CLE Events: Balance & Brews

A couple of weeks ago, I attended my very first Balance & Brews event as part of Engage! Cleveland's YP Week. Founded by Melissa Klimo-Major, Balance & Brews combines an hour-long, all-levels yoga class with beer! The events take place in local breweries, and include a brewery tour (if you are so inclined). The classes themselves are really fun-- the unusual location paired with Melissa's humor and playlist make for a fun, low-key experience.

Photo credit: Thanks to Balance and Brews' Facebook page for the two pictures on the top.

Balance & Brews is hosting its first ever yoga weekend retreat in Ohio later this month. I'm not quite ready to commit to a whole weekend yet, but its definitely something I would like to try in the near future. They also have a practice and a pint option, which is exactly what it sounds like. And on July 11th, they are hosting a Balance & Brews practice at Great Lakes Brewing Company, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Secondhand Mutts. If you recall, I used to serve on the Board of Directors for Secondhand Mutts, and they continue to hold a very special place in my heart, so naturally, I'm signed up to attend!

I love that fun, active events like these are becoming more common-place in Cleveland. I LUUUUURVE a good detox-retox experience! I'm still looking for an event that pairs yoga with a wine/champagne tasting--- maybe someone will create one soon? Or maybe I should partner with someone to create one?

Clambake for a Cause

As you know, from time to time, I use my blog to advocate for an organization that is very near and dear to my heart, Secondhand Mutts. I have been a Board Member for Secondhand Mutts since 2011, but have been involved with the rescue as a volunteer essentially since we brought Otto home in 2008. Since that time, Secondhand Mutts has grown tremendously! What I am most proud of as Board Member is that Secondhand Mutts has never shied away from the difficult cases, the overlooked and unwanted dogs.  Ruby was one such story.

Ruby came to Secondhand Mutts blind from diabetes. Through our incredible foster network, we were able to find her a foster home while we assessed her medical issues. Once we found out that her vision-loss was reversible, we decided that we were absolutely going to do everything in our power to restore it! A few weeks ago, Ruby underwent eye surgery, and has now successfully regained vision. In even better news, her foster mom fell so in love that she decided to formally adopt Ruby. That said, Ruby must remain on a daily regimen of insulin and eye drops for the rest of her life. All told, Ruby's rescue cost over $3,500 and she is worth every. singly. penny. I mean, look at this face!

In any case, to defray some of the cost of Ruby's care, and to honor her restored eyesight, Secondhand Mutts is hosting a clambake on October 5th. A single ticket is $45 and includes a clam and chicken dinner, and unlimited beer, wine and soda. Couples can enjoy two tickets for $80! If you're not into clams and just want to drink, you can buy drink-only tickets for $20. To see all the ticket options, and to buy tickets, please go HERE. There will be no tickets sold on site, so these are presale only!

While this is not a dog-friendly event, Ruby will be making a guest appearance to say hello and give thank-you kisses. The clambake is being held at the Pavilion of the West Side Irish American Club which is a covered outdoor facility. So, dress appropriately!!

As a side note, one of my favorite things about clambakes is the opportunity to tap into my outdoor fall wardrobe: skinny jeans, boots, cozy sweater, maybe a puffy vest....

I hope you will attend. Nick and I will definitely be there to support the cause, and I would love to see you in person!! XO

Spin for Strays III and More Secondhand Mutts Events

On April 27th, psycle played host to the Third Annual Spin for Strays to benefit Secondhand Mutts! This was, by far, the most successful Spin for Strays yet-- we sweated, we had fun, and we raised over $1,000 to benefit the pups!! None of this could have been possible without the support of dynamic duo Jenn and Scott of pscyle, and all the hardworking, generous and supportive psyclists who rode that day!

After 60 minutes of sweat, we were joined for cuddles by Secondhand Mutts Splotch and Muddy while the humans enjoyed some well-earned adult beverages.

Brooke (teaches Wednesday and Saturday), Kyle, and Alana

So sweaty! Alana, Colleen and Jenn C (teaches Sunday)

Back: Brooke, Kyle, Jenn, Jenn C, Scott

Front: Splotch, Muddy, Alana & Colleen

Best news of all, both pups, Splotch and Muddy have subsequently been adopted!!

