Monday, January 26, 2009

Baby It's Cold Outside..

I just had to share this, I think it is hilarious and cute at the same time. I was browsing ety and found this seller who knits this adorable dog hats! I just had to get Lila one because I knew it would be so cute. And they're super reasonable too.
Her shop can be found at Simon's Designs
I think that it'll be so cute to have Lila wear this for walks. I need to get her used to it though. Her and Maka thought it was a toy so she wanted to get it off and chew on it.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A Wonderful Group of Ladies

Just thought I'd take a minute to share a wonderful group of women that I'm a part of. It's a yahoo group called Unique Women in Business. It's a group for all types of women who run their own business. Whether it be on etsy, artfire, Mary Kay, tupperware, anyone is invited. Here is a link to the yahoo group Unique Women in Business

There is just one requirement to be a member and that is to make one purchase a month from a member of the group. But there is no minimum amount to be spent. At first I wasn't sure if I would want to do this, but in all reality, I've bought things I would have bought anyways. I bought soap from Anita who is a member Anita's Crafty Creations and there's plenty of other things to buy. Like pet toys from me, jewelry from many members, candles, paper cards, and so much more. It really isn't that hard to find what you want to buy. And I love knowing that I'm supporting someone who is like me and is trying to be successful with their business.

It's so much more than a group to just buy from. I've gotten advice on my etsy store, they tweet in twitter about my products to their followers, I've been in many treasuries on etsy made up by UWIB members and they're all just a great group of women!

And actually, right now we're giving away a free ad spot on the blog. See this post if you'd like to enter UWIB blog giveaway
There are a lot of followers of the blog, so it's a great opportunity.

If you do decide to join, feel free to use me as who referred you. And your purchase from any of my websites: Inu Inspirations Camphor Chins etsy or Camphor Chinchillas will count as your month's purchase.

Just thought I'd share since I've had so much fun with the group! :)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Oh Puppies..


Look at these eyes! Haha I just had to share this picture of the girls. I was eating a snack this evening (nachos to be exact) and I had an audience. It probably didn't help that I had given them a piece of a chip earlier as I was preparing the nachos.

I just think it's so cute with them watching me so intently! Lila never used to beg. I had taught her that it wouldn't get her anything. And so if she would ignore me and go lay down, sometimes she would get a piece. But, since Maka has moved in, she feels the need to join in the begging. Such bad habits haha. Thankfully we don't allow them to beg at dinner, so it isn't so bad.

Although I am glad the girls get along so well. At first poor Maka was terrorized by my puppy Lila who always wanted to play. Now that it's been about 2 months since Maka moved in, they get along fine and play well together. I think Lila enjoys having someone to bother all the time. She reminds me of the littler sister. She's constantly picking up toys and walking around with them and chomping on them in front of Maka as if to say "Look at me! I know you wanna play with this!"
They are just too funny.

Monday, January 12, 2009

All about Chinchillas

I realize that I haven't really posted much about my other store, Camphor Chinchillas. My store can be found at Camphor Chins I have toys and supplies, everything your chinchilla could want!

I'm not sure how many people reading have chinchillas, but they really make great pets. Not necessarily for small children, since they don't like to be held generally, and they tend to be more nocturnal. But, if you don't want a pet like a dog, they are great! My first chinchilla, Chibi, got me addicted to them. Here she is in all her Chibi glory


That is the face I always get when I go by their cages. She is always wanting attention and loves to be scratched on her chin and behind her ear. She is rare for a chin to want attention this much. My other girls love me, but not nearly as much as Chibi.

Chinchillas can actually live up to 20 years. I'm hoping that mine make it that long. But Chibi was actually born from two petstore chinchillas which makes her future uncertain. It'd be like breeding two dogs you got from the local pound. You have no idea of their background and whether or not they're likely to get a genetic defect. So she could get malocclusion which is abnormal growth of their teeth which can be genetic. I hope not, but it's always a possiblity when getting an animal from a petstore or a person who just breeds anything.

I can't talk about just Chibi though. Here are my other girls.
This is MuShu. She's a mosaic and is my second friendliest chin.


Then comes Mei, who is my oldest. I bought her from a large ranch that actually pelts their chinchillas. I don't necessarily agree with this, and felt like I was saving her life in some ways. She likes me, but tends not to like others as much.


Then my youngest, Kona, who is a black velvet. She is my most skittish and won't really come to people. She will take treats from me, but doesn't like to be held at all. She is a diva, and although she is half the size of her cagemate, Mei, she rules the cage! She steals treats and is always first in line for her twigs!


And then to leave the post, I will put one more picture of Chibi. Here she is enjoying her scratches! Isn't she the cutest thing?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

I'm looking for a Safe House

I know that everyone likes to read about personal stuff every now and again, so just thought I'd share one of my favorite restaurants. If anyone is ever in Milwaukee WI, the SafeHouse is a must. It's a local restaurant that me and my sister discovered years ago. We first went there when she went to college by Milwaukee.

The basis of the restaurant and bar is that it's based on a spy safe house. You have to know a password to get in, and if you don't, they make you do something silly to get in. When you try to get into the restaurant, you enter into a place that looks like a weird old office with no door to get into the restaurant. So if you haven't been there before, it's a little confusing. But at night there is a person there to ask for the password. Don't worry if you don't know it. They'll just make you dance like a tapdancer, do the chicken dance, or do some other silly act. And just so you know, you're on camera! And everyone inside the restaurant can watch you do your act. It's really hilarious

The whole inside of the restaurant is decked out in spy theme and there are tons of little nooks and crannies to discover. To get out, you have to go through a telephone booth and enter a code. Truly a fun time! I recommend the burger, they're really good there.

So here are some pics from our most recent trip down to Milwaukee to vist the Safe House!

Me and my boyfriend


My sister and her husband


Me and my sister exiting through the tunnel



These pictures don't give a good idea of the uniqueness of this place, but it is so fun! If you're in the area, definitely go there for dinner.