Incidents and Accidents

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

It's that time again! Conversation hearts are on the shelves!!!!

Am I the only person on the planet who actually like conversation hearts? They taste like chalk, only sweet. What's not to like? The purple ones are the best.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, the lovely Kate Ledger, author of Remedies, has generously offered to give two lucky readers a copy of The Dogs' Book of Romance!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below! Two winners will be chosen using a random number generator on February 14th at noon!

You can learn more about Kate on her website, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook!

"Monday, Tuesday, shorts. . . "

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

J: Why are you wearing shorts? It's winter.

Me: The weather has no bearing on the laundry.

Ridiculous things I've caught myself saying to the dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

Do you like my singing? Exactly! Because it's fabulous.
Don't yell at me. It's not my fault you fell off the bed.
I don't appreciate your tone, young lady.
I know what you're trying to say, you're trying to say it's time for breakfast 'cause it's breakfast time! Oooh!
It's my turn on the treadmill. You already had your turn!
I'm stress eating. Don't judge me.
Yeah, well, I don't get a treat every time I want one either.

2011 in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Here's my review from 2010, and here's 2009 part one & part two.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I went rock climbing! On actual rock! We stopped in Asheville on the way to Florida this spring, and had the most patient guide (Ron Funderburke at Fox Mountain Guides). I got the shakes and was going to just hang back and watch while J climbed, but Ron helped me get past my fear and do some climbing. It was a great experience.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year, spurred by the somewhat horrific realization that between Thanksgiving and Christmas I had eaten most of an enormous bag of marshmallows from a warehouse store, I resolved to eat fewer marshmallows. And I did! I only ate ten all year (I kept track on the white board in the kitchen). This year, I resolve to eat MORE marshmallows than I did in 2010. Like eleven or twelve. You know, just to shake things up.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! There are some new awesome little people in the world! Love it!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
J's grandpa passed away. He used to write us the best letters, and I still catch myself thinking of things we should put in the next note to Grandpa.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just this one. But I went to Texas for the first time. It doesn't count, obviously, but it's something new.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I'm still striving for work/life balance. But I used to work too much at a job I hated, so working too much on my writing feels like a luxury (on the good days, I might have a different answer for you on the bad ones).

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm still crap at remembering dates. But we spent a week in Florida in April with J's siblings, making sandcastles in the sun with our niece and nephew. And I got to lounge on a beach chair and chat with my sister-in-law in person (instead of clocking our gazillion hours a week of phone time). It was absolute bliss.

We also took a last minute trip to Maine in the fall. Acadia is gorgeous!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Over the summer, I finished what is probably the second to last draft of a personal project I've been working on for years. I pushed past the limits of my comfort zone in a major way, and I feel like a stronger person because I did.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I've focused on writing so much this year that I haven't had as much time as I'd like for the people I love. After spending so much time traveling and seeing old friends in 2010, 2011 felt a little sparse.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a breast cancer scare. The biopsy results came back clear, it was benign. The surgeon I talked with in follow-up told me that it was an imaging issue - they couldn't see for sure that there wasn't something to be concerned about, so the biopsy was just a precaution. The wait for the results shook me up in a major way and I have the ultimate respect and compassion for people who go through that whole process and get different news.

I wasn't going to talk about it here, because, hey, my boobs are private, but when it happened, I found a lot of comfort from people who shared that they'd gone through something similar, and I wasn't alone. And I'm going to preach at you! Go to your annual doctors' appointments! Check your boobs! (Follow Lisa on Twitter, she'll nag you nicely).

Oh, and then I had that whole fun with Vitamin D thing. But otherwise, I've been pretty healthy (knock wood).

11. What was the best thing you bought?
2011 is the year I discovered moose antlers as dog chews. Best dog distraction ever. And since antlers are shed naturally, they're cruelty free.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister-in-law. You know that whole biopsy thing? I couldn't have gotten through it without her. In general, I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She's brilliant and kind, super practical, and the funniest person I've ever met. My life is so much brighter because I get to be her friend. I am eternally grateful that J's big bro has such amazing taste in women.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
See #23

14. Where did most of your money go?
I just did our year end expenses and realized that as self-employed folks, last year we paid more for health insurance than we did for our mortgage. Yeah. But, I'm thankful that we have health insurance.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I'd tell you, but then I'd have to erase your brain.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Evan Dando's cover of Frying Pan. It got stuck in my head and I. COULD. NOT. STOP. SINGING. IT. Under my breath. At the top of my lungs. In the shower. In the car. All the time. I think J was ready to leave me, just to get away from hearing "I looked in a frying pan, I seen a song. I looked at a dying man, he sang along," over and over and over again. And really, I wouldn't have blamed him.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
I think content is a good word. I'm not saying I'm always there. But it's a good word.

b) thinner or fatter?
Not much different, but I need to workout a little more.

c) richer or poorer?
Did you see #14?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Hanging out with people I love.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I just wish I had more time. I don't want to work less, but I do want to play more.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Hanging out with J, working a little, eating good food. Somehow J escaped the annual viewing of Christmas Vacation. Hmm....

