You guys! It’s been officially one year since I started this little journey of mine. Now I could sit here and tell you what I learned over the past year (yawn) or where I want to go from here (ZzZzzzZ) but instead I’m sharing how we rocked this year, yes we. You can call these my favorite five if you please, and you’ve been a big part of it.
1. We raised a good amount of money – Again, it’s a we thing. Here is a snapshot of the money we raised:
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Hurricane Harvey relief efforts: $800
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ALIVE Rescue Giving Tuesday to save 20 cats: $500
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CorePower yoga for Famous Fido: $400
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Shop for a Cause at Rebecca Minkoff for Anti-Cruelty Society: $300
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Fashion show with Phenom Foundation: $3000
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BYODog with Joriki for ALIVE Rescue: $300
Total: $5,300 donated to animal charities
You guys… that’s Freaking INCREDIBLE. See what happens when we all come together and do some good in this crazy backwards world? Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all those who attended events, donated money, or simply shared my work with their social circles.
2. Pulling cats from CACC with ALIVE Rescue – As I mentioned above, with your donations, I was able to help save 13 cats from Chicago Animal Care and Control with ALIVE Rescue. The reason this is one of my top memories is that it was absolutely the most impactful rescue experience I had. It was right around the time that a man was trapping cats all over Chicago and it was becoming a major burden for the city shelter. So they put a call out to the community and boy did we respond. It was the most cats ALIVE had ever saved in one trip to the city shelter and it’s a trip I’ll never forget.
3. Traveling to rescues outside of Chicago – This is something I can’t wait to do more of this year. I visited shelters in both Michigan and Philadelphia and each was an incredible experience. I learned so much about both cities in a short amount of time by visiting these shelters. I’d love to be able to see what is w for each shelter and what isn’t, and help shelters in their marketing efforts. Traveling has always been one of my favorite things, by combining that with local rescue organizations… yeah, I’m in.
4. Meeting a lot of dogs, and some cats – I got to hang out with more than 125 dogs last year, 113 of which were adoptable and 107 of which are now in their forever homes. I remember almost every single one of their names too, especially my first ever canine friend, Zeus who started this project. From Bulldogs to Pibbles, Chihuahuas to Hounds, I think I made more friends last year than I have in my 29 years of life. I even spread the species love (as a crazy cat lady must) and met 75 kitties through the CatCade and Windy Kitty Cat Cafe. Even though that’s over 200 animals, I still don’t think it’s enough. Next year… 300.
5. You – Yeah, I’m talking to you! To be completely honest, I had zero clue what I was doing when I started this. I look back on some of the photos over the past year and cringe. Sometimes I wonder why, but you all totally believed in me, this website and this vision to make adoption a fashion statement. To those of you who read my blog, comment on my posts, share my photos, message me, text me, or even just like my work, your support truly means more than you’ll know. I don’t do this for anyone besides myself and the animals, but when people take the time to say some kind words, well, that’s just the cherry on top.
So there you have it. My one year post. I hope you’ve had fun this past year, I know I have. I have a lot in store for 2018 so just hold your leashes tight.
THE RESCUES:
Yesterday was #worldgalgoday but today, it’s all about the English Greyhounds. You may recall I first met this amazing breed last summer and I fell in love. It had been too long since I’d seen them so this photo shoot (part 1 of 2!) was a blast. I’m convinced more than ever that a Greyhound is the breed for me.
Barbie – This sweet girl is friendly with everyone and super affectionate. She will gladly walk with you on a leash and did well with the city noise while we were out and about. Besides the fact that she’s gorgeous, she’s a lover and will lean into you for affection. She’s very dog-friendly, but not a fan of cats. To learn more about Barbie, click here.
Queenie – While she may be five years old, she was happy to prance around and play with a tennis ball. Her giddy nature seems to be a perfect fit for the quiet suburbs and a yard to play in. She’s also a total leaner but like Barbie would do best in a home without feline friends. For more information about Queenie, click here.
Gem – The third lady of the day who was, as her name suggests, an absolute gem. This girl was so silly and happy and ready to give you all sorts of snuggles. Her leash skills need a bit of work, but her food motivation should help make that happen. She’s cat friendly (yay!) but would do best as the only dog in a home. For more information about Gem, contact adoption@greyhoundsonly.com.
THE STYLE:
I knew I wanted to do something fun and dramatic for my this one-year photo shoot. I reached out to Designer Share for help and boy did they deliver (literally). First, they had their driver bring over several dresses of my choosing to try on before deciding on the perfect one. I can’t tell you what a relief that was… I hate ordering things online only to realize how poorly they fit. You can request a “try-on” so you don’t have to worry either. While it’s a Chicago business, they recently just launched nationwide shipping! So if you’re looking for that something special without having to fork over a paycheck, I highly recommend checking it out. Plus, if you use the code FIRST, you can score 20% off your first rental. I rented this stunning Barak Lahav gown that I’m still swooning over.
xoxo,
Christine
