Things are really coming together!

So, a couple weeks ago I mentioned that I am starting a new adventure. Everything is moving right along. :) 

When the Cricut Maker 3 came earlier this month, I really started thinking about crafting again. A lot. I've enjoyed arts and crafts ever since I was a child, and it's something that I've shared with my children since they were very little, too. Sketching, painting, sculpting, pottery, stained glass, papercrafting, scrapbooking, photography...pretty much a little bit of everything on top of creative writing. I've gotten to the point where I want to do it as more than just a hobby. Now...I want to start crafting to sell. 

I've been thinking about it for a long time but never got around to actually doing more than thinking about it. Johnny and I have been talking about it lately, though, and we decided that it'd be a great time to get more serious about it. He's looking forward to it just as I am...which makes a huge difference. I've been spending a lot of time researching, creating spreadsheets, doing paperwork, and gathering everything that I'll need for this adventure. In addition to selling products, I'll be selling my digital designs on Etsy as well. 

About a week ago, I officially received my Retailers' Sales Tax Registration Certificate in the mail. I've been filling out and submitting the paperwork for tax-exempt status with several suppliers for materials. I've also been researching equipment and materials. It's a process...but it's fun. :) 

So far, I have my drawing tablet, printer, and heat press...as well as supplies like sublimation ink, sublimation paper, parchment paper, heat tape, etc. I haven't ordered sublimation blanks yet. There are a lot of supply chain issues right now as well as shipping delays. I also still have to get the office completely converted for my workspace...which is going to be a huge job in itself. 

Everything is still in the very early stages...but I'm really excited about getting everything up and running. :) I'll have a lot more information to share in the future. Right now I'm also still working as a law enforcement transcriptionist...so I manage my time between both. And on that note...back to work! 

Happy Father's Day!

We had a nice, relaxing fathers day at home. We slept in a little bit this morning. Then I made sure to tell my dad, my grandpas, and my step-sons, "Happy Father's Day." And then we mostly just lounged around and spent some quality time together watching Bozley play in the sprinklers and his doggy pool. I posted some videos to my Instagram that are really cute. Bozley likes to bite at the water in the sprinklers and then he got the zoomies before rolling around in the grass. He was also dunking his whole face into his pool to retrieve his bone. :) He always provides us with entertainment. :) 

Johnny picked out his father's day present last week. They're so beautiful!  

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Then tonight we had steak dinner from Texas Roadhouse...which we haven't had in forever! It was very yummy! And then Johnny noticed when we were looking online that you can order a steak without any seasoning...so he decided to get Bozley a little steak dinner too! :P He really enjoyed his steak, sweet potato, and a little bit of applesauce with his kibble. ;) 

I'm so thankful for all the wonderful dads in my life. I have a great dad who has always been there for me and he loves to spoil my kids. I have an amazing husband who has raised my children as his own from the very beginning and has been the "good cop" to counter my usual "bad cop" role. ;) He is playful, spontaneous, loving, and supportive. I couldn't have chosen a better dad for my kids. I'm also lucky to still have two out of my three grandpa's who are still alive. I really do have the best grandparents a girl could ever have...and I'm so thankful that my kids have grown up with them as well.

And now...the weekend is practically over and another week begins! 

New Adventure!

It's been awhile since I've posted. But...I've been pretty busy! I am super excited about a new opportunity that is coming to fruition. It's something that I've been thinking about for a long time...but now I'm finally starting to make it real. :) I'm not ready to divulge all of the details yet...but hopefully I'll be all set up soon :) My plan this weekend is to reorganize the office to convert it into my new workspace. Johnny is very excited about this new adventure as well. It really makes a huge difference when your partner supports your ideas and is just as excited as you are. :) 

At the end of last month, I mentioned a great website called Creative Fabrica (referral link) where I've found so many cool fonts and graphics to download. I saw on Facebook that they were having a special trial where you could get the unlimited subscription for 30 days for just $1. However, they also have a lot free fonts and graphics as well. I've always liked handwritten and calligraphy fonts...like this pretty font called Wintersoul. There are SO MANY free fonts and graphics for all your crafting needs, but you can also pay for the subscription or buy the artwork individually, too. There are over 60k premium fonts to choose from, not to mention the millions of graphics to choose from. I could spend (and have spent) hours finding SO MUCH stuff that I like! You should definitely check it out. They can be used for both personal and commercial use, for Windows or Mac, and there are instructions for installation. It's one of my favorite sites for fonts and graphics. :) 

And on that note...I should get back to cleaning and organizing the office. I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Happy Birthday Bozley Reddington Pride!

