Organic Journey Online

Zuke's Dog Treat Review

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:23:00 +0000

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by Toni Boyko

15 Bags of Zuke's
to Each Twitter Party Winner

At Organic-Journey-Online.com we love all things natural. That's why we choose Zuke's dog treats. This company was founded on the basic premise that dogs need snacks to power up for high activity outings, and these snacks should be made without fillers, artificial preservatives or common allergens.

Made without wheat, corn or soy, Zuke's treats are much less likely to cause allergic issues in your dog. Further, they are made right here in the U.S. where we watch our quality control better than the treats made in China. This is clear from all the recent recalls which scare us to death. Why purchase anything edible made outside of the U.S.?

Zuke's has endeavored to go about the business of making healthy treats while also encouraging a green lifestyle among its employees. Check out this infographic that explains some of their cultural efforts:

Today we're highlighting the 4 Zuke's product lines that are being featured in the upcoming #FueltheLove #BarkFriday Twitter Party, hosted by Event Barkers. You can RSVP to join the fun by clicking the link. Here are the products you'll be seeing in the prizes at this event:

All 6 Mini Naturals flavors to include Peanut Butter, Salmon, Rabbit, Duck, Chicken and Pork. These tiny, low-calorie treats are soft and perfect for training.
Each of the Z-Filet flavors: Grilled Venison, Chicken and Beef are loved by dogs all over.
The 3 Hip Action flavors: Peanut Butter and Roasted Chicken and Beef. With 300 mg of Glucosamine and 50 mg of Chondroitin, you'll be helping to protect your dog's joints from issues as he ages.
And finally, the 3 newest members of Zuke's line, the Skinny Bakes Crunchy treats in Pumpkin 'N Sweet Potato, Cherry 'N Berry and Peanut Butter 'N Banana. If your dog enjoys a crunchy treat, these low-cal treats are perfect. We also like that they include a score so that you can easily break them in half to use while training.

One more important feature of the Zuke's treats is the whole food goodness they build in by using lots of delicious ingredients that add anti-oxidants for healthy snacking. You can learn more about their nutritious recipes by watching this compelling short video.

To make sure you're eligible to win and have not missed any opportunities, don't forget to visit these Internet sites to enter for your chance to grab 15 bags of Zuke's:

RSVP for one prize package drawing
PreTweet these one-click messages to be included in the PreTweet drawing
Enter the Social Media giveaway at the widget here for multiple options of entry, and up your chances of winning.
You'll find a variety of additional giveaways (can you believe it?!!!) at the Zuke's #FueltheLove Blog Hop, also hosted by Event Barkers. Enjoy this mini-mall of terrific giveaways, educational videos about Zuke's and fascinating information on their culture, charity efforts and ingredients.
Finally, don't forget to mark your calendar and join us for the Twitter Party after your early morning Black Friday shopping spree. Grab your laptop and your pup to snuggle up for the fun: Friday, November 29, 12 PM ET.

Important Note to Twitter Party Participants: This party will use two hashtags. Please use #BarkFriday #FueltheLove to follow all the fun!

Event Barkers is working with Zuke's to help them gain online exposure and share the news of their new products. These Event Barkers events are hosted by DogTipper.com and AllThingsDogBlog.com.

Note that due to shipping regulations, the prizes in these events are only available to U.S. addresses. Thank you for your understanding.

Zuke's Giveaway Shares Whole Food Goodness

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:00:00 +0000

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You've found it! This is the Blog Hop that will bring you up to speed on this fab dog treat company, while giving you an opportunity to win big. With the help of Zuke's and their terrific variety of treats for dogs, we're bringing you an assortment of bloggers' views on various aspects of the company. What's more, there are giveaways peppered in here also. You can read out review and enjoy this post, which is a giveaway also :)

With the #FueltheLove #BarkFriday Twitter Party coming up soon, our goal is to tease you with some of the interesting facts about Zuke's, their products, culture and mission. What? You haven't yet RSVP'd for the Twitter Party? Hurry on over to the link above and get your Twitter handle on the list. That's your first entry to win an array of 15 bags of Zuke's. That's more than $100 in dog treats that your Fido is sure to salivate over!

Now you'll want to use the giveaway widget below to join in the group giveaway we're doing with this group of blogs. Winners will enjoy that same selection of 15 bags that includes:

6 bags of Mini Naturals in all of their flavors
3 bags of Hip Action treats in each flavor available
3 bags of their newest treats, Skinny Bakes
and finally 3 bags of Z-filets, a good replacement for other jerky treats that may be made in China. Toss those out pronto!

All of Zuke's products are made right here in the good ole USA. That's important to assure you that quality control in in place. Read my review of Zuke's treats here, and you'll learn more about why they should be your go to choice for Fido's snack time.

When you're ready to enter the giveaway below, the Giveaway Tools widget may be napping. You can wake it up by clicking on the post title to refresh the page. The widget will perk up and be ready to accept your entries. Enjoy and good luck!

Event Barkers, a partnership of AllThingsDogBlog.com and DogTipper.com, is working with Zuke's to help them gain online exposure and share the news of their new products.
Note that due to shipping regulations, the prizes in this event are only available to U.S. addresses. Thank you for your understanding. For a complete list of the Event Barkers rules of participation, please visit our website at EventBarkers.com.

Entry -Form

Woofing Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:03:00 +0000

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Molly Loves @ZukesPets dog treats #BarkFriday #FueltheLove pic.twitter.com/cXsnHAbAJK
— katie mitchell (@katiemitchell1) November 4, 2013

RSVP for the Swheat Scoop #LitterChat Twitter Party

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

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Organic Journey Online is all about natural, and pets are at the center of our lives. We're joining the Event Barkers team--All Things Dog Blog and CatTipper--to help with a Twitter Party for Swheat Scoop. It's called #LitterChat. We'll be sharing litterbox tips, information on this terrific Eco-friendly litter, and have a guest expert available to answer your questions about your Meow and her litterbox issues.

Join us on July 16th at 8 PM ET for an hour of Twitter fun and friends. RSVP for our event and you'll be registered to win a nice prize packages that will each include Swheat Scoop litter. Swheat Scoop is bringing in all sorts of great stuff for our cat loving community. Prize winners will take home fab prizes like a scratching tower from Imperial Cat, elite litter boxes from makers such as Modco and PetSafe, litterbox accessory organizers by the Petlinks System, and even some toys for Meow's fun. On top of all this, our Grand Prize winner will snag an entire year of Swheat Scoop litter to make sure Meow always has a clean box.

courtesy Swheat Scoop
Swheat Scoop Available in 3 Formulas

You can take advantage of the three pre-party prizes as well. One winner will be chosen from today's RSVP list, drawn on the morning of July 16. Be sure to go ahead over and sign up now, marking your calendar so you don't miss this opportunity.

