DIY: Inexpensive Large Dog Bed

Every time I walk into the living room I can't help but shudder at the decrepit, black, bacheloresque couch looming by the wall. It should have been released from its misery at creation, but somehow made it through for eleven years. I guess it's currently in couch purgatory as it has become our "dog sofa"- slowly wearing away with holes torn in the arms and back, lots of loving licks and scratches, and probably too many puppy farts to count. So today we decided to help it (and hopefully our decor) by trying our hand at sewing a dog bed. And my oh my how happy we are! I lucked out by finding a slightly stained two-yard piece of upholstery fabric for just $2.00. I figured that even if I did screw up my second solo sewing attempt, two buckaroonies wasn't a bad loss. But luckily the project did not disappoint, so if you are looking for an inexpensive option for a big dog bed, simply try the following:

1. Find an old comforter to use as stuffing. Check out Goodwill if you don't have one handy. Fold into size you would like the bed to be.
2. Lay fabric down wrong-side up and place comforter on top.
3. Fold ends over so that they overlap. This will not be sewn but rather stay open so that the comforter can be inserted. The flap on the bottom of the overlap will be showing, so if you would like to hem it to make a nice edge now would be the time.
4. Pull everything taut and pin open ends.
5. Sew edges together and flip to right-side.
6. OPTIONAL: Add velcro, ribbons to tie, or simply safety pins to hold the top edge over the bottom. We still haven't decided which we will do. Not a necessary step, but might help to keep dog hair and dirt off of the comforter.
7. Stuff with comforter and just add dog!

The whole Murray clan is happy with this method and super excited that it was just $2.00. Don't get me wrong, I have done my fair share of longing gazes at L.L.Bean beds, but with empty pockets and not-so-friendly-to-dog-bed dogs, they were a bit out of my range. This option is inexpensive, allows you to use fabric of your choosing, and is completely washable! Oh sweet goodness, I sense a couch's funeral a-brewin'...

LIVE THE MURRAYED LIFE

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Gone To The Dogs

With three dogs, one cat, and an undulating amount of foster animals, Peyton and I are bonafide animal loving peeps. From the time when I was itty-bitty I always was infatuated with dogs. I love their cold noses on my face when I wake up; their love for belly rubs; their huge bodies squishing me in a dog hug; their excitement every, single time I come home; and most especially, their enthusiasm for everything in life, whether it be to fetch a ball, go on a long run, or settle down for a nap with their human. In fact, I even adore the smell of sleepy dog paws, a comforting mix of earth and warmth and home. Luckily for me, Peyton is no different when it comes to puppy dog charm (well, maybe minus the foot-smell thing... He thinks it's a bit odd.) So when I came across this tribute in the "2010 Greater Austin Pet Resource Guide" I just had to share with everyone else whose lives have gone to the dogs. Enjoy!

If I Didn't Have a Dog...

• I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
• My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
• All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
• When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
• When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through the fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
• I could sit on the couch and my bed in the way that I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
• I would have money... and no guilt to go on a real vacation.
• I would not be on a first name basis with six veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grandkids through college.
• The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it alone.
• My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates and barriers. 
• My house would not look like a daycare center, toys everywhere.
• My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats, and an extra leash.
• I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E-E, W-A-L-K,   T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O-, R-I-D-E.
• I would not have as many leaves inside my house as outside.
• I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down.
• I'd look forward to Spring and the rainy season instead of dreading "mud" season.
• I would not have to answer the question, "Why do you have so many animals?" from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by something as close to an angel as they will ever get. 

How empty my life would be!

My Tegan girl. 

Sweet Athena <3

Now go ahead and give your babies a big hug, kiss, and treat. I'm going to go appreciate this beautiful day with my sweet girl!

LIVE THE MURRAYED LIFE

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Why We Joined the Blogging World

Now that we have our first post under our belt, it's high time to get down to the meat (or tofu...?) of the matter:

Why we started this lovely blog.

1. To share our home and lives with our loved ones up yonder. 

That's right; Austin may be home to welcoming Texans and warm weather, but it doesn't have those truly near and dear to our hearts. This is the perfect way to share our home with those who aren't here!

2. To post copious amounts of photos, videos and stories of little Declan.
Looking over our posts, this is what the main purpose has become. We love having the entries to look back on and see how he has developed, and all those north of us love to see how his little mug changes each week. It's a win-win, unless you don't like babies. Then our site probably isn't your cup of tea. But this ties back to our number one from the beginning. He is number one in our lives right now, so it's only right that we focus on that.

