Today we join our friends at the 2 Brown Dawgs blog for This ‘N That Thursday.
Courtesy of 2 Brown Dawgs Blog
“This ‘N That Thursday A little of this and a little of that and everything in between…
BlogPaws Disaster Response Network
Many of you may not be aware but BlogPaws along with Pet 360 and World Vets has teamed up to help pets in need when disaster strikes. It is a response team of bloggers who help spread the word of ways the animal loving community can assist pets when disaster strikes.
Typically the biggest need in such a disaster is cash, so BlogPaws is reaching out to their generous sponsors and asking for donations.
They’ve kindly made a button for bloggers to display on our pages, so readers, if they are so inclined, can donate. Donations will be accepted through May 28th and the collective donation will be announced once the money is ready for delivery.
If you’re not comfortable helping in this fashion, there are a number of other ways you can help, Flea being from Oklahoma has a number of links on her blog.
Bark For Your Park
While I was at BlogPaws I stopped by the PetSafe booth and they were incredibly awesome (more on that in a later post.) Tuesday I got an e-mail from Robin reminding me that their Bark for Your Park contest was still open until May 31st.
Have you ever dreamed of having a fabulous dog park in your town? Well PetSafe is giving you the chance. One lucky city will win a $100,000 dog park and four runners-up will receive $25,000.
Of course if you already have a fabulous dog park, you can always vote for mine. 😀
What’s my passion?
The whole weekend I was at BlogPaws I kept sitting in sessions and thinking, how do I define my blog in order to move it forward? Do I want to focus on dogs, healthy products, lessons I’ve learned? What? What do I want to do?
How can I possibly move this blog forward if I have no idea what I want to write about?
I turned to my mentor and dear friend Jodi Chick, who has coached and encouraged me through so much of my wishy-washy whining.
Her words of wisdom? “Follow your bliss. The niche is in there somewhere.”
(Note to self: do not engage in though provoking dialogue with Jodi, just before bed time.)
I did say they were words of wisdom didn’t I? I told her I was going to bed and hoped to dream my ‘bliss.’ Well I didn’t do a lot of dreaming, but I did do a lot of thinking. And then it came to me.
As a little girl I always wanted to be an entertainer. If I can entertain you with stories and antidotes and that brings a smile to your face, or a laugh to your lips, that makes me happy!
If I can give encouragement to someone who is struggling with a difficult dog, that’s amazing.
If I can share my love of dogs and maybe educate someone in the process, well winner, winner, chicken dinner!!
A little tweaking on the blog design, a change in the header and redefinition of the tag line and I’m off to the races!
Follow-Up Friday Blog Hop
Last week I introduced a new tradition on this blog and that is announcing my co-hostess for tomorrow’s blog hop. So without further ado, my co-hostess for tomorrow is Pup Fan from I Still Want More Puppies!
Oh and just because, here is Sampson when he was a little punkin.
See you tomorrow!
Just wanted to let you know I enjoy your blog!
You really do entertain and encourage your readers.
I think knowing your WHY? and the intention of your blog is so important! The speaker at the conference that I recently went to asked us three questions to help us get clear: What pisses you off? What breaks your heart? Who needs you the most? and Matthew Goldfarb, (copywriter) said “people give a shit about people who give a shit” -I loved that!! I can’t wait to see where all of this takes you 🙂 You definitely entertain me!
OMG Sampson . . .adorable ♥
How cute was he?!? Thanks, I will have to check those blogs!
You follow your bliss, Miss Jodi and Ma and I will be right here with you! We love visiting and reading your blog.
*Cairn cuddles*
Oz
Looking forward to FUF!
I think figuring out the why is the tough part for me too. What does my blog want to be when it grows up? I’m not sure yet. 🙂
Also, with regard to that photo of Sampson… SQUEE!
I for one (or for… whatever number we’re up to from the other comments!) find your blog very entertaining. I like to entertain too. I mainly just want my blog to be a place where folks can find a smile or have a laugh. Too much other depressing, heavy stuff out there in the world.
Cute cute little pumpkin pic!
Oh be still my heart – what a little cutie he was!!! (And still is, of course – cute, though not so little.)
