Corn on da Cob!

Today, Mommy and Daddy had some veggies and corn on the cob for lunch. Of course we didn't get any until like, a LOT later. But we made the most of it.

Yeah yeah, I let Dixie have some.

We actually shared a LOT today! We were both hungry!

Then I stole it from Mommy. LOL LOL!!!!

All in all, the BBQ was a success.

"Pug" Cani in Italia

A few years ago (2005) I studied abroad in Italy (Sicily, more specifically, the most under-rated part of Italy for studying abroad) and was, even back then, obsessed with pugs. It was back when I was in college and Oliver was still alive. Surprisingly, in about 5 weeks, I managed to run into MULTIPLE pugs in Taormina- a town in Sicily, probably the most beautiful place on earth. (Go ahead- see for yourself!)

I had barely learned Italian at the point of my first run-in with a pug (I ended up getting a B in the class!), but I still managed to squeak out something like "ho un simile cane," which I think means "I have that kind of dog." This was dog #1:

His name was something with an "O", which I remember because it sounded like Oli, my dog's nickname. I wish I remembered, I think it was like "Oldo" or something.

Pug #2 had an "M" name (it was a long time ago, people!) and was quite cute. I saw it many many times but the owners thought I was crazy and would walk swiftly away before I could take a photo.

Pug #3 was named Elvis, we found him while sunbathing on Isola Bella.

His mommy wasn't Italian (I don't think- she spoke GREAT English and her dog's name is Elvis...) so we talked about pugs and she let me pet him. The whole time he just chilled under her chair!

Pug #4 was seen out during my last night in Taormina. I was at a bar and all of a sudden noticed two things- 1) a pair of fabulous shoes, very Italian! 2) a pug. In a BAR.

By this point my Italian was great so we talked about the pug a little. Her name was something like "Bibite" which means "drinks" in Italian, but I think it just sounded like that, and I associated it with the closest Italian word to it that I knew.

What a cute little chubby pug!!!! I really miss Italy... at least I know there are pugs there for me when I go back. Has anyone else found any pugs (or dogs of your kind) while traveling far, far away?

Doggie Crack

I promise that we do not bake our doggies crack-laced treats... but still, they seem addicted.

This is Brian giving them the treats I baked (from DIXIE'S RECIPE!) Notice Sophie smacking Dixie away right in the beginning. I swear, it's like pug crack! Soon, they'll be selling their collars just to buy treats...

SNPM Challenge 3...

Hi pugs, terriers, and the like:

It's Sophie. I apologize for Dixie's dumbness yesterday. Mommy is home today and is BORING and tired so I am writing a quick entry to announce the SNPM week 3 challenge.

The challenge is: "I am soooo sleepy!"

Notice how fierce I look while being sleepy, but also notice how my left eye is just sliiiiightly open, looking out for photographers like Mommy who might take my photo.

Good luck getting your photos in! We had like, HALF the amount of models last week, so if you missed last week, you can still play! We understand it was a busy holiday weekend.

Send your pictures to PugandBugg@yahoo.com! Can't wait to see all of you being cute and fierce and snuggly! Have a pugalicious day!

Dixie's Cookun Skool

Hi dis iz Dixie. I iz teachen yoo about da cookun. I cookd sum pumkin treets.

First yoo bye da ingreediants.

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/8 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter flavored crisco

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup buttermilk

Mix da dry ingredients, den add da crisco. Beat da eggs in another bowl, den add da buttermilk and pumpkin. Den, pour da wets into da drys. Roll into reelly small balls and smoosh a little bit (I forgotted dis part.) Put on da trays, no need to grease dem. Cook in da 400 dagree oven fer 15-20 minutes, mine were fur 16.

The treeties iz so gooooood!!!! I lovez dem.

I even shared wit Sophie even tho she iz meen and doesn't let me blog but she knowz only I can cookz so she letz me blog da recipees.

Ok dat iz good bye.

