just bought this grey pashmina at nordies for nyc
this pashmina is cashmere and paper thin. it's on sale at nordstrom and just beautiful. i think every girl needs at least 1 (maybe 2 or 3) pashmina for cold winter days.
Explore Posterous
Search posterous
Search all posts and users. Type a name, type a favorite song title, whatever! See what comes up.
More posterous blogs
Here are posterous posts filed under products...
Top Pet Fitness and Weight Loss Products of 2009
For immediate release
TOP PET FITNESS AND WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS OF 2009
Calabash, NC—December 1, 2009. With half of America’s pets now estimated to be overweight, the demand for pet fitness products has never been greater. This year the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) is proud to announce its Top Pet Fitness and Weight Loss Products for 2009. If you’re looking to give your pet a healthy gift this holiday season, consider these innovative offerings.
Harnesses and Leashes
“One of the keys to fitness and weight loss in pets is exercise,” states Dr. Ernie Ward, Founder and President of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and lead product researcher. “Exercise begins with a comfortable leash and harness and this year we saw several innovations in this category.”
Easy Walk Harness and Leash – ECO
Earth-friendly, no-pull walking harness for your dog. Made of 100% recycled milk cartons and all of the packaging is recycled. “This is quite simply the best and most earth-friendly exercise product we’ve run across this year,” comments Gina Toman, registered veterinary technician and one of the testers.
Come With Me Kitty Harness and Leash
“For owners of pudgy felines who think they can’t take their cat for a walk, there’s a harness for you,” says Ward. With its innovative, easy-to-use and secure design, the Come With Me Kitty Harness and Leash is a must for any overweight cat who needs exercise.
Sporn Simple Control Harness
Every dog needs a go-to, everyday harness. Some harness systems require a book of instructions and an engineering degree—not this one. “Sporn has one of the easiest and most comfortable harnesses we’ve tested. On and off in a matter of seconds, our users commented that this was the one harness they could take with them anywhere (and they did),” remarks Ward.
EzyDog Leash
It’s pretty hard to improve on the standard dog leash: handle, rope, and clip. The secret to a better leash is the handle. EzyDog has basically taken a mini water-ski handle and attached it to a dog leash that results in a surprisingly comfortable walking leash. They also added a shock-absorbing stretch material that eases the arm and shoulder strain of abrupt pulls. “Even our most stubborn puller failed to cause dreaded “hand pinch” common with traditional leashes. Walkers with arthritis or other painful hand conditions will appreciate the EzyDog’s unparalleled cushion and comfort,” comments Ward.
Toys
“Play is an important part of staying healthy for pets,” emphasizes Ward. “You are the best toy for your pet, although we found several impressive products that can make playtime more fun—and beneficial—for everyone.”
Dog Tornado
The Dog Tornado is the perfect solution to entertaining your dog (or cat). This interactive food game has four layers with rotating discs, and three of these layers have compartments for hiding dog snacks. When your dog rotates a layer, she reveals a hidden snack. The game can be made more or less challenging by altering the layers. “The Dog Tornado provides a workout for the brain as well as a way for improving physical coordination. I recommend hiding sliced veggies for a healthy play period,” advises Toman.
Dura Doggie Disc
“Many dogs love to play Frisbee. Trouble is, after a few outings, the disc is trashed,” muses Ward. Dura Doggie Disc is an incredibly tough, chew-resistant flying disc that doubles as a water bowl (how cool!). No more shredded palms or cut lips from frayed Frisbees.
ChuckIt! Ball Launcher
“As a guy, the thought of using anything other than my rocket arm to play fetch with seemed insulting,” laments Ward. “However, after injuring my elbow and being unable to throw for several weeks, I fell in love with my ChuckIt! Ball Launcher. In fact, my dog loved it so much that even when I resumed my mere mortal ball tossing to her, she insisted on the ChuckIt.” Men, women, and children everywhere will find their play sessions more beneficial when using this easy-to-use and inexpensive ball launcher. Men, prepare to be humbled. Dogs, prepare to be thrilled.