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I am continually in love with J. I'm so proud of him, he's an amazing friend and husband, and spending my life with him is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Oh, I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to cancelled TV shows. I loved Terriers so much that I watched it twice. Donal Logue (who was in one of my favorite movies ever) is awesome, Michael Raymond-James is awesome, the writing is fantastic, and I adore the look and feel of it (and the theme song). It's smart and funny and full of heart and I really wish there were more seasons.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Dr. Seuss said, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Last year I got to the point where I was just too damn busy to waste my time on anyone who doesn't matter. There are too many people who mean the world to me and I'd rather spend that energy celebrating them.

24. What was the best book you read?
I had the good fortune of swapping projects with Rainbow Rowell this summer. Not only did she give me incredible feedback on my work (Rainbow = storytelling genius), but I got to read Eleanor & Park, which is now one of my favorite books of all time.

I'd fallen into the bad habit of reading like a writer, but Eleanor & Park made me read like a reader again. I was like a kid reading under the covers with my flashlight. It's a brilliant love story. I want to hug those beautiful, beautiful characters, and Rainbow for creating them. I feel like she's has done the world a favor by writing Eleanor & Park, because we need these characters in our literary history so we can think about them fondly, wonder what they're doing, and feel understood. I can't wait to read it again when it comes out.

It will hit shelves in the US in late 2012 or early 2013, but if you want to spring for an import copy, it's out in the UK on April 12th.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I feel like my year has been split in two since I've worked on two different projects, with two different playlists.

I'm still completely in awe of Chris Pureka (and we got to see her play in Syracuse in November - incredible). How I Learned to See in the Dark is a stunning album, and you need to listen to it.

With my new project, I cannot get enough of Evan Dando. It's a Shame About Ray has been one of my favorite albums since high school, but I'd never paid much attention otherwise. The song All My Life found its way into my playlist, and it seems to zap me right into my new main character's head. Right now I'm all Dando all the time, and so thankful that The Lemonheads made like eleventy-gazillion albums.

26. What did you want and get?
A new book deal. And both the dogs I sponsored at Wooftown Rescue were adopted.

27. What did you want and not get?
My new dream is to have a home office in an Airstream Bambi. But I don't know how practical that is. . .

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I watch TV shows more than movies, because I like seeing characters develop over long story lines. I did watch The Vicious Kind this year, and it really stuck with me. I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it, but I'm still thinking about those characters.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
34, and I think we went out to dinner.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting to see my far-away friends much more often. This was my answer from last year, but it holds true again.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
The year I found jeans that fit my butt.

32. What kept you sane?
Exercise. Television. I have a hard time reading at certain stages in my writing, which is painful, because reading is my number one escape. So in the first few drafts of a book, TV saves me when I need a break. Also, knitting. I am all about the knitting lately.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I am amazed by Bryan Cranston. J and I watched Breaking Bad, and then went back and watched a whole bunch of Malcolm in the Middle episodes. Aside from the fact that Mr. Cranston spends an inordinate amount of time in nothing but tighty whities on both shows, there's hardly any evidence that he's the same person. His range as an actor is fascinating.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I am incredibly proud to be from New York this year.

35. Who did you miss?
I missed everyone. I didn't get to see Lady at all in 2011, and that sucked. Badly.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Libby Cook from Mostly Shepherds was inspiring and so so kind.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

I love the idea that the stuff we go through gives us strength and sensitivity that we wouldn't have if things were easier. What doesn't kill us, gives us superpowers.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"These are precious times, you and I, we walk the line."

Wordless Wednesday - The Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Day Six: We're out of coffee filters. The natives are getting restless.

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:23:00 +0000

So J was away on a business trip for a week. I stocked up on food before he left, and with the exception of a workout and meeting up for coffee with my favorite teacher from high school (who happened to be in town for a conference), I did not leave the house all week, and I barely talked on the phone.

I wrote, and then I wrote some more, and then I thought about writing, watched TV for a bit (Oh my gosh! TERRIERS!!!!), and wrote again. I let go of schedules. I slept when I felt like sleeping and ate when I remembered to.

I missed J like crazy, but I was at a point in my manuscript where I really needed the time to be so completely lost in my thoughts. I needed to think about my characters more than I thought about real people, and it was nice to have a one-woman stay-at-home writing retreat. It felt indulgent to focus so completely on my work.