I’ve been ruminating about my purpose as well after BlogPaws. (So AWEsome to meet you, btw, and thank you so much for finding me – you saved my BPs experience there.)
The lunch discussion we shared wasn’t what I had hoped it would be but it was thought-provoking towards this very question. I suspect there will be much navel-gazing in my future. Glad you have figured out your bliss. 🙂
How to move a blog Forward… WE know… when we need to move a blog…so we can read more… WE use the ↓ key. hehehee
OMD!!! What a cutie-patootie he was!! And now he’s even more adorable, even if he isn’t so little!
I love reading your posts, Jodi! You ARE very entertaining, and the wisdom / education you impart is priceless. I’m glad you’ve “found your bliss”! And I love your “Yankee” outspokenness — makes us two peas in a pod. 🙂
I have to finish cleaning the house first; but I hope to get a post written/published at some point today…a “TNT” post…So I better get moving. Thankfully, Ducky’s getting a bath and massage at daycare, and her big sisters are getting a full grooming job from their “Auntie Andrea” (who is also their main pet sitter), so I can get things done more easily. No dog juggling today.
“Follow your bliss.” I love that. I also love reading about Samson and Delilah because they are so different from my little pack of wimps. So continue to encourage them to do things that entertain your readers.:)
Sampson.
Why don’t I proofread and THEN publish?
So great to see the blogging community getting together to help out through the disaster.
Glad you’ve sorted out your “bliss”. We love your blog and this means it’ll continue forward – just perfect.
One of these fine days, I hope I’ll be able to make it over to BlogPaws. Wow, what a treat that would be.
I love and hate the conversations which keep me up all night, wheels spinning. But finding answers is always good. Thanks for the linking. Tulsa Humane Society posted, just this morning, that they need cat litter. They’ve been helping out in Moore, taking their supplies with them. I’m going to pick some up and drop it by later today. Little things make a big difference, I guess.
Good God, that Sampson picture is a killer. Your blog is always entertaining and inspiring, I hope you won’t change a thing.
Aww, that puppy pic of Sampson is so cute!! Glad you found your niche…I’m still kind of working on mine!
Great post Jodi. Good question “where do I want to go with this blog” I struggle with that myself. I love reading your blog and find it very entertaining. Keep up the good work 🙂
I too, am trying to figure out the direction of my blog. Lots of obstacles in my life right now but I am sure I’ll find my bliss someday. Love your blog–gives me pause to giggle and ponder–thank you!!
I just started reading your blog and love it! You say what you mean and don’t sugar coat it and that is what I like. Cute, cute picture of Sampson. Have a wonderful afternoon.
It was so great to meet you at BlogPaws! I felt like you were someone I’d been friends with forever! One thing I’ve realized with my blog is that it’s always evolving into something. It doesn’t stay static and fixed, which sucks right after I’ve had a really fantastic post! lol
You should e-mail Natalie about the pet blogger summit at PetSafe in October! It was so much fun!
So Jodi Chick was giving out free career advice and I missed it? She must have spoken to Honey, though, who has decided her bliss is sitting on my lap when I need to work. 🙂
Glad to know you feel you have a purpose moving forward. Julie is right that people sense the passion and respond to it.
Sampson was soooooo cute! There are so many things that are needed here that it is overwhelming. I don’t know if you read my answer to your comment about where to send food and treats but I left you a link with a lot of different addresses. Hope it helped in some way. Oh and by the way, I love reading your blog too!
Mom loved meeting you and Blogpaws she also knows it is dangerous thinking too much before bed but sometimes she wakes up with answers to her thought questions. Love the idea of sharing your cohost today so I can add it to my post for tomorrow, thanks!
Baby Sampson is too cute for words.
Thanks so much for participating in TNT! Yay the Linky worked this week. 🙂
Cutie-pie Sampson. Can’t wait to see the blog tweak, but I am glad that it won’t be too different from what you are doing now. 🙂
sounds like you got great info a the conference. I think it would be amazing to go
We love your blog and it would be great to meet you, maybe some day
urban hounds
Hi Jodi,
Thanks for sharing your feelings. Love pumpkin’s (Sampson) baby photo! 🙂