dog

In Praise of Pets; Why They’re Good for Your Health

March 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

We are a nation of animal lovers and really, who can resist that cute little puppy face or that little kitten that wants to walk all over your keyboard when you’re working? But having a pet isn’t just about the cute factor; there is plenty of science out there that shows having a furry friend in your life gives you more than just great photos to put on Instagram.

Image courtesy of Pexels

In the hustle and bustle of our younger years, we barely get a moment to ourselves in between working, socializing, relationships, and maybe even raising a family. But as we get a little older, we realize that even in the midst of all that, it can be possible to feel loneliness. This has certainly become a modern day scourge among the older age groups. Companionship from a pet can go a long way in alleviating some of those feelings, and while it’s important to seek help if you’re feeling particularly isolated and depressed, having a loyal friend to absorb some of that loneliness can provide a real comfort for so many of us.

Pets provide more than just a fuzzy feeling, they are scientifically proven to show significant improvements to mental health, even among people suffering with more severe symptoms. Many hospitals across the world have incorporated pet visits and therapy on wards including medical oncology, and of course, children’s wards. The results are conclusive: patients with exposed access to animals feel better mentally, which has a knock-on effect to their recovery time.

[my Archie]

So, if you’re thinking of getting a pet, you can feel assured that you’re not just getting a cuddly companion, you’re getting access to great health and mental wellbeing therapy. For dog owners, in particular, the benefits don’t just stop there. With a canine, you will have no choice but to get out there in the fresh air with your pupper, rain or shine. Your dog needs regular exercise and that can only be of benefit to owners who might otherwise choose the couch over a run around the park.

Research also shows that the benefits of a pet don’t just stem from the furry kind. Even if you’ve opted for reptiles over fur, you’ll gain from having the responsibility of having a living thing rely on you for sustenance and its wellbeing. The fascination of watching snakes, lizards, turtles, and even insects in their own environments is a fascinating distraction from everyday life and well worth investing your time and money into.

Whether you’re a dog, cat, or lizard person, taking on a pet can be quite a responsibility. However, all that money, those trips to the vet, and pet food are worth every penny in the long term. Battling loneliness, forcing you out of the door for a walk, not to mention providing all those Insta moments means pet ownership will give you more than just a warm feeling. Do your research and figure out who’s in line for becoming your new best friend!

I’m partial to the fluffy, poodley kinds 😉

•What are your favorite kinds of pets?

•Do you have any pets?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Archie Events Las Vegas

BARKsgiving Pawty with BarkHappy Recap

November 19, 2016 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

BarkHappy, a relatively new app for dog parents, hosted a BARKsgiving Pawty this past Thursday in Las Vegas. It was a blast! We’ve been using BarkHappy as a way to meet new dogs and their parents in the Vegas area. We love the events (dog park play dates, parties, charity events), and were really excited about a Thanksgiving party!

The event took place at the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar at Town Square. It’s a really cool restaurant! They have a huge outdoor patio so people can bring their pups. They even have a dog menu, which is so cute! We ordered the beef and rice for Archie. He loved it!

Each ticket was $10, and all proceeds benefited A Home 4 Spot, a local rescue and 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Each of us received a goodie bag, which included:

Baked treats from Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming (plus a discount code)
Discounts + a clicker for Puppy Boutique Las Vegas
Plus entry into a raffle (multiple prizes)!

We met some great people, and their super cute dogs! Archie had a blast. It was a bit chilly, which was the only downside. However, Lazy Dog has plastic covers for their patio and heaters, which helped a lot!

We are really excited for the next BarkHappy event (holiday event in December). It’s always a pleasure!

You can download the BarkHappy app on APPLE and ANDROID. Find us if you’re in the Vegas area! We’re under Archie & Lyndsay. 🙂 Note that BarkHappy is in most cities, but you can only find people/pups in your area. The app also shows you dog-friendly restaurants, parks, etc in your area. It’s pretty great!

