Archives for September 2014

Be part of this wonderful celebration as Dr.Jodie introduces her non-profit organization, iPAW!

Mark your calendar to attend,“Comedians for Critters”, and Pet Benefit !

Where: Historic Shank Hall – 1434 N. Farwell Ave. – Milwaukee, WI.
When: Sunday, October 5th, 2014
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Price: $10.00 at the door
RSVP NOW:
*Arrive early as entry and seating are not guaranteed

Look forward to a great comedy show featuring “award winning“ Dobie Maxwell from the Dented Can! There’ll be drinks, appetizers, a raffle, silent auction, and you’ll even get to meet “spokes pet” Sadie in person and view a video montage of many other beautiful pets in need! Don’t miss out on the fun!! It promises to be a memorable afternoon event to benefit iPAW!

Dr. Jodie is well known and respected for her knowledgeable holistic approach and loving care for the animals she treats at her Animal Doctor Veterinary Complex in Muskego, Wisconsin. With a top-notch staff who always takes the time to assist with any needs or questions you may have, Animal Doctor presents a comfortable, friendly atmosphere for you and your pet.

I was curious to find out more about Dr. Jodie’s holistic veterinary approach, and was delighted when she was able to take some time from her busy schedule for the following interview.

My Interview with Dr. Jodie Gruenstern:

1.VICKI: What inspired you to become a holistic veterinarian?
DR. JODIE:”I decided to become a veterinarian when I was five years old. I vowed I would help all the animals in the world! About ten years into my conventional veterinary practice I realized I was not attaining that lofty goal. I was not satisfied with the tools in my conventional toolbox. I heard from technicians and pet guardians that there were other modalities, such as natural foods, herbs and acupuncture, which I could learn to use, to help pets better!”

2.VICKI: Would you share some of the additional training you’ve received in holistic treatment and therapy.
DR. JODIE: “I have attended educational national holistic conventions and seminars across the country to learn holistic modalities including western herbs and essential oils. Additionally, the Chi Institute in Florida for acupuncture and Chinese herbals and food therapy, A Time to Heal in Illinois, the Canine Rehab Program in Tennessee, also chiropractic seminars to learn whole food nutrition.

3.VICKI: What are a few of the unique services you can provide at your Animal Doctor Holistic Veterinary Complex?
DR. JODIE:“These services do not seem so unique to us anymore, as we do them every day and feel that the word is out, and they are becoming more mainstream, but pet guardians are now aware that they should not over vaccinate their pets! We have been encouraging titre testing instead, for many years. I am certified in veterinary acupuncture and food therapy, so I focus a lot of my time on these. I have a lot of experience with helping pet guardians convert their dogs and cats to safe, and effective raw meat diets. Our results are fantastic! We do still offer full service which includes radiology, dentistry and surgery. I have an experienced associate for this. We also have an amazing ultrasound specialist who provides his mobile service to us on a regular basis. Our in-house blood work service rivals the emergency clinics! This diversity and availability of services has made us the go-to clinic for some of the most challenging cases. Unfortunately, this means we see a lot of pets with severe illness including allergies and cancer.”

4.VICKI: Will you be developing additional Dr.Jodie’s Natural Pets products in the future?
DR. JODIE: “Absolutely! But we are growing so quickly I need to keep my creative mind on the back burner so that we can develop systems to keep up with our current growing demand. My ideas are secret! But they all stem from the needs I see in my practice for better natural products to serve pet needs. Our best seller, N-Trail Mix, has been called “kitty crack” by pet guardians who realized their cats cannot live without these addictive, healthful organ bits. Pets don’t get enough organs in their diets; so, this treat really fills a need! The tiny bits are perfect as high-value training aids for dogs as well.”

5.VICKI:What is your wish for the ultimate goal of iPAWs
DR. JODIE: “I see iPAW as an umbrella organization and again, as filling a gap. There are a lot of organizations out there who rescue, foster, shelter. We want to be a coordinator, a matchmaker of sorts. Potential benefactors often do not know how to choose. Guardians with needs often cannot get help because they do not have a non-profit status. Veterinary clinics have personnel and skill, but not unlimited funds to help! We want to bring that all together. For example, Pierre is a cat in Pennsylvania whose “mom” contacted us. He has a cleft palate and needs surgery. We are verifying the need and contacting the potential surgeon to facilitate the connection and provide funding. If it weren’t for this type of intervention, many pets are euthanized unnecessarily in veterinary practices every day. Personally, we have saved hundreds of pets from euthanasia; another great example is reaching for modalities, such as acupuncture for paralysis, when surgery is not a financial option. One of my employees has a little dachshund living with her and running like the wind every day due to this intervention. Her name is Zayda and participants at our October 5 event will see her current pictures!”