The winner of our RSVP prize will receive a 14 lb. bag of Swheat Scoop litter, an Imperial Cat Scooper and 2 cat toys to entertain Meow. This prize is a $40 value, and note that our Grand Prize is worth $200. You really don't want to miss this party or the pre-party entry options. Read on.

To join in the other two pre-event prize opportunities, visit All Things Dog Blog both Tuesday afternoon--for the opening of the PreTweet festivities--and on Thursday afternoon when we unveil the Rafflecopter drawing. The prizes for each will be revealed in the announcements, and are guaranteed to be increasingly more exciting as we move toward the party date.

To learn more about this green kitty litter, watch for posts at All Things Dog Blog detailing the many Eco benefits of this litter. We'll even be teaching you how to use it in your composting. Join us!

You can also learn more about Swheat Scoop here:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Finally, if you're new to Twitter Parties, I've shared some tips posts on my left sidebar at All Things Dog Blog under the heading: Twitter 101. I'll be happy to answer any additional questions. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments section. Enjoy the journey and be sure to share the news with your friends on Twitter with this one-click Tweet:

Learn+Win: #LitterChat #TwitterParty 4 Eco-friendly @SweatScoop w/pre-party prizes starting 2day. RSVP here: http://t.co/NuUKJJg1sa
— Carrie Boyko (@Learnin2Bgreen) June 25, 2013

Win Wholefood Dog Treats by Zukes

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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The Event Barkers #WorkLikeaDog Twitter Party, run jointly by AllThingsDogBlog.com and Dogtipper.com, is up and running with pre-party giveaways. Photo submissions via the Rafflecopter, PreTweeting and the RSVP sign up are all buzzing right along.

I'm here to share these terrific dog treats with you because they are all natural and made with wholefood nutrients for your dog's good health. This is the ultimate line of great stuff to treat your dog with, whether you're running a marathon or just doing some training at home.

Supers

With no meat ingredients, they're perfect for dogs that have allergies to animal proteins, yet they are also very low in gluten. These fun treats are super because they are a powerhouse full of wholefood antioxidants--vegetables, fruits and berries. Supers provide the extra charge your high energy dog needs for his lifestyle.

Hip Action

You probably guessed that this treat is more like a supplement. It's made for our extremely active, large or older dogs, and includes great nutrients to help maintain hip and joint function. In addition to the glucosamine and chondroitin many of us are familiar with, Zuke's has added eggshell membrane, an up-and-coming new joint super food, to their Hip Action treats.

Power Bones

Power Bones were the first treat created by Zuke's back in 1995. Made with high quality protein, Power Bones include fast-burning carbs for quick energy, perfect for your canine athlete or running partner. Think Power Bar for dogs in chicken, beef or peanut butter flavor.

Mini Naturals

Last, but definitely not least, our winners will enjoy these ideally-sized training treats--Mini Naturals--reviewed here by me just recently in my 3-part series on puppy house training:

Whether you're just getting started with crate training or working on a Clean Run at agility, Mini Naturals have the aroma to motivate any behavior you're working on. The plus is that Mini Naturals only have 3 1/2 calories, so you're not as likely to put pounds on your pup while offering frequent rewards.

Watch for more details on the Grand Prize package which will always have extra oomph at Event Barkers parties. You'll want to assure that your Twitter handle is properly posted to the RSVP list so that we can find you if you've won a prize.

In addition to RSVPing, you can enter to win other pre-party prizes by PreTweeting and jumping on our Rafflecopter entries at the links above. Meanwhile, watch our Facebook page as well as Zuke's for announcements, photos and other fun. We've got a parade of working dogs showing off their stuff:

Event Barkers on Facebook
Zuke's on Facebook

We'll be sharing more about the prizes as we move toward party day, June 11. Event Barkers will take up the torch during the event to describe and award each prize. Every winner will get 8 bags of treats, plus all the goodies you see in the photo above. We're even tossing in a business tie for your dog to look great for his big day at the office. Hope to see you there!

Zukes Dog Treats Review + Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 05 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

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The Event Barkers gang is at it again. We're working with an all-natural treat line that is favored by Fidos all across the country. Irie and Tiki, the Dogtipper.com dogs, are here to share the news.

Over at All Things Dog Blog, we're opening with a series on puppy training, using the Zukes Mini Naturals as the perfect training treat to both encourage and reward good behavior. This is an excellent route to getting your little pup or even your older rescue to mold his manners in the right direction. Check out our training tips at these posts:

We hope you'll enjoy the tips for training your pup, and join in the giveaway as well. Four winners will receive 4 bags each of Zuke's Mini Naturals. The assortment of flavors include Peanut Butter, Chicken, Salmon and Rabbit. Wowzer!

courtesy Zukes.com

Want to learn more about Zukes? Check them out on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to watch for news of our Twitter Party for them, coming soon.

Entries in the giveaway below will be accepted through Thursday, May 16. Winners will be announced at All Things Dog Blog on Friday evening, May 17. To use the Rafflecopter entry form, simply click on the post title above and you'll see the form appear at the bottom of this blog post. There will be a number of different ways that you can enter. Choose those that appeal to you and use only those that you wish to. Remember to keep it fun :)

Good luck in the giveway!

Organic-Journey-Online is working with Zukes to increase their online presence.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ATTN Dog Lovers: #SuperDogPics Twitter Party

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:30:00 +0000

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These RSVP Prizes and More
Go to One Lucky Winner

My dog loving side is totally out of the closet. Having kicked into running Twitter Parties with Dogtipper.com, I'm having a blast running these fast-paced, fun-filled events. #SuperDogPics is a Twitter Party designed to help would-be Super Dog Sunday™ charity photo contest entrants get ideas for their photo entries.

This photo contest will begin shortly after the Twitter Party on Sunday evening, January 20, 2013. Photo entries are to be football-themed and this party will assist with ideas and options for theming your pictures. We'll have the publisher of Life+Dog magazine with us to answer your photography questions, and we'll be running other photo tips throughout the party. Just for fun, we'll also have a live pet illustration going on by @CartoonYourPets. It's destined to be a terrific event.

Woud you prefer to get involved in the charity or rescue side of this? No problem. You can enter photos of Petfinder shelter animals in our photo contest, as many as you wish. Not only will this make you eligible for great prizes at the photo contest, but you'll also be doing a good deed--trying to help shelter animals find a forever home.

