Dick's Sporting Goods- my new fave store?!

Aside from the clever pun jokes, Dick's is for Chicks! Ok, I had to put one in there.  But seriously,  in my suburban life adventures, I have been frequenting Dick's Sporting Goods, and it is now my favorite store.  Why?  Well:

1. They have amazing women's clothing! Yes, athletic clothing FOR WOMEN that is thought out, fashionable, high quality, and of great selection.
I got a REEBOK printed two piece that is sporty and fun!

2: They have a women's trend shop with everything you never knew you needed:

I learned that I need cute colorful running pants, shirts with back interest, short shorts, and colorful running gear:

With So many brands and styles to choose from, whether you are an athlete or just want to look like one, Dicks has it all.

3.  They have an outdoors games section with all the fun ideas you need for an outdoor party:
From Can Jam to Baggo, all outdoor games over $19.99 are BOGO!

PetValu- $10 to bathe your dog in style!

Bath time for Jameson, our adopted North Shore Animal League dog, is NOT fun.   I mean, imagine if you hate water, then are shoved in a closed room and plunged into a tub.  My boyfriend holds her down while I try in vain to spray her with water and clean her with soap.  There is so much wriggling and fighting, it is a work out! At the end of the ordeal, the tub is filled with dog hair, and our pup rubs her wet fur all over the leather couch before we can catch her in a towel.  She is 26 pounds of stubborn determination!

Enter: PetValu.  Their self-serve dog wash ($10 a wash) is quite possibly the most amazing facility in my suburban life.  They provide everything you didn't even know you needed (see below)





Jameson and I enter the store: it is filled with yummy smelling treats, so she is not immediately scared.  Then, realization hits: we are taking a bath.  A helpful store employee corrals her behind the bathing area gate.  Then, we hoist her up into the MARBLE BATH.


 *image similar to my experience, but borrowed from the internet.

 Seriously, this is the lap of luxury.  We tether her to the wall so that she cannot frantically jump out of the tub.  Then, I get to wear a complimentary rubber coated apron to protect my clothes from the inevitable shake off water shrapnel.  We get a choice of shampoo.  I choose the oatmeal blend because it soothes dry skin.  There is a lovely hose to spray her down with.  When I start in with the soap,  Jamo finally relaxes- its  like a massage at a spa! What's not to like?  Also, as she is being washed she can see out into the store, so she does not feel AS trapped.

*not my dog, but similar experience...

Then.. its dryer time.  After toweling my pup off, I turn on the wall-mounted dryer.  For lack of proper terms, it has a tube attached with an end that looks like a hair dryer.  Jameson is TERRIFIED but she can't get too far because she is tethered in.  Once I start in with the high velocity dryer, it only takes a few minutes to blast the water off of her short fur.  When it's all done, I remove the tether and replace her leash.  The PetValu store employee gave her a treat for a job well done.  If only human life was THAT easy.


Then, I headed to the store part to get her a take home treat.  This dog has the LIFE.  With so many options, it was really hard to choose.  I settled on a realistic looking/ tasting? stick. I can always count on PetValu to have interesting choices.   By the way, she LOVED it... go figure.

Shop Small- Long Beach New York

I have recently discovered unique boutiques in Long Beach New York.  Just a reminder that small businesses are popping up everywhere, so shop where you live! Take a stroll and admire the entrepreneurial spirit!  Suggestions welcome!!

These shops are amazing sources of unique and lovely gifts of all different price ranges:

Momona Gallery

Beautiful hand crafted fair trade goods.  Most of the products sold here are made by women under fair labor conditions.  Ranges of gifts from cards, to candles, to clothing, to beautiful decor for the home. Something new and exciting at every glance.  Worth the trip! Plus, the shop owner is so passionate about what she does, it makes shopping there truly rewarding.

Frippery
Cute and funky accessories store: fun bracelets, necklaces and rings in the "beachy" spirit!

OOHLALA Boutique
Fun and girly clothing and accessories in a super cute environment.  I got one of these "Home" Sweatshirts- as seen on Shark Tank:

My Beach Baby
A little kids clothing and accessories store that also offers BABY YOGA! And art classes for little ones. I LOVE this idea so very much! These ladies are awesome!

FLYING TIGER - NEW TO NYC- BEST STORE EVER

My true New Yorker friend Rachel told me about a mecca of adorable and affordable kitchy items: FLYING TIGER!  The company is based in Copenhagen, and they just opened a NYC store on the corner of 21st St and 5th Ave.  And their website home page is animals taking a selfie with a selfie stick (only $6)

The Dutch designs are clever and humorous.  The prices can't be beat! Most items are under $10. The store design is ingenious.  It is set up as a maze-like path.  Low shelves make the store feel open, but you must walk by everything to get to the register!  So much to see.  Pictures explain it best.  Can't buy online, only in the store, but SO WORTH THE TRIP.