SNPM Challenge 2 Results

Hi fans, it's SOPHIE! Dixie is around somewhere too. We are here to announce the winners of the week 2 challenge. There were way less entries, so submit late if you can- that gives you more of a chance to win overall. The submissions we got for "I'm in Trouble" were very very good though! Check out the set of them on flickr!

The winner is...

SALINGER!!!

We loved Salinger's saucy style and fierceness, but we were also stunned by his good looks and wily ways. Can you tell what is in his mouth!?! Great job, Salinger! Oh and this has nothing to do with him being my boyfriend! (xoxoxo hottie!)

Now it's time to give out the other prizes!

Most Humorous: Clover!

Most Fierce: Suki Sumo! (yes she's going #1!!!!)

Most Photogenic: Ruby Bleu!

Most Cute: Giggs!

Thanks for doing such a great job everyone! Tomorrow I'll announce the Week 3 Challenge!!! Woohooo! Don't forget to check out all the trouble here on flickr!

Pumpkin and Pictures

Hi everyone!

So Sophie and Dixie were being very silly all weekend. As you can see, I got Photoshop Elements, and convinced Sophie that she had a dream about the Hog Roast!!! She's SO gullible!

BIG REMINDER: TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT PICTURES FOR THE SNPM WEEK 2 CHALLENGE!!!!!!

Besides that, here is what else is cool for the girls: (who are so excited about the pics!) We got them some more pumpkin!!!!

They love getting a little spoonful underneath their normal food. We haven't had any in a while so it's a special treat again!

Can't wait to see all the pictures from you guys! Have a great Tuesday!

Dreamworld, USA

Hi everyone, it's Sophie again. I'm writing to let you know that Auntie Minnie likes Dixie a lot. Which was of course what I hoped would NOT happen. Look at them both smiling away.

I got very sad and jealous and fell right asleep on Mommy's lap. When i was asleep, I had the weirdest dream...

In my dream, I was at the Hog Roast with Dixie! We hung out with Aunt Melinda, Daddy, Mommy, Uncle Steve, and Uncle Jeremy. It was a beautiful day outside!

Then, Dixie went over in front of a garage with Mommy and Daddy and their friends, and started playing this game called flippy cup. You have to flip over a cup after drinking it, and then it has to land a certain way, and then the next person goes- like a relay. Dixie was actually doing really well- this is how I knew it was a dream.

I'm glad I woke up because it's more of a nightmare when Dixie has more fun in my dreams than I do. Plus we all know beer isn't good for doggies unless it's Dog Beer! But that was a very weird dream!

Also, Mommy said a bunch of you were asking about the cake!!! The Hog Roast usually has a big huge pig (the "hog") that gets cooked on a huge grill all day long. But it was messy and stinky and expensive, so this year they got food ordered. Since there was no real hog, Mommy made the cake to look like a hog! It was 3 cakes put together, and the flavor was red velvet. (HAHA- so it was red when you cut into it! EW!) But that does not taste like bacon, it's kind of like chocolate and vanilla mixed. And sometimes you put an apple in the hog's mouth when you cook it, so Mommy put a huge gumball in there. I hope this clears it up for you confused bloggers!

I hope you liked my dream pictures! I'm going to go try and convince Aunt Melinda to like me more than Dixie... bark atcha later!

Happy Indy 500!!!

Hi everyone! Yesterday the humans left us here for, like, HOURS because they went to some pawty. We barely got to hang out with Auntie Minnie and her friend Connie. Now the humans are all sleepy and grumpy and there are lots of people who slept here. I don't know what went on at the pawty but Mommy kept calling it a "hog roast" and brought this cake:

Mommy wasn't happy with it because she said she ran out of icing. She had SIX CANS of icing and didn't even share with us so we think that's silly. It looks tasty! Hopefully they'll give us some leftovers when everyone finally wakes up and is done drinking coffee.

HAPPY INDY 500 DAY EVERYONE!!!

SALINGER WILL BE MINE!!!!!!

