Hi there, Ella Bean, here! Sorry about the long break in my writing. I have moved cities and its been super busy. Now a resident of D.C., its only appropriate that I become highly political and remain conscious of news related items.

So, I am doing my part and I came across some really interesting news in the Associated Press.  In spite of the weakening economy, those crazy two legged folk are still spending lots of meat money on their pooches! The luxury dog market is not really being affected by this whole mess (which is all I am hearing any dog bark about at the park). Business is up, even in spite of the lack of spending in other retail sectors.

Perhaps if like, other stuff were as cute as me, more people would be buying it! Of course, nothing is as adorable as I am…Anyway, I think this is fabulous news! As long as the luxury canine market remains flush, companies will continue to churn out lots of buyable items that the Bean needs to maintain my stylish (albeit, now politically conscious) self.

According to the Associated Press, the American Pet Products Association estimates Americans will spend $43.4 billion this year on their pets —  including everything from toys, treats and training — in spite of the dramatic slowdown in discretionary spending for other markets. That’s 26 percent higher than what U.S. consumers spent in 2004!

In honor of how much is being spent on much-deserving pups, here is my list of 10 recession ready, politically correct products for the beast in your life. Spend, spend, spend! This is simply the only way we can help our economy. Its just the American thing to do!

1. ‘My Dog For President’ embroidered pink velour hoodie by Juicy Couture. Who wins the election? Duh! The cutest and best dressed! $45 at juicycouture.com

   

2. Complete Canine Grooming System, by Isle of Dogs. These luxury dog spa products do way more then your average scrub. The line is complete with shampoos, conditioners, supplements and even styling products to maximize the gorgeousness of your unique pup. The product’s ingedients are designed to benefit the coat and skin too, making them functional as well as fun! Lather up and prepare to reach a new level of beauty! $18-$84 at Isle of Dogs.

   

3. Bamboo Lounger. Its made of solid bamboo, which is like, totally sustainable! How eco-chic! The comfy cushion is made of super comfy memory foam and is available in a variety of colors to suit your doggy tastes or your human’s decor. $279 at the Haute Hound.

   

4. Pink Stainless Steel Bowls. Yumm…eating, one of the Bean’s favorite pastimes. I am a serious canine consumer of MEAT! To keep things sanitary, I prefer stainless steel (Bacteria can accumulate more easily in porous materials. Not hot.) To keep things chic, I prefer PINK! $5 - $20 at Calling All Dogs.

   

5. Fall Carrier by Ella Dish. Left behind? I don’t think so!! Accompany your human wherever they may go in this cute, simple, totally unisex carrier, designed specifically for fall by chic New York doggie designer, Ella Dish. The simple design is great and totally goes with the modest mood in fashion, set by today’s dismal economy. I also like this one because my name is Ella, too! $160 at Ella Dish.

   

6.  Astor Collar and Lead by Blueblood. Bling-bling is so over. Its all about modest chic now. Blueblood Luxury Goods for Dogs understands understated glamour. This faux snakeskin collar and lead is totally faux-fabulous! Collar $32 and Lead $40 at Blueblood Luxury Goods for Dogs.

   

7. Muttsy’s Credit Card Squeaky Toy by Haute Diggity Dog. Economy got you feeling blue? Thrash around some plastic and show those creditors who is really alpha-dog! $12 at Haute DiggityDog.

   

8. Mellow Mut Chicken Treats by Dogswell. Is your human more stressed then a cat in a tub of water? Its probably getting to you, too. Mellow Mut treats are formulated with Chamomile and Lavender to calm those nerves. Even better, these meaty treats are made from naturally raised, cage-free chickens, so no one has to suffer for your feasting pleasures. $8.99 - $19.99 at Dogswell.

   

9. PoopBags 100% Biodegradable Poop Bags. So, everybody poops. And I think poo is pretty biodegradable, but are the bags Mom or Dad is picking up after you with earth-friendly, too?Take care of your business and the earth with these waste management baggies! $63.99 for 600 (a whole years worth of pooping!) at poopbag.com.

   

10. Not a Vegetarian Enamel Dog Charm. OK, so I may be all political now - and I know there is a whole hoopla about the treatment of animals raised to be my dinner, so my family buys free range and hormone/antibiotic free for the pooches and we get down on as much meaty feasting as we can! (My human, I suspect, may be a vegetarian. Blech!) Let your pro-meat, carnivorous point of view be seen and heard! $12 at Haute Dog Boutique.

