Charity Spotlight – Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue

Posted on January 26, 2013 by agirltravels

Looking for ways to get involved in your community? Want to work with local charities? While I’m in NYC I will be spotlighting local charities, those that I have worked with and those that I’m looking forward to working with. Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue will be kicking of the year! I first learned about Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue while covering an event, 1001 Arabian Nights Dog Wedding and Bark Bazaar, and the proceeds were being donated to them.

Photo Credit: Steve Barkaszi

“The Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue Project or (IBSAR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization joined with Hands For Paws in Florida, dedicated to ending the suffering of abused, abandoned and homeless companion animals in greater New York and Puerto Rico…Working alongside other animal protection and rescue organizations in New York City and Puerto Rico, lBSAR’s goal is to foster responsible and humane behaviors toward companion animals through education, communication, and funding of rescue programs.” – www.inkybluesea.org

Why is it called Inky Blue SeaCompanion Animal Rescue?

“Having traveled all over the world to cities near or located on coastal regions, we have witnessed animals in severe distress amidst the beautiful backdrop of the sea.
You can travel to the most beautiful places in the world and witness cruelty to animals that is unimaginable but ever so real.
Our organization addresses the welfare of both animals and people, as we must invariably co-exist together. Hence, why The Inky Blue Sea Companion Animal Rescue Project is taking a stand to empower communities and future generations with respect & compassion for ourselves, our communities, and for all living beings in between.” – Inky Blue Sea

You can learn more about the Inky Blue Sea Animal Rescue Project, find ways to volunteer, and donate by visiting their website www.inkybluesea.org

If you have any local charities you’d like me to checkout and/or spotlight please don’t hesitate to let me know :)

Puppies and Fashion

Posted on February 12, 2012 by agirltravels

I finished my training and arrived in NYC just in time to attend the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show held at Hotel Pennsylvania Penn Top Ballroom to benefit Animal Welfare (AC&C of NYC). This event is the precursor to 136th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show being held at Madison Square Gardens on February 13th – 14th, and the hotel which is conveniently located right across the street from MSG hosts many of the events guests. A Venetian theme set the tone for the evening, as parents and pups arrived to the hotel dress in beautiful and fun costumes and masks.

Pups and Parents checked in, took photos, and mingled around the room. There were a number of vendors, free treats for pups, and free food for parents to check out while waiting for the fashion show to begin.

The runway show was fabulous – it was so fun to watch all the pups strut their stuff down the runway in their Venetian costumes!

When pups weren’t working the runway, they enjoyed treats and played with friends old and new. I was pretty impressed at how well behaved all of the dogs were.

I need a couple of clones. So many things are happening next week! I wish I could attend the Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday, but I to work and attend a few other events. I definitely enjoyed playing with the pups and seeing them on the runway. The Chief Tasting Officer, Snoball, of Spoil Me Rotten Dog Biscuits was one of my favs. She is so stinkin CUTE! Every time you walk up to her she smiles and runs to you even if she doesn’t know who you are.

Snoball!

Featured designers at the event

Roni Goldberg (Pet Hats)

Anthony Rubio with Kimba and Bogie

Check out more pictures from the event below:

: Roberto Negrin

: Snoball!

: Anthony Rubio with Kimba and Bogie

Good Luck to all the pups next week!

Facts on Westminster:

The Westminster Kennel Club was established in 1877, making it America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs.
First held in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is America’s second-longest continuously held sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby..
Westminster pre-dates the invention of the light bulb and the automobile, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument, the invention of basketball and the establishment of the World Series.
Since Westminster held its first show 133 years ago, there have been 25 men elected president and 12 states have joined the Union. The dog show has outlasted three previous versions of Madison Square Garden, and is currently being staged in MSG IV.
The first telecast of Westminster was in 1948, three years before “I Love Lucy” premiered.
A portion of the proceeds from Westminster’s first show in 1877 was donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to establish a home for stray and disabled animals.
The Empire State Building first honored Westminster by lighting its tower in the Westminster colors of purple and gold in 2004 and will do so again in 2012.
There have been a total of 301,650 dogs entered in Westminster’s 134 shows through 2011

Visit my Facebook page for more pics from the event!

Love AGT :)

An Afternoon of Reading at the Tibet Tea House

Posted on January 12, 2012 by agirltravels

This past Sunday instead of wearing no pants for the No Pants Subway Ride I attended the Chocolate Sauce Books launch party for “Now I know” books at the Tibet Tea House with some friends. Chocolate Sauce Books is a new boutique publishing company for children that is devoted to developing wisdom in children through spiritually-oriented books.

At Chocolate Sauce Books they define spirituality as, “those qualities of the human spirit such as, love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, and a sense of harmony, all of which bring happiness to self and others.
Spiritual development relates to that aspect of inner life through which individuals acquire insights into their personal existence that are of enduring worth. Spiritual Intelligence is the ability to behave with Compassion and Wisdom, while maintaining inner and outer Peace, regardless of the circumstances.”

The “Now I Know” series was developed to act as a useful guide to help youth navigate through life challenges. Titles include;

Now I Know: That I Wouldn’t Be Who I Think I Am Without Other People
Now I Know: That We All Have A Jewel Inside Us, Somewhere…
Now I Know: That Silly Hopes and Fears Will Just Make Wrinkles On My Face.
Now I Know: That Its Better To Face My Monsters!

The main book in the series is, Now I Know: That Its Better To Face My Monsters! and was read aloud to the audience. It was really a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, plus there were cupcakes and fizzy sodas for the kids and the adults too :)