Truffles' Whole Paws Taste Test #WholeFoodsPets

I have written this post on behalf of BlogPaws Pet Blogger Network for Whole Foods Market. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Whole Foods Market's Whole Paws, but Mochas, Mysteries and More only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Earlier this month Truffles and I told you about a gigantic box of pet food that we received from Whole Foods Market's new Whole Paws line. We knew we would be receiving $50 worth of dog and cat food, and we were absolutely stunned by how much pet food that turned out to be! We happily donated the dog food to our local shelter. 

Whole Paws is Whole Foods Market's NEW brand of premium quality products made with real chicken, salmon and other wholesome, nutrient-rich ingredients. Whole Paws contains NO corn or soy, NO animal by-products, NO artificial colors, NO artificial preservatives and NO added sugar, and the new line meets all of Whole Foods Market's strict quality standards. This is the first time a private brand has offered grain free dog and cat food (in both dry and wet varieties), combining grocery store convenience with specialty store quality!

My first impression of the food taking it out of the box is how beautiful the packaging it is. I simply adore the WholePaws® slogan: "Love is a four-legged word"...truer words were never spoken! And the cover models on the boxes and cans are all real pets with their names and ages written right on the labels. Something else I love about the labels...caloric content is listed. I wish that was a requirement for every pet food brand.

So in our original post we left you with a cliffhanger...what did Truffles think of her Whole Paws food? Now I need to tell you straight up that while Truffles is a very good eater, she is also quite particular. When I brought her home four months ago I started her out on a popular commercial brand, which is now pretty much all she will eat. (This is so different from Tara, who was always eager to try new things that I would bring home.) I've been trying to "expand her horizons" a bit and hoped this might do the trick. I opened the beef and chicken pate (since that's a favorite flavor in "her" brand) and:

She ate 2/3 of the can immediately! We haven't tried the shredded salmon and chicken in gravy yet, but the chicken and brown rice kibble has been a HUGE hit. I'm generally not a fan of dry food and only feed it as a supplement to Truffles' main wet food meals, but Whole Paws is grain-free and she absolutely loves it...she even accepts it as a healthy alternative at treat time!

Have you tried any of the Whole Paws varieties yet on your pets? We don't have a Whole Foods Market here in Vermont, so what we received for this review is probably all we'll ever get, but I'm certainly happy that Truffles got a chance to try it out.

WholePaws® is available exclusively at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

Check out Whole Paws online:

Website:  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/wholefoods

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/wholefoods

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/wholefoods/

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/wholefoodsmarket

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Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe Virtual Book Tour: Guest Post/Review/Giveaway

I’ve been feeling merry ever since writing Christmas at the Gingerbread Café. There’s something magical about this time of year, and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the excitement of it all. Santa, decorations, Christmas carols, what’s not to love? Throw in a story situated in a café that specializes in gingerbread recipes, and you’ve got yourself some serious Christmas cravings. I had lots of mouth-watering moments researching the different types of food the Gingerbread café sells, and also the more exotic canapés, my main character Lil makes for the catering side of the business.  

It’s winter in Ashford, and it’s snowing, so Lil keeps her fire stoked up, and the locals come in out of the cold to sit awhile and drink their gingerbread coffee, and catch up on what’s new in the small town. I really connected with these characters, and wanted to visit the café, and sit and shoot the breeze with them. Tricky since they’re fictional. I decided to make Gingerbread coffee, so I’d get a real sense of what it tastes like, and what Lil’s business is all about.  

I can’t imagine anything more heartwarming than snuggling on the lounge with a book, a rug and a steaming mug of this comforting coffee. Like Lil says when she’s baking gingerbread men – The smell alone will transport you back to childhood.   

Here is a Gingerbread coffee recipe to start the Christmas season with. It’s really simple, and a great idea to share with your book club, or after dinner with friends. It’s so festive you’ll be humming Christmas carols before you know it. 

This recipe makes six cups. 