Here are some things that made me smile MOST:

Mustache lovers? Here's hangers, bike seat covers, wipe boards, magnets, etc! 

 

Knife block made of plastic blades of grass in the nature themed section.

 Cute and fun items for the home. 

"MAKE A FACE" Party favor boxes: $2

 

 Fish Themed Cake Decorations- $3

  Waterproof Shoe Covers for festivals!  $4

Hedgehog shaped tape dispenser to jazz up your office.  $3

 Pencil Sharpener that attaches to any water bottle: $1

Strawberry Calculator- $2

 Make Up Headband- For keeping your hair out of your face when you do your make up! $2

  Space Saving Angel Wing Scarf Hanger: $4

GOVBALL2015 through my eyes

I attended the Governor's Ball NYC 2015 concert last Sunday.  This is a weekend-long music festival on Randall's Island with music, food trucks, and over-sized board games galore.  Of course,  I was on the hunt for inspiring fashions.  What I soon realized, was that many girls opted for comfort over couture, and that cheeky humor reigned supreme.  Literally, there were girls sporting temporary tattoos by their derrieres that said "cheeky". 

While I was not able to photograph all of the madness, I did get some choice shots.  Here is the GovBall through my eyes: Enjoy!

*Also, if you attended, do you have any awesome pics or insights to share?!


Ode to NYC- subways, bridges, coffee, baseball, and PIZZA!

What's more New York than a George Costanza backpack?  I do not know!

A slice of Americana.

The lady in shades, and fanny packs at two o'clock!

Everyone is so casual...

But this guy is CAT-TASTIC!

There has to be at least ONE Frozen reference. Go Olaf!

The only way to not get LOST at GovBall- wear NEON! Total props to this duo for keeping it matching and interesting!

When in doubt, wear a George Washington shirt with a mustache, and neon shades! Total win!

Doggy Essentials- advice for Pup Parents

I am a proud pup parent.  I take my role seriously, and I enjoy chatting with other owners at the dog park and around town.  We chat about our little guys and what items we buy for them.  However, this is not going to be an article about frou frou sweaters, although they are so darn cute.   There are some things that I actually could not survive without!  Here are the top items to own if you have a dog:

1. Poop Bag Dispenser with refill bags. 
Instead of grabbing a random grocery bag and being left in the S#!t when your dog has to poop a second time, do yourself a favor and come prepared.  I attach a little plastic bone to the leash and have bags ready to dispense at all times. Also, lending a bag to a fellow pet owner in need is a great way to make friends!

2. The Furminator- deshedding brush
I tried wire bristle brushes, rubber brush tools, and even my own hair brush, but could not get my dog to sit still.  I even tried using a mitt with rubber "hair grabbers" on the end.  Nothing worked.  Then, my friend told me about The Furminator.  It is a steel fine-tooth comb with a handle, and it has an easy hair removal latch. My dog loves the feel of it brushing her, and I love not having her fur all over the couch.  They have different tools for dog size and dog hair length, so you can tailor the brush to your needs.

3. Harness.
This is a MUST have, especially if your dog is small and likes to pull.  Before harnessing my dog, I practically strangled her every time I tried to walk her on leash because she would pull like CRAZY to go in the direction of something she wanted to see.  I went through 5 different harnesses because she kept escaping her way out of them.  Finally, I found one that worked for me.  It is by Puppia, and it is soft foam around her neck and chest, so it does not hurt her.   Also, as a tip, never leave the harness on your dog when they are at home.  If they like to chew, they WILL eat through the straps!

What are your must-have pup products?

Darby Smart- a crafter's paradise

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own Etsy shop?  Do you have a creative urge to craft, but you are not sure where to find that outlet?  Darby Smart may be for you.  Darby Smart is a crafter's paradise.  Basically, they sell craft projects, but not the hot glue gun and macaroni kind.  These craft projects come straight from the minds of quirky young designers, and look fabulously professional.

One great example is the teacup candle.  What a cool idea.  Plenty of people may buy a pretty teacup but it just sits on the shelf. Why not turn it into a great smelling candle?  You can satisfy your crafting urge, learn a neat skill, and make an awesome item for yourself or a friend to enjoy.

 Here's now Darby is so smart: they show you the steps to each project and offer an easy way to buy all of the components from their site.  They also offer discounts, as well as link to other similar ideas.  I like that you can choose which items to buy, instead of being locked into a whole kit.

The best part is that Darby offers many opportunities: Work for them by selling your designs, sell merchandise that you have created, peruse finished products that people have posted and created in the Showroom, and learn about new techniques and ideas all on one site. 

Plus, their trend report section is out of this world and elevates crafting to a most professional level.

If you have any interest in DIY at all, check them out.  Life changing!

Love,

Shopahillic