Tell a Fairy Tale Day: My childhood favourite spooky and fantasy books for fairy tale lovers

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People connect with stories, the real and the fantastical. Fairy tales submerge us in a fantasy world and teach us about life and morality. I've always been an avid reader. I remember how exciting it was to graduate from picture books to the young adult genre. When I was growing up I was drawn to fantasy stories. I loved books that create a magical world and stories that scare me. Fantasy stories are an exciting escape from reality and for National Tell a Fairy Tale Day I'm going to share a few of my favourite fantasy books I read growing up. Maybe your kids will enjoy these stories as much as I did.

Celebrate Dog Biscuit Day: Peanut butter and jam dog treat recipe 

Hazel is one spoiled little (big) mountain dog. It's hard to resist her puppy dog eyes and crooked nose. For National Dog Biscuit Day I tried my hand at baking Hazel some homemade dog treats. Hazel gave me the idea when she wouldn't stop staring at me as I ate a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Hazel's been a good girl, she deserves her own PB&J.

Love is a four-legged word: Four ways you can show your pets the love they deserve 

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Love is a four-legged word! When I discovered February 20th is National Love Your Pet Day my first thought was "I don't need a day to remind me to love Hazel!" I show Hazel love every day! But it made me think about how I show Hazel love. The first thing that came to mind is the unlimited snuggles I give her. Affection is the obvious way we show love, however, there is a better way we show unconditional love for our fur-family. 

It's 2021: Time to stop calling women hysterical

I was moderating comments on my blog and discovered a comment left on my article Real talk: Does a veterinary hospital have to see your pet?. It said the article was very "crass" and should have "a rant warning." To be fair, in the first paragraph of the article I state I'm aware I'm going to ruffle some feathers and the article may sound harsh. The male commenter then said the article was "obviously written by a hysterical woman. Yikes." After some consideration, I deleted it.

Your funny Valentine: February pets featured in a Valentine from their pet parents

You know why you love your pet, but why not put it in writing? That's what some of my Paws peeps did for Valentine's Day! I asked my readers to submit a photo of their pet and one sentence explaining why they love their pet. Thank you for submitting your pet to be selected as one of my February Featured Pets. I created custom Valentine's for them from you- the person who loves them most! Just right-click or press and hold on the photo and save it! Then you can share it with your friends and family!

Chocolate is almost as sweet as my dog Hazel. That's right, I said almost. But every now and then I get a chocolate craving I can't ignore. I've always been extra careful not to let my dog have even a crumb of cocoa goodness. But why? We know not to give our dogs chocolate, but what is it about the sweet substance that is so dangerous for dogs? I asked Dr. Carlie Paquette, a veterinarian at Pembroke Animal Hospital, to give me the facts about chocolate toxicity and dogs. 

 Black History Month: 12 books about diversity and inclusivity for children

February is Black History Month. Canada's theme for Black History Month 2021 is The Future is Now. Educating the future generation about the achievements of Black Canadians and the importance of diversity and inclusivity in our community is a fundamental part of a child's learning experience. Setting a good example for the youth and teaching them when they are young is the best way to ensure children are more tolerant in the future. Literature can help shape future generations and is a useful tool in achieving this. Check out these 12 inspiring children's books about diversity and inclusivity. If you are interested in purchasing one of these books for your children, just click the links in the post!

The regular person’s guide to becoming a climate activist

I’ve always felt a deep connection to nature. Growing up I was passionate about aquatic life and had an interest in wildlife extinction. I used to drag my little sister to the stream behind our housing development and collect samples to analyze. We would catch frogs and collect algae. Mostly we would get covered in mud despite my mother’s strict instructions to ‘not get dirty.’ I decided I was going to be a marine biologist when I grew up, long before my dreams of being a writer surfaced. The problem was I didn’t excel in science and math and I knew my grades would never reflect my passion. I had to set my scientist dreams aside. It was clear to me that my talents were limited to pen and paper. But my connection to nature never went away, and as I grew, that connection grew with me. I became aware of climate change and the harm humanity is inflicting on the planet and that the list of extinct animals is getting longer. I couldn’t sit back and watch without doing something. But what could I do? I’m just a regular person.

 Looking for February featured pets: Submit your pet to be featured in a custom Valentine

My furry Valentine! That's Hazel! The reason's I love Hazel are endless, but one thing I love the most about her is that Hazel 'feels the sad' as I call it. When I'm feeling sad or stressed, even if I'm not in the same room as her, Hazel can sense it and gives me love. She comes over and snuggles me and I instantly feel a weight lifting. Hazel, like all of our pets, gives me the most precious and rare gift: unconditional love.