    

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Hiya! Ella Bean here, and yes, I am dressed like an Angel. Know why? ‘Cause I am!

Ella Bean, Rescue Angel, reporting!

I am hanging out with my new pal Oliver, a Toy Poodle who just joined my aunt Kara’s family. My cousins, Scarlett and Cayenne, also Toy Poodles went with the humans to the Howard County Animal Rescue. Oliver was there, waiting for his forever home. He had been used as a stud for a kennel of some kind, which means he was a daddy to lots of puppies, but he never had any humans to love him.

Oliver, like his namesake in Charles Dicken’s novel, Oliver Twist, has been treated with cruelty and lived a loveless life for the past five years. Like Oliver Twist, our Oliver has remained innocent and kind. He is skittish around people and didn’t know how to use stairs when we got him home. Household noises scare him and he won’t take food from human hands (which I, for one, cannot understand!).

Together with Louis and Oliver’s sisters, Cayenne and Scarlett, we are teaching Oliver how to be a dog. He has learned quickly to sleep on the human’s bed and he is already going up and down stairs.

We are working on potty training, which I know is really hard. It took my Beanie self a really long time and sometimes I still slip. Whoops! We are also teaching Oliver how to accept love and belly rubs. He just doesn’t know about this stuff!

Millions of homeless dogs face euthanasia each year. Though plenty of organizations take in these pooches and do their best to rehabilitate them and find new homes, there simply aren’t enough humans adopting their pets. Adopting a pup really is saving a life. Each of us is an individual with an awesome personality, just waiting to blossom.

Although I know and trust my awesome humans and they have become my family, before them I met some pretty awful humans who hated dogs. From my Beanie perspective, humans are living in a culture of instant gratification. They throw away whomever and whatever doesn’t quite fit in or is an inconvenience. They surrender their canine companions to shelters without much concern as to their future. Like Oliver, I was adopted. You can read my story here.

Louis, my big brother is from a responsible breeder. I know that Louis came to my mommy without any emotional baggage and Oliver and I came with loads…but that doesn’t even guarantee success. Humans surrender their purebred pups as well, even after paying lots of money for them.

Yes, we tend to go potty where you don’t want us too, we vomit and make trouble…but no one will love you like a dog will.

Oliver is already enriching the lives of his family and new friends. I am right by his side, helping him along, telling him that I was also totally scared and didn’t know to trust humans when I first met my family. I was scared of everything and now I am a rambunctious little superstar, with my own column on this awesome website!

Louis, my big brother is also super helpful. Since Oliver and Louis are both guys, Oliver seems to be following his lead, walking with him and doing some playful sniffing and tail wagging.

With all of our love, Louis and I, together with Cayenne, Scarlett and the humans will teach Oliver everything he needs to be spoiled silly, just like us!

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Now officially a member of the jet set, I am super psyched for my next vacay. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, traveling from Miami to Washington D.C. then to New Jersey and back to D.C. again before flying home to Daddy in Miami.

While away, I got the total pampering package, including my very first professional grooming. I totally loved the attention and the shampoo/massage part was amazing. That lady really worked out my stress knots. Its hard being a Bean, you know. The only bad part was that my ‘do was shorn a little too short, but every gal has to deal with growing in hair at some point…Other then that, I looked amazing and felt totally relaxed! The dining was nothing but gourmet, so Louis and I worked those calories off during some leisurely, scenic jogs.

Along the way, I was asked so many times, what kind of dog I am. Well, dammit, I am a Bean Dog. I may not have a pedigree, but I can pee on a tree as well as any other bitch out there!

Not knowing who my biological parents are is usually of little concern to me - however everyone demands to know! After some time, the questions did begin to wear on me. Who am I? Where am I from? Who were my parents and where are they now?

When my female human found me, I was in a dog jail with cages stacked to the ceiling and echoing hallways full of loud noises and the barks of strange dogs…I was really quite ill, so I don’t remember much before then.

After much discussion with Louis, who does know his biological parents (They are from a special farm dedicated to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Louis knows this is a sensitive topic for me, so he is careful never to rub his lineage in my nose), I came to realize that all that truly matters is the family I have now! This may sound totally cheesy, which I know isn’t very Bean-like, but I adore all of my humans and my big brother Louis. My Uncle Sammi, the Maltese is a little grumpy, but he let me sleep on him and play with his toys!

