CiCH Approved

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: AWKWARD FAMILY PET PHOTOS, the CALENDARS Edition

Thu, 2012-11-08 08:38 — Robin Olson

Last year I reviewed Mike Bender and Doug Chernack's wonderfully warped book, Awkward Family Pet Photos which hit the market on the heels of their New York Times Bestselling book: Awkward Family Photos.

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©2012 By Awkward Family, LLC. Pretty in Pink..and blue and purple?

Awkward Family Pet Photos 2013 Wall Calendar

This year the purveyors of preposterous are back, just in time for the Holidays, sporting a dazzling duo of 2013 Calendars. One is a well designed, colorful, 12-month Wall Calendar whose message, “Celebrating the Special Bond Between People and Their Pets” is achieved in the most twisted and sometimes downright creepy fashion. Each month celebrates a particular species. The year begins with dogs. In April, they celebrate bunnies or animals dressed a bunnies. One month features monkeys but I won't spoil it by telling you which month it is. Can you guess which one it is?

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©2012 By Awkward Family, LLC. I hope they get matching cars one day, too.

I'd like to know the criteria Bender and Chernack use to choose their photos. The process must be a delicate one, walking the fine line between photos that make you shudder with delight versus photos that are simply vintage images including pets.

Perhaps they have an inner guidance system that recognizes they're on the right track when scrutinizing a family's precious photos? They might wonder aloud; “Why did they do that to their hair?” or “Did they really wear that sweater with the image of the cat rear ends on it, then send it out as their Holiday card?”

If Bender and Chernack ask themselves “What were they thinking?” I'm guessing it seals the deal and the photo is accepted into their collection.

Clearly the people and pets featured in this calendar never asked themselves these sorts of questions and we are all the richer for it.

The beauty in projects like Awkward Family Pet Photos 2013 Calendar is that it reminds us that we're not as cool as we think we are. Everyone has a photo (or in my case albums full) tucked in a drawer somewhere they'd rather no one else ever see… and no, I don't mean that kind of photo!

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Awkward Family Pet Photos 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar

If you can't get enough Awkward Family Pet Photos, then check out the 365 days of screwy-louie-weirdness in their 2013 Day-to-Day Calendar. Each day reveals a new image of the curiously clueless. I love it. Unlike some desk calendars, this one is in full color so you can appreciate the awkwardness even more. The only thing lacking is that it should be in 3-D and come with a pair of glasses. Maybe they'll do that next year?

If you'd like to WIN a copy of “Awkward Family Pet Photos 2013 Day to Day Calendar” simply leave a comment below and tell us about an awkward moment (with pets). Increase your odds by emailing me an awkward pet photo at info@coveredincathair.com. Share your awkward photo if you dare! ONE comment or photo will be selected to WIN! You can only email me ONE photo for one chance to win OR make ONE COMMENT HERE describing an awkward family photo. Voting ends NOVEMBER 15, 2012 at 11:15 AM EST and is open to residents of the USA, only (sorry guys-licensing issues!). Rules subject to change without notice.

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©2012 By Awkward Family, LLC. I want to see the photo that was taken 30 seconds after this one.

Oh, and make sure you check out May 16th if you get a copy of the Day to Day Calendar…I'm just sayin'...

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In honor of Awkward Family Pet Photos, I thought I'd share a special one with you from my archives.

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©1992 Judith K. Feminella. My dad in his underwear reading the Sunday paper---if Blue the cat will let him.

If you want an even bigger Awkward Family Pet Photos fix, visit their Webby Award winning web site HERE or Like them on Facebook and let them know Covered in Cat Hair sent you!

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After careful consideration, from time to time I write a product reviews. If you see it here, it's because, at LEAST I think it's worth you knowing about even if I have an issue with it and, at BEST, I think it's amazing and we should all have one, two or more of whatever it is I'm reviewing. I get NO reimbursement for writing these reviews, though to write a review I am supplied with the item, as I was in this case. This review is MY OPINION, ONLY. The result you experience using this product may differ.

Adoption Update: Bluebelle & Periwinkle

Fri, 2012-06-08 17:19 — Robin Olson

Two days ago I got food poisoning, for which I'm still recovering from and today I have my “lady cramps from Hell.” I just want to curl up in a ball and die…that is until I read this e-mail from our adopter Stacy and her lovely family about our former fosters, Bluebelle & Periwinkle.

I LOVE getting updates from our adopters. It makes my heart soar! This update, is especially wonderful in its' detail and description of how well loved these kittens are and how well they're doing. It makes me think back and realize I'm so very happy that when Maria called me about a lactating cat she found on the road early one summer morning, I didn't hesitate to tell her we'd do whatever it takes to help this kitty-not knowing there were five kittens whose lives were at stake, too. I couldn't have done that without ALL the folks who donated towards the care of this family as well as to Bobby Stanford and Maria for working so hard to get them whatever they needed until I could take them into foster care in Conntecticut.

Blue and Peri were this friendly stray's (who Maria named, Amberly) kittens…yes, the same Amberly who recently went missing for a few days in April (and who my friend Katherine found!) and the same Amberly who was part of the most amazing rescue, ever! You can read more about it HERE and HERE, along with some really AWESOME photos of their rescue, too!

You must also read the CRAZY STORY about how we ended up meeting Bobby and Maria at BlogPaws 2011 and taking the kittens just before Hurricane Irene hit!

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©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. Bluebelle (left), Jack LiLac (center) and Periwinkle (right) just before Jack and mama-Amberly were adopted together.

This family was unforgettable. Here's the update on Blue and Peri!

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Dear Robin,

As we close in on the girl’s first birthday, I thought I’d write again to let you know how they’ve grown- both physically and in our hearts.

Recently I saw you updated your background picture and our beloved Bluebelle was one of the beauties featured. It struck me how much her face has changed yet her eyes are still as beautiful as when she captured our heart as a kitten. I call her my opera kitty because not only is she still as dramatic as ever but the right side coloring of her face has gotten much whiter, like the phantom mask. If you heard her meow you’d swear she was still very much a kitten. Walk into the room and she’s on her back begging for you to brush her or rub her tummy. She has grown much closer with my soon-to-be 13 year old daughter which is quite a feat since as some 13 year old girls are wont to do, she would much rather read, draw or surf the net than interact with anyone. When Alexandra is near ready for school each morning, Blue will meow to her until my daughter says, “okay, let’s go!” and the two of them will run upstairs for cuddle and play time before the bus comes. Alexandra left for a two day field trip to Boston just yesterday and when I expressed surprise over her parting tears, she answered, “I’m going to miss Bluebelle SO MUCH!”

©2012 Stacy Nunes-Ranchy. Bluebelle, whose first birthday is in a few days.

As for our sweet Periwinkle, she’s known as “Momma’s cat”. As you had warned me, I’ve had to watch the way I walk because often there is a cat in between each step. You’ll get no complaints from me though, she’s excellent company. Much more dog than cat some days, she loves to fetch and follows my ‘up, up’ command when I can steal some cuddles-on-the-bed time with her. If there’s a moment that she knows I’m home but isn’t sure where I am, any time I answer her cry (which sounds remarkably like ‘hello?’) she’ll come meet me, usually with a toy to share. Her favorite toy isn’t even a cat toy but a bath poof shaped like a rose that she’ll take in her mouth and walk around the house, announcing to all through muffled meow that she hopes someone will toss it for her. Peri’s look hasn’t changed as much as Blue’s, at least not in her face, although both girls are showing more peach than they did as kittens. Their coat is still super soft and when anyone remarks on it, I happily inform them that it is because of the kitties’ grain-free diet.

A few months ago while my husband was on one of his many overseas business trips, we had a field mouse in the house and while it survived its first encounter with the kitties, it never got a third chance to play. They were playful with it at first, taking turns with capture and release, but when I had had enough and tried to get it from them, Blue put it out of its misery. There were lots of cuddles, treats and expressions of gratitude that day!

Much like my human children, these kitty sisters have such different personalities. Bluebelle is very content to lie around, soak in the sun and be fussed over. Periwinkle enjoys a cuddle but loves to play with such gusto. Their kitty spats, are very brief and usually end in mutual grooming, it’s quite funny to see them go from wrestling right into cuddles.

©2012 Stacy Nunes-Ranchy. Happy Birthday, Periwinkle!

If it isn’t already apparent by this (longer than I usually spend writing about anything else) email, let me say that these girls are truly a part of this family. We’re forever grateful that we came across Kitten Associate’s website when we did. I’ve included two pictures of the girls (I hope they’re not too large) so you can see how they’ve grown. Although we certainly wish it could be much more, we will be making a donation to your organization for Peri and Blue’s 1st birthday as thanks for bringing these lovely girls into our life.

With much appreciation for all you do,

Stacey, Bruno, Alexandra, Amélie, Perriwinkle and Bluebelle