I did, however, end up a little sleep deprived. Argo kept waking up at 3AM and running to the door to wait for J. I like to think he'd been dreaming that J had come home. And Stella, in J's absence, felt the need to sleep directly on my legs, so I woke up every morning with the craziest pins and needles in my feet.

And then, two days after the coffee filters, radishes, and chocolate ran out, just before the three of us started to get completely squirrely, it was time to go pick J up at the airport, and I realized on a whole new level just how important it is to have someone to come home to after spending all that time in my head. The one-woman (and two dogs) stay-at-home writing retreat is a nice-ish place to visit, but if I lived there, I think I'd start getting really weird.

Wordless Wednesday - Mt. Hope Cemetery Lantern Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Rescue Dogs!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:21:00 +0000

New York - Rochester

So, the fantastic news is that Wooftown Rescue has found a home for Chandler, one of the dogs I sponsored!

Liza (above), my other sponsor dog, is still in need of a foster or forever home. She needs to go to a family without young kids or other pets, but according to her current foster mom, she's super sweet and would make a wonderful jogging buddy. She's two years old, and only about 40 pounds, so if you're looking for big dog attitude but don't have the space for a big dog, she'd be a wonderful fit. I believe she's currently in a foster situation with other dogs and would be happier as the only pet. So if you'd like to have a dog, but aren't sure you can commit long-term, hosting Liza until she finds a forever home might be a great way to go. She's available without an adoption fee.

New York - Buffalo

Flint

From Big Dogs Big Hearts:

Meet Flint. Flint is a 9 month old male, black German Shepherd Mix. He was abandoned at the shelter so not sure what his past was like. Flint is a bit timid when meeting new people....He is friendly with dogs, but a little skittish at first. Currently, Flint is weighing in about 45 lbs. He is a very handsome boy. Flint is fostering with a 1 year old, female German Shepherd and just loves playing with her. Flint has a very sweet soul.

You can find more information for Flint here (scroll down).

Texas - Houston
Savannah

From Second Chance German Shepherd Rescue:

Age: 1 1/2 years

Weight: 60 Pounds

Spayed/Neutered: Yes

Housetrained: Yes

Savannah was very sick when Second Chance rescued her, but she's on the mend, going through heartworm treatment and up for adoption at the end of November! Her foster family says she loves belly rubs and is great with kids and dogs. Look at those ears!

Colorado - Breckinridge

Sophie

From Animal Rescue of the Rockies:

This is Sophie, a 6 year old collie/aussie mix that is very sweet and shy but will warm up well when she gets to know you! Sophie has been very calm while in the shelter. She was tested with a clam and rambunctious dog, she was fine with both even popped into the play bow position with the rambunctious one. She does well with small and large dogs. Her favorite thing to do go for walks but watch out if there is any body of water near as Sophie will want to lay in it or go swimming in it. She loves the water! While she loves to go for hikes, walks, or runs when it's time to settle down at the end of the day she will curl up by your side with her head in your lap and stay there. Her coat is very fluffy and long and will need consistent grooming but it is as soft as silk! Please open your heart to this sweet and gentle older girl.

Good with dogs and cats. Older children would be ok, but we are not sure how she will do with young kids as she tends to avoid them.

California - Oakland

Charlie

From The Oakland German Shepherd Group (scroll down):

Charlie, 15 month old owner surrender, superb with obedience, but needs a calm, stable home with (preferably) one other soft dog to play with, a nice fenced yard (he is not a dog park dog), no children. He is WONDERFULLY sweet, and seems to have gotten past his old fear based issues. He greets and welcomes strangers submissively and sweetly, but his new owner should always be mindful to watch his comfort level and not push him. Charlie needs a gentle, loving, kind owner. Please share and crosspost. He needs a home URGENTLY.

Stupid Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:18:00 +0000

I don't get sick gracefully. I have little patience for myself when I'm not at 100% and I'm not good at relaxing. The dreaded lurgy hit our house this week, slowed everything down, and forced us to cancel our super fun weekend plans with our favorite people.

Instead of showing you all what a champion whiner I can be, here are a few things that are cheering me up.

Teeny tiny gluten-free bunny cookies.

I don't know if it's helping or not, but it tastes good.

I feel like Siri really gets me.

The flash on my new phone turns Argo into Alien Dog.

And, it's a terrible picture, but this:

The cat suddenly decided she likes hanging out with the dogs, and I have proof.

(Sort of) Wordless Wednesday - No, Mr. Tea Bag Tag, really, it isn't.

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Stella is not amused

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:43:00 +0000

I woke up this morning with a little excess energy, and maybe I had a little more coffee than usual. Plus, it's fall. The dogs definitely have what Bark Magazine calls the "zoomies," because the air is crisp and clear. And I think I might have the zoomies a bit myself.

