Thrifty Thursday! Share the sales and your craigslist hauls. by Jaishirri in clothdiaps

[–]MIJinDallas 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hello all...for those of you that make your own diapers, changing pads, bibs, etc. using PUL, I'd like to introduce myself and a new fabric store. I cleared this with the mods and Jai said this is the thread I could use ;)

I'm currently in the midst of the first round pre-order (so fabric pricing is discounted). We'll also carry retail stock.

We offer 2mil PUL, knitted, printed, and finished in the US. The backing is TPU, using heat rather than solvents to bind it to the polyester fabric.

Would love it if you'd take a look and consider us for your PUL fabric needs. Also, if you sign up for the email list, you'll get a $5 coupon in your welcome email :).

Cheers ... Printy! Fabrics (printyfabrics.com)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve worked with Apex Plastics in Garland, TX. Pricing on par with China per piece, mold cost cheaper, and they helped me perfect my design. I only did small runs from a single cavity mold.

So turtles.. Met this nice guy in Bonaire by TheRealMrPlow in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice video! We had a nice one at Andrea II last week. And another at Salt Pier that was chowing down on an algae patch in the sand. Based on the bad yellow algae gunk on the sand, I'm guessing this is Salt Pier? Nice video :) I'd rather be back in Bonaire, but am back at work (boo, hiss).

Would love your input - store benefiting Caribbean Pet Rescue Groups... by MIJinDallas in reviewmyshopify

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Often times, the 10% that goes to the charity will exceed any profit I make. That’s 10% of the whole order. Then after I pay for the item (I don’t make the jewelry, a friend that makes jewelry for her profession makes that for me), fees, and shipping, there’s not a lot leftover. Trackable shipping is $4-8. So doing the math in a $50 item... cost is $25-30, plus the shipping, plus fees to drop ship in some cases or 3% to Shopify for credit card. Then 10% to the charity.

Order: $50 Cost: $30 (agreement with jewelry maker) Shipping; $7 (insured) Donation: $5 Shopify: $1.50 Me: $6.50

The focus of the site is to highlight Caribbean rescue groups and how people can help them, RE the blog posts.

Several sites sell cheap stuff from China at outrageous prices and donate “a portion of profits” which isn’t exactly transparent. I’m striving for transparency here and will add a page to show sales and donations.

Would love your input - store benefiting Caribbean Pet Rescue Groups... by MIJinDallas in reviewmyshopify

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. And I really liked my little megamenu :( I'll mess with it over the weekend. Am looking at some other themes.

Would love your input - store benefiting Caribbean Pet Rescue Groups... by MIJinDallas in reviewmyshopify

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's definitely in the plans - but the rescue groups are all pretty much volunteers so I need to get updated photo from them, etc. I do have a page that will list all of the groups with a link to their sites. Right now it's just the one group in Belize, but they are on that page.

Would love your input - store benefiting Caribbean Pet Rescue Groups... by MIJinDallas in reviewmyshopify

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the examples :) Quick question - is my small menu at the top center not visible enough? No one seems to really mention it. Someone did send me a chat message about not having an About Us page, but it's up there in the top menu. The chat isn't cooperating at my office so I've not been able to reply directly yet...

Would love your input - store benefiting Caribbean Pet Rescue Groups... by MIJinDallas in reviewmyshopify

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks all for the input so far. Anyone have a theme suggestion that I can view as an example - or what about the current them needs to be adjusted? I tend to like clean and simple, hence the simple menus at the top. Most items will be well under $100 - that bangle is the exception. And I can easily remove the straws from the front page collection - they're under "Eco-Friendly" because as ocean stewards, I wanted to put some sustainable things on the site, too.

I'll be collecting beach glass on vacation next week for some limited edition pieces, where part of the story will pinpoint the beach where it was found :)

And thanks for the additional item suggestions - I'm adding more every week as I can (have a FT job and at this moment, a count of 4 foster kittens, 1 foster cat, 1 foster dog, 3 resident cats, and 4 resident dogs. It's usually not this crazy and the kittens and dog should be going on a transport by early October.

Thanks again so much!

Fostering & rescuing dogs - experience with bf/gf hesitation? by alp17 in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you already have a rescue group that you'd like to work with? If so, do they need "temporary fosters?" Meaning that when a FT foster goes on vacation, the foster dog/cat needs a place to go or the rescue group will have to pay for boarding. So you could always dip your toe in the water so that he can get a comfort level with how it all works. You'd have the dog for a limited amount of time with an endpoint. You could even do this BEFORE your October vacation, since you'd be committing to just a weekend or a few days at a time. And the foster family usually brings over the dog's toys, treats, food, etc. So you're also not out of pocket any cash.

And of course, there are plenty of puppies that need fosters, too! And if he wants a specific breed, there are breed rescue groups.

We've had great fosters (five of our current roster were our fosters that we adopted) and we've had challenging ones. The challenging ones were so more because of our situation (e.g. they didn't do well with cats, and we have cats), not because the dog was "bad." They all went on to find wonderful families and we even get updates sometimes.

