5 Ways To Spoil Your Pet On A Budget- D.I.Y Foldable Raised Feeding Station

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #dothe99 #99obsessed #CollectiveBias

There's no arguing that pets are family.

And every pet parent agonizes over how to give their pet the very best while still managing a budget. It's not uncommon to struggle with the desire to treat and spoil alongside the practicality of everyday needs and necessities. It's the main reason I find myself spending more and more money on my pets each year than on new clothing or accessories for me.

Which is why you won't be surprised to hear me say I enjoy shopping for my pets at my local 99 Cents Only Store. In fact, my local 99 not only has an entire aisle dedicated for pet supplies covering rodents and birds to cats and dogs, but a brand new exclusive dog food, too!

Choosing the right food for your pet can be an overwhelming task.

Modern pet food ranges from $.56 per serving all the way up to $8.20 per serving for an average 35lb dog. Many pet parents with healthy dogs find advertising and labels overwhelming. The want to feed one's dog a premium, high quality, food is evident but how to tackle this with label shaming and budgets is not always apparent.

For those hoping to feed their dogs something better than just 'ordinary,' the 99 has teamed up to offer an exclusive dog food comparable to "super premium" formulas sold across the county. Available in 2 varieties, Pet Inc. dry dog food features U.S. Farm Raised Beef or Chicken as the #1 Ingredient and is made with wholesome grains and veggies, and absolutely no artificial flavors or preservatives. Both of Pet Inc's formulas meet nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including growth of large sized dogs (70lbs or more as an adult.)

We immediately spotted this new find at the end of the pet supply aisle at our local 99 and was surprised to see these bags priced at half the price of major competitor national brands! We also learned these formulas removed extra fillers (meat-by-products) and simplified the recipes with peas, carrots,  beet pulp, brown rice and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to help promote a shiny coat. Pet Inc. Super Premium Dog food is currently available exclusively at your local 99 in both Beef and Brown Rice and Chicken and Vegetable recipes. You don't have to compromise quality for price when you choose quality dog food based on labels and facts, rather than brand names and store loyalty. (That's TIP #1 folks!)

Of course one of the main reasons we love shopping at the 99 so much is for the everyday treasure hunt that is guaranteed when we walk through the doors. The pet aisle at our local 99 has been growing all year and I never know what I'll find when I take a stroll down it. On my way to stock up on some fresh fruit and produce for the week's meal plan I spotted these Disney dog toys in the most adorable characters from Finding Nemo and Big Hero 6. You know I grabbed a few extras to leave behind as gifts for my dog walking clients!

Just look at our haul from this week's trip to the 99! We scored tough nylon super chewer rope toys, doggy waste bags, a travel water system, Super Premium Pet Inc. dry dog food, Disney licensed dog toys, dog sweaters and tutus, and more at a fraction of the cost we would've paid at other stores! We even nabbed a few extra items in the everyday household departments we planned on converting into some cool pet gear!

How to best store one's dog food is a never ending quest.

When you have small or medium sized dogs it isn't always practical to serve straight from the bag as food will go stale long before it is all consumed. And if you have curious felines underfoot a rolled up bag is never proper security for anything edible.

We found this extra large cereal storage snap container near the disposable party and tableware at our local 99. A quick trip down the office and craft supplies aisle for some colored duct tape and stickers and we were well on our way to some fancy dog gear.

I wrapped two strips of colored duct tape around the middle of the food storage container then used some pre-cut alphabet stickers to decorate the front with Nora's name. Next I added a little sparkle and class with some crystal stickers I also nabbed for just a dollar near all of the school and art supplies. In less than 5 minutes, and less than $5 I had a securely sealing dog food container perfect for the kitchen counter (or our dog food station.)

I was even able to score some strips of velcro in the electronics and auto aisle at the 99- I used this to fasten the food scoop to the side, out of the way and off the ground. Nora didn't seem too impressed, but that might be because she was confused why her new giant food bowl had a securely snapping lid on top!

For my 3rd tip- a D.I.Y. raised feeding station, I was immediately inspired by a treasure hunt find in the housewares section of my local 99. There were half a dozen different prints of the most adorable, and heavy duty, acrylic serving trays. Right below them on the shelf were rows of folding step stools. It didn't take a genius to see what needed to happen, and at under $10 this project was sure to be a real money saver compared to department store feeding stations retailing at triple and quadruple the price!

