Protecting Your Pup in Winter

With recent wind chills well below zero, as humans we have been bundled and covered up to protect against frostbite, so what about our canine companions? In dangerous winter weather, it's equally important to keep our pets warm and safe when they have to be outside, from both the temperatures and from chemicals used to treat roads and sidewalks. The DC Ladies share tips on how to keep your dog safe for the duration of winter:

Salt and other ice melting products can be damaging to your pet’s paws.  Contact with these products can cause chemical burns to their paw pads if you take them on a long walk and they are exposed to the harsh chemicals. Ingesting these ice melting products can also be harmful to your pet.  If your pet ingests a small amount of ice melt it can cause an upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.  Larger amounts of ice melt ingestion can cause more serious side effects such as weakness and seizures.  In very severe cases, ingesting too much ice melt can be fatal.

There are pet friendly ice melt products on the market.  Safe Paw is a 100% salt free product that is not only safe for pets but for children as well.  It has been a vet and shelter recommended brand for years.  Safe Paw pellets are green so they are easily recognized when you are out with your pet.  Safe Paw can be found at Costco and other retailers.  Check their website for locations near you.   Morton, who you may know from your table salt, also has a pet friendly ice melt called Safe-T-Pet.  It is also 100% salt free to prevent irritation to your pets.  Safe-T-Pet can be found at Wal-Mart stores in the area.

Another chemical used frequently during the winter is antifreeze.  Antifreeze has a sweet flavor to pets and can be deadly if ingested.  Only a tablespoon of antifreeze can be deadly to an average-sized dog and fatality rates are around 88%.  Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze products can severely damage your pet’s liver, so make sure any antifreeze you use does not contain this chemical.  There is a less toxic chemical used in some antifreeze products that is propylene glycol-based.  Look for products containing this chemical when you are buying antifreeze for your car.

Since you cannot control what your neighbors use for winter chemicals, there are ways to help protect your pet.  If you are unsure of what a sidewalk is treated with, have your dog walk in the grass instead.  Wipe your pet’s paws with warm water and a clean cloth when they come in from the outside to remove any product that may be on their paws.  Also, be sure to wipe your shoes as well to prevent tracking anything inside.  If your pet is comfortable enough, there are booties available to protect your pet’s paws from snow and ice as well.  If your pet is not into boots, you can keep their paws protected by using pet balms on their pads to prevent cracking from cold exposure.

Hopefully these tips will not only help keep your pets safe, but help keep the pets in your neighborhood safe as well.

Best DC Spots to Watch the Oscars

After all the buzz about who would be nominated and who was snubbed, Sunday evening the answer to all your burning Academy Awards questions will be answered. The 87th Annual Academy Awards will air Sunday night on ABC, and features host Neil Patrick Harris. If you want to get glamorous and go out for the big night, here's where The Washington Post recommends viewing the show in DC:

Commissary
1443 P St. NW. 202-299-0018. www.commissarydc.com. Free admission.
Commissary's viewing party is a good time that doesn't take itself too seriously, featuring a wall-size projection screen, multiple televisions and a somewhat cheesy menu of snacks and cocktails inspired by Oscar nominees. Fill out your predictions while sipping a bourbon-based "Bullseye" (a nod to "American Sniper") and snacking on a "magic bean and beef stew" ("Into the Woods"). Arrive between 4 and 8 p.m. for the Red Carpet Happy Hour, with one free Oscar cocktail per person and free popcorn. For your own Meryl Streep moment, reserve one of 25 "premium" tickets for $49, which includes a seat in front of the projector screen, three food items and two cocktails.

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
950 I St. NW. 202-289-0201. www.delfriscos.com. Free admission.
The private dining room at Del Frisco's CityCenter steak house will become a screening room on Oscar night, with the ceremony showing on a 65-inch TV with surround sound. Best Picture-inspired cocktails include the Birdman, with Wild Turkey and blackberries. Interestingly, Del Frisco also offers a tarragon-infused mocktail, the Imitation Game, for just $2.95.

Glamour, Glitter and Gold
Town Danceboutique, 2009 Eighth St. NW. 202-682-2245.www.thedccenter.org. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Well-known drag performers Lena Lett and Ba'Naka Deveraux are among the performers at Town's 10th annual Glamour, Glitter and Gold, a fundraiser for the D.C. Center, which provides services to the local LGBT community. Pose for photos on the red carpet, dance to DJs and test your movie trivia to win theater tickets and other prizes. Admission includes popcorn and a cash bar; optional VIP tickets ($100 a pair) include food and drinks.

D.C. Film Institute
Malmaison, 3401 Water St. NW. 202-817-3340. www.dcfilminstitute.org. $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
The Washington Film Institute takes over Georgetown's sleek Malmaison lounge for its Red Carpet Party, with a free glass of champagne for every guest. Plan your outfit carefully: Black tie or cocktail attire is suggested, and the evening begins with a best-dressed contest judged by local salon owner Erwin Gomez and "House of Cards" costumer Randy Rose III.

