Real Simple's "Five Things You Can Learn From Your Pet"

If you have a pet, whether it's a dog, cat, bird, or lizard, you know that they are capable of showing affection and love in a way humans can't. I am a firm believer that there is nothing "puppy kisses" can't cure and snuggling up with my dogs always makes my day a little brighter. In fact, we tried to kick the Danes off of our bed and couches a few weeks ago and after a few days we gave in. It didn't feel the same, them sleeping on the floor and not laying in our laps while we watched television.

On page 59 of this month's Real Simple (if you aren't reading this magazine,  you should be - it's great!) is Five Things You Can Learn From Your Pet. All five entries are written by different pet lovers and they are spot on!

• Celebrate Everything!
• Just being present is enough.
• (Brain) size doesn't matter.
• Don't try so hard.
• You can get along with anybody.

The explanations are quite lengthy, so check out the page if you want them, but I think the rules are pretty self-explanatory. I know that my dogs go crazy when I come home, whether I was gone all day or just taking out the trash. There is nothing like the way they act when I'm having a bad day or when my husband isn't home - Baxter is a completely different dog when he's away, it's as though he's my personal body guard!

Check out realsimple.com for more information!

Christmas Dark Chocolate Pretzels

When you're instructed to bake something for a silent auction luncheon filled with Army spouses young and old, it can be a daunting task!

My original thought was to make a ricotta orange pound cake, but I figured everyone would be making some sort of cake or cookie. Due to my cramped schedule this week, I took the easy way out and made chocolate covered pretzels! Cover them in chocolate, decorate, and place them in a nice Christmas-y tin and viola - the highest selling (at $20) homemade good at the auction!

I used dark chocolate wafers, red vanilla wafers, and a small amount of white chocolate chips (Nestle) to achieve the swirls. I also included 3 red, green, and white non-pareil covered ones and 3 crushed almond ones. Easy as pie! (Easier than pie actually!)

Using the large pretzel sticks, I dipped them in dark chocolate, let them cool about 15 seconds and then dipped them in again. I then drizzled a very small amount of red and white chocolate, haphazardly, on the tops of the pretzels, swirled it around to mix the colors a bit, then used a toothpick to make a line down the center.

(I'm convinced it's that line that impresses everyone and makes them look more professional - the easiest part of the whole thing!)