Using a power drill, over a piece of scrap wood on a sturdy work bench, we drilled two even holes straight through the acrylic tray AND step stool. Drilling the holes at the same time ensured they would later line up. As both items were made from a heavy duty plastic we made sure to support the back side with a scrap wood board to prevent any splitting or cracking.

We drilled our holes to match 2 pre-determined bolts. Like many we have a junk drawer with odd bits and ends, and simply chose the hardware we had on hand for this project. You can, however, often find starter tool kits and supplies in the auto/electronics aisle at your local 99. The key to this particular project is being able to screw a fastener on the underside to secure your tray to your foot stool base- the size of the bolts is not really crucial, so long as the nuts thread tightly onto them.

Because we used a folding foot stool, and wanted the tray to be able to function in this 'folding' manner for cleaning and storage we only put our bolts on one half of the stool/tray. We didn't feel any extra hardware was needed and felt confident that these two bolts were more than enough to keep the tray functioning and in tact through extended use.

All this being said- our local 99 had 2 sizes (heights) for these strong foldable foot stools and we went with the shortest. The short stool would be best suited for a Small or Medium breed dog, where as the large/tall stool would be perfect for a Labrador or other large breed dog. We made ours as a gift for a friend in an upcoming holiday gift exchange- but I was a bit curious to see if this sort of feeding solution would keep little 2lb Gidget from 'surfing' her sister Nora's food. You'll have to keep reading to scroll on and see how that experiment went...

All in all having a comfortable feeding experience is key to top notch spoiling. Many pet parents don't realize that dogs often strain to eat food placed directly on the floor. This straining can lead to poor digestion and even mild choking events, or speed-eating. Having a raised feeding station can not only improve your dog's digestive health, posture, and overall contentment at feeding time, but also serve to help contain messes and keep small hands and other animals our of their food.

Speaking of speed-eating.....TIP #4 involves creating your own Slow Feeder solution.

If you have a dog that tends to gulp down their food before you can put the food canister away then you probably have noticed an upset tummy, or even choking events, from time to time. Watching a dog wolf down their food as though they live on the street can be alarming for pet owners. It not only often indicates food is not being properly chewed but also means your dog is at risk for intake of increased air into the digestive system leading to discomfort and other unpleasantries.
You can invest in several specially designed bowls and feeders intended to help slow your dog's consumption down. Many of these are merely bowls with divets and valleys cut into the bowl itself to make it harder for your dog to fit it's snout into the bowl and gulp large quantities of food at once.

We tried many when we first brought Nora home and none really seemed to work.

One day I was at the 99 and spotted some spikey chew toys of various shapes and sizes and decided to give making my own slow feeder a go. I bought a bowl about twice the size of her typical bowl and placed 3 toys of varying sizes inside, then poured her scoop of food in and gave it a good jostle. Sure enough the toys proved just enough of an obstacle to slow down Nora's consumption without preventing her from ultimately finishing her entire meal. Best of all the dog toys could be soaked in warm water and easily cleaned regularly without any fancy cleaning tools.

Of course in a multi-dog home not all feeding obstacles can be tackled.

Some dogs are just too darn smart for their own good. Remember that feeding station we made for a medium sized dog as a gift? Nora rests at eye level when standing, and Gidget can walk entirely underneath it. Guess who figured out there was 'easy access' Pet Inc Super Premium food in the bowl during our photo shoot?

Yup, with a little bit of whining, and walking in circles, Gidget figured out how to tippy toe her way into a free meal. You just can't keep her out of anything!

My last tip to spoil your pup is with a new bed.

After all of that healthy, and yummy, digestion your pup will be ready for a nice long nap.

99 Cents Only Stores are full of great everyday pet supplies just like this comfy plush dog beg, with an easily washable cover, and enough room to fit both our girls. They also have plenty of fleece blankets for your pup to snuggle under as the weather turns!

We paid half what would would've paid for the same quality pet bed anywhere else- and we had our pick of styles and colors, too!

Pet beds seem to be one of those things we are always investing in. We can never have enough of them throughout the house- and I prefer not to invest too much money in them because they are prone to get dirty or even soiled during the life of your pet. We used to haul pet beds back and forth to 'grandpaw's' house, but now can afford to buy a few especially for him to keep there, thanks to the deals at our local 99.

Keeping your pet happy and healthy is a never-ending struggle.

