Spring Cleaning with Adams Flea & Tick!

(This post is sponsored by Adams Flea & Tick, all experiences are mine and mine alone.) 

Time to get the house ready!!

Hello my friends, spring is here and it’s about that time to start spring cleaning. For most people this is just inside of the house, but we do things a little differently, we like to do the same to the outside as well. We start off by pressure washing all the sidewalks, driveway, patios and porch. The we wash down the siding on the outside of the house, kind of like you wash a car. This keeps the white siding looking bright and new, then we move onto the yard to get it ready for summer. We make sure to fertilize the grass, and spray all of the rose bushes for bugs. Otherwise the beetles will have all the leaves looking like swiss cheese by June…they sure are destructive little things. Then there are the fleas, another annoying summer pest we have to worry about because of Piper.

(They love to nest in the soft plushy areas which are perfect for the Carpet & Home Spray)

During the summer we are out and about doing a ton of activities and many of them include other dogs. We go to the dog park on a regular basis, we go to the dog festival, and we love to go on hikes up by Liberty Dam. All of these activities carry the risk of Piper coming home with one of these nasty little critters on her, and we want to make sure that we are protected in every way so that our home doesn’t become a flea infestation. How fleas work is they attach themselves to your dog or cat (the host) and as gross as it sounds suck their blood. Then the flea will lay eggs all over your pup, then he or she walks around your home dropping these eggs in every area of your home, kind of like a little salt shaker. All over your rugs and floors, on your favorite chair, in his or her bed, on your bed, and even in the yard and car. Then these little critters hatch and jump on a host and start the cycle all over again, until your home, car and yard are swarming with fleas. This is why flea-proofing your pup, yard and house is so important. They are thee nastiest little critters in so many ways and i just don’t want them chewing on us or the dog, so I take steps to keep them far far away from us, Piper and the house. I keep a small arsenal on hand at all times, and we ONLY use Adams Flea & Tick products which we so conveniently get from the pet section of Walmart. The products consist of both immediate and preventive measures, because let’s face it all summer we are around other dogs. Whilst we can’t control fleas on everyone else’s dogs, we can’t stay held up in the house all summer either. With these products I can calm our fears and keep us all and the house pest free, that way we can enjoy fun summer and spring events like Pawject Runway a fun little pup fashion runway show that raises money for Barcs. Every year we love to go and help support Barcs, it’s always teaming with pups of all kinds from all over. 

(Adams Flea & Tick products are very easy to find in the pet section of Walmart)

I basically use the same routine each year and it starts off with a bath using the Adams Flea & Tick Cleansing Shampoo, this gets Piper clean, smelling fantastic and flea free. Next up I put the Adams Flea & Tick Collar Plus for Dogs & Puppies on Piper as a preventive measure, to keep any future fleas from trying to catch a ride. I always find that being preventive is much better than reactive, because it keeps it from happening all together saving me a lot of stress and headaches. Then there's the Adams Flea & Tick Spray which is wonderful for spot treatments and the Carpet & Home Spray is great to keep your home flea free. The flea and tick spray is great for those days we go on hikes in the woods by the dam, Piper loves to explore all the trails with us for hours and hours. While it’s lots of fun, I never forget all of the risks that these days can offer when it comes to fleas and ticks. Due to Adams Flea & Tick products we are able to enjoy our summer of fun activities without a care in the world. They also carry great products to spray your yard with, we use them too. 

Right after we finish planting the annuals and turning the mulch in the flower boxes, we spray down the outer yard and Piper’s area as well. She loves to run in and out of her doggie door into her yard, she also loves to lay in the grass spread eagle and sun bath. It’s the cutest thing in the world to see her enjoy her little space in such a comfy manner. By the time we finish up the yard everything looks quite beautiful, and it’s just in time for our annual family cookout. It’s so much fun to relax with the family, eat delicious food, talk, and just enjoy each others company. Yes it’s a ton of work, but nothing is more satisfying then pride in your work and home. After all it’s home, our very own little part of the world, and it’s a reflection of us as people, so we have to keep it looking nice and clean, as well as pest and flea free. The only thing left to worry about is those darn deer eating all my flowers….I definitely need a cry emoji right about now…lol!!

