Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who mentioned she didn’t like to shop at certain pet boutiques because of the high prices and snooty retailers. She mentioned that, while she is incredibly attracted to the beautiful merchandise, she is often intimidated by the atmosphere. Personally, you can’t drag me out of a pet boutique, but I completely understand the issue this friend of mine was having. It’s a critique I’ve often heard from others. After this conversation I was inspired to dig around the web to see if I could find merchandise that had the “boutique look” without the intimidation factor. I was beyond surprised to find a collection of great items from an unexpected source, Bed Bath and Beyond!

Clockwise, from top left: Animal Planet Portable Pet Kennel, Skinneez Stuffing-Free Dog Toys, Pet Can Cover, Pooch Treat Bomb Pet Toy, “Woof!” Bone Square Placemat, Pet Supply Organizer

Read more

As you know, I have two dogs — one big and one little. They share a water bowl, which means I have two large bowls and a small bowl. Most dog food mats are made for two bowls max, which is why I have always had trouble finding one to accommodate three bowls. Over the years I gave up searching and therefore left the bowls on the kitchen floor with no mat, but it became quite messy and frustrating to clean.

One day, while at Bed, Bath & Beyond buying towels or something of the sort, I spotted this boot tray for $7.99. I wondered if the bowls could fit on it. Since it was so cheap, I figured I’d give it a shot and bought it on the spot. Miraculously, all three bowls fit perfectly on it, with a little space to move around. It certainly isn’t the most attractive food mat I’ve ever seen, but it does the job.

The bonus is that the tray has a raised border, which keeps water spills and crumbs from ending up all over my kitchen floor. Who knew a boot tray could do double duty as a catch-all food mat?

Got a double duty idea you want to share? Send it to us!