You might think that your cat is already pretty intelligent. After all, he or she can navigate the cat flap, look after themselves out of the house at night, and, well, take full advantage of your hospitality. But science is increasingly showing that there are things that owners can do to turn their cats from ho-hum intelligence into veritable feline Einsteins.
So what can you do? Take a look at some of these unique ideas.
For years, scientists puzzled over how to get animals to engage in cognitively-demanding tasks. They soon realized that pretty much the only thing that animals wanted was food and that by making food the prize, they could encourage behavior that they wanted.
You can take advantage of this by using food puzzles that require your cat to use its intelligence to get a tasty treat. What you’ll quickly find is that the cat’s natural instincts will kick in. They’ll suddenly go into hunter mode, thinking intently about how to get the meal that they want.
The good news is that you don’t have to come up with your own food game from scratch. Many pet stores sell games pre-packaged. But if you want to come up with games, you can. Many owners like hiding treats around the house in difficult-to-find places, encouraging cats to use their mental skills to seek them out.
The hunting instinct is fundamental to what it means to be a cat. But cats who are fed out of a tin for years on end can end up losing this vital aspect of their intelligence. The only reason evolution gave cats any intelligence at all is arguably because they had to use it for hunting prey.
If you don’t want an endless string of dead birds brought through your back door, then it’s a good idea to find artificial ways for your cat to indulge their hunting instinct, like this motorized weasel ball. Toys help to elicit the hunting response without necessitating the unfortunate demise and death of any wildlife in your garden. What’s more, most of these toys are relatively cheap and can be used again and again.
Play Hide And Seek Playing hide and seek with your cat might sound like a non-starter. But it is surprisingly simple to achieve, Start by providing spaces for your cat to hide in your home. These spaces could be small cardboard boxes, areas behind the sofa, or out in the garden.
Once you’ve got some cat-friendly hiding spaces available, let your cat go and hide. Then start calling their name, only for a few minutes at first to get them used to the idea. After a while, when you discover them, reward them for hiding away. This will encourage them to find better hiding places in the future.
Do you think your cat is smart? Do you want to make them even smarter? Then try using some of these ideas to keep them mentally active and healthy.
The weather is on a roller coaster ride, it was 62 degrees yesterday and it was in the 40s today. It’s that time when Spring Fashion 2019 trends are rolling in. You know that 2019 fashion lines were created last year and designers are now working on designs 2020.
QVC had a two-day Spring Style Out. On one of those two days, Dooney and Bourke had the Today’s Special Value, a woven embossed leather satchel. From seeing the presentations on-air, I thought the handbag would be perfect for spring; but could also be worn now going into spring. I liked the woven look and thought it was much different than the other Dooney bags. QVC offered five colors that were ideal for spring. I decided on the coral because that was not a color I didn’t have in my collection. And it is the Pantone Color of the Year. So how could I go wrong?
JT with Seppe
I received the handbag late last week and I was excited to see what it looked like. When I took the bag out, my initial thoughts were that the bag was much smaller than I had thought it was going to be. Granted I didn’t look at the dimensions on the product description, but it looked much bigger on-air. From there, my eyes were drawn to the wrinkles on the back side of the bag. Take a look at the pictures below. You can see in the upper left corner, next to the zipper, the big wrinkle. There is also a large wrinkle on the underside of the bag, as well. You will also notice that the leather does not lay flat next to the zipper. It is not smooth. And the bag is not a true coral color. It has more orange, like a dreamsicle popsicle from my childhood. The coral is not available on the QVC at this time. Only pink and blue are currently available. I also reviewed the Dooney and Bourke Beacon Woven Embossed Beacon Leather Satchel on my Youtube Channel. You can watch it here.
Dimensions of the bag:
*Measures approximately 10-1/2″L x 11″W x 6″D with a 22″ to 28″ strap drop and a 4″ handle drop; weighs approximately 2.13 lbs
*Body 100% leather; lining 100% cotton
Overall the embossing on the handbag is different and I like it. However, the bag should be flawless when it arrives, with no wrinkles. I will be returning the bag after I test it out for a few days. The overall design of the bag is different for Dooney and Bourke and I can see it being very popular. If a Dooney and Bourke representation is reading this, please find out why some of the bags are wrinkled during the manufacturing process. The bag is not $5,000, but it doesn’t need to be. It still should be in pristine condition when it gets to the customer.
If you have this bag, please let me know if your’s arrived in perfect condition or it was wrinkled as well. I would like to know if mine was a rarity or if this is a more common problem.
You have always been a very spiritual person who likes to connect with their mind and body on a regular basis. Whether you’re taking ten minutes out of your day to meditate or you’re choosing fashion accessories that make you feel calm. If you are looking to reconnect, then there are a few healthy upgrades you can make to your life right now. You are always looking for ways to live a healthier lifestyle overall and the following ideas might just be your ticket to a calmer and more confident life.
Find Your Fashion Sense If you have never been confident in the way you dress, then now would be the perfect time to change that. Dressing elegantly is very important to you so you want to find unique pieces that make you feel truly sophisticated. If you’re looking for wardrobe inspiration check this out; you will find a ton of outfit ideas to suit your personality. Whether you’re looking for a long flowing maxi dress or some tailored trousers to use as a staple, you will soon find everything you need.