So, this morning, after J left for work, I cranked up The Cure and jumped in the shower and was possibly singing very loudly, and possibly also singing all the instrumental parts in addition to the lyrics and having a grand old time doing so . . . until I got out of the shower and found Stella, lying on the bathroom floor with a look on her face that can best be described as bewildered.

Once she realized I was not having some sort of fit, she sighed and got up and left the room and I swear she shook her head at me as she left. Okay, so maybe she didn't shake her head, but I felt her disapproval. It hung heavy in the air.

I don't know where she gets off acting all high and mighty. If I spent the majority of yesterday afternoon rolling around on my back in the yard, I might not be so quick to pass judgement on the goofball activities of others. She really needs to cut me some slack. No one sounds normal when they're singing The Cure. No one. Not even you.

What's on your playlist today?

#DogKarma Winner + Your Favorite Rescues!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:21:00 +0000

It's been so much fun hearing getting to learn more about you and your pets this week! The love we have for the animals in our lives is such a beautiful thing and it's so touching to hear stories of just how much animals mean to us.

Thank you all for entering and sharing and tweeting about rescue dogs and doing everything you do to help dogs in need.

I put all the entries into a big spreadsheet and used a random number generator to pick a winner, and the winner is:

Kay!

Kay tweeted:

#DogKarma This is Agnes, http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21007192. We are going to meet her Tues. to see if she's a good fit w/our chi, Emma :)

And, behold the cuteness of Agnes!

Congratulations, Kay! I hope Emma and Agnes get along well and it all works out!

Last Monday, I asked for your favorite local rescue in comments and I wanted to post the rescues you mentioned here.

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (CA)
Atlanta Humane Society (GA)
Southern California German Shepherd Rescue (CA)
Lapdog Rescue (NM)
Our Pack (CA)
Thomas J O'Connor Adoption Center (MA)
Northeast Animal Shelter (MA)
Wyoming County SPCA (NY)
Home For Friendless Animals (IN)
Buddy Dog Humane Society (MA)
Lilo's Promise Animal Rescue (NJ)
Forever Paws (MA)
Washtenaw County Humane Society (MI)
Waggin Tail Rescue and Transport Dogs (NY)

If you're planning to bring a new dog into your family, I hope you'll research your local rescues.

I'd also like to give a huge thank you to the generous sponsors of this contest.

They are all companies who go above and beyond to create quality products and give back to their communities, and I'm very thankful for their contributions to the #DogKarma contest.

Enter to win! #DogKarma Sponsor: earthdog

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Stella!

The earthdog Hemp Martingale Collar was one of my favorite dog products of 2007, over at TheGreenists.com. And you know what? It's still one of my favorite dog products. Argo has had his collar since July of 2007 and it's still in fantastic shape!

We're such big fans of earthdog, that when we adopted Stella we got her an earthdog collar too. Argo has the Dietrich, and Stella has the Astrid, if you're curious.

Made from hemp, these collars are super durable, resist smells, and wear nicely. They're machine washable, but I can't say I wash them very often, since they don't seem to get very dirty and they don't pick up that doggie smell.

About earthdog:

Dave and Kym Colella started earthdog fourteen years ago, when they realized that the homemade collars they created for their dogs could have a broad appeal.

"with your support we continue to strive to create unique, eco-conscious products that dogs and people alike will love. hemp, with its amazing versatility, has enabled us to create an entire product line of eco-friendly, durable goods that we are proud to offer. we gather our inspiration from our pack, 15 strong, and they never let us down. they're all rescues from various walks of life and its misfortunes, and one way or another, have found their way to us. you'll find their names on our collar patterns and their images throughout our line (you're also likely to hear them barking when you call us).

at the end of the day, the cornerstone of our company remains the love of our dogs and the enrichment they add to our lives. we're once again reminded who and what we are: a family with a family business. we trust that the dogs in your life will enjoy these offerings as much as ours do."

earthdog is a carbon neutral company in Brentwood, TN. All products are handmade in the USA. 10% of earthdog profits go to Kody's Fund, a program to help fund spay & neuter programs.

Each collar is named after a special pup, and you can meet the dogs behind the collars here.

earthdog has been so kind to donate a Reilley Martingale "Rescued Dog" Decorative Hemp Collar to the #DogKarma Prize Pack!

It's pictured above as an adjustable collar, so below is a photo of what the martingale style looks like.

You can follow earthdog on their blog, Facebook, and Twitter (Kym, Dave).

You can learn more about adopting their current foster dog, Violet, here.

This post is a part of the #DogKarma Prize Pack to encourage dog rescue! But you don't need to rescue a dog to enter! If you're not planning to adopt a rescue dog in the near future, you can still enter. If you win, the Good Karma necklace is yours to keep, and we hope you'll donate the dog goods to your local rescue to help them with their amazing efforts to help dogs find forever homes.

