Pinterest a.k.a. My Latest Obsession

Do you know about Pinterest? If not, you should. Pinterest is a virtual (and visual) pinboard website and app that allows you to share photos, products, articles, and more with all of your friends. I could literally sit on the site for hours and once you get the hang of things, you'll probably feel the same way. The recipes alone look so delicious that you'll repin tons, even if you plan on never cooking them.

Here's the latest product that I pinned:


This limited-edition T-shirt from Hendrick Boards is available only until February 15th and reads: "BE THE PERSON YOUR DOG THINKS YOU ARE." With every purchase, a percentage is donated back to animal shelters, including Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue (the local dog rescue I work for). So, click that link and buy a tee!

Click here to follow me on Pinterest and find other cool things I obsess over.

All About Dino

This is Dino, my foster dog.

On the left is what he looked like when I first met him at the shelter and the right side is Dino today. He was a stray brought into the Brooklyn shelter system and was later rescued by Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, the organization for which I manage social media.

Dino has been living with my husband and I since about June and I have fallen madly in love with him. Our dog, Frenchy, isn't too fond of him though and so we're still looking for the perfect permanent home for Dino.

Here are 10 things about Dino that you won't find in his bio:

1. You can probably see this in his "after" pic; his right ear hangs back as if he's opening it up to hear you. (It's uber cute).
2. He destroys chew toys, but will be your best friend if you give him a bone or better yet- a cow's ear.
3. He gives endless kisses and loves belly rubs.
4. He actually lets you clean his ears without a problem (my Cocker fights this like you would not believe).
5. He enjoys running (and prancing), and would probably make a great running partner.
6. He wakes us in the morning with a big lick on the face. Warning: His tongue is cold!
7. He sits and gives paw and will even give you his other paw too, if you ask nicely.
8. He sleeps with his eyes half way open, snores a lot, and is startled when you wake him.
9. He is enamored by the squirrels, birds, and cats that he sees outside our bedroom window.
10. He actually hugs like a human with his paws around the neck and everything!


If you have a fenced in backyard and no cats or kids (a prerequisite determined by the rescue) and would like to give Dino a permanent loving home, please email rescue@nyabandonedangels.com to request an application. My husband and I will be extremely sad to see him leave our family, but we know he deserves a suburban backyard. We are secretly hoping that his new owners will send us updates and photographs. :-)

If you're looking to adopt a dog, please visit www.nyabandonedangels.com to view their selection of rescued dogs. They have Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Springer Spaniels, Jack Russell Terriers, and more. They are always looking for foster homes too and can arrange to transport a dog anywhere in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Please also give them a like on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to stay up to date with rescue news, etc. (Yes, I'm their Twitter gal). Please pass the info to anybody you know who is looking for a new pooch! Words cannot express how much Frenchy (adopted from Abandoned Angels in 2007) and Dino have both changed our lives. The love you will feel for a precious, homeless animal is bigger than you can ever imagine.

Crafty? Who, me?

The following post is admittedly not about my writing career; however, reading it will give you uber secret insights into my creative thinking as well as my OCD-like nature when it comes to attention to detail.

As some of my loyal readers know, I got married in 2009. While planning the event, I discovered that I had a crafty side. Who knew? It started with the Save the Date cards which I decided I had to make myself...


...and then the invitations which I was determined to screen-print myself, using a nifty Gocco I spontaneously bought on eBay...

Photo taken by Ryan Brenizer

...and then the ceremony programs, and oh yeah- those escort cards that I hand stamped in the middle of the night...

Photo taken by Ryan Brenizer

I also decided to design the dinner menus...

Photo taken by Ryan Brenizer

...and hellooo? I had to make the favors and the favor tags!

Photo taken by Ryan Brenizer

That said, I quite honestly never thought of myself as an "arts & crafts" person before. I mean, you should see me try to draw a fish. (I've been told that it looks like a worm with feathers). ...and my storyboards in film school were stick figures, ok? So, the sudden urge to craft and create things was a big surprise to everybody who knew me. And it was fun! Soon after my wedding, I began making wire wrapped button rings and Scrabble tile pendants! I started my own Etsy shop (which needs to be updated badly at the moment) and voila- a crafty woman I became!

A few months ago, I started making these flower pins:

They're hand sewn and made from recycled wool sweaters! I started sewing them into hair clips too.

...until one day, I had a brilliant idea to make them into accessories for dogs! Finally, I can put my love for dogs to good use. So, I created more and more...

...and I started selling them at rescue events as donations to Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue!


Here are a couple of rescued dogs modeling different kinds:

Yes, that pic above is my Cocker Spaniel. She doesn't know this yet, but she'll be my official model for new designs currently in the works. Don't worry, she'll get some tasty biscuits as payment for her time.