I realized who I am isn’t defined by where I came from, its about who I am today - and what I’ll eat tomorrow! Life isn’t always easy, sometimes pups are put in jail for no reason, but by being the best Bean I can be, I know that tummy rubs and ear scratches are in my future.

One final thought. My uber-fabulous friend, Gidget Gormley, whom I interviewed after her breakout role in Sex and the City, has stayed in touch with me and her movie-star fabulousness is only made more fab by the fact that my dear pal Gidget gives back. Gidget is super involved with Tails of Hope Foundation and her own charity, Friends of Snuffy, helping to lend a paw to the pups out there in need. Gidget was also kind enough to feature me in today’s post on her own blog.

With friends, humans and canine family like the ones I’ve got, I know its time to stop pondering the unanswerable questions of my past, the only thing that matters is that whoever my parents were, they gave me great looks! Oh and even more important then that is whatever Louis and I are eating for dinner.

Did I hear someone say duck???

Kisses,

Ella Bean

P.S. Please look at Gidget’s charities and if there is anything you can do to help, please try. There are so many pooches out there that don’t get to eat duck for dinner and really, we all do deserve it.

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Hiya! The gorgeous Ella Bean here, coming at you, raring to write and back from my extensive travels.

Interestingly, my super handsome and beastly gentleman caller, Stanislaw and his brother Big Pupi were recently writing about the health benefits of a raw diet or BARF (that’s bones and raw food or biologically appropriate raw food, for those of you who are out of the loop on canine dietary concerns).

My big brother Lou and I have benefitted immensely from this dietary path and now, my uncle is eating raw meat too!

Sammi (full name: Samuel Nevada), a Maltese, joined my mom’s family when she was just a lil’ pup herself! Now, Sammi is 14 1/2 years old. Unfortunately, he has lost many teeth, his eyesight and much of his hearing. He suffers from hotspots and some internal yeastiness that causes a great deal of paw chewing.

In spite of his maladies, Uncle Sam is a pretty fun guy. He is rather sleepy and a bit grumpy, but I suppose I’d be grumpy too if I was as old as he is. He’s like, over 100 in dog years! Anyway, I climbed all over him and kissed his nose. He seemed to enjoy sniffing Louis and I and it was so fun to meet another canine family member. We all enjoyed cuddling and playing together.

Before we arrived, my grandparents told us Uncle Sammi was lethargic, mute and hadn’t been eating. Well, I tasted Uncle Sam’s food offerings and they were so gross that they weren’t fit for a filthy cat! (IAMS!!! YUCK!! We explained to Grandpa and Grandma that corn and meat byproducts aren’t really food!)

When Uncle Sammi smelled Louis and my beastly dinner of raw bones and meat, he let out a few unexpected woofs! Clearly, someone was interested.

With my grandparent’s permission, we let Sammi taste our delicacy of raw pheasant, which ol’ Uncle Sam ate like a vivacious young man of only 10 again! The grandparents were on board.

I, Ella Bean, showed them how to use enzyme supplements to help Uncle Sammi absorb much needed nutrients, how to use probiotics, how to use canned pumpkin to fix a sore tummy and most important, the hygiene required to safely feed raw.

What you may not know about me is that in addition to my beauty and intelligence, I am an experienced raw eater and am happy to assist my fellow canines in procuring the best possible meaty goodness out of their humans.

Sammi has now been eating raw for about two weeks now. In that time, Sammi has resumed vocal communication with both Louis and I, as well as his mom and dad and his coat is already a bit brighter and softer! Most impressive, Sammi has regained energy and vitality, and can now be found roaming around his big house outside of Washington D.C., rather then laying in bed all day.

Since Sammi is in the process of detoxing, he is emitting a little bit of yeasty odor, which is normal but he is digesting with ease and has already achieved the small, hard, odorless poop associated with raw feeding!

I am looking forward to watching Sammi progress on his diet and we expect to see his hotspots heal and a continued increase in his overall health and vitality.

Look forward to Uncle Sammi’s next raw diet update! Remember - you are what you eat! By avoiding fillers, by-products and chemical preservatives, both canine and human can be one step closer to achieving optimum health!

