About the Page
May 7, 2025
Creating a Cozy Home: A Blog on Plants, Gardening, Decor, Home improvement, Dogs & Everyday Living
Welcome to my little corner of the internet, where I share my love for plants, home decor, dogs, gardening, home improvement, and simple living tips to help you create a warm and inviting space. Whether you’re a parent, a dog lover, plant parent, gardener, or just someone who enjoys making their home feel special, you’ll find something useful here!
About Me:
April 10, 2025
Hi! I’m a 38-year-old mother. I share my life with my person and our three wonderful, silly, awesome (mostly) kids: a 15-year-old son, a 12-year-old daughter, and a 10-year-old son. Our family is also home to six adorable dogs: a Dalmatian mix named Squids, two German shepherd mixes (brothers!) named Roshi and Ichi, and three mini Dachshunds—Little Foot (or Feets), Marbles, and Noodle. They each bring their own special energy and personality to our household.
I’ve had a unique relationship with my health since I was young. I was diagnosed with hyperglycemia when I was four years old, and since then, I’ve always been mindful of my sugar and carb intake. At age 6, I was also diagnosed with Advanced Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, a rare condition that affects the hip joint. I had surgery to treat the deformed femoral head, and despite the challenges, I’ve learned to adapt and live life to the fullest. (If you’re curious about the condition, here’s more info: Perthes Disease).
Professionally, I spent 15 years in retail while raising my children. I’ve also worked with kids, including children with Autism and preschoolers, which had been rewarding. My time in college studying Psychology and my personal experiences sparked my desire to help others navigate life’s challenges, particularly mental health, relationships, and coping strategies.
When I’m not busy with my family, work, or health, you’ll find me indulging in my love for gardening (or at least growing some of our food!). I enjoy making our home more functional and cozy for our family’s needs, diving into furniture refurbishing, home improvement projects, and exploring my creative side through writing. Writing has always been a passion of mine. Though I was once told that making a living as a writer would be tough, the internet has opened up new opportunities, so I’ve decided to embrace my love for writing by blogging about the things that bring me joy—like parenting, pets, gardening, and making life a little easier.
“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”
BrainyQuote
🐶 Meet My Pack
My life wouldn’t be complete without my six dogs — each one with their own big personality, quirks, and daily routines that make our home feel full of life (and fur). This blog will introduce you to each of them, from the clingy Velcro dog who insists on being carried everywhere, to the playful troublemaker who always finds a way to make me laugh.
If you’re a fellow dog lover, I think you’ll enjoy getting to know them as much as I’ve loved sharing my life with them.
If My Dogs Had Dating Profiles… (Sorry, They’re Taken)
Ever wondered what it’s like to live with six dogs? Imagine a sitcom, a therapy session, and a riot all rolled into one.
These are my dogs — not for sale, not for adoption, just here to cause chaos and hog the blankets. I thought it’d be fun to introduce them the way they’d introduce themselves… if they had Tinder, or maybe Craigslist, or a dramatic reality show.
Meet Little Foot affectionately called Feets:
🐾 Name: Little Foot (aka “Feets”)
Age: 7-ish going on 80
Breed: Mini Dachshund
Status: Forever taken — by me.
About Me:
Velcro dog. Full-time shadow. Part-time drama queen. A certified mama’s boy with a strong opinion about rain, stairs, and your personal space.
Looks:
A long body on tiny legs. Fluffy, soft coat. Elegant chest floof. Elbow hair so poofy, you’d swear he had no legs. Grinch feet? Iconic.
Loves:
Belly rubs, royal treatment, barking at balls he rolled away himself, wet kisses, naps, and snacks — preferably hand-fed.
Dislikes:
Rain, walking, effort, and anyone setting boundaries.
Fun Fact:
Barks so hard he literally hops. We’re not sure if it’s a feature or a bug.
Favorite Show:
Grey’s Anatomy — 21 seasons of uninterrupted couch time with Mom.
Perfect Day:
Couch. Snacks. Me. That’s it. That’s the dream.
Meet Marbles, (aka “Mewbews” or “Mewburt”) Referred to as Mew or Burt:
Age: 5
Breed: Mini Dachshund
Status: Depends — can you match her energy and her sass?
About Me:
The queen of chaos in a teeny body. Independent. Loud. Fabulous.
Looks:
Tri-Merle stunner. Low rider. Short legs, big opinions. Glamorous.
Loves:
Being carried like royalty, barking at nothing, surprise tackling Noodle, and gourmet yard truffles.