To enter:

Leave a comment below and tell me what dog product you can't live without!
For an extra entry, post or tweet about a rescue dog in your area who needs a home, (use the hashtag #DogKarma) then come back and post a link to the entry. A sample tweet is here.

CONTEST CLOSED

Enter to win! #DogKarma Sponsor: A Barkers Dozen

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:48:00 +0000

This summer I had a blast doing a STAY event at A Barkers Dozen in Webster, NY, and Argo and Stella were thrilled when I came home with hand-made gourmet dog treats for them.

A Barker's Dozen is such a great addition to the community in the greater Rochester area. They do fun bring-your-dog events to benefit local dog rescues and charities. And they have the most adorable dog treats. If you're in Rochester, you can bring your dog to the store for a visit, but if you're not in Rochester, your dog can still enjoy A Barkers Dozen treats from their online store.

And, to support #DogKarma, A Barkers Dozen is donating $40 worth of hand decorated dog treats to the prize pack!

About A Barkers Dozen:

"A Barkers Dozen™ is a one-of-a-kind dog bakery located in Rochester, NY that specializes in hand-made gourmet dog treats customized to your specifications. We offer fully customized treats for those special events to help you stand out including logo treats and custom cookie cutters.

All of our treats are wheat, corn and soy free and are made using only human-grade ingredients and rolled to a thick 3/8". Everything is made to order using the freshest ingredients — ensuring they not only look beautiful, but taste great too!"

You can follow A Barkers Dozen on Facebook and Twitter.

To enter:

Leave a comment below telling me about your pet's favorite food. If you don't have a pet, tell me about your favorite food.
For an extra entry, post or tweet about a rescue dog in your area who needs a home, (use the hashtag #DogKarma) then come back and post a link to the entry. A sample tweet is here.

Photos by LuminariaPhotography.com

CONTEST CLOSED

Enter to Win! Zogoflex Dog Toys from Good Things Green Things!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:09:00 +0000

Have you heard of Zogoflex? It's a dog toy material developed by WestPaw, and it's changed my life. Virtually indestructible, and recyclable at the end of their very long lifecycle (in longevity terms, these are the tortoise of dog toys), Zogoflex toys are tough enough for my strong chewers, and that's saying something. Stella is a master of destruction, and Argo loves to play, but they have yet to wear one of these toys out over years of use.

I have a review of the Zisc, WestPaw's Zogoflex frisbee, over at TheGreenists.com today. And I'm thrilled to tell you that Andi from Good Things Green Things has donated a great collection of toys to the #DogKarma Prize pack.

The toys in the prize pack:

1 Zisc
1 Tux
1 Hurley
1 Huck

About Andi and Good Things Green Things:

"We are an eco friendly gift shop committed to bringing you the healthiest, most eco friendly products for your family, pets and home.

My first pregnancy inspired me to green up my routine and I began searching for healthy products to use on myself and in my home. I struggled to find products in my area that met my standards, and wondered if others were having the same problem. So I decided to start Good Things Green Things to offer healthy products for everyone, conveniently located in one place.

We have a great selection of products that have natural and organic ingredients, are biodegradable or compostable, certified fair trade, handmade, sustainable, recyclable or made from recycled materials. Being a Minnesotan, we also have a great selection of products from Minnesota including, skin care, non toxic cleaning products, and our own line of GMO free soy candles. *All of our products are free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, petroleum and sulfates."

You can follow Andi on Facebook & Twitter, and sign up for the Good Things Green Things Newsletter!

To enter:

Leave a comment below telling me about your pet's favorite toy (if you don't have a pet , tell me about your favorite).
For an extra entry, post or tweet about a rescue dog in your area who needs a home, (use the hashtag #DogKarma) then come back and post a link to the entry. A sample tweet is here.

CONTEST CLOSED

Enter to win! #DogKarma Sponsor: Opie & Dixie!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:50:00 +0000

One of the things I'm excited about with the #DogKarma Prize Pack is the opportunity to share some of my favorite dog products with you. Opie & Dixie products are absolutely a favorite of mine.

Argo and Stella are itchy dogs, and if I use the wrong shampoo when I give them a bath, they'll be scratching for days. Opie & Dixie's line of organic grooming products are gentle on their sensitive skin, but unlike many sensitive skin products I've tried, they actually get the job done. I did a review of an Opie & Dixie product for TheGreenists.com last year, and you can read it here.