Does your area host dog-friendly events?
Have you downloaded BarkHappy? If so, what’s your favorite thing about it?

Thank you for reading!

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Archie Events SoCal

LA Needs a Dog Beach; A Press Release from LAdogbeaches.com

April 29, 2016 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Los Angeles – April 29, 2016 – An L.A. county ballot initiative is underway and gaining momentum to add 4 small off leash dog beaches across LA county.

They have collected nearly half the 200,000 signatures required to qualify for the Nov 8 election.

Jeff Douek & Jerry Teigen, the proponents of the county ballot initiative, are celebrating their 21st anniversary this Sunday, May 1 at noon at Pawsapalooza.

To celebrate their anniversary and to focus everyone’s attention on collecting the remaining 100,000 signatures needed before May 15, they will be offering the over 500 Pawsapalooza attendees free bread pudding from the nearby restaurant they own, WeHo Bistro.

Pawsapalooza / West Hollywood Park / Sunday May 1 from 10-3pm / 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. / Bread Pudding at 12:30

Angelenos are now demanding 4 small stretches of beaches in the L.A. area where dogs can roam off leash with owners to enjoy the California sunshine.

Together these 4 small stretches of beach would add up to only 1 mile of the 75 miles of LA county coastline.

Currently the most populous county in the country, has only 1 off leash dog beach and it’s located in Long Beach, California. The only other options for dog owners is to drive to Orange or Ventura counties, and that becomes an all day affair that is too far for most residents..

As ‘Pet Personification’ is no longer just a trend but a reality, and people today see their pets as children and part of the family, many residents feel an urgent need for dog beaches. By 2019, the pet industry is expected to hit $91.72 billion in sales. Peoples’ perceptions of pets have shifted from man’s best friend to man’s “surrogate child.” Today’s attitude and sentiment toward animals has changed in California, and there is now a call for a few small stretches of beach to be devoted to dog lovers.

For the last five months, two veteran West Hollywood business owners have spearheaded the LAdogbeaches.com initiative to great success. Stanford University graduate, turned hotel tech and restaurant entrepreneur, Jeff Douek, and his husband and restaurant co-founder Jerry Teigen realized the need for beach time, when many of their clients of their popular restaurant, WeHo Bistro (located in the heart of West Hollywood), would bring their dogs to the cafe and often spoke of the issue with great compassion and desire.

“Today people treat their dogs like family like never before, and Los Angeles is one of the most dog friendly places in the world. There is no question that a city like this must have a few small stretches of beach dedicated to off leash, in this day and age, as dogs are now such a part of so many peoples lives of all ages,” says Teigen.

The two men say that the simple ballot initiative will make a lot of people happy, while not disturbing others and at a very low cost.

“Instead of ballot initiatives for internet rates or sewer lines, this is a grass roots effort to simply enjoy our beaches with our dogs. Pets are now most popular among couples with adult children, unmarried professionals, and childless couples. They are a huge part of the population and the family. According to the American Pet Products Association’s annual report on pet industry spending, Americans spent $58 billion in 2014 on their 397 million pets, so they sure do love their pets. Since Los Angeles County owns and operates so many beaches, a few should now include man’s best friend,” says Douek.

“Today, over 5,000 Angelenos have over 10,000 petitions at their home and offices. Now we need these people to sign and mail these petitions to WeHo Bistro 1040 N LA Cienega Blvd (corner Holloway Dr) West Hollywood, California 90069. We are nearly halfway there.

If you don’t have a petition yet, you can probably find one at your local dog park or go online, print and hand-sign the petitions at LAdogbeaches.com,” says Teigen.

“For those who drop off their completed petitions at WeHo Bistro, we offer a complimentary soup or our signature dessert bread pudding, hands down best in the city, at what has become LAdogbeaches.com unofficial headquarters. We welcome all to drop by with their dogs anytime,” adds Douek.