Ingredients: 

½ cup molasses 

¼ cup brown sugar 

½ teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon ground ginger 

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon 

6 cups of hot brewed coffee 

1 cup half-and-half cream (I used normal pouring cream) 

1 ½ cups sweetened whipped cream  

Directions: 

1. In a small bowl, mix together the molasses, brown sugar, baking soda, ginger and cinnamon until well blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least ten minutes. 

2. Add about a ¼ cup of coffee to each cup, then stir in about a tablespoon of the spice mixture until dissolved. Fill cup to within an inch of top with coffee. Stir in half-and-half cream to taste, then garnish with whipped cream and a light dusting of cloves.  

(Recipe from  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/gingerbread-coffee/ ) 

Please let me know if you give this a try, I’d love to hear from you. Next on the agenda is a pecan pie, made from scratch. It’s one of CeeCee’s most sought after pies at the café, and I’m sure I can hear her demanding I bake one.  


 

 Christmas at the Gingerbread Café 

Christmas is the season the Gingerbread Café was made for…but owner Lily couldn’t be feeling less merry if she tried. She’s spent another year dreaming of being whisked away on a sleigh-ride for two, but she’s facing festive season alone – again. And, just to give her another reason to feel anything other than candy-cane perky, a new shop across the road has opened… Not only is it selling baked goods, but the owner, with his seriously charming smile, has every girl in town swooning.  But Lily isn’t about to let her business crumble — the Gingerbread Café is the heart of the community, and she’s going to fight for it! This could be the Christmas that maybe, just maybe, all her dreams – even the someone-to-decorate-the-Christmas-tree-with ones – really do come true! 

Amazon US             Amazon UK

Mochas, Mysteries and More Review: Is there any man better than a gingerbread man? Not in my opinion, although admittedly I am obsessed with the little cookie cuties. That's why I was thrilled to have the chance to read a copy of this novella from the brand new Carina UK imprint. Start with a story of rival cafe owners who create major sparks whenever they are in the same room together, set it at Christmastime in a small New England town, add in a sassy BFF/business partner (CeeCee, who deserves her own story!), top it off with descriptions of decadent baked goods, and you have a recipe for the perfect cozy Christmas confection. Just make sure you're drinking a mug of gingerbread coffee (recipe above) and munching a moist slice of gingerbread cake so you won't have to put the book down in order to make a run to the kitchen!

About the Author:

Rebecca Raisin is a true bibliophile.

This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She’s been widely published in various short story anthologies, and in fiction magazines, and is now focusing on writing romance. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous men who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships, and most importantly, believe in true love.

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

http://rebeccaraisin.wordpress.com

www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

http://goo.gl/4GLfYz

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Boxing Day & A Christmas Wrap-Up

Happy Boxing Day!

 

I had a pawsome first Christmas in my forever home...here's my stocking! 

A Cat's Meow toy! (It took Mommy *forever* to put it together!)

I also got a Crinkle Tunnel...so many toys, so little time!

I'm all Christmas'ed out...until next year!!!

Mommy got a special kitty gift too...a Laurel Burch purse!

It was the bestest Christmas ever! What did you get?

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Our Christmas Message to You: With Love, Melissa & Truffles

Truffles and I wish you a very Merry Christmas...

As we remember Christmases Past...

Tara, Christmas 2011

Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. --Kermit, Muppet Christmas Carol

May the peace & beauty of the season live in your hearts all year...

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Truffles LOVES Her Secret Paws!!!

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! This year Mommy and I participated in Secret Paws 2013, a Secret Santa gift exchange for us kitties who have a blog in the Cat Blogosphere! It's a chance to exchange gifts, share the holiday spirit, and get to know other kitties from around the world during the holiday season. Last week I found out who my Secret Paw is...Samantha and Clementine from Life from a Cat's Perspective!!!

Mommy loved that Samantha and Clementine's Mom put my name on the package...I just wanted her to open it!!!

This is what was inside...a stocking loaded with goodies and wrapped prezzies!