Well here’s to a beautiful flea free summer with Adams Flea & Tick Products!!

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I Answer My Most Asked Question!

This post is sponsored by Sweat Coin, and all opinions and experiences are mine and mine alone!

Staying Fit & Healthy!!

Hello everyone I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. As most of you know on Instagram I’m known as the Dessert Diva, I also have a crazy sweet tooth. Eating sweets is literally a hobby of mine, and one question I have gotten many times over is what I do to keep in shape? How do you keep yourself at the size you are now and eat so many sweets and high calorie items? Well I’ve decided to finally answer that question, but let’s not get it twisted I’m by no means a fitness blogger or health fanatic, I just stick to my daily routine to keep myself fit and healthy. Heart disease and high blood pressure also run in my family, so it’s best just to do what I can to prevent those issues. As I always say prevention is much better than reaction. There are a few tools that I keep at my disposal, these few things assure that I always get in a good workout.

#1 The right workout gear, I know you’re thinking what is she talking about? Well think about it, you definitely aren’t wearing an aerobic shoe for running. You have to have the right gear for the right activities, I also know that when I wear gear I look and feel amazing in, it always puts me in the mood to put out my best which gives me the best results. 

#2 You MUST remain consistent, because consistency is the key to good results. I definitely recommend that you make a workout schedule and stick to it NO MATTER WHAT!! It’s the constant hard work that conditions your body to get to a healthy place and remain there as long as you keep putting the work in. 

#3 A good fitness watch and (or) app, I use an both an Apple Watch, the Nike fitness app. It was the first one that I ever used and liked because it gave me very specific and detailed info about my runs. The apps make a record of each step, the route you took, how fast you walked or ran, how many calories you burned and much much more. With these apps I’m able to keep track of all my workouts and set daily goals for myself, that way I can try and beat them the following week, or take new routes to see which is the best, or to keep it from getting boring.

#4 Last but certainly not least, in fact it’s the most important tool I use….Sweat Coin!! This app is amazing because it literally tracks each step you take and pays you for it….YES you read correctly it pays you. At the end of each day the Sweat Coin app compiles all the steps you took and I'll say it again ..pays you for them. Then once you get your desired amount you can either transfer it to your bank, your PayPal or use it towards some of the amazing offers that have from day to day on the app. 

My daily routine consists of my morning run which is 3 big laps of the 5 blocks that surround my neighborhood, one lap is about a mile. I remember when I started I could barely run the one block, I had to stop and walk a few times before I could finish. (I also realized #1 that I needed the right running shoes and running gear. If you don't have the right shoes with the right support you can start to get muscle injuries and much much more). Now when the laps are done I push myself to run just a little bit more, eventually my plan is to get up to 5 miles per run and I’m not that far off. Then there's my evening workout, I do a simple cardio routine for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes long, depending on how I feel. I always make sure to get it in well before I eat dinner, I don’t know why that is but it’s just always been my schedule so I’ve stuck with it. Remember consistancy is the key! My next cardio goal is 20 minutes, and I know if I’m determined enough that I can definitely do it as long as I stick to my guns, wear the right footwear/active gear, and let’s not forget.. "Keep my Sweat Coin active". Even if you don’t run like I do you can still use Sweat Coin because it’s counting your daily steps which you’ll be making regardless, so why not get paid for them. 

At the end of each day I love to look at the app and see how many steps i took. With each day that passes I push myself in simple ways like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking a little further away from the entrance so I have to walk a bit more. It’s amazing how this app pushes me to be the best version of me that I can. 

       

It’s super easy to use, just grab the Sweat Coin app here: https://sweatco.in

Sign up and wallah the app does the rest, all you have to do is get those feet moving.

Well I hope I didn’t bore you guys too much with my daily workout deets, I just wanted to answer one of thee most asked questions that I get. If you have any questions about me feel free to ask them below, who knows maybe I’ll answer your question next. 

Have a Fabulous Weekend Dolls and Remember to Treat Yo’Self!!

