NWsource | Jen Harper

Fly the friendly skies with cats and dogs under your wing

Jen Harper — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:54:44 -0700

A new Washington Lottery commercial shows a hang glider taking to the air with first a penguin strapped to his chest, and then a chicken. The tagline of the touching ad: "Every bird should get to fly." But what about cats, dogs and other pets? Well, they have the option of flying commercial.

Make your pooch work like ... well, a dog

Jen Harper — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:18:27 -0700

Your pup hasn't really been pulling his weight around the house, has he? He doesn't help pay the bills, and he never pitches in with the cooking or cleaning. So how about you give him a taste of what it's like to earn a living? Bring him to the office with you for Take Your Dog to Work Day June 20.

Camping gear goes to the dogs

Jen Harper — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:07:12 -0700

My two Labs can't speak in human terms (even though I keep telling them that I wouldn't tell anyone if they decided to start talking), but they do have a solid understanding of a handful of words, namely "ball," "eat," "treat," "walk," "swim," "hike" and "camping."

Bargains bloom at the Crave Spring Market Party

Jen Harper — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:42:59 -0700

I always get nervous before a big sale -- like I should've trained harder, stretched more, recruited more friends to help fend off crazed shoppers. But the Crave Spring Market Party, from noon to 4 p.m. June 1 at Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion, is nothing to stress about, particularly since there will be plenty of opportunities for pampering.

DenHaus pet dens elegantly hide beds or litter boxes

Jen Harper — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:03:13 -0700

Your dog or cat is as much a fixture in your home as your sofa -- and so is the hair-covered dog bed or the always-in-need-of-cleaning litter box. For those concerned with appearances, Bellevue pet-furniture company DenHaus offers a stylish alternative for the more unsightly aspects of pet ownership.

Raising urban chickens offers egg-stra perks

Jen Harper — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:06:48 -0700

Being a city chicken's not so bad. You don't have to deal with overcrowding (only three chickens are allowed at most Seattle homes) or the pecking order of a farm (just the occasional Labrador or child to contend with), and most likely your hip urban owners (they may refer to themselves as your parents) are either too granola or too chicken (no offense) to kill and eat you.

Make Mother's Day sweeter with local chocolate

Jen Harper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:20:29 -0700

Mother's Day isn't all about flowers and cards, and certainly Mom could use a break from perfume and bubble bath. So try tempting her sweet tooth May 11 with a variety of offerings from Seattle chocolatiers.

Spring fashion heats up the runway at Thaw

Jen Harper — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:29:46 -0700

Fashion, philanthropy and a chance to get into Justin Timberlake's jeans. If that sounds like a dreamy combination, then it's time to dump your winter wear, shimmy into something springlike (even if the weather doesn't cooperate) and head to the second annual Thaw fashion show, May 1 in Sodo.

Where to buy the healthiest, tastiest treats for your furry friends

Jen Harper — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:29:49 -0700

We're a food-conscious group here in Seattle. We raise chickens in our backyards so that we have access to fresh eggs and mash up carrots to make our own baby food. So it makes sense that we would be just as mindful of the food that we feed to our furry friends.

Lululemon helps yogis get the right fit

Jen Harper — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:26:03 -0700

The benefits of yoga are well documented -- better flexibility and balance, a sense of calm and well-being, stronger, leaner limbs. But for those of us who are not perfectly proportioned, the struggle to find well-fitting yoga gear can be more difficult than a backbend -- and can make yoga's rewards seem out of reach.