OMD OMD OMD!! Mommy is all busy making a cake for the paw-ty today, (which looks DELISH by the way!) and so I jumped on email (I am a savvy emailing pug) and saw that the hottie Salinger has STARTED A BLOG!!!!

Multim In Parvo... with a Cinnabon tail!

I love it!!!! His pictures had me LOL-ing and swooning, especially that football one of him and his cool brother. I have always LOVED football players!!

Thanks for all your encouraging, everyone- go welcome Salinger to the DWB community!!!

Oh yea, and by the way I found Dixie looking at past Pug Meetup videos on Mommy's Mac. I think she might have an addition to puggie vids. Look at that bugged out eye!!!

I IS SO EXCITED!!!!

Hi hi it is Sophie... and I is very excited! I just found out that my Aunt Melinda is coming to visit! That is my only aunt or uncle I have not met! She is going to be a senior at Fordham University and Mommy says she is very very smart and cool. I also hear she likes pugs... just one more helpless human for me to turn against Dixie!!!

So of course I have to look pretty for Auntie Minnie (that's what Mommy calls her- Minnie.) Which means... FURMINATOR!!!! Mommy took me outside because I shed a LOT.

She puts on my tiny collar when we do this, so I am still on a leash, but she can brush me. And OMD... I hate it because it hurts my neck AND makes me look SO SO SO CHUNKY!!! I am only 14 pounds, peoples!!!!

This is just a little bit of what came off when she FURminated me, and the rest blew away. It's colder without it!

Dixie, as per usual, ruined my fun by whining inside. Because she is part pug, part BT (all stupid!) she doesn't shed at all really, and doesn't need to be FURminated. (Mommy heard that black pugs don't shed as much- is that true, black puggies?? What about BTs???)

We are looking spiffy for Auntie Minnie's visit and we can't wait!!!!!

OH YEA and we have to ask you all for help!!!! Our friend from our Meetup for Pugs here in Indy, Salinger, has been reading my blog. He really really likes it, and is thinking about maybe starting his own! I think he's fun and cool and should totally 1) be my boyfriend and 2) make a blog. Because he's fun, he submitted TWO pictures for the SNPM challenge 2! I am saving one to put on the flickr page, but here is another example of his work:

HOW COOL IS THIS PUG!!! OMD he totally stole underwear and didn't even put it down when his Mommy caught him... that's my kind of pug!!! Plus... he's a Colts fan! Please leave comments if you want Salinger to get a blog!!!!! Maybe then he will! Thanks puggie friends- have a GREAT Memorial Day weekend!

Meagan's Treat Recipes!

Sophie and Dixie's mom here!

Nevis requested the recipes for the treats Meagan got the girls, and Meagan was kind enough to send those along to me!

Apple Cinnamon Dog Training Bits

Ingredients:
4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 small apple grated
1 1/3 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325º F.

In a bowl combine all ingredients except the apple and water. Grate apple into mixture and add water. Mix until it starts forming a dough. Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead well. Roll out to 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Take a straight edge and score the dough horizontally then vertically to make a grid of 3/4-inch squares. Be careful not to cut through the dough completely. Place the dough on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray. Bake at 325º F for 1 hour. Break apart for storage.

Carob-Dipped Peanut Butter Honey Drop Treats

Ingredients:
3/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup carob chips (approx.)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F.

Heat honey and peanut butter until runny (about 20 seconds in the microwave). Mix ingredients together and drop by 1/2 teaspoonful onto cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. (Makes about 45 to 50 small biscuits.) Melt carob chips in microwave or small saucepan. Dip cooled biscuits in carob or lay on a flat surface and brush carob over the biscuits with a pastry brush.

And there ya go!

Dixie is a STUPID ALIEN.

Last night Mommy finally got around to that laundry she had been meaning to do. It is in the dark scary dungeon place under our house. Whenever she goes down there, we sit and watch and make sure she is ok- but we never go down there. This time, though, things went horribly wrong. Well, before they went wrong, we sat there like usual.