PS…Don’t forget to check out todays Dessert Diva post on Instagram, every Saturday I post an amazing ice-cream cone shot from one of the delish ice-cream spots in my area. 

Don't forget to follow and turn on my notifications because I have some HUGE giveaways running as we speak and to come...right now someone has the chance to win a 4 night/5 day vacation to Maldives. Then there are 4 other winners for stuff like an iPhone x, and lots of cash!!

http://www.instagram.com/danastargazerttruitt 

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New Product Alert!!

This post is sponsored by Keranique, all experiences and opinions are 100% mine and mine alone 

~My Keranique Review!~

Hello Luvs, I hope you all has a wonderful week! 

(Quick heads up, this blog post will start off a bit different from most because I'm having technical issues with my platform, I can't seem to load any more pictures in, which is annoying the heck out of me. I was able to get two up so for the time being, as soon as I get some help from technical I'll edit them in.) 

Either which way I have some amazing news for you guys, I recently got the opportunity to try out a product called Keranique. It's an amazing little system to help you achieve thicker, fuller, more lustrous hair. As most of you know I just turned 40 last year, and I have started noticing that my hair isn't as full and thick as it used to be, especially in the front area where my hairline is around my bangs. I also have very fine shafts, so my hair doesn't have a lot of body or natural fullness. Let's just say I have had my eye on a product of this nature for the past year since I noticed the change, so I was very excited to get the chance to try it out. What Keranique does is help treat hair loss by pairing up a clinically proven hair regrowth system, with legit premium hair care for beautiful, thicker, fuller, and healthier-looking hair. There is the shampoo, conditioner, the lift and repair, and lastly the hair regrowth. I have been using them for just under a month and can see a very noticeable difference in my hair. It's for sure fuller and wow does it shine, I plan to continue using it and can't wait to post an update when I hit the 60 day mark. I'll give you a quick little breakdown of what each product does and how it works. We'll start off with the Scalp Stimulating Shampoo it's super easy to use, just apply it like your normal shampoo and let it sit for 1 to 2 mins before rinsing. It helps to remove build up, preparing your hair/scalp to receive the minoxidil and other treatments. Then there's the cream-based volumizing conditioner, it provides moisture without weighing your hair down. Then we have the key product in the system which is the Hair Regrowth Treatment with 2% monoxidil, an FDA approved ingredient that is clinically proven to help regrow hair in women. Immediately hair is left feeling softer and it looks voluminous due to Keranique's proprietary Keratin Amino Complex Infused shampoo and conditioner. Then lastly there is the Lift and Repair Treatment spray, it works just like a lift spray. It seals your split ends, strengthens your hair shafts and protects against heat damage. I love using it because it helps adds lift and volume, as well as protecting my hair during the blow drying process. All in all this system is amazing, my hair has never felt so healthy. For more info on the Keranique system go to their website: www.Keranique.com.
**If you already use Keranique I would love to hear about your results and how this system worked for you, I may contact you to use your input in my 60 day update!!**

Have a Wonderful Weekend!! 

PS...I will be going to Fashion Week in NYC on the 9th through the 11th, if there i somewhere you would love to see in the travel post let me know below. I just may go and include the details. 

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A New Restaurant!!

A New Baltimore Favorite!

About two weeks ago Rob and I discovered a great little restaurant called La Food Marketa, it's off of Green Spring not far from my house, I would say about 6-8 minutes away. The exact location is 2620 Quarry Lake Dr, Baltimore MD 21209, I'm also going to note the phone number because this place is always packed, and you definitely have to call ahead and make a reservation during the evening shift. We got there at 5pm and there were people already waiting for the doors to open, and i ish you not within 15 minutes the parking lot and ever seat in the restaurant were full.The phone number is: (410) 415-0606. What I did was make a reservation through OpenTable, it's a great little app that let's you make a reservation via your cellphone for just about any restaurant, anywhere. It's so convenient and it's also free, not to mention it will find you different types or restaurants in your immediate area. Incase you aren't familiar with the area, it's definitely come in handy for me many times over. La Food Marketa in particular is open for breakfast and lunch from 11am to 2pm, then they close for a couple hours, and re-open at 5pm to 9pm or 10pm, depending on what day of the week it is. Check out their website (La Food Marketa Website) for the exact hours of operation on what days. As you can see in the image above we started off with the chips and dip trio, it comes with queso, guacamole, and salsa, with the perfect tortilla chips, they're super thin and crispy, just how i like 'em. Rob really loved the queso cheese dip, it's one of his favorite Mexican appetizers as long as its the creamy kind. The type where they actually melt the cheese, then it gets hard and cold in like 5 minutes and turns into this thick, gooey ball and is no more good. We tend to stay away from that type, the consistency of the queso we like is more like nacho cheese.

