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September is a month overflowing with love, milestones, and paw prints on our heart! This month we are celebrating three very special occasions - my little business is turning six years old, Oz's Gotcha Day, and Rocky's 2nd birthday! It feels like the perfect time to pause, reflect, and of course, throw a big PAW-TY. 🐾 Looking Back on Six Years What started in 2019 with 4 original photography holiday cards has grown into a full collection of greeting cards, stickers, art prints, and more. Along the way, I've doodled, rebranded, and poured countless hours of love into creating designs that spread joy and kindness. Some of my favorite milestones over the past six years include: Launching my first sticker (thanks to the doodles that came to life during a stressful season in my personal life) Rebranding in 2024 to focus solely on pet-inspired designs and community Growing into an online-first shop where I can connect with pet lovers all across the country Celebrating a huge leap in growth-all thanks to the amazing support of our customers (and my husband) Very first sticker - Oz-inspired Through it all, the heart of JC Pet Designs has evolved into creating art that celebrates the bond we share with our pets. But my mission has stayed the same - to spread happiness and kindness around the world - one tail wag, one paw print, and one smile at a time. Oz's Gotcha Day 🐶 September 2018 marks Oz's Gotcha Day - the moment my loyal, lovable Boss, Oz, officially became part of our family. From the very beginning, Oz has been the heart of JC Pet Designs. He loves posing for pictures, greeting customers at vendor markets, and just reminding me daily why pets inspire so much joy. He's the calm, dependable counterpart in my world. I couldn't imagine journey without him by my side. Oz's Gotcha Day Pics Rocky Turns TWO! Of course, September wouldn't be complete without celebrating Rocky's big day. Our quirky, mischievous Brussels Griffon has kept us laughing (and sometimes crying) since the day he joined our family. He's full of personality - equal parts good troublemaker and lovable snuggle bug - and he's made his mark as our office sidekick.  This month, we will be spoiling him with treats, toys, and maybe even a new bandana (he insists on being dapper for the camera, just like his big brother, Oz! Rocky-Inspired Sticker Growing Together It's hard not to notice the parallels - just as Oz has flourished as my steadfast companion and Rocky has grown from pup to playful sidekick, JC Pet Designs has evolved from a single holiday card to a full creative brand. These milestones remind me that growth - whether it's a business or a four-legged family member - is all about love, patience, and plenty of paw prints along the way.  Brussels Griffon Art PrintOz & Rocky Inspired Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey As we celebrate six years, Oz's Gotcha Day, and Rocky's 2nd birthday this month, I want to say a huge thank you to our community. Every order, every review, every Instagram comment, and every message of encouragement has helped me grow. To celebrate, I'd love for you to join the fun: 🎉 Share your pet's birthday or Gotcha Day with us on Instagram and tag us (@jcpetdesigns) - we'll feature some of our favorites in our stories. 🎁 Keep an eye out for a special September treat in the shop (hint: Oz & Rocky insisted everyone deserves a little surprise for their celebrations). Here's to six years of creativity, seven years since Oz's Gotcha Day, and two years of Rocky - and countless more memories to come. 🐾🧡

Spoiler: It wasn't just the humans who needed snacks and naps. Traveling cross-country is an adventure on its own - but throw a couple of dogs in the mix, and it becomes a whole new level of chaos, cuddles, and learning curves. As we made our way from one coast to the other with our pups in tow, we quickly realized that our dogs weren't just passengers - they were full-blown road trip companions with needs, moods, and a lot of opinions!  Here are the top three lessons we learned while road-tripping with our furry family members: 🐾 Routine is the Secret to a Calm Dog No matter where we were -  backseat of the car, pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel, or rest area in the middle of nowhere - keeping a consistent routine worked wonders. Feeding them at the same times, offering regular walks, and sticking to their bedtime (yes, our dogs have a bedtime - just ask Oz) helped reduce anxiety and kept the pups and us feeling a little more "normal" Tip: We used a travel dog food bag and travel water bottle and kept them in the close by with easy access to keep them fed and hydrated with ease. Bonus points too - we brought their favorite bowls from home - it's comforting and familiar. 