BlogPaws Bound!!

Royal Canin To Donate Bowls of Cat Food Through Live Tweets Generated At BlogPaws! And A "Sneak Peek" at their NEWEST FOOD LINE!

Hi everyone! It's Cody and I am grinning like the Cheshire cat with news I am about to share with you that I received from my furiends at Royal Canin today!

As many  ok 3 or 4 of you MOL, know that have been reading my blog for the past 2 years, I am a Royal Canin guy through and through. I have been eating their Veterinary formula bagged and canned rabbit ever since I developed allergies. I love my Royal Canin cat food and have been known to be relentless in my never-ending quest for more of it!

It was only natural that I would be one of the cool cats that were chosen to hear about some things going on with Royal Canin,  and I am SUPER excited to share this impawtant news with you!

You can see we buy the INDUSTRIAL
SERIOUS EATIN' size
OF ROYAL CANIN!

Royal Canin is a "Friends Of BlogPaws Sponsor" and is a long-time supporter of shelter pets. For those of you who will be going to BlogPaws, (I will be there in FLAT form and Mom will be there in FAT form but I digress), Royal Canin has created a "kitty cam" and will be broadcasting live cat action video from the open-cage cat rescue, Clowder House Foundation, in St.Louis, MO.

Here comes the part that will help the kitties! For everyone who stops by the Royal Canin booth at BlogPaws and TWEETS #RoyalCaninGives, they will donate a bowl of their HOT-OFF-THE-PRESSES-NEW SPAYED/NEUTERED line of foods, to the adoptable, on-screen cats of the Clowder House! How cool is that!? I am sure Mom will be standing loitering there tweeting her little heart out! If you are going to BlogPaws you need to be doing the same!

Did ya catch the part about the NEW line of food that Royal Canin will be giving a "sneak peak" at for the lucky cats attending BlogPaws? The SPAYED/NEUTERED line of food was developed because while we all know the multitude of reasons why spaying/neutering is so impawtant, it brings with it some changes to kitties. A couple of those changes are a decrease in energy and an INCREASE of appetite! I have first-paw experience about that! The Royal Canin NEW SPAYED/NEUTERED line of food will be the FIRST line of food specifically tailored for spayed and neutered cats!!

BlogPaws attendees get to try it before ANYBODY ELSE! What I wouldn't give to have Royal Canin install a "Mommy Cam" so I could see live-action video of Mommy with her face in the bowl of cat food tasting it!!! Now THAT would be a show, but once again, I digress...


Sooo BlogPaws kitty peeps be sure to stop by the Royal Canin booth and help the shelter kitties and my mom when she gets tired from tweeting #RoyalCaninGives for the entire conference!


I was not compensated for this post. I already am a customer of Royal Canin. They didn't even give me one piece of rabbit kibble for writing this, not a one. Because of that, Mom had better score some Royal Canin swag at BlogPaws....just sayin'....

Email Madness, You are asking to do a Guest Post? Seriously? -"Wordy" Wednesday

I'm in a mood. I'm stressed to the max. My "bonus" daughter is getting married this weekend, we have a funeral to attend, Cody is still being treated for allergies, Dakota spent the day at the vet with urinary problems, (hopeful that it is just a UTI), I have salon appointments, errands to run, a mountain of laundry to do,  and I am trying to keep up with  my BlogPaws 2012  "Paws On Patrol" responsibilities. Yep that WAS a "run-on" sentence, don't start with me grammar buffs, I told you, I'm in a MOOD.

With all of this going on, the last thing I need to deal with is stupidity...

As I was  digging  through over 100 emails (on just one of my accounts), my eyes were assaulted with THIS: ( the individual who sent it to me is lucky I have chosen to not reveal who she is).

 THIS is her ACTUAL EMAIL:

Hi!

My name is ________, I stumbled upon your blog and I really like the content and theme of your site! I recently started blogging and writing informational articles about motherhood, maternity, health and other things within that niche. I wondering if you accept guest posts? Since last month was Pregnancy Awareness Month I was inspired to continue advocating for healthy pregnancy, and so I thought an article on one of those topics would fit well and be a great resource for your readers. Please let me know if you would be interested in reading one of my articles with the intent of posting it on your site! 

If you are interested in learning ________about me check out my blog __________

-- 
Kind Wishes,

__________

MY RESPONSE:

Hi _________
 
Are you KIDDING ME??? 
 
