For Real: 5 Straight-Up 'Unprofessional' Reasons to Attend #BlogPaws With Me!

2016 AAA Five-Diamond Kai Restaurant Terrace, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa | 2016 BlogPaws Destination

I bought my early bird-rate*, full blogger pass to the 2016 BlogPaws conference in Phoenix, AZ a year in advance (like right after I got home from the 2015 conference in Nashville). Because I'm a bargain hunter. And folks - for all the resort-quality food that was coming with that (practically free), three-day pass (plus maybe a bonus ice cream social the Wednesday evening before, and a red-carpet, sit-down awards affair the last night) - even if I fell in a sinkhole and temporarily lost the ability to type another blog post - there was no way I was letting that deal pass me by. I just love to eat food someone else prepared (and will clean up) too dang much!

Don't think I only go to BlogPaws for the food, though. Nope, I go for the important, professional reasons most other people do: networking (a fancy word for talking to like-minded, pet people); learning about things that can help me get ahead in my pet-centric career endeavors; and getting in front of brand people who might want to pay me some day (for my influence, or writing, because I've worked my tail off to get this far and getting paid is a necessity in life), among other things.

But I'm here today to tell you: there's more. I don't go for purely professional reasons; I go for all these rave-worthy UN-professional ones, too!

I took this photo from inside my poolside cabana at the 2014 BlogPaws in Las Vegas.

1. People (and their pets)-watching.

Introverts will truly appreciate this...No matter where you are in the main conference venue, if you take a seat for a little "me" time (there will be plenty of seats to take; it's a hotel lobby and conference center), you'll spy all sorts of people and their pets. Just like at the mall, or airport, but with a heaping side of critters! It's a sight that I can't even justify with my words. You just have to experience it to appreciate it!

Pausing to simply "watch" is also a great way to get one's bearings after just arriving at the conference. Without a doubt, you'll notice people congregating in areas; that's a sure sign that something important is going on! When your "me" time is over, you'll definitely want to head that way and investigate. You might even get to meet a pet industry celebrity!

Oh, yes it is. Instagram sensation, Priscilla pig (@prissy_pig) with 599k followers, at BlogPaws 2015.

2. Pet-industry celebrity sightings.

Ever watched the old Animal Planet Dogs and Cats 101 shows? They were popular in the network's line-up about five years ago. Here are the Animal Planet synopses.

Anyway, each show featured a panel of pet experts who would introduce and describe particular breeds of dogs and cats. I - along with most every human in my house - have seen every episode. Some episodes (Cardigan Welsh Corgi) I've viewed an obscene number of times (and I'd do it again). Well, one of the show's regular expert panelists was nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and radio host, as well as Chicago Tribune blogger, Steve Dale.

Steve Dale and his pooches via Dogster

Steve Dale was at my 2nd BlogPaws (2013), while the show was still etched in my mind. I will never forget (though I'm sure he has) catching a glimpse of him walking toward me in the hotel corridor, alone. I didn't know what I was going to say, but even if it caused me to hyperventilate and pass out, I was going to say something! Five seconds later...cue me, in my teenage fangirl voice, "Are you Steve Dale?!" knowing full well he was. Taken aback by my exuberance, I think, he smiled and said...yes? Did he say yes? Oh, crud, I don't know what he said, OK, but it was epic! Do you know I went home and bragged to my whole family that I talked to the man on Dogs and Cats 101? That I still brag about it to this day?!

My point is, you never know who you'll see at BlogPaws! But I'm telling you, there will be pet industry celebrities there (including some who are pets themselves)! Oh, and Steve Dale is SPEAKING this year! (I'll just be the one hiding her splotchy red face in the corner.☺)

Donkey shirt at BlogPaws? You bet your @ss!