Other Southern California Dog beaches are:

Long Beach: Rosie’s Dog Beach, Ocean Boulevard between Granada and Roycroft Avenues, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Orange County: Huntington Dog Beach, 100 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

San Diego Ocean Beach Dog Beach, off Ocean Beach bike path, , open 24 hours daily.

San Diego Fiesta Island, off Fiesta Island Road, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Santa Barbara Arroyo Burro Beach, 2981 Cliff Drive, , 6 a.m. to sunset daily.

TV and radio producers, assignment editors, writers: To set up a news report shoot, or interviews on the beach with pet owners, the petition, Jerry Teigen, Jeff Douek and several residents who have signed the petition with their dogs in tow to meet you – please contact Jeff Douek at 323.668.0200. Thank you.

Archie Events Races

Run for a Rescue with the Doggy Dashers Virtual Run/Walk + Promo Code

September 13, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know how much I love my dog Archie. He’s pretty much my favorite thing in the world. If I have a chance to help him and his furry, four-legged friends, you best bet I’m going to!

Archie, my boyfriend, and I ran The Puppy Run 5k/10k a few months back, and Archie LOVED it! He loves running more than he loves toys, and he super loves toys. The Puppy Run was such a success that Gametiime decided to host the Doggy Dashers Virtual Run (Nov. 6-9) benefiting the Northwest Boxer Rescue (NWBR). NWBR’s mission is, “Every boxer deserves to live a happy life in a loving home.” Archie isn’t a boxer (he’s a toy poodle), but dogs are dogs, and we love them all!

Not only do you get to spend quality time with your pup, family, and/or kids, but you get to help doggies in need. Plus you get awesome swag! Check it out:

Awesome, right?!

Let’s make it even more awesome with a discount code for 10% off your registration. Go to doggydashers.eventbrite.com and the code (lyndsay10) will already be applied! This discount is good for adult and kids registration. Registration is open from 8/25/15 to 10/9/15 or until they sell out.

Get 10% off the @doggydashers virtual run w/ code lyndsay10! http://bit.ly/1M5zlt1 #doggydashers #nwbr #rescue #race

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To register your dog, start the registration process for yourself. When you get to the page where you enter your personal details (name, address, date of birth, etc), scroll all the way down to the bottom. There, you’ll see options for adding a dog registration(s). Click to add one or more to your cart before checking out.

*If you already finished registering, but forgot to add your kid and/or dog to your registration, send an email to info@doggydashers.com and they’ll help you out.

With registration you get:

Quality time with your pup
Family-friendly fun
The option to join or create a team
- To register as a team, just select “create a team” when you register at doggydashers.com. It takes 2 minutes.
- You can even set up this up before you register, so you can tell others to join it before you do.
Awesome swag
- adults receive a super-soft custom shirt, bib, finisher’s medal, and sticker
- kids receive a drawstring bag, folder frisbee, bib, finisher’ medal, and sticker
- dogs receive a custom bandana, collapsible water bowl, and a doggy treat
Benefit animals in need (NWBR has foster homes in WA, OR, ID, MO, and CA)

I’ll definitely be running the 5k with Arch and my boyfriend; be on the lookout for us!

Follow Doggy Dashers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info and updates!

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Lifestyle Nutrition

How The Girls & I Celebrated National Picnic Day (With Subway)

April 27, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

This past Thursday, April 23, was National Picnic Day. I didn’t realize this was a thing (apparently there’s a food holiday every day!), but I am all about food and the outdoors. So naturally, I needed to get in on this.

When Subway offered to cater a picnic with the girls I nanny/babysit, I knew it would be a perfect way to celebrate!

Disclosure: Subway provided two $10 gift cards in exchange for a blog post and social media shares. No other monetary compensation was received. I only share about events and products I feel my readers would enjoy. All opinions are 100% my own.

