Posts Tagged ‘herbal tea’

She is growing up

She is growing up

I can hardly believe as I sit here and type this that my little girl is now a teenager. It seems like it was just yesterday that she was scurrying off in the store to hid under clothing racks, or climbing into my bed during the night. For a few weeks I’ve been planning a Hunger Games inspired surprise party for her, no easy task to do when she is my helper and home 24/7 but it was slowly happening. Unfortunately some plans fell through and she wasn’t going to have a sleepover where I could transform everything so I had to rethink my plan. That is when I had a brilliant idea. So this morning when my late sleeper girlie was awake before I was I sat her down at the table and gave her some very simply wrapped gifts. If you are a fan of the movies at all the twine used on the package was a mix of black, red & orange.

The first of the three gifts to be opened was the invitation that was sent to everyone else already. I had seen a few invitations on both pinterest and etsy however I only needed 1 to be printed and I was on a budget for this party so I designed my own.

Now my girl is in love with all things Hunger Games. I have never seen her this excited about something before she reads and rereads the books has seen the movie twice so far and references people and things in the book as much as she can work them into conversation. Add to that her love of vintage clothing and light blue being her signature color as she told me proudly when she was three and I knew I had to find her a “reaping day” dress. I lucked out on etsy of course.

Last but not least was the gift I’ve been teasing her about. She has been asking for weeks about her birthday and her gifts asking what she was getting if she was getting a mocking jay. I’ve been smiling and saying yes and that it was a real live mocking jay and hidden in my desk drawer.

 

Happy Thirteenth Birthday Girlie! May all your wishes come true!

Lexi being the amazing kid she is said I should use her birthday and have a sale. So use code CATNIP for 13% off and every order places until her birthday will receive FREE either a Pretty in Pink lip balm (originally created as party favors for her 10th birthday) or a small bag of Pretty in Pink Tea (made with my girl in the same year). Please let me know which you would prefer or it will be Lexi’s choice!

 

 

 

March Recap

March Recap

I know I know I said I’d never write one of these again but life with 5 kids is honestly a whirlwind and I feel lately like I’m constantly struggling to keep up with everything.

 

After Rory’s party things just kept flying by. Some pretty cool things happened though. I got a bike! Yup thats right I got a bike the kids and I were riding daily through our neighborhood, taking nightly walks and somehow I lost a bunch of weight, which is what inspired the bike purchase. Isn’t she cute? I have to admit this is the first time i’ve ridden a bike in close to 20 years.

Then one day Finn and I did something awesome together. We pulled out the herbs and he designed his tea blend, just like his siblings did. He was so proud and he loves to get out the teapot and put the herbs & honey in all by himself and have a cuppa or three because he likes to do everything in threes these days. It will be in the shop soon I just need to think of a name and get it listed. Do you have any ideas?

I also got my craft on a little at my husband’s request. You see he was going through the Coast Guard CCTI program and he needed a fancy charge book and always on a budget I said why don’t we make you one out of your old uniforms. In my head this was an easy task UNTIL he added on all sorts of requests like lets make it so you button it closed, and do you think it can have pockets on the inside and some other things I don’t even remember now that I’m pretty sure I vetoed.

A major thing that happened here which had been pretty awesome in most aspects is BRACES! Thats right BOTH Lexi & I went to the orthodontist and got braces. Its something I’ve always wanted to do and almost did once before as an adult and figured we could do it together. If I had known just how much is was going to hurt though let me tell you I would have probably skipped it, the bonus is I’m losing more weight because of it because well it hurts to snack/eat to I’m eating more smoothies and juicing and skipping that late night tv snacking.

To finish out the month Finn was looking through Jack & Rory’s old Main Lesson Books from when we were using Oak Meadow and he wanted an A gate picture too. What kind of mom would I be if I didn’t then read him the Story of Peter Rabbit and draw with him an A gate picture. Then for fun I posed all three boys together with their pictures so you can see how the different gates of our backyards have influenced my drawing. Please ignore the marker all over Finn he was fighting Zombies according to him.

101 in 1001 UPDATE

101 in 1001 UPDATE

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!