Just a friendly offering of advice. When you approach a  blogger and state that 
you "love their blog and what they do" you may want to REALLY VISIT THE BLOG 
FIRST. 
 
If you had, you would know that I have a cat blog and a dog blog. 
 
Unless you are writing about delivering puppies and kittens....it's a nooo go............ 
 
I am being nice by telling you to do your homework....others might not 
be....just sayin'........ 
-- 
Caren Gittleman 
Pet Blogger/Freelance Writer 
 
cgittleman@mi.rr.com  
Visit My Blogs: 
 
Cat Chat With Cody & Caren http://opcatchat.blogspot.com 
 
Dakota's Den www.dakotasden.wordpress.com 
 
Twitter:@catchatcaren and @dakotasheltie 
 
FACEBOOK: 
http://www.facebook.com/Carenosringittleman 
 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cat-Chat-With-Caren-Cody/208923585790514 
 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dakotas-Den-Daily-Doings-of-a-Dog-Named-Dakota-Let
-the-Barking-Begin/212764172068608 
 

IN FULL DISCLOSURE: WARNING WILL ROBINSON!! When you approach me without "doing your homework" be prepared to fail the test and rest assured you will become fodder for my blog.

I have been so busy  I had nothing planned to post today.

 I DO THANK YOU FOR BEING THE SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM.

Help Bissell Help Pets!!

Purchase Pet Products on www.bissell.com and they'll donate a portion of their proceeds to The Bissell Pet Foundation!

To make it even sweeter, with June being Adopt-A-Cat Month, Bissell will DOUBLE the donation!!

Click here to check out their great products!!!

And...Bissell will be at BlogPaws as a "Friends Of BlogPaws Sponsor"!! Be sure to stop by and see them at the conference  and show them some love!!!



We were not compensated for this post. We just wanted to help spread the word about a really neat cause!

ABC Award-- It's All About BlogPaws!

A few months ago Mom and I were honored to receive a special award.  The award we received was:

which stands for "Awesome Blog Content".  We are flattered to know that at least we have TWO kitties who like what we do! YEP TWO kitties gave us this award and we are most grateful!

The first kitty who gave it to us was Nerissa, from Nerissa's Life. (Do you know that for the LONGEST time we thought that Nerissa was a GIRL!? Nerissa is a BOY!) We're kinda slow, you'll have to forgive us. Look at this picture and you tell us if this cat isn't so pretty that you would think it was a GIRL!

Thank you for the award Nerissa!!!

As if that weren't enough of an honor, we were given  the SAME award from Pumpkin Puddy!! We were completely blown away! Thank you Pumpkin! Take a look at this cutie!!

Pumpkin we are most appreciative!!

The requirements of this award are that we must list 26 things about ourselves using every letter in the alphabet.  We decided  to change the rules of this blog award a  bit.  We  feel  with the BlogPaws conference being right around the corner, we would devote our 26 things to an event FAR MORE exciting than we are!  That would be BlogPaws 2012!!

Here we go!

A- an awesome good time. Mom went last year and wouldn't trade the experience for the world!

B-well for BLOGPAWS of course! From BlogPaws: "BlogPaws works hard to bring the best social media experts to present sessions designed to help bloggers improve their online activity, whether its a blog post, a twitter pawty, a Facebook page, a Pinterest page, or even Google+. We can all learn more and be better and when you leave BlogPaws, you will have a ton of actionable advice to follow - heck you can implement it using your phone, while you're at the airport waiting...and waiting...and waiting for your plane. "

C-CHEESECAKE!! Mom had the BEST cheesecake at BlogPaws 2011, haven't heard if it will be at BlogPaws 2012 but Mom has her paws crossed that it will be!

This cheesecake was "make a noise" GOOD!

D-Doggies!! Yep there will be DOGGIES at BlogPaws 2012! Some of you may not care for that but since Mom and I live  with a doggy,  we think that is one of the best parts of the conference!  You really see that BlogPaws is ALL ABOUT THE PETS when you see the doggies that are in attendance:

This was a puppy that Royal Canin brought last year

Look at a famous doggy that will be at BlogPaws this year!

Guinness World Record “Fastest Skateboarding Dog,” Tillman
Photo courtesty of  BlogPaws

E-Excitement! From the moment you arrive at BlogPaws 2012 you will feel the excitement all around you! Excitement, energy, enthusiasm! Have  we  used enough "E" words to convey that for you?

