I had been waiting to attend the BlogPaws conference for years.  My mom surprised me with tickets for my birthday last year.  Since receiving the gift, I began counting down the days until the conference's arrival.

My husband and I loaded our tripawd pooch, Penny, into the car and made the four hour journey to Kansas City, Missouri.  Not only was this to be our first BlogPaws, but it was their 10th Anniversary Conference as well.  Penny did a fabulous job traveling.  She slept most of the way there!

In the three days that followed, we had the privilege of meeting other pet parents and bloggers.  We swapped stories and business cards and of course, snuggles with their fur babies!  I loved getting to meet with representatives from the various brands that were present at the conference.

So much knowledge was contained within every breakout session.  Speaker Elizabeth Keene taught attendees the ins and outs of using Facebook Ads.  I had no idea that I could drill down and see what other pages my followers were viewing.  My husband, Matt, learned about Blogging with Goals with the team from Dragon 360.

I learned how to use the Tailwind app to grow my followers on Instagram.  Melissa Megginson's presentation was fantastic and provided step-by-step guidance along with other tricks to customizing Tailwind for maximum effect.

One of my favorite sessions was How to Use Instagram Stories to Boost Engagement and Connect with Your Pack.  The speakers Meesha Kauffman, Marika Meeks, Tori Mistick, and Hannah Zulueta were outstanding.  I had never used Instagram stories before attending their lecture.  Now, I use it almost every day.  Their tips were easily attainable and I wish that the session would have been longer.  There is so much to learn!

On Friday, my husband attended The Art of Smartphone Photography.  Being an avid photographer, he was eager to learn new ways to use his phone to capture amazing shots.  Meanwhile, I was attending the Repurpose for Profit:  How to Create a Content Calendar That Can Actually Make You Money given by Abagail Pumphrey and Emylee Williams.  They had so many great ideas on how to multiple the use of my content to other social media channels.

My favorite event was the 1 on 1 sessions.  Attendees could select one speaker to spend 10 minutes with asking any questions about his/her specialty.  I selected Marika Meeks.  She gave me invaluable tips for growing one of my Instagram accounts.  Marika was very friendly and enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge with a fellow pet lover/blogger.

While we were unable to attend the Nose to Nose Awards due to a scheduling conflict with another conference, a BlogPaws worker was nice enough to let us snap a few pics on the red carpet before we had to depart and head to our next destination.

If you have never attended a BlogPaws conference, you are missing out!  Not only do you get to meet passionate pet people, but you get to connect with the brands in a one-on-one environment.  Plus, you will receive a ridiculous amount of swag!  Our official BlogPaws swag bags were seriously heavy.  Several brands also gave away free products such as the Comfort Zone Calming Vest and Lenny Pads, washable pee pads.

I'm officially hooked on BlogPaws!  I can't wait to attend the conference next year in sunny Florida.

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The Nocturnal Brigade is back in an all new adventure!  In the second installment of the Nocturnals Easy Reader Series, The Slithery Shakedown, Bismark has a problem.  His friends are late for their nightly rendezvous.

When Dawn and Tobin finally arrive, they see that they are not alone.  A blue bellied snake has slithered his way into the group.  He is not interested in making friends.  Instead, he wants to have Bismark as a snack!

Will Tobin and Dawn be able to save Bismark?  Has the spunky sugar glider finally met his match?

I absolutely love The Nocturnals series!  Whether early reader or chapter book, the stories are always original and the characters are unforgettable.  Bismark's attitude makes me laugh every time.  His facial expressions are simply hilarious.

I also love that in addition to teaching a moral lesson, the stories are also packed with educational facts.  I find myself learning something new with each book that I read.

This is a wonderful story for children ages 5-7. 


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Ladybug Girl is back in an all new adventure!  In Ladybug Girl and the Rescue Dogs by David Soman and Jacky Davis, Ladybug Girl discovers a group of dogs while walking through the farmer's market with her mom and trusty sidekick, Bingo.  The dogs belong to a rescue group.  They are all trying to find forever homes.

Ladybug Girl asks her mom if the dogs can come live with them.  But her mom says that having eight dogs would upset Bingo.  Wanting to help, Ladybug Girl decides to call upon her faithful Bug Squad!  Will the gang be able to find homes for the dogs?

I absolutely love this book!  Being an avid animal lover and proud fur mom to five rescue dogs, this story truly touches my heart.  My husband never wants me to go into an animal shelter because he knows that I want to take them all home.  Ladybug Girl and I definitely share a passion for animals!

I also love how Ladybug Girl looks for ways to help even after her mom tells her she can't adopt the eight dogs.  Many children would not be mature enough to get passed the "no" and seek to find another solution other than adoption.  Not only is Ladybug Girl resourceful, but she is also not afraid to ask for help from her friends.

Soman's illustrations are gorgeous!  Each dog has a very distinct personality that can easily be seen in their facial expressions.  My favorite is Daisy the Dachshund.  She acts just like my doxie, Hope!  Children will definitely be drawn to this colorful cast of canine characters.

This is a wonderful story that highlights the importance of animal rescue groups and the adoption option.  The book is perfect for animal lovers of all ages and would be a great addition to any humane education class.


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Riley Carson and her best friend, Finn, love going on adventures.  Finn is an avid ghost hunter and Riley has a passion for animals.  Together, they make the ultimate mystery solving duo.

In Riley Carson and the Cherokee Caves by Megan Wargula, Riley and Finn discover a number of deceased dogs that seem to have been abused.  With the death of her dog, Sammy, still fresh on her mind, Riley will do whatever it takes to end the canine cruelty.

The pair believe that there may be some connection to the crimes with the mystical Cherokee Caves.  Legend has it that the Cherokee hid their gold among the complex system of caves when they were forced off of their land.  Locating the caves proves to be much more challenging than expected.

Riley soon discovers that she has a somewhat magical gift that may provide clues to this epic mystery.  Will Finn and Riley ever find the mysterious caves?  Will the dogs of Roswell ever be safe again?

I was hooked on this story from page one!  Wargula's writing style truly captures the tension and suspense that Riley and Finn face throughout the book.  When I reached the end of each chapter, I kept wanting to read more.

Being an avid animal advocate and proud fur parent to five rescue dogs, I love that Wargula's book highlights the cruelty of puppy mills.  Many people do not realize where the cute puppies in the pet stores come from.  Their parents are often treated horribly.  One of my own dogs was rescued from a puppy mill.  She was kept in a cage for most of her young life and her leg muscles did not properly develop.  While she is able to walk, she can't jump.

This is a wonderful story for readers ages 8-12.  The book would also make a wonderful gift for those that work in animal rescue or have a passion for pets.