For me, I'd probably sooner feed my dogs than myself if it ever came down to it. Thankfully, the 99 has many options to not only keep pets fed and comfy, but properly spoiled every day of the year too! Keep an eye out for the exclusive Super Premium Pet Inc. dog food the next time you shop the 99 and give the label a good review. You just might be surprised what you'll find at the 99! Find a 99 Cents Only Store near you with this store finder.

Tell me, aisde from vet expenses, what do you find yourself spending the most money on for your pets?

Unicorn Dogs, Mummy Pups + Witches, Oh My! 5 Budget Friendly Pet Costume Ideas

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #dothe99  #99obsessed  #CollectiveBias

Over the years we've kept no secret that we are incredibly into celebrating, especially decorating for, the holidays. However, Jay and I don't have any human kids running afoot. Instead, we usually cater to neices and nephews, and the neighborhood kids, or big kids at heart.

When we first moved into our home we would go all out with the decorations, with the intent to be home on Halloween night to help scare up some fun for visitors. Now, as we grow older, we tend to search out events, and even parties, near us in the weeks leading up to a major holiday. After all, life's too short to celebrate just 1 day a year- so we try to extend our celebrations all month long. No holiday is an exception, especially with Halloween. And with that mentality, while saving for our dream home, we tend to celebrate Halloween on a budget.

Of course those of you who have followed us through the years also know that budget does NOT mean boring. In fact, when we stretch our buck at 99 Cents Only Stores we can even include our fur children in on the festivities. This year I have 2 pet costume contests, and one Halloween dog brunch in the park on my calendar and that means I need at least 3 easy but affordable pet costume ideas for Gidget and Nora.

Naturally I shop my local 99 year-round for amazing savings on everyday brands and products from paper plates and shampoo to fresh produce for the weekend BBQ. While you'll find household goods and grocery essentials at the 99 every day, you'll also find a few featured seasonal aisles with some amazing buys on just about everything you need to celebrate the next big holiday or season.

Right now our local 99 has Fall/Harvest finds and an entire aisle chocked full of everything from Halloween party tableware and home/yard decorations, to even costumes, masks, and more! It is hands down my favorite place to decorate for any season as I can buy 5+ decorations easily for the cost of what I'd pay for one at the local big box store. In fact, budgeting my holiday spending at the 99 not only gives me MORE room for inspiration and creativity, but allows me to participate in, and host, more Halloween celebrations, myself! Use the store locator here to find a location near you.

One of my favorite things about shopping the 99 is the freedom to be creative on a budget. Many homemade costumes can quickly add up in time or money when you consider time spent running around to gather materials, or paying full price on materials you only need 1 or 2 of for your project.

A perfect example is Pet Costume Idea #1, Bean Bag Toy Hang Tags- Simple in theory, but the poster board or card stock I suggest using for them can run you $3+ at the average big buy or office supply store. I can buy a giant poster board sheet in a rainbow of colors from my local 99 for just 99 cents only! I can also fond the paint, markers, pet collar, glue stick, fishing wire, and even hot glue gun I need ALL at my local 99 for just 99 cents each!

Making Bean Bag Toy Hang Tags for each of our 3 pets was covered under the cost of that one smart buy, since the posterboards and supplies I needed all worked for multiple uses- I could've easily made 20 of these costumes with the supplies I had on hand! In fact, I've even saved the leftovers for us to continue this costume tradition should we add a furry friend to the family in the coming years.

Costume #1 is as easy as outlining the hang tag heart shape on a folded piece of red poster-board, then cutting it out and tracing it onto your white poster-board. Use a glue stick to adhere the white posterboard cutouts to the inside and back of your hang 'tag' then use your markers and a pen to illustrate your tag accordingly.

Choosing how you attach your handmade Bean Bag Hang Tags to your pets will depend on the size of your pets, and consequently the size of your tags. We chose a bigger bold look for Nora as the look is comical and tongue-in-cheek for her. Gidget, weighing just under 2lbs had a handmade tag made to scale of a real hang tag, since she is just about as big as a bean bag toy herself!

Where I attached Nora and Truffles' tags to an actual collar, I wanted Gidget's to be more dainty and natural, as though it were peeking out of her fur. I hot glued the seam of the tag to some fishing wire and made a 'necklace' of sorts that easily slipped on and off over her head.

This is the official look we will be wearing at our first Halloween pet costume contest this year- it took my about an hour and half to make all 3; and that's primarily because I spent way too much time with the lettering and barcodes on the larger 2. I especially love this costume idea because it's very lightweight and easy for any pet to wear, no matter their tolerance for clothes.