F-Fancy Feast! One of the "Friends of BlogPaws" sponsors that will be attending is none other than FANCY FEAST! We hear that they are not bringing the famous Fancy Feast kitty, but maybe we can change their minds?

G- GOLON, as in Caroline! If you are a kitty and don't know Caroline then you must be hiding in a paper bag! C'mon out and get with the program! Caroline is the pawson behind Romeo The Cat  and  High Paw Media  (just to name a few, she is one busy lady!) she is also a co-founder of BlogPaws! She will be at the conference speaking about Pinterest!

Caroline and Romeo

H-HOTEL- This year the Hotel that will be hosting BlogPaws is the beautiful

 Sheraton Salt Lake City.  Mom says she can hardly wait to check it out!

I-INVESTMENT- if you are a Blogger, the money you will spend for BlogPaws 2012 is an INVESTMENT in your future! You can't put a price on that!

J-Jokes! as in FUN! Laughing with your blogging friends in PAWSON! It is so much nicer to be interacting with blogging buddies in pawson rather than through a cold computer screen!

K-KITTENS! Last year there were kittens at BlogPaws! Mom wonders if there will be this year!

Mom cheating on me with one
of the kittens that were
in attendance last year!

L-LEARNING take a look at the roster of speakers scheduled to appear at BlogPaws 2012! Your brain will be bursting with knowledge!

M-Memories. You will have memories that will last you all of your nine lives when you attend a BlogPaws Conference.

N-Nose-to-Nose Awards a BlogPaws FIRST. Best of luck to all of the Finalists, hey even if we couldn't even rate as  finalists for our blog, Twitter or Facebook pages, we're still happy for ya!! The winners will be announced in a red carpet ceremony Saturday night, June 23, sponsored by Free Kibble and Halo and emceed by the beautiful and talented

 Wendy Diamond. Since Mom and I were at the bottom of the heap, I guess we won't be wearing THESE.

This photo was from an event
we also didn't win anything at MOL!

O-hhhh what a fun time you will have! Yeah so it isn't a bona fide "O" word, give us a break...we're getting tired!

P-PAW PRINTS, PAW PRINTS EVERYWHERE! This is what greeted Mom the second she entered the Hotel for BlogPaws 2011

Q-Queens of the Cat Blogging World! Meet two of the Queens of the cat bloggers! (Yes we know there are TONS MORE! Relax Glogirly  and Cathy Keisha!!! Don't get your fur all matted!!) This is a photo from last year and the two "Queens" in the photo are (left) Ingrid King, (right) Deb Barnes.

R-REGISTER!! Have YOU registered for BlogPaws 2012? Time is running out! Register here  Want a 20% discount on your registration? Just enter BlogPaws2012-POPs-Caren at checkout!

S-SPONSORS BlogPaws has the BEST!!  Check out the SPONSORS PAGE, give them a shout out on Twitter, Facebook, visit their websites and make them feel welcome!! We LOVE our Sponsors!

T-TWITTER EVENTS! Have questions about BlogPaws?  Don't be shy! Spill the beans! Chew the fat! Cough up a fur ball!! Be sure to attend the #BlogPawsChat on Tuesday May 29th and Tuesday June 12th from 8pm to 9pm EST....Also, mark your pawprint on the calendar for Tuesday June 5th for a #BlogPawty !!!  

U-UNDERWEAR What does THIS have to do with a post about BlogPaws 2012? Glad you asked!  We keep reading posts telling us not to forget our business cards, laptops, sweaters for chilly conference rooms, yadda, yadda, yadda, you know how your Mom always taught you to be sure you ALWAYS have clean underwear? Well, you are traveling my friends! There are lots of things you might forget to pack, be sure to pack your UNDIES!!! Some like to have two pair per day....just sayin'.

V-V.I.P's uh, those would be ALL OF YOU!!! Without the hundreds THOUSANDS of bloggers who are a part of the BlogPaws Community it would be nothin' but bare bones! (If you are a dog you may like that, but not in the world of pet brands and blogging!)

W-Wonderful. Mom says it will be WONDERFUL to see so many of the bloggers again that she met last year and she can't wait to meet those she hasn't met yet!

X-marks the spot. Salt Lake City, Utah....is the SPOT for BlogPaws 2012!

Y-Yvonne DiVita and the rest of the BlogPaws team have worked their tails off to be sure that BlogPaws 2012 is the BEST YET!!

