Author Archives: The Jewish Lady

The Pet Pita: An Easier Way to Groom or Medicate Pets

Pets add a lot of joy to life, but grooming them sure does not. Recently, I was working on my Chihuahua’s nails and accidentally snagged the dremel in his long neck fur, resulting in a mishap that was very bad for both of us!  Ever since, he has been understandably scared whenever it’s time for a weekly nail trim. I don’t want Charlie to be fearful and certainly don’t want to rip his hair out again in the future, so I started looking for a device that would comfortably keep him in place during grooming. The Pet Pita solved our problem instantly.

Designed specifically to handle, medicate, groom, and carry cats and dogs, The Pet Pita is a convenient and affordable option. It can work in a variety of positions. What works best for us was placing Charlie’s legs into the front holes only which allowed him to remain seated on my lap during grooming.

What I loved: cute color combo of navy and orange, very thick cotton material that will stand up to the washing machine, really nice stitching that will not rip when you lift a pet and handle holes at the top are very helpful. The small size is pretty roomy for little dogs (Charlie is approximately 5 lbs).

After Charlie had his turn, Tommy was next up. My 4 month old kitten reluctantly agreed to participate and I did get a bit scratched in the process. Like most cats, he is very fussy when it comes to restraining. I think this could be really helpful for medicating an angry cat, provided there was a second person to assist. I definitely would’ve used it after Tommy’s surgery, to prevent him from licking the incision, if we’d had it back then.

The Pet Pita is available in two sizes and two colors that can accommodate large and small animals. To purchase one for your fur baby or to find more info, check out their website.

A Quiet New Year’s Eve

Since it’s supposed to be minus 6 degrees tonight—quite possibly the coldest New Year’s Eve ever—we’ve decided to stay home. Occasionally, we’ll attend a party or go to Boston to celebrate, but it’s just too cold to be venturing out. Nothing wrong with a quiet time at home, anyway.

On the menu is turkey subs, chips, peanut butter cookies and vanilla ice cream. (Yep, we’re having a pig out before I start my New Year diet!) Entertainment will be Stranger Things Season Two and the ball drop in Times Square, of course.

When I was younger, I had no trouble staying up because I’ve always been a night owl. I’d watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve habitually, including the after-hours dance party until 2:00AM and still keep going! Now, I nod off on the couch around 9:00PM; what an old lady, huh?

Here’s hoping 2018 is a year filled with health, happiness, and prosperity for all. Happy New Year, everyone!

 

How are you celebrating tonight?

Super Savings Saturday – 12/30/17

Welcome to another edition of Super Savings Saturday. Can you believe 2017 is coming to a close? Couponing and deal hunting was fairly good this year, overall, but rebate apps and mobile coupons seem to be taking over. Almost obsolete are the mail-in rebate programs and newspaper coupons that were required when I started back in 2008. Like anything else, couponing continues to change over time. In some ways, I preferred the old system, but we have to adapt, regardless.

This week, it was all about meat and produce. I love stocking up on healthy food when it’s on sale.

Shaw’s:

2 boxes Halo mandarin oranges, sale price $4.99. I used 2 $0.50 manufacturer’s coupons, doubled. Total: $7.98! (An excellent price for 10 Lbs of fruit.)

Boneless, skinless chicken breast, sale price $1.49/Lb. Total: $11.96!

5 Avocados, sale price $1.00. Total: $5.00! (Turned into yummy homemade guacamole.)

4 Lucerne cheddar cheese bars, sale price $1.50. Total: $6.00! (I would’ve bought much more, however, the limit was 4. I may go back later in the week if there’s time.)

Eye Round roast, sale price $2.49/Lb. Total: $8.04!

3 English cucumbers, sale price $1.00. Total: $3.00! (These make a really good side dish. Simply dice and marinate in Italian dressing.)

2 peppers, one red and one green, sale price $1.00. Total: $2.00!

The MyMixx weekly freebie was for Ripe Craft juice, but my store was all out. Otherwise, I was pleased to find everything on my list.

Mexican-Jewish Food Fusion

Whenever Jewish food is discussed, most people imagine typical roast chicken and brisket meals or Deli fare. Pati Jinich, a Jewish lady that grew up in Mexico, is fusing the two cultures to create Jewish-Mexican cuisine.

She hosts a popular show on PBS, Pati’s Mexican Table, which I had watched—and enjoyed!—for quite a while, having no idea she was Jewish. It was a Tablet article that filled me in on her background and unique cooking style.

There is a surprisingly large Jewish population in Mexico City. Most of the families are of European descent and they’ve blended Ashkenazi cooking with spicier ingredients that are common South of the Border.

Take gefilte fish for an example. Instead of the cold, tasteless, and often inedible mess most of us know, Pati’s version is a red snapper poached with tomatoes, capers, chilies, peppers, and olives. (Sounds way better and much more appetizing to me and it looks really nice, too.)

Also included was a Matzo Ball soup with Jalapeno peppers and mushrooms that sounds delicious. I love to see different takes on classic recipes, especially for holiday dishes! (Yes, the traditional fare can be wonderful, but it’s not sacrilege to offer something new for a change.)