Check out my Twitter Party Tips here and you may also want to read up on the other ways you can win prizes in these two events here. Watch All Things Dog Blog for more on how to enter Petfinder pets, coming next week.

Just by adding your Twitter handle to the sign up list below, you'll be entered to win our RSVP Prize which will include the products above and more. After that the party will have great prize packages announced every 10 minutes from 4 PM through 5:30 PM ET on Sunday. Don't miss it!

Now for the instructions; RSVP below by following the guide I've created, and be sure to use the hashtag #SuperDogPics when you Tweet. If you're unsure about your RSVP, please include an email address so we can reach you to clarify your registration. In order to win prizes at #SuperDogPics, you'll need to RSVP. What's more, there will be a prize just for one of the lucky Tweeps on the RSVP list, so don't be left out :)

Follow this RSVP Guide:

Below the numbered list at the bottom is a blue link that says "Click here to enter". Click this and follow these instructions, using the image above as a guide. In the field that says "Link Title or Blog Title" just enter your Twitter handle. Notice I entered @EventBarkers. In the second field that says "Link" you'll enter the link to your Twitter account. It will look like this: "http://twitter.com/yourhandlehere".

You can leave your email address and name in the next two fields, if you wish. This will help us reach you if your Twitter handle is listed wrong and you win a prize. We'll need to get in touch! Now click "Enter your link" and that's it. You have completed your RSVP. See you on January 20 prior to the 4 PM ET party opening.

Social Media Info for Hosts, Sponsors, Guest Experts and Prize Providers: Feel free to give them a shout out!

@TobyandMax's Website and Facebook page

@ThingsYourDog's Website and Facebook page

@ILoveMyK10's Website and Facebook page

@LifeandDog's Website and Facebook page

@CartoonYourPets Website and Facebook page

GypsyEyesClothing's Website and Facebook page

@EventBarkers Website and Facebook page

and let's not forget our beneficiary, @Petfinder_Fnd!

Charity Pet Photo Contest to Benefit Petfinder Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:01:00 +0000

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by Carrie Boyko

courtesy S.G.
Deck Out a Petfinder Adoptable Pet
to Help Promote Adoption

Super Dog Sunday™ is a football-themed pet photo contest that benefits Petfinder Foundation and the work they do with rescues. You can join in to win great prizes from our sponsors while helping to promote adoption and rescue.

To assist you with creating your photos, we'll be running a Twitter Party, #SuperDogPics, January 20 from 4-5:30 PM ET. We'll offer professional photo tips by @LifeandDog, a live artist illustration by @CartoonYourPets, easy ways to create photo entries and plenty of prizes for participants and much more. Read more at the links, and get started winning now by RTing the Tweets below to enter you in our PreTweet prize contests valued at $150 or more. See you at the kick off!

Thx to @eventbarkers & their sponsors 4 organizing #SuperDogSunday™ to benefit @petfinder_foundation: ow.ly/gt0Q0
— Carrie Boyko (@Learnin2Bgreen) January 1, 2013

#SuperDogSunday™ sponsors support @petfinder_foundation & provide gr8 prizes 4 photo contest winners:ow.ly/gt0U9
— Carrie Boyko (@Learnin2Bgreen) January 1, 2013

U can win the PreTweet prize 4 #SuperDogPics or #SuperDogSunday™ just by RTing this @eventbarkers message: ow.ly/gt10O
— Event Barkers (@EventBarkers) January 1, 2013

For more chances to win, stop by All Things Dog Blog's PreTweets and also you'll find some over at 5 Minutes for Fido. Then there's DogTipper and CatTipper; PreTweet the night away!

Here's the starting lineup of Sponsors, Prize Providers, Guest Experts and Hosts for both events. Drop by and give them all a chest bump, or maybe just a quick follow!

#SuperDogPics:

@ILoveMyK10, @ThingsYourDog, @TobyandMax, @CartoonYourPets, @LifeandDog, @EventBarkers, @AllThingsDog, @Dogtipper, @5MinutesforFido, @Cattipper, @Learnin2BGreen, @MyPetAllergies, @ParisandJohn, and special sponsor Gypsy Eyes Clothing who will be providing fleece hoodies for a few winners.

Super Dog Sunday™:

@ArenusPet, @EventBarkers, @LuvandEmma, @NaturesLogic, @TobyandMax, @AllThingsDog, @Dogtipper, @5MinutesforFido, @Cattipper, @Learnin2BGreen, @MyPetAllergies, @ParisandJohn, and special sponsor Gypsy Eyes Clothing who will be providing fleece hoodies for a few winners.

See you at kick off!

Frozen Goodies for Lonely #BarktoSchool Days

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:20:00 +0000

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School has not started yet and the weather is still warm all over the country. One of the healthiest ways to keep your pup busy when you've got a pressing task, or are off to school or work, is to leave them with a frozen goody to nibble on. We often refer to these as Busy Bones.

Choose your "container" carefully, such as a Kong or SafeMade Pet Biggie Bone shown here. Fill the void with canned Nature's Logic food and freeze. Once frozen this new treat will provide a long and satisfying period of enjoyment.

Even if you have no safe chew toys you can turn Nature's Logic food into meatballs as I have done in the container at left. While these will go a bit faster because the dogs don't have to dig for the goods, they're still a slow snack that is healthy, cool and fun to eat.

Tanner, Oliver and I are busily preparing for #BarktoSchool, a Twitter Party hosted through our Event Barkers partnership with Paris of Dogtipper.com. This fast-paced event will keep you on the edge of your seat, learning more about pet nutrition, dog training and getting to know co-sponsor Peggy Frezon and her books and blog.

Join us Sunday evening at 8 PM ET with sponsors Walk in Sync, Peggy Frezon and Nature's Logic to win prizes valued at a total of $1080! Our grand prize alone is worth $276. Yowzers!

Need tips for joining in a Twitter Party? You got it:

You must RSVP to win. Visit this link to sign up for the event.
Don't care about the prizes? No worries. Anyone can join in the fun by Tweeting with the hashtag #BarktoSchool.
Follow the party hosts and sponsors to make sure you're able to win prizes.
Show up a bit early and check in by saying hello to the sponsors and hosts, using the #BarktoSchool hashtag. Once we know you're present, you'll be eligible to win great prizes, given away every 10 minutes for the full length of the party--through 9:30 PM ET.
Be prepared to man your refresh button energetically as the party will proceed very swiftly and it often takes extra effort to keep your browser up with the party.
Join in the chat using the hashtag #BarktoSchool in each Tweet.
If you do win a prize, be sure to watch for a DM (direct message) via Twitter, in which you'll be asked for shipping information and possible size or color decisions. We may want to know your pet's sex and weight for other inclusions in your package.

