We felt it was necessary to make this temporary abode as comfortable as possible for the duration of our stay so that we can thorougly enjoy our time with Miss Maple in Singapore. But, it has taken us a while to figure out what to do with the apartment. Much of our decor is a mish-mash of old treasures, new finds, and DIY projects in various stages of (dis)repair. If anything, I would call our ‘home’ a massive work-in-progress. And, so, it came as a surprise when a kind reader wrote in requesting for more photos of our apartment! 

Well, the timing couldn’t have been better. The Christmas ornaments have come down and the Chinese New Year decorations are now in their place. Our ‘eco-chic’ Christmas theme has made way for ‘pretty pink peonies’—a fitting motif representing Chinese New Year, which is also known as the “Spring Festival”. With our apartment all done up, Miss Maple eagerly awaits your visit to our living space. We hope you enjoy the tour!

"Welcome! Come on in, everybody!"

Our living room and balcony (aka Miss Maple's indoor playground).

A makeshift console by the front entrance to drop off loose change, mail, and handbags. Teak stools (Salvation Army); ceramic ware (Daiso).

The balcony offers an alternative space for morning breakfast or an afternoon nap. Teak foldable chair (Salvation Army); cushion (Daiso); antique side table (donated by the in-laws).

A comfy reading corner and one of Miss Maple's many sleeping spots. Teak bench (garage sale find); studio light photography lamp (Funan Centre); ceramic plate (donated by the in-laws); ceramic pot (donated by the in-laws); pink cushion cover (Tangs).

The huge coffee table serves as Miss Maple's "den" and a hideaway for all her toys. Coffee table (Barang Barang, which we later reupholstered); shaggy rug (Arab Street); rubber wood TV console (Johor Bahru).

The coffee table not only holds books and magazines, but collectibles as well. Japanese glassware (Hock Siong & Co); ceramic horse (donated by the in-laws).

This chest of drawers neatly stores away our electronic gadgets, CDs, toolbox, and other odds-and-ends. Chest and mirror (inherited from a previous tenant, which we later re-painted); antique gold vase (donated by the in-laws); Peranakan porcelain (donated by the in-laws); tassels (Salvation Army).

Centrepiece. Artificial pussy willow stems and peony flowers (Salvation Army); red "hóngbāo" (collected from various local banks).

To our family, friends, and readers who will be celebrating Chinese New Year over reunion dinners this weekend and feasting on goodies all throughout the week, we wish you a happy and healthy year of the dragon. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Disclaimer: HAPPY.BARK.DAYS is an independent entity and was not paid to write this review by any of the commercial enterprises mentioned in the article.

To ensure that we had plenty of energy to expend, we fuelled up at The Garden Slug for a hearty brunch. Nestled in the bohemian-chic neighbourhood of Joo Chiat in eastern Singapore, this bistro offers weekenders a place to laze the day away with an extensive food and drinks menu that could easily take you from breakfast to lunch to dinner.

Sandwiched between a pet store and a vet clinic, it is not surprising that this eatery is a pet-friendly establishment with outdoor seating to accommodate patrons and their four-legged companions.

For once, Maple got to enjoy being perched on a chair and soaking in the views from above ground. Of course, this also meant that she was dangerously close to the table top where food is served and temptations beckon—this includes the ‘All Day Breakfast’ that MM ordered and the ’Pumpkin Cheese Gnocchi in a Beer-Spiked Lamb Ragu’ that I selected from the Specials of the Day menu.

The description of the dishes sure had our mouths watering, but upon trying them our taste buds were soon disappointed. The highlight of the ‘All Day Breakfast’ was the lone Bratwurst, and not much else. We’ve had more memorable breakfast dishes that really wowed us, so it would take a pretty strong contender to win us over. The ’Pumpkin Cheese Gnocchi’ was an interesting concept and all the flavours seemed to work with one another in creating a robust meal. Unfortunately, there were nuggets of minced lamb that, although cooked, seemed to have come straight out of the refrigerator. I’m not sure what happend there—perhaps this plate was meant to be served warm and not piping hot? Nevertheless, I would have preferred the dish to be heated through and through.

With our tummies full, we moved to the next item on our itinerary: Katong Park and Dog Run. Little did we know, upon entering the park, that we were standing on the grounds of a historic site. During the early 19th century, Katong Park and its vicinity formed one of the earliest settlements in Singapore. Over 150 years ago, Katong’s seaviews and abundance of lush coconut trees attracted urbanites wanting to escape from Singapore’s overcrowded city centre. Katong was the recreational/resort hub of its days. Today, what was once sea is now reclaimed land. It’s hard to imagine the Katong of yesteryear when our eyes gaze out into the horizon, only to see a multi-lane expressway!

