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If there’s one title I take very seriously it’s being a dog mom. Scooter took me from dog lover to crazy dog mom and I’ve fully embraced it ever since. Since we adopted a puppy, it has (as expected) brought along more challenges and a lot more messes, if we’re being really honest. So today I’m breaking down some of the products that have made being a dog mom a little easier these days!

Woolite INSTAClean Pet Stain Remover with Oxy

This is hands down the best pet carpet cleaner I’ve used. When we moved into the townhouse, Scoots had some accidents when he’d get stuck upstairs and this carpet cleaner is straight magic. They meant biz when they put “INSTA” clean in the name. It literally gets rid of stains as you spray it. I’ve tried a few others when this has been out of stock and I always go back to this one because it really is the best.

Bissell Turboclean Powerbrush Pet Carpet Cleaner

If you have carpet and pets, this is well worth the investment. Potty training a pup is hard freaking work and even with our best efforts, he’s still had plenty of accidents. This is a stand up carpet spot cleaner which is great because you don’t have to bend over and be on the floor. I debated whether or not I needed this for awhile, but for just under $100 it’s truly saved our carpets and kept that dog smell in our new house away. So glad I decided to pull the trigger and get it!

Spot Cleaner Carpet Cleaners

With the Bissell Turboclean, you’ll need cleaner to put in it and here are the two I recommend the most:

• Bissell Professional Deep Clean + Oxy: If you’re cleaning the carpets for the first time or they’ve been soiled multiple times, I’d go with this option. I’m a whole-hearted believer in any products with Oxy these days! This cleaner really gets things clean and leaves the carpets smelling fresh too!

• Bissell Advanced Professional Cleaner: For more regular cleanings, this is also a great option. It helps with urine tracking and also leaves a fresh smell. When I use this one I just feel like I need to go over the carpets a little more than the other option.

Shark Navigator Self-Cleaning Vacuum

Obviously you don’t have to run out and buy a new vacuum just because you have pets, but if you’re in the market this is the one I’d go with! I researched like crazy when we needed a new one and I really LOVED this one because it’s self-cleaning which means it doesn’t get the hair wrap. Which is great for pet hair but I also have long hair so let’s be real, that feature was more for me! I also love this vacuum because it’s really easy to empty and has latches to empty the chamber on both ends.

Dog Pad Holder

I know puppy training pads aren’t everyone’s favorites but I’ve used them with both Benji and Scooter and they’ve saved a lot of messes. The key with them for me is having one of these dog pad holders. This latches them down so puppies can’t just grab them and run off with them and it also serves as another layer of protection for your floors if they use them. This one is nice too because it folds up and can be put away when you aren’t using it or need to travel with it.

Nail Grinder

I usually go the DIY route when it comes to keeping my dogs’ nails trimmed and this nail grinder has been AWESOME! Yes, all caps worthy. I’ve used clippers before but Benji hasn’t been a fan. I also had a grinder I tried with Scooter but to be frank, it was a piece of junk. This grinder though… actually has power and gets the job done fast! Even with a squirmy puppy. I was impressed. It also has other attachments and a carrying case which is a nice perk.

Walk Right Dog Harness

Benji is a little escape artist so it took us a while to find a harness that he couldn’t get out of. This was our third try and it’s been really great because there are so many spots to adjust it so it fits snug. It also has the option to hook it from underneath which is suppose to help them.. “walk right”. Get it, the name… haha.

I hope you’ve found this post helpful and give me a shout if you have any other things that have been lifesavers for you as a dog mom!

Please consider Washington’s reopening plan and check all recommended locations’ current status and hours prior to planning a visit.

I really don’t have to go far for this week’s Travel Local highlight, because it’s where we live… Tacoma, Washington! When Evan moved here, I had NO idea how much I would fall in love with this city that would later become my home too. The beaches, the parks, the food, the small businesses and just the community… this city has SO much to offer. So today we’re diving into some of my favorite places to hang out in our city.

Neighborhoods

Something I love about Tacoma is there are so many great neighborhoods within the city that all have different vibes. This, by all means, is not all of them but here are a few we spend a lot of time exploring.

Proctor

This is probably my favorite in the city. Proctor is such a cute neighborhood with gorgeous homes and a really cute downtown area with some of my favorite restaurants and shops — including Compass Rose, The Fernseed, Lapis, Waffle Stop and more! I also love their Farmers Market that takes place on Saturdays and has my FAVORITE scones from Upper Crust!

Stadium District

This was our old neighborhood and I love walking up and down the streets checking out the historic and victorian style homes. There are great food and bar options in the neighborhood and it also overlooks beautiful views of the water! We spent a lot of time at Shake Shake Shake, Indo Asian Street Eatery, and the Rhein Haus.