My next inspiration came from a well aligned holiday that our local 99 also has a ton of decorations for, Dia De Los Muertos. Sugar skull imagery in the form of costumes, headbands, masks, and statuettes lines the shelves of near 1/3 of an aisle at my 99. Living in Southern California, culturally, Dia De Los Muertos is a very big deal in my hometown and there are even a few festivals, parties, and special events in the county for one to attend to learn more or observe the holiday.

The traditional imagery most associate with Dia De Los Muertos are sugar skull treats and traditionally wooden face masks with colorful skeleton-like features known as "Calavera." There were over 20 different Calavera style face masks to choose from at my 99, and an array of bright colored flowers, ornate shawls, and colorful Calavera covered jewelry. It was easy to piece together a one-of-a kind full costume for a human in that theme, and I immediately knew I wanted to create a "Dog and Human" themed costume set.

When Jay spotted a Cat face Calavera mask at the 99 he immediately volunteered to wear it while carrying Nora in a similarly themed outfit for an upcoming Dia De Los Muertos event. While there wasn't a specific costume for pets many of the items made for humans could be safely and easily adapted. We found several options for 'tie' ribbon chokers and bracelets we could loosely fasten over Nor'a neck to create a bib of color and macabre. We also found a child's skirt that perfectly matched the color theme.

When choosing to create a clothing based costume for your pet always consider some key safety pointers:

• Keep in mind things that will be tied around the neck should have ample room to slide on and off, as they must be able to easily snap free or slide off if caught on an object. 
• Never use any part of costumes as a harness or collar for the purpose of securing your pet- only approved pet collars and harnesses should be used as such.
• When using a skirt intended for a human or child on your dog the skirt should be split down the middle and altered so that the underside of your dog is free from fabric when walking.
• If your pet experiences anxiety of any kind while wearing any portion of their costume, take it off. A chuckle or photo is not worth your pet's stress.
• Never cover your pet's snout with a mask/hat/helmet. Masks should only be worn for photos or brief moments of 'reveal' and never while your pet is wandering even a well secured home or space on their own.

Last Halloween was Gidget's first Halloween with us. She was a pretty quiet puppy who loved people but was still a bit new to her surroundings. As a result we didn't got out or celebrate the holiday much. Instead we took a few cute family photos with some of our decor and props from the 99. She still fits in that cauldron candy pail today!

When October began to roll around this year I remembered all of the awesome tattered clothes and gauzy drape materials I'd found at my 99 last year. I immediately knew I wanted to spend a dollar on a white 'Creepy Cloth' to transform Nora into a living Mummy Dog for one of our upcoming events. I started by wrapping the full width of the cloth around her torso, loosely, once, then cut each non wrapped end into 3 even segments (still attached to the primary mid-section piece.) I then loosely wrapped the 'strips' here and there, tucking any lose ends under itself for a very loose fasten. The end result was full movement range for Nora and one cute Mummy pup!

Our 99 also has costumes designed just for pets. The selection varies every year, and inventory is constantly changing throughout the season as the 99 gets more and new stock in. This year we found many pet costumes styles including, a witch, devil, cop, convict, and sheriff. I noticed there seemed to be 'pairs' (cop and robber, devil and witch) so you could effectively theme 2 pets if you wanted. These costumes are just .99 at my local 99 and essentially consist of a cape and head-piece, making them easy to size for dogs from chihuahua to Labrador. And, because they are so affordable, you can use 1 per event and toss them out without worry if they get dirty or torn in wear and play.

I was a bit skeptical about a '1 size fits most' pet costume, but I'll admit I was thoroughly impressed with the value for my buck. Our Devil dog costume did actually size down to fit 2lb Gidget- I trimmed a little of length off the sides of the cape for safety purposes, as well as some of the length on the tie strings. Even the little horn headpiece tied securely under her tiny head and seemed to cause her no fuss.

Nora's outfit, the witch, we designed the same, with a 2 tie cape, and a tie on hat. The hat was pretty detailed with a felt design, but between her hair and the flop of the hat seemed a bit big on her. In all, these costumes went on in minutes, could easily be adjusted for you pet's size, and the cape materials is even weather resistant for a sprinkle or two while trick-or-treating.

