Embracing Change: The Good, The Bad, and the Hard

We’re not even halfway through 2026, and already I feel like it’s been jam-packed with change. Last year, I decided to go back to marketing and my creative projects — nothing new there, right? Well, apparently, I love diving into new challenges and creative endeavors. Again, nothing new, but this creative roller coaster led me to starting my own baking business: The Merry Bake Shop, which is part of my new online store, Sandy Lo Shop.

If you grew up with me, you know I’ve been in the kitchen cooking since I was eight years old. Baking was never my forte since I was taught to cook by my mother, who loathed baking. But every Christmas over the past few years, I baked cookies and candied nuts and gifted them. It made me feel good giving someone something I made and wrapping it in cute packaging — almost as good as when I write a book that someone says they loved. So, I thought, why can’t I marry those worlds? Now, you can get a cookie with one of my books, and I love that cozy vibe and creating an experience for my readers with food and merch.

I kept the process slow and small, but in February, I did my first pop-up market, and I was hooked! I love meeting people and being part of a community, which I haven’t gotten to build in Jacksonville until now. Plus, this is the first time I’m truly able to marry all of my projects at once. When you come to my booth at a market, you get baked goods, autographed books, stickers, and small, thoughtful gifts. I’m so excited to watch this business grow!

Mid-March threw me for a loop. My beloved bunny, Zuko, started having health issues to the point where he wouldn’t eat. He was suffering and in pain, and we had to make the decision to euthanize him. I take comfort in knowing he lived a long, happy life and made it to 11! But I was not doing well, and I still cry at least once a week because I miss Zuko so much. He was my baby and always will be. My husband and I didn’t think we would be taking in any more furbabies for a long time because we felt the loss so deeply.

One night last week, I kept getting this feeling that Zuko was trying to tell me something. I am a huge believer in signs from heaven and angels, but I wasn’t sure what Zuko was trying to tell me. Then, the next morning when I woke up, I opened Facebook, and the first thing I saw was an adorable white dog looking at me. The post said it was National Adopt a Shelter Animal Day. Something made me click on the Jacksonville Humane Society website and scroll through the dogs. I turned to Steven and said, “I think we should adopt a dog.”

He looked at me and said, “Today?”
I said, “I think so.”

We discussed how we felt about it and the logistics. I began to cry, saying I think Zuko wants to help another animal.

A little while later, we were looking at dogs. We originally thought we’d get a puppy, but I kept seeing that white dog from the Facebook post, and her eyes kept following me whenever we passed by. All of the puppies were already taken, of course. We saw a few other dogs we liked. Steven liked a German Shepherd, and she was sweet, but neither of us felt like she was connecting with us. Steven still wanted to get her, though, but I said to him, “How about we give Cheech a chance? I think we owe it to her since she’s the reason we’re here.”

Cheech was the name the shelter gave the white dog. Steven hated her name, haha, but he agreed. After spending two seconds with “Cheech,” we both knew she was our dog. We went through the paperwork, took her to PetSmart to get supplies, and brought her home. We both threw out names and ended up with Yuna — after the main female character in Final Fantasy X.

Yuna is the sweetest, most well-behaved dog! She has some separation anxiety, but we’re working with her and plan to get her some training sessions to hopefully help with that.

Long story short, life can lead you to all sorts of adventures you never thought you would take if you let it. To some people, I might seem like someone who changes their mind often or that I’m impulsive, but I allow life to happen and allow myself to dive into the unknown with hope and excitement because you never know what you’re missing out on if you don’t take chances.