But, all is not lost. As we would soon find out, the beach is merely a hop, skip, and jump from Katong Park. It’s off to East Coast Park we go! With a 15-kilometre coastline and unobstructed views of the sea, East Coast Park is one of our favourite urban oases in Singapore. Maple ♥ East Coast Park—she can spend all day doing just two things: (1) watching the waves roll, and (2) basking in the attention showered on to her by rollerbladers, bicyclists, joggers, and pedestrians alike. It doesn’t take much to make Lil’ Miss Maple happy

By 4:00pm it was getting far too warm for comfort and we had to call it a day, but what a day it was! We’ll be back to visit the east, that’s for sure. But, until we do, Miss Maple will be dreaming of seashells by the seashore.

Disclaimer: HAPPY.BARK.DAYS is an independent entity and was not paid to write this review by any of the commercial enterprises mentioned in the article.

* * * * *

Lil’ Miss Red Maple Leaf’s 2011 New Year’s Resolutions (click here)

1. I will play gently with Momsy and Popsy without nipping at their fingers. ✔
2. I will head straight to my ‘outhouse’ when the urge comes while playing in Momsy and Popsy’s living room. ✔
3. I will resist the temptation to jump on sofas, chairs, and tables. ✔
4. I will remain calm while being groomed by Momsy and Popsy. ✔
5. I will learn to socialize with humans and my fellow canines so that I can make new friends. WORK-IN-PROGRESS

And now we present…

Lil’ Miss Red Maple Leaf’s 2012 New Year’s Resolutions

1. I will not bark and growl at strangers on a whim (I know it’s not the most gracious way to greet people). And I will stop when Momsy and Popsy tell me so.
2. I will walk nicely when I have my harness and leash on (although I would much prefer to go my own way).
3. I will relax and enjoy my liver treats while getting a pedicure from Momsy and Popsy. Momsy says pedicures are a luxury, so I shouldn’t complain so much when getting my nails done.
4. I will try my best to make our next door neighbour like me—for now, he only knows me as the little yappy dog.
5. See 2011′s resolution #5

This year, we’re throwing our apartment a festive ‘eco-chic’ theme and, while rummaging through our local Salvation Army Thrift Store last week for potential DIY projects, I came across a unique set of holiday greeting cards with a wildlife motif—how perfect! These cards are not only printed on recycled paper, but also feature information about a particular endangered animal in Asia. What a scholastic novelty. J’adore ♥ 

All these lovely cards needed was a bit of sprucing-up with some scrapbooking embellishments to make them look one-of-a-kind. [Note: I think Martha Stewart would have been proud ] Now, if I believed Miss Maple could lend her paw for this project, I would have readily entrusted her with the glue-stick. But, my instincts warned me otherwise! 

Another recent find were these two Japanese Sasaki glassware from a second-hand store, called Hock Siong & Co, which sells furnishings collected from 5-star hotels around Singapore. To give these display pieces a boost of Christmas cheer, I filled them each with a green bauble that reminds me of lemongrass and a whimsical pearlescent butterfly.

[Note: When you have a theme like 'eco-chic', you just have to run with it (lol)! But, I can imagine putting these two glassware to other good uses throughout the year, perhaps as dessert bowls (the way they were intended to be). YUM.]

With the cards signed and sealed, it was time to get them stamped and delivered. Lil’ Miss Maple thought she could help with that task, too, but our pint-sized furball would need to be hoisted up to the mailbox or have the mailbox brought down to her level. Next year, Miss Maple, there’s always next year to be Santa’s little helper again. Who knows, you might just get that growth spurt you’ve been wishing for all this time!

Disclaimer: HAPPY.BARK.DAYS is an independent entity and was not paid to write this review by any of the commercial enterprises mentioned in the article.

As the festive season approaches and the last-minute Christmas shopping rush begins, let us be reminded that pets may not necessarily make the best gift ideas. Our blogging buddy, Barb from Passionate About Pets, wrote a convincing post listing 5 good reasons not to buy a pet at this time of the year. It’s easy to understand how children (and adults alike) can be easily captivated by the cuteness and innocence of a puppy—I should know, I used to long for a puppy during my childhood years and hoped that Santa would bring me a furball on Christmas day. Fortunately, my parents knew better because my motivation to get a puppy eventually waned as I grew older and my interests moved on to more important things… like sleepover parties, make-up, and boys!   