Meghan getting kisses from Muddy

A very excited Splotch

If you're bummed that you missed this great event, there's no need to worry!

On Wednesday June 12th, Around the Corner in Lakewood plays host to yet another fun Secondhand Mutts event. This event is targeted at dog loving singles, and even though there will be no dogs at this event, it may be the perfect opportunity to make a new, non-furry friend. The event runs from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm, and tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Each ticket gets you light appetizers, beer, and the opportunity to mingle with other singles in a very low pressure, easy going atmosphere. We will have some conversation starters if you get tongue tied, and of course, you can always just ask the person you fancy about their dog! Advance tickets are available right here. While I will not be participating as a single (duh) in the event, I will be there helping coordinate, so I hope to see you there!!!

NOTE: THE 6/12/13 EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

The THIRD Annual Spin for Strays!! Sign up details!!

My support for Secondhand Mutts and my love for pscyle have both been very well documented on this blog. For the past two years, Jenn and Scott Sommers, owners of pscyle, have been amazing champions and supporters of Secondhand Mutts by hosting the annual Spin for Strays fundraiser.

The past two years have been an incredible success, and I hope that this year is no exception. We have changed a few things this year though-- unlike in prior years, the THIRD ANNUAL SPIN FOR STRAYS is being held on a Saturday. This way, no one has to rush in from work, and it doesn't interfere with Friday Happy Hour. We've also timed it so that it doesn't impede Saturday naps, or Saturday evening plans, and still gives riders the opportunity to stick around for a post-ride adult beverage!

The details!
When: Saturday, April 27th, at 4 pm

Where: pscyle: 24945 Detroit Road (between Clague and Columbia Rd. exits on I-90)

Why: This is a donation only ride, with a suggested donation of $15. All proceeds from the event go directly to support the pups at Secondhand Mutts. Also, you will burn a boatload of calories (between 500-800 on average), get sweaty, and have a LOT OF FUN!!!

Who: EVERYONE!!! This is an all levels ride and no prior spin experience is necessary. Its a great time to try spinning if you've never been before, and a ride at pscyle is very different from a lot of other spin classes around town. For one, you ride to the beat of the music... and the music? IS AWESOME!! Jenn will have an incredible and energizing playlist to guide you on your ride. If you've ever wished you were in NYC or LA to experience the celeb-favorite SoulCycle, a psycle class will give you a good inkling of what to expect.

How: sign up here. (alternatively go to pscyletherapy.com, click on schedule, and then click on events to sign up). There are ONLY 32 bikes, so make sure you reserve yours today.


Last year was SUCH a blast--- take a look at some of the pics:

Getting our ride on!

Meeting adoptable pups prior to the ride

Bloggers on bikes

You can view more pictures here.

So, I hope that you join me for this incredible event. Its only an hour of your time, and really, such an incredible cause. Secondhand Mutts has a lot of great dogs available for adoption right now, and while the website is being revamped, you can find them all on petfinder! You can also follow Secondhand Mutts on Facebook for up-to-date info! Hope to see you there!! 

XO 

Board Meetings Are Fun

What do you do in your spare time? Do you workout? Do you read? Do you volunteer? As much as I enjoy going out and having a great time, some of my most personally fulfilling moments come from the time I volunteer to Secondhand Mutts. My favorite volunteer activity is chaperoning the dogs at various events. I absolutely LUUURRVE dogs, so any one-on-one time that I can spend with them is certainly time well spent!! And in addition to volunteering, I'm also a Board Member for Secondhand Mutts.

Last night, we had our Board Meeting, and unlike most meetings, this week, our Board was joined by five, 6-week old puppies. And then this happened...

If you're looking for volunteer opportunities at Secondhand Mutts, you can find more information here. If dogs are not your thing, there are literally hundreds of non-profits across Northeastern Ohio that could use your time. Just find an organization that interests you and contact them!!! You will help support a cause that means something to you, have an opportunity to meet some amazing people, and might even have an opportunity to take on a leadership role!! Give it a shot... you might surprise yourself!!