VICKI:Thank you Dr. Jodie for your endless work in offering the best care to the dear animals who provide us with such unconditional love and happiness. Continued success to you with all of your ongoing endeavors…
DR. JODI:“Thank you Vicki! I really appreciate your time and effort in helping us to get out the word on these topics!”

Informational sources for you to peruse:
•Find out more about iPAW by visiting: http://www.ipawaid.com
•To learn more about Animal Doctor Holistic Veterinary Complex go to:http://www.animaldoctormuskego.com
•Discover the exclusive line of Dr. Jodie’s Natural Pet Food Products by going to:
http://www.DrJodiesNaturalPets.com
It’s your “Go-To” website for just about everything you’ll want to reference about “Promoting Ideas and; Products for the Natural Health of Pets™.”

On Facebook:
• https://www.facebook.com/animaldoctormuskego
• https://www.facebook.com/AnimalDoctorApprovedProductCollection

Two women of iPAW with their iPAW Pals:

Kati Gingras is one of the many generous women of iPAW. She helped rescue Bubba from euthanasia and was instrumental in his recovery from diabetes. He now thrives on raw food!

Dr.Jodie and veterinary assistant Monique Misfeldt administer an acupuncture treatment to Zayda, who was once paralyzed.

Monique is a woman of iPAW who has adopted the dachshund, Zayda who now runs and plays with brother, Peanut!

There’s no time like the present to visit iPAW online : http://www.ipawaid.com It’s such an incredible source that offers so much information , and provides visual images of the sweet animals who have already been helped by iPAW, along with their stories: In addition, it enlightens readers how they can help, and offers contact information where readers will be able to leave a message for iPAW: http://www.ipawaid.com/#!whowevehelped/c6mv
http://www.ipawaid.com/#!contact-us/con8
You’ll be so glad that you did, and so will the animals who need “You” !

(Any Quoted or Paraphrased information in this article was obtained from:
http://www.ipawaid.com
http://www.AnimalDoctorMuskego.com
http://www.DrJodiesNaturalPets.com
Special gratitude to:
Dr.Jodie Gruenstern
Animal Doctor Holistic Veterinary Complex
414-422-1300
Photo Credits:/Joyce Paisley-Photography/Digital Artistry:
http://joycepaisley.com )

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We’ve all watched the reality shows on television, so I know you’ll enjoy reading Author Susan Stoker’s Beyond Reality Trilogy as much as I have. Susan’s new fictional series consists of three books that are receiving great reviews. With her engaging writing skills and three different storylines, you’ll get to experience the making of a reality show from both sides of the camera, with all the emotions, cattiness, and yes…. even romance with twists of fate.

Susan has provided me with some “teasers” for you from each of her new books followed with a wonderful interview I look forward to sharing with you!

The first book is OUTBACK HEARTS: “Becky and her mom used to watch reality shows together all the time. Her mom passed away before she could see Becky on her very own show…except it’s not her own show. She has to share the limelight with another woman. They’re both competing for the love and attention of the same men. It was like no show Becky had ever seen… and she was miserable. The best thing about the show was trying to irritate the other woman by choosing activities Becky knew she’d hate. Becky had no idea she’d meet a wonderful, protective man while on the show, unfortunately he wasn’t a contestant.”

The second book is FLAMING HEARTS: “Alex never thought posing for one picture while out with friends one night would end with him being in Australia dating sixteen women at one time. Of course, the concept of dating that many women are better in the abstract than reality. Alex always wanted to be seen as normal, wanted to be liked for himself. Women always saw his looks and his money, but never the real him. He becomes convinced that secretly being able to see how the women act when they aren’t around him would make the decision easier. Was there any chance he’d be able to find what he was looking for over the ocean in Australia?”

The third book is FROZEN HEARTS: “The Alaskan reality show is camera operator Jonathan’s last gig before he goes to work in security with his brother. The shoot would be completely miserable except the one woman in the world who was meant to be his is also a camera operator on the show. He doesn’t know how he’ll manage it, but he has to win her heart and convince her to move to Arizona to be with him.”

Now that you had a “little” sampling of each book in the Beyond Reality Series, here’s my interview with Author Susan Stoker:

1. VICKI: Susan, as an author, how do you go about choosing topics you’d like to write about, and what inspires these topics and the characters that will bring your story “to life”?

