The weather here in St. Louis has been really weird recently. We had an entire week of super warm weather, in the 70s, and then all of a sudden, it got very cold again. Mom had to turn back on the heat, and we snuggled underneath the blankets every night. But today was my first day where it was warm, and thank goodness, too, because I got groomed today.

We went out for a walk to a park near my house. I loved lounging in the sun, and I was dressed in this pink Hello Kitty dress, which had a tutu. Don’t I look all pretty groomed and all? Mom likes me more fluffy, but with the spring coming, we decided that it was time for me to lose my winter hair!

What do you think of my new haircut? Am I still adorable with short hair? Mama says my face is so kissable, and the short hair just makes me super soft and she still loves to cuddle with me.

A Pretty Shih Tzu at the Park is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

Mama got a new purse the other day. It’s a large one for carrying around girlie stuff … And of course her favorite necessities and must-haves… ie ME!

I’m pretty fluffy these days, and I sit quietly in the bag as she carries me around. Mommy thinks it is funny. Little girls have purses with fake doggies poking out from the end of them, and my mommy gets a real life fluffy one!

Mama and I spent an afternoon at the park and she carried me in the new bag, since I often bark at dogs and children but I think her carrying me around made me more calm. I didn’t bark or growl at all, even when a big huge dog came over to mama!

I think I feel safe being carried around!

Shih Tzu in a Handbag is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

It’s been snowing a lot here in St. Louis so it’s not surprising that I have a snow mustache when the white stuff is on the ground!

Do you like my ‘stache’?

Snow Mustache is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

I don’t know how many of you know how often I am on the road.

Since I go to work my Mama every single day, and we sometimes go to Nashville, TN on the weekends (a 320-mile road trip), I am a doggie on the go. So when you say, “Who is that doggie in the window?” You should know it’s me! Gracie Lu the Shih Tzu staring out the car window!

I stay safe on the road, though. I have a doggie car seat that I’m always in. It lets me look out the window at eye-level without getting on my tippy-toes. I’ve gotten so used to my car seat that when Mama takes it out and then forgets to put it back in, I whine and whine and cry and cry. I just don’t know what to do with myself. I just love my car seat. I used to sit in the middle console but Mama decided that was too dangerous… So we got a car seat.

Now if I were driving a car, I would like to meet this very handsome Subaru salesman - Grant Weber, the official Subaru Canine Sales Associate. Watch him in action in this really fun – doggie themed commercial - http://bit.ly/WW7C2Y. I especially love the part with the doggie driving the dirty mailman car.

Mr. Weber is the star of this really cool Subaru Dog Tested Facebook app that lets you do all kinds of fun stuff, including create a doggie license! Here is my dog-approved license!

It’s a really neat app, and lots of fun to play around with! How do you like my license? Don’t I appear all official now? So if the doggie police pull me over in my Subaru, I won’t get in troubles!

Subaru is also hosting a REALLY cool Rafflecopter contest that you can enter to win money! First place winner gets a $350 Visa Gift Card and the Second Place winner can get a $150 Visa Gift Card! How cool is that!

You have to like the Subaru Facebook Page to enter, and you have four other chances to enter to win. You just have to either tweet about the giveaway, use their online Facebook app, watch a subarea commercial, or share a Subaru commercial… or any combination of each!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck pals!

This post is sponsored by Subaru. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Dog Tested. Dog Approved.™ campaign, but GracieLuShihTzu.com only shares news for things we support.

Safety as a Doggie on the Road is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

So it’s another holiday, which gives mama another reason to dress me up! What do you think? Am I pretty?

Since I am the life of the party and star of my very own blog, Mardi Gras 2013 had to bring me lots of beads, a little purple scarf and a pretty flower bow!

And from what we hear, Mardi Gras is huge in St Louis. People throw big masquerade balls – the mayor of the city threw one, but tickets were so expensive so mama didn’t go. There have also been many parades, including a pet costume parade… But unfortunately we were in Nashville visiting my grandparents when the pet parade happened.

I’m a party animal though! How cute am I in my little costume?

As you can see, it took some trickery in order for me to actually dress up and pose. Do you see my natural antler stick and a green dental stick nearby?

Life of the Party: Mardi Gras Tzu is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

It’s not easy being this cute and with my new leather jacket, I feel like I’m as tough as nails.

So, when Subaru and their new Dog Tested. Dog Approved™ campaign, to celebrate the love between dog owner and their dogs, Mama and I were on board to help! (Since I am Mama’s #1 Lovebug, we can attest that there’s nothing like the unconditional love that doggies and their mamas or daddies share!)

And now I think I might want a Subaru to show off how cute and what a hot tough doggie girl I am! (I even bet my handsome boyfriend, Louie the Shih Tzu will find me super hots in a Subaru!)

It’s not easy being a dog and shopping for a Subaru. I do feel bad for the sales person, Grant Weber. I love this Subaru commercial – especially when the doggie gets distracted by the sexy feline cat! (And when the doggie swerves off to chase the squirrel! Hehe! I would totally do that!)