Sounds like fun, right? It is! Don't miss it. The prizes begin at the shotgun start, promptly at 8 PM ET. See you then!

Dog Walking Success by Walk in Sync™

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:20:00 +0000

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Meet Jacque. He's my mother's Papillon, a rescue from a seriously ill lady who had to give him up. Jacque is a delightfully sweet and fun dog. He's playful, friendly, and full of energy. Especially on walks with my mom, who is challenged by his excessive energy.

Thanks to Alecia Evans, the owner and inventor of the Walk in Sync system, Jacque is now able to walk along side my mother and not drag her down the street. Hurray!

We're here today to share some of Alecia's Holistic tips for pup owners as well as a video from her website, that shows off just how easy it is to Walk in Sync with your dog.

Got fleas, ticks or lice? Try Cedar Oil. Works in seconds and stops the itching.
Arthritis got your pet down? Add canned food theo their diet and watch them change in a week. It's summer, make sure your dog stays cool and has plenty of access to fresh water. Check out this clip.
Don't choke the pup, train them humanely with Walk in Sync.
Is your dog's gait off? Try an animal chiropractor for help.
Dealing with pet bacteria or virus? Try Molecula Silver pets page.
Want to communicate with your dog? Check this out: All Beings Equal
Scrapes, cuts, rashes, hot spots. Try Vetricyn. It works great!
Have you seen Fiona's video? Check out: www. Hopeforpaws.org
Keep your dog's teeth tartar free: Pour Silver into a small spray bottle and spray direct on teeth 2 x daily. Visit the Ultra Nano Health Solutions Pets Page.
Is your dog's coat dry, eyes dull, lacking energy? Add in a can of wet food a day and watch your dog change before your eyes.
Dog or pup got a sour stomach? Try Boiron homeopathics. They work great and are all natural.

Now enjoy this 1 minute video example of how easy the Walk in Sync system really is:

Natural Pet Food by Nature's Logic

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:06:00 +0000

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Checking out a natural pet food is an incredibly scary task. When Nature's Logic approached me and my Event Barkers partner about sponsoring a Twitter Party I soon found I had learned a great deal more about their product than I expected. The biggest feature--the one that I found most enthralling--ends up to be the sources of their vitamins, minerals and amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

Reading a pet food label is tricky business. The rules are not natural as many of the pet industry's activities are not as well monitored by government as we may have thought. Think again. Here's one example: Disclaimers such as “made with added vitamins & minerals” on all-natural products allows a manufacturer to add synthetic vitamins and minerals & still claim it is natural. When you continue down the list of ingredients you'll get to the supplements that are added to bring the chow into compliance with AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines. Surprisingly, these don't have to be "all-natural", even if the bag is labeled as such.

We've learned that Nature's Logic is one brand that believes in sourcing their supplements from whole foods--truly natural sources--not synthetic ingredients that you find in most pet foods.

Nature's Logic has another pin in its cap that I find quite compelling. They've never ever had a recall. These days that's nothing short of miraculous. It's also very comforting to know you're feeding your pet an American made food that is one of only 6 brands to divulge every single ingredient in their entire package by taking the pet food pledge at Truth About Pet Food. You can read more about the pledge here.

Organic-Journey-Online.com will be joining other pet blogs and Twitterers for an Event Barkers Twitter Party, sharing more information like that I've included above. Follow the link to RSVP for the party, so you'll be eligible to win great prizes, while you're learning helpful tips along the way. Won't you join us to learn more about your pet's dinner? We'll be handing out over a $1000 in prizes to include Nature's Logic pet food, Walk in Sync's Get-a-Grip leashes and a walking system that includes training videos and a 30 minute consultation with the owner/inventor, as well as books and other fun items from our additional sponsors, Peggy Frezon and Event Barkers. Click the badge below for more information on the #BarktoSchool party.

#BarktoSchool Rafflecopter Prize!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

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courtesy Amazon
Contains a Peggy Frezon Story

The #BarktoSchool Twitter Party is focused on helping pet owners prepare their pets for this time of year when kids disappear and things change for pets. With training tips, nutrition information and all the prizes to go with them, you're sure to have a rip-roaring good time at this fast-paced online party.

But what happens if you can't attend? Even if you are unable to show up for #BarktoSchool, you can still enter to win the Rafflecopter prize and the PreTweet Prize. Today we're unleashing the Rafflecopter prize at all our participating sites that are promoting #BarktoSchool. Your entries will all sync in the form at the bottom, so you can enter anywhere you find this form.

I suppose you're wondering what you can win? Our terrific sponsors have each offered items. This prize package will include Nature's Logic pet food (dry kibble and canned), a Walk in Sync Get-a-Grip Leash, a Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog's Life book with Peggy Frezon's story inside, a Barkonomics book from Dogtipper.com, a bandana from All Things Dog Blog, and a package of treats from Event Barkers. The whole prize is valued at over $80. What more could a pup want for heading off to training, doggy daycare, or out for a long walk with you?

courtesy Walk in Sync
No More Pulling!

Reviews will kick in shortly, so be sure to stop by frequently and check out our partners at other sites such as My Pet Allergies, Paris and John's Country Home, 5 Minutes for Fido, All Things Dog Blog, Dogtipper.com and Cattipper.com.

If you don't see the Rafflecopter entry form below, simply click on the title to refresh and it will appear at the bottom of the post.

No purchase is necessary to win. Sponsors are working with Event Barkers to help promote their products, and they have provided them as promotional prizes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PreTweet to Win Great Prizes

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:01:00 +0000

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courtesy WalkinSync.com
Get-a-Grip Leashes

It's time to get Twitter to sing the praises of our #BarktoSchool Twitter Party sponsors. You can help by Tweeting one of the messages below, or both if you like. Feel free to Tweet daily, and each Tweet will enter you in a drawing for a fabulous prize package to be awarded at the party on August 12.

What can you win? The PreTweet prize will be drawn from all the Tweets of the #BarktoSchool hashtag between now and August 12. The winner will receive Nature's Logic dry food and canned pet food. And there's more! This winner will also take home a bottle of Caroline's Doggie Sudz Mango and Neem shampoo from Austin Rose for Fido, a package of training treats, and a fab Get-a-Grip leash by Walk in Sync.

