Hounds and Hearth Magazine - Issue 4

S P R I N G

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I S S U E

Spring Refresh

Yes, chores can be therapeutic

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Your Social Pup

3 important tips that will make your social media pop

W W W . H O U N D S A N D H E A R T H . C O M

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

Letter from the Editor I was thinking of small to be my word for 2021… but not small as in unimportant – small as in noticing the details.

The spots on a ladybug.

Well worn fabric wrinkles.

Charred candle wicks.

The gentle wave of a sheer curtain in a cool early spring breeze.

Does small sound negative?

Uninspired? Resolved to just existing?

Its synonyms are unimpressive (tiny, diminished, limited, narrow-minded) so I needed a better word…

I realized that need to be more careful about what I consume and certainly what others consume when they enter my world. So I chose

Curate. cu·rate | \ ˈkyu̇ r-ˌāt to pull together sift through select for presentation I’ve allowed too many uninvited stories to infiltrate my life and well-being. I will be more careful about what I consume and certainly what others consume when they enter my world. I want to #beTheHaven for you.

Live loudly. Rest beautifully.®

Carina Thornton

publisher, homebody, pastaholic WE HELP ON-THE-GO DOG MOMS SLOW THEIR HUSTLE BY CREATING TRANQUIL HAVENS IN THEIR HOME THAT ALLOW THEM TO BALANCE LIVING LOUDLY WITH RESTING BEAUTIFULLY.

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

What's Inside 15

07

07

Spring Refresh

15

Photo Session Prep

29

Your Insta-Famous Pup

Chores don't have to feel like work.

An easy checklist to prep for your pup's moment in the spotlight

Tips to make your photos pop into all the right social media feeds

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Hounds and Hearth is dedicated to serving the unique needs of dog moms so they can harness the calming magic of their canine bestie in all aspects of their full, wonderful lives.

In every Issue 03 11, 23 15 17 23 24 25 33 35

Letter from the Editor Journal Prompts Printable Checklist Our Favorite Things Share Your Story Advertise with us The Furry Faces of Hounds and Hearth Easy Dog Friendly Recipe SUBSCRIBE

Now that your eyes are open, make the sun jealous with your burning passion to start the day.

MALAK EL HALABI

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Spring Refresh

WHEN CHORES ARE THERAPEUTIC Loving your clean house is one thing, but lovingly cleaning it is something else.

Carina Thornton

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

I have to admit to being a little

spoiled when it comes to housecleaning. I’ll keep up with day-today straightening up, dusting, vacuuming, laundry… When it comes to deep clear-the-room-andwash-everything cleaning, I hire every few weeks.

Today I woke up with the plan to go hiking in the rain but something about the coziness of a rainy day, making breakfast, and the quiet snores of my kitties prompted me to stay at home and fill the place with candlelight and sparkle.

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Getting my hands on my stuff, listening to the stories of the chipped knick-knacks that once decorated my grandparents house, lingering over the photos that are important enough to frame, remembering why I live with all the things I live with makes the task of undoing, polishing, and putting rooms back together so much more than just a chore.

Take your time.

Work slowly.

Linger.

Remember.

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

01

Block out some time for you and your family/housemates to do a deep clean. Assign an area to each person.

02

Start by putting away anything that is out of place - jackets, shoes, dog toys, etc.

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04

Clear off one surface at a time, give it a good cleaning and polishing.

Gently wipe down knick knacks with soap and water before placing them back.

Vacuum, shake out area rugs, and mop floors before settling down in your fresh clean space!

We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we'll also have a lot more joy in living.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Express Yourself

Write a love letter to your front door.

printable checklist

Prepping for your Spring photo session!

I’m a chronic list-maker (one can never have enough Post Its. For real.) so I’ve put together an easy checklist for my clients to help them prep for their photo sessions.

If you have a Spring session coming up with your pooch, here are a few tips that will ensure a perfect experience for everyone..

ONE DAY BEFORE: Confirm date, time and location.

Make sure you have directions to the meeting place.