Yvonne at BlogPaws 2011

Z- "Zee" um, make that SEE you at BlogPaws!!!!! We're so tired from doing this post that we need to catch some Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's...................later!!!

Cody by our BlogPaws 2011 tote bag

Book Review And Give-Away! Organizing the Care of My Cat by Morgan T. Orr and Penelope Orr Spry, Authors of the WiseUp! Workbook Series

For those of us in the U.S., the Memorial Day holiday is the unofficial kick-off of the summer season! That means warm weather, lazy days at the beach, picnics, baseball, family outings and vacations!

Vacations! Ugh! I hear that word and the first thing I think is "Who is going to take care of Cody and Dakota when my husband and I are away?"  When I had my first cat, (Bobo) I am ashamed to say that I took as few vacations as possible, mostly because I didn't feel that ANYONE could take as good of care of Bobo as I could.

I would be a nervous wreck  before my departure,  what if they can't find this? What if they don't know what this meow means?  During said "vacation", instead of leisurely sipping Mai Tais and being lulled by the sound of waves hitting the shore, my stomach would be churning like a whirlpool.

If you are like me, when you leave notes for a pet sitter, they are typed or chicken-scratched on umpteen pieces of paper which are taped to cupboards or strewn on counters.   All  (or most) of the pertinent information about your cat is there, but it isn't neatly arranged, and I bet there are things not on the list that you didn't  realize were missing until you were winging your way to your destination, thousands of miles away.

With vacation season at-the-ready, the BlogPaws 2012 conference just a few weeks away, even severe storms/tornadoes, and other unthinkable disasters  can cause you to suddenly be separated from your beloved pet.

What are we to do?

I have the PURRFECT  solution to this problem!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by WiseUp! Workbooks and they asked me if I would be interested in featuring their Organizing the Care of My Cat Workbook on  Cat Chat.

I admit at first I was skeptical.

That lasted until the book arrived

.

This book is SERIOUSLY  AMAZING!

The workbook   has ALL of the "important information you should provide for the care of your cat  in the event of your absence-planned or otherwise."

It is your pet sitter's   "Wise" guide. They are NOT kidding!

They have thought of information that many of us wouldn't think of.  All you do is just fill in the blanks. Once you fill out the information it is all in one place...IN the workbook, it is NOT strewn on counters or taped haphazardly throughout your home!

Take a look at some of the chapters in this handy workbook:

•  Information About My Cat-which has info such as,  date of birth,  whether or not the cat is a rescue , is the cat  Microchipped?  Is the cat an indoor or outdoor cat? It even has an area to attach a photo of your cat  which would be important if the unthinkable happened, your cat runs away or is separated from the kennel or sitter in some other way.
• Rescue Information if your cat was rescued it has an area to list the name of the rescue center or shelter and blanks for phone number, email, contact person, etc.
•  Emergency Contact Information
•   My Cat's Personality- questions include: is my cat good with strangers? Children? Dogs? Other cats?
•  Daily Routine and Schedule
• Feeding Instructions- what time is breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? What type of food? Canned? Dry? How Much to feed?
• List and Location of My  Cat's Supplies- 
• we all cover this verbally, but what happens when the person you were sharing the info with wasn't paying complete attention and they later forget? Yes,. this DOES HAPPEN  (especially with HUSBANDS! or any inattentive significant other!)
• Health Care and Pet Insurance Information
• Financial Arrangements-we don't like to think about this but it is a necessity. Even I had never given this issue serious thought until I received this workbook.
• Legal Trust for My Cat  (sample Trust included)

And More...

The back of the work book has a handy RESOURCE section that includes websites for:

• Litter Boxes and Supplies
• Cat Grooming Tools and Supplies
• Pet Insurance
• Cat  Medications
• Pet Legal Trusts

I wish I had this book when my husband and I vacationed last February. I know my friend who took care of Dakota and Cody in our absence would have greatly appreciated this workbook because the folks at WiseUp! have thought of EVERYTHING!

Now that I have a place to organize everything for Cody and Dakota...I wish someone would make a workbook for organizing the care of ME!

To purchase, visit WiseUp! Workbooks right here

ISBN : 978-1-937755-01-0 
Number of pages : 50
Price : $12.99

GIVE-AWAY!! The nice folks at WiseUp! will give one workbook to one winner in either the U.S. or Canada.  To be eligible, leave a comment telling me why you want to win this workbook and a way for me to contact you should you be the winner. Deadline to Enter is  Monday, June 4th  at 11pm EST. Winner will be announced WEDNESDAY ,  JUNE 6TH!

