{"id":14495,"date":"2015-05-16T00:10:41","date_gmt":"2015-05-16T04:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=14495"},"modified":"2015-05-16T16:08:30","modified_gmt":"2015-05-16T20:08:30","slug":"cat-ears-and-all-the-blogpaws-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/cat-ears-and-all-the-blogpaws-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Ears and All – The BlogPaws Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Click image to be taken to BlogPaws registration page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Yes \u2013 there\u2019s the informative seminars from intermediate to advanced levels on just about any topic you can imagine to strengthen and improve your blogging presence and skills; there\u2019s the sponsors and networking opportunities with some of the biggest names in the pet industry; and there\u2019s the incredibly talented and motivational keynote speakers that will leave you feeling empowered and invigorated. There\u2019s all that at a BlogPaws Conference – but there\u2019s so much more \u2013 the intrinsic\u00a0value of going to a BlogPaws Conference that you just can\u2019t put a price tag on.<\/p>\n

With the annual BlogPaws Conference less than two weeks away, I\u2019m beside myself excited to be attending and it\u2019s hard to put into words all the reasons\u00a0why. Part of it is for the\u00a0above reasons, but for me, the implications of attending are far greater, extending to a very personal and special meaning. I’ve been attending BlogPaws since 2011 but last year, due to\u00a0financial circumstances, I was unable to go. I was happy for all my friends and colleagues that got to attend, but I felt a tiny hole in my heart as I \u201cwatched\u201d the events from the social sidelines of Facebook.<\/p>\n

The year before that, I was able to go, but my state\u00a0of mind was extremely fragile and it was hard for me to fully commit myself emotionally \u2013 this was the time frame when my beloved Mr. Jazz was starting his downhill decline health wise and I knew my days with him would be numbered. I was blessed with 3 months with him after the conference and his death was the impetus to my second book, Purr Prints of the Heart \u2013 A Cat\u2019s Tale of Life Death, and Beyond. <\/em>That’s why this year is so\u00a0particularly\u00a0poignant, as\u00a0\u00a0nearly two years later, I will be unveiling the book for the first time in a physical sense \u2013 and even more touching \u2013 so many of the people that endorsed the book will also be there, such as Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat<\/a>; Caren Gittleman of Cat Chat With Caren and Cody<\/a>; \u00a0Amy Shojai<\/a>, CABC, author and a founder of the Cat Writers\u2019 Association; Layla Morgan-Wilde, of Cat Wisdom 101<\/a>; Christine Michaels, founder of Pawsitively Humane<\/a>; and Joanne McGonagle of The Tiniest Tiger<\/a>; along with\u00a0Steve Dale<\/a>, CABC, syndicated radio host, and syndicated newspaper columnist who wrote the Foreword.<\/p>\n

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How fitting for me – Ingrid King and Caren Gittleman both contributed endorsements for my first book, The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, and they have both contributed to Purr Prints. Of even more significance, Ingrid will tell you that I am the only one she has ever bestowed with the honor of donning cat ears for! Meow!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sweet Pixel is seen sporting a leopard harness that she got as a tribute to our friendship!! Aww! Heart melt…<\/p><\/div>\n

I can’t wait to thank them all in person, but I am sad to say someone who I really wanted to thank in person that played a significant role in my Jazz story, Jenny Lewis of the blog Pixel Blue Eyes – Her Tail of Adventure<\/em>, won’t be there. Jenny was my guardian angel that was sent to me in my time of need and vice versa. She and I had never met before and we\u00a0had no idea who\u00a0one another\u00a0was – me a bona fide cat blogger and she a bona fide dog blogger. But fate knew better. Jenny found herself with an unexpected off-site meeting that did not allow dogs \u00a0and I was in the throes of a deep depression worrying about \u00a0Jazz. I overheard her predicament and volunteered to take care of Pixel while she attended her meeting. It was a Godsend for both of us – she got to attend her meeting in peace and I was calmed down by being able to hug and pet Pixel for a couple of hours. Jenny and I have been friends ever since and she has a heart of gold. Unfortunately, Pixel is not in the best of health so she can’t come this year- please click here<\/a> to read Pixel’s\u00a0story. I’m sure Jenny\u00a0would appreciate some support, and that to me is also what BlogPaws is about – a loving group of people who care about one another. Those bonds run deep and the friendships are never forgotten.<\/p>\n

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Pixel and I bonding in 2013. She did have a leash but preferred me carrying her around!<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of that\u00a0–\u00a0hanging out with old friends, meeting new ones, and the overall camaraderie that pervades the\u00a0conference is euphoric. It’s incredible to be around so many like-minded people who you care so much about. Not to mention the cats, and the dogs, and the ferrets, and the cats in strollers, and the dogs in costumes\u00a0and so much more! And there is also a special cat lounge just for us kitty connoisseurs\u00a0and there will be a table devoted to the Cat Writers Association! For someone like me who misses her cats like crazy when she travels, having all of this kitty love and friendship around me makes it so much easier.<\/p>\n