3. Getting to flaunt every pet-related item of clothing and/or accessories you own.

In layperson's terms: You get to let your crazy pet lady (or dude) flag fly! Oh my gosh, y'all! I loooooove getting to wear my "Ask Me About My Cats" t-shirt, corgi ring and earrings, cat necklace, cat print boots and shoes, and carry both my personalized Dewi and Jon Farleigh needle-felted bags from Etsy! I could go on! Yes, I love getting to display my inner self on the outside almost as much as hunting for more pet-themed adornments to pack for the next BlogPaws! (Guess who just scored a screaming deal on an animal print dress for the Nose-to-Nose awards in Phoenix? ME! Aagh!)

But don't worry, if your wardrobe is light on pets, you'll get a fabulous, free BlogPaws conference t-shirt (last year it had dogs and cats on it) at registration, and you might even get to fashion yourself a pair of cat ears or glasses in the Cat Style Lounge! Yay!

4. That euphoric, out-of-body, stupefying, and otherwise indescribable feeling you get when you meet a close online friend in person for the first time.

Laurie was my blogging idol!

Some of you know what I mean! Do you have any friends you've only seen in a 2x2 profile photo, or in a rare blog or Facebook/Instagram post, but you talk to them online nearly every day? And have been for as long as you can remember? (In this digital age, there has to be someone!) Got any idea what it feels like to finally get in front of them and hear them speak?

OMG! Like your mind flew straight out your ear and is floating about two feet above your head looking down, that's what! Like your brain is seeing them speak, but it can't reconcile their face to their voice. It's nuts! And it's happened to me at all four BlogPaws conferences! (And you can bet I'm already making a list of people to find and speak to this year!)

How I spent my "me" time at BlogPaws 2014 (The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa)

5. IT'S A VACATION!

Some people like to use the term "working vacation" to cover themselves when they're having too much fun doing "work" at a place where most people go to have a vacation. I guess I'm OK with that. But what if even the work feels like a vacation? Let me think...It's a vacation! Have you ever taken three kids to Disney World in August? Never mind. My point is, yes, BlogPaws is fast-paced, it's busy, there's a lot to absorb, you might get outside your comfort zone a bit...but it's so. much. FUN! The hotel is pampering (especially when it's a resort hotel like this year), you're surrounded by dogs and cats, and people you feel like you've known your whole life, there's a ton of food (in case you forgot), entertainment, built-in night-on-the-town (or by the pool with a waterslide) time, TWO happy hours, a red carpet awards affair, free stuff galore to take home to your pets, and memories that might last you a lifetime.

Though, I can't guarantee - while you're having all that fun - you won't end up opening a career door or two, like I did.☺ (But who cares - don't let anybody tell you it's not a vacation! It is! A vacation with career benefits. OK, I'll be quiet now.)

AAA, today announced their list of 2016 award winners. The resort as a whole was awarded their prestigious Four-Diamond...
Posted by Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa on Monday, December 14, 2015

* The early-bird rate has expired, but even the regular rate is a huge deal, y'all! Have you ever been on, or heard someone else brag about, the food on a cruise ship? How it's so plentiful? Well, this is what I'm talking about. BlogPaws is like a pet person's conference cruise on land! And I've been on a cruise, so I should know! Wait! I didn't even mention the conference venue - Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa! It's in a desert oasis! Check it out!



But wait! Use my discount code and get 10% off the already reasonable, regular blogger rate (and by blogger, they mean conference cruise passengers. OK, not really, but don't let the word "blogger" hold you back; its umbrella covers lots of people).

* 2016 DISCOUNT CODE EXPIRED *

** Are you going? Yay! Now remember - after you go to BlogPaws in Phoenix this June - to snatch up that BlogPaws 2017 early-bird rate as soon as you get home!

Q. What's Chicken Soup for the Soul? A. Every Pet Ever #MyPetIsMyHero

Get good pictures, they said. Show the pet actually eating the food, they said.
Well, this is Maddox and he ate the food (beef stew), OK? He ate it all before I could get the shot.
As far as I'm concerned, the cat food review portion of this blog post is finished.
I mean, what more could I say that Maddox's tongue hasn't already?
Fine. I'll say a few more things about the food. And then I'm changing the subject to hero pets. Don't go anywhere.

