Last month I was featured on PetPr.com as their featured blogger of the week! The article explained how I had always wanted to be a veterinarian, got hooked on journalism and eventually combined my passion for writing and pets.

You can read the full article on their website.

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So check out my work there, as well as on Bloomberg TV! Since the end of June I've been their social media marketing manger where I work with show strategy and am (for the most part) the voice of their Twitter and Facebook accounts. It's been so fun and financial news is something new to me, so I've been learning a lot about that industry, while also helping them increase their social presence. 

The position is contract, so I am still openly looking for other consulting projects or a full-time gig.

I'd prefer to 'never forget' on the other 364 days of the year, because well, I can't.

Everyday going through the tunnel on my way to work in Manhattan, I  get just a little anxious when the train stops for an extended period of time while we're underwater.

Every time I walk into Newark Liberty International Airport, to catch a flight there is a sinking feeling in the pit of stomach knowing some of the terrorists who carried out the attacks walked those same hallways.

When I drive past any of the hotels where they reportedly stayed, I wonder if those rooms are still in service, because you couldn't pay me to sleep there.

The sight of a bomb-sniffing dog along with three or four heavily armed military personnel, instead of the normal one or two walking through Penn Station makes me wonder, 'is there something going on? Is there a new threat, or do they have intelligence they're not sharing with the public yet?'

I spent yesterday at my house in upstate New York, where while people knew what day it was, it didn't bring it to a halt. The kids across the street were playing ball, the local restaurant had a 45 minute wait and cars continued to race up and down the main road during an annual show.

Ironically, it was the one day I wasn't constantly reminded of that game-changing day, until I looked at Twitter.

I started to get into the tweeting and #wherewereyou hashtag, and then I just stopped in mid-tweet, because I saw a bunch of #neverforget ones, and it made me sick to my stomach.

Of course we'll #neverforget, especially those of us still working or living in and around New York City, because we're reminded at least once everyday.

My nerves have the best of me right now, because BlogPaws, a social media conference for pet writers and bloggers, is where I really got hooked on social media. So being able to share my social media knowledge at the event that you could say changed the path of my career, is exciting.

If I'm able to share the slides after the event, I will. At the very least, I think they will be available on the website and I will share that link here.

Ironically, the same weekend, there is a social media gathering in the Adirondacks, #ADK827, which I'm very bummed about missing. But, there is a good chance I will Skype in and ask a question to the one of the panels.

Isn't it so amazing that technology allows you to (sort of) be in two places at once?

Of course my response to myself would be that I've been so busy with my new gig, writing, commuting, and keeping up with The Adirondack Chick and My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much that I haven't had time to update this. (Which actually bring up another issue about using a blog type layout as your personal website, but that's for another day)

The important thing here is that my other websites, The Adirondack Chick and My Tail Hurts from Wagging So Much are being updated on a regular basis and that's where my priorities lie when it comes to writing.

I'll be sharing some exciting news tomorrow, so stay tuned!

There are, however, a few networking tips I learned last year that I really helped me get the most out of the conference, connect with new people and also have fun.

1. Spend Time on the Trade Show/Exhibit Floor

Sessions, sessions, sessions. While they are important, because you are hearing from experts in the industry, working the trade show floor is just as valuable. Take your time to visit each booth, whether it directly applies to your specific industry or not, because you never know what you will learn, who you will meet or how having that knowledge will help you land a future client. I hate to admit this, but I only attended one full session last year, because there were too many other things I was learning at the booths that could help me and my clients.

2. Attend Every Party You Can

While New York may not have the same party reputation Las Vegas does, these parties are sure to be packed with people you will want to connect with. There is a reason many deals are closed on a golf course -- people are relaxed and can talk about business in a calm setting. These parties are the same thing. By attending, you have more of an opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of the social media world.

3. Say Hello, Be Friendly and Check Your Ego at the Door

This seems like an obvious thing, but you would be surprised how many people don't follow it. People can be very approachable if you just smile at them and be welcoming. Conversely, if you see someone standing by themselves, introduce yourself and ask them to join your group.

You just never know who you will meet, and how that connect might play a role in your future.

4. Dress the Part

I'm the first one to trade in my heels for flip flops, but you will not catch me walking the exhibit hall in them. Dress appropriately for the event, including the parties. Stylish, but also business casual, is the best way to go. Remember, the people you meet there, could be your next client, boss or co-worker. 

5. Have Fun!

Conferences are all about business, right? Yes and no. Meeting new people and connecting with others in the industry should be fun, as well as educational. Some of the most beneficial things I learned about social media marketing during BlogWorld in Vegas was at random moments or during conversations that were not directly generated through a business conversation.

Bonus Tip: If you're staying in a hotel, make sure your room is clean! Again, this may sound silly, but you never know when people will ask if they can drop their stuff off in your room for a while, use your bathroom to freshen up or you will want to entertain clients in a private setting.

I told the women in my seminar I would post the link to the twitter chat schedule on my site so they could check out all the amazing discussions going on around the world about topics that interest them and connect with like-minded people. So, here is the schedule -- it's a Google docs file.

To celebrate, here is a picture of me when I was little with my mom, her mom and her grandmother! Four generations in that shot, which was taken at my great-grandmother's in Lake George, N.Y. when I was a toddler.

One smart upstate New York florist and garden center placed this out-of-the box Mother's Day ad, which is clearly targeting pet parents, in a local newspaper.

The ad, for Binley's Florist and Garden Center in Queensbury, N.Y., is even written from the dog's point-of-view, and doesn't even mention "traditional" mothers. 

For a regional garden center to spend valuable advertising money targeting just "dog moms" on Mother's Day shows the impact the pet industry is having.

And, really, why shouldn't businesses be targeting pet parents? 

The American Pet Products Association estimates pet industry spending is expected to exceed $50 billion in 2011, and  continues to show resilience despite the economic state of the nation. 

It's also a great example of a business finding creative ways to reach new customers.

Think of the number of people you know who don't have kids, but have dogs. If each of their significant others, friend or family member purchased this for them, that's one more floral arrangement they wouldn't have sold if they didn't reach out to that customer base.

I talk a lot about brands building relationships with customers, and this is an example of doing that.

Maybe a pet parent will not purchase a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day from them, but by placing an ad like this they have started that relationship building that is so critical when it comes to make future purchasing decisions, like where to get their garden vegetables this spring.