Mommy said, "come on down!" And we said no, of course. She said "it's not too far to walk!" and we looked down, then politely agreed to disagree.
Dixie, being the stupid ALIEN that she is, changed her mind and started to venture down the stairs!!! I was like, "are you DUMB!?!?!"
Mommy kept having to beg her to walk further, and she would walk her front feet but not her back ones. I thought about tripping her but I was too scared the deep pit under the house would get me.
Then, she made it! She got all the way down there and helped Mommy with laundry. I was ALL ALONE at the top of the steps! It's not my fault I don't like stairs... I have bad knees.
Oh and all you worry-worts, just so you know, Dixie and Mommy both made it back up safely. Who knows what stunt that stupid punk will pull next time.

SNPM Challenge 2...

A few days ago, I was doing some work on the computer and I heard a commotion. I thought perhaps the girls were going after a stray sock left in the bathroom, so I went in there to get it from them.

I was quite surprised to find that Sophie and Dixie had jumped in the bathtub!! They (well mostly Sophie) despise their baths, and have never ever done this before. Dixie is more nimble and jumped right out, and because of Sophie's knee problems, I had to lift her out. I closed the bathroom door and left.

This continued on for three more times! Unfortunately our old house's doors can be wriggled open and they continued to jump in the tub- for reasons beyond to me. On the fourth time, I went in with my camera. Dixie escaped, as usual, but Sophie knew, as she tried to get out... "I'm in TROUBLE!!!!!"

That's why this week's SNPM Challenege will be themed "I'm in Trouble!"

Submit your photo of your dog where it's clear that they are in t-r-o-u-b-l-e! Perhaps they destroyed a stuffy and are standing amidst the wreckage? Or chewed down a table leg to a mere peg, and are trying to hide under the table? You know exactly what kind of picture I'm talking about. Please also submit the story behind the picture and some notes about your modeling skills- they make it so much more interesting for the panel! As usual, email to PugandBugg@yahoo.com by Tuesday (May 27).

Thanks, loyal dog bloggers! Can't wait to see the pictures!

Treats from Meagan

Meagan, my co-worker and Mommy to Lola and Izzy, gave me some treats she baked for her girls so that Sophie and Dixie could get some too! Don't worry, it was not used as a bribe in the competition (although bribes are accepted! LOL LOL!)

This is me giving them the apple training treats. They were softer and smaller, and smelled very apple-y!

Here, I am giving them the bigger ones, carob-covered peanut butter bones. They look deeeee-lic-ious!

They just went to town on those treats... look at them go!

Such cutie-patooties!

I can't wait until tomorrow when I can announce next week's challenge! Stay tuned! I think this next one will be easier for some than others... wink, wink!

SNPM Challenge 1 Results

Hi there, Sophie fans- it's me, Sophalicious! I am sure you are all anxiously awaiting the results from this week's challenge: "Me and my stuffies."

The winner is...

MARTHA!

You can check out the panel's comments about this photo as well as all of the participants' in the Week 1 Challenge Flickr set here. We loved how she incorporated a fierce look with the softness and color of loofah stuffies.

Dixie and I were so very impressed with all the entries that we decided to give out honorable mentions each week for the most humorous, fierce, photogenic, and cute photos. Here they are:

Most Humorous: Preston!

Most fierce: Rosie!

Most photogenic: Izzy! (No blog)

Most cute: Le Mops!

Great job everyone!!! We will announce the next challenge tomorrow. Don't forget to look at all the entries on Flickr!

NOTE: Some pictures' captions on the Flickr page did not save (I'm learning!) so if the caption of your pug wasn't there before, it is now! I'm sorry! -Sophie & Dixie's Mommy

LAST CHANCE! Oh, and a meme!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit a photo to the Sophie's Next Pug Model Week 1 Challenge: Me and My Stuffy!!!!

You have all sent the girls some very, very fierce and flattering photos. A few of you have signed up but not yet sent your photo- I hope that you'll send them soon! The competition is getting tougher and tougher!

