Last December I stood in a pet boutique staring at a monogrammed dog stocking that cost $45. Forty-five dollars for a sock that holds a squeaky toy and a bag of treats. My dog does not know his name is embroidered. He knows the stocking crinkles when I stuff it. So this year I ordered … Read more
The Dog Calendar Sold Out. The Cat Ones Sell Out Faster. Last night I priced dog advent calendars and the math was simple: the good ones vanish by mid-November. Here’s the thing nobody tells cat people: the cat versions sell out faster, because fewer brands make them and the same December deadline applies. Check the … Read more
The photography studio wanted $150 for a 30-minute Christmas session with my dog. One prop, two props, a digital gallery, and a “print credit” that expired in January. I passed, spent about $31 on props instead, and got the card photo myself — plus a spare afternoon and props that work again next year. Here’s … Read more
Last December I watched a friend buy her dog’s advent calendar on November 17th. She’d picked the one she wanted in October, waited for a sale, and by the third week of November the cookie-house calendars were gone everywhere she looked. The $12 grocery-brand ones were still in stock, of course. They always are. The … Read more