And, so, it wasn’t until adulthood that MM and I agreed to add a little companion to our nest of two. As the story goes, one year ago, Lil’ Miss Maple was formerly known as Lola and lived in a nice comfortable home with her previous family. But, because her former momsy and popsy were so busy taking care of their own little ones—two young toddlers—they hardly had time for Lola. As a result, Lola developed some behavioural issues that made life a bit more complicated for her family. So, Lola was put up for adoption. As luck would have it, Lola (Maple) found a new home in ours.

The moral of the story is: pets are a huge commitment. Some children may be too young to understand, or be willing to accept, such a responsibility. Parents, as busy as they already are, have to be positively certain that the needs of a pet can be accommodated and fulfilled despite the family’s hectic schedule. With so much to consider, the holiday season may not be the best time to contemplate adding a pet to the family—especially when consecutive days of feasting on good food and wine may cloud our judgment   

But, what can you do when you have a dog-loving child who is persistent about being close to the four-leggers? MM and I have a niece who falls into this category. This year, we thought we would introduce the concept of adoption to our niece by giving her a homemade Christmas gift voucher that would entitle her to sponsor a shelter dog for a year. Here is a sneak peek of the voucher—ssshhh… it’s a secret!

Gentle Paws is one of many local dog shelters in Singapore—their Sponsor-A-Dog program allows members of the public to sponsor a dog on a monthly basis. The donor can visit his/her sponsored dog any time at the shelter, as well as receive updates on the dog’s well-being and adoption status. We hope exposing our niece to this meaningful cause will not only feed her appetite to be close to dogs, but also foster a sense of compassion and awareness for rescue dogs.

Last, but certainly not least, we were pleased to receive a blog post request from The Shelter Pet Project (TSPP) campaign—a collaborative partnership between The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie’s Fund, and The Ad Council—that connects potential adopters with shelter dogs across the US. If you wish to learn more about TSPP or help promote greater awareness about pet adoption, you can connect with TSPP via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Here is a delightful and funny public service ad campaign for TSPP. Do check it out and share with all your friends!

Source: Books Cellar (Facebook page)

For today, though, I just want to share with you a moment of discovery at one particular hangout, called Books Cellar (a bookstore cum bistro café), where I had the opportunity to flip through a vintage copy of Her World magazine. Talk about a time warp!

Her World is a local magazine publication and the oldest running one at that. Established in the 1960s, this magazine made its mark on the cultural landscape of Singapore just as the city-state gained independence. Imagine living in an era of transformation, modernization, and the women’s liberation movement (not that I would have any first-hand knowledge and experience of this decade *cough, cough*).

The pixie cut—super short and cute. Could there be a classier ‘do’ in the style history of human keratin filaments? Fortunately, the unflattering manes of the mystifying ’80s and ’90s failed to reach the same level of revered iconism and are probably best left as bygone memories…

Uh-oh, this scene does not look like it has a promising happy ending. Life can be full of dramas. 

Ah, yes, the Kenwood mixer. I do believe my mom still has (and is still making good use of) hers at home!

Last but not least, and the reason for the post, is this article on how to “Teach your dog carway code”—the ins and outs of safely travelling on the road with your pooch in tow. If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then I reckon Fido is her true best friend

Despite the change of times, there are some universal content of interest that seem to remain constant: beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. We can find evidence of this in the current December 2011 issue of Her World.

Wow, look at the psychedelic colours that are hitting the runways this season… très 1960s! As they say in the fashion world, what’s old is new again.

Source: www.herworldplus.com

Disclaimer: HAPPY.BARK.DAYS is an independent entity and was not paid to write this review by any of the commercial enterprises mentioned in the article.

Here is Miss Maple, somewhat sleepy-eyed and oblivious to the vaccinations that were being prepared right behind her.

The first needle was inserted with no fuss at all and Miss Maple gave us an impatient glare as if to say, “Are we all done here? Can we leave now?” Then came the second and third needles… Before the vet could even administer the shots, Maple let out a shrill yelp that could be heard down the corridor where other furry ones were nervously awaiting their turns. *sigh* That’s our drama queen for you.

