Hey there!

I’m Karissa Shorter-Lawson, the face behind Just Me, Him & The Dogs! Born in Davenport, but traveling from place to place never staying in one spot too long. Those early adventures gave me a love for exploring. As an adult, I’ve found myself calling Texas home. I’m 30+ some extra experience old, and I’ve been happily married to my amazing husband, Preston, for four wonderful years. Together, we’re raising my 16-year-old goddaughter, Lilith, who has brought so much joy and perspective into our lives. She’s sweet, fiery, and wise beyond her years, keeping us on our toes in the best way possible. While I’ve often got my eye on new places to settle as a unit, we’re staying put here in the Lone Star State until our girl, Lilith, graduates HS.

As the second-born child in my family, I’ve always embraced my role as what some might call “the feral one.” I’m spunky, strong-willed, and fiercely independent—maybe a little mean on occasion—but my heart is all about making people smile and laugh. Life’s too short not to find joy and humor in the everyday!

Professionally, I wear a lot of hats. I’m a work-from-home digital marketing freelancer and the proud owner of an event design, planning, and rental company. On top of all that, I’m also pursuing my associate degree in college—a desired lifelong learner through and through!

In between all of that, I’m a wife, a mom, and a woman who’s passionate about personal growth, staying on top of new trends in fashion, holistic living, and a little in tech. You’ll often find me hosting and decorating for the holidays (seriously, give me any excuse to decorate!), and traveling to explore new places. I believe in finding gratitude in every moment and embracing life’s lessons, big or small.

Our home is always full of love, laughter, and a healthy bit of chaos, thanks to our fur-mily. We have five incredible dogs: Babygirl (14, mixed breed), Bruiser (14, dachshund), Moose (10, schnauzer mix), Tuff (10, corgi), and Amos (7 months, Havanese mix). Oh, and let’s not forget our two mischievous goats, Judas and Peter, who always keep things interesting!

This blog will be my sounding board, my safe space, and a place to share everything from our family adventures to my personal musings. Most posts will be written by me, but every now and then, you might hear from Preston or Lilith—they’ve got plenty of stories and perspectives to share, too.

I’m so excited to have you here with us as we navigate life, love, and everything in between. My hope here is to share pieces of our life, our family, the adventures, and the lessons I pick up along the way. Stick around—you never know what’s coming next!

With love,
Karissa