Downtown

Back when meeting up with friends was a thing (I miss you pre-COVID life), downtown was one of our spots we’d go. Pacific Avenue is a great place to grab a bite to eat and bar hop. A few blocks up, Antique Row is another cool spot to check out. Downtown is also where a lot of the museums and theatres are located!

6th Avenue

This is another hot spot for going out. 6th Ave kind of gives me vibes of my old neighborhood in Portland which I also really loved, so it’s no surprise I love this area! There are a ton of great bars and restaurants and it’s impossible to go wrong down there!

Dome District

The Tacoma Dome is known for hosting concerts and large events, but its neighborhood is also filled with unique things to do too — including shopping at Freighthouse Square (be sure to check out Adorned Abode!), the LeMay Car Museum, Tacoma Glassblowing Studio and more!

Favorite Beaches & Parks

I didn’t think I was a beach person until I moved to Tacoma. Obviously our beaches are a little different in Washington than other places but that’s why I love them! I can’t get enough of the rocky shores filled with driftwood and the regular seal spottings.

Owen Beach

I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent walking the waterfront at Owen Beach, I love it down there! It’s definitely one of my happy places. It’s so relaxing walking along the water and watching the seals swim around. It’s one of the more popular options so it can get busy during the summer but it’s a great option to visit year-round.

Point Defiance

We are so lucky to have a park like Point Defiance in Tacoma. It’s HUGE and there are so many different places to visit there — a little something for everyone. It’s actually where Owen beach is too. I love spending time in the flower gardens when they bloom, walking one of the many trails, visiting the Point Defiance Zoo, Owen Beach, Fort Nisqually, and taking in the views on the 5-mile drive!

Chambers Bay

Since we bought our townhouse, I’ve been spending more time at Chambers Bay, which is technically in University Place, but I group them together because they’re so close. This park is huge since it also has a golf course and I love walking on the rocky beaches or walking around on the walking trail.

Ruston Way

Another super popular option (especially in the summer) is Ruston Way. I love walking along the water down there and it hands down has the best views with Mt. Rainier peeking out in the background. At the end of Ruston Way there’s also a ton of development going up full of restaurants, shops and their own market.

Titlow Beach

We are SO spoiled with so many beach options! Titlow Beach is another great one to visit (and yes, that’s really its name). This one is on the other side of Tacoma near the Narrows and it has ample rocky beaches to enjoy. It’s also a go-to for kayaking for us.

Food

The food scene is hopping in Tacoma and there are still so many places we haven’t even tried yet! These are the spots that are on our tried and true rotate list though!

Shake Shake Shake

We used to live across the street from Shake Shake Shake and it was dangerous.. in the best kind of way! You cannot go wrong with any of their burgers, hot dogs or their delicious shakes. SO. DANG. GOOD!

Dirty Oscar’s Annex

If you’re looking for a bomb brunch or lunch Dirty Oscar’s Annex is the place to go. When you walk in, it has casual bar vibes but their food is Ah-mazingggg. You can’t go wrong with anything you order there.

Happy Belly

For delicious and healthy bites you need to make a stop at Happy Belly! Their menu is vegetarian focused plus they offer an amazing juice bar. Literally the besttt spot for a tasty lunch, juice or smoothie!

Pomodoro

Pomodoro is the perfect date spot in the adorable neighborhood of Proctor that serves up seriously delicious Italian. There’s a reason it was voted Tacoma’s Best Italian by the readers of Tacoma Weekly!

Cactus

We’re obsessed with the queso and margaritas at Cactus! SO dang delicious. There are other locations than just in Tacoma but we’re so glad they’re here now too!

Waffle Stop

If you ask me to go to brunch in Tacoma I’m probably going to take you to Waffle Stop. Because hello… waffles! These aren’t just any ordinary waffles either, they’ve gotten really clever with some of their menu items including one of my favorites, the messy but oh so delicious monte carlo sandwich.

Art House Cafe

Another great brunch spot is Art House Cafe in the Stadium District! It has cozy vibes and I love that the menu is built around local and in-season options. Everything is just always very fresh tasting.

Katie Downs

If my mom is visiting, you’re probably going to find us at Katie Downs! It’s one of our favorite places to go to Happy Hour and enjoy gorgeous views on the water. We usually order a bunch of their appetizers but they’re also well-known for their pizzas.

La Cà Bar

Pho! Something I didn’t realize was missing from my life until I moved back to the PNW was pho and I’m obsessed these days. My personal favorite is La Cà Bar off of 6th Avenue and let’s just say we’re regulars in the fall and winter!

