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    I started photography as a teenager on SLRs. I loved the way the camera felt in my hands. I loved nothing more than capturing moments, people and places. Photography was an expensive hobby for any teenager in the day when you needed to spend your allowance on film. It also proved to be very expensive learning from mistakes. Over the years, I had slowly given up on photography when life took over; university followed by work.

    I got married and moved to a new country. Life started to slow down. I eventually moved from working in an office to consulting which resulted in finding time to pursue new things in life. We started to travel and I began my photography again.

    I remember standing in the camera store in Singapore, looking at all my options. While all I wanted to do was to pick up the biggest full frame camera with all the bells and whistles, I took the reality check pill and realised that we travel light, mostly cabin baggage trips and what I needed was something light. I didn't want to get into the mirrorless game, I still loved the SLR too much. So, I picked up the Canon 100D. I still get laughed at by my photography friends. But the best part about my camera is that I've never had a situation where my camera was too heavy to take out for any occasions. While I will graduate to better lenses, I started with a kit lens. And the photos weren't half bad. If anything, the camera has pushed me harder to learn to develop my skills in both photography and editing - I use Lightroom. I love my Canon 100D and I reckon, I'd never give it up even if I get a new camera.

    Canon 100D Rebel SL1 Photography Sihanoukville sunset Cambodia
    Sihanoukville, Cambodia
    Canon EOS 100D EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM

    Canon 100D Rebel SL1 Photography Alleppey beach sunset India
    Alleppey Beach, Kerala
    Canon EOS 100D EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM


    Canon 100D Rebel SL1 Photography Khajuraho India
    Khajraho, Madhya Pradesh
    Canon EOS 100D EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM

    I bought a new lens, the Canon EF 70 - 300mm f4.5-5.6 IS II USM, when my bird feeders started attracting parrots. I captured these beautiful birds pictured below.

    Canon 100D Rebel SL1 Photography Indian Ringneck India
    Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
    Canon EOS 100D EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM

    Canon 100D Rebel SL1 Photography Indian Ringneck India
    Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
    Canon EOS 100D EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS II USM

    I'm a firm believer that any camera can take great photos. And as I travel places, I have my Canon 100D with me because, lets face it, small doesn't always mean inferior and its just so convenient.
    I'm planning to upgrade the kit lens soon and will do another post after my next adventure.



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    Aroha Natural Deodorant

    This Aroha natural deodorant review has been so far on the back burner, its embarrassing. It's taken me almost a year to review this. On one hand, I wanted to start writing within the first week of receiving the deodorant because I loved it so much. But on the other hand, I felt like I needed to test drive this. And I'm glad I took my time.

    The Aroha natural deodorant hits the right notes by combining natural goodness and effectiveness. I've used natural deodorants in the past, and most of them have failed to be effective. These Aroha natural deodorants though, even lasted me through an hour long yoga session and they held up.

    I've spent a long time trying to "unchemicalise" my life. I started with the body washes and then onto shampoos - WOW Shampoo and Conditioner. Moving on to moisturisers and even the dogs were not spared. We have finally found a natural shampoo for them too - Wildwash Shampoo Review. Such a relief! 

    Deodorants were the one thing I just could not seem to replace. Don't get me wrong, I've tried making my own. Attempted the cornflour and aromatherapy option, the white clay and aromatherapy option and so many more in the past. Nothing worked.

    When the hubby decided that he was done with antiperspirants because they were causing allergic reactions to his skin, I made one last attempt and came across these Aroha Natural Deodorants. I had no intent to live with a smelly man. So Aroha to the rescue!

    When I bought the Aroha natural deodorant a year ago, they only had 3 types: citrus, floral and woody essences and they only came in a cardboard case. I have to mention, while I do love the recycled and going green feel to it, it made life a little difficult. Trying to push the stick up too hard would cause you to dent the case. The top cardboard piece would keep falling inwards and we'd have to push it back into place daily. Every time the top cover was closed, it would cause the stick to push excess outwards and bleed onto the outer side of the case. It was difficult dealing with the whole thing. But I think we put up with it all; the messiness and everything else because lets face it, the world has enough plastic. Travelling with the deodorant was interesting, but it has honestly lasted a few trips and the case has not fallen apart. Which is pretty amazing. You'd think a cardboard case wouldn't last a couple of trips. But this made it out without a dent. 

    We have tested the Aroha natural deodorant for almost a year. Each deodorant lasted us a few months. The biggest issue we had was during the winter months. It was almost impossible to use it as it seemed to harden up. I had days where I'd have to put the deodorant in front of the heater to soften it a little so it would go on the skin. Otherwise, you'd be trying hard to press the stick and slide it onto your skin. I realised though, that when I kept the deodorant in the bathroom during winters, it naturally softened a bit after my bath. I wouldn't attempt the same during summers though.

    What Aroha natural deodorant claims:

    They claim to be natural, contain No aluminium, No parabens,  No alcohol and No harmful chemicals. They are made with mango butter and blends of essential oils. Their packaging is made from 100% recycled paper and zero plastic. So... yay!! eco-friendly!