Smooches & Pooches

Right around Valentine's Day each year, Secondhand Mutts partners up with another animal rescue to host its annual bowling event: Smooches and Pooches held at Madison Square Lanes. This year, \ Secondhand Mutts has partnered with The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs. Sanctuary shares a very special place in my heart because one of the Sanctuary Volunteers (a wonderful woman named Elaine) was Clair's foster mom before we got her!!

If you enjoy bowling, and/or pooches, you can be a part of this wonderful event on Friday, February 15th, 2013, by putting together a team of 4 to 6 people to bowl your heart out! Admission/Donation per person is $20 and that includes bowling, shoes, pizza, sweet treats and a very fun time! Of course, there will be adoptable dogs on site, all of whom will be very willing to give you smooches!!!

The doors open at 6:30 PM, the first game is at 7 PM, there wil be an intermission at 9 PM and the next game starts at 9:30 PM.

Registration is required in advance...a limited number of lanes will be available until they are sold out - first come, first serve. Note that this is a child-friendly event, so bring your kids if you like!!

REGISTRATION FORM LINK:
http://fs25.formsite.com/secondhandmutts/form5/index.html

You may also request a registration form via email by contacting Secondhand Mutts at rescue@secondhandmutts.org. You may then fax your completed registration form to 216-373-4902.

Madison Square Lanes is located in Lakewood just west of Warren Road where Westwood/Hilliard and Madison intersect. Parking is available in the bowling alley lot off Hilliard, the lot off Madison and the church lot off Rosewood Avenue one street west of Westwood. Madison Square Lanes is CASH ONLY for the bar and snack bar. An ATM is on site.

I have been to this event for the past three years and I can attest that it is a BLAST!!!!

Spread the love...please share!

Pancakes for Pooches: The 4th Annual Pancake Barkfeast

So, if you've been following this blog for some time, then you know that from time to time, I use this as a platform to promote an organization that means a great deal to me: Secondhand Mutts. Secondhand Mutts has been around since 2006, and over the years has done many many wonderful things for neglected and ignored dogs, saving them from death row and finding them new homes. In 2012, Secondhand Mutts rescued 115 dogs, and by the end of the year, had placed 105, including two dogs that were heartworm positive- Sookie and Rollo

Sookie (look at that underbite!!!! SO CUTE!)

Rollo-- look how happy he is to be safe!!

Left untreated, heartworm is extremely dangerous and can kill dogs. If your dog is heartworm positive, the cost to treat your dog can range from between $500-$700.  In contrast, it costs $7-$10 to give your dog their monthly preventative medication. Secondhand Mutts takes in 2-4 heartworm positive dogs into their program each year, and must rely on having a committed foster home to let the dogs recover in a calm, peaceful environment. The dog must stay inactive for up to a month, and may have to have a second treatment after that! I don't know about you, but there's no way that my dogs could be inactive for that long, so I'm religious about giving them their heartworm preventative year-round (I don't take winters off even though there are no mosquitos. With the abnormally warm/uneven winters we've had, its just not worth the risk).

So, given the cost to treat heartworm positive dogs in their program, Secondhand Mutts hosts an annual pancake breakfast to not only treat heartworm positive dogs, but also raise awareness of heartworm and its prevention.

This year's event is at Pilgrim Church in Tremont on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013. $12 buys you buttermilk/chocolate chip pancakes, sausage, bacon, coffee and orange juice. There is also a vegetarian sausage option for those who are interested.

I hope you will consider attending and supporting this worthy cause. Please RSVP on Facebook so Secondhand Mutts can properly anticipate attendance and food buying. I will certainly be there on Saturday, and hope to see you there too!! XO

We sweated like dogs... or is it pigs?

I'm going to take a little moment and just state, for the record, that I'm so incredibly thankful and appreciative for all my social media friends that have become friends IRL over the past two years! Of course we have a great time hanging out together, but it makes me feel all fuzzy when they come out to support things that mean as much to me as animal rescue, and boy did they come out to support Secondhand Mutts this past Friday. The best part was that not only was it my social media friends, but also my spin friends who made it an incredible evening, and helped  raise funds for some very worthy puppies. If you don't believe me, here's the proof!