I babysit a 9-year-old girl named Frances (I call her Fran) in West Los Angeles. We have so much fun together, so we were both pretty excited to have a picnic. She invited two of her friends from school, Gia and Mia. We also brought along our dogs, Archie and Little T. We were each able to get a full meal (6-inch sub, chips, and a drink) with the gift cards (I used some of my dollars for cookies #duh). Everything was SO good, even the dogs tried eating it. 😉

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

(Little T & Archie, respectively) (Mia is wearing blue tights, Frances is wearing a dress, and Gia is wearing a light blue top)

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

It was an awesome day! The girls and I had so much fun; we will probably do it again soon!

A huge thank you to Subway for catering our picnic; it was delicious! Find Subway on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

How did you celebrate National Picnic Day? Did you know about this holiday?
Do you enjoy Subway? What’s your favorite sandwich?
Do you enjoy picnics? (trick question- who doesn’t?!) 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

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Archie Events

Get Your Pup’s DNA Tested At A Swab-A-Thon Event With Wisdom Panel 3.0

April 13, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mars Wisdom Panel 3.0. As always, I only share products or events I feel my readers would enjoy.

It’s simple: dogs are family. From the moment your pup is placed in your arms, he is your baby. Whether he’s a puppy, an adult, or a senior, he is your baby. Your kids recognize your dog as their brother. He sleeps in your bed, you take him on trips, and you love him unconditionally. That’s exactly how I am with my poodle puppy, Archie.

Archie, 8 months

We do genetic testing on our human babies to ensure they are as healthy as possible. But what about our fur babies? We want them to be as healthy as possible, too! Well, we now have that chance. Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, is launching Wisdom Panel 3.0; the next evolution of the canine DNA test. Wisdom Panel 3.0 also features the potentially life-saving Multi-Drug Resistance 1 (MDR1) genetic mutation screening.

Why is it important to understand the genetic makeup of my dog?

There are a vast amount of different breeds, and until now, we’ve been distinguishing the breeds by visualization. For example, I look at my dog Archie (pictured above). I was told he is an apricot toy poodle and would grow to be 5 or 6 lbs. He looks like a poodle, but only his ears are apricot, and he is full-grown at 10.6 lbs. I buy him food specifically for poodles, I get him groomed like a poodle, my vet has me pay more attention to health issues that poodles can develop, and so on. I have no way of knowing if he is actually a purebred poodle. Sure, some purebreds have papers, but I rescued Archie. Just like other rescue parents, I have no idea where Archie really came from. With a DNA test like the Wisdom Panel 3.0, I am able to find out his genetic makeup, allowing me to tailor his care to what he truly needs.

This is Troy, Archie’s best friend. It’s hard to tell which breed he is just by looking at him, right?

What about Archie’s other friend, Harvey? It’s a little easier to tell Harvey’s breed, but his parents still aren’t 100 percent sure.

How does Wisdom Panel 3.0 work?

The Wisdom Panel 3.0 begins when you use the cheek swabs to collect DNA from your pup’s cheek. The sample is sent to a lab and scanned into a database. Afterward, according to Wisdom Panel,

“The swabs then undergo processing to extract the DNA from your dog’s cells which are then examined for the 321 markers used in the test. The results of these markers are sent to a computer that evaluates them using a proprietary algorithm designed to consider all of the possible pedigree trees in the last three generations” (source).

Within 2-3 weeks, the results will show which breeds make up your dog’s genetic history! For more information on how it works, visit their website here.

What makes Wisdom Panel 3.0 different from previous versions?

Aside from expanding the breed screening coverage, the 3.0 has MDR1 genetic mutation screening. MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance 1) is a genetic mutation found in many mixed breeds dogs (some herding and sight hound breeds, as well). Dogs with MDR1 may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs. Therefore, mixed breeds (and some purebreds with the high-propensity breeds) should be tested to hopefully prevent any of the adverse reactions. For more information on breeds and drugs affected by the MDR1 mutation, visit www.wisdompanel.com/MDR1_Disease_Screening.

