Friday, November 30, 2012

Treasuries and Sales (Subtitled: "a Wonderful Week")

Hello, everyone!  Good things have happened to me these last few days, and it's sure uplifting to read about a Good Samaritan in the news when the press floods it with an overabundance of bad news.  I was really touched by the account of the New York City cop who bought a pair of boots for the homeless man with unshod blistered feet.

In a period of two days, three of my items were featured in Etsy Treasuries: my orange, yellow, pink, brown and green flannel nursery print dog PJs in Scrappy Rat Designs' Holiday Red & Chartreuse Treasury; my light teal Chinese brocade doggie party dress in Sashadoxieboutique's Teal Temptations Treasury; and my sky blue fleece dog coat with multicolored floral trim in Scrappy Rat Designs' Aquamarine & Richest Red Treasury.  Photos of the featured garments are posted below.

My Cyber Monday sale campaign turned out to be a success, resulting in two orders, one for the polka dotted satin party dress with a removable feather boa and the other for two black doggie tuxedos and one silver satin off-the-shoulder gown.  The would-be wearers are Shelties owned by a lady who's getting married in the late Spring and will receive the garments as a Christmas present from her sister, who ordered them.  The bride-to-be will have photos taken of the dogs wearing them, and will have the photos on display at her wedding.  I'm really excited about this, partly because the displayed pics will be good publicity for my Shop.  When I ship the clothes I'll enclose some of ny business cards for the bride-to-be to hand out to wedding guests who might be interested in ordering my merchandise.

I'll say goodbye for now, then post the pics of my Treasury items:



Saturday, November 24, 2012

Multiple Discounts Honored at Bloomingtails Dog Duds (No Big Box Here!)

Hi, friends!  Good news for all of my returning buyers, who already get to take advantage of my standard 10% returning buyer's discount, and friends/family members/coworkers who have been referred by my satisfied buyers and get 5% off on each purchase.  If they want to purchase items during my sales, they will pay not only 10% or 5% less but will also be able to take advantage of the sale.  So, for example, on Cyber Monday (November 26), when everything in my store will be discounted 20%, each returning buyer will pay 30% less and each buyer referred by a satisfied customer will get 25% off!

That's not all the good news: throughout the month of December everything in my store will be 20% off (whoo-hoo!)!!  To avoid any possibility of confusion I will announce the coupon code at the end of my Cyber Monday sale.

As Bugs Bunny says, that's all, folks (for now).  Have a wonderful day!

Friday, November 23, 2012

Etsy Treasuries and a Scrumptious Pancake Recipe

Hi, everyone!  I hope all has been well with you and your pets if you have any.  I've been busy promoting my Cyber Monday sale, which will be a great time to buy at Bloomingtails Dog Duds.  Everything will be 20% off, and the coupon code is CYBER20.

During the hot Floridian summer Dominique sheds to the point of looking like a shorthaired dog.  Now that it's started to cool off, her winter coat has started to materialize, with her tail looking like a black bottle brush.  She looks soooo adorable!  You can see photos on my Etsy Shop. 

Today I curated an Etsy Treasury which will be of special interest to owners and friends of doggies: Wag Community Team - Bone Appetit!  Featured in the Treasury are feeding stations for Fido as well as dog treats, which will make great stocking stuffers.

It seems like more often than not, whenever I've curated a Treasury at least one of my items is featured in one that day.  That was true today;  my NASCAR dog coat is in the It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year treasury.  A pic of the coat may be found below.

Remember, last time I posted here I promised a yummy pancake recipe?  Well, here it is:

                                                             
                                                               Cinnamon-Oat Pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil

In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients but rolled oats.  Whiz until well-blended.  Pour into medium bowl.  Add rolled oats and stir with a spoon until blended.  Pour several tablespoonfuls at a time into oiled, preheated frying pan.  Cook until bubbles form, then turn over.  Pancakes are ready when undersides are browned.  Bon appetit!

Be back later.  Take care, and give your pets a (((hug))) if you have any.  (((Hugs))) to you, too!






Sunday, November 18, 2012

I'm Baaaack!!

Hi, everyone!  My friend and I have returned home, and we had an absolutely awesome time!!  Every part of the cruise was of first-class caliber - the food, the luxurious decor of the ship (pics will appear in this post), the crew members' service and friendliness (Bahamains are super-friendly, too), the shore excursions, you name it. 

During our first full day of the cruise, which was the 13th, we took a wonderful shore excursion into Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas, and a beach, where I ate the yummiest conch fritters, which practically melted in my mouth, at a charming beachside restaurant with tropical decor.  The bus ride through the city and surrounding villages revealed the most colorful architecture I've ever seen, its colors reflecting the happiness of the people.  The guide was very informative, pointing out some sights along the way.  He spoke of the big difference in prices of houses separated from each other by a road - houses on the beach costing an average of $500,000 and houses on the other side selling for about $100,000.  If I had the money, guess where I'd be moving?  The Bahamian way of life is soooo relaxed and simple, so I can hardly think of a better place for a temporary escape from the rat race.