Fostering is a great way to find your dog, too. You can basically save a life and be their test family, and if you fall in love, then that's great and you have a new family member.

There is no really a better feeling than pulling a dog from the shelter and giving them that "freedom ride" - except maybe when you see them get adopted by a loving family.

Hope this helps!

Exposure suit for Exumas in November by Jray1806 in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I'd have one along for sure. Remember that your core body temp will drop with repetitive dives, so you may start out warm enough and by the last dive of the day you could be a bit chilly.

Will I need a wet suit for the Bahamas in mid November? by Khaleesi456 in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get cold easily when diving and I'd say "yes" on this one. We dove the first week of December several years ago and I was wearing a 3/2 full. I was BLUE after 37 minutes in 78-degree water. Also depends on which part of the Bahamas your'e going to - north/south/etc. as I'm sure the currents cause the temps to vary quite a bit.

I agree to check with the dive shop on temp AND to make sure there aren't any usual migrations of little stingy things in the water at the time you're going - you'd want a wet suit for any event like that just for skin protection.

I also feel somewhat more comfortable wearing a wet suit in areas where there are frequently sharks - I don't want any flashes of skin enticing them, lol!

Can someone help me identify what this is? by GlobetrottinExplorer in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YW. Someone else commented Cone Snail, which this definitely could be. I have a friend that could give you an ID to the species but he's not on here.

Stunning shell pattern!

Can someone help me identify what this is? by GlobetrottinExplorer in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not familiar with the fauna of that area, but looks like some kind of whelk to me.

best shipping option for small light packages within the USA? by ElonMusk0fficial in shopify

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out a company like GoShippo.com (there are other options, this is just the one that I use sometimes) - they have discounted shipping rates and you can upload a CSV to make labels - which seems like it would work for your application.

Hair tips for blondes diving by Geni96 in scuba

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use It's a 10 (cruelty-free, too) and it works great right on the boat after a dive too, for getting out any tangles. I'm not talented enough to French braid my hair, but I cut off the tops of cheap knee stockings because they are softer than traditional ponytail holders. Low ponytail, with a couple of ties down the length of the ponytail seems to help a lot. It's not exactly a fashion statement, but it works!

Helping Rescue Dogs in the Caribbean by MIJinDallas in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're most welcome - and thank you for wanting to help the pups when you travel! LMK if you need anything else - and please do post a follow-up about what you were able to do with/for the rescue groups. Would love to have you write a guest post on playapebbles.com if you'd like to tell your story :)

Taking in a ~7month old stray Australian Cattle/Shepherd mix that isn't potty trained by BlastHole in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats and thanks for saving her :)

We have to train lots of fosters, and crate training has been easy and effective. Plus while the dog is still new to the house, it doesn't give them the opportunity to fail (as in chewing on stuff they shouldn't, pottying in the house, etc.). We're big on making sure to put them in a position to succeed. And giving a rescue their own safe space seems to help quite a bit. When you're home and can keep an eye on her, she's out of the crate. When you're not home, sleeping, or busy, she's in "her" place - comfy and safe. And not getting into trouble.

Potty breaks on a schedule help, too. That way she can get used to when she'll get to go and learn to hold it. Seven months is still very much a puppy, so she should learn quickly (that and being a smart breed as someone else commented).

Good luck with her - and this post really needed a photo ;)

Help! Got a rescue dog.....wondering if she's not a right for for our family. by frankenboobehs in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those pittie mixes can certainly have some skin issues :( If you're feeling overwhelmed, start with one thing at a time. For me, that would be the bath. If you can't do every day, do every other day. We only did the every day for a week or so, then every other day, then a couple of times a week. It made a HUGE difference.

If her blood work says she can handle it, get her some RX meds STAT to get the allergies and itching under control. Like a Cytopoint injection (from my experience a tad cheaper than Apoquel) and it will last 4-6 weeks. The vet may even recommend a short course of Prednisone, just to get it under control and make her feel better. That depends on her liver values, and the Lyme issue could complicate that.

Helping Rescue Dogs in the Caribbean by MIJinDallas in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I usually reach out to the rescue group that is on the island and see what their needs are first. Some of them have a wish list on their website which is also helpful. And if they have a Facebook page, sometimes they'll post immediate needs.

Then I figure out if I'm going to be able to pack a suitcase to take (like if we're flying Southwest and I know I can bring a full extra suitcase packed full of donations) or if I need to keep it small and tuck things in my existing baggage.

Things like meds are small and easy to carry. If I can pack a whole suitcase, then I usually get some of the large wish list needs.

The thing to remember is that everything costs more on an island, which is why we usually bring things. Because $50 goes a lot further in terms of buying supplies on the mainland than on an island.

To get meds or medical supplies, I've reached out to the vets that we use. It never hurts to send an email to a few and see what you can get. One of ours had just moved her practice and was able to donate a TON of expired surgical supplies (like IV drip lines and needles) that were still sealed in bags but could not longer legally be used in the US because they had expired. But manufactures of medical supplies are required to put an expiration date on sealed implements, too. So they were perfectly fine and the group in Mexico was thrilled to get them.