Ice Cream Social

If you’re looking for some sweetness in your life, Ice Cream Social is the spot! They have two locations in Tacoma and you cannot beat their all-natural, homemade, local ice cream! They rotate flavors each month and my mouth is watering just thinking about them. My favorite that got added to the everyday menu is their Almond Poppyseed. Holy YUM!

Bars & Breweries

We also have a ton of unique bars to go to throughout the city, which makes going out so much more fun! Some of these are temporarily closed right now because of COVID but save this for later so you can check them out and support them when they’re back!

Triple Knock

Pinball bar, need I say more? I’m convinced there’s nothing more fun than enjoying a brew while playing pinball and Triple Knock delivers! If I’m being honest, I’m not even very good at pinball but it’s still fun nonetheless!

McMenamins Elk Temple

If you read my Olympia travel guide you know I loveeee me a McMenamins and the Elk Temple takes the cake for my favorite! It’s HUGE! It’s 7 floors and there are a variety of restaurants and bars, a tasting room, hotel, concert venue and even a hidden bar. It’s bomb and you could spend a whole evening exploring different areas.

The Red Hot

Craft beer and hot dogs FTW! The Red Hot is the spot to enjoy some quality beer or ciders and also get adventurous with their hot dog creations!

Rhein Haus

If you’re in the mood for German beer, grub and some bocce ball or miniature golf, Rhein Haus is the spot. Yes, they really have all of that inside! It’s a great spot to watch sports in the fall or enjoy some time by their fireplaces in the winter too!

The Camp Bar

If you love camping, or are just looking for an awesome local dive bar, The Camp Bar is where you need to go! Their decor is filled with fun camping vibes, they have bomb food and you can even order tableside s’mores!

7 Seas Brewery and Taproom

If I had to pick my favorite place to go out with friends, this is it! 7 Seas Brewery is the best! It’s located in Hilltop in a huge warehouse building and I just love the vibes. Plus their beer is BOMB, we love to do the tastings although the IPA is my all-time fav. 3uilt Tacoma is also located there and they have amazing sandwiches!

Locust Cider

If ciders are more your thing (I also love them) you’ll definitely want to check out Locust Cider. It’s located on 6th Avenue and is such a fun spot where you can have tasting and play board games. I’m all about the tasting and checking out their rotating ciders too!

Parkway Tavern

Last but definitely not least, Parkway Tavern is another one of our go-tos — especially when we lived in the Stadium District. It’s a great chill bar that has a ton of brews on tap and they also have games in the back! Can you tell, I like having things to do when we go out? Highly recommend!

There are so many awesome things to do on a visit to Tacoma, these recommendations don’t only touch the surface! This should give you a good starting point though. Have other favs? Drop them in the comments!

P.S. Want to keep up with my adventures around Tacoma and the PNW? Follow along on Instagram!

One of my favorite things of being a homeowner is having the space to take on BIGGER DIY projects. It’s amazing how much more you can do when you have an actual outdoor space and a garage… say WHAT!

When I moved back to Washington 3 years ago, I was starting over on the furniture front and was trying to keep things on a budget after a big and expensive move too. Queue Pinterest and another one of my favorite things, Facebook Buy Sell Groups and Marketplace! Which feels a smidge safer than Craigslist? I’m sure there are creepers there too but this post isn’t about that! It’s about…. how I snagged a bed frame for $25 and did some DIY furniture magic on it!

Let me back up a few though, this all started because I really loved the look of industrial style bed frames. When I was looking to buy one though the prices started at $300 and went all the way over $1k! Ones similar to these…

Of course, I didn’t want to spend that though… so I spent some time on Pinterest and found some tutorials of people who had spray painted brass bed frames to get the same look. Ding, ding, ding I could totally do that! So I started looking on Facebook Marketplace and I quickly found this beauty for a whopping $25! Which looked like a lot of my friend’s bed frames growing up! Of course there’s nothing wrong with this look if that’s your thing, but for me it was a stepping stone to getting that industrial vibes I was after.

To get the look I wanted, I opted for a flat black spray paint from Krylon. I usually go with the all-in-one spray paints so that I can skip the separate primer coat, which saves some time. If you go with a traditional spray paint can, I also highly recommend getting one of the comfort nozzle too. SO worth the extra little money to save your fingers. Plus you can reuse them for future projects.

Two coats on each side later they turned out like this! Which, in case you’re wondering was 4 cans of spray paint. I wanted to make sure it was covered well.

I’d say I achieved the look I was going for! What do you think? The best part too? I didn’t spend hundreds of dollars… in fact the whole project came in right under $40! Of course, your price will vary a little depending on if you have a bed frame around the house or buy one. Either way, though it’s an inexpensive project that can totally change the look of your bedroom!