D.C. Film Society
Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345. www.dcfilmsociety.org. $20, $15 for members.
Why watch the ceremony in a bar when you can view it on an actual movie screen? The D.C. Film Society's annual "And the Winner Is . . . " party, hosted by film critics Tim Gordon and Bill Henry at the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, features an Oscars prediction contest and a serious silent auction. Aside from movie passes and theater tickets, last year's swag included DVDs autographed by Kathleen Turner and a "Her" poster signed by director Spike Jonze.

Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Assassination

On April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln, our nation's 16th president, was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. Throughout 2015, various events throughout Washington will mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination and death. Many of these events (courtesy of about travel) will be held at Ford's Theatre, located in downtown DC.

The Widow Lincoln
January 23-February 22, 2015. Ford’s Theatre. Set during the weeks following Abraham Lincoln’s murder at Ford’s Theatre, the world premiere drama  portrays Mary in the aftermath of her husband’s death as she mourns the post-war life they will never share. A post-performance discussion will be held on February 3. Theater tickets should be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster.com.

Through Lincoln's Words: Target Oratory Residency and Festival
February 10-11, 2015, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Ford’s Theatre. More than 375 local elementary and middle school students will perform a selection of President Abraham Lincoln’s speeches. This year’s program features students who have benefitted from the integration of historical speeches and letters into History and English classes to help strengthen their understanding of history and improve their public-speaking skills. Tickets will be available on a first-come basis on the day of event.

President Lincoln Is Dead: The New York Herald Reports the Assassination
February 13, 2015. The Newseum, 6th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington DC, opens an exhibit featuring an unparalleled collection of all seven editions issued by the Herald on April 15, 1865, chronicling the shooting of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, his death, the hunt for his assassin and the swearing-in of the new president.

Second Inaugural Address Panel Discussion
Civil War to Civil Rights: The Last Great Speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.
March 4, 2015, 7:30 p.m. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Moderated by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, the panel discussion focuses on Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. This event explores how the powerful words of these men and their final great speeches recognized the polarizing divisions of our nation and called for a unified American identity. Free tickets will be available beginning January 26, 2015.

Second Inaugural Address Commemoration Ceremony 
March 7, 2015. Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC. Enjoy Civil War music, a recreation of Lincoln taking the oath of office and reciting his Second Inaugural Address, learn more about the meaning of the address itself and how its meanings connected the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement. Free event, no tickets required.

Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War
March 13-May 20, 2015. Ford’s Theatre. This epic musical features the words of Abraham Lincoln and music inspired by the letters of those who lived through the Civil War. With rousing music, stirring speeches and rich, historic costumes Freedom’s Song evokes the soaring hopes and tragic losses of the real people of Civil War America. Lincoln’s inspirational words intermix with these stories, imagining a bloody nation once again unified and the return of a truly United States.

Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium
March 21, 2015. Ford’s Theatre. Noted authors and historians Terry Alford, Richard Wightman Fox, Stephen A. Goldman, Martha Hodes and Jonathan W. White will discuss aspects of our 16th president’s leadership, his vision for Reconstruction and the effect his assassination had on American society. See the full schedule. Tickets will be available on the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

History on Foot Walking Tours
March-October 2015. Join Detective James McDevitt for a first-hand look at the investigation into the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy and the events of April 14 and 15, 1865. Led by an actor in costume, the outdoor walking tour lasts approximately two hours and makes at least eight stops in downtown Washington related to Lincoln, the assassination and the Civil War. See more information about History on Foot Walking Tours.

One Destiny
March-May 2015. Ford’s Theatre. The 35-minute play explores the key facts of the assassination while capturing the emotions of that fateful night. Tickets are $7.50 in advance or $5.00 the day of the performance. Tickets can be reserved throughTicketmaster.com.

Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination
March 23-May 25, 2015. Center for Education and Leadership, 514 Tenth Street NW, Washington, DC. This special exhibition will commemorate the assassination and death of Abraham Lincoln by reuniting—for the first time since April 1865—an extraordinary collection of artifacts that were in Ford’s Theatre or carried by Lincoln the night of the assassination.

The Road from Appomattox
April 9, 2015, 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Ford’s Theatre. A dramatic imagining of the meeting between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant on the day after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, The Road From Appomattox explores how two great and very different generals ended the war with mercy and the best interests of the country in mind. For more information, visit www.fords.org/event/road-appomattox.

The Lincoln Tribute – Two Day Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary 
April 14-15, 2015, Ford’s Theatre Campus, 10 Street NW Washington DC. During the day, visitors can explore the Ford's Theatre Museum, hear a ranger talk, watch a performance of the one-act play One Destiny, take a self-guided tour in the Theatre, or visit the Petersen House and exhibitions at the Center for Education and Leadership. Outdoor History on Foot walking tours led by costumed actors and guided tours of Ford’s Theatre also will be offered. On the street outside, throughout the day and night, actors will share first-person accounts about the end of the Civil War, the experience of being inside the theatre at the moment of the assassination, medical reports from the Petersen House, and the impact of Lincoln’s life and death. On the evening of April 14, Ford’s Theatre will host Civil War living historians on 10th Street to recreate the all-night vigil for Abraham Lincoln. The public will be able to visit the Ford’s Theatre campus throughout the night. The morning of April 15, Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service will mark Abraham Lincoln’s death at 7:22 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony; church bells will toll across the city, just as they did in 1865. Tickets are required for entry to the Ford’s Theatre campus and available through Ticketmaster.com.

