So many updates!

Sometimes I just don't know how to start a blog post.  I don't know how to pick up where I left off in the last one and then smoothly make a transition since some times occurs in between me posting. 

I have been working on a project for some time now.  Before I purchased my iPad and started using procreate, I was painting a lot.  

I came up with some sketches, photographed them and uploaded them to my computer with intentions of making a positive affirmation card deck.  I got frustrated with it.  I ended up creating a yearly planner/activity/positive affirmation book. I don't know where the idea came from- maybe from me not really wanting to create more paintings and settling on the amount that I already had.  I'm not sure where I really turned my cards into a planner but it happened.  I tried to get it printed through an online site that i have had some photo books done though and I was incredibly disappointed in the quality even after they advertised it as a notebook/planner material that they print on.  They also had these funky yellow lines that were showing up so I addressed it and they said they would reprint it because it was something that was caused by their printers.  Well, the second copy was even worse. The paper was too thin, the binding was questionable so I turned to Google.  I googled suggestions on best places to get things printed and I read numerous blogs on printing through local printers.  I found one not too far from my work and met with them.  They never reached back out to me like they said they would and I'm not one to chase people down for things I'm willing to spend money on.  I then met with the printers that we use to use for full time job.  I met with a very nice man and showed him the example I had printed online and told him what I was looking for but the small run prices were horribly expensive. 

I just about gave up.

Then one day I get this phone call while I was sitting in my cubicle asking if we needed a printer.  I explained that we have an account with a larger company that is all done through our corporate office (I do have a full time job that isn't Two Dingoes) but then it hit me.... ASK HIM IF THEY DO SMALL RUNS!  
So, I said our office may not need a printer, but I DO!  Do you do small runs? Can I send you my examples and can you give me prices?  He said of course they do and he would be happy to get me pricing.  
After throwing together my example, sending it to him and talking on the phone I received the pricing and it was right where I needed it to be. 

They printed an example book for me and I got a bit discouraged as the way things lined up didn't work out so I had to go back to the drawing board (this is all new to me so I didn't know exactly what to do when he asked me to bleed and crop the pages- youtube helped with that).  I sent in the final edit before my craft show, had some faith in myself and didn't ask for another sample (because I was hoping to have it for my first craft show) and picked it up on Friday (the day before my show).  It was PERFECT.  

I can't begin to describe how incredibly happy I am with it and how much work I have put into this book.  

I was a little disappointed in the customer service toward the end with the current printer but I don't care as long as they do a great job and get me my products on time! 

SO IT'S HERE and available on my Etsy shop.  The calendars are blank so you can start them anytime of the year.  Which is awesome because sometimes I skip a month or start in February when things slow down.  

Here are some photos :) 

I didn't show the whole book because I don't want to spoil the challenges/activities that are in there but each month has the same set up.  You get two pages for your appointments/reminders/project lists etc - two pages of a blank month that you fill in, then one page of that particular month's challenge and one page that is the positive affirmation for that month.  

If you think this is something you would like, please stop by my Etsy page (link at top) and pick one up- I only have about 5 left at this time. 

Moving on from the planner- ;) 

I had my first craft show at Animal Friends.  

This was super special because our "Two Dingoes" Chance & Bear were adopted there.  So having the name and explaining why we were called that was awesome! 

and... the show was AWESOME!  I didn't think we would sell as much as we did but I am so so happy that people loved my work.  I was on such a high after we left- nothing could ruin that!

I am so grateful. 

After the show, we took a break.  A much needed break.  We put up the tree and decorated and then cuddled a lot.  I'm exhausted but ready to keep creating.  I feel inspired lately despite the darker, gloomy days and the long nights. So STAY TUNED!

Painting, Updates and Books

Hi. I made this. 

Here is a video I took while I made it:

TA-DA!

I am actually really liking watercolors lately! 

Also I took a whole bunch of photos of my craft products and my goal is to be up and running by end of October on my Etsy account... so - VERY SOON!

Lol - I am in a mood right now.  I don't know if it's good or bad or if I am happy or sad... just a mood.  I decided to write this post to get my mind off of some things that have been going on and it may not be the most detailed, interesting post but I am here to keep my mind busy before bed.  

So here's me :) Hi there. Hope you are having a fantastical day!

We are preparing for some colder weather and broke out the jackets for the dogs :) They weren't too happy.  

I was on vacation last week and my Mom and I went to Starbucks.  We had to laugh at what they wrote.  When asked what her name was she said, "Chris, Shannon's Mom" and this is what we got ;) 

We also attended a friends beautiful wedding- they hired the same DJ that was at our wedding so it was really cool to see them again.  We had a blast and all my old co-workers were there (almost all of them).  It was also really awesome to see them too!

Brian got Bear a Halloween costume and Bear wasn't the happiest of Lions!! LOL!

Also, I recently saw the trailer for Annihilation and learned that it was a book trilogy and had to read the first one to see if I liked it.  Well, I'm obsessed and just ordered the second one from amazon! I can't wait to see what happens- one of the most suspenseful books I have ever read!  I just finished Big Magic about a week ago and flew threw this one! The trailer doesn't look like I would have thought tho so I hope it does not disappoint.  I know the movies are always different but I really hope they stay close to the story-  it was so good- go get it- read it! YES! 

Get Annihilation HERE!

Also- this is Big Magic:

GET IT HERE!

If you are trying to live a creative life, you will not regret it at all! It's by far one of my most favorite books ever!