Okay...so this post is a few days late, but we did celebrate with Bozley ON his birthday so that's what matters, right? ;) 

It's hard to imagine life before Bozley. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family. He's just the sweetest boy ever and has such a cute personality. He keeps us laughing and smiling everyday. We just adore him. 

I'm actually a cat person. I've liked dogs and have had dogs, I just realized that I preferred cats. But...now I'm a cat person and a Bozley person. ;) 

Bozley is doing really well. He has grown into such a beautiful boy. He goes to the groomer about every two months or so but never really needs more than a sanitary trim and his paws trimmed. Our groomer has always said that he does so well when he's there. :) In between he gets bathed and brushed at home...especially after he plays in the mud, which he likes to do. :P He likes to chase things we throw for him...and it's so adorable the way he bounces and leaps like a deer across the yard. He'll also entertain himself a lot. He'll throw things around and chase after them. He tries to play with the cats and the chihuahua but they're not interested. :P He loves to play...but he also really loves his naps. I always say all his bones are lazy. ;) He also likes to watch TV! He seems even more interested when there's something emotional going on...if someone is crying or upset. 

BozzyBear does have some anxiety issues. We call him pandemic dog. :P We didn't really think about the fact that us always being home would lead to separation anxiety. He howls loudly whenever I leave the house. But he's also pretty fearful in general. If we're carrying something in the house, he runs to the couch with his tail between his legs. And the only guys he doesn't act nervous around are Johnny and my dad...any others he's very leery of. Whenever he gets scared he hides behind me...he's definitely a mama's boy. We do have some anxiety treats for him to calm him a bit during storms, fireworks, or when we anticipate something he might be anxious about. But it's something we're working on. 

He's also still allergic to chicken. Not only that, but he's a really picky eater. I have yet to find a kibble that he'll just eat. Most of the suggestions are to just leave the food until he gets hungry and he'll eat it...but he won't. His food just sat in the bowl for two days until I broke down and tried to find stuff to mix it with. I finally found a couple of turkey wet foods that he'll eat...most of the time anyway. He still will have days when something he's liked, he suddenly doesn't like. For example...frozen blueberries used to be his most favorite treat ever...now he'll spit them out on the floor and won't eat them. :P I've never known such a picky dog! Oh but sticks and rocks...apparently those are super tasty because we're always having to take them away from him. :P 

One thing we've been lucky with is that Boz isn't much of a destructive chewer. He has a whole bunch of stuffed toys and he's never torn them up or eaten them or anything. He just likes to carry them around in his mouth. Same with shoes...he just carries them around in his mouth and might fall asleep with them. h and whenever we come in the house, he gets so excited and will grab whatever toy he can find to put in his mouth and carry around while wagging his whole body and whining. :P He does tear up his tennis balls though. He likes to chew off the fabric on them. The only other things he likes to chew up is paper and soft blankets. He will use his back teeth to gnaw holes in the fabric. 

Oh...and he chewed through Neko's leash tonight! lol. Ashlyn and I went to my mom's house tonight and then walked Bozley and her dog, Neko, to my grandpa's house. We were sitting in the garage with my grandpa, sister, and my parents. We were chatting and then Neko ran off and Ashlyn lifted up the leash and Boz had chewed right through it. :P 

After we left Grandpa's we went back to mom's for a little while. Bozley enjoyed cuddling on the couch with my dad and eventually fell asleep. Then he slept most of the car ride home as well. I got this picture of Bozley and my dad before we left though:

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RECIPE: Frosted Pupcakes!

Yesterday was Bozley's first birthday!! To celebrate, Johnny bought two more stuffed animals for him (of course!) and I made some pupcakes. :) Bozley and Neko loved them! 

Frosted Pupcakes!

Ingredients: 

1 cup oat flour (although any flour would be okay) 

1 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 cup pumpkin puree (just 100% pure pumpkin)  

1/4 cup peanut butter (make sure it has no xylitol!)

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 

1 egg 

1 tbs honey 

Frosting: 

1/2 cup Greek yogurt 

1/3 cup peanut butter 

1 tsp honey  

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper muffin cups (approximately 9).  

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. 

3. In a separate mixing bowl, mix together pumpkin, peanut butter, applesauce, beaten egg, and honey.  

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix completely. Batter will be thick. 

5. Fill muffin cups nearly to the top.  

6. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until toothpick in the middle comes out clean. 

7. Mix together the ingredients for the frosting until smooth. Spread on top of each pupcake. 

8. Optional: top with treats! 

9. Store leftovers in the fridge.  

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