Posts Tagged ‘family’

Menu Plan Monday … September

Posted on September 6th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

Yes I know most people just post what they are eating that week but well there are many kids in our house and because  of the dynamics of a military budget I plan for about a month at a time. I will link to anywhere I can for a recipe though I do tend to tweak them a bit for our family and will try to notate when I do! You will even see a few recurring recipes from last month. You will also note a few times the kids will be on their own as I will be at a couple craft shows this month.

Week 1 (I”ll include what we had Thursday – Saturday here too)

Thursday September 1 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Friday September 2 Switched! Chicken Burritos Ala Aunt Cheryl’s crud every one of the teens/20 somethings living in the house brought extra people home for dinner and I only took out 4 chicken breasts and have to feed everyone way! Also works wonders for the large family on a budget!

Saturday September 3 Steaks & french fries I was so tired I forgot to make a vegetable!

Sunday September 4 Yum Yum Ribs & Corn were on sale at the grocery store so guess what we had. With some cinnamon baked apples too!

Monday September 5 PW Mac & Cheese  because really who doesn’t love mac & cheese! The best part was Aidan who had never had home made mac & cheese ever before said it was the best mac & cheese he has had in his whole life.

Tuesday September 6 Stone Soup aka Vegetable Beef Soup. Its one of our family favorites we love the story and I love little hands helping and grabbing handfuls of various foods  to help make soup.

Wednesday September 7 Lazy Girl Lasagna I stumbled across this recipe for a white lasagna in a now forgotten magazine. Sadly I lost the recipe a move or so ago however I have tweaked it over the years anyway come back soon and maybe you will find this little gem posted.

Thursday September 8 Steaks on the grill (this is really selfish of me really so i can eat the yummy cold leftovers with a salad tomorrow for dinner)

Friday September 9 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday September 10 Autumn Pork with Apples. There are tons of recipes out there but how can you go wrong with pork & apples.

Week 2

Sunday September 11 Chianti Marinated Beef Stew From Lexi’s Giada Cookbook. Lexi will be making this with my Mom while I’m at a show! YUM can’t wait to get home and have some.

Monday September  12 Cheddar Broccoli Soup with warm cheddar rolls. This is one of Rory’s favorites, he loves broccoli broccoli soup.

Tuesday September 13 Fish with vegetables & garlic dill potatoes.  Simple. Easy. Yum.

Wednesday September 14 PW Chicken spaghetti  Yes I know it was on the menu last month too but its simple easy and filling.

Thursday September 15 Shrimp Scampi My favorite thing about this is how Aidan was so against the vegetables in it in the beginning but now they are BFFs.

Friday September 16 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday September 17 Meal in a Packet. Yup Each kid gets a piece of foil and gets to make their own packet of meat, veggies & seasonings then to the Grill they go.

Week 3

Sunday September 18 Paula Deen’s Chicken Pot Pie yes another recipe that will be coming back again this month and probably next month too its that good!

Monday September 19 Zuppa Toscana again because its just that good. Plus I still have sausage in the freezer so it makes it cheap too!

Tuesday September 20 Breakfast for dinner! YUMMY YUMMY! Who doesn’t love eggs, bacon, sausage & cinnamon raisin challah french toast for dinner?

Wednesday September 21  Marlboro Man’s Favorite Sandwich ok so basically I only came up with about 5 new recipes this month apparently.

Thursday September 22 PW Penne A la Betsy this one will be new this month but the pictures looked just amazing.

Friday September 23 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday September 24 LEFTOVERS clean out the fridge kids!

Week 4

Sunday September 25 Sausage & Peppers in the crockpot. MMMM I think there will be fresh bread made too.

Monday September 26 Clam Chowder New England style of course.

Tuesday September 27 Farmer’s Wife Baked Chicken & Roasted Vegetables.

Wednesday September 28 Carmelized Pork Medallions.

Thursday September 29 PW Mac & Cheese Again I know TWICE in one month its like crazy around here! Seriously thought Lexi & Brenna weren’t home for the first time.

Friday September 30 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday October 1 Citrus & Honey Marinated Grilled Chicken.

Do you menu plan? What time/ money savers do you have?

Wednesday Wishes

Posted on August 10th, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

I have to honestly say a major wish of mine has come true. We have all six of our kids living full time in our house. The last of our kids to come live with us was my oldest daughter Brenna, who arrived Monday afternoon.

Meet Brenna.

This post can be a bit of a “Two For” you get to meet Brenna AND you get to continue the house tour with her room.

Little has been shown of this room til now mainly because it was only painted in her choice of color Sherwin Williams Free Spirit , and had a bed thats it.

After a quick trip to the neighborhood big box store to get some bedding I think its cute. Not that it would matter what I thought her being 18 and all.

The view from just inside the doorway. That quilt hanging at the foot of her bed I made that when I was all of 17.

From the corner next to her bed. I guess I should have closed her door there to the right for the sake of the pictures but  didn’t think about it til now.

Here is the view from her closet. Its hard to imagine that less than a week ago this room was totally an empty blank canvas.

This is the little surprise that Brenna brought along with her. She really is a sweet little kitty and Finn loves that she is mini sized & he can carry her about.

What wishes do you have?

Recipe … Red Beans & Rice

Posted on August 8th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

In keeping with sharing our menu for the month last Monday I’ll share one of our recipes with you today, or at least the way I mostly do it anyway. I tend to improvise in the kitchen a lot. I also had intended in getting lots of step by step instructions for the recipe but honestly Lexi & Aidan did most of the prep work while I showered, changed sheets and other household stuff getting ready for the hubby to come home! Also some of the amounts might be a little odd as I eyeball it and adjust while I’m making it because I’m cooking for such a large family.

Ingredients

3 tbs oil

1 large onion chopped

1 1/2 c chopped celery (or whatever is left in your fridge that your kids haven’t snacked on)

4 cloves garlic minced

2 bell peppers chopped (or whatever makes it in the pot due to snacking kids)

1lb kielbasa or other smoked sausage

1-2 c diced/chopped leftover ham or pork pieces (optional but so yummy)

~~~~~

2 ham hocks

4 cans rinsed & drained red beans (I usually just soak beans & eyeball enough to feed people images show cannellini beans because thats what I had)

1 tbs thyme

1 tbs parsley

pinch paprika

3 bay leaves

2-4 c chicken broth

salt & pepper to taste

1 lb dices/chopped leftover ham pieces

Instructions:

Sauté everything above the ~~~ until browned. When that’s done add all the remaining ingredients. Simmer slowly for an additional 2-4 hours. I usually cover it but that just because balls and airplanes tend to go flying at my house and I don’t feel like picking them out. When its about time to eat make up some rice using whatever way you like to cook it we usually need about 4 cups uncooked rice here in order to have some for leftovers the next day. Trust me you will want leftovers the next day.

Feeds 6-8 hungry Feingold’s with enough for leftovers the next day for most of the kids.

OOPS guess I should have remembered to take the photo BEFORE serving everyone dinner.

So what’s cooking at your home? What easy meals do you like to make?

Tuesday’s Tip… Cutting veggies

Posted on August 2nd, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

Once upon a time I had 3 children under the age of 3. Yes I know that makes me a little insane. Even before the third boy came along I knew I needed to be able to cut down my prep time before dinner. I had plenty of time around 10 am to work in the kitchen when Jack & Rory would play nicely together, and Lexi would be working independently if only I could cook dinner at 10 am! EUREKA! It hit me, why didn’t I at least do all my chopping and slicing in the mornings when I had more time vs at 430 pm when Finn was hungry, Rory was cranky, and I just wanted to take a nap.

Then I started to think if I could cut an onion for today’s dinner why couldn’t I just cut up a few of them. So thats how it started. I usually have a bag of sliced and a bag of diced onions and it saves me the time when I least have it in my day. Those skins those will go in an odds & ends bag in the freezer that I use when I make stock.

What time saving tips do you have ? I really would love to hear them with 5 kids (soon to be 6) in the house all the time I could probably use a few more up my sleeves!

Menu Plan Monday … August

Posted on August 1st, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

Yes I know most people just post what they are eating that week but well there are many kids in our house and because  of the dynamics of a military budget I plan for about a month at a time. I will link to anywhere I can for a recipe though I do tend to tweak them a bit for our family and will try to notate when I do!

Week 1

Sunday July 31 Paula Deen’s Chicken Pot Pie personally I don’t make it in separate dishes or make the top all fancy like, I also leave the veggies frozen and use plain organic mixed veggies from costco.

Monday Aug 1 Zuppa Toscana ok so once upon a pregnancy I had a craving for breadsticks and well soup. I love soup I eat soup all summer long. We had some Kale in our CSA box so what better way to use it.  I may even be motivated to make some fresh breadsticks as a treat for kids.

Tuesday Aug 2 Marlboro Man’s Favorite Sandwich a couple weeks ago as a gift to lexi I got her Pioneer Woman’s Cookbook. Yes I know the recipes are online but there is just something about flipping through a cookbook for inspiration. Our favorite thing is all of the amazing picture. Jack’s favorite thing is COWBOYS duh!

Wednesday Aug 3 Grilled Salmon no link just boring take salmon put on grill and sauté some veggies to go with it probably sugar snap peas!

Thursday Aug 4 Steaks on the grill with parsley butter this is so simple and yum. The trick is to slowly melt the butter add lots of fresh chopped parsley & a clove of garlic then put in a small dish and pop in the freezer to set while you grill steaks. When you serve steaks put a bit of the herbed butter on each serving. Will pair with garlic dill potatoes & fresh green beans with parsley, garlic & paprika.

Friday Aug 5 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie

Saturday Aug 6 Red Beans & Rice  Shhh don’t tell Steve he thinks he makes it better than I do.

Week 2

Sunday Aug 7 PW Chicken Spagetti  This was the very first Pioneer Woman recipe I tried back a year or so ago and YUMMO! Make this you will like it!

Monday Aug 8 Hamburgers & Brats & Dogs on the grill because well its Brenna’s arrival day and she is a picky eater!

Tuesday Aug 9 PW Ranch Dressing and salad because Rory said Brenna likes to eat salad when we were looking through the cookbook.

Wednesday Aug 10 Jenni’s lazy Girl lasagna aka White Lasagna with spicy red pepper sausage and spinach. Check back for the Recipe!

Thursday Aug 11 Almond crusted Fish of some sort.

Friday Aug 12 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday Aug 13 Stir fry with lots of squash and zucchini (which Aidan used to not like and now loves)

Week 3

Sunday Aug 14 PW Enchiladas yeah yeah I know there is a theme going on here. We had these last week though I doubled the recipe the kids devoured them!

Monday Aug 15 Cream of Broccoli soup with My famous (ok to us anyway) Cheesy bread rolls.

Tuesday Aug 16 Ann Miller’s Greek Pasta Salad just think greek salad meets pasta did I mention the yummy olives & feta.

Wednesday Aug 17 Shish Kaboba aka Meat on a Stick how is it that meat on a stick makes kids so happy?

Thursday Aug 18  Pork Molasses Butter with sweet potato fries and veggies  the recipe will give you the gist.

Friday Aug 19 Family Fun Night home made pizza & a movie!

Saturday Aidan’s Request is Olive Garden for his Birthday

Week 4

Sunday Aug 21 Burgers & Dogs again

Monday Aug 22 Stone Soup our version of a beef vegetable soup the kids love reading stone soup and then cleaning out the fridge to make it.

Tuesday Aug 23 Grilled Chicken with a salad

Wednesday Aug 24 Aunt Cheryl’s Easy Peasy Chicken Burritos using the leftover chicken

Thursday Aug 25 Sloppy Joes because well its fun to say the kids love them, they are easy and by the time I’ve planned a whole month of food I’ve lost my inspiration.

Friday Aug 26 LEFTOVERS thats right kids clean out the fridge.

Do you menu plan? What time/ money savers do you have?

Not quite a baby anymore.

Posted on July 7th, 2011 in blog, family by jenni

Yes I know it’s 3:30 am. Yes I know that makes this a little crazy, but, I didn’t want this moment to get lost in life.

There my baby. It’s his status being the last born. Its what I still often think of him of even though he is now older than his brothers were when their next youngest sibling came along. Fill loves to hug & he’s at that age at about 2.5 where he hugs with his whole body you can feel it & it’s wonderful. Just a minute ago I was the recipient of such a hug.

Me: that was a great hug. Who gives the best hugs?
Finn: me, lud (love) you mom.
Me: *laughing* yes you Finn. Your not a baby any more are you?
Finn: no me big boy now. Pie baby. He princess danceur.

What’s really running through my head is WHAT? ME? Not tinn (his mis pronunciation of Finn most often not just tinn but tinn-tinn) not third person but first person me. It continues.

Me: I stinky. I need to shower tomorrow. (I unpacked somewhere around 15+ boxes today, did 6 loads of laundry, made bath salts, elderberry syrup & cleaned the kitchen today I worked hard & was too tired before bed honestly.)
Finn: yes stinky ewww gross mom. Me stinky also. Tinn shower you morrow mom? Lud you. Me sleep night night.

And he cozied back down to go back to sleep. He grows up too fast.

His shirt says it all: that’s how I roll. How true. I just wish it could slow down some.

Quilting Adventures… Lexi’s quilt

Posted on July 6th, 2011 in 101 in 1001, Baltimore Craft, blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

Ok so last I updated you on the progress I showed you all the darling little dresses all embroidered up. Well most of the dresses anyway. So the next step in the adventure was to piece together the other blocks that would be surrounding the quilt. But to do that and figure it out I needed a plan. I had been looking at finished quilts on etsy and found a few I liked now to make it work with my dress squares. So I got out some graphing paper and designed a quilt.

Right I know exactly what you are thinking is she insane. and in hindsight I think I was a little. To go from making a quilt to designing a quilt on the fly was a lot, when it got really tricky was when I lost the plan midway through piecing the quilt together and forgot I had taken this very picture which would have saved me SOOOO much time!

So I decided I didn’t want just charm square in most of the blocks I needed to cut them in half and piece 4 of them together.

There you can see pairs of them pieced together. The more I played with them the more I fell in love with the Bliss palate.

Then I sewed the pairs together.

And then I had to sew boarders onto the long sides.

Next I laid everything out according to the drawing which somehow also went missing around this time. I don’t have any pictures of this step somehow.

The last step I had to do was to piece all the blocks & rows together. There was an audible sigh of relief at my house when this was finished. Then off the quilt top went to the lovely Tarabu (her etsy shop)  to be finished up. Hey I know my limitations.

We continued on packing moving unpacking and then one day a package arrived for miss Lexi.

So I ran up to her room with it and made her bed then I stood in the corner to get her picture when she saw it! Notice the excitement on the smidge of Rory you see on the edge.

Then she started petting the squares reminiscing about all the dresses.

There it is on her bed isn’t it AMAZING! Many many thanks to Ann Miller, Gigi, Mom, Tracy & Laura for helping to embroider the dresses,  Tasha for designing the lovely dresses to begin with, Tarabu for the most AMAZING job on finishing the quilt, and most of all Lexi for inspiring the quilt to begin with. I love you and the person you are!

The new house. the office aka Lana Bella HQ

Posted on June 30th, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

Ok so you probably want to see where I’m working from these days! It has been a messy work in progress while I worked around unpacked boxes. Made more hectic by the 450 individual containers of salves and 300 lip balms all made & labeled by me in the past 10 days while managing FIVE children, 2 dogs and a cat. Before you say it I’m not super woman. Honestly I’m struggling with time for everything and quite often feel like I am suffocating. Finally just this afternoon was it finally together enough to be presentable and not something to be ashamed of for not getting to yet.

Like everywhere else in the house it was a blank slate all white walls except where their were mirrors. Unlike in the dining room I didn’t hide them in here its the darkest room of the house and they bounce light. There is also no before picture so think boring and white.

This is the view pretty much when coming in. Did I mention there are french doors leading to my office. I love that when open they allow me just a little extra feeling of being with the kids while they are just down the hall in their play room. Its a dreary day today so it looks dark in here but the wall color in here is sherwin williams springtime. I think like in our bedroom I may need to add a second coat, but for now I’m living with it.

On the right when you walk in you can see orders being pulled on top of the shelves. The bins are full of salves & balms, prebagged teas, body butters and deodorants.  So I guess its the mini ship center.

My still a little cluttered desk is straight ahead,  with the postal scale & printer there on the right and  a fresh cup of coffee thanks to lexi.

To the left are the drawers of soap and packaging supplies. Note the weird mirrors. On the dresser I’m listening to some pandora and working on some aromatherapy roll ons!

Finishing up the tour is the closet that is on the same wall as the entry door. You can see jars of herbs and essential oils and misc raw materials and bulk product already made.

There you have it the new HQ of Lana Bella. I’m really grateful I got almost of my artscape prep done before the move now because it really is allowing me the time to enjoy the pool.

The new house. Family and Kitchen

Posted on June 26th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

The other major living area on the 1st floor is the kitchen/family room. Like the dining area its also located on the back of the house away from street noise (HA) and with two huge slider or window/door combos looking out onto the patio offers me the ability of sitting here on the couch writing this post while still being able to glance over at the boys trying to catch lizards.

Ok another combo room we will start with the before of the kitchen & family room. Note again the family room was the same white as everything else was.

AFTER!!

I went with sherwin williams heart of palm in here for the entire space and couldn’t be more delighted in how the color changes through out the day.

Ignore the clutter on the fridge we are still getting settled.  You can see the door to the TINY pantry to the left of the fridge and some of my vintage aprons hanging on the wall.

The rest of the kitchen because of the big open area that I’m standing in to take the picture it seems so much roomier than it is. The layout is different than what I’ve had ever before and in the right corner next to the stove is one of those big cabinets to hell. You know those ones that have a teeny opening but go all the way back to the wall. The sinks are also a bit shallow for what I’d like but all in all I like it. Most of the kitchen was painted by me with a 1 1/2 inch brush too because there really wasn’t much to paint.

From the family room into the kitchen you can see the big open area near the slider and the fridge.  Also the pictures were taken before Steve left but he was packing so thats his macbook bag there on the couch.

From the kitchen. With so many more of us now we added the old day bed into the mix for extra sitting and possible guest visiting.  Its still amusing to see how much spare space we have in the shelves here now because so much of all of our storage was over taken by the business before the move. The entire right side was shipping supplies, paper, ink, labels for products, etc. Now its magazines and some odds & ends for now.

The day bed. This is also the bedding I picked for Lexi a few summers ago when she was visiting her dad. The green of the sheets/quite are really similar to the wall paint at points of the day.

So there you have it. Now you have seen all of our main living areas. I’ll finish up with the 1st floor tomorrow. Then maybe a pause to finish up the series about Lexi’s quilt.

The new house. Dining and the learning/play room.

Posted on June 24th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

Ok I’ve taken a gazillion pictures of the new house. We are still unpacking and working things out but this is were we are at so far. I’ll go room by room over the next few days showing you all we have done.

We were pretty lucky in this adventure to have the use of the giant garage to store our boxes and so much of our stuff so the rooms were really empty while we painted. The rooms are in no way done they still need curtains but I’m taking my time and pondering what I want for them, and deciding on the decorative touches to complete things.  We also started with REALLY blank canvases like all white ceiling to trim.

This is a really big room for us. Its about the size of our entire first floor in our baltimore house, maybe not quite as long but about 1.5 times as wide and the natural light is AMAZING!

This is a picture of the play/learning area of the room though it was all white when we got here.

I know small picture, and yes that is an entire wall of mirrors.

Are you ready for the after. I am stunned on the change a little paint can’t make honestly. I’ve painted before but it was already after things were moved in or fairly settled before not as the main part of the transformation process.

The kids “genius bar”, the train table and toy storage. A small glimpse of the new craft table in the far left.

The other side of the room showing the train table, toy storage and the now unused coat rack. You can also see the front door & Finn’s car seat waiting to be installed in the suburban. There is that craft table again this time to the right.

BOOKS! To utilize space and cover up some of those mirrors we put the book shelves there. Yes you do actually see there of the 4×4 ikea expedit shelves there, and yes they are mostly full. Our dining table to the left and the craft table to the right.

The other angle you see the dining table to the right and on the opposite wall you see the 3 hanging wires for artwork, cards, pictures anything the kids hang really. You also see the two places that now need to be sanded and repainted because Rory & Finn tried to use one of the wires as a zipline. You also get a teeny glimpse into the kitchen & family room from here.

For the sake of having one picture from the same place as the original here you have it. You can see the craft table and Rory’s nest (papasan chair) from here. For perspective I was backed up to the train table taking this picture. There will be enough room for all the kids to sit at both craft and computer tables. They are currently short one bench because ikea has been out of stock.

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into our living spaces. Oh the paint! I almost forgot the color is Chartreuse by sherwin williams custom tinted at 50%.

We’ve moved! and why I’m so far behind in shipping

Posted on June 23rd, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

Rory, Jack, Finn, Aidan & Lexi

Remember a couple months ago when I said there were changes coming? WOW I wish I had known really how much my life was going to change in mid may.  I had literally just sat in the tub for my weekly soak. The time I hide myself away in the tub to soak when I get the chance is absolutely sacred to me its something that makes me feel so good mentally & physically. Steve knocked on the bathroom door, it had been a hectic day I told him to go away. He opened the door instead and came in the look on his face was frightening. I thought something had happened to my gram and my mom called him to break the news for me. What he said instead was even more shocking. “Tara died.” WHAT? My anxiety level not only hit the roof in about 30 seconds but soared up on past it. You see Tara was his ex-wife, the mother of his oldest child.

This all happened literally eight days before the movers were showing up at our house to pack everything and move us to Miami. So in the course of eight days I finished making 65 more pounds of soap for Artscape, rearranged our already cramped too small Baltimore rowhome to store the contents of a seventh person and said person, dealt with emotionally supporting my husband through the loss of his ex-wife and the custody disagreement that followed, researched grief support and books for the 11 year old boy that would now be living with us and panicked.

My entire timetable at this point was thrown out a window. Who knew that just adding one extra child to the mix when we already had four would throw everything upside down. Most days Aidan is in good spirits. The way our household works is however completely different from what he was used to so there are some bumps everyday. He is encouraged by his own health and wellness due to some of the changes.

We will get through though its all been so much slower than I had anticipated and I’m so very sorry for the excessive delays at this point on shipping things. Its been three weeks now since we arrived in our new home and yesterday my husband left leaving me alone for the next 45 days alone with 5 children. We are adjusting. The pool helps.

Crossing my fingers & holding my breath

Posted on April 26th, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

Today has been insanely hectic. I had plans for a great cute post this morning that will now wait til another day. Today has been a day of back and forth emails between my realtor and I putting in an offer for what could be (crossing fingers) our new home. I’m getting to that point in time where I need to know where my family will be living. I just need to have that checked off my list. I need to plan to dream. I need to sit by this pool and unwind.

poolside view

Its been one of those hurry up, hope you still have enough ink left to print the pages, sign them, scan them, forward them to your husband, call him like you are a crazed lunatic to tell him to sign them, get them back forward it all on to the realtor and wait. Wait for the next email, some tidbit of info, some change. Rinse & repeat.

In between all of that I’ve had a 5 yo who is screaming out of his skin (jelly bellies what was I thinking) annoyed at everyone. A 7 yo who is taking the opportunity with the 5yo to wind him up just a little bit further. Failing at any train of thought. Checking real estate listing of house to look at pictures for the 84,000 time to see if I can see any thing different. Label 100 lipbalms, make 50 more. Blend teas. Face palm about forgetting to pour candles. Now I’m sitting here trying to get my anxiety all back under control.  Cup of tea done I suppose I should go back to packing orders!

Sneaking in.

Posted on April 20th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

I bet you thought I forgot. I didn’t Just wanted to let you know about something fabulous. I have lots of things I want to share. Today was a whirlwind. I packed 37 orders today. THIRTY SEVEN! I think I relisted all the sold items in the shop. I prepped another 84,000 orders for packing tomorrow. I planned. While I was doing all that my husband took my wonderful children to the Zoo. I wished I had been able to go.

All four kids

So there you have it with about 90 minutes to spare I continue my blogging run!

Oh and if you happen to venture to the kids blog yes I know I need to get on that again but y’all have kept my really busy, but to the point if you email the kids don’t be surprised if you get an email back from them. They are in charge of their own correspondence.

Simple. Gratitude. Calm.

Posted on April 18th, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

Things are currently moving at whirlwind speed at our home. House hunting (still), packing these orders just as quickly as I can. Updating etsy, getting everything listed here at lanabellasoap.com, homeschooling, organizing for said move which in reality is about 6 weeks away, prepping for the few shows I have before I leave.

This very morning I thought while drinking my coffee how I wished I was sitting on the porch at the farm in a rocker looking out over that place that brought me so much peace when I was in my teens. You see that fence, that one there, the one closest to us? I helped my Uncle Ray build that fence. There is a barn back there over my left hand shoulder behind me you can’t see he let me put a few nails in that too. I remember the day during hay season something was wrong and Lois and I going down and flipping that darn hay field there by hand. I remember Uncle Jack telling me how to drive the tractor “the right way”. I remember lifting those bails of hay and getting them into the barn. Ahh the smell of hay in a barn! Mostly I remember the laughter, the peace, the togetherness of those days in the early 90′s on the farm. Those memories get me through even the craziest of days.

Quilting Adventure The Dresses

Posted on April 17th, 2011 in 101 in 1001, blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

This has been such  an adventure but the most asked question to my last post via email was what do the dresses look like? Well there are still a few yet to arrive from the lovely Gigi , however I have received the ones from my dear friends Ann & Laura, as well as my mom and little sister. There are also the ones Lexi and I have worked on. When all counted up we have enough for TWO quilts and at least some pillow shams. With out further ado here are the hand embroidered dresses.

And because I know you too will think these little dresses are just so darling you need to make some for your projects too you can have a little sweetness in your life too!

Changes afoot.

Posted on April 16th, 2011 in 101 in 1001, blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, contemplating, pondering, procrastinating. Each time we move I alter our lives just a little bit further becoming more and more natural. Eliminating plastic, parabens, SLS, changing our house hold cleaning products, food, buying choices. I really should blog more about the changes my family has made to have a softer footprint over the last 8 years.

I will be in the future discontinuing all of the products with fragrance oils. Yes there I said it. I know some of you will be disappointed (including my darling husband) but its been something thats been weighing more and more heavily with each spurt of soap making I go through. To be honest they are affecting my health. I have to strategically plan my soap making days now so I can make these soaps all back to back all in the same day and at the end of making everything else because once I do I have a migraine and some loss of word retrieval. With our move my husband will not be living with us on a regular basis because he will be again attached to a boat and deployed often and I just can’t take those 2 days of downtime away from my children to continue on a regular basis any longer.

This will be gradual. I will exhaust my current inventory of the fragrance oils and I will let you know when the final batches will be coming. On request you MAY be able to talk me into making you an entire batch (15 bars) it will take a minimum of 6 weeks to get it to you so plan accordingly because I will have to special order the fragrance for your batch.

Scents being discontinued and the approximate batch # before they are gone:

Moroccan fig 3-4

Ginger Fish 1-2

Southern Sweet Tea 1-2

Black amber Lavender 2-3

Dragon’s Blood 1-2 (I may have an alternative for this)

Beau Brummel 2-3

Vetyver 2-3

Tomato Leaf 2-3

Pumice Mint Nag Champa 2-3

Graceful Baby 1-2

Thank you for your understanding. Because of these changes you will also see in probably June where you can buy a FULL batch of soap at an incredible price and it won’t just be these it will be ALL of the scents I offer!

Changes in Latitude

Posted on March 27th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

It was an ordinary Friday in mid February I was planning for what would be our last summer in Baltimore. Trips to the zoo, the aquarium, renewing our membership to the Science Center. Planning our garden, my craft show schedule, day dreaming. The phone rang it was my husband he told me he sent me an email and go check it and got off the phone. I assumed it was one of his weird jokes that he thinks is hysterical but I wouldn’t (we have very differing ideas on what is humorous) or some bit of news from military.com. I was wrong. It was an email from his detailer (the guy in the military who assigns the jobs) telling us that because Steve was making Chief (E7) he (we) would be being relocated THIS year, and to rank the following jobs (places) in order 1-4 of where to go.

WHAT?!?!? Are you kidding me just a week or so ago we had been told that we were going to be here in Baltimore til spring 2012. The four choices were NOT even on my radar of places to go matter of fact 3 of them were on our list of places to avoid prior to this email.

We ranked our choices freaked out about them all. Waited. Stressed. Then one morning I woke up crying. I texted Steve that I had a nightmare he was going to Key West (meaning he was going to be attached to a ship again). He said he hadn’t heard a thing yet. A couple hours later he texted and said I was right that he was setting assigned Key West.

This means the kids and I are moving to MIAMI.

Miami?!? Yes. Key West is WAY out of our price range to live in a house that will be big enough for our four kids (since then we have also invited my oldest daughter to move with us after she graduates high school in June) and my growing business. Also I just think if faced with an evacuation I’d prefer to already be back on the mainland vs out on the islands. There is just more for the kids and I to do in Miami than Key West honestly. This has its downsides as well though, we won’t see Steve as much when he is home. In South Carolina for the most part when the boat was in port he was home every night. We won’t have that in Florida. With 3+ hours we will have to see him on the weekends when they are home and really make the most of it.

House hunting is bittersweet. I find great possible homes, homes to continue to nourish our family, homes that will never truly  be Steve’s home. On the flip side Brenna (my oldest daughter) is most likely coming to live with us. This makes me soooo very excited as well as the other kids too!

For Lana Bella this also means that other than the few shows I’ll be doing before the move there will probably be a hiatus due to deployment schedules. The irony of this is this winter while I was on my break (mostly due to burn out and illness) I was pondering do I go with another year of whirlwind shows and business growth or do I slow down to spend more quality time with my family? In a way I’ll be doing both. I won’t be doing shows, instead I’ll be focusing with online sales and trying to get my products in some shops and working the wholesale thing.

There has been a variety of emotions through this, still is because I’m still house hunting, still trying to help my daughter Brenna decide what/where she is living and doing for school next year, and trying to figure out homeschool laws in Florida and find some support groups.

So at sometime around the beginning of June my family and I will be saying good bye to Baltimore a year earlier than expected and setting out for a new adventure in the Miami area.

Uncertainty

Posted on March 24th, 2011 in blog, family, Lana Bella by jenni

In our family I’m the worrier. The one with the notebooks of lists. Lists on the wall, in email, on post-its, idevices, everywhere.

My wonderful husband he is the one who never worries about what MAY happen, the what ifs, the maybes. He has been watching me for what seems like forever trying to figure out just how we will “get by” if there is a government shut down resulting in him not getting paid. My wonderful coastie, my spouse, my hero, my best friend, my soldier. He would still be required to work just not get paid. With this move to Miami (more soon on that) looming, our oldest daughter graduating high school this year, four other full time children I am Homeschooling, this my growing little business, and now this it’s too much. Too many financial what ifs and maybes for me to handle.

My stress is your gain! Until a federal budget is passed you can save 20% the code is already active on Etsy and will go live here ASAP I’m really hoping to finish getting the products loaded over the weekend. Right the code BUDGETORBUST fitting right to add to the fun ALL orders over $25 (after discount) will also get a FREE GIFT with your purchase!

Thank you so much for your support of our family!

101 in 1001 UPDATE

Posted on January 19th, 2011 in 101 in 1001, blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

Ok this is yet another thing that had great plans and got pushed aside in the craziness of what 2010 was! Lets see where I’m at I actually completed a few more things than I expected but probably need to rethink a few as well!

1. Ask for advice and take it
2. Have a Yes! day. 0/6
3. Gratitude blog weekly 10 times 0/10
4. Identify 100 things that make me happy 0/100
5. Identify 25 things I like about myself 0/25
6. Go to a coffee shop & enjoy time ALONE! 0/6
7. Blog 15 times per month 0/32
8. Blog a kid or photo post 50 times 0/50

Get Green

Last garden harvest

• 1. Lexi 2/32
  2. Jack 2/32
  3. Rory 2/32
  4. Finn 2/32

1. Trundle bed for Lexi’s room (she wants a full size bed instead)
   B. She also asked for a new dresser like ours

• 1. Bed
  2. Dressers 2/2

Pink Boy Princesses

Posted on January 12th, 2011 in blog, family, homeschool, Lana Bella by jenni

The whole boys loving pink is getting quite a bit of publicity these days. I’m on the fence about it all. Having a pink loving ballet dancing boy princess I understand it. However I also am not doing it because I relate to a celebrity or want my 15 minutes or want to exploit my son in anyway. I am here to help him pave the way, to help others who are in a situation now pave the way, to CHANGE things so maybe he won’t have to suffer quite so much. I do this as nothing more than Rory’s mother. I do this for love.

This was recently brought to the surface again from a place I least expected it. A mother was asking for help because her boy like mine likes pink, princesses and playing with the girls. When she asked him why he simply said because boys don’t fight. Then she said “My husband and I are very strict on this issue and most of the time try to not to allow him to do girlish things hoping that this might change his attitude.can we do anything to prevent it. we are really worried that this might affect his future sexual identity. please help.”

WHOA! WHAT?!?!

I drafted my reply :”This deeply offends me  on many many levels. What is wrong with him liking pink? Will it hurt anyone if for a year or 6 months or 5 years he likes pink or barbie or princesses? Will it make him less of a man down the road to be caring and considerate kind empathetic in ways that many women complain that they wish their husbands, boyfriends partners were? Gender roles disgust me. If it were your little girl doing things that boys do like become educated, vote, work outside the home, become a teacher, doctor lawyer president would you still care? As recently at the 1950′s pink has historically been am masculine color and blue a calmer color reserved for girls.

I see my 4.5 yo boys love for pink no different than his 7 yo brothers need to wear orange for 2 straight years and honestly Rory is less intense and dramatic about it. He is my softer gentler boy. He takes ballet. He loves it it makes him happy so happy the teacher has said he truly brightens the class including the girl who used to push and shove in the class who doesn’t anymore. He was a “boy fairy princess” for Halloween I admire his creativity.

What right do I have to ever make him feel his beliefs are wrong? What kind of a parent would I be to make him feel any less than accepted for who he is! He wants to grow up and be a ballerina and a mommy so he can wear babies in slings and have snuggle time and read stories in nests. I can’t wait! And so what if in 20 years hens the “mommy” I’ll be there to love and support him. He doesn’t put gender roles on mommy & daddy other than mommy is comfort mommy takes care of us. Daddy can be abrupt and stern.

Future sex identity? Sounds to me more like some homophobic fear talking. Would it really be the end of the world if he is gay and happy? Or Would you prefer that he feel unaccepted and shut out in his own home by the people in the world who are supposed to love him the most during adolescence when things are confusing enough and rather than disappoint you or other fears kills himself instead?”

Rory in pink Opening his "the only boy in ballet class" book

Should I have left it like that maybe not but I really wanted to make a point. I offended her. I think I probably meant to. I meant her to get mad to fight for her child to put on her mama bear big girl panties and protect her child to love him to fight for him. She is from Dubai she is using culture as an “excuse” for her behavior. I understand that homosexuality is not always accepted in other places and then I thought is it REALLY accepted here in the good ole US of A? BUT, BUT, BUT before we even get that far lets remember that we are also discussing a little boy here he is FOUR! FOUR! They don’t do things at this point to be gay or straight. They just do things to not hurt, to not feel challenged, or ridiculed.  I sent off a second response. A response that in all honesty I cried while drafting. A response that has since moved me to tears reading it to a few friends over the phone. Friends that I know will be right there by my side loving my children and fighting for them as I will be for theres. Friends I thanks my lucky stars on a daily basis for having. Friends who urged me to share with you.

“This entire thing has been bothering me since I saw it. I was up pacing at midnight and couldn’t sleep til about 2 am and was up again at 4 still bothered by it. My heart breaks for children who are not accepted for whatever the reason by their family. Be it a father who is unaccepting of his daughter’s dyslexia. A mother who doesn’t understand how food is interfering with her children’s behavior. A sibling who torments his brother for liking to cook.