Of course, with a classic costume theme like this and, with having only spend a whopping $1 on each of the costumes, I had a few extra bucks to spend on some photo props and decorations for the front porch. For $1 I snagged a heavy duty skull candy bowl, a 4 pack of mini cauldrons to put dog treats in for our canine trick-or-treaters, and a creepy looking pumpkin Nora didn't seem too impressed with. I made the mini broom out of some crafting supplies I found in the office and craft supply aisle.

Of course it wouldn't be Halloween Two-Thousand and Something if we didn't have a twist on something unicorn in our costume lineup. So, while our entire yard is already decked out in webs, ghosts, and skeleton characters I simply HAD to make a unicorn no-cut pumpkin for our front stoop this year. When I spotted all the rainbow floral headbands near the Dia De Los Muertos costume gear at the 99 I knew I wanted to make a rainbow 'mane' out of fake flowers. I bought 2 headbands, removed all of the flowers, then carefully hot glued them back on in color groupings. I then painted my pumpkin white, drew some eyelashes on with permanent marker and hot glued the mane onto the pumpkin. Viola! And all supplies (even the hot glue gun) were found at my 99!

I'll admit turning the girls into unciorns (unidogs?) was more an a photo necessity than a costume concept. I just couldn't pass up the most gorgeous rainbow tulle skirts for just $.99 with all the costume supplies at the 99. Not to far away were some strap on foam unicorn horns, so it kinda just fell together. The horns were meant for humans, so I cut them down to size then hot glues the elastic chin straps back on the abbreviated horns to make them fit our girls. I cut the skirts and pushed the tulle in towards a clump in the center to make sure there was no material under the girls while they walked, and hot glued the loose elastic ends back together. Poof, instant dog unicorn costume for just $2 at the 99. Heck, the whole family could dress up like this for $2 a head!

It's pretty obvious there's something for every style this Halloween when you shop the 99, so don't feel like you have to leave the pets out of all the costume fun because pet costumes are hard to find or expensive. Budgeting pet costumes at the 99 is not only practical (pets grow out of and destroy costumes so quick!) but fun. Why not let your pet have a different costume for every event this holiday, or take a stroll down the runway at that local pet costume competition? Be sure to stop by your local 99 often during this month to see what's new and get in on all the exciting fun! Which of our pet costume ideas do you love the most?

Affordable Ways To Celebrate Easter With Pets: $5 D.I.Y Teepee, $3 Dog Toys, + More!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #99YourEaster #DoingThe99 #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Why spend more when you can spend less?

If you've been reading Momma Told Me for a while then you know all about Momma's frugal side. How all of my clothing growing up was from the second hand store, every Summer I'd practice mathematics calculating coupon and sale prices, and that the large majority of our gifts were often handmade. The older I grew, the more I'd contemplate this need to save when our family had no seeming need to be quite so frugal. After all we lived in a nice home with new electronics, and our kitchen had the fanciest gadgets and gizmos. That's not to say my father didn't work hard, and very long hours, to support our family- but we surely were not living meal to meal.

The holidays were where I always seemed to feel this frugality the most. If I wanted to have a My Little Pony birthday party it would instead have to be a 'My Friend Pony' party because Momma wasn't about to pay triple the price for the same cartoon horses, just with different names. One holiday season, as I clung to one of the hottest toys of the season, full on melt-down mid-store, I at last let out a scream of frustration, "Why can't we buy the 'good stuff'? It's not like we're poor!" Naturally, being the sort of parent she was, Momma shut the tantrum down promptly, pulling the item from my hand and slapping my wrist as she answered rather calmly, "Because, daughter, you can buy the same exact thing, with a different name, for half the price. Why spend more, when you can spend less?"

Naturally that was the beginning of my own monetary awakening. I remember suddenly becoming fascinated by the concept of 'after market,' 'off brand' and even 'overstock' merchandise. Instead of gift cards for major retailers I'd ask instead for cash whenever my birthday came around so I could buy exactly what I wanted, at the best price.

Of course, today, being money smart doesn't mean you have to make compromises. In fact, smart shoppers can save plenty over retail pricing on name brands and products they use every day when they make smart retailer choices. That's exactly why I'm a 99er. Not only are there several 99 Cents Only Stores in my hometown, but their wide range of inventory covers everything from fresh produce to bedding and pet supplies. Even better, their stock is always changing as new items hit the shelves, so I know I'm in for some amazingly fun shopping whenever I visit!

