So today I’ve found some really cute pet id tags to share with you! I might have to get a dog just so I can buy these tags for him…

All images are courtesy of the sellers.

1. Wiggle Butt daisy pet name tag, by PoochyCouture

2. Big Bar pet id tag, by makeyourdogsmile

3. Rocket Ship pet tag, by yabettasupadont

4. Custom sterling silver and copper cat tag, by loftedesigns

5.Pet tag for your good dog, by urbanpuppy

Hi FTC! I was not compensated for this blog post in any way, shape, or form. I linked ‘em because I liked ‘em!

I’m not even going to tell you how many blogs I have in google reader.

Ok, fine, you twisted my arm. 257. TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN.

I’m not even sure how it got up so high. I guess I’m just a blog hopper. You know – you read something interesting on a blog, and there’s a link to another blog, and you follow it, and hey, wow, they link to three other blogs that are really quite interesting, and — what’s that you say? It’s midnight? Oh, dear.

I think reading blogs is great. I’m entertained, amused, informed, and inspired by the various posts that I read.

Except, sometimes I’m not. Sometimes I read so many humor blogs that I don’t find it funny anymore. Sometimes I find so many great craft ideas that I feel guilty about not following through with them. Sometimes I see fantastic shoots from other photographers, and then that ugly green monster rears it head and then all of a sudden I’m the WORST PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE WORLD AND WHY DID I EVER THINK I COULD DO THIS???

Whew.

I spend so much time reading and not enough time doing.

And so I’ve decided to take a break. Not permanently, mind you – just for two weeks. This was a suggestion from Kristen at Brand Camp Blog, who is wholly aware of the delicious irony of a blog telling you to take a break from reading blogs. If you’re not on a blog-reading hiatus, I highly suggest you go check out Brand Camp – Kristen is fabulous and insightful and will kick you in the butt (totally in a good way).

ANYway. Two weeks. I’m hoping that I can start to lay down some new behavior patterns during that time and break the vicious cycle of I’m-bored-oh-I’ll-just-cruise-the-internet.

Some other things that I’ll be doing instead of reading blogs:

• practicing off-camera lighting. I’m a little rusty and really want to work on this!
• blogging! You may or may not have noticed that this blog has been blowing up over the past week, especially compared with how little I’ve been posting the rest of the summer. I actually drew up an editorial calendar this weekend and have lots to post about in September!
• bookkeeping. blah. necessary, but blah. Enough said.
• volunteering. I have a project for a local rescue up my sleeve that hasn’t even really started yet, but I’m super excited about it and will share the results when it’s ready!
• spending time with my family. Nothing recharges the batteries like a weekend full of belly laughs and tasty, tasty food. Mmm.

So that’s the plan. Expect to see me around here a lot more often and much less so in the comments section on other people’s blogs.

Anyone else ever gone cold turkey from the blogosphere? Did you find that it made you more productive?

PS – I hope no one minds that there are no images in this post. It seems like if you are a photographer you are required to say, “and since every post is better with a picture…” but sometimes, I just want to write.

PPS – It’s September??? How did that happen??

The beauty of the human heart is that there’s enough room in there for all of them.

The same cannot be said of my apartment.

And that’s where I need your help. Guardian Angels Cat Rescue has loads of sweet, lovely, little (and some not-so-little) purr factories that need homes, and I can’t adopt them all.

Look at this face. LOOK AT IT. How cute is he?

His name is Monty, and he is a sweet guy of a little over a year old. He really wasn’t too sure about me and my big, scary camera, but he was quite patient. Monty is definitely more on the shy side, but he’s such a loving kitty once he warms up to you. The description on his petfinder page says that he has lived with kids, dogs, and other cats, so it seems like he’d be an easy addition to your house. He is currently being fostered with a batch of kittens who love on him constantly, crawl all over him, and attack his tail. He takes it all in stride and and loves those little kittens right back. SO CUTE.

If you have no soul Monty isn’t a good fit for your house, there are plenty of other cats that would love to find a home on your couch and in your heart. You can meet a bunch of them at Especially for Pets at their adoption events – call ahead to the Sudbury or Wayland locations to find out where they’ll be on any given Saturday between 11:30 and 3pm!

Like most labs, Shadow and Inky are an absolute joy to be around, and I had a great time at their session! I think that they did too

Unfortunately it happens to be the same angel that jumps onto my head in the middle of the night and tries to eat my hair.

To the Hornsby family, my deepest sympathy for your loss. It’s clear how much your wonderful girl meant to all of you.

As luck would have it, the skies cleared up enough for us to get some great shots outside. Normally a city dog, Stella LOVES their house on the cape – it’s her favorite place in the whole world. It just wouldn’t have been a complete session if we didn’t get any pictures of her and her true love, her tennis ball.

Here are just a few of my favorites that grabbed my eye when I was editing yesterday. Stella totally rocked this shoot!

I love dogs in coats, don’t you? At first Stella was sad that it was raining and we couldn’t go outside.

But there were so many great images to be had indoors! I love this one of her and her mom.

This dog also looks gorgeous in black and white. Work it, Stella!

This last one captures her energy perfectly. Joyful, excited, so happy and full of life! To me, this shot just says “WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” And that’s Stella

Jen, thank you so much for having me! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taste of Stella’s photos – more to come!