Wednesday marked a stop at another port of call, Half Moon Cay (pronounced "key"), which is jointly owned by Holland America and Carnival cruise lines.  It's the site of a lovely beach and some picturesque shops which sell local handicrafts: shell items, jewelry, and a Bahamian specialty, straw bags.  Touristy items such as magnets are sold there as well.

Our final shore excursion, which in this case was offshore, took place Friday.  We took a tender from the ship to a semi-submersible sub which descended five feet underwater.  The sub had, in front of each seat, a large porthole through which we had an excellent view of coral formations, marine vegetation and fish.  The highlight was a crew member diving into the water to blow large bubbles and "smoke rings" and to feed the fish.  What a gorgeous sight!  The only downside was the hot, humid atmosphere in the vessel.  We sure could've used A/C!

The deep turquoise of the Bahamian sea water near the horizon is not a product of retouching of travel photos; it really is that color!  The absence of air pollution probably accounts for the beautiful color.  The sand on the beaches is pure white.

I hated like anything to have to come home, but practicality reigned and my dog really missed her Pommie Mommie.  Was she glad to see me!  My next-door neighbor took care of her while I was gone.

No recipe this time, but isn't this an even better treat?  Next time I'll post a different twist on pancakes.

Here's my latest Etsy listing, a dazzling gold lame pawty dress with a butterfly sequin applique:









Saturday, November 10, 2012

Last-Minute Post

Hear ye, hear ye:  November 23 is Cyber Monday, and Bloomingtails Dog Duds is having a storewide sale, everything 20% off!  Coupon code: CYBER20

Last Pre-Bahamas Cruise Post

Hi, everyone!!  Well, in another day and a half my friend and I will be about 35,000 feet in the air, flying to Miami to catch the big boat.  The degree of our excitement is in the stratosphere!!  I haven't gone on a vacation trip or flown since October 1989, and I've sure missed that!  There's nothing like looking out of a window of an airplane to get a natural "high," plus the increasingly louder whine of the jet engines during takeoff.

As for my dog, my next-door-neighbor, whom I've known for years and trust, will be at my apartment, so Dom the Pom will be well cared for and so will my place.

A while ago I finished a doggie pawty dress which will practically require those who look at it to wear sunglasses to view it.  Its fabric is a dazzling gold lame, and the skirt section is gathered at the center back, giving the dress an alluring pouf.  The piece de resistance on the dress?  A gold sequin butterfly-shaped applique.  I finished it too late in the day to be able to photograph it for listing on Etsy and advertising on my Facebook and blog pages, buuuut...wait'll I get back from the cruise!  You'll all get to see it on the 18th.  I can't wait to list it!!

No photos here today, but after I get back from the trip I'll provide a consolation I'm sure you'll love - pics taken on my trip!  Also, I have a recipe, one for Savory Breakfast Muffins (serves 10):

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
2 TBSP melted butter
1 cup (about 1 bunch) thinly sliced green onions
3/4 cup (3 oz.) diced Canadian bacon
1/2 grated Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.  Combine both types of flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

Whisk eggs, buttermilk, oil and butter in a medium bowl.  Fold in green onions, bacon, cheese and bell pepper.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.  Add the wet ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula until just moistened.  Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan (the cups will be very full).  Bake until the tops are golden brown (20-22 minutes).  Cool in pan 5 minutes.  Loosen edges and turn onto a wire rack.

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Talk to ya again week after next.  Take care!!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The photo of the pawty dress with removable feather boa mysteriously failed to appear after I clicked on "Publish."  Here it is.
Hi, everyone!  I haven't had a chance to post again until now because the past week has been hectic, culminating today in finalizing all of the cruise preparations except for booking the local airport shuttle, which I'll take care of tomorrow.  The friend who's going with me and I are getting more and more excited each day - six days to go!  We;ll be flying from Tampa to Miami, where we'll board the ship, Carnival Destiny.  After we get back I'll post some pics of it here.

Here's a yummylicious recipe for a holiday treat, Pumpkin Muffins:

1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar or 1/3 cup molasses
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

In a separate bowl beat 2 eggs.  Add 2 TBSP vegetable oil, 3/4 cup milk, and 1 cup canned pumpkin.

Combine all ingredients with a few swift strokes, making sure you don't overbeat.  Fill oiled muffin pan 2/3 full.  Bake 20-25 minutes at 400 F.

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I've listed two more items: a fleece Pink Ribbon coat and a satin pawty dress with a feather boa which is removable for laundering of the dress.  I'll donate 10% of proceeds from sale of the Pink Ribbon coat to breast cancer research.  Here are the pics before I close for the time being: