CURRENTLY DIGGING: July
Currently Digging is a collection of things we have enjoyed throughout the month. Great Instagram accounts you should follow, stuff for you, for your dogs/cats, as well as great things to eat/drink or listen to; and of course, cannot forget a great read.
So, here it is, what we have been loving this month of July…
Must Read: The Dog Merchants: Inside the Big Business of Breeders, Pet Stores, and Rescuers by Kim Kavin
The world of dog lovers is a passionate one to be sure and the age old breed versus rescue will never cease to be a hot button to push. So I was a little weary of what I would find here; but having read Kavin’s first book Little Boy Blue, I knew that as a writer, she can present facts, stories, and riveting information without force-feeding her opinions on the matter. This book reminds me of Omnivore’s Dilemma in nature. I knew a lot of what I found, but I also learned a lot too, and at the very core of the message of this book is a resounding plea: wherever you choose to acquire your beloved dogs, know where your money is going, support those doing good and share what you know.
Get it Here
Instagram Follow: @leanimale
There are few things as satisfying as seeing someone truly thrive in their uniqueness and dive headfirst into it. That’s the case for my friend Laura, creator of Le Animale, who became my friend after my constant adoration of her work 🙂 . Laura makes incredibly sweet and unique clay animal sculptures, and she has since extended her line to necklaces and most recently, enamel pins. I am in awe of her discipline and dedication. A savvy creative entrepreneur, I look forward to receiving her email newsletters in my inbox every Wednesday. If you ever need an amulet, or totem you can hold close when you need a little inspiration, check out her birth totems. Or if you want to give a good friend the coolest gift ever, have Laura make a custom pet totem for them. Plus, her Instagram feed is a joyful splash of color, crafts and cute, chubby clay animals. Need I say more?
Follow @leanimale Here
Catch Interactive feeder for cats by Northgate
With so much cool stuff out there designed for dogs, I LOVE that product designers have begun to turn their sketchpads onto the complex and intriguing mind and behavior of a cat. I love interactive feeders and toys for our dogs, we have two! Bill spotted this Catch feeder at a tradeshow recently and brought one home in hopes the cats would approve. Since our cats eat wet food primarily, I had to find the right single ingredient kitty treats to entice them with. It was magic. I tossed a few treats in the feeder and watched the cats go to town, using their paws, to reach in and grab the treats. It is a natural instinct. This little feeder reduced the amount of items pushed off the table or nightstand by bored kitties 🙂
Get it Here
For the taste buds: GoodPop
My friends Jen and Jackie got me hooked on these recently. With 90 degree weather and a summer waistline to watch (blah….), these scrumptious, deliciously satisfying frozen pops have been a huge lifesaver. And with flavors such as Coconut Lime, Watermelon Agave, Coldbrew Coffee and Chocolate Milk, you kinda forget their organic, low calorie goodness.
Get them Here
For the trail… or the beach: Sun Bum SPF 30 Original Sunscreen Lotion
I had terrible acne growing up, and it came back to torture me again in my late 20’s (grrr!) and on both occasions I got very friendly with my dermatologists, who instilled in me a serious love and respect for sunscreen. Caring for your skin, and trying to care for the environment and buy products that are cruelty-free is not always an easy task. But once I found Sun Bum, I have never looked back. I discovered it through my nose one day as I went into my favorite local shop to snag a new nail polish. My nose was suddenly struck with everything good and summery from childhood; somewhere between coconut, pineapple, banana and childhood summer dreams all wrapped into a cool, faux wood bottle. When I put some in my hands, I noticed how light and smooth it was, non oily and not sticky, absorbing quickly into my skin. Fun packaging combined with a cool philosophy, and did I mention they never test any of their products on animals, ever? Yes. They are awesome. Don’t stop at the sunscreen alone either, they make hair care and lip balm. I love the SPF 30 for daily use, since it will protect you from burning and harmful rays, but give you a nice soft golden color if you’ve been out hiking all day.
Get it Here
Tune in: Sunderlust by Kishi Bashi
I discovered Kishi Bashi via NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast, and later I realized I had heard snippets of his music in a myriad of commercials I loved. His music is delightfully suited for productivity, in my case, long hours of photo editing, writing or a relaxed hike with the dogs. This latest album has been my summer soundtrack.
Listen Here
Lusting after: The Great British Bake-Off show
Bill is the cook in our household. he’s one of those folks who can grab whatever is in the fridge and whip up something wonderful. The only time I can do that is with soups; otherwise, I am more methodical and I need a recipe to follow, which is why I love baking. It is a science and an art. I have never liked the US reality cooking or baking shows too much, people can be so mean or cocky that it becomes more about the drama than it is about the food. The Great British Bake-Off show has it all: humor, suspense, drama without being dramatic, judges and a bunch of very talented bakers. You can’t help but root for everybody and that’s something I love and wish we had more of in this world. Word of warning, don’t watch when hungry.
See more Here