I was super excited to find that they serve drinks, so I ordered myself a strawberry mojito to go with my chips and queso. WOW was it good!! We enjoyed the chips and dips for some time while we waited for our entrees. I ordered the Peruvian Fajitas and Rob got the Rockfish, needless to say we were both overly pleased with each dish. Mine as you can see below came with the Peruvian spiced chicken, some refried beans, rice, and a cabbage and onion mixture. Then the dish was topped with a delish and super flavorful sauce, sided with lime dip and a couple of soft warn tortillas. OMGoodness the entire dish was amazing, and the chicken was cooked to perfection, Rob said the same about his, and it's always super hard to please him where food is concerned because he is very pick. Happily he exclaimed how it was cooked just right so it was in turn very flaky. The fish itself as you can see in the picture sat atop a lovely little stew that he described as very flavorful.

(Peruvian Chicken Fajitas)

(Rockfish)

Let's just say that by the end of the meal we were both stuffed and happy as can be, I didn't even save room for desert which isn't like me. We will definitely be going back for more, as a matter of fact we have already been back once since this trip here. If you live in Maryland or DC even, it's definitely worth the trip to check out La Food Marketa, it's a great little atmosphere, and the staff is super nice, very helpful and on point. You can't ask any more from a restaurant, and to top it all off the price point is perfect. It's more than affordable, my only regret is that I didn't save room for dessert because they had some great choices. If you know of any good restaurants in the Baltimore area, or anywhere in Maryland for that matter, that you would love to see me review definitely let me know by commenting below. I'm always looking for good spots to share with everyone. You never know it may head up my next post, and I will definitely give you credit for the referral. 

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to follow Piper and I on social media!

Dana's Instagram 

Piper's Instagram 

Twitter 

Facebook

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Getting the yard ready for spring!

Welcome Spring!!

We started to beautify the yard for the summer, we decided to get as much color as possible to make it stand out. I love lots of pinks, yellows and purples. I also wanted to get plants that flower all summer. I have bought some that literally bloom once or twice then for the rest of the summer they’re just green leaves, which is very blah. So this time I did a little research (by asking the sales person 🤣) what will remain colorful and bloom the whole summer season. I planted about 25 hibiscus plants last summer, and even though it says they would come back they still haven’t. I have been watching them and still I see no signs of life which is disappointing. They are an amazing plant and they bloom huge beautiful flowers all summer. As annoyed as I am they didn’t come back, I will still be buying them again for the season, I was so impressed by their beauty and how easy they we’re to care for. I have a heavy deer population in my area and they destroy everything, it’s quite apparent that they love Hibiscus as much as I do.

So in my quest for flowers to put in the front and back yard I asked are there any that are colorful that they will not eat? Turns out there is really no flower they won’t eat, but there are some they don’t like that much. Marigold, Begonia and Zinnia are just a couple, they’re also pretty and full of color. I think being paired with some well rotated deer repellant that we should do much better this summer with keeping them at bay. Nothing is more heartbreaking than working your butt off all spring to nurture and grow gorgeous flowers, which in turn make your home look beautiful, then coming out one morning to see it all gone and destroyed by a dam deer. Last summer they hit all of the Hibiscus bushes by the patio and there was nothing left but broken branches almost to the root. They even ate the green on the walnut trees where they could reach, they literally destroyed all of our hard work. They’re a common problem that a lot of homeowners have to deal with, and mine is 10x worse since there is a deer reserve 6 blocks from my house.