SUSAN: “Well Vicki, I write about what I like to read about. I admit to being a fan of the “knight in shining armor” romance. I know women are independent, and yes, I know that most of the time we don’t need a man. I think I must have watched too many Disney movies growing up, but there’s just something about a man being there when you need him most that I just love to read about.
So taking that into account, pretty much anything can inspire me. I’ve always loved a man in uniform, so that is an “easy” topic to write about that fits my knight in shining armor writing very well.”

2. VICKI: Once chosen, how do you bring your selected subject matter into a story “Book” format?

SUSAN: “I’m probably very different than “traditional” authors in regards to this. Typically I will write the “intense” scene first. Once I have the meat of the conflict written, or what I imagine in my head, I go back and fill in the blanks. Writing the beginnings and endings of my books are always the hardest part for me.”

3. VICKI: Well it all certainly pulls together very well in your books, Susan. In what mediums will your three Beyond Reality books be available to the public? I purchased mine as an e-book (Kindle), but will other options be available?

SUSAN: “Right now they will be on Amazon-e-book format, but in the near future also in paperback from Amazon. The books are a part of Amazon’s new Kindle Unlimited program that they can be “borrowed” for free if members sign up for the program.”

4. VICKI: Will any of your characters in the Beyond Realty series make cameo appearances” in all of the three books?
SUSAN: “Yes they will. Eddie, the producer, is in all three books. Kina (the camerawoman) is in all three books, and she gets her own story in the third book. Sam and Alex (from the first book) will make a cameo appearance in the second book, and then they, along with Becky and Dean from the second book, show up in the third book as well.”

5. VICKI: I really liked that! It’s fun to see characters show up in the different stories. Will the series be based on different reality show themes?

SUSAN: “Yes. The first book OUTBACK HEARTS is a “bachelor” reality show format. The second, FLAMING HEARTS, is a bachelorette format, but there are TWO women competing for the men. The third, FROZEN HEARTS, is in Alaska and is a reality show with men competing to become the “Alaskan tough man” title, but the focus is on two of the camera operators, and not the contestants.”

6. VICKI: The continuity in your Beyond Reality Series is exceptional! Is that a challenging process with all of the other things you need to deal with when writing a series?

SUSAN: “Writing a series is much harder than writing a stand-alone book. While my books all have “Happy Ever After” endings, it can be tough to remember all the details about characters that carry over from one book to another. I just try to keep notes on the little things as I write so I can remember them in the later books and chapters.”

7. VICKI: In your bio, readers will learn about your attraction to writing at a very early age. How do you feel, now, as a professional writer getting great reviews for your work, and being part of the profession you always desired?

SUSAN: “It’s still very weird for me honestly. I always just wrote for me. I wrote what I liked, and I’d go back and re-read my work from time to time. Now, others are reading what I’ve written. While I know that I can’t ever please everyone, all I hope to do is entertain people for a few hours.”

8. VICKI: Can you give us a hint about your next project or upcoming series?

SUSAN: I’m so excited to get my next series out in the world for others to read. It’s a military series based on a team of Navy SEALs. I know, I know, there has been a ton of SEAL books written, but there’s something so sexy about strong, muscular, brave men, and the women they meet that they’d do anything for. The series will include seven books in all.

VICKI: The Navy SEALs , Wow! I sure look forward to that series, and I know all your fans will, too. All the best, Susan, and thank you so much for taking the time for this interview!

ABOUT SUSAN:

•“Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She is quite the romantic and even met the love of her life on “Hotmail classified” before online dating and sites like match.com even existed!”

•“Susan has been reading romance novels since middle school and once crossed out the names of the main characters in a book and changed them to her own and to the name of her crush. She’s been writing scenes for years, developing her unique writing style.”

• “Susan loves writing but her true passion is adopting dogs from rescue groups and shelters. Susan and her husband have had a total of nine “rescued” dogs since 2000 including a variety of basset hounds and bloodhounds. She has recently branched out and adopted a basset/terrier mix who acts more like a terrier than a basset (i.e. digging, eating a couch and being hyper).”

