The Highlight Of My Year...Part I

It is hard to believe that another year has passed. Remember when you were a child and five minutes seemed to be an eternity? Now an entire year seems to have passed in only five minutes!

Overall 2012 was a good year, Cody and I are grateful that so many of you take the time to visit us and we thank you for your comments which always make us smile. We appreciate each and every one of you!

In 2011 the highlight of my year was attending The BlogPaws Conference which was held in Tysons Corner Virginia (where BlogPaws 2013 will be held!)

Click here to learn more

 The BlogPaws 2012 Conference which was held  in Salt Lake City, Utah, was supposed to be one of my main highlights of the  year, but due to my kidney stones clamoring for attention and forcing me to cancel my plans to attend the conference at the last second, it wasn't to be.

What WAS the highlight of 2012 was my having attended the "Meet Purina"  Blogger Summit that was held the first week of October in St. Louis. (For those that may not know, I am a member of the Purina Cat Blogger Panel, and I am also a member of the Purina Dog Blogger Panel). Why am I FINALLY writing about this fantastic experience  NOW? I told you! The year passed in five minutes and it seems as if I attended that event only last week!

Photo Courtesy of
“Nestlé Purina PetCare”

I knew that Meet Purina was going to be incredible from the moment the emails from Dan Koehler, (one of Purina's  Marketing and Public Relations aces) began. Every travel arrangement was made and paid for by Purina, the process flowed without a hitch!

When I landed in St.Louis, I was greeted by my own driver! I got the biggest kick out of seeing my name on a sign and being escorted to the ritzy Lincoln Town Car that would be my "ride."

I was then transported to the even more ritzy Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis where my accommodations were better than the condo that I live in!

My room. This photo doesn't
do it justice
There was a glass desk/table for a laptop
a coffee setup and flat screen TV

Everyone was raving
about the bathroom!
It was spectacular!
Check out the
rainwater shower!

The tub was sooo deep!
I am still upset that I
wasn't there long enough to use it.
YES I washed! In the shower!

I hurried to attend a rooftop "Meet & Greet" where one of the first people that I was FINALLY able to meet IN PERSON was Terry of Brian's Home. You know how we all only know each other by our cats? I constantly kept referring to Terry as "Brian." He responded graciously each time while my face turned scarlet with embarrassment!

8th floor of the Four Seasons
Outdoor reception
See the famous St.Louis Arch
in the background?

Terry (Brian's Home)
and one of Purina's
resident cats:
"Rocki"

The "Meet & Greet" was fabulous! I reconnected with some of my favorite people, Angie of Catladyland, Dorian of Your Daily Cute and I also FINALLY met the incredible Janiss, from Sparkle Cat!

Finally met from left to right:Jamie and Janiss
reconnected with Angie and Dorian!

Left to right: Dorian, Angie, Jaime, Janiss and Me!

I was thrilled to meet Jaime Lynn Smith  from Thoughts Fur Paws and spent a great deal of time chatting with her, actually Jaime and I became fast friends, we spent most of our time laughing and chatting together!

Jaime Lynn Smith and I
photo courtesy of Angie Bailey
and a few others were hers too I think!

I was also thrilled to re-connect with Tamar of I Have Cat, Stephanie of Catsparella, Felissa of Two Little Cavaliers, Paris of Cat Tipper and Dog Tipper, Diane of To Dog With Love (I was  deeply saddened to learn of the loss of her beloved Cosmo and send my  most heartfelt sympathy.)

This post was just the tip of the iceberg! Stay tuned!!

I will be posting The Highlight Of My Year...Part II soon!!! 



Disclosure: Purina completely paid for my trip, accommodations, etc. All opinions are my own.