Sometimes I feel like I should just give up, but then I realize I can’t. I am proud of my home so I want to make it beautiful by taking care of it and my yard. I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone in feeling this way. Now granted I was so mad when they ate everything last summer that for a couple days I did nothing but research ways to keep the deer away, I even thought about getting a privacy fence, but that would just close the yard in and ruin the open and free feel to it. I found out that there are companies you can pay that will come out once a week or every two weeks and spray a deer repellant, then the next time they switch it up a bit, so on and so on, it seems they get used to one spray, so they keep altering it to keep it effective. In combination with the flowers they don’t like, I think my yard will stand a chance. So that’s my game plan, I’ll definitely update you guys on how it goes, and how it looks once it’s all in and in full bloom


I can’t wait to post pics of the yard once she’s in full bloom and looking amazing, have a wonderful weekend and please feel free to comment with your opinions on he post, I always love hearing what you guys think,
💋💋

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Almost 1 with Milk-bone!

This blog post is sponsored, but all experiences and opinions are 100% mine and mine alone. Enjoy and please feel free to comment on what you think.

I'm a "BIG GIRL" Now!

I can’t believe that Piper is almost 1 year old, it’s just amazing to think we have only had her for a matter of months compared to the feeling like we have had her for years. I have been thinking up ideas for a birthday party to celebrate our amazing and short time together so far, plus it's National Pet Month and you know I have to spoil my baby girl! I got the idea to throw here a little party to celebrate it together just her and I, that way I can spoil her all by myself….lol!! I only buy her the best when it comes to treats, as you guys know I’m super picky about what I feed her. It has to be something she loves that I feel good about feeding her. That’s why we love to get her Milk-Bone® dog treats from Target, it's a brand name that has been in my household since Iwas a kid.

We always love going to Target - it’s our one stop shop for Piper’s pets supplies, and just about anything else you can think of. The Target staff is always super helpful, I couldn’t find the item I was looking for, so an employee named Pamela glady went into the back to find it for me. While I was eating for her Ilooked over the shelf of Milk-Bone products, do you know how big their selection is? I had no idea, they have a little bit of everything, in all sizes for all dogs in all flavors. It’s amazing how much care they put into making sure our dogs are happy and healthy. In my search to spoil Piper I saw the coolest item, it’s called the Milk-Bone® Happy Birthday Canister. Boy oh boy is it an enormous treat for your dog, I now Piper absolutely loves it. 

It includes an assortment of 5 yummy flavors such as bacon, beef, chicken, sausage, and turkey flavors. I think bacon is Piper’s favorite, because it seems to be the one she goes for most…. granted it’s not the only one…lol! They’re wholesome treats that come from the heart, and they’re Made in the USA. Did you know that Milk-Bone dog treats help clean teeth and freshen breath? They also include 12 vitamins and minerals. Me either! Until I did a little research on their website. I just love the tin container because everything stays fresh, and it also keeps the crumbs from escaping all over my pantry shelves. To put together the entire adorable birthday theme I got some gold balloons, one was a number 1 because Piper will be 1 of course. Then I grabbed some matching plates and the tiniest little birthday hat you’ve ever seen, I’m super surprised she didn’t go crazy to try and get it off. She’s not that great with wearing stuff on her head, but I have to say she’s getting much much better. I remember Nunah would let me put anything on her, and she would just let me pose her. She just didn't care as long as she was pleasing Mama. What an angel, I definitely miss the heck out of her. The one good thing is if Piper knows I have a cookie for her she’ll do whatever I ask, so as you can imagine quite a few Milk-Bones were eaten during the production of this shoot. To create the perfect little set I took her favorite spot on my faux fur blanket where she just loves to snooze, and stacked the gold balloons, then I stood the #1 upright. My husband and I just giggled, she sat there all adorable with her teeny tiny birthday hat on one ear.