•“If you love romance and want to help her support adopting great dogs, be sure to check out her work listed below.
The first series, Beyond Reality, is a trilogy, with all three books in the series having Happily Ever After endings with no cliffhanger.“

Here’s where you’ll be able to purchase the trio of books in Susan Stoker’s Beyond Reality Series:

OUTBACK HEARTS:
Amazon-US:
http://www.amazon.com/Outback-Hearts-Beyond-Reality-Book-ebook/dp/B00KEYID8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410367491&sr=8-1&keywords=susan+stoker

Amazon-UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=susan%20stoker%20outback%20hearts

FLAMING HEARTS:
Amazon-US:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=susan%20stoker%20flaming%20hearts

Amazon-UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flaming-Hearts-Beyond-Reality-Book-ebook/dp/B00LZFHF9I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405941353&sr=8-2&keywords=susan+stoker

FROZEN HEARTS:
Amazon-US:
http://amzn.to/1qiEODB

Amazon-UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Hearts-Beyond-Reality-Book-ebook/dp/B00N73HEW4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1409573562&sr=8-4&keywords=frozen+hearts

I gave 5-Stars to all three books in Susan’s Beyond Reality Trilogy! Do I have a favorite? YES… All three of them!! They are each packed with the elements of adventure, emotions, and real life situations. Susan’s style of writing has characters return throughout the trilogy in a way that lets each book maintain its story, but provides great interaction and flow that truly ties the whole series together!

Here’s what readers are saying about OUTBACK HEARTS:

•“It was a beautiful story that was unusual in concept and perfectly written.” (-So many books, so little time)

•“This book will have you up all night! You will never want it to end!” (-Elizabeth)

•“This is truly one of the best books that I have read this summer. Everyone should read this book.” (-Laurie)

•“My favorite part was the ending. It wasn’t what I was suspecting, but it was even better.” (-Diane)

Reviews for FLAMING HEARTS:
•”This is a great clean romance book, in a time when so many books go straight for the strong sexy to sell them. “ (-Cynthia)

•“I loved that this book was written as a man falling for the girl instead of the other way around. So many authors make women look completely pitiful because she’ll do anything for him, but this book is the exact opposite.” (Books and Beyond Fifty Shades)

• “Somewhat darker than the first book, but worth it all the same, with a twist that will leave your heart pounding! I LOVE how Stoker did not make Becky a victim, but rather a heroine.” (-Michele)

Take a moment to visit, like and enjoy Susan Stoker’s Social Media Sites:
www.facebook.com/authorsstoker
www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker
www.twitter.com/Susan_Stoker
www.goodreads.com/Susanstoker

IT’S ALWAYS FUN TO CLOSE AN ARTICLE WITH A SURPRISE!!

ONE LUCKY WINNER will win an e-copy of the first book in the BEYOND REALITY series… OUTBACK HEARTS! In October go to http://www.itsaglamthing.com and look for the OUTBACK HEARTS giveaway! You can enter daily! Winners will be notified in November. Good luck!!

(Any Quoted or Paraphrased information in this article was obtained by provided information from Ms. Stoker, and our interview. Any personal commentary was my own opinion from reading the Beyond Reality Series by Susan Stoker. Much gratitude to Susan for all of her time, commentary, images, and wonderful interview. Thanks to Beau Coup Publishing, Sarah Werner Photography, Chris Mackey of AURA Design Group, and Susan Stoker for the use of their images in this article.)

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We all have a sense of style all our own, and sometimes we like to share that with the world. At least that is what fashion designer, Gina Sais Quoi, is passionate about. When it comes to fashion Gina is definitely a step ahead of all the others. Starting in her home ec. class is when she first sat down to a sewing machine and from there the rest is history. She is also a licensed stylist, graduate of the Paul Mitchell Academy in Connecticut. While in school she started doing some behind the scenes work on fashion shows, music videos and much more. Gina started designing when she was 14 years old.

Now sewing completely by hand and with no patterns, Gina organized her first fashion show for a senior project at just 17 years old. She is inspired by the famous store Trash And Vaudeville and anything that is not ordinary for today. When she would travel to New York, she made it a point to go to Trash and Vaudeville. Being that they are a little expense she would recreate, in her own way, her own designs. Aiming towards all shapes and sizes, now every girl can experience couture fashion and each design is original and made to fit you like a glove. Even though Gina does not have one specific person who inspired her to start sewing, she does however take inspiration for her line from different people, and or things. She has been in Florida for 1 1/2 years and will soon be launching her new 2014 Fashion line. Besides fashion design, Gina is an educator at my beauty school, The Salon Professional Academy.

In 2005, Gina launched Gina Sais Quoi designs. She not only designs clothes she also designs jewelry, handbags, swimsuits and has launched her own fragrance line. Each outfit, depending on detail, can take Gina between 1-14 hours to create. Back in Connecticut she joined the RAW Artists to enhance her line. Now here in Florida, she will be hosting a fashion show in Orlando, Florida for RAW on October 16. This will be her first time working with the Orlando crew. I am honored she has asked me to model for her. For more information on her line and how you can get tickets to see the RAW Artists fashion show visit www.ginasaisquoi.com and www.rawartists.com/ginasaisquoi

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