Stocking stuffers that included catnip mousies, a laser toy (I needed one! The one Mommy had is busted!), a cool stuffed spider that will be good for my toothies when I chew on it, and crinkle balls!!!

I kicked the stuffing outta this cool mousie with a pink tail!!!

TREATS!!!! I'm a total treat junkie! Temptations and Whisker Lickin's are my favorites, and I hadn't tried these flavors yet!

Mommy and I were sooooo excited to see Boots and Barkley loot...we don't even have a Target around here!

Spirals and crinkle balls!

Action shots...

I'm pooped!!! Thank you so much, Samantha and Clementine! My Secret Paw package was paw-some!

And a note from Mommy Melissa: This has been our first year participating in Secret Paws and it has been THE highlight of our holiday season. We can't thank Paula of Sweet Purrfections enough for organizing it. Truffles absolutely adores her gifts (I won't need to buy her any toys for a long time!) Thank you for the yummy Andes cherry cordials too! On a closing note, Samantha and Clementine recently lost their canine companion Maverick, so I know this is a hard holiday season for their family just as it's a tough one for us following the loss of Tara. (Ironically, the Fancy Feast Appetizers in Truffles' package was a favorite of Tara's.) I just know that Tara and Maverick are watching over us all, and have become friends at the Bridge.

Merry Christmas, we love you!!!

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A Christmas Gift from Heaven

Years ago I was a huge fan of the Pet Psychic TV show on Animal Planet. I remember thinking what an incredible gift it would be to have the ability to communicate with animals, as well as to be on the receiving end of a reading to find out what our beloved pets are thinking. When I was contacted recently by Psychic Source asking if I would like to have a reading done by a pet psychic, my first question was to ask if psychics are able to communicate with pets that have gone to the Bridge. The answer was yes, and it felt like a dream was coming true. Maybe I would finally be able to know for sure that Tara is alright without me.

When the day came for my phone reading I was extremely nervous, yet excited all day long. I had never done anything like this and didn't know what to expect. As soon as I started talking to Psychic Nancy, she instantly put me at ease and I felt as though I was chatting with an old friend.

Tara: The Empress

Nancy began with Tara, saying that her sister lost a cat that looked just like her in July (also when Tara passed) of a heart issue (just like Tara). Here are the highlights of my reading:

* Nancy sensed that my grief is still raw, and assured me that is perfectly normal. Losing a beloved pet is like losing a child, but we will be reunited one day. She said that I was Tara's angel. She had a vision of me giving Tara strength, that I was right by her side through everything she dealt with, and that I helped her to deal with everything. She got through it with me there. As I think back to all of Tara's vet visits, she was always tremendously calm as long as I was in the exam room with her. It was when she was taken to a back room for a procedure that she panicked. Nancy said that Tara was a little lion; very strong; she was my rock for awhile, and then I was hers.

* Nancy's next words brought tears to my eyes. She said that Tara is sitting on a pedestal in Heaven, stronger than ever. Many other cats follow her, look up to her, she is strong and motherly and comforts them, and that is the role she was needed for. She said Tara has a new lease on life, and that is her lavish reward.

* Nancy sensed that Tara gave me confidence, which is so true. I never in a million years imagined I'd ever be able to handle everything she needed medical-wise, but she taught me that I have a strength I didn't know I had.

* Every night when I go to bed I talk to Tara and tell her about my day. Nancy said that Tara loves this and wants me to continue talking to her. She will always be around me.

Truffles: The Sun

* Nancy said that Truffles has a very mysterious and endearing look. She loves being with me!

* The Tarot card that came out for Truffles is the SUN. She feels like she is the center of attention at my house, and she is enjoying great health being with me. She is shining forth brilliantly, and I am the reason for that.

* Interestingly, Nancy sensed that Truffles and I will have a grey cat in our life in the future. She sees Truffles and the grey kitty together, a beautiful pair, grooming each other! The opportunity will come to me and I won't be able to walk away.