Now He Belongs to the Ages: A Lincoln Commemoration
April 14, 2015, 9:00 p.m. Ford’s Theatre. Live streamed online and at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. Event to include readings of Lincoln’s words and stories, Civil War-era music, excerpts from Lincoln’s favorite theatre and operas, and more. The event seeks to remind us that we not only lost a president; we lost a man who treasured his family, his friends and his country with a love so strong it could hold the Union together. Tickets are limited.

National Park Service Commemorative Wreath Laying
April 15, 2015, 7:22 a.m. Petersen House (the house where Lincoln died) The National Park Service will lay a wreath at the Petersen House marking the moment when President Lincoln passed away 150 years ago. A short speaking program will be followed by a moment of silence and church bells tolling across the city, just as they did in 1865. Additional details will be announced in March 2015.

Free Lincoln Assassination Walking Tours
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. The one-mile free walking tour, given by DC by Foot, examines historical facts and explores many of the famous sites where Lincoln walked himself in Washington, DC. Learn about the assassination plot that changed the nation. Reservations are required. Visit www.freetoursbyfoot.com.

Living Without a Closet

"two-twenty-six/three-sixty-five" by Laura Bittner is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Apartment living does not always offer ideal storage space, especially if you’re a shopaholic. While most apartments include closet space, more often than not, the available closet isn’t big enough, leaving us to find other, more creative ways to store our clothing and accessories. What are some alternatives to a closet? Apartment Guide offers some solutions:

An Armoire or Dresser

One of the most obvious solutions is to buy a large armoire or dresser to store clothes in. What’s great about armoires over dressers is that they offer a place to hang any clothing that you’d rather not fold.

Dresses, blouses and easily wrinkled items won’t have to be shoved into a dresser drawer, which could potentially save you from having to pull out the iron every day before work.

Dressers, on the other hand, are great for people with a lot of foldable clothes. Either piece of furniture comes in various sizes, so those who live in a small space will be able to easily find something that fits their room.

A Clothing Rack

Stores like Target and Ikea sell clothing racks of all different shapes and sizes. You’ll easily be able to find smaller standing clothing racks that have a single bar on which to hang your clothes.

There are also full closet organizers that you can mount to a wall with multiple shelves and rods great for holding an entire wardrobe. Though not as affordable, these are a one-and-done solution to not having a closet, and they’re pretty easy to install on the wall.

Bookcases

The variety of bookshelves available in stores and online is truly amazing, so they’re a great organization option for bedrooms with nonexistent closets. The bookshelves with cube-shaped cubbies are particularly useful for organizing different types of clothing and accessories.

If you’re planning on using bookshelves in place of a closet, be sure to buy plenty of baskets and bins that will help you keep the shelves neat and uncluttered.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are another useful storage option, and they’re especially great because they can fit onto walls of any size. Hang floating shelves across the width of an entire wall, or stack them from floor to ceiling. You can even install dividers on your shelves to keep all of your clothing items separated.

Under the Bed

Installing drawers under the bed is both practical and unobtrusive, so it’s a perfect solution for people who live in a small space. You can also inexpensively lift your bed to create even more storage space under it, using store-bought bed risers.

Consider storing shoes, handbags and other less-often-used items under the bed so you don’t have to get down on the floor every time you change clothes.

A Trunk

For a storage solution that’s part decorative and part amazingly effective, find an antique or vintage trunk to keep at the foot of your bed.

Trunks are very spacious, so you’ll be able to store a lot of your wardrobe in just the one area. Use it for bulky items like sweaters, sweatshirts and sweatpants that don’t stack as easily on shelves.

Create Pretty Decor

Some of the prettiest and most colorful items in a person’s apartment can be found in their closet, like shoes, handbags, scarves and jewelry. Instead of tucking those items away into storage, find creative ways to display them around the room and apartment.

Buy a small coat rack just for your scarves and hang them by the front door. Line pretty high heels and handbags along the bookshelves in your living room or entryway. Hang your statement necklaces from pretty hooks on the wall above your toilet, rather than using that space for a piece of art.

Use a Curtain

Many of the storage solutions in this survival guide will leave your clothing out in the open or on display, but simply hanging a curtain can help you tuck your wardrobe out of sight. Attach a curtain to your bookshelves or simply hang one from the ceiling in front of your shelves to hide your clothing.

Mix and Match
If you have one wall in particular that would work well for a “closet,” mix and match the ideas to create exactly what you need for storing your own personal belongings. Hang floating shelves across the entire wall, then attach a closet rod to the wall beneath them. Or, find two small armoires and put them on either side of a short bookshelf.