On the drive home, our furball was very moody and refused to acknowledge us—she was playing the guilt card. And it worked. Lots of treats and lots of cuddles later, all was forgiven and forgotten… until next year, that is!

Our little pipsqueak is suffering from cabin fever, as our entire household hunkers down indoors to stay dry from the thunder showers. So, how does one help a feisty pupster from going stir-crazy? This plastic ball with a bell inside was a steal for S$1 at our local pet store and has proven to be Maple’s all-star favourite toy!

The tinkerbell makes the sweetest rhapsody of noise when Maple plays with it. Truth be told, I fell asleep once to the tune of the bell and the pitter-patter of raindrops outside. But, when all becomes too quiet, well then, that is a sign of our munchkin doing the forbidden—chewing on the ‘jingle bell’, which we now call the new toy.

Yes, the Lil’ Miss is quite the chewer and the jingle bell has been dealt with several incisions already despite its relative newness. We have to keep a close eye on Miss Maple when she plays with the jingle bell to ensure that she doesn’t swallow any bits of plastic, and we always store away the jingle bell after each play session. 

Keeping the jingle bell out of Maple’s reach takes no effort at all… that is, if we can coax the naughty rascal into handing over her all-time favourite toy. The jingle bell has brought out the obsessive-possessive nature in our mild-mannered (so we thought) furball!

Curious to watch how the jingle bell has been keeping Miss Maple entertained during these ‘winter’ months? This video, which we have paired with, you guessed it, the ’Jingle Bells’ song from Michael Buble’s Christmas CD, should give you a pretty good idea!

Have a great weekend, everyone—don’t forget your umbrellas.

Antlers… they evoke images of pristine wilderness and a wintery wonderland. But, antlers in tropical urban Singapore? Why, yes! Ever since hearing about deer and elk antler chews from our blogging buddies, we have been eagerly anticipating the introduction of these natural chews for dogs in the Singapore market. Seen as a novelty item, antler chews have yet to gain popularity in Singapore. So, it was with a bit of luck that I chanced upon deer antlers at a local pet store.

At the time of my visit, there was only one packaged brand of deer antlers available called AntlerChewz (made in Canada) with three different antler ‘cuts’ to choose from: Puppichewz, Seniorchewz, and Vitachewz. I selected the Puppichewz (S$17.90 @ Polypet) which is a piece of an antler sliced length-wise; this exposes the marrow-like material in the middle, thereby making it gentler on the teeth for puppies as well as dogs that are not as aggressive when it comes to gnawing on bones.

I have to admit, I was initially a little apprehensive about handing Maple a familiar, yet unfamiliar, foreign object to chew on. Beef marrow bone? Been there, done that. Chicken drumstick? Easy as pie. Deer antler? There’s always a first for everything, I suppose. Well, it didn’t take too long for my nerves to settle because Maple knew instantly (and instinctively) what to do with the antler chew.

Here is the furball giving the antler an orientation to her itty bitty teeth…

Before introducing it to her gaping mouth!

I couldn’t be more pleased with the results of the deer antler—not only is Maple enjoying the activity of gnawing and getting her chewing fix, but she is also benefiting from the  mineral-rich (calcium and phospherous) content of the antler. From an environmental standpoint, antlers that are: (1) naturally shed by deer and elk without harm to the animals, (2) responsibly harvested, and (3) re-purposed into safe dog chews seem to offer a sustainable option that I find hard to resist, especially after given our trial with the Nylabone non-edible dental chew.

What I also like about the antler is that it is virtually odourless and relatively hygienic—just give it a good wipe with a damp cloth, lay it out in the sun to dry, and it’s ready for the next session! I limit Maple’s time with the antler to 30 minutes or so, otherwise she would happily spend all day with it. This also ensures that she doesn’t ingest too much of the antler bone in one sitting. There should be a bowl of fresh water made available immediately after each session because, if your pupster is anywhere close to being like our Lil’ Miss Maple, the antler will definitely whet his or her thirst for water…LOTS of water!

These days, Maple has grown to become quite playful with the antler. She loves to toss it about, hide it in her blankie, and carry it around the apartment like a prized possession. At one point in time, this naughty pipsqueak got so protective of her new chew that she would retreat into her ‘den’ while holding the antler hostage. Thank goodness she has learnt to let go a little, but not before her 30 minutes are up!

Disclaimer: HAPPY.BARK.DAYS is an independent entity and was not paid to write this review by any of the commercial enterprises mentioned in the article.