We Wish we Will, we Wish we Might, oh Dear BlogPaws Judges, let it be our Human Mom on a Flight Tonight. She Works so Hard, Day and Night, a Trip to Virginia Would be oh so Right!

When I entered this picture of Mia, Zoey, Zee, and Peanut looking out the window, I felt it had some sort of dreamy, magical feel to it, almost as if they were wishing upon a star for me that I might win a trip to BlogPaws. Turns out it was magical, because it was chosen as the first place winner for the BlogPaws Photo Caption Contest to win a trip to the 2011 conference that will be held on August 25 – 27 in Tysons Corner, VA. Read more

Click here to vote for Zee & Zoey in the category of “Best Designed Blog”

When I got the news a few days ago that Zee & Zoey’s blog – The Chronicle Connection – was chosen as one of four finalists for the category of “Best Designed Blog” for the Petties 2011 Awards, to say I was honored would be an understatement. I became quite emotional – not just for the honor and prestige of the nomination – but for what it stood for in my life and how far I’ve come as a person.

For you see, Zee and Zoey’s blog was the result of a very difficult time in my life – I had become a statistic and was laid off from a job that I thought I had complete security with in 2009. I had the kernel of an idea for a book in my mind to write at that time, but kind of put it off as “one of those wish-list things I will get to one day.” The idea for the book was basically to be about my cats, primarily Zee, my lovable male Maine Coon, and Zoey, my free-spirited female Bengal and the relationship they had with one another, as well as with me. Well, it turns out that these cats were far wiser than me and during a very dark phase of my unemployment, they taught me how to reexamine how I perceived my world and to look for life’s little silver lining moments, despite how overwhelming and hopeless it all seemed…. In essence, to embrace the ordinary in my life like they did, rather than wallow in depression and self-pity and dare to make it extraordinary, as only a cat can. Read more

Left to Right – Zoey, Harley, and Mia – all snuggled up and getting ready for a day of relaxing and napping.

I have to say – it does not appear that three is a crowd at all to these purr-fectly content feline roommates!

P.S. I know it’s Wordless Wednesday, but we just found out last night that we are a finalist in the Petties 2011 Awards for the category of “Best Designed Blog.” If you would like to vote for us, we would really appreciate it! Click here for all the details. Best of all, if we win, $1000.00 is donated to a pet rescue organization of our choice!

Mia is all curled up in a ball on a chair that sits next to my desk chair. It is covered in a sunflower patterned blanket and serves no purpose whatsoever, other than to allow Mia to nap next to me!

Dan and I have recently been renovating my office so that I now have a cozy space that is a beautiful concoction of gorgeous jewel tones in royal blues, hunter greens, blazing golden hues, and rich burgundies.True to my creative nature, I have taken a plethora of colors and themes that one might not traditionally think would compliment one another and created my own eclectic world that is purr-fectly suited to my unique tastes and personality. I have combined the warmth and beauty of sunflowers (I originally came from Upstate New York where these stunning flowers grew along side the road in a glorious infusion of color and I remain in love with their carefree, yet proud stature) with the wild and untamed pattern of leopard print accessories that is my calling card and trademark. The results – a room so rich, warm, inviting, and cozy, that you immediately feel a wonderful calm and happiness when you enter the room. I guess you would call it “Sunflower Safari” for a lack of a better style description! Read more