Biking 5.5 miles at North Park and so long May!

Well, I can't believe May is basically over.  I really love May and not just because it's my Birthday but because it's always so beautiful in Pittsburgh.  The weather is always perfect and it's not too hot or not too cold - all the leaves and flowers are out and it just makes me so happy to see this!

I want to start by saying that I started a new book called In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park.  I am not finished yet but I can't seem to put it down.  She went through so much and it truly tells you the struggles in North Korea and what goes on in the country we know so little about.  She is an incredible human being for going what she went through and still being such a positive voice.  I am sure I will finish it in the next day or two but I highly recommend this one! 

                       

On Sunday we went to a car show that our friend entered his car into and we had a blast.  They had a wine tasting and beer tasting tent set up where you paid 15$ to taste it all!  You cold get into trouble fast if you weren't careful.  I did get to try something new - a coffee flavored wine!  I bought two bottles it was so so so good!  

Matt ended up winning 1st place in his class and got a trophy.  We were so happy for him!   We then asked that he and his wife Nikki come join us for dinner and a game night- we played all sorts of games and stayed up while we drank wine, listened to music and I even read Matt's Tarot Cards!  

I have a couple of days off of work and have been keeping busy with yard work and little projects around the house.  Brian went back to work today and I have off until Thursday so instead of tackling my 1,000 projects  - I decided to ENJOY the time I have off and not get caught up in the house.  My parents got me a bike two Christmases ago and with planning our wedding last year I wasn't able to find anytime to ride it.  I made up my mind to take it out to North Park today as I was getting sick of seeing it just sitting the garage even though I was going to have to go by myself.  I think a lot of the times I didn't take it was because I had no one to ride with...well today I said "screw it, I want to go and I'm going to!"

I tried to make it fit in my hatchback today.  It may have worked out better if I had a smaller bike but I really fell in love with the vintage ones that are HUGE.  I had to remove the bike seat and wiggle it into the back but I made it!  I made sure to lather my pale self with sunscreen and I was on my way!

 I was halfway to North Park (it's only about a 20 min drive from my house) and it started to get VERY grey outside.  It looked to just be a very small but VERY angry set of clouds but I continued my journey to the park.  It down poured and I was afraid that after all my work to get the bike in the car, I wasn't going to be able to ride it.  The rain only got worse and so did the thunder but just as I thought, it was just a quick summer storm and it moved through in no time.  That made me so happy.

It was hard for me to mentally tell myself to pack up my bike and get to the park without a proper bike rack and having not ridden a bike in... well, years. I struggled to get the bike out of the trunk but I succeeded and attached my seat.  I then started my fit bit on the bike setting and took off!  There was still a slight drizzle and I have to say that it felt so good since it was getting to be about 80 degrees and it was really humid.  

The lake at North Park is 5 miles so I mentally prepared myself to finish it.  I use to run it during high school when I was in Cross Country.  I loved running that lake but I'm 34 now and not in the best of shape, even for a bike ride. 

 Angry Clouds Pictured Below:

 I look so tried - lol- it's the no makeup look!

 Saw a deer:

 See him in the center? 

 North Park is SO BEAUTIFUL!

 Yep- this is after my ride- 5.5 miles!  I was so tired and dreaded putting my bike back in my trunk.  I took the seat off and started wiggling it into place and a guy that was running even yelled over to me, "BARLEY FITS!" At that moment, I decided to go to Dicks on my way home and buy a bike rack.  

 Bike Racks are not cheap and I had to get one that would fit my hatchback.  I also picked up a helmet.  Now I'm broke for this pay but hey- i got the Bike Rack and now I don't have to struggle getting it on my car...right? WRONG- this thing was a BITCH to put on and the instructions are totally so ...vague.   I am so glad I decided to visit my parents on the way home from Dicks so that I could ask my Mom to help out holding tools and extra straps for the bike rack.  My Dad came out and helped me get it on the rack itself - I love them so much for always helping me out!  I'm assuming now that I have it set up that it will be easier get on and off and that since I know how to get it on there and fit SNUGLY it will be much smoother next time... We will see. 

Tho- you know what? Pat on my back for getting shit done! :) 

 I was a little bummed I didn't think to take my go-pro and shoot a video of the lake- I got it out and I'm ready to mount it for next time though (maybe later this week)! Here is a short cell phone clip I shot just to show how peaceful the ride was! :) 

Lastly I just wanted to say I picked up these lovelies at Ulta this week!  I am in LOVE with this brand guys! Pacifica is 100% vegan and cruelty free and that makes it a winner in my book!  I don't paint my finger nails very often but I do paint my toe nails and I have to say - I love that the nail polish (on top of vegan and cruelty free) is 7 Free!  You can read about it on the site here.  No - I am not paid for this- I don't even know if I have readers of my blog...but I am all about good in this world and being vegan and cruelty free is so important to me when it comes to my makeup- I'm still trying to work on the diet thing...but that's another story.  P.s the perfume hair and body spray, Tahitian Gardenia, was my favorite but there was also another one I loved that smelled like vanilla!  

Okay, I'm exhausted! Goodnight all and I hope to have at least one or two more posts together while I am on my little vacation from work!

  I have a very exciting coffee date tomorrow with the woman that read my Tarot Cards at my Bachlorette Party and I can not wait to sit down and talk with her about the cards and magic and eeeepppp! So happy! 

Thanks for reading<3