Kisses,

Ella Bean

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Hiya Everyone! First of all, I want to apologize to our Cup of Dog fans for the lack of postings - Louis, myself and the rest of the Cup of Dog team have been traveling up and down the East Coast checking stuff out and getting our feast on. Our super busy days have precluded us from much writing.

It’s been crazy! We have so much to tell you!

In the meantime, I’d like to send a HUGE thank you to my handsome, super-beastly Stanislaw, for giving Cup of Dog an award to celebrate our awesomeness. OK, so now I have some more work to do before I can return to my vacay…

1. Post the award on the blog

2. Link to the generous folks that gave it to me

3. Nominate 7 of my favorite blogs and link to them

4. Leave a comment to let those pups know they’ve received an award

I, Ella Bean hereby nominate my favorites,  The FleasGang, the always fabulous Gidget Gormley, the coolest dogs at Dogliness, Daisy and her brother Sammy, Riley and last, but certainly not least, Terrierman!

Kisses,

Ella Bean

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Hi! Its me, Ella Bean…your favorite canine fashion-plate/ writer/ model and more.

I just wanted to drop everyone a line before the weekend and say that I am really excited about the new look of Cup of Dog!

I expect that my fame will be catapulted by the new look and great features and as such, I can expand my wardrobe and range of meals. (Hint, hint. Pheasant, duck, beef, tripe….HELLO! Mix it up! A girl gets bored! How about some Buffalo? Maybe a delectable rabbit?)

I want to welcome anyone who may have suggestions for features they might like to see or if you run into any snags, let me know and I’ll get the humans right on it. They aren’t perfect, like me, so we might have to correct them.

How about we say, “NO!”, point our fingers at them and give them a taste of their own medicine? Not that I do anything bad, of course….

Kisses,

Ella Bean

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While taking some time out of my busy schedule to answer some fan mail, I realized that my legions of followers might benefit from my advice, seeing as how they look up to me and all.

So, I have decided to publish select letters along with my answers so you can all benefit from my Bean-tastic wisdom.

Dear Ella Bean,

I have a problem that I hope you can help with. I really like to eat and have put on some extra weight lately. At my most recent vet visit, the doctor even said I could stand to lose three or four pounds! How can I get my physique back without sacrificing my eating pleasures?

Poppy the Portly Pekingese

Dear Portly,

I really like to eat as well, but I don’t have a weight problem because I am famous. I am super sorry about how fat you have gotten, ’cause I weigh less in total then you need to lose! I suggest you get your butt to the dog park and start working off the weight. Oh, and stay away from carbs too. I eat completely grain free and I think thats the key to staying skinny. Also, make sure you really work at it ’cause a bitch has gotta keep the weight down to stay healthy.

Kisses,

Ella Bean

Dear Ella Bean,

I am in love with a Terrier that lives across the street from me. Every time I see him, my heart just wants to sing! Problem is, I don’t think he notices me. I really want to sniff his butt, but I can’t get his attention. What should I do?

Lonely Lhapso in Louisiana

Dear Lonely,

Thanks for your letter! I suggest you roll around in some smelly feastables before you see him next, really get the smell of the food in your fur. No man can resist a bitch smelling like fresh meat! Also, don’t be afraid to make the first move and bark at him! Also, don’t get shy when he wants to sniff your underside. Boys dig confidence!

Kisses,

Ella Bean

One final thought, I just want to say how much I appreciate my fans! Keep your letters coming!

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Its been a busy few weeks. While recovering from the maiming I was subjected too, news of my exceptional good looks traveled through cyberspace and my fan base has grown considerably. Fame is tiring. Between doing press, beauty sleepies, grooming, answering fan mail and changing outfits, I don’t have a whole lot of extra time for gratuitous appearances.

However, the good people over at Animal Planet, sent me a wonderful new accessory to look cute in and I couldn’t resist agreeing to a photo shoot to show it off!

Maggie Gallant and her bitch Dixie keep AP viewers on top of the latest pet trends and in addition, they have started Trendy Tuesdays, where a lucky winner receives the weekly giveaway. I won the Bow-lenciaga Bag by the fittingly named brand Ella Dish. Thats me in my new fab bag in the photo shoot. The photographers were complete amatuers, which was super annoying, but my beauty was able to shine through in spite of them.