3. To plant seeds of veganism onto tastebuds. (Don't run!! Not as scary as it sounds...Promise.)

As vegans, we have become semi preachers. Not the annoying guys that approach you in the street and aggressively tell you that you don't love Jesus because you are chewing gum type. More the elegant ambassador to the lifestyle ones that live a glorious life of ease with delicious food that makes you want to question just how they do it. They then of course are more than happy to answer and show you the light. That is, of course, exactly what we are. None is in our heads. None. Anyhoo, we do believe in veganism and would love to share any simple insights to help anyone move in the "animals as friends only" direction. Blogging is a great avenue to share recipes and vegan living ideas as they come to us.

4. To bring out our "learning as we go" house development skills.

We are on a budget. A pretty tight budget which consists of paying bills, buying good groceries for great meals, and feeding the 160 pounds of dog we have in this house. It doesn't leave much room for an eat-out and party lifestyle, which in turn does leave lots of free time in our humble abode. It also plain old makes sense (cents?) to spend the majority of your time in the place that the vast majority of your cashola goes. So we'll make our house our home and haven. The house is a good shell and a great start, but it has a long way to go. On our budget, we've decided to invest in the Casa de Murray beyond the mortgage by fixing up the house. With little bits of money, there is only so far we can go. But we plan to have fun and be thrifty, and this blog will help us watch our own progress. By documenting our work, we are hoping to going to feel more motivated to do these projects! (If you tell yourself enough it makes it real, right?)

5. To share whatever other topics cross our mind.

Okay, okay. We confess. There are times that our posts will not pertain directly to the aforementioned reasons. But ya know, that's because sometimes life includes unexpected things that are too great to miss. When these jewels come around, or even any minor happiness inducing moment, we might pull the plug and share. And that's okay! Because learning about Clementine the puppy or all about foosball tournaments might just make you smile like it did us. And then our job is done. We are simply hoping that you will take something from what we live and learn, and in turn we truly hope to get some ideas back. We would love your comments and thoughts on our house and projects, as well as any recipes you've enjoyed, things you've done, blogs that have helped you, etc. Remember, sharing is caring! (Now Christina has been known to overshare a bit, but that's why Peyton will be here to help monitor.)

So with all this potentially fascinating (!!) subject matter, we are openly admitting that our blog seems very unfocused. But it's name is apropos to it's subject: put simply, life. Life mainly in a house, but sometimes out and about in Austin wanting to share the beauty. A life filled with different passions and ideas and a wife with a somewhat hyper, impatient mind, a mind that focuses on one thing vigorously for a while until its chasing after the next pretty project that passes by. It's a life of love, happiness, and color. One full of two dogs, one cat, one couple, and one baby who all enjoy being home together and establishing their family. It's a tender, learning, newlywed life which, like in its home improvement ventures, is learning its way. It will have some stumbles, but we are certain it will come out victorious. And that is why we want to share this Murrayed Life with you.

LIVE THE MURRAYED LIFE

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And Now Introducing... Clementine!

So it may seem strange to start our blog with the one thing we have that is definitely going to leave us. But, with all this cuteness, it only seems fair to share her with you! 

Clementine is our adorable foster pup who has called our house home for the last three weeks. She has already tripled in size, going from a bumbling ball to a long-legged sprouting dog. She has developed her hearing (she wouldn't react to any noises); is still learning to see things (she doesn't seem to have focusing power or any attention span); and has even realized that it's better to pee outside (even if it's only 13 out of 23 of her normal pees... Making progress!). Overall though, she has been a fantastic pup who has claimed our hearts. This might be partly my fault for giving her such an adorable name, or it might be the glorious fact that she sleeps through the night. That's right, from day one, no crying or whining while foster parents sleep. Love love love.


So here's some more of that little lady (at least what we could get of her... She seems to pick her fluffy black coat for pictures to add a little mystery...)

She chews.

Sleeps.

Chews some more.

And naps yet again.

Not wanting to be rude, she demanded to say goodbye. 

**Disclaimer: Getting pictures of puppies is tough stuff. These pictures do not give an accurate portrayal of puppy sleep time!


So there she is. The black fruitilicious beauty herself. The bouncy fluff ball of play. And for all those in Austin, the gal for you!

LIVE THE MURRAYED LIFE

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