FroliCat BOLT Automatic Laser Toy for Cats
“We had a hard time finding an interactive exercise toy that a majority of cats liked. This laser toy comes the closest to pleasing a wide variety of kitties,” states Toman. It couldn’t be easier to use: set up, turn on, and watch the fun! The FroliCat shines a laser dot in a seemingly random pattern your cat will chase, leap, and pounce on for the 15 minute cycle. “If your cat chases the FroliCat twice a day for 15 minutes, it will be well on its way to better health,” adds Dr. Ward
Rumble Bumps
Dogs love anything that makes noise. Dogtronics has designed a line of interactive, touch-activated toys our testers found irresistible. “Our favorite noisy toy was the Rumble Bumps. The test dogs liked the fact that the toy made a variety of sounds when it was batted and chewed and their owners appreciated the silence when it was still. We found it to be a great toy to keep your puppy engaged while home alone,” shares Toman.
Food Bowls
“Everybody feeds their dog, so we decided to look at how food bowl selection could impact weight loss and healthy eating habits. Our findings may surprise you,” says Ward.
Brake-Fast Dog Bowl
“While this bowl was marketed as an aid to slow eating, we found another use: less feeding guilt,” states Dr. Ward. The bowl has three columns in the middle that magically make that half-cup of diet food appear larger. It also takes a dog a little longer to eat, thereby delaying any guilt. “We found it to be a great crutch for pet owners who feel the need to fill the bowl.”
Neater Feeder
Perhaps the most-used product is also the messiest. “We observed dogs that are what we term “enthusiastic eaters. These dogs tend to spill their food on the floor, leading to owners adding additional food into the bowl, thereby promoting weight gain,” explains Toman. The Neater Feeder solves most of your pet’s food and water messes with an innovative edge and drainage system. Our testers liked the different sizes and the ease of cleaning. Your floors will love the no-spill design.
Technology Products
“Technology common for human exercise is now becoming available for pets,” notes Ward, who is also a certified personal trainer and Ironman triathlete. “I expect even better products in the next few years that will aid in pet weight loss.”
Fitbit
“Quite simply, this product wowed everyone,” reports Ward. “While not technically a pet weight loss product, the Fitbit tracks your calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled, and sleep quality. This is important because you can accurately measure how far you’ve walked your dog and at the same time you’re getting in better shape.” The tiny Fitbit uses the same type of controller used in Nintendo’s Wii system and fits easily into a pocket or on a belt or waistband. Your data is wirelessly transmitted to your computer where you can view your exercise and sleep patterns. For less than a hundred bucks, this is one weight loss tool every pet owner should have.
The Beacon by Ruff Wear Dog Safety Light
“We liked this product because it was small, easy-to-use, inexpensive, and a life-saving idea,” says Toman. During the cooler months, we’re often forced to walk our dogs when it’s dark outside. Everyone’s key concern is visibility. Ruff Wear has created a tiny LED light that can be seen up to a half mile away. “Testers liked the three settings, continuous, slow, and fast flash, and that it was easy to clip on or off using the split ring or built-in clip.”
DogTread by PetZen Doggie Treadmill
For the dog that has everything—except a good daily walk—you can’t beat a treadmill. “With straightforward controls and quiet operation, the DogTread from PetZen is one of our favorite dog treadmills,” reports Ward. For busy people or individuals with physical limitations, a dog treadmill is an excellent alternative to outdoor walking.
Other Products
Liver Biscotti
“Dog owners always ask me what the best treat is for pets. Crunchy vegetables are my favorite,” answers Ward. For owners desiring a commercial dog treat, it’s hard to find a tasty dog treat with less than 1 calorie per piece, but somehow Liver Biscotti has done just that. “Dog owners need to remember it’s not the size of the reward that matters to dogs; getting a reward is what’s important,”advises Ward.
The Port-A-Poo Poop Bag Holder
“Walking your dog is fun; handling your dog’s unexpected bathroom run is not,” muses Dr. Ward. Fortunately, there’s an easier way to pick up where your dog left off, the Port-A-Poo. With two sizes to fit either on a standard or retractable leash, the Port-A-Poo is a hands-off solution to one of life’s messier problems.