If you aren't sure if your picture has been submitted, just email the girls at PugandBugg@yahoo.com. They'll be sure to let you know.

And remember, Thursday AM I will announce what Sophie and Dixie have chosen as the Week 2 Challenge! Ladies and Gentlemen, start your cameras!

Just to be fun, here's an older picture of the girls at one of their meetups... yes, they were being treat hogs!!!!


Those delightful shirts say "Got Treats?" and "Hug Me."

While reading the other amazing blogs, I found a lot of people answering this meme and tagging "anyone who wants to... I stole this from The Devil Dog... enjoy!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? I was 13, which would put me at the tail end of 7th grade. Boy did I have the best time that year! Those friends are still some of my best friends. I was still in New Jersey and definitely had braces. The pugs? Their parents probably weren't even born yet.

2. Five Things on my to-do list today: Do laundry. Buy some groceries at Trader Joe's (ESPECIALLY pizza dough, sausage, and fruit leathers!). Empty the dishwasher. Call back the Art Institute. Walk and pet the pugs. (I would be in trouble if I didn't say that!)

3. Three snacks I enjoy: Cheddar Flipsides. Hummus. White cheddar popcorn with peanut butter.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Pay off our mortgage. Pay off my mom's mortgage. Buy myself a Mini Cooper (in British Racing Green). Pay off Brian's car, buy him a Honda Pilot. Pay off all my student loans. Go to pastry school. Open a Cupcakery.

5. Three of my bad habits: Eating when I'm bored. Not balancing my checkbook. Putting off doing things. (Notably: laundry.)

6. Five places I have lived: Montclair, New Jersey. Caldwell, New Jersey. Taormina, Sicilia (Italian study abroad). Elon, North Carolina. Indianapolis, Indiana.

7. Five jobs I have had: Babysitter. Employee at a Design Studio. Employee at a Tennis Store. Claims Representative at an Insurance Agency. Student Worker in both my University's Graduate Admissions and President's Offices. University Tele-Counselor. And my current job, which is working for a membership-driven non-profit. It's more than five, but I couldn't choose so few! They're all so random!

I also tag anyone who hasn't done this yet (probably no one!) Have fun with the meme, and good luck with SNPM!!!!

Narnia Pugs

Hi doggie & human friends. The girls clearly were not happy campers yesterday. No, we did not share any of our delicious tomato, onion and feta salad with them- they just wouldn't listen to us when we told them that onions are bad for them. They did get tiny bits of pork and chicken. Trust me, they were spoiled just enough.

We saw two movies this weekend, Iron Man (which ROCKED) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (in preparation for Prince Caspian.) Both were amazing! I read the latter when I was a kid, and it was weird how it all came back to me! The puggies were exhausted after their running-around time outside with us and decided to watch the movie too. They acted tough, but this was them during the fight scene:


Some tough pugs they are! Sophie will of course not be happy that I posted this- it's okay Soph-a-loaf, we know that under normal conditions, Dixie would be the little spoon. It's just an intense movie.

We Have Been Lied To.

Dixie and I are very mad pugs. You know how I thought we might be going to the Monon, or maybe the park? We did not do this. Instead we got... a BATH.

Mommy and Daddy said it had been far too long since our last bath. Since I am rather difficult, Mommy actually has to get in with me and hold me there or I will jump out- now she is covered in scratches. It's okay though because she knows I love her. I just am not made for water! Dixie is fine though, she's so dumb she keeps licking and thinks she's in a big water bowl.

Then we got to run around naked! We were so happy, Mommy and Daddy couldn't even get that great of a picture!

Then after we got dressed, we went outside in our back yard while Daddy grilled some chicken, pork chops, and corn. They also had a marinated tomato, onion, and feta salad. It smelled soooo delicious. We think Ozzie and Rocky would be proud of the tomatoes they used too. We wish they had shared!!! When I got inside, I found Dixie trying on Mommy's necklace.

SNPM Participants... do NOT let this Bugg inspire you!!!!!