Now through December, the WISDOM PANEL® “SWAB-A-THON” TOUR will visit various locations to offer swabbing for dogs. Through this tour, Wisdom Panel will strive to educate dog owners on the importance of genetic testing and how it will help them be better pup parents. By having better knowledge of their dog’s background, owners can better understand, take better care of, and build a stronger relationship with their pet.

Bring your dog to the Wisdom Panel booth at any Swab-a-thon event in your area, and get him swabbed on site for a special price ($39.99)! You can also take home a discounted DIY kit ($49.99; MSRP $84.99). About three weeks after the cheek swab test is received, you’ll be emailed an official Ancestry Report revealing your dog’s genetic background!

Swab-a-thon Events:

America’s Family Pet Expo – Costa Mesa, CA – (April 10 -12)
GoPRO Mountain Games – Vail, CO – (June 4 – 7)
Amazing Pet Expo – Austin, TX – (August 1)
Mars Pet Adoption Fair – Franklin, TN – (October – exact date TBD)
Amazing Pet Expo Holiday – Pomona, CA – (December 5)

For more information on Wisdom Panel 3.0, Swab-a-thon events, updates, and discounts, follow Wisdom Panel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

To purchase a Wisdom Panel 3.0 kit, please visit their website.

Image Courtesy of Wisdom Panel

I can’t wait to get Archie’s Wisdom Panel 3.0 done! Are you going to get your fur baby’s DNA tested, too?

Thank you so much for reading!

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Fitness Reviews SoCal

LA’s First ‘Workouts on Demand’ App: Handstand

December 23, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

For almost two years, I lived in Los Angeles without a car. Being a fitness enthusiast and health coach, it was important to me to be active. I was able to run outside and do workouts at the park, but if I wanted a personal trainer or to attend a yoga class, there weren’t many options for me.

Now I have a car, but I also work a lot. I babysit for 3 families, I have a very energetic puppy, and have to keep up with the housework. By the time I get home, going out to a studio or yoga class is the last thing I want to do.

Lucky for me (and people in a similar situation), there’s Handstand.

Disclosure: I received a free session using the Handstand app in exchange for an honest review on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Handstand is LA’s first ever ‘workouts-on-demand’ app, and it allows you to search, book, and pay for a fitness professional to come to your house for a private session. It’s like Uber for fitness. How awesome is that?! You can book a yoga session, cardio workout, sessions for two people, and more! However, it’s currently only in LA.

Archie was really excited to do some yoga 🙂

I had a Q & A with the founder of Handstand, Tiffany:

Why did you create Handstand?

I really believe that working long or unpredictable hours, making time for friends, catching up with family, finding relaxation time, having young children, on top of all of the other responsibilities that only increase as we get older– leaves minimal time for health and fitness- which is where I came from and why I created Handstand. I made the time, woke up early, drove to the gym, worked out, showered, changed, ate, made it to work, but that was ridiculous. In fact, it was counterintuitive and left me over exhausted. And we read all these quotes that a “one hour workout is all it takes” but as I came to find, it was 2 hours and that was if I hurried.

What was your inspiration for Handstand?

I was always into fitness and discovering new trends. When I initially tried yoga at a class in a gym, I remember feeling incompetent and frustrated. I wasn’t relaxed after the session, but let down and discouraged. After some time, I gave yoga another shot in a smaller group setting with my cousin who just wouldn’t leave me alone about it! The yoga instructor came to my house and 10 minutes in, I immediately understood why my cousin pushed me into this. The instructor was different and the one that came over that day didn’t make me feel like a beginner, or that I wasn’t flexible enough, but rather she encouraged me to try different poses and adjusted me based on what she saw. I felt her trust and by the end of the class, she was able to guide me into a handstand— something I NEVER thought I could do! So, I named this app “Handstand” which is symbolic of the goals we can reach when we have the right instructor or trainer guiding us. Every single trainers and instructor on Handstand is Handstand approved and can truly help anyone reach their goals- may it be a handstand or something else they’re reaching for.

Where do you see Handstand going in the future?