Almost five years ago to this day, on a snowy January evening, with two bright eyed and bushy tailed (literally) barely one-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and a blog that was less than a month old, I sat down at my desk and wrote a blog post titled "Chicken Soup for the Dog Mom's Soul." It was a recipe for the pot of homemade chicken soup I'd made for the humans' dinner that night. (Yes, a recipe. I predicted it would be my last, and I was right. But that's not the point.) What all five of the people who read the post didn't know was that the title was no accident. (And, frankly, it had nothing to do with the popular book series.) I used that title because I'd just fed the dogs a dish each of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul (the name has been simplified since then to Chicken Soup for the Soul® Brand Pet Food) and I was so pleased with myself (for feeding them a food that felt good to MY soul), that I wanted to pay the feeling forward.

They ate like this at every meal from puppies. I have no idea why, nor do I remember when they decided it was easier to stand. 

I think you'll agree: there's almost no better feeling in the world than (after doing tons of research on a million different pet foods, and finding one that doesn't break the budget) feeding one's pet a natural, USA-made wholesome food (with ingredients that sound delicious enough for a human to eat, like real meats, fruits, vegetables and herbs) that they love as much as they thrive on.

What I REALLY wanted to say - those five years ago - was that I'd finally found a dog food that was on par with how crazy I was about my precious dogs. (I didn't want to start a pet food debate, though, so I settled for a chicken soup recipe. The difference now is that I have five years of experience and well, this isn't a debate blog any more than it is a recipe blog.☺)

I should also mention that about a year after I started feeding Chicken Soup food to the dogs, I put all the cats on it too. Though for the last couple years, all my pets have been on a rotation diet, Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food is still very much a part of it, and I can't wait to try the brand new grain free varieties (for both dogs and cats)! (Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post, where I talk about the new grain-free and limited ingredient varieties a bit more.)

Now, for all those Hero Pets...

I need to tell you I had a bit of trouble at first with this portion of the exercise (telling you about the Chicken Soup for the Soul "Show Us Your Hero" (pet) contest that could land you a spot on the brand's Hidden Heroes show during the CBS Saturday morning lineup, or in an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book). It was the definition of "hero" (a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. dictionary.com) that tripped me up. According to that definition, only a select few pets - who found themselves in (usually) extreme situations, requiring animal heroics - would qualify as heroes. But, even more fundamentally, we're talking pets, not people. How does one define heroics when it comes to companion animals (who lack the ability to choose)?

Then I looked at the definition of "pet" (any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately. dictionary.com).

And there it was. A PET is an animal kept as a companion (vs. captive) and "cared for affectionately." Cared for affectionately - by humans. Affectionately. Now, knowing that we humans don't typically go around caring affectionately for just anyone, what does that tell you about pets? (Think hard. Not a trick question.)

OK, time's up. IT TELLS YOU (and me) THAT PETS ARE FLIPPING AWESOME! ALL OF THEM!

And you know what? Who cares about the human definition for "hero," ALL pets are heroes, because they don't know anything but awesomeness! They don't choose to be, they just are!

So, what's YOUR hero pet's unique story (remember, every moment matters)? What makes you want to care for him or her affectionately?

Tell (or show in a video) it to Chicken Soup for the Soul (and/or in comments, if you feel like it; we all LOVE a pet hero story)!

Is your pet your hero? Share your story or video with us and you and your furry pal could be on Chicken Soup for the Soul's @cbshiddenheroes! Get the link in our profile for all the details! #MyPetIsMyHero #pets #petsofinstagram #chickensouppets

A photo posted by Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet (@chickensouppets) on Jan 12, 2016 at 11:20am PST

For the latest news, deals and of course, Chicken Soup for the Soul-warming pet stories, follow the brand on social media:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Want your hero pet to try Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food? Find the nearest store here. Also available at major online retailers.

