brianna brunsell

It’s a Contest for 2015 National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day!

Posted by Barbara Techel

Contest for National Walk 'N Roll Dog Day 2015!

In August 2012 I founded National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day. As many of you may know, I founded this day in memory of my dachshund, Frankie who was in a wheelchair due to paralysis from disc disease.

Frankie rolled for six years touching the lives of many through visits to schools and many facilities as a therapy dog. Her life is chronicled in two children’s books I wrote about her and my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes.

I wanted her legacy to live on after she passed away on June 22, 2012.  And I also wanted a way in which to honor ALL dogs in wheelchairs around the world.

You know why?

Because they deeply inspire me and still do to this day!

The official day of celebration is September 22.  Along with this day and bringing positive awareness to the public that dogs in wheelchair can and DO live quality lives, I have a campaign to raise money for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

This fund, in Frankie’s name, has granted 43 wheelchairs to date to paralyzed dogs in need.

Yup! That is worth a Yahoo, don’t you think?

And this year to celebrate, artist Brianna Brunsell of Silly Dog Magnets has generously donated her time and talent in creating a illustration for the special day which will be available for sale as t-shirts coming soon!

And here is where I need your help!

We need a slogan for this year so I’m running a contest and have created a Facebook page just for the contest which you can check out here. This is where you can also leave your idea for a slogan!  And I welcome all ideas!

Winner will receive a t-shirt with their slogan on and the illustration Brianna is working on to celebrate National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day 2015. I will also include a signed copy of my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes to the winner.

Funds raised from the sale of t-shirts will benefit the Frankie Wheelchair Fund to help more paralyzed dogs in need. Yup, we need another yahoo!

The average cost of a wheelchair is $385 so as you can see we hope to raise a nice chunk of change to help as many deserving disabled dogs in need as we can.

So head on over to our Facebook page for the contest, give it a “like,” leave your idea, and please help spread the word.

Thank you!

Please note that contest is open to US residents only due to shipping costs.

Contest ends August 1, 2015.

Thank you for visiting!

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Silly G as a Silly Dog Magnet

Posted by Barbara Techel

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UPDATE:  I’ve received requests from others asking if they can purchase the magnet set of Miss Gidget. Brianna is happy to oblige with a LIMITED EDITION available through her Etsy shop. And just an FYI, I am not an affiliate and will not receive profit – just one creative person supporting another creative person I truly adore!…and bringing a positive face to special needs dogs!

 Today’s journal post brought to you by Miss Gidget…

This is me. Silly G.

And me as Silly G as a Silly Dog magnet set.

Created by artist Brianna Brunsell.

Is your dog silly?

Or sweet?

Or cuddly?

Or funny?

All of the above, I have no doubt.

And lovable for sure. I just know it!

You know you want your dog on a magnet set! Who wouldn’t?

We dogs got you wrapped around our paws and have embedded our love deep in your hearts forever.

So come on, put your dog on a magnet set.

You won’t regret it. You’ll love it.

You’ll smile every time you pass by the refrigerator with your dog smiling back at you.

WOOF!

I’m not a paid spokes dog for Silly Dog Magnets. I just happen to love Ms. Brianna and how super cute she drew me. I’d say she did a fantastic job, wouldn’t you?

To learn more about Brianna and Silly Dog magnets you can find her and her two adorable weenie’s, Billie and Daisy, on her Facebook page and her Etsy shop.

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Stay tuned to National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day celebrated annually on September 22.  Brianna will be donating a custom made print with a wheelchair dog theme with proceeds to benefit The Frankie Wheelchair Fund (helping disabled dogs in need of a wheelchair with over 35 dogs helped so far!).

Last year Brianna donated this print below which was a huge success (thank you again, Brianna!) Also just an FYI that these type prints she does just for charity auctions. We will be doing the wheelie dog themed print auction beginning sometime in mid-to-late August. I’ll announce it here and on our Facebook pages.

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Pretty Verses Beautiful… and P.S. I’m Still Here and Not Going Anywhere!

Posted by Barbara Techel

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First and foremost, I just want to apologize for scaring some of you yesterday with my post that said I was saying goodbye and what sounded like I would no longer be here writing.

But, whew, as you did come to discover as you read my post, I decided to now call this place I call home for my writing on the big wide world web, my journal, instead of my blog. It really speaks so much to the heart of who I am and how I want to expand on what I share here with you.

I must say though, you all warmed my heart with your comments and your enthusiasm for my new beginnings in calling this my journal. A place where yes, I’ll continue to share what I learn from my animals, but also will delve into other topics that intrigue me, and yes, sometimes wake me at night and keep me awake all night long!

Like many, I have oodles of thoughts that go through this head of mine every day. Sometimes it is quite noisy in here, so writing helps me get it out. In the process, it is my hope to continue to inspire and encourage you and others to listen more often to your own inner voice and live from that place that is authentically you — because I believe that when you do, you create a meaningful life for yourself.

So without further ado, I wanted to share one of my random thoughts that came to me at five this morning.

Words can mean so many different things to so many different people. I was thinking of the word pretty verses the word beautiful.

What instantly came to mind is that beautiful seems to encompass so much more than the word pretty.  In some ways the word pretty seems superficial to me.

When I think of someone who is beautiful, being pretty can play into it, but most often it is who they are as a whole – when I can see someones inner light glowing from the inside, out. Someone whose character speaks to the truth of who they are. That they aren’t concerned with the outside worlds thoughts, but following what it is that brings them joy.  This is so beautiful when you get to see this in someone.

Thinking back to my younger days in my 20s and 30s, I so wish I had understood the wisdom of beautiful and hadn’t got so caught up in society’s standard of pretty, trying to achieve and maintain that. It was exhausting.

My English yellow Labrador, Kylie, is another definition of beautiful to me. While yes, I think she is quite pretty, but then I may be biased (grin), I also see her soul when I look into her eyes.

And even better?  I feel her soul which is all about gentleness, kindness, sweetness, forgiveness, and love. She exudes it every moment of every day.

But when I see someone who I know is living from the heart of who they are there is nothing more beautiful, I think. It makes me think of artist, Marie Wulf. I admire her greatly not only for her deep love of all animals, but how she moves to the beat of her own drum. Every time I see a photo of her, I can see her true, inner light. It makes me smile and encourages me to continue to be who I am.

My artist friend, Marie is another person I think is beautiful because she is so, well, so Marie! I also think of Kathryn Hepburn, artists, Katie Daisy and Brianna Brunsell, and so many more.

And then it surely does go to the saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But I think it worth giving thought to what it is we find beautiful and when we do, I think it helps lead us down the path of what it is that matters most. At least this has, and continues to be the case for me.

The more I let the loud noise of society’s expectations and definitions of pretty and beautiful fade away, the more my inner world matches my outer world, and I see beauty in a way that adds to my definition of living a meaningful life.

Please feel free to leave a comment…