The giveaway was sponsered by the New York based canine e-tailor to the stars, Trixie and Peanut. Besides me, Trixie and Peanut has catered to the pampered pooches of Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Drew Barrymore, Parker Posey, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Jimmy Fallon, Ciara, Scarlett Johannsen, Missy Elliott, Courtney Cox & David Arquette, Oprah Winfrey, Charlize Theron, Gabrielle Union, Nicole Richie, Penelope Cruz, Sharon Osbourne and former President Bill Clinton. Trixie and Peanut has also been featured on VH-1’s Fabulous Life of Celebrity Pets.

Enough name dropping. Back to me! I was asked by some fans to share my photo shoot playlist…Enjoy!

1. I’m So Hood Remix - DJ Khaled Ft. T Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi from Outkast, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross
   
2. Give it To Me- Timbaland Ft. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake
3. Superstar - Lupe Fiasco Ft. Matt Santos
4. Drop it Like its Hot - Snoop Dog Ft. Pharrell
5. Gimme More - Britney Spears
6. Sexyback - Justin Timberlake Ft. Timbaland
7. Change Clothes - Jay-Z
8. Doggy Dogg World - Snoop Dog
   

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I repeat. Do Not Trust Humans. Two legs bad - four legs good!

I am warning my fellow canines - the humans do bad things. I am writing through my pain to make sure that no other dog should ever befall the type of mishap I have endured. Let me start from the beginning. My humans had been talking about someone named “Spay” for the past couple weeks and my mom always looked really upset when the subject would come up.

Not knowing who Spay was, I figured she or he was probably another human or dare I say it, a filthy cat, based on the negative reaction my mom had to him or her. I still haven’t figured out who this “Spay” is, but on Friday morning, my mom woke up really early. It was still dark out! Then she fed me a suitable breakfast of pheasant and tripe. I figured could get used to this - Louis didn’t try and eat my breakfast since he was still asleep. Then, my dad got up and we went into the thing with wheels that takes us to Grandma’s house and the park. Without Louis!! Finally, some respect!

Except, we didn’t end up at Grandma’s house. We were at a place I haven’t been before with tons of strangers. At first it was fine, since they were all admiring my royal tiny self, but then my mom and dad left me there! What in the bones is going on? I was thinking. Me, in a cage? I don’t think so.

The next thing I knew my beautiful right forearm was being shaved and I was falling asleep against my will. When I woke up, I was alone in a cage and there was intense pain in my tummy and mouth. I checked out my tummy and found that the once pink expanse of unblemished skin and fur that made up my lovely belly was now mangled beyond recognition. I was also dazed and could barely keep my eyes open. Blasted humans! I thought, What have they done to me?

I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of my metal den. My face was discolored. I opened my mouth. My amazing second row of sharky teeth had been stolen! I knew they were valuable, since my mom and dad were always poking at them and my mom even managed to steal a few that had come loose. I never expected that they would all be stolen, though.

Out of no where, my mom and dad showed up. They were extremely sensitive and loving but they showed no rage at the humans who drugged me to steal my teeth and something from inside my tummy. Why wasn’t my daddy pummeling them? I didn’t understand. Another ride in the wheeled thing and I was back home. I didn’t feel so good, having had my innards and teeth stolen and all, but at least I was home. Louis was there and we all snuggled up in the big bed.

I am feeling better and the pain is starting to subside, but I am still upset. When I smile, I have one lame row of teeth, just like all the other boring dogs. And my tummy is not pretty, its still mangled. And my shaven foreleg..what the bones is that about? I am planning on staying fully clothed and indoors so that no one can see me in this condition. Oh, and I still don’t know who Spay is.

I hope your humans never leave you with the drugging teeth and gut stealing evil-doers.

Kisses,

Ella Bean

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Today, Male Human woke me and Louis up at an ungodly hour. He made us sign these paper things called ‘Card’ and told us that it was Female Human’s birthday.

SO? Why would you disturb my beauty sleep??

He made up for it by filling our food bowls, but still. He showed us a really pretty, shiny necklace. I tried it on, but then he took it off and said that it was for Mom (I figured out he meant Female Human. I guess that’s her name.)

When Mom(?) woke up, he gave her MY box with MY necklace. She had the gall to put it on her big, hairless paw. Why doesn’t she understand that its a necklace?

Whatever. I can’t wait till MY birthday and I get my very own necklace. Humans, I would like to put in an early request for a Bean necklace, to represent the beauty that is The Bean.

Kisses,

Ella Bean

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