About the Opie & Dixie items:

About Opie & Dixie:

Debbie Guardian developed Opie & Dixie products as a solution to her dog, Opal’s itchy, irritated skin. She focuses on organic and biodynamic ingredients, and works hard to keep the packaging recyclable. Even Opie & Dixie’s labels are made with concern for the environment. You can read more about practices and ingredients they do and don't use here.

You can follow Opie & Dixie on Facebook & Twitter.

To enter:

Leave a comment below telling me about the pet you wanted most when you were a kid.
For an extra entry, post or tweet about a rescue dog in your area who needs a home, (use the hashtag #DogKarma) then come back and post a link to the entry. A sample tweet is here.

CONTEST CLOSED

#DogKarma Sponsor: Planet Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:14:00 +0000

Talk about #DogKarma! Planet Dog has a great lineup of eco-friendly toys and pet accessories for pups of every size, and they do so much to support great dog causes and advocate for dog adoption. I'm thrilled that they're a part of the #DogKarma Prize Pack!

About the On the Go Collection:

The On the Go line by Planet Dog offers a portable Feedbag, Food and Water Bowl and Snack Sack. This extraordinarily light, collapsible, rollable, stuffable and very packable waterproof collection was designed with easy transport and storage in mind.

The linings of the durable poly-canvas bags, bowls and sacks are made from PU, an eco-friendlier material than PVC.

Our lucky #DogKarma winner will receive:

1 On the Go Feedbag
1 On the Go Food & Water Bowl
1 On the Go Snack Sack
1 WOOF Sticker

About Planet Dog:

"Our mission is to amuse, explore, support, innovate, create, educate, celebrate and philanthropate... all in the name of the dog. We "romp the romp" by providing financial resources to those in need, educating consumers about canine-related issues, creating an array of non-toxic and recyclable products, and keeping the tails of "our pack" wagging."

Based in Maine, Planet Dog makes many products from recycled materials and accepts used Orbee toys for recycling.

Planet Dog gives 2% of every sale of any Planet Dog product to their own Planet Dog Foundation, an organization that funds programs that train, place, and support working dogs helping people in need.

Follow Planet Dog on Facebook & Twitter.

This item is a part of the #DogKarma Prize pack full of great dog goods to help a rescue dog get settled in his or her new home.

If you're not planning to adopt a rescue dog in the near future, you can still enter. If you win, the Good Karma necklace is yours to keep, and we hope you'll donate the dog goods to your local rescue to help them with their amazing efforts to help dogs find forever homes.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post, and tell me about your favorite dog friendly place (one comment per person, please).

For extra entries:

Blog or Tweet (#DogKarma) about a dog from your local pound or rescue who is in need of a home, and come back and leave the link to your tweet or blog post in the comments. Here's a sample tweet.

Please only enter one link per day in comments for an extra entry, but feel free to post about rescue dogs with the #DogKarma hashtag as often as you'd like, because, of course, the goal is to raise awareness about adoptable rescue dogs!

Each day this week I'll post with more information on the items in the prize pack and the generous companies sponsoring this project, and will give you more opportunities to enter with each post.

I'll announce the winner (chosen by a random number generator) on Monday, October 3rd.

Good Luck!

CONTEST CLOSED

#DogKarma Sponsor: Newman's Own Organics Premium Pet Food

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:10:00 +0000

I feed my dogs Newman's Own Organics, and have for a very long time. I've even reviewed Newman's dog food at TheGreenists.com. I'm super excited that Newman's Own Organics Premium Pet Food is giving our lucky winner of the #DogKarma Rescue Dog Prize Pack a sample kit of dog food, because I think Newman's Own Organics is a wonderful example of good karma in action.

About the sample kit:

1.5 lb adult dry food bag
12.7oz chicken/brown rice can
12oz beef can
5.5oz turkey/chicken can
5.5oz turkey/brown Rice can
10oz Peanut Butter treats
4oz Chicken/Rice Training Treat
$10 worth of coupons on future purchases of Newman's Own Organics products

About Newman's Own Organics Premium Pet Food:

All of Newman's Own Organics Premium Pet Food contain certified organic vegetables and grains. The products do not contain antibiotics, hormones, chemical ingredients or artificial preservatives, colors, or additives. The pet food, like all of Newman's Own Organics' products, has been certified by Oregon Tilth. All of the charity money generated by the sale of the pet food goes to organizations that support animals' well-being.

Newman’s Own Organics was established as a division of Newman’s Own in 1993, and became a separate company in late 2001. Paul Newman has given over $300 million to thousands of charities worldwide since 1982.

Follow Newman's Own Organics on Facebook!

This item is a part of the #DogKarma Prize pack full of great dog goods to help a rescue dog get settled in his or her new home. If you're not planning to adopt a rescue dog in the near future, you can still enter. If you win, the Good Karma necklace is yours to keep, and we hope you'll donate the dog goods to your local rescue to help them with their amazing efforts to help dogs find forever homes.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post, and tell me who your favorite TV or movie dog is (one comment per person, please).