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Tamar Arslanian of I Have Cat holding Triscuit the foster kitten from Random Felines at BlogPaws 2013 – one of the many kitties I was able to hold to get my “kitty fix.”<\/p><\/div>\n

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Karen Nichols of Mousebreath – we clicked right away as you can well imagine… we both travel with all kinds of fun cat accessories!<\/p><\/div>\n

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One of my favorite parts of BlogPaws is catching up with Teri Thorsteinson of Curlz and Swirlz. She is a BlogPaws ambassador this year and is always so kind, helpful, and friendly. Plus, she always brings one of her Cornish Rex kitties with her!<\/p><\/div>\n

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I did mention there will be a cat lounge… right? So many great cat products to look at and so much great swag to bring home!<\/p><\/div>\n

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It’s not just about the cats… BlogPaws has so many great dogs that come to the conference too! I loved meeting Snoopy back in 2012 in Salt Lake City. What a sweetheart!<\/p><\/div>\n

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And of course, who could forget Carma Poodale? She and her human, Bunny Allen are some of my favorite beings in this world and I can’t wait to see them again this year!<\/p><\/div>\n

And then there\u2019s the wonderful news that Zee and Zoey\u2019s blog has been nominated for “Best Cat Blog” for the Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging and Social Media Awards\u00a0<\/em>that will be held Saturday night. I truly don\u2019t expect a win \u2013 the talent of the competition is through the roof \u2013 but to be a part of the event \u2013 oh my goodness!!! I am so excited and can\u2019t wait to proudly walk down that red carpet with all of my fellow bloggers. Not to mention, how cool is it to be pampered like a celebrity, surrounded by paparazzi, walking down a red carpet while dressed to the nines?<\/p>\n

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An explosion of leopard – how a leopard loving cat lady packs for a BlogPaws conference!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Christine Michaels of Riverfront Cats and I walking the red carpet at BlogPaws 2013. Win or lose, having Christine as a friend is the best award I could ever get. Christine will be rooming with me this year and she is also up for an award for Best Use of Social Media by a 501(c)3.<\/p><\/div>\n

For someone like me, getting to unleash my inner leopard lady to full, high-style, cat-ear wearing\u00a0extremes – well, it doesn’t get much better than that! Then there is always the challenge for me \u2013 who will be my newest victim in my quest of taking pictures of someone with me wearing a pair of my cat ears? I love the whole concept \u2013 it helps break the ice for conversation and has kind of become a \u201cthing.\u201d My crowning moments are those that involve shy guys who say they don\u2019t want a picture taken but really do. We already know this, REAL MEN DO LOVE CATS and real mean really do love having their picture taken while wearing cat ears with ladies in leopard print. It’s truly that simple.<\/p>\n

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Good sport number one – Terry Frum of Brian’s Home looks quite dapper wearing a pair of cat ears!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Dino Dogan of Triberr – one of my cat ears crowning moments of glory! Who will be next? Any suggestions as to who you would like to see wearing a pair of my cat ears?<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hmmm… Now there’s someone I would like to see cat ears on! None other than my great friend and mentor, Mr. Steve Dale! This was him with Christine and I at BlogPaws 2012.<\/p><\/div>\n

Whew\u2026 I\u2019m getting all wound up just thinking about it all! And it\u2019s still not too late \u2013 if you were considering going, click here<\/a> for registration information. And keep in mind, the conference is not just valuable for bloggers \u2013 maybe you are in a rescue organization and want to learn more about social media to grow your presence, or maybe you are an aspiring author who wants to learn how to blog to grow your audience. I will be part of a fantastic panel on Thursday in conjunction with the Cat Writers\u2019 Association<\/a>\u00a0along with talented cohorts, Layla Morgan Wilde of Cat Wisdom 101<\/a>; Alana Grelyak of the\u00a0CatInTheFridge<\/a>, and Janiss Garza of Sparkle Cat<\/a>, entitled \u201cBridging the Gap Between Bloggers and Journalism.” It’s going to be a great discussion and we are hoping for lots of questions from the audience.<\/p>\n

If you are thinking of\u00a0going, please be sure to use my speaker discount code,\u00a0CODE BP15-Speaker-10off<\/strong>\u00a0 to receive 10% your registration. Can’t wait to see everyone and just a quick question, if you ever have gone to a BlogPaws, what did the experience mean to you?<\/p>\n

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BlogPaws is all about the pets and the people… but don’t get me started about the flat pets. This was flat pet Zee and Zoey spending some alone time in my hotel room while I was attending a seminar… It looks innocent enough, being that they are both spayed and neutered… but still…<\/p><\/div>\n

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To read the latest on Purr Prints of the Heart<\/em>, please check out this great review here <\/a>by Christine Michaels of Riverfront Cats\/Pawsitively Humane who gives her perspective as a guardian to a couple of senior pets.<\/p>\n