So, are you ready to Tweet? Try these 3 on for size:

Ck out @NaturesLogic all-natural pet food and join #BarktoSchool Twitter Party2 win: ow.ly/ctr6y ow.ly/i/NmsI
— Carrie Boyko (@Learnin2Bgreen) July 26, 2012

Join @EventBarkers 4 a night of fun at #BarktoSchool #TwitterParty:#dog training tips with @WalkinSync & prizes ow.ly/cw0vg
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 26, 2012

#BarktoSchool Twitter Party will share @PeggyFrezon's blog, books & journey as a pet lover. Join us 8/12 ow.ly/ctr6y
— Carrie Boyko (@AllThingsDog) July 26, 2012

Woofing Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:01:00 +0000

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courtesy Peggy Frezon
Brooks and Kelly Enjoy a Day in Nature

I just had to share this pic of our #BarktoSchool sponsor's pups. Aren't they adorable?!!!

Learnin2bGreen Joins #BarktoSchool

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 04:01:00 +0000

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It's official; Organic Journey Online is joining the #BarktoSchool Twitter Party to share info on the all-natural food made by Nature's Logic. Along the way we'll be sharing info on other pet products that you may find interesting as well. Besides Nature's Logic, our other sponsors are pet blogger Peggy Frezon, social media event planners Event Barkers (our partnership with Dogtipper.com), and dog walking system maker, Walk in Sync.

If you've never attended a Twitter Party you're in for a real treat. These fast-paced events offer information, prizes and tons of mingling with new Twitter friends. What's fab about a Twitter Party is that you can come in your pajamas, don't need to clean your house or serve appetizers. Just show up and chime in.

Well, I lied. There's one more thing you have to do if you want a chance at some of the over $1000 in great pet prizes; you'll need to RSVP. Yup; it's just like a regular party. Let your hostess know you're coming and she'll be ready to put on a great party for you.

I'll share some info in the coming weeks to help you get up to speed on Twitter parties. Stay tuned to read up on all the tips, etiquette and helpful hints for making it easier. You're sure to have a blast.

Now, let's sign you up so you can join in the fun: Remember, in order to win prizes at the Twitter Party, you must RSVP below and follow these sponsors and hosts: @EventBarkers, @NaturesLogic, @WalkinSync, @Dogtipper, @AllThingsDog, @Cattipper, @5MinutesforFido, @MyPetAllergies, @Learnin2bGreen, @ParisandJohn, and @PeggyFrezon. These are the nice folks that make the party happen and bring you all the great swag. :)

How to RSVP: Below the numbered list at the bottom is a blue link that says "Click here to enter". Click this and follow these instructions, using the image below as a guide. In the field that says "Link Title or Blog Title" just enter your Twitter handle with the @ sign in front of it. Notice i entered @AllThingsDog in the example. They're one of the hosts.

In the second field that says "Link" you'll enter the link to your Twitter account. If you don't already have one, visit http://twitter.com to sign up for your free account. Then return here to RSVP. Your Twitter account link will look like this: "http://twitter.com/yourhandlehere".

You can leave your email address and name in the next two fields, if you wish. This will help us reach you if your Twitter handle is listed wrong and you win a prize. Now click "Enter your link" and that's it. You have completed your RSVP. See you on August 12 at 8:00 PM ET.

One last thing: If you're worried about missing any of the details of the Twitter Party, you may want to subscribe to AllThingsDogBlog.com. As a primary host they will be sure to have all the pertinent info as we draw closer to the party date. You can also follow along at Event Barkers Facebook page by "Liking" us at this link. Enjoy your journey!

#BarktoSchool sponsors are providing products as prizes for our winners and working with the Event Barkers team to help you learn more about their products and services. There is no purchase required to enter or to join in the Twitter Party.

Journey to a Fido Twitter Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:40:00 +0000

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Long time no chat. I'm sorry to be absent for such a while. Truth be told my dog blogging has taken front seat and all my time and attentions have turned that way. The good news is that today my post is definitely of interest to Organic Journey Online readers. Since this blog's themes and topics always include all-natural and green living lifestyle methods, I'm happy to share a fun event happening over at All Things Dog Blog and our Event Barkers partners.

Event Barkers is our social media events partnership with Dogtipper.com and other LT Media blogs. Our group includes 7 blogs and 9 Twitter handles that will all be participating in a #BarktoSchool Twitter Party to celebrate that time of year when the kids go back to school and our pets get additional training and some time at doggie daycare.

We've got a fun back to school event that includes an all-natural dog food, training information and aids, and lots more that you may want to check out for your pups. I'll be reviewing an all-natural pet food here soon, so stay tuned.

I hope you'll mark your calendars and join us for an evening of fast-paced fun. More details to come soon.....Enjoy your journey!

Vegetarianism: Making the Commitment

noreply@blogger.com (Toni Boyko) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:29:00 +0000

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Hello friends! If I had not mentioned so before, I recently was on an extended trip in Costa Rica, and I only returned last night. I must admit that I was not extremely excited to return to reality, but I am excited to share with you some things I have learned. First however, I have a few more comments on vegetarianism. And in case you were wondering, it was extremely easy to stay veggie in Costa Rica.

The next thing I would like to talk to you about would be overcoming the small hiccups in the road that sometimes cause veggies to revert back to being meat eaters. Mine for example, was eating on a college campus (not ideal for a vegetarian). For other people, these include things such as eating out, and reactions from friends.

Vegetarian Meet Up Groups are Found In Most Cities

I used several tactics to overcome these obstacles that may help you. The first, and possibly most useful, was having a good friend of mine who was also vegetarian. My friend had been vegetarian at the time I was beginning for over a year and knew all the good vegetarian foods, restaurants, and what to eat on campus. This was probably the most useful tool at had at my disposal when first making the transition and while staying the course. Having a support system who has the same values as yourself. In most large cities there are groups of vegetarian societies who get together as organizations or simply meet-up groups. These are great ways to meet other vegetarians and to get involved in something new. I was also lucky enough to have another vegetarian along with me on my trip to Costa Rica; we often got the same meal, or shared a meal to save money, and then have room for dessert!

Next item that often upsets many new vegetarians is those nights on the town; they often feel like they can't go out to eat with friends because they won't be able to eat anything at the restaurant. Quite the contrary! Most restaurants have several vegetarian options, and if not, you can typically ask for something on the menu to be prepared vegetarian and the chef will sometimes throw in some extra veggies to spice it up for you! It's much easier than you might think to be vegetarian and stay vegetarian!

Now... if you have friends, like I do, who ask why you suddenly decided after ALLLLLL this time to become vegetarian; just be honest with them. Tell them what your decision was for making the switch and they should accept that. If they still give you a hard time then just hold your ground, be confident and don't let it get to you. One of the key things about vegetarianism is that you can't be bothered by people mocking your choice of lifestyle. You have to respect others' decisions if you want them to respect yours. Stay confident in your decision and you will be perfectly fine. Use Jim Gaffigan's stand up on vegetarianism as an example. If you can laugh at this and not be offended, you will do great.

