The Quarantine 15

What did that title make you think?

Fifteen pounds?  Yup... that's what I think, too, when I say it, hear it, or read it.

But what are some other things that you've learned about from these past 65-ish days, either about yourself, that you've learned to do, or that you've discovered in your relationships?

Here are mine.

1.  I finished 3 classes online in this past semester.  I'm on my way to earning my marketing degree.

2.  I definitely need to lose weight because school has been so smushed together.  I've done a lot of sitting down to study.
3.  I've started doing photo restoration again.  I really love doing it, because I feel like I get to know the person on whose photograph I'm working. 

4.  I've expanded to slide and negative transfer to digital.
5.  I really love answering essay questions in homework assignments.
6.  I'm much stronger than I thought I was.
7.  When someone asks for prayers, or has told me they are going through a hard time, I actually do something different.  I place them in my heart and light a candle for them.  I feel like the energy from that helps that person, and me.
8.  I miss my friends, but I'm so grateful for modern technology.  It makes social distancing a little easier to handle.
9.  My mom is still my rock.  I got to see her for the first time in 3 months last week and I hadn't been so emotional like that in years.

10.  I've reconnected with a few friends and caught up with them over Facebook.
11.  My son turned 22 and we couldn't celebrate together.  I took him my older Kitchen-Aide mixer and baking supplies and ingredients for his birthday, as he has his own apartment now.  His photos of bread have been amazing.
12.  My cats really really love me.  Especially Bonnie.  She has been especially snuggley these past few weeks.  She keeps me on my toes, and herds me back into my office to work some more.

13.  Learning how to manifest things in my life, like abundance and prosperity, have been life-changing.  I've had many good lessons in this.
14.  Networking has taken on new meaning with learning how to navigate on Zoom.  That has been a lot of fun, and interesting.
15.  I'm looking forward to seeing how others have turned things around for them to make these new unprecedented times work for them.

Rescue My Heart: A call out to all who own rescue pets (5 minute read)

Calling all Rescues:  Cats, Dogs, Horses, Bunnies, Birds, and Reptiles

There are so many kinds of rescue stories:  Foster Failures, Shelter Adoptions, Found in the Street, Rehoming, Appeared out of Thin Air, etc.  There are as many variations on these stories as there are animals! 

Every time I hear a story, which is always touching, about how a human’s life has been touched by a rescue pet, my mind goes directly to the following question:

Indeed.

Those who share their stories about how they fell in love with their rescues, often end up saying a similar statement:  “I don’t know if I really rescued my dog; I think she rescued me!”

I want to celebrate that and create awareness that rescues are wonderful creatures, and make wonderful family members.   

That’s why I’m working with Rude Ranch Animal Rescue and The Spay Spa and Neuter Nook.  These two organizations believe deeply in the joy of rescue and have made it their life mission to help these creatures.  Kathy and Bob Rude own and run both of these organizations, and you can find out more about them at www.ruderanch.org and www.spayspa.org.

Together, we have the goal of raising $10,000 to provide well-deserving families assistance in spaying and neutering their pets.  Our fundraiser has two parts to it, and both are celebratory in nature and fun!

Part one:  The LUXURY Photography Experience.

Interested families who love their rescues can purchase a $400 gift certificate for ONLY $50.  A whopping $40 of that goes to Rude Ranch/Spay Spa in their name.  Each family receives a full experience, which means that we get to find out exactly what you love about your rescue, how having them in your life has brought joy, and of course, we get to know all of your family members, too.

Then the day of your session arrives, which is fun for everyone!  Since we’ve planned your session, we photograph exactly what you want for your artwork.  Your session is guaranteed, so you know that I’ll help you prepare for every detail, and I’ll work hard with you to ensure that we get it all.

Soon after, we roll out the red carpet and show you your photographs with a cinematic presentation, and you get to design your artwork AND order at that time.  We can do it about 1.5 hours after your session, or if it’s better, we get together within a few days to have a party and ooh and ahh and shed some tears of joy.  I guarantee you’ll love your photographs, so do be prepared!  We accept all standard forms of payment; diamond earrings, pints of blood, and arms & legs are also acceptable. (not really! Lol) (Note:  a prosthetic leg costs about $22,000.... so you know you won't be spending that much on artwork!)

Within just a couple of weeks, the VERY best part happens:  The Unveiling of Your Artwork!  I deliver your artwork to you and together, we relive the beautiful experience that started at the very first phone call!  I can help you install them, but with our two largest collections, I have a professional come to install your artwork, while we watch and enjoy.

Doesn’t a LUXURY Photography Experience sound like something you would cherish?  All of that, plus $200 goes towards your purchase of your artwork.  AND, if you schedule your session Monday-Thursday, you’ll get your entire $400 deducted from your artwork purchase. 

5-10% of sales also goes to Rude Ranch and Spay Spa, depending on which collection you fall in love with.

Part Two:  The Celebration

Once we have finished with all of the families, we’ll be compiling all of the stories and a matching photograph into a GORGEOUS coffee table book!  Each family gets their own page, with a story of how their rescue enriches their lives.  Our goal is 100 families and their rescues; it’ll be a big book!  Proceeds from the sale of these books will go towards Rude Ranch and Spay Spa.

But wait, there’s MORE!

As you know, we are celebrating rescues and their families… so what better way to release this book than to have a celebratory dinner, complete with a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle?  All proceeds go to Rude Ranch and Spay Spa.

That’s right!  What better way to celebrate than to gather together to show off our rescues, be it canine, feline, fowl, rodent, horse, or reptile?  After all of the fun work we’ll be doing together, we’ll be able to enjoy our book and eat delicious food, and celebrate the important work that Rude Ranch and Spay Spa do for Ann Arundel County and neighboring areas.

Don’t delay! if you have a rescue that you adore and you simply must celebrate your relationship with him or her, call Megan today to get more information at 240-7766-8966!  You won’t regret it!

Gift Certificates are on sale NOW.  These make great gifts for Valentine's Day and birthdays!  Celebrate your rescue pet by calling today to purchase your very own gift certificate now.  Early Birds receive an extra $100, making the value of their gift certificate $500 for ONLY $50!  240-766-8966 is the number to call!