Good luck!!

and Happy Travels!

I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a workbook to keep and review. All opinions are my own.

BlogPaws Is Coming! BlogPaws Is Coming!!

I cannot believe that BlogPaws 2012 is just SIX, count 'em SIX weeks away!

I was reading the BlogPaws newsletter this morning (have YOU subscribed? No? Click here) and there was some fabulous tips/advice that was offered by BlogPaw's own Yvonne DiVita:

Beautiful Yvonne
taken at BlogPaws 2011

"Is everyone ready forBlogPaws 2012? Get your suitcases out and start packing. It’s never too early to do that! Leave room for the fabulous swag you’ll be getting. Bring your business cards to share, remember to pack a sweater – air conditioning does get chilly sometimes. Otherwise, we’re business casual. If you have questions about the conference or Salt Lake City, please ask them on Facebook so we can reply there. That way, everyone will learn together – since others may also have the same questions you do! "

Yvonne

  While reading, I started remembering...

BlogPaws 2011 was the first time I had the pleasure/honor of attending. I was a "newbie" nervous, excited, I didn't know what to expect.

From the moment I entered the hotel, I knew I could just cast my fears (and some of my nervousness) aside and let the learning/fun/bonding/camaraderie begin!!

Would you want to miss this?

Some of the "Cat Women!!"
Photo given to me by Angie Bailey of CatLadyLand

More "Cat Women!"
Ingrid King, Deb Barnes and fat old, ME!
wearing my Cat Woman tennies!

 It is funny that Yvonne mentioned "Get your suitcases and start packing". Last year I was packed TWO WEEKS EARLY and last night my husband said, "You know, BlogPaws is only 6 weeks away. Are you packed yet?"

When Yvonne mentioned leaving room for "swag", until you have attended, you have NO IDEA!, I brought home so much swag even after having to leave some behind!! (If your suitcase is too small to handle it all you can give things to other bloggers via a Blogger Exchange table at BlogPaws  or BlogPaws will donate items that are left behind to animals in need).

last day at BlogPaws
my bags packed with swag

My BlogPaws tote bag hangs proudly on the wall
We now have a cat tower
but the bag is STILL hanging there!

As Yvonne mentioned you will want to bring business cards, LOTS OF 'EM!

I have some left over from last year but this year, in addition to my business cards, I am excited to bring TRADING CARDS that I had made last week by Toki Poki!!  I couldn't be more pleased!! I am going to be doing a more extensive post about Toki Poki on May 28th, but wanted to give you a sneak peek now. Check these out!

Front of card

Back of card

Are these just too cute or what??? The entire card ordering/creation process was a breeze!

There is one HUGE part of BlogPaws 2011 that I have neglected to show you, I am hoping it will be a part of BlogPaws 2012....

Have I sold ya yet?

Have you registered for BlogPaws 2012? If not, I am honored to be one of BlogPaws's "Paws On Patrol" team...I am part of a great group of people whose purpose is to help everyone who will be attending BlogPaws 2012. Have a question? Message me on Facebook or via my email cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com, if I don't know the answer, rest assured I will find SOMEONE who DOES! You can also direct any questions to BlogPaws on their Facebook page.

Want a 20% discount on your registration? Just enter this code BlogPaws2012-POPs-Caren
at checkout!!

"Newbie" to BlogPaws? Have you joined our Newbie Group in the BlogPaws Community? We are going to have a little "meet and greet" for newbies (and any "oldies" that want to attend, and there are some "oldies" oh ok, let's call them VETERANS, who will be meeting with us and offering their  expertise/advice), probably before breakfast on Friday June 22nd. (For anyone coming in Wednesday night, I will be there and would love to meet you then if you are available!)

This may be my second BlogPaws conference, but last year I had to leave a day early due to Hurricane Irene, so in many ways this year I STILL feel like a newbie! Rest assured those newbie jitters will pass the second you enter the warm and loving cocoon of all who make BlogPaws the  DYNAMO that they are, they are the  "online community site for pet bloggers, pet enthusiasts, pet people on Twitter and Facebook and brands eager to tap into a growing, vibrant, vocal community of serious writers, bloggers, tweeters....."

In other words...ALL OF YOU!!


Can't wait to meet you, learn with you, laugh with you and hug you!!


Now...I gotta run....have to start PACKING!!!