With this being our first year in our house (rather than a condo), I'm extremely excited about the prospect of decorating for, and celebrating, each of the year's holidays. Easter is no exception, and I know I can stretch my budget on everything from delicious treats to adorable decor, and even gifts when I shop my local 99 Cents Only Store. With an entire aisle dedicated to Easter, I practically feel like a kid in a candy store loading up my cart! While I won't be planning any parties for the Spring holiday this year, I've decided to celebrate everything rainbow egg and bunnies with my furry family- the pets. As always, the holidays also bring plenty of yummy treats for the humans, many of which you'll also find at the 99. Be sure to check out The Goody Pet's article "Top 27 Foods That Are Dangerous To Dogs" before planning your next big holiday event!

I remember when I first brought Truffles, our cat, home as a kitten it was just over a week before Easter. At the time I was renting a room out to a woman with a young child and there were little plastic eggs strewn all over the house from the little one's play time. Truffles, being the kitten she was, instantly took to swatting them here and there- and even hiding them under pretty much everything in the house. Ever since I've made a point to go shopping for 'the cat's' Easter eggs each year during this holiday. To say that I was overwhelmed by the selection at my local 99 would be an understatement. There were well over 30 styles of Easter eggs to shop from; emoji faces, sheep, carrot shaped, and even jumbo eggs!

I went way overboard, for someone shopping for their pets, and spent a whopping $30. I'm a bit embarrassed, really, because I bought way more than we needed- but I just had to have a variety of Easter eggs and baskets to choose from when building my Easter baskets for the pets. It's not the end of the world, really, because the leftovers will go into little treats and surprises for the kids at the daycare- 99 Cents Only Stores are a life-saver when it comes to celebrating the holidays with 10 children!

While I love snagging my Cadbury Eggs and Reeses Eggs from the 99, sometimes the real fun in holiday shopping at the 99 is D.I.Y inspiration. I found plenty of Spring prints and themed items on my shopping trip I found I could easily transform into special handmade pet toys to help fill my unique Easter baskets.

In the pet aisle I found a 3 pack of tennis balls for $.99, and in the baby supply department I found a 2-pack of swaddle cloths for $1.99. With these, and a pair of scissors, I was able to make a Springtime version of one of Nora's favorite handmade toys. We like to call this a 'rope octopus,' but you can call it whatever you want. Assemble it by doing the following:

1. Lay your swaddle cloth out, print side down, and place a tennis ball in the middle.

2. Cut diagonally from each corner into the center (towards the ball), leaving about 1" uncut fabric to the tennis ball.

3. Take 2 diagonal corners and tie them across the top of the tennis ball. Repeat with the remaining corners.

4. You should have 4 sectioned corners of fabric. Starting with 1 corner cut the fabric into 6 even width strips. Your lengths will not be the same, this is fine, you can trim when you are done braiding. Be careful with your cuts not to overlap and cut any fabric off.

5. Take 3 of the fabric strips and braid until you've reached the end of the shortest strip, tie a knot and trim any excess, leaving at least 1" of fabric from your securing knot.

6. Repeat with the remaining 3 strips.

Repeat steps 4-6 until all corners are braided with 2 braids each for a total of 8 braids. Don't worry if your braids are different thicknesses or lengths- your dog will enjoy playing with each end uniquely!

If you have a larger breed dog then you may wish to make thicker braids by doubling up each length of fabric, or by using a fleece fabric braid to add thickness. Nora is a small breed dog, but she absolutely loves 'tearing' into these 'octopus' style braided toys and plays for hours with them on their own. Best of all, you can recycle the tennis ball inside if the fabric ever becomes torn or too dirty!

For those looking for an even simpler DIY dog toy- look no further than the classic 'Tennis Ball Sock.' We found some adorable pairs of Easter socks perfect for our Easter basket. Because socks come in pairs of 2, and the tennis balls came in packs of 3, we made 2 toys for just $2, with a tennis ball to spare! It's as easy as placing a tennis ball in your favorite festive sock and tying it off with a knot. Viola! You'll find similar Easter toys at the local pet store for up to 5X as much!

I cannot get over how adorable my 1 minute tennis ball sock toy chickadee looks next to Nora's Easter basket. And how about those 'poo emoji' themed Easter eggs? Aren't those perfect for any posh pup? In addition to her handmade toys we also added some dog toys we found in the 99's pet aisle, a few rawhide style treats, and a new blanket (just $2 hanging on the wall with the baby gear).