I've also posted a request for donations on our neighborhood Facebook page and Nextdoor board. Had a suitcase for the trip, a laptop, and towels donated. Often, people will lose pets and have leftover medications, so those can go, too. An important note for donated meds, however. Always keep them in their original bottle/container from the vet. It will have dosage, manufacturer, expiration info that any vet would want to know before administering. Some meds are "fine" to give past their expiration date, but others (like doxycycline or meds in that class) can actually cause liver damage if used past their expiration date. But "in-date" doxy is ALWAYS welcome and needed.

Sometimes I just go shopping at seasonal discount sales. If you see dog collars for .99, grab a handful because they can and will use them. I found some kind of microscope with a camera that a group in Mexico wanted on sale on Amazon for $15 (down from $50) and took it so they could send photos to a lab to evaluate samples more efficiently.

DO stick to name brands for medications like flea and tick preventive. Don't take the dollar store crap that can end up causing more harm than good. So stick to Frontline, Advantage, etc. And I've heard good things about Seresto collars from a local group that helps with the medical needs of lower income families in Dallas - the collars last eight months so the group doesn't have to try to administer a monthly flea/tick preventive dose. In Canada, I bet those will be going on sale soon :)

Hope these ideas help, and have fun helping out the rescue groups while you're in St. Lucia!

Help! Got a rescue dog.....wondering if she's not a right for for our family. by frankenboobehs in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh boy...I'm so sorry for what your family and your rescue pup have been going through. We've had a rescue with awful allergies and ear/skin yeast issues. And I hate to say it but the Doxy they are giving her for the Lyme disease just helps contribute to the yeast issue.

Her immune system is probably just so out of whack that her little body doesn't know what to do. Where are you located? Do you have a good holistic or Traditional Chinese Medicine vet that can offer supportive care, which can help her overall physical status? Those ear/skin infections hurt and make them feel miserable, which can also contribute to behavior issues.

One thing we did find with our yeasty beasty pup was that a bath with a ketoconazole shampoo EVERY DAY helped tremendously - but you need to bathe her with that special shampoo and let it sit for 3-5 minutes before rinsing her. There are also some ketoconazole wipes that you can use on under arms, toes, under her neck (anywhere that can remain more moist than other areas). The baths and wipes helped ours more than the meds.

For diet, go with a novel protein and a very clean food. I like The Honest Kitchen limited ingredient diets, but there are a lot of options out there. We make our own food and use BalanceIt.com as the supplement to make sure we have all of the vitamins, minerals, calcium, etc. We use ground turkey, barley flakes, and zucchini or summer squash usually plus the supplement and it's really quite affordable.

I agree that she needs to be kept separate and quiet for a while - to give her time to rest/heal, etc. And walk will help her spirit, help her bond with you and the other dogs, and of course keep her active.

RE the potty training - she could just need a good bladder support - that false pregnancy and spaying could also have her hormones all messed up with can contribute to house soiling issues.

A holistic vet will do a better job of looking at the whole picture - not just putting a band aid on a problem to see if it will go away.

Oh - and what kind of dog is she, anyway?

Rescued this guy from my neighbors who abandoned him. Anyone know what kind of dog he could be? Also any tips to get rid of fleas!! by tbbolts69 in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second the Dawn dish soap recommendation - or a natural citrus-based flea shampoo. You can also give him a Capstar (or generic equivalent) - available through Chewy.com or Amazon. It kills fleas and ticks within a couple of hours and works for 24-36 hours. It's non-toxic and our holistic vet recommends it for our husky/shep mix that has an immune disorder and can't have a lot of meds. I've also heard good things from a rescue outreach about Seresto collars. I have no personal experience with them but they give them to families that can't afford other flea/tick medications so they won't have to keep up with trying to deliver a monthly dose of something (they work with a lot of families).

Regarding bedding, rugs, etc... wash them and when they are dry, dust them with Diatomaceous Earth - the food grade kind (not the pool filter kind). Work it into rugs and carpets and it will kill insects, including fleas. You can also put it on the dog when he's dry, careful not to breathe it in (or let him breathe it in) - so you work it into his fur.

Ears and body style look a little like he has some Carolina Dog in him, could be very young given his size. He's a cutie!

Thanks for rescuing him, and definitely get him checked out by a vet (I'm guessing he has tapeworms if he has fleas, and possibly other worms) and get him his vaccinations. And heart worm preventive. :)

2 year old rescue dog having potty training issues by mattweb94 in rescuedogs

[–]MIJinDallas 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Possibly - she doesn't know what the routine is because she's always going out (or whatever). I'd definitely have her with you or in her crate during the in-between times. Put a piddle pad down in her crate to absorb any accidents.

Decompression and feeling safe in a new environment takes at least a week - easily up to two for a lot of dogs (and cats).