the fructose in the honey) can help elevate blood sugar and provide some immediate energy," says McCall.

 Loading Up On Vitamins And Minerals

Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., medical director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association, says that vitamin C and magnesium can help the body break down alcohol and eliminate it from the body, making these two supplements a viable hangover remedy. “One of the most absorbable forms of nutritional magnesium is magnesium citrate powder, which can be taken with hot or cold water,” says Dean.

Pushing Through A Workout

Of all the possible and popular hangover cures, experts say that this one works the best, improving circulation and pumping up your mood-boosting hormones. The only hurdle is talking yourself into doing it. If you can, McCall has this advice: "Exercising during a hangover should be limited to low-to-moderate intensity exercise, since the hangover will negatively impact cognitive ability, motor control and coordination."

🍷

But don't try sports if you are still drunk!!

Getting Busy

In The Bedroom (??)

Here again, a little morning romp may make you feel much better to ease a hangover -- if you can psych yourself (and your partner) up for it. "Sex with a hangover may be tough for all of the reasons we have discussed," says Weiss. "I've never seen any data to support its use for hangover, but there is no harm in trying."

Wolfing Down

Greasy Food

A greasy breakfast for a hangover remedy may give your body a short-term boost. "Besides glucose, alcohol reduces the amount of circulating free fatty acids in the bloodstream," says McCall. "A breakfast high in carbohydrate and fat content can help to elevate blood glucose and free fatty acid levels in the short term." However, for the long term, it’s not such a good idea.

you decide...

🇬🇧 Full English Breakfast 🇬🇧

 

Get the Full English Breakfast recipe from Tomayto Tomahto

Crockpot Carne Asada Nachos

Get the Crockpot Carne Asada Nachos recipe from How Sweet It Is

Huevos Rancheros

Get the Huevos Rancheros recipe from Chronicles of a Stomach Grumble
Somewhere under there, you'll find eggs and tortillas.

🍷

Fruit-Laden, Whole-Grain Pancakes

Get the Fruit-Laden, Whole-Grain Pancakes recipe from Food52

Chilaquiles

Get the Chilaquiles recipe from Simply Recipes

Pimento Cheese Grits

Get the Pimento Cheese Grits recipe from A Dash of Soul

Bibimbap

Get the Bibimbap recipe from Bap Story

B.L.T.

You don't need a BLT recipe. All you need to know is that there should be mayo, lots of bacon and you should eat it ASAP.

Chili Cheese Dog

Get the Chili Cheese Dog recipe from Simply Recipes

Kimchi Jigae

Get the Kimchi Jigae recipe from No Recipes
Spicy, briny, warming -- you can't really do better.

One-Eyed Sandwiches

Get the One-Eyed Sandwiches recipe from Food52
Egg in a nest, toad in a hole, egg in a basket -- call them what you want, we just want to eat them.

Dinosaur Kale With Baby Potatoes

Get the Dinosaur Kale with Baby Potatoes recipe
Sometimes greens and potatoes are all that can make you feel better.

Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Pickled Onions

 

Get the Turkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Pickled Onions recipe from Simply Recipes
Includes turkey if you need protein, but easily made vegetarian.

Calabacitas Enchiladas 

(Corn, Squash and Green Chile)

  

Get the Calabacitas Enchiladas (Corn, Squash and Green Chile) recipe from MJ's Kitchen

Mexican Tripe Soup 

(Pancita/Menudo)

  

Get the Mexican Tripe Soup (Pancita/Menudo) recipe from The Domestic Man
Don't knock it till it cures a hangover, dudes.

Loaded Baked Potato

Get the Loaded Baked Potato recipe from The Yummy Life

Viet Hapa Pho

Get the Viet Hapa Pho recipe from Food52

Knocking Back Some Hair Of The Dog

"Hair of the dog," or waking up and having another alcoholic drink, may be a feel-good hangover cure (at least temporarily), but this traditional college approach to ease a hangover really doesn't help. "If an individual is planning to be active, recreationally or competitively, this is not a good idea at all," says McCall. "Drinking more alcohol will continue to disrupt blood chemistry and hydration, as well as impair cognitive function and muscular coordination."

🍷

 Bloody Mary With Pickled Vegetables

Get Gail's Spicy Bloody Mary with Pickled Vegetables recipe
 Exercise caution. 
and read above again...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/30/hangover-food-recipe_n_2124430.html