#DogKarma Sponsor: Dogeared Jewels & Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:11:00 +0000

Dogeared Jewels & Gifts has so generously passed along a Karma Necklace (the same style worn by Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray, Love) for the #DogKarma prize pack.

About the necklace:

what goes around, comes around... wear your necklace as a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving...

One of our best selling and most loved pieces, our karma necklace is a simple reminder to keep your own circle peaceful and loving. One of the most comfortable, and powerful necklaces we sell.

16" sterling silver chain

1/2" sterling silver karma circle

sterling silver trigger closure

karma message card

handcrafted in california

About Dogeared Jewels & Gifts:

Dogeared Jewels and Gifts have been hand crafted in California for 20 years, when designer Marcia Maizel-Clarke recognized the need for jewelry that speaks. The style is modern and versatile, inspired by California's free spirited, natural beauty. Designs range from subtle classics to eclectic, unexpected statements, all designed in the spirit of love, kindness, and consciousness. Each jewel is handmade in the USA, collectable, and one of a kind.

Dogeared believes what goes around comes around. We are committed to the same values we held when we started on this journey in 1991... And we will always design with the planet in mind and support nonprofit groups working to heal the environment and create social change.

We're celebrating 20 years of good Karma, doing what we love, and loving what we do: creating jewelry that puts good energy out into the world, and makes personal, positive statements about people who wear it.

Follow Dogeared Jewels & Gifts on Facebook & Twitter!

This item is a part of the #DogKarma Prize pack full of great dog goods to help a rescue dog get settled in his or her new home.

If you're not planning to adopt a rescue dog in the near future, you can still enter. If you win, the Good Karma necklace is yours to keep, and we hope you'll donate the dog goods to your local rescue to help them with their amazing efforts to help dogs find forever homes.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post, and tell me the name of your favorite local dog rescue (one comment per person, please).

For extra entries:

Blog or Tweet (#DogKarma) about a dog from your local pound or rescue who is in need of a home, and come back and leave the link to your tweet or blog post in the comments. Here's a sample tweet.

Please only enter one link per day in comments for an extra entry, but feel free to post about rescue dogs with the #DogKarma hashtag as often as you'd like, because, of course, the goal is to raise awareness about adoptable rescue dogs!

Each day this week I'll post with more information on the items in the prize pack and the generous companies sponsoring this project, and will give you more opportunities to enter with each post.

I'll announce the winner (chosen by a random number generator) on Monday, October 3rd.

Good Luck!
CONTEST CLOSED

Win the #DogKarma Rescue Prize Pack: Because rescuing a dog is good Karma . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:36:00 +0000

Wooftown Rescue used my donation to sponsor two dogs, Liza and Chandler. Both pups can now go to forever homes without an adoption fee!

If you live in Western New York and are thinking about adding a new dog to your family, please consider meeting Liza and Chandler to see if one of them might be the right dog for you.

Here's some information on Chandler (could he BE any more adorable?):

Chandler is a young , neutered, French Mastiff (bordeaux)/Staffy mix. He came to us from a kill shelter where he was going to be euthanized. Chandler is a young dog, maybe only 1 or 2 years. He is dog selective and prefers dogs that are smaller than him and female. Although, we would prefer him in a no dog home. He loves cats and actually prefers them to dogs. He is potty trained, crate trained and does not chew. He loves everyone he meets and just wants to be loved on. He is a really nice boy that deserves a family of his own! Chandler will jump up so please no small children in his forever home!!!

And here's some information on Liza:

Liza is a beautiful 2 year old Belgian Shepherd mix who has never met a person she didn't love. We rescued Liza from being euthanized in shelter down South after she was seized from a bad living situation.

Liza is a very happy girl with lots of energy, lives to go for walks and to be with people. She is a great running partner and can run up to 4 miles a day! She plays with toys and gives lots of kisses. Her pictures don't do her justice. She's very camera shy. When she is out at the park people often comment on how beautiful she is!!!

But these dogs are in Western New York, and if you're not, I'd still like to encourage you to consider your local pound or rescue as an adoption option. So I've asked the companies who make some of my all-time favorite dog products to help me put together a wonderful package of things your new rescue dog will need, in the hopes that this prize pack will make it a little easier to adopt a dog.