So, feel free to visit my Etsy shop called Goo City soon because I'll be adding these "Doggie Daisies" to my inventory. Plus, I started making bow ties for male dogs! WOOT! Stay tuned...

Public Relations and Me... Weeee!

Long time, no blogging! I've been incredibly busy volunteering for the local dog rescue that I so adore. NY Abandoned Angels Rescue hosted an amazing fundraising event on May 17th in midtown Manhattan and I was lucky enough to be on the event committee. Grammy award winner Roberta Flack sang for the crowd and NY1 Society Reporter George Whipple even came to cover the event. WOOT!

I put my press release writing skills to the test by writing one for the event. It got picked up by several media outlets including on Hamptons.com! Here's a copy of the release:

NY Abandoned Angels Rescue To Hold Cocktail Party Fundraising Event

Local Dog Rescue Hopes to Raise Money to Help Dogs In Need

New York City - Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue, Inc. dba NY Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR), a Queens-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of Cocker Spaniels and other breeds, will host their first annual cocktail party fundraising event on Tuesday, May 17th from 6-9pm at Sky Top Terrace in Manhattan.

The event will feature DJ Phoenix, a wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, vodka and tequila bars, and goodie bags. Attendees will also have the chance to meet several dogs that are currently available for both adoption and fostering. Corporate sponsors of the event include Sotheby's International Realty, TF Cornerstone, Winick Realty, MetLife Home Loans, Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin Dog Food, among others.

"Most of the dogs that we rescue are seniors or have medical problems and their chances of being adopted right out of the shelter are slim to say the least," said Dolores Rodrigues, founder, NY Abandoned Angels Rescue. "Our hope is that dog lovers from across the tri-state area will come to our fundraiser to support our rescue so that we can continue to save the countless other dogs that need our help."

A silent auction will also be held at the event with items donated by companies such as Chelsea Piers, Fresh Direct, Kiehl's, Madame Paulette, Mediabistro, Apple Seeds, The Salty Paw, The Institute of Culinary Education, Tribeca Grill, and more.

The event is scheduled to take place on the rooftop of 505 West 37th Street in Manhattan. Single tickets cost $100.00 and Junior tickets for individuals under the age of 25 are $75.00. Tickets may be purchased via PayPal on the rescue's website at www.nyabandonedangels.com, or by check mailed to NY Abandoned Angels Rescue, P.O. Box 545426, Flushing, NY 11354. Donations* in any amount will also be graciously accepted and appreciated. *All donations are tax-deductible.

About NY Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR)
NY Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the rescue and re-homing of Cocker Spaniels and other dog breeds in need of loving forever homes. NYARR will not reject any dog due to age or health reasons and often accepts dogs with temperament and/or medical issues. The rescue relies solely on donations whether through adoptions or the generosity of the public to help pay for the veterinary care of sick, physically disabled, and behaviorally challenged dogs. To date, NYAAR has rescued over 1,500 dogs.

WOOF- I heart doggies!

If you've taken one look at my photograph featured on this blog, you'll know that I'm a dog lover. The cute pooch next to me is our beautiful cocker spaniel named Frenchy. My husband and I found Frenchy on Petfinder.com through an amazing dog rescue organization in my area called Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc. They are dedicated to rescuing and re-homing cocker spaniels and other breeds, and let's face it- there are a ton of homeless dogs in kill shelters around the country who need groups like this one to save them.

Here's a great pic of our baby taken during our engagement shoot a couple of years ago:


Photo taken by: Ryan Brenizer Photography

Isn't she adorable? So, why am I telling you all of this? Well, in addition to my writing work-- I also have experience in social media. I've been racking my brain for a while now to figure out how I can make a difference, particularly with this dog rescue group that has given my husband and I so much joy.

And then it hit me! Social media! Why I hadn't though of this before, I'll never know. In any case, I am now managing Abandoned Angels' Twitter page and following! I'm proud to say that within one week, we gained almost 300 followers and boy, are they loyal retweeters! :-) If you love dogs as much as I do, please follow us here: @NYCockerRescue.

And without further ado...

Today, March 15th is Adopt the Internet Day on Petfinder! Go ahead, click on the ad... it won't bite.


More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as possible! Go to Petfinder and rescue, rescue, rescue! Then, spread the word via Twitter, Facebook or on your blog all about Adopt the Internet Day. That's today, people!

If you live in the tri-state area and are looking to adopt or foster a beautiful cocker spaniel, please visit Abandoned Angel Cocker Spaniel Rescue on Facebook and give them a "like" to see all of their pooches searching for loving forever homes. Even better, check out their selection of available dogs on their Petfinder page! If you see one you like, email rescue@nyabandonedangels.com to request an application. (Yes, they do adopt out of state occasionally).

Now, get out there and get your wag on! WOOF!