Gather a “goodie bag” of any treats, toys, or special outfits you’d like to bring.

Get a good night’s sleep.

SESSION DAY: Exercise your dog for about 30 minutes prior to your session.

Bring your goodie bag and a leash Stay relaxed – your dog will take queues from you and you'll want everyone having a good time

DURING YOUR SESSION: Avoid using your dog’s name to get their attention. This usually makes them come to you. (Good dog.)

Stay relaxed so they feel comfortable.

Dogs can get confused if too many people are making noises to get their attention, so please leave the silly sounds to your photographer.

If you’re in the photo, look at the camera and let the photographer worry about getting your dog’s attention.

Always keep your dog's safety as first priority - leave them on-leash when in open areas.

SHOT LIST AND IMAGE IDEAS

SOME OF OUR

FAVORITES for pups and their parents.

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Dragon Folk Studios

What is it?

Whimsical, smile-inducing custom clay figurines of your pet.

Why we love it.

Owner and artist, Carrie Rutherford has created a playful realm of mischievous fairies and dragons that never fails to deliver magic.

Where to get it.

Learn more about custom pet figurines at: https://www.dragonfolkstudios.com/pet-portraits-natural.html

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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ReMarkable

What is it?

A tablet that emulates the feeling of writing on paper, free from internet distractions.

Why we love it.

I adore journals and lists but I also love technology and the ease of having all my scribblings stored on the cloud for easy access.

Where to get it.

Learn more at: https://remarkable.com

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Comfort Connects

What is it?

Heartwarming keepsakes and grief support for pet loss.

Why we love it.

After losing my precious 19-year-old kitty, Samwise, owner Rebecca MacDonald made it easy to keep Sammy close to me with her thoughtfully designed jewelry pieces and memorial art.

Where to get it.

Learn more at: https://www.comfortconnects.com

What are some of your favorite things? How can you have more of them in your life?

SHARE YOUR STORY Hounds and Hearth magazine is a quarterly online publications for onthe-go dog moms. We recognize the unique needs of women that are striving for balance in their gorgeously full lives with their furbaby right by their side.

We believe in living loudly and resting beautifully.

We live loudly because we: - love Summer concerts on the lawn - persist (nevertheless) - belong to dog meetup groups - rock our 9 to 5 jobs - do fun stuff with our besties (people and pups) - participate fully in our wonderful lives We rest beautifully because we are: - unapologetic homebodies - Saturday night bookworms - Introverts - Anxiety warriors - puppy + kitty snugglers - solo hikers - Netflix bingers - salt bath fiends - library wanderers - searchers of the perfect blanket We welcome submissions from writers, poets, artists, and photographers. If you would like to contribute, please note the following guidelines.

WRITERS We are looking for original work focused on: well-being specific to dog moms, tips for the home design needs of pet friendly homes, benefits of rest and self-care, advocacy and volunteer work, recipes, holistic and natural remedies.

PHOTOGRAPHERS/ARTISTS Images that capture authentic moments between women and dogs, women engaging in self-care: reading, sipping tea, cooking healthy meals, tending to their dog, volunteerism, enjoying local "Yappy Hours" and dog-friendly businesses.

Moments should be candid. If accepted for publication, photos and illustrations must be hi-res images (300 dpi, 6” x 6” min.)

We only consider original submissions. All images used in submissions must be copyright free.

It is the responsibility of the submitter to ensure that no copyright infringement has occurred and that all submitted work is their own. Please do not submit the same work to competing publications. Any work that has already been featured in competing publications will not be accepted.

Publishing on your personal blog is permitted.

SUBMIT TO: submit@houndsandhearth.com Include name, mailing address. No phone calls please.

• THE FACES OF •

Hounds and Hearth

Name: Theodore, aka Teddy Bear

NOW OPEN OUR SIGNATURE COURSE

ARE YOU...

DO YOU...

ARE YOU READY...

frustrated trying to create an effective space for yourself in your home?

feel trapped in a cycle of keeping up with day-to-day chaos?

for a step-by-step method to create your personal haven in your home?

NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT Let us walk you through our easy 6 step journey...

Isn't it time to claim your haven?

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Questions?

Get in touch: hello@houndsandhearth.com www.houndsandhearth.com

HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

Your Social Pup

BY ARIELLE MEYR

Your dog is the cutest thing with four paws to have ever walked on this earth. You know it and now you’re ready for the world to know it. The best way of sharing your precious, perfect, pup with the world is to get his furry face out onto social media.

And, of course, me being the photographer that I am, Instagram is my happy place. It’s all about how a picture can say a thousand words – and my guess is that you have more than enough pictures of Fido to fill a classic hardback novel.

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Nearly 1 trillion photos are taken each year now that everyone carries a camera in their pockets.

Nearly 1 trillion photos are taken each year now that everyone carries a camera in their pockets and a large portion of those photographs end up posted online.

So how do you get people to look at yours? How do you get the furry mug you love so much into the limelight?

It’s so much more than sharing a photo of your furbaby. It’s getting just the right photograph that “says” something about Fido.

But a good photo isn’t all you need to make your Dog InstaFamous! Try these 3 important tips to make your photos pop into all the right feeds!

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Hashtags

One of the quickest way to draw attention to your Instagram page is to utilize hashtags. Hashtags are a quick way to identify what’s in your picture as well as a way to group your photos with other similar photos online.

Why would you want to be grouped in with other people’s photos?

First, don’t underestimate the cuteness of your pup! Second, people love to spend time scrolling and scrolling through pages specially geared towards their interests. When you attach #dogsofinstagram to your picture, you’re putting your picture out there with over a hundred million other posts. You can use more specific hashtags than #dog (209 million) or #puppy (106 million) to bring in a more tailored group of followers.

Try being breed specific (#corgi, #germanshepherd, #pitbull, etc), activity specific (#dogadventures, #fetch, etc.), and even location specific (#dcdogmoms, #dogsofnova) to find the followers who will really appreciate your pup and the community you’ve become a part of.

Use the tag search to discover tags most suited to you and Fido. And don’t be afraid to make up your own! (And here is a little secret to help with your planning: Planoly is a great little tool to schedule and preview your Insta feed.)

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Get Involved

Someone who loves food follows many different food profiles; the same can be said for celebrities, politics, athletes, etc. The great news is, there are multitudes of people who love seeing the adventures of your picture perfect dog!

Utilize hashtags, similar page searches, and your recommended feed to find similar profiles to Fido’s, follow them, and become part of that community.

Being part of a community, supporting others in their endeavors, and networking is just as important online as it is in your day-to-day life. Following, liking, and commenting on other posts and pages shows your support and starts conversations with those that may have the same interests.

Having conversations and being seen, especially in your niche, will create intrigue bringing people to your page where your perfect pictures and witty headlines will keep them there!

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HOUNDS AND HEARTH MAGAZINE

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Go Live

I’m not talking about live streaming, I’m talking about getting you and Fido out your physical front door.

Put a bowtie on him, give him a slick yellow raincoat, let him be seen in the park, and welcome conversations about you and your dog.

What good will this do? I have a friend in the London area who was taking a Sunday stroll through Regent’s park when she came across a man walking his cat on a leash. She struck up a conversation and one of the first things out of his mouth was to introduce his cat as well as share the cat’s Instagram handle! As soon as she had the opportunity on the train home, she pulled up the cat’s instagram!

Being seen #IRL is an important part of making Fido a star! (

recipe goodies for people and pups

Pet-Safe Floor Cleaner for your Spring Cleanup

PET-FRIENDLY FLOOR CLEANER

Ingredients One gallon warm water One cup of distilled white vinegar*** A few drops of fresh lemon juice for scent. (You can also use a drop or 2 of essential oil but please check with your vet first.)

Instructions Simply mix everything together in a clean bucket to mop vinyl, tile, or stone floors. Allow to air dry. *** For hardwood or laminate floors, reduce the vinegar to 1/2 cup per gallon of warm water and dry immediately with a soft towel.

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