Where all the fun happens. A HUGE thank you and so much love to Jenn and Scott at psycle for generously hosting the event and for supporting Secondhand Mutts! 

Some of our Secondhand Mutts- Chester and Debo

The puff stuff! Cocoa Puff lounging and enjoying the attention

Kimi got kissed!! By Roscoe!

The social media corner: 

Top picture Back row L-R: Tabitha, Kimi, Heather

Front row L- R: Alana, Suzanne

Lower picture: Jenn (in the bandana) and I (on the far right) joined in

Psyclists, pre-sweat

And then, things got sweaty...

Jenn makes it look so easy... As she always says "I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it." And. it was...

I want to thank everyone who attended-- thank you so much for driving out and giving up your friday happy hour plans to come ride for the pups!! I hope you had a great time, and I look forward to seeing you again next year!!! 

P.S. If you missed out on this great event, come join SecondhandMutts at Tremont TapHouse on Tuesday, June 12th for yappy hour. This is a dog-friendly event, so leashed dogs are welcome!! I will be there with Otto and Clair!! 

Have fun while supporting dogs!

As you all know, Secondhand Mutts is a cause very near and dear to my heart. What you may not know, is that it was my involvement with this organization that led N and I to adopt Clair. Although Clair did not  graduate from Secondhand Mutts, she is a rescue pup, and I can't imagine that N and I will ever go the breeder route again. Its not that all breeders are bad, its just that there are SO MANY unwanted dogs out there, and all they need is someone to give them a second chance.

Now, not everyone is in a position to rescue a dog, but if you ARE a dog-lover, there are some very fun ways you can help! There are some really fun events coming in June, all to benefit Secondhand Mutts. The two events I really want to talk about are coming up in the next couple of weeks, so please consider attending- they really are a lot of fun!

On Friday, June 8th, my favorite spin studio psycle is playing host to a Happy Hour ride to benefit Secondhand Mutts. This is an all-levels ride, so even if you've never been spinning, but really want to try, this is the ride for you! The ride itself starts at 6:30 pm, but Secondhand Mutts will be there around 5:45 pm with some of the pups that are available for adoption!!  Jenn will be leading the ride (she also has a rescue pup) with some awesome music- you WILL sweat a LOT, but I promise it will be fun! PLUS, you will get to meet a number of fellow CLE puppy-loving bloggers like Alana and Suzanne!! Yes, Yes, I know its during happy hour, but one hour on your Friday will make in a difference in the lives of so many pups!!! SO, if I have successfully convinced you that you need to sign up (please please?), you can sign up RIGHT HERE.

If drinking patio-style is more your thing, Tremont Tap House will be hosting a Yappy Hour to benefit Secondhand Mutts the SECOND TUESDAY of every month in the summer! This is a dog friendly event, so feel free to bring your dog (leashed, please) to join you on the Tap House patio!! The first Yappy Hour is on Tuesday June 12th, and begins at 5.

So there you have it! I will be at both these events, and I hope to see you there too!!!

Brunch for a Great Cause

Happy Hump Day all!! This week is going by too fast, and yet not fast enough. I'm SO ready for the weekend already, especially because I have really great brunch plans for Saturday. Yes, Saturday! Now Sunday is the "real" brunch day, but sometimes you don't feel like cooking for yourself on Saturday either! For this Saturday only, you could eat delicious pancakes (choice of blueberry, chocolate chip and plain) and breakfast meats (sausage! bacon!) for a whopping $12 per person. And while you're enjoying your meal, you would helping a GREAT cause: you'd be helping support two heart worm positive pups at Secondhand Mutts who are receiving treatment as they await their forever homes!

Secondhand Mutts is trying to get to 400 attendees this year, so I really hope you will consider attending. I will be volunteering at the event from 9-11, and will likely be serving food, and I would LOVE to see YOU!!!