Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Photo Fail

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. The summer is just about over and I have yet to _________.

2. The highlight of my summer was _________.

3. _________ is a fictional character I really relate to.

4. My interest in _________ began when _________.


My answers are below in bold. 

1. The summer is just about over and I have yet to pressure wash my house.
(My house has needed pressure washed, or power washed, for a while now. For the past couple of springs and summers, I've told myself that I was going to do it. And so far that's always become one of the outdoor chores that never gets done before winter. I honestly don't know that it'll get done this summer, but it's still on the to-do list nonetheless.)

2. The highlight of my summer was finding my creative inspiration again.
(Earlier this year I found myself in a bit of slump when it came to drawing and writing. I wanted to do it, but I just rarely felt inspired to do so. This summer, though, after listening to some creative podcasts and watching some creative videos about others' art, I felt really inspired again. I have been drawing and writing like crazy for weeks now, often with my drawings being fun little bits of concept art relating to what I'm writing. I now have the constant urge to be doing one of my creative passions, which makes things like work and chores really drag on, but such is life.)

3. Garfield is a fictional character I really relate to.
(I honestly thought I'd think of some cat lady or other such relatable character to put for this. But, when it came time to actually answer, all I could think of was lazy, lasagna-loving Garfield. As a homebody who likes to stay in place, and who loves Italian food, I might as well just let Garfield be my answer.)

4. My interest in Halloween began when 5-year-old me snuck out of bed and found the movie Halloween playing on the TV.
(I might have mentioned this story in the past, but when I was about 5 years old, I indeed snuck out of bed one October night and tiptoed to the living room. My dad was watching the movie Halloween, and it was the scene when Michael Myers is just standing in the shadows across the street and the little boy character named Tommy sees him from the window and yells that the boogeyman is outside. I was ushered back to bed soon after that, but I remember having a mild concern about the white-masked boogeyman for years after that. Even more so, I remember feeling incredibly intrigued by the thrill of the scare. And I've loved all things Halloween and spooky since.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

You better believe your blooper queen Eddy is ready for the event. This time around, I was all lined up for a photo when, perhaps because she realized this day of bloopers was approaching, Eddy decided to dodge the camera. And, of course, she wouldn't let this day go by without a little blur in her photo.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Spooky Summertime Doodle of the Day

It's Eddy's turn to have a spooky summertime doodle. This one started when my mom shared with me a photo of a chair decorated to look like a ghost. There's a chair in my bedroom that Eddy loves to sleep on, so I decided that she more than deserved for her spooky doodle to star her in her very own ghostly chair.

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Tip of the Day

We're on our final tips in our series about kitty vet visits. Today's tip doesn't directly relate to the physical act of taking your cat to the vet, but it still can play a part in those vet visits. What we're talking about are a variety of ways that might help you pay vet bills. We have a number of thoughts on this topic, and so this will be a long one.

So, let's start with pet insurance. As most of you likely already know, you can indeed get insurance for your furbabies. Just as with humans, there are a variety of companies and policies to choose from, and so pet insurance can certainly involve some research in order to determine the best coverage for your furbaby. In the end, though, this research and the resulting coverage you select can potentially save you money. For example, depending on the policy you choose, you could possibly save a large sum of money in the event of an unexpected pet emergency that is at least partially covered by your pet's insurance.

All of the above being said, when it comes to pet insurance, do try to think ahead. If you are interested in starting your furbaby on a policy, perhaps do so when they're still young and healthy. One reason for this is that some companies and policies make it difficult to acquire certain coverage for an animal who is already geriatric or sick. So, early on, consider the benefits you might obtain from pet insurance, do your research, and then do what is best for you and your furbaby.

Besides pet insurance, another option is CareCredit. CareCredit is a credit card that can be used to pay medical bills, such as vet bills. Just like pet insurance, this one will likely require some research to ensure it is a good fit. For example, not all vet clinics accept CareCredit as a means of payment. Therefore, you would want to find out if your preferred vet accepts CareCredit before applying for it.

In addition to all of the above, if needed, some vet clinics also allow for payment plans. Some vets are especially willing to do this for clients in good standing, and who have proven trustworthy and who have shown a willingness and ability to pay for funds in a timely manner. If you have large furry family, if you are faced with a pet emergency, or if there are other such circumstances, perhaps consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of making payments to cover your furbaby's bills. If you do so, of course also ensure that you understand all of the terms, and that you are able to make payments on time and in agreement with the payment plan.

One last idea we're sharing today is to simply do your best to have some sort of "pet emergency fund" in which you save money over time. Such a fund can come in handy especially if you do not have pet insurance or CareCredit, and if you don't use a payment plan at your vet clinic. Accidents and emergencies can indeed happen, and they can happen when you least expect it. What's more, resulting vet bills can potentially start racking up. So, if and when possible, try to determine ways to save even just a little money each week or month in order to contribute to a "pet emergency fund", so that you won't be left scrambling to find funds for your furbaby. Ways to save a little extra for such a fund might mean cutting back on eating out, cutting back on the number of coffees you buy, cutting back on your clothes spending, or cutting back on other luxuries. Rest assured, though, that passing on a special luxury or two is well worth it for your furbaby's health and happiness.

Furbabies make wonderful companions, but they are also, admittedly, not free. They require care, just like humans do, and that care does come with a cost. Therefore, always include your furbabies in your budget or other financing plans. This might require some research and money-saving measures, but our furbabies are always worth it.