The Polka Dot Pup

08/20/2026

It’s so hard to believe that TEN YEARS AGO this month I groomed my first dog. I still remember how excited I was for my first day and how I knew my life was changed forever once that first shift was over. I knew I had found what I was meant to do.

A decade later and that feeling remains unchanged. I’m unbelievably grateful to be this happy in my work, and even more grateful that so many of you have trusted me to care for your four-legged family members over the years.

Enjoy these grainy photos from the first few months of my career! Thanks for being on this journey with me 💕🐾

07/29/2026

Squeaky Clean Summer is well under way with two months left! To help get the word out, I hired three awesome young artists from our community to make some flyers! Charlie, Parker, and Carter did such a wonderful job, seriously! Check out that detail! Pictured is just one of several variations they created, keep your eyes peeled around town for their other work!

Donations can be dropped of at any time on my front porch or in the lobby during business hours. And if you are or know someone in need of hygiene items this summer, send them my way!

07/22/2026

Extreme heat and tons of local "lost cat" posts have made this graphic so important! Domestic cats do BEST indoors!

06/29/2026

PLEASE READ!!!!

Howdy folks! Settings boundaries for yourself as a business owner is so important, which is why I do not respond to work texts when I am not in the salon. This applies to vacations and days off during the week as well. These days I am only working four days a week, and my day off during the week varies. I also do not work weekends. I understand that this may be inconvenient, but my first job is being a mom 💕 and I take that job very seriously!

Due to this, I often don’t respond right away! If I do not respond in a timely fashion, you are welcome to text me again but PLEASE do not show up to my house, find me on my personal social media page, ask around for my personal number to call me, etc. I value your business, and I assure you I will text you back when I am back in the salon. I do not respond to rude or demanding communication, so please be kind 🙂

How will you know if I got your text if I don’t respond and don’t post when I am in the salon? Honestly, you won’t. I will never post my days off, vacations or otherwise, as I work from home, and I think it’s perfectly reasonable to not tell the world when I could potentially not be home.

Again, PLEASE do not randomly show up to my home. Just be patient and I promise I will get back to you 🙂 thank you!

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

Squeaky Clean Summer is off to a great start with the first donations coming in a few days ago!

I will be collecting donations all summer. Please consider checking the clearance aisles and sale racks for hygiene items! Last year I was able to get 15 dove deodorants for $1 a piece. Every item can make a difference for a young person in our community! Please share this post, and if you know someone who needs hygiene items, you know where to send them! 🧼

05/28/2026

Elli is in the salon today to get squeaky clean for summer! ☀️ it’s easy to drop your dog off for a grooming appointment, but for many youths in our community, access to hygiene items isn’t so simple. School is out and getting these items from care closets can be nearly impossible.

For the rest of the summer, if you know or are a youth in need of hygiene items, text my shop # at 815-216-5647 and I will make sure those needs are met. You do not need to be a client and you can remain anonymous. I am just one person, so I will be limiting this to hygiene items only 🧼 but can always help you find resources for other needs.

If you’d like to contribute, feel free to bring unopen and unexpired tooth brushes, soaps, shampoos, tampons, etc to your appointment OR drop off on my front porch at any time. Anything that does not get distributed this summer will be donated to the care closet at Saratoga School once school is back in session.

You guys really showed out when I collected for Animal Control this winter, let’s do it again!

04/15/2026

04/01/2026

Okay folks, it’s time to get serious. With all that is going on in the world and the close relationship I have developed with many of you over the years, I am starting to experience something that I haven’t dealt with since opening and it needs to be addressed. You are allowed to hold whatever opinion you like on any topic, but you cannot come into my salon and spew openly racist and hateful remarks. Not only should it be embarrassing to tell others that you hold those opinions, you are also openly insulting my family. Effective immediately, behavior like that will result in the cancellation of your appointment and removal from my schedule going forward. Just so we are clear, I am not at all concerned about losing clients over this. This behavior isn’t allowed in my home, and the salon is in my home. No one is allowed in my home who is openly hateful and disrespectful. I also do not wish to talk about politics with every client. No matter what side of the aisle you find yourself on, that’s exhausting for anyone. Good vibes and happy dogs only 😎

This picture is near and dear to my heart. My Abuelita, holding my son while my childhood dog jumps up to give him a kiss. I was lucky enough to have mole and turkey at Thanksgiving, tamales at Christmas, and riblets with quesadillas for an afterschool snack. Spanish was spoken around us often and she shared her culture with us. Our lives are richer for all of that, the way she has loved us, and now loves her great grandchildren.

We are all neighbors. Let’s act like it.

03/27/2026

Soooo many people ask me how I wear mascara and groom dogs. My secret? I don’t!

You can catch me cozied up on Kaylin’s table once a month for a lash lift and tint & facial. This keeps my lashes dark and curled & my skin GLOWING! My morning routine has never been easier 💅🏼

My girl fills up FAST & this is too good of a deal to pass up! Get in while you still can and treat yourself 🧖‍♀️