* I've been struggling with the fact that I adopted Truffles so soon after Tara died, and I've wondered if Tara is ok with that. Nancy said that just as Tara's purpose now is to nurture the cats in Heaven, my role is to care for Truffles; we are doing the same thing. Tara is fine with the fact that I chose to deal with my loss by bringing Truffles into my life.

Nancy's final words about me really took me by surprise: "You are a woman of Strength, and at times you need to be reminded of how giving you are. Believe in yourself, and have faith in your path. You will be repaid for your kindness."

If you ever have the chance to have a reading done by a pet psychic, please do it, particularly if you are still in mourning after the loss of a pet. I felt such a sense of peace after my reading was done, and even though Tara isn't physically with me this Christmas, her message to me was the greatest gift I could have gotten this first Christmas without her, a Christmas gift from Heaven.

To learn more about Psychic Source Pet Psychics go HERE. You can arrange either a phone reading or an online chat.

FTC Disclosure: We received a pet psychic reading for review at no charge from Psychic Source.

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Christmas Truffles Holiday Reading Roundup

I can't even begin to tell you how sad I am that the season for reading wonderful Christmas stories is nearly over. This year I've been tearing through so many that I haven't even had a chance to review each one individually, so I've borrowed a fun idea from my blogging bestie Jessica at Chick Lit Café and decided to bring you a Roundup of my latest Christmas reads. (Plus, Christmas Truffles gets to make a return appearance!) There's still time to make yourself a mug of cocoa, stick a candy cane in it, and indulge in a festive Christmas read with a kitty (or three!) on your lap.



I'm a huge fan of Paige Shelton's Farmers' Market Mysteries, so a chance to visit the market at Christmastime is just icing on the cake. In Merry Market Murder, the famous Ridgeway Christmas Tree Farm is making this the busiest December ever at Bailey's, until a feud erupts when a competing tree farmer shows up claiming that he has exclusive selling rights at the market, and then ends up with a tree stake in his chest! Intriguing ornaments made out of various market vendors' products are left around as clues for Becca to follow, requiring Becca to step into Monson's past in order to catch a modern-day Scrooge.



Santa Claws by Meg Mims is a perfect little Christmas romance novella. Mary Kate has a stressful job at a local bakery, and at night comes home to her dog Ginger. When her brother is deployed overseas she makes an addition to her little family...his cat Lucifer. Anyone who has ever been owned by a mischievous feline will find themselves alternately smiling and cringing at Lucifer's antics, but things start looking up for Mary Kate when Lucifer puts her in the path of a sexy volunteer fireman!

From Halloween Hijinks to The Trouble with Turkeys to Christmas Crazy, I've been tearing through Kathi Daley's Zoe Donovan series like mad. It's my favorite Indie series of the year. In Christmas Crazy, Zoe finds herself chairperson of Ashton Falls' Hometown Christmas. She plans to use the high school gym for an adoption center for a neighboring town's homeless animals on death row until Santa is murdered just days before the event. With the community center off limits due to the investigation, the animals are at risk of running out of time unless Zoe can catch a killer. I cannot begin to tell you how much I would love to live in the snowy mountain town of Ashton Falls during the Christmas season!

Kiwi's Christmas Tail by Vickie Johnstone is an absolute adorable Christmas story for children of all ages. Amy, James and their magical cat, Kiwi, who can communicate with them, find a star who asks for their help in rescuing his fairy friend from an evil witch who kidnapped her last Christmas. Their adventure takes them to a haunted house, Cat City (I want to move there!!!), and ends up with a trip around the world with Father Christmas on his yearly rounds ending up in his magical realm of Snowfell.



While helping to decorate for an upcoming Christmas fair, Honey the Great Dane and her doggie pals find a mysterious message hidden inside a broken Christmas bauble. Convinced a child is trapped inside the cottage of the school gardener, the pups team up for a rescue mission. This Christmas special edition of HY Hanna's Big Honey Dog Mysteries was so adorable that I immediately downloaded the first book in the series, Curse of the Scarab, and I can't wait to read it!

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