With Handstand, no matter where my users go, whether it be alone on a business trip in San Francisco, or to New York for a quick visit, they’ll never be alone or have to miss a workout. Hassle-free, accessible, affordable, and truly a new experience in every city. There will always be someone new to meet, someone there to motivate, change, and show my users new moves in a new city when they have time.

Handstand is constantly being updated with new instructors and new workout types, which is where we’re heading now. Want to try meditation but don’t want to find a studio on your own? Find one on Handstand and invite a friend! Want to workout with your fiancé before work? Order a bootcamp session on Handstand for two. It’s affordable, accessible, and hassle-free.

What makes Handstand stand out from its competitors- if any?

Handstand is the first Workouts on Demand App in LA – and it comes from a place of need. It’s for everyone out there; people who want to work out with their friend, but go to different gyms; for the girl who’s trying to lose some weight, but just can’t afford a trainer to help her; for the mother who has a young child at home and has to find a sitter to make it to the gym; for the man who wants to try yoga but hasn’t the first clue of where to go or start– this is for everyone.

I want my users to know they can feel comfortable with everyone on the platform because that was my inspiration and goal. No judgments, no commitments, no hassles. Planning, scheduling, and finding the right class or time isn’t what fitness is about. So no one has to sweat that now- Handstand has it set up for you- anytime and anywhere.

Thank you, Tiffany!

I had the amazing privilege of trying Handstand. Here’s how it works:

Download the app (iOS) or go to the website.
Click “Find a Workout”.
Choose your neighborhood.
Search for a trainer! You can choose by searching time, type of workout, or price.
Book your trainer for your desired date and time.
Pay.
Have an awesome session! (You can rate the trainer after the session)

Super simple and convenient, right?

I scheduled a yoga session with Nikka for Saturday at 12:30 pm in my apartment. Nikka showed up right on time, with a yoga mat and blocks in hand. I already have a mat, but it was awesome that she brought one just in case! She didn’t mind that I had two small dogs locked in the bedroom. They barked for awhile, but it didn’t distract her. I really appreciated it! We talked for the first 10 minutes or so, which I really enjoyed.

It was a little strange having a trainer come to my house who knew nothing about me, but she was extremely friendly and we had a lot in common. She asked me what yoga I like to do, what injuries I have, and what kind of yoga I wanted to do for our session. I told her about some health concerns I’ve been having (joint issues, specifically), so she suggested restorative yoga (for stretching). We also talked about what brought us to LA. It turns out, we are both from the Midwest! It’s always awesome connecting with people from the Midwest; we’re pretty similar and I love it!

The session lasted an hour, and it was EXACTLY what I needed! Nikka showed me an inversion pose that I now do every single day. I felt centered and happy the rest of the day. I will definitely be scheduling another session with Nikka, and I highly recommend it to anyone in the LA area looking for private sessions!

Archie (my pup) & Mocha (a friend’s pup) were excited that Nikka was over!

If you’re excited to give Handstand a try, they have graciously allowed me to offer a 20% discount to my readers! Simply enter code founder20 when you’re ready to pay.

Follow along on social media as Handstand grows and expands: website, Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook. You can also download the app for Apple iOS here.

Is being active difficult for you due to your busy lifestyle?
Would you use Handstand if it was in your area? If you’re in LA, is it something you will try?

Thank you for reading!

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XO

Lyndsay

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Lifestyle Personal SoCal

What Are You Thankful For? A SCBS Link Up

November 25, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 3 Comments

Happy Tuesday! This month, I am the head blogger for the SoCal Blogger Society link up. Check out the bloggers participating below, and link up with us if you’d like!

Since Thanksgiving is this week, I would like to share who and what I am thankful for.

My Parents

My mom and dad live in Ohio- 2300 miles away from me (LA). It’s hard being so far away from them, but they do everything they can to make sure I know I’m loved. Whether it’s helping me pay my rent, sending me essential oils to help my immune system, or sending a text to check up on me, my parents are there giving me support. I look up to them so much, and I’m thankful to have such smart, loving parents!

