Author: Teresa Misagal

My Saturday as a Smorgasburg Vendor OR How I Stumbled into a Second Career

By Teresa Misagal

Last Christmas I gifted my co-workers with some of my homemade granola — a mixture of  oats, groats dried fruit (apricots, golden raisins, dried cherries and more), sunflower seeds, chopped almonds, walnuts and sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and honey. I’d just started making it as a hobby. They devoured it and asked me for more. One of the partners at the restaurant where I work (I’m a manager at Blue Ribbon Sushi) wanted to sell it, so we collaborated, and voila! My own line of Granola. After only a few months, it made the Best of New York. This was fast turning into a second career! I finally gave it a name — Dailola, a combination of my two rescue dogs’ names, Dailo and Lola (you’ve seen their photos here on this very website) — and a portion of the proceeds is donated to New Spirit Australian Shepherd Rescue. And now, every Saturday, I sell my granola at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s 100-vendor food fest. Somehow, in addition to my day job, I manage to squeeze in …

What to Get the Dog Who Has Everything

By Teresa Misagal

Last week, we shared all the reasons why our furry friends mean so much to us. They’re family, so naturally, they also deserve some holiday cheer (even if they don’t really know what it is they’re getting). Nevertheless, we’re sure your dog will love one (or all!) of these five canine Christmas gifts. 1. Yum Gift Pack I feed my dogs Dailo and Lola mostly raw and all-natural food, so why shouldn’t I wash them the same natural way? Y.U.M.’s Gift pack contains a dog wash made with essential oils such as citronella, lavender and cedarwood, plus a cleansing spray infused with lavender and lemon patchouli. I secretly want to spray this on myself. $24, indigowild.com 2. Filson Dog Shelter Cloth Dog Coat with Wool Lining This dog coat is cozy, warm and reversible! The otter green side is made of water-repellant waxed-canvas, while the classic Filson plaid side is a sporty and hip (a perfect to match for your Filson Double Mackinaw). $75, Filson.com 3. Bark Box Join this subscription service and each month, …

Dog, Divorce, Do-Over: Meditations on Momo

By Teresa Misagal

A year after I got married, rather than having a baby, we got a puppy. Momo. A Miniature Australian Shepherd. Momo was the first dog I’d ever raised on my own. I’d grown up with cats, I’d inherited a rabbit named Mr. Bunny, I’d lived with dogs before. But Momo was the first pup who was all mine. A year later, we got another puppy, Dailo, also a Mini Aussie. My husband didn’t really want Dailo, but I went ahead and got him anyway. Funny enough, Dailo turned out to be a guy’s dog. And Dailo and Momo got along famously. They were like a cute little couple. And then, six years later, my husband and I got divorced. Irreconcilable differences. I decided it was best to just start fresh with a clean slate. Perhaps if we’d had had kids, we would’ve tried harder to make it work, but no matter. I made the decision and I got to keep Momo and Dailo. Divorce was sometimes difficult. What happened? Maybe I should have just stayed? Why …

Just A Moment: Ok Doggies

By Teresa Misagal

Ok, ok, I’ll get up to walk them, feed them, bathe them, pet them. Ok, ok, I’ll bundle up when I’m sick with a fever to take them out. Ok, ok, we’ll go for a walk even in a snowstorm or a downpour. Ok, ok, because no matter my mood, my health, my energy level, Dailola is always there for me, unconditionally. Dailo makes me feel ok and Lola, she makes me feel pretty damn ok, too. (More on Dailola)