One thing that may help to be sure you are confident in your decision, is to transition your lifestyle during a healthy period in your life. In other words, be sure you are of sound body and mind. It would not be a good idea to change your diet if you are having health problems, or are under an unusual amount of stress. The best time to make the transition is when you are healthy and feeling stress-free and happy.

Let's face it, stress-free, is pretty rare; so for those of you who don't know what it means to be stress-free, the best time to make the transition would be when you are feeling the most at ease. In other words, a time when everything is going smoothly, and as far as you know nothing should arise to change that for the next few months.

Changing your diet when you are happy and healthy will make the process go much more smoothly, than trying any other time. Something else that may help, if you are prone to stress, is to try easing yourself into vegetarianism. Don't suddenly drop meat all together. It's hard to completely cut something out of your life, whatever it may be. Try slowly cutting back less and less each week until finally you feel ready to cut out meat altogether.

Was there anything that particularly helped you?! Let me know here. Or at our Facebook fanpage. Or you can even leave me a tweet.

Don't forget to watch for upcoming posts about vegetarianism and organic living.

Eating Vegetarian: Staying the Course

noreply@blogger.com (Toni Boyko) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:08:00 +0000

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Hello again! I hope to find you all in good health, and I hope you have enjoyed my first few posts on vegetarianism. Those posts were meant to be informative and I know they were not terribly entertaining to read, but I hope you found them useful. Now, however, we need to address possibly the most important aspect of the situation. How to stay on track and motivated with your diet when temptations may arise. One thing however, I would like to say before I go on, is that, I know in previous posts I have referred to vegetarianism and alike as "diets", however, I feel that the term "lifestyle choice" is more appropriate and will from now on use this phrase to refer to them.

The beginning is perhaps the most difficult. Adjusting to any new type of lifestyle, whether it is a new school, a home, a new job, etc. is extremely stressful on the body and the mind. A new lifestyle choice such as a vegetarian diet can cause your body some stress in the first few months depending on the foods you are substituting for meat. Things such as meat cravings can occur if you are not getting adequate amounts of protein from the appropriate sources. However, in time they typically pass once you learn what you like and what your body needs.

Things like "mock meats" are great for new vegetarians. Today there are tons of plant-based proteins that come in all meat shapes and tastes. These are much healthier than true meat, and are an excellent source of protein for vegetarians. A personal favorite of mine are the Morningstar Corn Dogs. I swear to you, they are better than the real thing!
For a more comprehensive list of meat substitutes.

Morningstar makes lots of vegetarian products that taste just like the real thing. Their website also offers hundreds of vegetarian recipes and other valuable information about vegetarianism.

Once you have become comfortable with your diet, it is fairly easy to restrain yourself from those cravings you used to have. The easiest way I find to keep from having a slip, if ever a craving arises, is to remember why I chose this lifestyle; remember my reasoning behind no longer eating meat, and the craving passes. Another trick is to be sure and always keep vegetarian food in the house. Try not to let your food supply get too low as to temp you to go grab a quick burger from McDonalds.

FYI, we've discovered that my meat substitutes from Morning Star are quite an attraction for our little Papillon, Oliver. I suppose that's a good sign of the meaty aroma he detects. You can read more about Oliver and his antics over at All Things Dog Blog and 5 Minutes for Fido.

Hopefully this information is useful for those of you making the transition. The first few weeks are definitely the hardest, but I promise it gets easier! If you have any questions, comments or concerns, post them here, or at our Facebook page! Be sure to watch my tweets on Twitter about upcoming posts!

Types of Vegetarianism: Sorting out the Distinctions

noreply@blogger.com (Toni Boyko) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:50:00 +0000

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Previously we have talked here on Organic Journey Online about why someone may want to become a vegetarian. It is important to distinguish, since many people do not know, the differences between the different types of vegetarianism when considering changing your diet. I will lay out for you the 3 most common types, however, there are several more that people often follow.

1) Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian:

This is typically what people think of when they hear the word "vegetarian". This diet refers to someone who excludes all forms of animal meat but still consumes dairy and eggs. These vegetarians may be for any reason ranging from health concerns to concern for animal rights.

2) Lacto-Vegetarian:

"Lacto" means dairy, therefore, this diet excludes all meat forms and eggs, however, continues to consume dairy products.

3) Ovo-Vegetarian:

"Ovo" in this case meaning egg, this diet excludes all meat forms and diary, and includes eggs.

3) Vegan:

Most people are familiar with the term vegan, but may not entirely understand it. A vegan diet excludes any animal byproducts, including dairy, eggs, and meat. A vegan diet is the most difficult diet to maintain. A vegan is typically concerned mostly with the welfare of animals in addition to environmental concerns.

There are many other types of vegetarianism that some strict vegetarians do not think qualify as true vegetarians including "pescatarian" which is a diet that excludes all forms of meat except fish. And "flexitarian" is someone who follows a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet and eats meat occasionally. Additionally there are people who follow vegetarian diets for religious or spiritual reasons.

When considering the types of vegetarianism it is also important to think about the many types of food you may consume on a regular basis that may actually not be vegetarian. For instance, to my complete astonishment, 2 months into my vegetarian diet, my good friend Lacee informed me about the ingredients in gelatin. I was entirely unaware that gelatin was made from animal tissues, and therefore can never be vegetarian. However, luckily there are alternatives, but you would be surprised how many foods gelatin is in!

Other ingredients you may be surprised to find are not vegetarian include, vitamin D, often disguised as vitamin D-3, which is always derived from an animal source. Alternatives for this may be vitamins from plant and mineral sources or sunlight exposure. Sunlight is my favorite alternative!

Another upsetting non-vegetarian revelation, often used as an ingredient, is in that tasty glass I enjoy on occasion; yes folks, wine. A huge upset I assure you. Wineries often use animal-derived products to remove certain particles during the wine-making process. Some of these common products used are suitable for the vegetarian diet, however, none would be acceptable for the vegan diet. The only concern remains that there is no way to be sure what product is used because wineries are not required to put it on their label.

Don't get discouraged just yet! There are wines made that do not use any animal-derived ingredients during fermentation. For some tips on how to buy wine suitable for your diet, check out the Vegan Wine Guide.