Naturally we didn't forget about Truffles, the cat- it just so happens my local 99 had their spring gardening supplies set up on the other half of the Easter aisle. In a stroke of genius I spotted some tomato plant cages for $.99 I could easily transform into some amazing cat DIY staples! In fact, there happened to be multiple sizes of tomato plant cages and the small size prided 3 poles that were the perfect length for a cat wand! After cutting (regular scissors work fine) off the lightweight plastic clips holding the round cage guides in place I discovered that the plastic caps on either end of the support poles actually popped on and off with a little effort.

Using some ribbon I'd found in the Easter aisle and a cat toy from the pet aisle I actually tied the ribbon to the toy and fed 2" of the opposite end of the ribbon into the hollow pole. With a quick 'pop' I snapped the cap back in place and had an instant cat wand! Naturally one could duct tape or glue the cap on if they were concerned about cat's chewing or playing rough, and handmade 'lure' toys could be made out of multiple ribbons, pom poms, or more!

I won't lie- Since each tomato cage makes 3 cat wands I plan on playing with a bunch of different 'lures'. We'll have a whole umbrella stand full of handmade cat wands soon enough. Truffles might be a 'senior' cat at 7, but she's still just as fascinated with ribbons and wands as ever! I originally put my completed wand in her Easter basket and had to hide it in the broom closet after finding it in the middle of the living room floor for the 3rd time. Some kids just can't wait for the holiday to unpack their goodies!

To complete my Easter display I knew I wanted to make a kitty teepee at long last. I'd seen hundreds on Pinterest and, for a while, before finding the tomato cages I'd pondered using the poles from some yard rakes to accomplish this. At 3 rakes for $.1.99 a piece I'd be hard pressed to find my materials much cheaper elsewhere, but the large tomato cage was just $.99. Even better the tomato cage naturally formed a teepee like structure when I manipulated it's posts- perfect for someone structurally challenged, like me.

If you've ever wanted to make your pet a teepee but found the concept of a free standing structure intimidating, this is your teepee. Head to your local 99 Cents Only Store and purchase a large tomato plant cage, fleece blanket, polypropylene rope (or any type of heavy duty string/rope), and some ribbon and make this teepee for just $5 in 5 minutes.

It's as easy as cutting the lowest supporting rung off (the plastic clips will snip easily with basic scissors), manipulating the top ring at an angle into the middle ring, and evening your posts to the same height at the top. Once you've got your tomato cage in a general shape go ahead and take your rope/cord/string and tie it around the 3 posts at the top. Use your excess string/rope/cord to weave in and out, and around the top posts multiple times until the structure holds on it's own. You should be able to adjust the length of the posts with a little force as needed.

Next drape your blanket over the structure and cut 2 horizontal slits approximately 1" from the edge, and 6" down from the top of your teepee. Run your ribbon of choice through it and tie in a bow to secure the teepee's fabric. Repeat about 6" down from the first bow. Place a pet bed inside, or leave as is for young children to use with dolls and such.

Scroll to the bottom of this post to grab the PINterest strip!

While any of these D.I.Y ideas can be used to make special gifts for your pets during any time of the year I especially love that I can afford holiday themed toys without the prices of seasonal merchandise. I made all of these awesome Spring and Easter themed pet toys for the cost of one small sized pink squirrel with an Easter egg squeaker at my local pet store. I've listed all the supplies I used to prepare for a magical Easter with my pets above, and every single thing I used was purchased at my local 99 Cents Only Stores. I even nabbed new bedding for the dog with a $5.99 comforter score!

Don't wait to head into your local 99 Cents Only Store to shop for Easter- the seasonal aisle is full now, and be sure to visit again before the holiday as new products are always being added. I know I'll be heading in a few times to keep collecting items for Easter baskets for the daycare kids, and my bowling league. Sure, it may seem a bit over the top to be 'that person' who always has something small to give everyone in celebration of a holiday, but I rather enjoy being able to afford that, thanks to the 99. Don't have any fur children like me? Just think how adorable an Easter basket would be tucked into one of those DIY teepees for a young girl or boy on Easter morning! Still need more inspiration to 99? Check out this fun video and follow the brand on Instagram!

What Daughter Says: Why spend more when you can spend less, indeed! My local 99 Cents Only Stores have my favorite brands, and new discoveries, at prices that make it fun to shop again!