Want a chicken soup recipe? ☺

Bonus! Check out all these canine service animal heroes, whose humans posted their photos to my Facebook page!

The perfect Cardigan lady pictured here (attending to her little human friend) is Princess Voodoo Estrella Birdsong, but...
Posted by The Chronicles of Cardigan on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Included is 10-year-old Oreo the Cardigan Welsh Corgi (pictured below), whose human mom and dad, Beth and Bill Cole, take him to help local fourth graders (he's a "Ruff Reader") with HABIT (Human Animal Bond in Tennessee), an outreach program of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. According to Ruth Sapp, the coordinator of the program where he volunteers, Oreo "made his first therapy visit on 4/21/2011 at Halls Elementary School in Knoxville, TN."

The kicker? Oreo, who suffers from PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), is blind! The first blind dog to serve in the program. Now if that isn't a testament to the awesomeness of pets, I don't know what is! (And, might I add, a testament to the awesomeness of Oreo's human mom and dad!)

Oreo, a hero to fourth graders in Knoxville, TN!

Psst! You still here? Cool! Maddox has another face for you...

He reeeeeealy likes the stuff, OK?! The goober makes me LAUGH! (Another hero!)☺

Resolve to read something fun this year, and by fun, I mean 'House Trained' by J. Bouchard

You can trust me and go get your copy to read right now, or you can read this post first. Your choice. But if you choose the latter, DO NOT let me hear you complain. 

Though it might seem like it from the title alone, House Trained by Jackie Bouchard is not a step-by-step guide to house training one's pet. It is a lighthearted, witty and engaging romp, with distinct labradoodle overtones. I plowed through it in two late night sittings, but I'm thinking some people could do it in one. 

I would totally send you my copy to read, except the author (all three of whose novels I have plowed through with escapist expectancy) gifted it to me with her autograph and I couldn't bear to let it go. Note: No one *ahem, the author* asked me to write this review (though, she might have tried to send me telepathic thoughts; I can't be sure). I consider this a public service announcement to those who could use a little diversion from their own complicated existences.

Now that all that's settled, you can procure your own copy (in paperback or ebook) here (my affiliate Amazon link. I might get a penny to put in the fountain, considering the book is already priced at a steal).

Dear Reader, there is a reason I don't write many book reviews.

Because they suck, OK?! (Don't worry, I'll get back to the juicy House Trained details in a minute; I just need to unload this secret shame I've been harboring.) The truth is, I don't know how to write a proper book review. I hated the fork out of writing them in school, so I tried to quit. Not that I don't read book reviews (on Amazon and in blogs and stuff--though lately, I've pulled back from the former--because unless the book has crappy reviews across the board, it's all just so subjective. Plus, I don't want you to tell me the whole dang story before I even start, people! Where the heck was I before this tangent? Oh yeah * inserts closing parenthesis*), I mean, like I have the spare time to just read books based on their covers alone!

What I'm trying to say is: Why the heck would I write a book review--given the fact that I don't like to--unless I REALLY REALLY think y'all should read it? Especially - ESPECIALLY if you're still sitting here reading this! (Because if you are, that means I haven't repelled you with my dry humor yet, and JACKIE BOUCHARD--the author of House Trained--happens to use dry humor too! The difference is, she can write fun novels that people want to read, and I cannot! So why are you still here?) 

Wait!

At which point I feel remorse and actually tell you something about the book. 

Sorry. Here is a summary of the plot:

Crap, hold up! I forgot to mention I got all the way through a third of the book before I realized that I, in fact, had NOT read the book jacket summary - or any summary anywhere. I did NOT read the back cover, people. *insert the sound of a pin drop, followed by a sigh* Let me rephrase: Based on my knowledge of Bouchard's previous two novels, I dove into the third COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS to the plot (except that it had a dog in it and there might be some stuff about how dogs are like babies and vice versa). Imagine my surprise when I got to that first plot twist! OMG! Y'all, I haven't read a book without scrutinizing the summary since I was in primary school, and only went by the pictures! (I miss those days sometimes.) 

