A Chance To Adopt: Biggest Cat Expo Comes to New Jersey This Weekend

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love animals. I’m dedicated to using my voice to stop animal abuse, putting a stop to kill shelters, and using social media to help shelter animals find loving homes.

So when my brother forwarded me an article from Patch.com about “America's Biggest Cat Expo Comes To Somerset County”I knew I had to spread the word. Quickly.

On Saturday and Sunday, July 19 – 20 from 10am – 4pm, The Garden State Cat Club of New Jersey, Inc. will be holding their 78^th Annual Cat Expo-Show at The Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J. This event is a major fundraiser for the non-profit club, with proceeds from the show going to New Jersey animal shelters, disaster relief efforts and feline health studies. To date, the club has donated over $64,000 to relief and shelters, and cats have benefitted from hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations to various health organizations such as Feline Health Studies and Winn Feline Foundation.

What matters most to me about this expo is there will be over 100 cats from local shelters and rescue groups on-site from 5 counties, with organizations such as Second Chance for Animals (Somerset), Hope for Animals (Metuchen), Lost Paws (Annandale), Angel Paws (Colonia), among others.

Applications for adoption will be made available at the event, and once families are approved the cat will be delivered to their home.

Here are a few other events taking place at the expo:

A highlight of the shelter adoptions will be a “Shelter Stars” competition where shelter cats compete for rosettes that are awarded in categories such as “Longest Tail” and “Biggest Couch Potato.” At the awards presentation, the public will hear the rescue story of each winner, and learn about the activities of the rescue group caring for the cat. A People’s Choice Award is presented to the kitty receiving the most ballots from the visitors to the show.
There will be a variety of seminars and special presentations including, “How to Select a Pet Sitter,” “Feline Grooming,” “Traveling with your Cat.”
There will be a chance to “Ask the Vet” questions.
The Meow Mall will showcase unusual cat products as well as offer a large selection of cat trees, toys, grooming supplies, litter, food, and cat-themed gifts.

If you live in the area I hope you can stop by to support this wonderful cause. If not, perhaps you can share this post with others to help spread the word. The kitties all thank you!

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children under 12. Children in strollers are admitted free of charge. There is a family rate of $25, with a coupon from www.gardenstatecatclub.com, which includes up to four people and a maximum of two adults. Donations are tax deductible.

The Garden State Exhibit Center is located in Somerset, N.J., at exit 10 off of I-287. For more information, call (908) 276-9423 or check the club’s website www.gardenstatecatclub.com for the latest information and discount coupons.

About Garden State Cat Club

Organized in 1936, Garden State Cat Club (GSCC) is the third oldest cat club affiliated with Cat Fancier's Association (CFA). The objectives are: to promote the welfare of all cats; to create interest in, and knowledge of cats by the staging of shows, seminars, educational presentations and interaction with the public and other organizations having similar objectives; to cooperate with and provide financial support to feline research and welfare facilities; to encourage proper care and responsible ownership of all cats; and to encourage and cultivate friendships through social and cat show-related activities.

GSCC contributes to animal welfare and feline health organizations as funds permit. The club also monitors legislative issues that may impact pet ownership and the breeding of pedigreed cats. To learn more about GSCC membership, visit the membership page.

The Garden State Cat Club of New Jersey is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of all cats. Your donation is tax-deductible as defined by IRS.

Finding A Balance Between Work And Play (Or How I'm Getting My Groove Back)

This was an unusual week for me. Not because there wasn’t a snowstorm, or because I finally found time to go shoe shopping.

It was unusual because I went out to dinner three times.

When I was in my twenties and working in New York City, my friends and I would think nothing of dining out every night. We were young, and the world was our oyster. Needless to say my bank account suffered from all of those pearls.

But that’s another story.

These days, my life is a busy one, filled with countless hours of work and the heavy demands of my personal life.

I’m not complaining because I love what I do, but sometimes my social life suffers. That bothers me a lot.

So I’ve decided to take better care of my social needs by finding time to engage in the world outside of social media.

Yes, there are people who also exist outside of my laptop. I vaguely remember that.

I love spending quality time with friends, family and colleagues. I find true value in maintaining an equal balance between the deeply satisfying work I do and having an active and vibrant social life.

It’s something I’ve been missing for awhile, and it’s time to get back into the game.

This week, I went out one night with my nephew and son while they’re on spring break. Another was dinner with a dear friend I haven’t seen in a year, and another was a lovely romantic dinner with my husband.

Dinners from around the world - Mexican, Thai and Vietnamese -filled my stomach and my heart.

But wait! I’ve been writing about being on the Jenny Craig program, so how could I enjoy three dinners out?

It was simple. I was careful with my portion sizes, filled my plate with more vegetables than protein, and drank a lot of water.

I also planned ahead by time by stepping up my exercise routine. My new Fitbit was a big help by forcing me to increase the number of steps I took each day. That way, if I ate too many tortilla chips, a couple of vegetable spring rolls or drank a delicious glass (or two) of Spatlese, the total amount of steps I took would work in my favor.