Meditate and Exercise You should never underestimate the power of meditation and exercise. Spending just ten minutes a day focusing on your breathing can relieve so many of your stresses and strains without you even realizing. Similarly, you should aim to get outside at least once everyday for just twenty minutes of exercise. Whether you’re taking a brisk walk in the park or heading to a dance class with friends, moving your body will always make you feel reconnected.
Enjoy Much Needed ‘Me Time’ It can be very easy to lose yourself amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so time out is incredibly important. If you can master the art of ‘me time’, you will feel so much calmer every day. Whether you take ten minutes to read your favourite book, enjoy a hot bubble bath or drink a soothing cup of tea, these relaxing activities will make you feel much more connected to your mind and body.
Savour Every Special Moment in Life It can be very easy to bury your head into a mobile phone or computer in this world. Everybody in this day and age could do with being a little bit more present in day to day life. Instead of scrolling through social media on a train journey, sit back and take in the beautiful world around you. Savour every special moment in your life and you will soon feel more connected to your mind and body.
When you’re feeling lost or disconnected from yourself or God, it’s time to re-evaluate the important things in life. Take some much needed time out to write down all the things you are grateful for in your life and you will soon feel much more empowered. Do whatever you can to instil peace and serenity into your day to day life, whether you’re dressing elegantly or enjoying some much needed time to yourself. Find your own unique ways to reconnect with your mind and body and you will feel calmer than ever going forward.
As much as we don’t want it to, money does control a lot of things in our lives. It’s much easier to spend the money than it is to save it and when we’re adults, we spend our money carelessly because we don’t have any responsibilities. However, you do get to a point in your life where at some point, you’ll need to think about putting some money towards your future. If you’re a spendaholic, then here are some top tips on how to save your money.
Transfer Into An Account You Can’t Touch We all have payments that must be made, like taxes, rent or mortgage payments and these are expenses that leave our accounts automatically, and we really don’t have a choice in stopping them. So with this in mind, set an amount that you could take away without making life difficult. It doesn’t matter if it’s a few dollars, ten or more because it’ll all add up eventually. Now open an account wherein you cannot touch the money until a certain time frame has passed and credit that account with that set amount of money either daily, weekly or monthly. Having little access to it means you won’t be able to remove it without consequences and it’ll eventually just be another expense you have to cater in like your taxes. You can also use acompound interest calculator to determine the future balance of your savings.
Cut Back On The Luxuries
Giving ourselves a treat every once in a while is a great way of praising yourself and giving yourself credit for something you’ve done or achieved at that moment. However, materialistic things can become quite addictive, and it’s important to keep a reign on these luxuries so that you don’t end up spending beyond your means and therefore get used to a lifestyle that you simply cannot afford at this present time. Luxuries are anything that isn’t household bills, medical prescriptions, and groceries. So, count any extras like a hefty phone contract or gym membership as a luxury and find ways to cut back on some luxuries each month. Ask yourself if you need it, rather than want it and whether it’ll be used or bring you more joy in your life.
Set Yourself A Goal Or Two
We can benefit from goal setting because it provides that motivation needed to be successful. There’s a lot of gratification that can come from achieving a goal, so when it comes to your finances, setting goals can help avoid falling off the saving wagon. Don’t set unrealistic goals because this will de-motivate you and will reduce the chances of you saving any money at all. Make a daily, weekly or monthly goal and don’t forget to set some big goals for the year. These little goals that you hit will help go toward your bigger targets. Start small and then go bigger!
Ask yourself what you want to save money towards too. You might have just gotten engaged or have plans to buy your first property. Having a reason for your goals will only encourage you to commit to saving.
Build Up An Emergency Fund An emergency fundis great for those blips that occur in life. They are normally unexpected, and some can be a financial nightmare. That’s where your emergency fund comes in. An emergency fund should be used in the event of an emergency where you cannot supply the funds from your current savings or on a credit card. Having this fund is going to ease some of that worry and pressure when owning your first home or paying for a wedding. You’ll know that you have a bit of a safety net to fall back on should you need it.
Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself Saving can be difficult, so it’s important not to be too hard on yourself. Reward yourself whenever you’ve reached a milestone and don’t feel guilty when you spend money on something you really needed and wanted. At the end of the day, you’ve worked hard to earn the money you’ve got so there shouldn’t be any guilt in treating yourself. Always assess your savings too as there will be times where you may be able to save more or have to reduce your saving amount.
As you start to save money, it may be tough, to begin with but it will usually get easier and it’ll eventually turn into a habit that you don’t even notice! So start saving your money today so that the future is a little less bumpy and your finances are healthier.
My team and I wanted to thank each and everyone who entered JT’s Valentine’s Day Giveaway. You just don’t know how good it makes us feel to offer a giveaway. The Dooney and Bourke Patterson Leather Paige Sac with a matching Continental Clutch was a different choice for us because we wanted to offer something different. The Azure blue reminded me of the ocean and we wanted to make sure it was a giveaway that you could use right now and into spring and summer. The giveaway ran from February 10 through February 24th at 11:59pm.
The winner chosen through Random.org is Sally G.! Everyone of the Elegant Lovelies have been so gracious and congratulating Sally G. Again thank you for entering and you never know when a giveaway may come up or what it may be.
Blessings and Thank you for being a part of our community.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
I also reviewed the Dooney and Bourke Beacon Woven Embossed Beacon Leather Satchel on my Youtube Channel. You can watch it here.
Follow!