DOOG Walkie Belts
“Ok, we were skeptical when we first saw this dog walking belt (for people) from Down Under. I mean, do you really need it? Was this an Aussie gag?” jokes Ward. “However, after just a few strolls, we couldn’t walk our dog without it.” Its two quick-dispenser pockets for poop bags and hand wipes were enough but the Walkie also holds an mp3 player, cell phone, treats, wallet, keys and other small essentials. “The ability to stylishly hold all our stuff without dragging our walking shorts down was worth the price alone,” adds Ward. They also come in matching dog collar styles for all you fashionistas.
VizVest Safety Vest for Dogs
Sure, we know there are tons of dog reflective vests available. This one caught our eye because it easily adjusted to a variety of dog shapes, stayed in place, was lightweight enough for year-round wear, and inexpensive. We also liked the fact that there was an opening on the top that allowed the use of certain walking harnesses. It’s true your dog may look like a road-side worker but because the VizVest uses the same materials used in human safety vests , it just may save both your lives.
All products mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners.
About this Report and Product Selection
None of the products tested and selected were obtained free of charge nor did APOP inform the product manufacturers that their product was being considered. Further, the manufacturers did not contact APOP or product testers during the evaluation process. The manufacturers were notified of their selection only after the final report was complete. Products were rated on innovation, practicality, availability, cost/benefit, durability, ease of use, and pet/owner acceptance.
About APOP and Dr. Ward
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention is an independent organization not associated with any veterinary pharmaceutical, pet food, or other veterinary industry organization founded in 2005. Dr. Ernie Ward is a licensed veterinarian, certified personal trainer, and USA Triathlon accredited coach. He and APOP help people and pets lose weight and sustain a healthy lifestyle by creating parallel weight loss and lifestyle programs. For more information about APOP and Dr. Ernie Ward, please visit www.PetObesityPrevention.com.
Contact
Dr. Ernie Ward Gina Toman, RVT
DrWard@PetObesityPrevention.com Gina@SeasideVet.com
910-579-5550
Product vs Communities
I've been looking at brands with an umbrella style architecture for a client of mine. O2 use their singular brand across all of their products and services. From O2 pay as you go services, O2 Academies, O2 Money, the O2 Arena and that O2 Family Joggler thing all full under the O2 branding. Similarly Tesco, Apple, Sony, great car brands like Audi, BMW work well. Its all basic stuff I know, but it occurred to me that the better you can build a community around your brand name, creating trust and loyalty, a sense of belonging the better this stature an umbrella brand can have. Business wise you can sell different products and services on a long term basis. This led me to think that instead of writing a business plan that starts out with building products or service, it instead should start out with building communities. I guess thats why Twitter and Facebook are worth billions when all they have is people. Seems obvious when its framed this way.
Flooring Ideas for the Basement
A lot has been transpiring around here at the ol' HouseinProgress. Some house-related events, some not and we'll be sharing some crazy news soon. I set up this new blog to keep from boring the housebloggers with my tales of everything non-house, and I have to say, I'm loving the ease of Posterous. Thanks Posterous-people for creating an interface that lets me blather on to the world in .02 seconds, no HTML skillz needed! This could actually be a very bad thing in my case, as the slowness of Moveable Type forced me to rethink a blog post that shouldn't have made it on to the web more than a few times. So, um, here's to unedited rambling! I guess. I'll apologize to everyone in advance.
Anyway. How are y'all doing?
We've put a hold on refinishing the basement until we've made some more decisions about materials and design and such. And until our talented friend, TK, has time in his busy schedule to help us execute our ideas. TK has rescued us from a life of painfully slow work on the house that we'd entered into since the she-toddler was born. For that, we are extremely, EXTREMELY grateful. Plus, he is a designer at heart and is always willing to indulge us in our crazy ideas without rolling his eyes or sighing heavily. At least, not in front of us.
The basement is a puzzle for sure. We had never, ever, ever seen it empty. Because it was the MOST packed space in the house when we bought the place, we really had no idea of what the space looked like as a blank slate. So, when we finally emptied it out a few months ago, we were amazed at the size of it. It's ginormous. It is easily three times the size of my first Chicago apartment.