When Judgment Day came, and I stepped onto the always-dreaded scale, I found out my game plan worked.

I was down another pound.

It feels good to know I’m taking baby steps toward taking better care of not only my physical needs, but also my social ones.

We all need to think of ourselves as a whole person instead of difference pieces that make up the whole. We are born whole, and tending toward our health should always include taking care of our emotional and social needs, no matter how busy we are. We all deserve it.

How do you balance your work life with your personal one?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review. There was no compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

My Travel Journal: The Southwest And The Miracle That Happened To Me

Georgia O'Keefe - Black Hollyhock, Blue Larkspur (1930)

Dear Self,

As a little girl I used to keep a journal of all my thoughts and dreams. I haven't done that in years, and it occurred to me that now would be the perfect time to start a new journal after something miraculous happened to me.

How good it felt to leave my worries behind, waving good-bye to anxiety and stress and welcoming calmness back into my soul.

A miracle happened to me on this trip. My non-disabled body was returned for 4 glorious days while in Santa Fe. With no humidity, I was able to spend an entire day - AN ENTIRE DAY - fully awake and functioning without the need to nap. My legs and arms were never weak. I felt like I did 30 years ago.

It was phenomenal, and something I won't soon forget.

How sweet it was to start our journey by spending time with family in Scottsdale that I rarely see, and to renew relationships kept on hold while life continues to take us in different directions.

My journey continued to Santa Fe as I joyfully celebrated my silver wedding anniversary with Gary. It was a blessing. We spent quality time together in an area where art, architecture and landscape intersect to create a Mecca of beauty in a quaint, picturesque town.

It was thrilling to be here because this trip has always been on our l-o-n-g Bucket List.

I could breathe again and be myself. Wearing scarves, boots and turquoise, I fit right in with the rhythm of the creative culture.

The adobe buildings were captivating, housing unique galleries, museums, restaurants, shops and homes that colorfully dot the landscape.

Walking along the unique Canyon Road was bedazzling. As we took our time strolling along the area, we discovered that each adobe building housed new and creative artistic treasures of sculptures, jewelry and paintings.

The nature in Santa Fe reinvigorated me. We drove our rental car out of the city and into the narrow two-lane highway of High Road that brought us into the majestic mountains that offered breathtaking views at every turn.

Along the way we stopped at several charming galleries, and walked around El Santuario de Chimayó, a National Historic Landmark church that is famous for the 300,000 yearly visitors it receives in search of their holy healing dirt.

El Santuario de Chimayó Church built in 1816 is widely visited by those seeking wellness from its "holy dirt"

We fell in love with one gallery in particular because of the sweet nature of the artist/owners, their creative pieces of art, and the magnificent property they’ve owned for over thirty years.

I imagined myself sitting outside, listening to the wind chimes created by the owners, surrounded by the beauty of the mountains.

We could finally understand why Georgia O’Keefe moved from New York to Santa Fe after losing her husband, famed photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

To be alone with her art, and with the landscape she loved. Now it all made sense.

I loved the blending of Native American, Latino, White and Asian cultures who peacefully coexisted.

Lamb, chicken and pork on soft corn tortillas were delicious!

Guacamole topped with Serrano ham on top of homemade hearth bread

I loved the vibrant colors of the textiles, jewelry, clothing and artwork.

Sage Bakehouse, where we ate 3 mornings over 4 days in Santa Fe

Every meal was another adventure in delicious cuisine, whether it was authentic New Mexican or French food, or a small bakery (Sage Bakehouse) where using only organic, farm fresh ingredients is important to them. Their policy of providing leftover food to charities that feed the poor endeared them to me.

There was so much to explore, and we made a concerted effort to live fully in every moment, savoring each experience together while toasting to the next twenty-five wonderful years together.

With love and thanks,
A Grateful Girl

Meet Molly And Her Dog Joey: Support No Pet Store Puppies Day (VIDEO And Giveaway)

"This Sunday, July 21st is “No Pet Store Puppies Day,” the third year of our ASPCA campaign to fight puppy mills." ~ASPCA

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In honor of this Sunday's "No Pet Store Puppies Day", the ASPCA launched a new video called “Meet Molly” featuring young Molly, with her dog Joey, explaining how puppy mills are bad and why to avoid pet stores that sell puppies.

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The goal is to get this adorable video to go viral, thereby educating millions about the link between pet stores and puppy mills.

For more information on No Pet Store Puppies Day and the Meet Molly video, please visit http://pitch.pe/14NNHru.

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The ASPCA has offered to send readers a special No Pet Store Puppies gift pack as a giveaway.

Please share this video, and help educate consumers about this important issue.

If you live in the area I hope you can stop by to support this wonderful cause. If not, perhaps you can share this post with others to help spread the word. The kitties all thank you!

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