Dislikes:
Being denied the last word, the “blanket monster,” and rain. She’s not short — the world is just too tall.
Fun Fact:
Puppy eyes are her superpower — use with caution.
Favorite Show:
Downton Abbey. She thrives on drama.
Perfect Day:
Start some chaos. Nap like she didn’t. Repeat.
Meet Noodle, affectionately called Snooot
🐾 Name: Noodle (aka Snooot)
Age: 5
Breed: Mini Dachshund
Status: Taken, but emotionally available for snuggles.
About Me:
Happy-go-lucky social butterfly. The guy everyone wants to hang out with. He’s the glue that holds this dog pile together.
Looks:
Compact, beefy, long-bodied hunk. Soulful eyes. Floppy ears. Walks like he knows he’s hot.
Loves:
Rabbit-chasing, human-hopping nap marathons, blanket burritos, and gourmet yard snacks (aka truffles).
Dislikes:
Cold weather, uninvited critters, and long-distance relationships.
Fun Fact:
Has been caught using other dogs as step stools to reach the counter. No regrets.
Favorite Movie:
Forrest Gump — he’s also a runner and a lover of spontaneous adventures.
Perfect Day:
Forest walk, constant praise, and one-on-one cuddle rotations. Bliss.
Meet Squids, he has an s at the end of his name because he seems like multiple Squids (aka “QueQue” and I call him “Squeeze”)
🐾 Name: Squids
Age: 4
Breed: Dalmatian Mix
Status: In multiple committed cuddleships.
About Me:
Sassy and clingy with a flair for judgment. Equal parts softie and sass-master. Protective and dramatic with main-character energy.
Looks:
Spots for days. Long legs. A tail that could double as a whip. Soft floppy ears and very expressive eyebrows.
Loves:
Micromanaging siblings, “talking back” to Mom and Dad, stealing pillows, and stealing hearts.
Dislikes:
Parental displays of affection. Being told no. Having to share a lap.
Fun Fact:
Could out-run Forrest Gump… but would rather just win a stare-down.
Favorite Movie:
Forrest Gump. Same vibe. More attitude.
Perfect Day:
He’s the center of attention, no one says “no,” and every pillow is his.
Meet Roshi, also known as Roshal and Row-Row because why not?:
🐾 Name: Roshi
Age: Almost 2
Breed: German Shepherd Mix
Status: Madly in love with life (and belly rubs).
About Me:
Golden retriever energy in a shepherd body. Optimistic, curious, and always ready to party… for about 8 seconds at a time.
Looks:
Bear-like. Big soft eyes. Pointy ears. Soulful but mischievous.
Loves:
Making friends, belly rubs, spreading dog glitter (aka shedding), and outdoor adventures.
Dislikes:
Being ignored, being indoors, and not getting belly pets when he’s clearly presenting the goods.
Fun Fact:
He and Ichi are littermates — but you’d never guess it by their personalities.
Favorite Movie:
Whatever’s on, as long as you’re petting him during it.
Perfect Day:
Early breakfast, nature walk, hole digging, flopping on the floor for belly rubs. Repeat.
Meet Ichi, also known as Ichims or K-Bob (Kangaroo Bob, he hops like a kangaroo):
🐾 Name: Ichi
Age: Almost 2
Breed: German Shepherd Mix
Status: Actively seeking solitude (unless you have snacks).
About Me:
The lone wolf. Quiet, brooding, and misunderstood. Thinks Roshi is too much and people are too loud.
Looks:
Coyote-coded. Wild and mysterious with deceptively sweet eyes. Built for mischief.
Loves:
Snacks, digging, solitude, and chewing on human limbs… lovingly.
Dislikes:
Men, noise, cuddles, and happiness.
Fun Fact:
Sometimes cackles like a hyena. It’s fine. Everything’s fine.
Favorite Movie:
Jurassic Park. He relates to the raptors.
Perfect Day:
No humans, no interruptions, just naps and snacks in the sun.
Pothos
In 2002, my grandpa handed me a single pothos cutting — no roots, just a green little stem. I stuck it in water near a sunny window and waited. Weeks later, tiny roots appeared. I planted it in soil, and 23 years later… welcome to Jumanji! 🌿💚
This is the plant that started it all — proof that growth takes time, love, and just a bit of light.
#PothosLove #HouseplantJourney #PlantParentLife #FromCuttingToJungle #WelcomeToJumanji
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