With summer warmth still lingering in the air, it's hard to turn your mind to Christmas, but it's actually only two months away. Yikes! Every year, I keep thinking that Christmas is far off, and end up spending the last two weeks before the holidays in a manic shopping frenzy. But this year, I'll start early! I adore everything pink and thought I'd share some of my best finds this season with you.

Nobody likes to leave their dog behind when the family goes on vacation, and the mental image of those sad, disappointed eyes looking at you in disbelief at being left behind does take a bit of the fun out of the trip. My heart aches just thinking about it! Thankfully, there are other dog lovers out there who are willing to let you bring your pet into their home.

For those of us who love spending time on the water, houseboats really are the perfect solution, not only for living, but for vacationing as well. All over the world, you can find houseboats to rent that offer every comfort of a hotel, with the added bonus of ever changing scenery and your choice of where to go next. For an exotic and adventurous vacation, give houseboating in Africa a try.

Renting a home is a great, affordable option for a vacation, especially if you have a large family, or are traveling with a big group of friends. Just check online and you will see that you can rent a beautiful apartment in the nicest part of Manhattan for $500/person/week (or less). Try finding a hotel room for that price! Here are a few more ideas to make your vacation even more affordable.

Do you have a dog with arthritis or chronic pain? Behavioral problems? Does he lunge and bark and jump for no apparent reason? Did you recently rescue a cat only to find her lashing out at everyone, including you? You might want to give TTouch a try.

An increasing number of people, wary of the side effects (or no effects) of western medicine, are looking for alternative solutions to many health issues, not only for themselves, but also for their pets. While a pill might stop the itching from allergies, it won't cure the cause of it. Acupuncture, on the other hand, tries to get to the root of the problem and balance the entire body out.