Archie

Puppies are the best anti-depressants. Ever. No matter how much I’m feeling down, Archie is always there to lick my tears and give me snuggles. He loves unconditionally, and he is a little ball of happiness. Plus, he’s just so dang cute!

Tim

My boyfriend, Tim, is my partner-in-crime. We’ve been best friends for 20+ years. We’ve been dating for exactly 2 years. We laugh EVERY day. Tim is my backbone; my support system. He loves me for me, and encourages me to live the life I want. I’m thankful to have a partner who truly makes me a better person.

California Weather

It may be silly, but I am incredibly thankful for the weather in SoCal. The abundant sunshine helps my bipolar and seasonal affective disorder bearable in the winter. Even when it’s cloudy and in the 60s, I love the weather. Like, LOVE it. 68 & sunny is my perfect day, and that happens pretty often this time of year. Plus I live 6 miles from the ocean. It’s perfect!

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

I invite you to link up with us below!

An InLinkz Link-upCheck out my feature on SoCal Blogger Society and get more info on this month’s link up!

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XO

Lyndsay

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Archie Events Lifestyle SoCal

An LA Halloween + Archie’s First Outing!

November 4, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

For Halloween this year, I was determined to find some type of pumpkin patch in LA. Growing up in Ohio, aka farm land, there were pumpkin patches EVERYWHERE. I’m talking multiple ones within 5 miles of me. I love autumn and all the festivities that come with it! So I wanted to find something Halloween-related close by.

After searching the interwebs, I found a family-friendly festival. It was the Cheviot Hills Harvest Festival! Cheviot Hills is down the road (about 2 miles) from Palms, where I live (West LA).

I had never been to the recreation center before, and it had all the activities I wanted. I decided to take my new puppy Archie with me! This was his first outing since he came into our family. He was nervous at first (the music was a bit too loud for him), but then he calmed down and had a great time!

Archie dressed up as Super Archie! I babysit a young girl who wants to be a fashion designer, and she was really excited to make Archie a costume. She hand-sewed a cape, and Archie loved it (as did I). He wore the costume to the festival and everyone loved it!

Here’s a few photos of the festival:

There was a hay maze, pumpkin patch, bouncy houses, food, crafts, costume contest, and more! There were other dogs there, too, and they were all on leashes and well-behaved.

I put Archie in a wagon to snap a picture… he wasn’t feeling it:

I thought it was adorable though!

Another awesome thing about this day was that the 1-year-old I babysit (we’ll call him Jack) and his mom came with me! I wanted Jack and Archie to meet, plus Jack and his family are moving away next week. I figured this would be the perfect hangout!

Jack loved the pumpkin patch! The bouncy houses were his favorite. Plus he and Archie loved each other! Archie is only 4.5 lbs, so he’s the perfect size for little Jack. It was great!

Archie & me at the festival

I took a TON of photos of Archie, but this is one of my favorites:

It was a perfect autumn day (the weather was very fall-like, love it!). I highly recommend the Cheviot Hills Harvest Festival if you’re in the West LA area next Halloween. It was super fun hanging out with Jack, his mom, and Archie! Oh, and by the way, the Cheviot Hills area has a golf course (Rancho Park), playground, pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and an unofficial dog park. It’s great for year-round activities!

Later that night, the neighborhood dogs came over to our apartment (we call it the make-shift dog park) and we passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters three families that walked by. It was awesome hanging out with our neighborhood friends and their pups! The pups all play really well together, and they totally love it (as do we).

We dressed Archie up as a pumpkin for the second half of Halloween because it got pretty chilly (and eventually rained– which LA needed badly). The pumpkin costume kept him warm, and it was super cute!

Archie had a fabulous first outing, and I had a fabulous Halloween. I couldn’t have asked for anything better! I’m so happy that after almost two years of living in Los Angeles, I finally have that sense of community I’ve been looking for. Various friends literally around the block from me, children and their cool moms down the road, and dozens of new dog friends for little Archie.