Subaru has also just released a pet-friendly Facebook app for dog owners. This app has cool little functions like “Subaru Dog Matcher,” to help you figure out what Subaru would be perfect for your dog’s breed and age. You can even create a personalized driver’s license for your dog. And you can also create photos of your dog driving a Subaru to share with pals.

This post is sponsored by Subaru. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Dog Tested. Dog Approved.™ campaign, but GracieLuShihTzu.com only shares news for things we support.

Tough Gracie Lu Wants a Subaru is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

When you are a fashionista Shih tzu, you grow up wearing outfit after outfit. While you may not actually like putting on the outfit, and sometimes you might run and hide when your mama comes towards you with a new dress, you eventually succumb and just put up with it. And you end up forgetting the outfit is on, playing and chasing the cat as you normally do.

Here’s what the closet of this fashionista looks like! Lots of colors! And yes, my wardrobe takes over half a closet!

Here is the newest addition to my wardrobe. A faux leather jacket that makes me look like a rocker! It keeps me warm in the winter, since it has been snowing so much here!

Oh, mama found me doggie uggs too, but fortunately she hasn’t put them on me yet!

While I do put up with clothes and I move freely and play in my clothes, I hate shoes with a passion. I will stop in my tracks and refuse to move with shoes on my feet.

Here’s to hoping mama forgets she bought me the uggs… But don’t worry, next time it snows, they will try to get me to wear them. Hmph!

A Fashionista Shih Tzu Requires a Closet is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

This weekend, Mama and I went home to my grandparent’s house in Nashville, TN. It’s about a five hour car ride, and it was freezing outside. Even wearing a cute pink raincoat did not shield me from the 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I was shaking and shaking as I got into the cold car. So mama cranked up the heat and wrapped me up in her gray coat, hoping it would heat me up and keep me warm.

My poor paws just aren’t used to such cold weather. If I would wear shoes, she would make me wear doggie uggs in this cold weather. Too bad I HATE shoes!!!!!

Here I am, all wrapped up and cozy in her coat.

I was sitting up high in my comfy and very cozy doggie car seat, which makes me tall enough to see outside the window without having to get on my back paws.

In case you haven’t seen me in my fluffy car seat before, this is how I like to ride! Sleeping!

Snuggled Up in Mama’s Coat for a Car Ride is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

Mom and I aren’t huge sports fans. Mostly, because mom is a girl and a very girlie one at that. (Which is why, you will notice that many of my outfits are pink or a variation of pink.)  So, it shouldn’t surprise you that we do not watch the Super Bowl. Ever.

This is how I feel when I watch sports. Very sleepy. And fluffy, but mostly pretty sleepy.

And this is how I am when we are watching the Puppy Bowl. Excited with my two front teeth showing!

Did you watch the Puppy Bowl last year? They had two of the cutest Shih Tzus trying to play football last year. They were super cutes! But all the other doggies were adorable, and I bet the “players” this year will be just as cute. (But I already checked the lineup. Doesn’t look like there will be any Shih Tzus representin’ this year. Bummer!)

This year, there is a really fun and interactive way to watch the Puppy Bowl IX (airing on Sunday, Feb. 3 at 3PM Eastern Time).

The Puppy Bowl Co-Viewing App, presented exclusively by Subaru. As you watch the Puppy Bowl live on TV, the Puppy Bowl Plus app (that is available for download on your tablet or mobile devices, only on Feb. 3rd) offers you additional content to interact with and engage with. From cool facts to exclusive photos to trivia and polls, this app works in unison with the broadcast of the Puppy Bowl. So, the sounds of the Puppy Bowl on TV will trigger activity on the app. How neat is that?

Here is a screenshot of the app:

Also, because Subaru is a sponsor of the Super Bowl, this app will also pull in Subaru’s Dog Tested. Dog Approved Content based on spots appearing on TV. If you haven’t seen any of Subaru’s commercials and photos aimed at pet owners, you should check them out. They are really creative.

Here are my two favorite photos from Subaru’s Dog Tested. Dog Approved.™ campaign.

And check out my favorite commercial teaser video from Subaru. Now that would be my dream car – a backseat loaded with delicious treats! It is called “Tailgate” and the slogan is “Plenty of room for cargo. Precious and otherwise.” Cute, huh?

This post is sponsored by Subaru. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Dog Tested. Dog Approved.™ campaign, but GracieLuShihTzu.com only shares news for things we support, and we love the puppy bowl! 

Are You Watching the Puppy Bowl Tomorrow? is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu

So, my cat sister, Clementine (or Clemmie as we call her sometimes) and I enjoy playing with each other. We wrestle, bite and play and mama thinks its super cute.

This morning, We decided to wake mommy up with us playing together. What do you think? Cute or not?

(Just so you know, Clemmie never uses her claws on me. It’s just fun wrestling around. We could do it for hours, but usually she gets bored and runs away and I go give mama victory kisses.)

(And all that torn up paper on the floor, that’s so me and Clementine’s doing… And of course anything on the floor has been dragged there by the two of us mischievous babies!)

Me and Clementine the Cat Wrestling and Play Fighting is a post from: Gracie Lu Shih Tzu