    Where can you buy Aroha natural deodorant:

    Aroha deodorant for men: Aroha Woodsy
    Aroha deodorant for women: Aroha Floral Aroha Citrus
    Aroha 3 pack pocket deodorants: Aroha Mini Pack

    Aroha has also expanded their range into body butters, lip balms, hair treatment oil as well as mini pocket deodorants. The pocket deodorants look like they are in plastic packaging though but look to be a good alternative for when you travel. They come in a set of a 3 pack. It might be a good option to try out the mini ones to see how you like the product.


    So....is going natural worth it?


    Ultimately, am I glad I found this? Yes I am. Will I suffer through the messiness of the casing and continue using it? Definitely. It does a good job as a deodorant. It's a natural alternative to the other deodorants out there. It works. And for that, I'm glad Aroha is making these amazing sticks of wholesomeness..

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    Homemade Dog Food Recipe Senior Dogs

    Making homemade dog food for senior dogs isn't difficult. In fact, it allows you to change up recipes and provide variety for the fussy senior dogs. Trying to balance weight loss and an ailing senior dog's requirements is very much  possible. I did not want to starve our dog. So, I got creative and figured out how to handle a weight loss meal plan while still ensuring our dog was given a healthy homemade meal.

    We woke up one morning and found that our senior German shepherd, Mido, couldn't walk. It scared us to bits and we had no idea what to do. He had been slowly suffering from arthritis and we had been taking him for swimming as a physiotherapy aid. Yet we were not ready to experience what we did.

    Thankfully, we found a great vet who helped us get our dog back on track. With laser therapy and physiotherapy, we have managed to get Mido to a point where he could walk slowly again. It also helped that a friend sourced for gym mat flooring for the home. With the gym mats in place, Mido was slipping less and walking was becoming a reality again.

    We also had to get him on specific weight loss dog food and we decided we'd make it homemade. The vet advised us that the lighter the dog, the easier he would walk. We were advised to cut his diet to only vegetables and meat. But we still had to ensure that he wasn't losing too much muscle. Mido had to lose 10 kg. Every kg lost would help in mobility and we had to keep him as thin as possible from here on out. I was adamant on not placing him on kibble and insisted that we make him homemade dog food. I started researching homemade dog food for senior dogs and started to set up a meal plan.

    The doctor was still keeping him on a multivitamin, vitamin B12, vitamin C, fish oil, vitamin E glucosamine and calcium supplements daily in order to give him the daily requirements he needed. We included a weekly vitamin D supplement as well.

    Keeping to doctor's orders, Mido is only being given vegetables and meat. The doctor had suggested that we add buttermilk in his diet daily which will help in digestion and calcium levels. He's taken to the buttermilk and has loved it. Mischka, our younger dog has also developed a love for buttermilk.


    The Homemade Dog Food Meal Plans are as follows:


    Breakfast

    2 cups cut fruit and vegetable platter.

    Vegetables and fruits to consider are; carrots, cucumbers, apples, mangoes and pears


    Lunch

    In a pressure cooker, add:
    2 medium sized vegetable like cauliflower, cabbage or bottle gourd
    1/2 cup peas or spinach or any combination of green leafy vegetables.
    Cook the above ingredients and then blitz with a hand blender.

    4 tablespoon of cooked oats

    A pinch of organic turmeric

    4 chicken pieces including soup - debone the chicken. (Please don't feed your dog cooked chicken bones.)

    To note:
    If you have a dog that doesn't require to lose much weight or if he seems like he's losing too much weight on this diet, you could add  0.5 cup mung dhal to his lunch and 100g cheese ( I use cottage cheese) to his dinner.

    Evening snack

    Buttermilk

    To make buttermilk:
    Add 4 tablespoons of yogurt (preferably thick Greek yogurt) to 1 cup of water
    Add ice to the mixture 
    Whisk into a smooth liquid like consistency

    If you're uncomfortable feeding your dog too much dairy, you can keep it light by adjusting the amount of yogurt you add.
    I generally buy yogurt that doesn't have any salt or sugar added to it. I usually try to make my own curd at home for the dogs if time permits.


    Dinner

    In a pressure cooker, add:
    2 medium sized vegetable like cauliflower, cabbage or bottle gourd
    1 beetroot or a handful of long beans or small cup of green peas or 1 carrot
    Cook the above ingredients and then blitz with a hand blender.

    A pinch of organic turmeric powder

    4 boneless chicken pieces with soup to the bowl

    Add fish oil to the food bowl when feeding



    If you have a smaller dog, you can adjust the amount given accordingly. The above measurements are based on a 30-35 kg dog.

    The reason why I break up the food into 4 meals instead of the daily 2 meals is that you'll find that your dog will be generally hungrier when he goes on a diet. The 4 meals helps in providing him with food at intervals to help him deal with the hunger.