💧 Hydration and Breaks Are Non-Negotiable We stopped more often than if it were just us humans - but it made all the difference. Quick stretch-and-sniff breaks every 2-3 hours helped avoid restlessness (and backseat accidents). We kept the travel water bottle in the back seat and offered them water often. This was especially important since were traveling in the middle of the summer with temperatures exceeding 100°F.  Some truck stops even had little fenced off pet areas - those were gold. We absolutely rated them on grass quality and poop bag availability, but also if they had separate areas for small dogs. 🐶 Dogs Make the Trip Better  There were moments of barking, pacing, or refusing to eat in a new state. But there were so many more moments of pure joy - watching their ears bounce as they walked with excitement, seeing their tails wag at new smells, or snuggling up next to us after a long day on the road. Oz and Rocky turned this trip into something unforgettable.  ➕ Bonus Lessons to Share 🗝️ Planning is KeyNot all rest stops, hotels, or restaurants welcome pets. A little research goes a long way in avoiding "no dogs allowed" stress. We also mapped out Emergency Vets open 24 hours along the way. Thankfully we didn't have a need but knowing where they were ahead of time made for better peace of mind.  🦮 Crating Keeps Them SafeWe used a crate for the boys. Yes it took up a little more room in the car, but their safety is a top priority. So this kept them safer - and prevented lap surfing on the highway. 🧘🏼‍♀️ Dogs are Surprisingly AdaptableThey adjusted quicker than we expected. As long as we stayed calm, they were calm. In a few incidences when our anxiety rose, we noticed a change in the boys. So being aware of this really helped keep us calmer too. Final Thoughts Moving cross-country was fun and stressful at times, but traveling with Oz and Rocky made the adventure more tolerable and we created lasting memories with the boys. Preparing for the trip kept them safe, us happy, and made the travels a success. Sure, it took more planning and patience, but traveling with them made every mile more meaningful. They reminded us to take breaks, stay curious, and celebrate the small stuff. JC Designs is now calling San Diego home. We are finding our way around the city and settling in nicely. Stay tuned while we ramp up with new design releases and upcoming markets! 

Big changes are on the horizon - again! We are prepping for another cross-country move as part of our ongoing Navy life, but now as part of our nomadic lifestyle! While packing up our lives (yet again) can be a bit overwhelming, we're excited for the new adventures ahead. Each move brings us closer to understanding what this lifestyle really means and how to make it work for us, our business, and our four-legged family. So, the next chapter of our nomadic journey is now officially in motion. Living nomadically has been eye-opening in so many ways. We are learning to let go of things that no longer serve us - both physically and emotionally. When your home travels with you, you really have to prioritize what matters most. For us, that has been our time together (especially following a 8.5 month long deployment), new experiences, meaningful connections, and the freedom to explore at our own pace.  One of the biggest lessons we are learning is the importance of adaptability. Plans change. Weather shifts. GPS reroutes. But the beauty of a nomadic life is in its flexibility. We are starting to get comfortable with the unknown, trusting that each new place will have something valuable to offer - even if it's just a gorgeous sunrise or a peaceful walk on the beach with the dogs.  Speaking of the dogs - they are doing great! In fact, we think they are living their best lives!! In just these past few months, since we sold the house in February, they've become seasoned travelers. We've found beach-friendly shops and restaurants, stopped at numerous rest stops along the way - from Virginia to Florida then up to North Carolina and the past few months back in Virginia. Watching them sniff out new spots has reminded me to slow down and enjoy the little things. They've adjusted quickly to this lifestyle - better than I expected to be honest. They are thriving in the variety and taking in every new spot in stride - with plenty of naps along the way! Now, traveling with pets does take a bit more planning, but it's so worth it. We've found pet-friendly stays, met up with some puppy friends, and even made some new pup-loving friends along the way so far in our travels. Their comfort is always a priority - and honestly, they keep me grounded. After Rocky's month long bout of emergency medical surgeries, I've taken things even further in making sure they are safe and comfortable for our upcoming cross-country trip. It's great to know where pet friendly hotels, Airbnbs, and rest stops are along the way...but I also have numbers and addresses for 24-hour emergency vet clinics at every over night stop and even others in between. You just never know and Rocky has taught me to be prepared.  