So tell me,

How was your Halloween of 2014? What did you do?
Did you or your pets dress up?

Thank you for stopping by & reading my blog! If you like what you see and want to receive new posts by email, subscribe here:

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XO

Lyndsay

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Lifestyle Personal

Who Is Your #HealthHero?

November 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

Is there someone in your life that inspires you to live a healthy lifestyle? Who keeps you going when you feel like giving up? Who is your #HealthHero?

When I was asked by Oscar Insurance to write about my health hero, it seemed pretty obvious. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I have a number of health heroes who inspire me!

My Boyfriend

My boyfriend, Tim, was the first person to really introduce me to healthy active living. He is a disabled veteran (Navy) and a health coach. He helps people get healthy, and he’s always making healthy meals in our home. Cooking isn’t really my strong suit, so it’s awesome having a guy who loves to cook! We go on nightly walks, hiking, yoga, various workouts, and share our passion of health, nutrition, and fitness.

My Parents

My mom and dad started living a healthy, active lifestyle when I was in 7th grade. My dad had a minor heart attack, and it really opened their eyes to the importance of being healthy, eating the right foods, and minimizing stress. My house from then on was full of natural, organic foods. My mom cooked healthier meals, and we got a family membership to the new gym a couple towns away. My family’s health as a whole got better, and it taught me the essentials for being healthy, which I’m now able to instill in my own family’s lifestyle.

Archie

My puppy, Archie, is new to our family. He is the center of my universe! It may be silly, but he is like my child. He loves to play and be active, and I love to be active with him! I want to take him to all the dog parks (once he is fully vaccinated), and also on all the glorious hiking trails throughout LA. There’s nothing quite like puppy energy to keep you moving throughout the day! I even made a blog dedicated to dog-friendly things to do in LA! Check it out here if you’d like!

Living a healthy, active lifestyle is important to me. After my bipolar diagnosis, and then a cancer diagnosis six months later, being healthy is essential. It’s also imperative that I have health insurance. I do not have insurance through Oscar Insurance (I was simply asked to share my health heroes), but any insurance company that does its best to provide healthy living to individuals and families is awesome in my book!

“Oscar Insurance is a new kind of health insurance company that is using technology to make understanding insurance simple, intuitive, and human. In other words, the kind of healthcare we want for ourselves. As a healthcare provider, we partner with our members to help improve and manage their health. We guide them to the care they need (as opposed to just getting involved when the bill comes in!). We also encourage healthy behaviors with incentives like our Gym Reimbursement program” (Andrea Powers, Outreach Coordinator). Oscar Insurance is currently only available in New York & New Jersey.

Pawsapalooza / West Hollywood Park / Sunday May 1 from 10-3pm / 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. / Bread Pudding at 12:30

Other Southern California Dog beaches are:

Let’s make it even more awesome with a discount code for 10% off your registration. Go to doggydashers.eventbrite.com and the code (lyndsay10) will already be applied! This discount is good for adult and kids registration. Registration is open from 8/25/15 to 10/9/15 or until they sell out.

With registration you get:

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

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Why is it important to understand the genetic makeup of my dog?

How does Wisdom Panel 3.0 work?

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To purchase a Wisdom Panel 3.0 kit, please visit their website.

I had a Q & A with the founder of Handstand, Tiffany:

I had the amazing privilege of trying Handstand. Here’s how it works:

Is being active difficult for you due to your busy lifestyle?

Would you use Handstand if it was in your area? If you’re in LA, is it something you will try?

Thank you for reading!

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XO

Lyndsay

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My Parents

Archie

Tim

California Weather

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram

Here’s a few photos of the festival:

I took a TON of photos of Archie, but this is one of my favorites:

So tell me,

How was your Halloween of 2014? What did you do?

Did you or your pets dress up?

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram

So tell me,

Who’s your Health Hero?

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram