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Marj Dona

@itsreallybutter

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“𝙲𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚞𝚗”
All life things with my pup 🐾 @peypeytoyaussie
Sharing smiles through my art ✨ @sketchesbypepita

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𝚂𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝙿𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚊, our story ✨
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After 15 years of being away, I’ve come full circle back to my Florida roots. A South Tampa native now living in St. Pete, I’m a “retired” architectural designer who never let go of her creative side. My small sketching business, Sketches by Pepita, named after my Toy Aussie Shepherd, Peyton, and her many nicknames, grew organically out of a lifelong passion for art and storytelling. Earlier this year, I officially began taking commissions for custom home sketches, travel moments, and pet portraits, and I’m excited to keep growing.
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Sketching has always been my favorite way to slow down, observe, and connect with the world around me, both of nature and the built environment. During a nomadic year of travel, I would often leave behind little thank you sketches for hosts, usually of their home or pets, which helped turn a personal ritual into a meaningful gift. Now, through Sketches by Pepita, I’m grateful to offer that same sense of meaning and connection through custom work. These sketches make thoughtful gifts for real estate closings, pet lovers, travel keepsakes, or just something special for your own walls.
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We’re so excited to share our work with you 🤍
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#bio #story #ourstory #smallbusinessowner #dream #drawing #drawdrawdraw #drawings #commission #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #sketching #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #art #artist #artofinstagram #artwork by @itsreallybutter

Marj, 37 ✍️🏡🐶 #storiesofstpete #stpetersburg #florida #stpete #stpetersburgfl by @itsreallybutter

Q1 wrap up
Trending upwards on mems and highlights ❤️
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Never enough days out on the water
Celebrated Penny’s first birthday
Remembered loved ones lost and said goodbye
First bike race, more bibs
More races, more medals, more bibs again
Threw it back in the old NYC stomping grounds
One year since starting Sketches by Pepita
Pow days and snowboards
An always full guest room
Many work changes and new roles
Trips to San Francisco, Bogota, Cabbage
Took Penny on her first trip
Shed some tears, both happy and sad
And ended with too many belly laughs by @itsreallybutter

Just a little photo dump of some of the many highlights from her first year, happy one year of having Penny🪩

A huge thank you, to my Uncle, Captain Rick @rick_preil @field_trip_charters, who was so patient teaching me the ropes when I left out of the St Pete boat show and said, “So I think I just put a down payment on a boat.” From trailering, launching, anchoring, docking, driving, navigating, and maintenance, some of you witnessed my journey from zero. We’ve come a long way 😊

Never thought I’d love boat ownership as much as I love surf, but I guess we’re just meant to be in the water🌊 Here’s to many more adventures ahead, ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘᴇɴɴʏ🪩 by @itsreallybutter

Heading into Thanksgiving, I am fully grateful. This past weekend was full of balance and filled with many memories on the spectrum of stillness, being present, recovery, rest, being outside, accomplishments, fitness, fun, celebrations, family, friends, full belly laughs, happy tears, cheers, dancing, parties, hosting, bonfires, coffee, food, dessert, sports, pups, and the ocean…just some of the little things that I enjoy and love and that make me, me. I spent the weekend surrounded by so much love and many of ‘my peoples’.

FEELING FULL is an understatement. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to celebrate my birthday, greet me, and be present in my life. ❤️🥹 by @itsreallybutter

10. A decade. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years of honoring this tradition writing a letter to you, this time from Banff 🏔️. Happy 10th birthday to my heart, my best friend, Peyton ❤️

If I had to describe this year leading up to you turning 10, I’d say — awe, gratitude, and a blanket of warmth and sadness.

I have so much awe that you still run miles and miles, adventure full days, and have so much patience for everyone and everything around you.

I have gratitude that you’ve been able to see, experience and watch this year unfold with me full of peace, alignment and growth. I have gratitude that we’ve made a home here together full of family, community, old and new friends. I’m grateful that you bring so much joy to our family. I’m grateful we’ve built a home we love — with our favorite running and biking routes and even more adventures out on the water with your new boat. You’re the best (fake) first mate.

And as the years pass, this blanket of warmth and sadness builds within me. I see you getting older with a brown face turning more white, needing more rest and more naps between adventures, between runs, and our travel. It breaks me when I say to the vet no, I think that was her last teeth cleaning where I want her under anesthesia or that I have to give you extra vitamins to keep you healthy as you age. But then you turn around and still go through the trash like a puppy, you still throw your toys at the end of my work day when you want to play, you still bark insanely when I ask you ‘wanna go for a run’, you’re still nimble and fast, and you still are learning more activities and hobbies to share with me. You embrace it all with no fear and no hesitation.

You’re always going to be my forever puppy, Peyton 🥹 Happy birthday little one. I love you and know that we still have a very full life ahead that I want you to share with me

P.S that last video, forever a trash dog raccoon by @itsreallybutter

One year ago since buying my cozy home but even more sweet…one year ago of deciding to bring life to a full circle and finally moving back closer to family and being ‘home home’ again

15+ years later living and traveling to many places, it’s sweet to call St Pete our home ❤️

Can’t wait to create even more memories in Casita Pepita 🏡

#home #homesweethome #casitapepita #stpete by @itsreallybutter

Cheers to summer officially coming to an end and an appreciation post for running - a consistent part of this past summer and a hobby that’s always been a consistent part of my life. Running has allowed me to challenge myself, stay active, stay moving, meditate, compete, have fun, meet new people, explore new sights and neighborhoods, explore new homes, share a hobby with Peyton, give back to charities and communities, see the world…and the list goes on. Ever since I got Peyton, I trained myself to run endless miles without music and headphones. It’s a time to be aware and observe my surroundings, be present in my own thoughts, and be in tune with my body and all my senses.

I’m so grateful to be able to run again after a year of being injured and not being able to even run a mile without my foot completely swelling. Hard work, patience and lots of PT definitely paid off. And a huge thank you to all my friends and my family near and far who supported me along the way and for supporting me in all these life moments. 🤍

To say this one was one of those “once in a lifetime experiences” is an understatement. I’ll never forget the streets of Paris yelling “Alle, alle, alle”, coming up to the most ridiculous incline, seeing my cousins cheering me on carrying Pey in the air, and running the same route as the Olympians. The second I hit that blue carpet to the finish line, it felt like pillows on my feet. That’s literally what went through my head. ☺️

Just hitting four years with this company this past week. Thank you again, Airbnb for giving me an opportunty to run the Paris Olympics Pour Tous Marathon!

#paris #parisolympics2024 #olympics #running #marathon #marathonpourtous #marathonpourtousparis2024 #airbnb #runningcommunity #runninglife by @itsreallybutter

Cheers to tradition and letter to my dog from Paris - Happy 9th birthday to my baby pup, Peyton! Sharing this Paris Olympics experience with you over your birthday weekend has been everything. You’re a unique, special dog, and truly have an old (but young) beautiful soul. I’m so thankful for your company and being my P.I.C. since day one.

Thank you for being the one I can always count on, through tough moments, through exciting highs in life, through new transition moments…especially in getting your retirement home, 🤗 and to being there through our families loss and grief this year. You felt it so much and carried so much of it with you too. 🥺 You’re our family. You’re an unbelievable character, with a beautiful soul and when you smile and walk the streets, I see everyone look down at your face and perk up with a smile. I love you so much, more than words. Happy birthday little one and hope you’ve enjoyed all the baguettes, french fries, pets, and croissants in Paris for your 9th! Happy birthday my little Pepita Paper Pey ❤️ by @itsreallybutter

It’s been almost a couple weeks now and now that everyone has left, it all still feels surreal and the heavy heart comes in unexpected big waves. You will truly be missed, Lola…by all of us. 🕊️❤️

These past couple weeks have felt like no time passed, yet so much time has passed. So many emotions, but what brings me comfort is knowing that Lola lived a long and fulfilled life. Hearing stories shared that I’ve never heard before from her eldest grandchildren were peaceful, wholesome, funny, yet weird…Lola and Lolo had a life before living with us!? 🤯 Of course they did, but my entire life, my entire childhood, I remember her being there everyday. When I was 5, my grandparents immigrated into the U.S. and lived with my family ever since. Being little and watching how they moved together, how they danced together, how they looked at each other, their continued dates and how they talked to one another - they were truly the first ones to teach me what love was by simply observing them everyday. My Lola’s passing has brought on a lot of emotions, thinking about the village who has raised me from my childhood memories to my most recent memories. I am so lucky to be raised not only by my parents but my Lola Inay (great grandmother), my Lolo (grandfather), my Lola (grandmother) and my Tita Genie. We never had ‘babysitters’ growing up, they were always just around. My two sisters and I have been so blessed. It hurts that my Lola Inay, my Lolo, and now my Lola have left us.

Thank you Lola for spending many ‘everydays’ with me, especially this past year when being homesick and working from home for months. I always wished we had more time, more boba tea dates, more times of me catching you giving Peyton more rice…I wish I could keep sharing more with you. I’ll miss your most recent words, telling me and Peyton you already miss us even while we were just packing and haven’t left yet to travel. You’ve taught us many things, but most of all thank you for teaching me to always have faith. You will be missed, so much, Lola by @itsreallybutter

Thank you, 2023 for another year full of new experiences, growth, connection, ebs and flows, learnings, and memories
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To some mini highlights 🍾🥂
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#2023 #2023recap #salud #cheers #2024 by @itsreallybutter

Better late than never, missed my annual August 1st “letter to my dog” that’s been sitting in draft for far too long. Here’s to a few tidbits from our finding a new home journey. A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has welcomed us, hosted us, visited us, shared memories, and joined us throughout our “nomadic” lifestyle. 9+ months later and answering the question “where do you live” is still such a heavy answer. While the new home base is still a huge unknown and we’re still trying to be “ok” sitting in the uncomfortable, let us know if you want to join us or have room for two, we’re open! 🙂

Now onto tradition,
Dear Peyton,
Happy 8th birthday, my little one. I’m so sad and sorry this had to be the first year that I was ever away on your birthday. I just wanted to tell you thank you for saving me this year. It’s been a hard one - physically, mentally, and emotionally. I cried so much with you and thank you for being my cuddle bug through it all. But we also had countless amazing new adventures and meetups with so many smiles driving along the coast, jamming out in car rides, and flying back and forth coast to coast, just trying to find our new home base. You’re such a trooper for letting me up and pack our lives and your bed constantly. I can’t wait for many more new trails with you, new waves with you, and new places with you. Although we haven’t found our “home base”, I know I always find home in you. I love you so much my baby PeyPey. Thank you for being, home 🥰

#nomad #nomadlife #home #homesweethome #somewherealongtheway by @itsreallybutter