One last ingredient worth mentioning is one that you would have to search labels for to know if it was in your food, but it is definitely worth it. I am talking about the ingredient L-Cysteine, a common flavor enhancer in many types of foods. L-Cysteine is derived from, duck feathers, pig bristles and hooves, and, get this--human hair. Take a minute and soak that in. Ten years ago the most common source of L-Cysteine was human hair; today it is derived from duck feathers about 80% of the time. This is one ingredient I'll go searching for on labels. For further information, visit The Vegetarian Resource Group.

Many foods can trick you into appearing vegetarian. Watching labels is one the most difficult parts of changing your diet, but it is also a great opportunity to learn more about nutrition and find out what you are eating is healthy for you and what's not. These are just a few things I wanted to share with you that I found to be non-vegetarian but please share any others that you may know of. I am always interested in learning more about vegetarianism and veganism. Share your comments here and at our fanpage on Facebook. You might even drop me a Tweet!

Vegetarianism: Why Make this Change in Your Diet?

noreply@blogger.com (Toni Boyko) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:01:00 +0000

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This picture of me and my dog Xena is meant to represent animals as a whole, not merely her as my pet. Here she stands as my reason for becoming a vegetarian, and that is my love of animals. Last year she passed away, and as my first dog, the loss was extremely painful. However, without her, my passion for animals never would have grown as strongly as it did.

The day I decided to become vegetarian was a turning point in my life; it was the day I realized that I could help reduce the cruelty towards animals by no longer consuming them. It is true, people become vegetarians for many reasons; intolerance of animal cruelty is but one of them.

Whatever your feelings on the situation may be, I am not here to judge. For me, animal cruelty is unacceptable. Raising animals to sustain ourselves is unacceptable, and I am proud to say that I am no longer a consumer of products that have been produced through acts of animal torture and cruelty. Were the animals treated humanely, kept in clean environments, not given innumerable amounts of growth hormones, and not slaughtered in mass numbers, there is a slight chance I would feel differently. Why not eat organic meats you may ask?

Animals grown on organic farms are not given hormones or antibiotics like those on factory farms typically are. However, that does not suggest they are treated more humanely as a result. Animals on organic farms must have access to outdoors, however, "having access to outdoors" does not imply that they are ever actually outside during they day. They may only have access to a small outdoor enclosure and many may never reach it due to their tightly packed spaces indoors.

I am not here to tell you that if you are not a vegetarian, or do not intend to become one, you are doing the world an injustice; I merely wish to educate those of you interested in this particular lifestyle for the time being. As I mentioned earlier, people choose to switch to a vegetarian diet for many reasons. From personal experience I have known more vegetarians who have chosen this lifestyle for reasons related to animal concerns and environmental concerns than any other matter. Animal rights groups such as PETA advocate vegetarianism on a daily basis.

Here are a few others:

1. Concern for Overall Health

It has been proven that excluding meat from your diet can decrease your cholesterol, help promote weight loss, as well as decrease the risk of multiple types of cancer and disease.

2. Environmental Concerns

Did you know that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than SUVs, cars, planes, and ships combined?.. That’s a lot!

3. Weight Management

Extensive research has proven that children and adults who follow a vegetarian diet are leaner than those who do not.

4. Food-Safety Concerns

Animals are given hormones to affect their growth rate, which you are then consuming when you eat them. These hormones can potentially have a negative affect on your health.

These are just a few reasons why some people may choose to follow a meat-free diet. Now, for those of you who may be interested, you simply need to determine what compels you enough to abstain from eating meat. During my research I stumbled upon an excellent compilation of statistics behind many reasons one may choose to become vegetarian, it certainly was an eye-opener for me in some areas. It may help to push you over the edge in your decision, or help you to persuade another.

I began by talking about my passion for animals, so I would like to end with the words of another, that I found amusing, and words I could truly identify with.

"To his butler: Please put the ladybug outside without harming her."

-- Winston Churchill

Please feel free to comment by leaving your reason for becoming vegetarian, here, at our Facebook page, or on Twitter. Any other comments, questions, or concerns, are also graciously encouraged.

BTW, if you're a dog lover, you may enjoy what you'll find over at All Things Dog Blog. Stop by and let Mom know I sent you!

Organic Journey Online Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0000

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by Toni Boyko

OJO's Newest Contributer

Hello Readers! I promise you that my mother is not gone forever, and I will try to fill her shoes as best I can with this splendid opportunity she has bestowed upon me. I have decided to start off with a short introduction about myself in hopes that you will feel well acquainted with me and better understand my passions.

I am a college student, 21 years to be exact (Finally!!! is what most say; yes including myself). I attend the University of Tampa, not University of South Florida, as most assume, but University of Tampa, which is located in downtown Tampa, and whose mascot is the Spartans. I am approaching my senior year, and not ashamed to admit that I wish I was going back to my freshman year. College has gone by way too fast!

I am majoring in biology, with a concentration in environmental science which is why my mother has so obligingly given me the opportunity to write for her blog. What I actually want to do after I graduate, you would think I should know by now, since I am almost a senior. However, still, I have no idea! It scares me on a daily basis. However, I have a good GPA and good references so I have no doubt that a good job awaits me after I graduate.

As far as what I wish to write about, (I am sure you have been wondering) I have decided to begin by telling you about my journey these past few months and onward on becoming a vegetarian. A few months ago, I decided to finally make the transition. Meat always having been the staple of my diet, I never thought I could do it. After having watched a close friend succeed for nearly a year with the task, I thought I should have no problem. Then being told I would fail by several of my friends, I had to try it. I pledged to be vegetarian for one month, and if it were too difficult I would return to my meat eating diet.

After one month passed, not an ounce of meat had passed between my lips, although I did have several scares, including bacon, and pepperoni, which I temporarily forgot were meat. At the one month mark--my birthday no less--I decided to allow myself some chicken. Upon eating I felt so horrible I could not finish my meal and my friends thought I was crazy (except my other vegetarian friend who said “Told you that you’d feel bad”). So here I am, three months later, and still a vegetarian, despite maybe two bites of chicken on my birthday.

I have decided to begin this as a learning opportunity to educate others as well as myself on how to live a healthy vegetarian lifestyle. Please leave your comments here and at our fan page on Facebook! I am an extreme extrovert and I love to communicate with others in any form or fashion. You can also watch for my Tweets, as I begin to learn my way around Twitter. That should be an experience in itself. Hope to see you there.

P.S. Although my Mom is busy over at All Things Dog Blog, I can assure you they are not attempting a vegetarian diet--LOL.

Becoming a Vegetarian: Organic Journey Online Takes an Inside Look at the Process

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:25:00 +0000

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by Carrie Boyko

Good morning and please accept my apologies for my absence. While away playing with my dog blog, I found it suddenly took off. I've been consumed by it ever since. But alas, I have a solution. Since living the organic lifestyle is still my choice, I needed to find a way to bring you content. When my daughter decided to take on a vegetarian diet, I ultimately found that her desire to share this with you was a worthwhile addition of information for this site's readers, whether or not you may choose this route for yourself. Knowledge is empowerment to make choices.

So today I am introducing you to my 21 year old daughter, Toni, a senior in college. In addition to being a vegetarian, Toni is majoring in biology, while concentrating in environmental science to further her understanding of a sustainable world and continue working at healthy, green living. While considering her options for grad school, Toni is studying abroad this summer, as she writes this series for you. Her summer study is primarily on Primatology and ecology. This area of zoology that has always captured her interest will likely be compelling, yet she is concerned about career possibilities in this narrow niche. She continues to gravitate more and more toward healthy living in the forms of eating organic and vegetarian, while living greener.

So, the jury is out on where my daughter will land with a career, yet her interest in sharing her vegetarian experience with you is most certainly a telling peek at what is to come. I hope you will join Toni for her series that will take you through the whole process, from consideration to installation in a vegetarian diet.

Your free subscription to Organic Journey Online will allow you to know you'll never miss a post. Each will arrive in your email inbox the day of publication. The sign up area for this free service is in the top of the sidebar. We invite you to share in Toni's journey to learn about how to maintain vibrant health through a vegetarian diet. We also encourage you to share this post and others with anyone that you know is interested in learning more about this healthy way of eating. All you need to do is click the cute little envelope icon at the bottom of the post and follow the prompts to enter an email address. Enjoy your journey!

Lauren's Vermont Brown Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:18:00 +0000

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Not every holiday can I say that someone gave me something homemade. These gifts have a special something that says "I cared enough to spend some of my valuable time on YOU." Today I received two beautiful gifts from a new friend. When she entered my life just a couple of months ago, we were perfect strangers. Yet in that short time I believe we have already become friends. I am all the luckier for that gift alone.

When she arrived at my home today with the gifts, one was this delicious bread. Luckily I got the recipe as well. You'll definitely want to add this recipe to your To Do list. It's a must do!

Lauren's Vermont Brown Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups of organic buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup organic molasses
2 cups organic whole wheat flour
1 cups organic white flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Blend buttermilk, soda, salt, and molasses for 2 minutes
Add flours and mix for 2 minutes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

For maximum enjoyment, serve with your favorite soup or stew. Thanks, Lauren!

Lemon Clouds...an Oh So Good Organic Cookie that's Very Low in Fat!

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:53:00 +0000

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Well, I suppose you've all been wondering where I am. It seems that there is a dog blog out there that has sniffed me out, fetched me over there, and hounded me into full time service. Along the way that dog blog has managed to climb into the Top 100 Pet Blogs and get quite a bit of attention. So, alas, I have left my poor OJO quiet and lonely.

Today we can celebrate a new organic cookie recipe. And that party should be even more hearty because this cookie has a whopping 1 gram of fat. How's that for healthy? Maybe you're a skeptic and certain they'll be awful. Think again.

I nabbed this recipe from a new friend at our family reunion. I should have told her I'd make her famous, but then that might have been a little over the top. Now that I've found all the ingredients in organic form, I just had to tackle them. Here goes:

Lemon Cloud Cookies

1 organic egg
2 cups TruWhip, all natural Cool Whip substitute (yes; it's terrific!) You'll find this in the freezer section of many natural food stores.
1 box organic lemon cake mix
1/2 cup organic powdered sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray 2 large cookie sheets.
Now that you're done gagging over that long list of ingredients (LOL) let's get to work. Stir egg, TruWhip and Cake Mix together until well mixed. It will be a sticky mixture.
Place the powdered sugar in a bowl.
Using 2 spoons, scoop up a rounded teaspoonful and roll it in the sugar, using the spoons. Fingers will get too sticky!
Place on cookie sheet.
Oven variations and personal preference being what they are, bake the cookies for roughly 13-14 minutes.
Cool on rack and store in airtight containers when completely cool. This recipe makes approximately 30 cookies. Yippee!

Now that you have a low fat cookie recipe that is totally yummy, you have license to bake them for everyone you know this holiday season. Who can complain about those fattening treats you gave them when these are incredibly healthy? Let the baking begin...

NOTE #1: Feel free to leave comments thanking Samantha for the recipe. We love her!

NOTE #2: If you miss seeing me and my silliness, feel free to stop in at All Things Dog Blog (my completely serious doggie bloggie) or 5 Minutes for Fido, where silliness is an art form with my pack being the bloggers. And don't forget to enjoy your journey.

Organic Furniture and Mattresses for a Healthier Home Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Carrie J. Boyko) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:43:00 +0000

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Choosing American-made furniture is just one of the many things you can do to reduce your family's carbon footprint. The considerable difference in shipping makes for less environmental impact, getting you off to a good start.

There's more you can do to improve your home's air quality, as a result of toxins that off-gas and accumulate in your house. For instance, natural, solid wood that is not treated with a lengthy list of no-nos such as formaldehyde and glues, saves you from the health hazards of plastics and pressed woods or laminates, that often contain added amounts of these materials.

Purchasing furniture that is not made with pine will save you from the out-gases of terpenes that cause allergic reactions and are irritating.

Upholstery materials can now be obtained in organic or all-natural forms, and vinyls can be replaced with natural latex. These choices mean less off-gasing from vinyls and no residues of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in the fabrics you spend hours sitting or laying on.

Speaking of sitting and laying for hours, think about what you spend 8 hours doing every night. Can you guess why your mattress, sheets and pajamas are the most important items you can purchase made from organic or natural materials? This is 1/3 of your life we're talking about, so give this one serious consideration.

Mattresses are made from polyurethane foam. This material is treated with flame retardants. Most mattresses made before 2005 used PDBEs, highly toxic material that puts you at great risk when spending your entire night lying on it. PDBEs have been linked in research to multiple health hazards such as cancer, thyroid hormone interruption, memory impairment and much more. Nasty stuff!

You're probably thinking there are loads of alternatives, but sadly, the other materials used as flame retardants all have their issues. Only a natural latex mattress core will protect you from this stuff.

Have I got you thinking about replacing your mattress? I visited Green America, and their National Green Pages, a massive listing of companies that offer products and services that support a sustainable lifestyle. You'll find lots of companies to pick from at this link. Want a place to start? I learned a lot at one particular site, Erik Organic, a company that offers natural and organic furniture of all types. There are many others as well, so do your research. As you already no doubt know, buying a mattress is no small purchase. Sleep healthy.