One lucky winner will receive:

Karma Necklace from Dogeared Jewels & Gifts (Julia Roberts wore one in Eat, Pray, Love)
Sample variety pack of food from Newman's Own Organics Dog Food
On the Go Collection travel bowls and containers from Planet Dog
Puppy Shampoo, Botanical Creme Rinse and Condition, and a Snoutstik from Opie & Dixie
Westpaw Dog Toys from Good Things Green Things
Gourmet Hand-Decorated Dog Treats from A Barker's Dozen
Hemp Martingale Reilley "Rescued Dog" Collar from Earth Dog

If you're not planning to adopt a rescue dog in the near future, you can still enter. If you win, the Good Karma necklace is yours to keep, and we hope you'll donate the dog goods to your local rescue to help them with their amazing efforts to help dogs find forever homes.

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post, and tell me what your favorite dog name is (one comment per person, please).

For extra entries:

Blog or Tweet (#DogKarma) about a dog from your local pound or rescue who is in need of a home, and come back and leave the link to your tweet or blog post in the comments. Here's a sample tweet.

Please only enter one link per day in comments for an extra entry, but feel free to post about rescue dogs with the #DogKarma hashtag as often as you'd like, because, of course, the goal is to raise awareness about adoptable rescue dogs!

Each day this week I'll post with more information on the items in the prize pack and the generous companies sponsoring this project, and will give you more opportunities to enter with each post.

I'll announce the winner (chosen by a random number generator) on Monday, October 3rd.

Good Luck!
CONTEST CLOSED

And for my next . . . book.

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:51:00 +0000

I am so excited to announce that I'll be working with Plume again on my next book!

From Publisher's Marketplace:

STAY author Allie Larkin's next novel, about a heartbroken woman who is mistaken for a long lost classmate at a high school reunion and decides to assume her identity, to Denise Roy at Plume, in a very nice deal, by Elisabeth Weed of Weed Literary(World).

And there's a super dreamy guy, who has an awesome, awesome dog. . .

I'm having a blast writing it and I'm thrilled that I'll get to share it with all of you!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Girl!

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:25:00 +0000

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

STAY in Target

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:50:00 +0000

So, back in February of 2009, I was shopping at Target when my agent called to tell me that STAY had sold.

I still don't remember what I'd gone in to buy. Handsoap? Laundry detergent? Dog toys? Whatever the item, it was probably an excuse to visit the book section, stare at all the covers, study all the imprints, and daydream about seeing my book on Target shelves one day. I was always particularly fond of Plume's beautiful covers for Jane Green's books (and Jane Green's books in general).

I can't say it ever felt like a realistic dream. It was actually more than my mind could completely fathom -- kind of the way I used to kiss frogs as a kid, hoping they'd turn into princes, even though I had a pretty good idea of what the odds were.

But, yesterday, while running errands with J at the very same Target, I pulled him over to the book section. And there it was: my very own beautiful Plume paperback, hanging out with one of Jane Green's beautiful Plume paperbacks.

If you know anything at all about me, I'm sure you can guess that there were happy tears involved. Me and crying happy tears in Target go way back.

But, I have J now, so I don't plan to kiss any frogs.

Wordless Wednesday - I wasn't joking about the praying mantis video.

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Change of plans and lists of things

noreply@blogger.com (Allie) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:14:00 +0000

- I had to cancel my NYC trip this week, but I'm donating the funds I would have put toward travel to Wooftown Rescue, and I am just plain giddy about it! They do such amazing things for dogs in need! I can't wait tell you more about them and the beautiful dogs they save (like Liza!).

- This little guy showed up while I was doing some yard work the other day. I, of course, stopped what I was doing to go take some high def video of him cleaning himself with his "paws" like a cat. It's still on my camera (I know you're totally dying to see it, right?).

- It has occurred to me that there's a reason my yard is a mess.

- Since Stella & the cat are both afraid of storms, I thought maybe encouraging them to cuddle together would solve the problem.

- The cat gave me some serious hard stares.

- And then she bit me.

- Most stories about the cat can end with "and then she bit me."

- Or "and then she puked."

- I have been a writing machine lately.

- I just discovered that three seasons of Felicity are on Netflix Watch Instantly.

- I have been listening to Chris Pureka so much that it feels strange when I'm not listening to Chris Pureka.

- Remember how in STAY Van gets all upset because she wanted a red toaster and Janie told her it was tacky so she didn't buy it? Our toaster started smoking recently (it had already stopped toasting things one side), so I used it as an excuse to buy a red one. I like to think Van would be proud.

- If she were real.

- I swear I know Van's not real. But the toaster makes me happy.

- I did an event at Present Tense Books last week and the ladies in the book club felt very motherly toward Van, wishing they could have given her sound advice and helped her stick up for herself. I wanted to hug all of them. It was such a fun event and I am so glad I got the chance to visit Present Tense. It is an awesome bookstore! They have an unbelievably wide selection of new books and an upstairs room full of used books that they call the Past Tense room. If you live near Batavia, NY, you have to go. It's a cool cool place full of kindred spirits.