From the publisher:

"Alex Halstad, a childless-by-choice interior designer and dog mom, is a true perfectionist. But her orderly life turns chaotic when the teenage daughter her husband, Barry, never knew he had shows up on their doorstep...with a baby girl of her own in tow. While Alex’s dog enthusiastically welcomes the new arrivals, Alex struggles with the loss of her steady routine. She desperately needs peace and quiet to get her business back on track before Barry finds out she’s spent most of their savings. Meanwhile, the arrival of the girls stirs up old insecurities, and Alex can’t help but worry that Barry’s ex will make an entrance too. With her tidy life a distant memory, will Alex be able to learn from her dog the true meaning of love and acceptance?
From bestselling author Jackie Bouchard comes a humorous and heartwarming look at how life creates opportunities to love in surprising ways."

Did you read the summary? I hope so, because I'm not going to repeat it. I am, however, going to tell you a few things you need to remember before you start reading your own copy:

1. Alex, the main character, is a neat freak. She's an educated interior designer and a neat freak. Being a neat freak is freaking hard. How do I know? Because I used to be one. Before corgis. No, I still had a (normal-shedding) dog, a pile of cats and 3 kids, but, despite it, I was a miserable neat freak. The corgis forced me to accept that my house didn't need to look perfect for the visitor who might show up unannounced at any given moment (or even my own family). Dog hair on things is not equal to lead in paint or BPA in plastic. No one's gonna die, OK? OK. Just give Alex a freaking break (unless you're a neat freak, too, in which case, I have some corgi hair you can sprinkle around your house for sensitization therapy).
   
2. One of the main characters is a (first plot twist SPOILER alert, but only if you didn't read the summary) baby. A human baby, y'all. And SHE'S COOL! Imagine that! A dog book that also has a baby in it, and (gasp) they adore each other! It's like a breath of fresh air in dog-centric literature! (I mean, why does it always have to be dogs or babies? Weren't all us dog-loving people babies once?  Yeah, and the baby in this book might grow up to be a veterinarian, or discover the cure for dog cancer! So yeah, think about that, and let's all get along!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. There's a graphic scene where Alex makes egg salad from scratch while her husband watches. I hate egg salad. And by hate, I mean I can't stand the sight, smell or thought of it. If I was actually in the FBI (like my namesake Agent Elizabeth Keen of NBC's The Blacklist), I would totally spill all the government secrets if someone tried to force feed me egg salad. I can't remember why I'm telling you this....Oh! I'm telling you just in case you don't like egg salad either. So, if you don't, have a counteracting mental image prepared. The scene's graphic (as in Food Network-quality narrative), but it's relatively short, and early in the story. You probably won't even remember it by the end.☺

And that's it! You should run over to get your copy now! Fun this easy (and inexpensive - $2 on Kindle) should not be delayed!

Hope you enjoy reading House Trained as much as I did! 

Oh, what the frell...since the thing's that inexpensive, I should just GIVE A COPY AWAY!

Except that would be kind of chintzy for a giveaway, so let's give away a copy of ALL THREE OF JACKIE BOUCHARD'S NOVELS! I've read them all (remember?) and you should too!

One winner (in the U.S. or Canada) will receive one copy of all three titles:

House Trained
Rescue Me, Maybe
What the Dog Ate 

Enter through the Gleam giveaway gadget below! Good luck! I'll announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter the morning after the giveaway closes (11:59 p.m. EST 1/25/16).

Author Jackie Bouchard Trio of Novels Giveaway

Tell me: what's the title of the last book you read for fun? Spill it in comments!