Tinkerbelle Turns Four, Celebrate with MaxFund!

Hello Darlings!

You all know that I am that dog mom. I throw birthday parties, hand-make dog treats, and buy more toys than the girls know what to do with. Tinkerbelle’s birthday is Tuesday, April 28th, and after last year’s super fun birthday shenanigans, I knew I had to do something special. And what can be more special than a charity fundraiser and event benefitting MaxFund, a no-kill animal shelter right here in Denver?!

When it comes to what MaxFund is, they explain best:

"MaxFund is a true no kill animal shelter and adoption center that challenges the traditional methods of animal sheltering by leading the no kill movement in Colorado. We strive to give animals, including the injured, abandoned, and abused, a "second chance at life."

In 2014, 1,407 dogs and cats were adopted from MaxFund, and we spayed/neutered 4,547 dogs and cats. Since inception, we've found great forever homes for 29,297 dogs and cats, and spayed/neutered 39,149! Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of many in our community!"

While Tinkerbelle and Meeko aren’t rescues, they have lots of great friends that are! We believe that every animal deserves a loving home and MaxFund is a great way to give animals that need new leases on life that chance.

So, where do you come in? To celebrate Tinkerbelle’s Fourth birthday, we’ve decided that instead of gifts we will donate money and goods to MaxFund!

We’ve set up a GoFundMe account that will collect money online to be consolidated into a check and presented to MaxFund, and on Saturday, May 2nd at 11am we will have a puppy (and human!) meetup in Cheesman Park in Denver! (Facebook Event Here)

As an extra incentive to donate TinkandMeek has teamed up with BarkBox! For every $5 you donate you get one entry into the drawing for a FREE BarkBox for your pup, a pup in your life, or to donate to your local shelter and a personal shout-out on the TinkandMeek Instagram page! (Not from the USA or Canada? I’ll substitute a $25 E-Giftcard from Amazon) Coming to the event? Bring a toy, food, leash, or another pet-centric item and earn entries for the value of your donation! The raffle event will be open for two weeks starting today so share with all of your friends!

Sierra Trading Post Warm Weather Wish List

Hello Darlings!

I recently compiled all of my to-do lists into one long list and it ended up being six pages long. Seriously, SIX pages of lined notebook paper. Le sigh. And, because I am a wonderfully productive person, I had a minor freak out and decided to totally ignore everything I should be doing and go online shopping instead- like I said, super productive.

Restore with the Niyamas: A Guatemalan Yoga Retreat

Hello Darlings!

I have some SUPER exciting news! ::Drumroll please:: I am cohosting a cant-miss-it restorative yoga retreat in Guatemala this September with an incredible yogi, who happens to be one of my close friends, April the owner and founder of Sacred Prana Yoga!

The seven-night retreat -that takes place September 12th through 19th - will focus on the Niyamas, the second branch of the 8 limbs in yoga. Each day our asana practice will focus on one of the five Niyamas, like detoxing for Saucha (cleanliness) or meditation for Santosha (contentment). With two (optional) yoga classes daily, an active flow practice and a restorative or Yoga Nidra practice, plus workshops and meditations, you’re sure to feel relaxed and rejuvenated!

Meatless Mondays: Candied Kumquats (Two Ways)

Hello Darlings!

I always say that I should never be allowed in Whole Foods when I’m hungry. I go in for a few things on a list and walk out with a basket full of goodies I technically didn’t need. However, this time it worked out in my favor!

I spotted the cute little kumquats and knew I needed to have them; they’re in season now, so I know that they’d be perfectly tart and sweet. I always forget that kumquats are so sour, so when I popped one into my mouth and thought ‘this needs sugar’ I knew I had the idea for my recipe this week. I candy oranges and lemons often so why not kumquats? I am SO glad I did because this recipe (totally tooting my own horn) made candied kumquats one of my all-time favorite foods!

Welcome to Samoyed Sundays!

Hello Darlings!

If you’ve been following me on Instagram you may have noticed that there’s been a new addition to the Chickadee Says family- Meeko, Tinkerbelle’s half sister, and a little five-month-old fireball!

Meeko's first snow! (Still in CT) #samoyed #puppy #snow #winter (want to see more puppy pictures? Follow @tinkandmeek)

A photo posted by Kait Welch (@chickadeesays) on Jan 3, 2015 at 11:38am PST

Meatless Monday: Pepper-Stuffed Artichokes

Hello Darlings!

Artichokes are EVERYWHERE right now, (yes, I know the reason why is because they’re in season!) but the look so deliciously deadly I thought I needed to bring a couple home. Deliciously deadly you say? Yes. Those little pokey leaves are a pain- literally- they draw blood! So be careful, but the pain is totally worth it!

Now, I like artichokes in every way, dips, steamed then dipped in butter, so I thought I’d try something different- stuff them. Stuffed artichokes are a bit more filling than just the leaves and the peppers give them a fresh, zesty pop!

Currently Reading: A Bibliophile Blotter

Hello Darlings!

If you didn’t know this about me already, I am a huge nerd. I’m one of those girls that would rather stay in on a Friday night to take a bubble bath and get lost in Shakespeare’s sonnets than go out and get ‘turnt’ at a club. (To prove my point, the fact that ‘turnt’ isn’t a real word or anywhere near grammatically correct, drives me crazy.)

I’ve reviewed books on Chickadee Says in the past, but I’ve decided to make it a regular feature. Enter the first installment of my Bibliophile Blotter.

What I Ate Wednesday: Instagram Edition

Hello Darlings!

If you’re anything like me when life starts to get a bit busy, stressful, and messy healthy food is the first thing to go. (You mean I have 12 hours of work today and you want me to COOK?) Which I know that this isn’t a particularly great habit of mine, but something sh*t happens. These past couple of months have been a whirlwind for me, so I’ve been making a point to eat as healthily as I can while running around for meetings and tea.

One of the great things about being in the wellness industry is that the places we pick for meetings to take place tend to be on the healthy side! So, in true blogger fashion, I thought I’d share some of my favorite Instagram snaps (shameless plug to go follow me there!) of the healthy food I’ve been eating lately for WIAW!

Sports Bras That Actually Fit: Title Nine #T9FitFest +Giveaway!

Hello Darlings!

Sports bra shopping drives me crazy. You want something that is cute, supportive, doesn’t bunch up your T-shirt, and most of all fits without digging in or completely flattening out the girls. Generally speaking a bra that fits all of those criteria is pretty hard to come by. My sports bras have always felt too restrictive (pancake boobs) or a bit too busty (cleavage is awesome sometimes, but when you’re falling out of your bra in headstand? Not so much.) and there didn’t seem to be a middle ground.

Spring Wish List 2015

Hello Darlings!

Spring has officially sprung here in Denver, and with it comes an email inbox full of things I should most definitely delete but instead I lust over. So, to curb my craving (and possibly inspire yours) I thought I would share a few of the springtime items that I wish would make their way into my apartment!