As for JC Designs - we are proud to say that we keep rolling no matter where we are! We've worked hard to set up systems that support remote fulfillment, and it's paid off. Orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, so you can expect the same reliability whether we are in Virginia, California or anywhere in between. You may begin to notice a Florida return address on all of our packages and that is because Florida is our home of residence - so we decided to just keep that as the one constance with our business and personal life too. But don't be alarmed if you see the Florida address but another state as the USPS stamped shipped from. Regardless...we continue to design, print, and ship from the U.S.A!  Again, we want to reassure you that we are still OPEN for business throughout the move. Nothing will change on your end - same quality, same service, and same dedication. And yes, we always offer FREE shipping - no codes, no minimums, just one less thing for you to worry about.  This move marks another milestone in our journey - with the Navy, our personal life, and with JC Designs. We are excited to keep creating, traveling, and sharing our lives (and the pups) with you. We'll continue updating our blog and social media with behind-the-scenes peeks, travel tips, and of course, plenty of dog content. Be sure to check out our Instagram accounts - jcpetdesigns and boopspawsandwags. To everyone who has support our small business - whether by placing an order, sharing our posts, or simply cheering us on - thank you! Your encouragement means the world to us. You've help me make this dream a reality, and I'm so gratefully to carry your support with us from coast to coast.  Here's to new place, wagging tails, and finding magic in motion. We will see you (and ship to you) from the road! Jillann, Oz, and Rocky - and James (daddy) too!!

After what felt like an eternity, the moment we've all been waiting for is finally here - James is HOME! Our dog daddy, adventure partner, and steady rock through every high and low has finally wrapped up a long and eventful deployment. The tail wags have been nonstop, the kisses slobbery, and the welcome-home cuddles - nothing short of magical.  Deployments are never easy, but this one stretched a little longer than planned with a couple of extensions. James missed all of our birthdays this deployment. Rocky turned ONE in September, Oz turned SEVEN in May, James's birthday was in October, and my birthday was in May as well. But we are making up for all of it, and then some, this month. We're kicking off this homecoming chapter with gratitude, love, and an extra treat for the pups! Our first plan...daily walks on the beach. There's nothing quite like the sound of waves crashing and sand between your toes - and paws - to reset and reconnect. It's something we thought about constantly during our days/nights apart these past 8.5 months - 252 days to be exact. The dogs absolutely lose their minds for the beach and James couldn't wait to get back to his leash duty with the boys. Seeing them together again, strolling like no time has passed, is everything. Next up: celebratory dinners. Since James missed both his and my birthday we are doing a belated birthday extravaganza. That means multiple nights out (or in) with our favorite meals, shared desserts, and laughter!  James also has a special trip planned - he's flying out later this month to visit his son, who recently joined the Navy with the Submarine Community. This will be the first time they will be together in uniform and all during Father's Day Weekend...making it all the more special. They plan to visit the USS Constitution in Boston and a Submarine in Connecticut. It will be an emotional and exciting trip for both of them.  We've also set aside some unplugged time this month to simply be together. No big agenda, no back-to-back obligations - just sunrise views, long evening walks on the beach, slow mornings with coffee and stories, and lots of cuddles with the puppies. This season of homecoming is more than unpacking bags. It's about healing, reconnecting, and honoring the strength it took to get here - as individuals, as a couple, and as a little family that includes four paws and a big heart.  As part of our celebration, we would like to share it with you all too. Head on over to our shop here and enjoy 20% off your purchase of any 3 or more items. Just enter HOMECOMING code at checkout. 

Oh hey - we have a blog now. Product peeks, behind-the-scenes shenanigans, handy tips, and lots more fun await. Buckle up and come hang out with us!