At first, we became dizzy with the possibilities. A refinished basement! Maybe a playroom? Workshop? Office?? INDOOR SWIMMING POOL??!!
Then we became practical and sized up what we were working with. A below-grade basement near a neighborhood that can get somewhat soggy. (Although we have had great luck in that respect.) Although dry 99% of the time, this basement will never be waterproof without a ton of money being thrown at it. So, although the swimming pool had potential by default, our shag carpet and bean bag chair dreams were dashed.
I researched flooring solutions frantically. I was leaning towards flexible membranes, but was less than enthusiastic about the high cost and need for professional installation. One day, as I was chatting with TK and Bryan about this (another friend who helps out TK on occassion), Bryan casually asked, "Why don't you consider deck tiles for the basement?"
Brilliant. Tiles that are raised up off of the floor allowing for tiny channels to divert any moisture should some get in, and allows air to circulate underneath (thus warming the floor surface). Individual tiles can be replaced if damaged, and they can be easily cleaned. I ordered a sample set from here and this is what they look like. Ironwood, flexible so that they can work with our slightly uneven floor. Strong, warm under foot. Can be installed by a regular Jane who only needs to have the skills to put a puzzle together. Currently, we're planning on painting the floor in garage epoxy and using these only in the spaces where we will have furniture and seating areas.
I'm a fan.
Amvona one deal gets past gmails spam blocker..
I am a big fan of leaving a persons email alone unless they overtly make the choice to receive. The reason is for me at least email is a big thing. It is basically the only way I connect with people. So when I go to my inbox and see some onedeal ad I am disapointed. I become angry when I send them two emails asking them to stop sending me spam and it is ignored. I mark as spam in gmail and still they get past it. You might say that I should click unsube but see that bothers me cause why should I have to tell them to unsub when I cannot remember ever subbing them. Somehow they got my email address and everyday they annoy the fuck out of me. I don't even look at the deals because frankly if they are using spam to sell I just cannot support them...
If you notice something annoying about a website please leave a comment.. I might even do a story on it.. they call me igebadia and this is the website where I yell at websites....http://cybersweetness.com please feel free to bitch me out on my app if it sucks..
Hey Santa app is live and Free for a limited time!
Christmas is coming and yes we all have a million things to do and all those gifts to sort out. Well Hey Santa is here to make it a little bit easier by suggesting the perfect gifts. From icon Pillows to custom made cupcake cars, it's all covered!
Download Hey Santa from iTunes.
Flaunting Socially Responsible Consuming
We are at an interesting crossroads in consumer culture. Where luxury purchases used to be the ultimate sign of affluence or, at least, aspiring affluence, more consumers now may be driven to make conspicuously conscious purchases. According to research co-authored by Aronte Bennett and mentioned in her MediaPost article, corporate social responsibility (CSR) seems to be becoming a strong motivator influencing consumers today – even in these bad economic times. As she put it:
In a variety of experiments, our research found that consumers like CSR-associated products for two distinct reasons.
First, the fact that these products send out highly visible, social signals to their friends, family and co-workers regarding their kindness and charitable nature.
Second, they like the more private, self-signaling potential associated with the purchases of these products, even when a strong public social signal is absent to others.
These consumers like the visibility of what they are doing and they also gain in self-regard. This is sounding familiar, like a whole other market – luxury.
continue reading.
Andrea Learned is a marketing dot-connector with a focus on gender and a longterm view on coming trends. Andrea's broad, colorful commentary can be found regularly on her blog, Learned on Women.
Welcome to FlutterScape Café. A blog for things hot and brewing
Hey Guys! We would like to welcome you all to FlutterScape.com's new and more laid-back site blog. We will be posting all things new and sizzling about Japan products, what we think interesting, and updates on what's brewing in development at FlutterScape. As the blog title suggests, just imagine this as your local café, sans-caffeine, a rendezvous for conversation where we can talk anything under the sun in a casual and friendly atmosphere.
Please visit us regularly. We will be posting (in details) what's new in our recent site update soon.