She does a deep head tilt whenever I say the word cookie, that’s what we call dog treats in our house. There are a couple words that get a head tilt out of Piper, words like walkies, bye-byes, cookie, go for a ride, and let me tell you it’s the cutest little thing in the world. No matter where we go there’s always someone that approaches us to say hello, as they start to talk she gives this super inquisitive look ,and just tilts her head back and forth. She always makes it seem like she’s paying attention with 110% of her brain power, I’ll have to share the video with you guys on Instagram, you are going to love it. There are so many things about Piper that I love, she makes me smile all day. One of the ways I show her my appreciation and love for all the happiness she brings me, is to get her the treats she truly loves. Milk-Bone® Mini Dog treats and the fun and festive Milk-Bone®Happy Birthday Canister. The Minis are only 5 calories per bone, so that means you can treat your little cutie more, and there are over 200 treats per box.

Yeah as you can see she is pretty smitten with her Milk-Bone dog treats, and as long as she loves them I'll keep buying them. Do you buy Milk-Bones for your pup? If not you should, you definitely can't go wrong with them, it’s a brand we trust and recommend 100%. Give them a go, your dog will love you for it, and so will his or her tummy. Then again so will your wallet because the price point is perfection, not to mention the savings you get when you pick them up at Target. Plus check out these awesome Cartwheel deals! 

○ Milk-bone: 10% off any Milk-Bone dog treats

○ Pup-Peroni: 15% off any Pup-Peroni dog treats

○ Milo’s Kitchen: 15% off any Milo’s Kitchen dog treats

○ Canine Carry Outs: 15% off any Canine Carry outs dog treats

Have a Wonderful Week Everyone!!

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My Ocean City MD Trip!

Our Trip to Ocean City, Maryland

Hey guys I want to share some of the beautiful image from our little Ocean City trip this past weekend. It's a little Ocean side town in Maryland that I spent many summer weekends at as a kid. It's only a 3hr drive from my house and this time of year it's half closed because it's off season, which always means we have the whole beach and boardwalk to ourselves. I really loved the morning sunrises over the water, with the seagulls flying around. It really is more than stunning view with such a relaxing soundtrack of the waves crashing in on the beach all day and night. 

(The 6:15 am sunrise off the balcony of our hotel room.)

We stayed at the Dunes Manor Hotel as we always do, the rooms are clean and roomy with an ocean view, not to mention the staff is always amazing. The one thing I love about the Dunes is every time I walk into the lobby/hotel no matter when it always smells so good. Then have a huge room where you can hang out and relax, have a few drinks and listen to some music being played on the piano. They also have an in-house restaurant, and a huge back deck that faces the ocean. All the times we stayed there I have never had an problem, and they've never given issues about brining a service dog. As you can see there s a bright fresh vibe all throughout the hotel, which is just what I'm looking for because I'm one of those people that hates sleeping anywhere but my own bed. I guess it's the idea that other people slept there before me, so it helps when they're on top of the whole cleaning situation.

After we checked in to the hotel and got settled, we went out and ventured around to see what was going on, but like I said it's off season so only a few all year round spots where still open. We walked the beach, checked out a few stores and grabbed some caramel popcorn from Dolle's. It's an amazing little candy spot that's been there as long as I can remember, they have the most amazing caramel popcorn. We had some boardwalk pizza and Rob retreated back to the room for a nap, seems the 3.5 hour drive left him tad sleepy, so I took the time to get in some me time. I pulled out my beach blanket and enjoyed some Natty Bo, Crab Shack Shandy on the beach just enjoying the waves, it was so relaxing!! 

The first night we ate at a restaurant called Touch Of Italy, it's a little Italian joint that turned out to be pretty darn good. I had ravioli and Rob got the salmon. They had cases of all kinds of yummy stuff, but you know it was the sweet that caught my eye...lol...because everything was so colorful and beautiful. As you can see Piper more than helped me make my selection, she's always front and center when food is involved. 

The 2nd day was much like the 1st, a lot of walking around and just relaxing. We stopped into BJ's On The Beach to meet my mom for lunch, she lives just outside of Ocean City so she drove up for a bit so we could get together. All in all it was just a quick 2 night stay to escape the everyday grind and recharge, I think these little trips are super important and definitely a must. Otherwise I fear I would go koockoo...lol! Have you ever been to Ocean City MD? If so whats your favorite thing to do while you're there or favorite place to eat? We plan to go back soon once the season starts and everything opens up, so I would love to hear your ideas and faves!!

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