    First month on the diet, Mido lost 3 kg. He had lost weight noticeably even though the scale was only indicating the slight lost. His blood test came back good and he was not having any deficiencies. He was happy and his walking got better

    Since being on this homemade dog food diet for senior dogs, Mido has been steadily losing weight. Tests came back good and he started walking more. 

    I think its important to realise when our pets require to lose weight and to adjust their diets as early as possible. It would also be beneficial to try and give your pets homemade dog food meals if possible. You could start by giving half kibble and half homemade initially if you're unsure and then slowly moving onto a fully homemade meals. I've been feeding our dogs with homemade meals since the dogs were a few years old. The dogs seem healthier and happier since the switch.

    The biggest advice I'd give any pet owner is, to start your pets on lots of fruits and vegetables when they are puppies. His diet requirements in his senior years will require him to eat these and it is always best to condition your dogs when they are younger. You'll have a far easier time changing his requirements when older.

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    Easy Homemade Dog Food Meals



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    Easy Homemade Dog Food Meals Recipes

    Making homemade dog food is pretty easy. It is also a healthier and wholesome option for your dogs. Homemade dog food is easy to make, doesn't take a lot of time and if you prep your food, it is relatively fuss free. The benefits would outweigh the negatives of giving your dog food that is dehydrated, nutrient lacking and most of all, filled with preservatives. Lets not even go into the quality of meat they are fed while on dog kibble.

    I made a change towards feeding our dogs homemade dog food meals when I almost lost my dog to kidney disease. I'd always fed my German shepherds with the best kibble. We had an amazing variety of organic food for the dogs when we were in Singapore. When we moved to India, the story changed. I was left with certain foods that I didn't perceive as good enough for the dogs.

    We did our best and gave them the best we could find. Until the day came when we got the news that our dog was very sick. Things changed and I spent a lot of time researching diet changes for our dogs. It was then that I decided, it was time to go homemade with our dog food meals. Over the last few years, I'd experimented with numerous recipes and bought various books for research. At one time, we even considered trying a raw diet but decided against it owing to the uncertainty of the quality of meat where we lived. I'd have to raise our own chickens in order to ensure we get good raw meat for our dogs. The hubby shut that idea down as fast as he could.

    The last 2 years, I've managed to find what works with the dogs. And I've been adjusting the amounts and certain ingredients depending on the season and the need to introduce some variety. We do a yearly blood test for the dogs and everything has been great since we switched to homemade dog food. Our babies are now seniors and except for a case of arthritis; we have a 12 year old and a 10 year old, both of whom have never given us any major issues since I switched them to homemade meals.

    I supplement their diet with a multivitamins, calcium supplements, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E and fish oil. The god send has been the introduction of Ayurveda medication to their diets - we get them specially made by an Ayurvedic doctor.

    Our Homemade Dog Food Meal plans for our 35kg dogs, per dog are:

    Day meals

    0.5 cup rice

    0.5 cup mung dhal
    (omit this if your dog is allergic and supplement with cheese instead)

    Oats 4 tablespoons

    A pinch of organic turmeric powder

    Winter: Ghee (clarified butter) 1 Tablespoon
    or
    Summer: Curd 2 Tablespoons with half cup grated cheese (optional)


    Night meals

    0.5 cup rice

    0.5 cup mung dhal
    (omit this if your dog is allergic and supplement with cheese instead)

    1 cup vegetables - cabbage, cauliflower, peas, carrots, potato

    A pinch of organic turmeric powder

    1 Tablespoon Ghee (Clarified Butter)

    2 cup meat
    or
    2 cans tuna in spring water

    Optional: 1 cup bone broth (I make mine from pressure cooking mutton or beef bones) Do not feed your dog the bones, just the broth.




    If you have a smaller dog, you can adjust the amount given accordingly. The above measurements are based on a 30-35kg dog.

    I believe that any journey to change a dog's diet is dependent on the owner. And I would advice that you research well and speak to your vet. I'm sharing my meal plans in the hope that it will help you on your journey to create healthy homemade dog food meals for your pet. I was very skeptical about taking my dogs off their kibble meals, always believing that kibble was the best option, because it was what I was told. But the last few years have taught me that its possible to feed your dogs healthy homemade meals at home. Their blood tests and general good health as senior dogs have proven to me that we are on the right path. Our dogs are happy and healthy and we are grateful we made the shift.


    You may also like...

    Homemade Dog Food Senior for Dogs


    Additional research and reading materials I recommend:

    Dr Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PHD and Susan Hubble Pitcairn

    The Dog It's Behaviour, Nutrition and Health (2nd Edition) by Linda P.Case

    Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs by Don Hamilton, DVM

    Short tails and Treats from Three Dog Bakery by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff

    Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way by Mark Beckloff and Dan Dye


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    About Me

    About Me
    Photographer. Blogger. Travel ❤. Having grown up in Singapore, I love nothing more in life than to eat South East Asian food, with Malaysian food being my favourite. I currently live in New Delhi with my husband and two beautiful German Shepherds. My necessities in life are photography, good coffee, a good book to read and writing.

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