101 Things in 1001 days
** Items in orange have been re evaluated or changed.
Get Inspired
  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

9. Plan herb and; vegetable garden
10. Plant herb and vegetable garden
11. Sew reusable bags for craft shows
12. Find 5 ways to be greener 0/5
13. Build Raised Garden beds
14. Start Worm composting (as much as I love this idea we know we are moving in the spring 2012 so Ill start it after the move)
15. Make produce bags to share
16. Promote reusable items on blog monthly 0/32
17. Set up table at neighborhood fair about eco savings and green on the cheap
Get Organized
18. Organize Craft areas and Keep them that way 0/2
19. Finish decorating each room 0/6
20. Clean up kitchen at NIGHT not the next morning every night for 3 weeks instead of in the morning 0/21
21. send out birthday cards for everyone on calendar each month 0/32 Change to Ecards its GREENER!
22. Make bed every morning for a week for 3 weeks 0/21
Get Crafty
23. Learn to knit in the round make hats 0/6
24. Knit socks for whole family 0/8
25. Sew more aprons for myself 0/5
26. Make a quilt out of scraps
27.. Finish all UFO’s
Get Cultured
28. Read 10 Non Fiction Books 4/10
29. Read 10 Books of my choosing 0/10
30. Visit 20 Museums with the kids 8/20
31. Listen to 3 Friends complete playlists 1/3
32. Go someplace weekly with kids non errand related 5/50
Get Domestic
33. Make a new recipe 0/64 I’ll go through our meal plans to update this)
34. Cook and host a holiday meal (it was cooked but we had no one to host)
35. Organize a cookie swap
36. Organize a craft swap
37. Bake goodies for neighbors
38. Plant flower pots for front and keep them alive the entire season 0/3
39. Learn to bake edible bread
For My Kids
40. Read to kids daily
41. Start Nancy Drew Mysteries with Lexi
42. Update kids blog Bi-weekly 0/70
43. Bake with Lexi each month 2/30
44. Bake with Jack each month 2/30
45. Bake with Rory each month 2/30
46. Visit with Brenna 4/6
47. Create a conversation Jar for mealtimes & use it 0/30
48. Reinstate Friday Feingold Family Night
49. Date night with each kid monthly
    1. Lexi 2/32
    2. Jack 2/32
    3. Rory 2/32
    4. Finn 2/32
Get Geeky
50. Create Back up system for media stuff
51. Learn how to actually use photoshop (still struggling I’ll be getting aperture instead)
52. Learn to make Banner, button, and background images 1/3
53. Reformat Labels
Get Healthy
54. Lose 101 pounds 13/101
55. Drink 8 Glasses of water daily for 30 days 30/30
56. Run  a 5k twice 0/2
57. work out 5x per week for 5 weeks 3/25
58. Attend a yoga class 0/3
59. Find and go to chiropractor regularly again
60. Remember to take vitamins daily 30/30
61. Go to sleep before midnight more regularly
Get Stuff
62. Save for new Camera
63. Craft table (opted for a different organizational direction instead)
  1. Trundle bed for Lexi’s room (she wants a full size bed instead)
    B. She also asked for a new dresser like ours
65. Save for new bed and dressers
    1. Bed
    2. Dressers 2/2
Get Philanthropic
66. Donate 10% of sales per month to a cause 0/32
67. Make actual soap donations 3/12
68. Donate replaced furniture to family in need
Get Debt Free
69. Save Cash into a Jar for a “rainy day” (I think it rains to often)
70. Become Debt free with snowball method
71. Sell Minivan $ be car payment free (keeping minivan only 11 payments left)
72. Stick to menuplan for a month 0/10
73. Consign outgrown kids stuff (Donated most of it)
74. Add $5 for each completed task $10 for each uncompleted task 21/101
75. Create and implement budget WITH Steve
76. Cancel unused services
Get Social
77. Meet 5 new people 0/5
78. Have a Girls night out 0/6
79. Inspire 2 other people to do 101 in 1001 0/2
80. Plan a paint your pottery night
81. Have a date with Steve 0/4
82. Have a meal with someone unexpected
Get Somewhere
83. Take a mother daughter day trip
84. Visit South Carolina 0/3
85. Take a family Vacation
Get Educated
86. Finish Current course work
87. Take East West herb course
88. Retake A and P
Get Busy in Business
89. Finish Reading Crush It!
90. Re evaluate COGs
91. Enter 3 spring juried shows for 2010 3/3
92. Enter 3 fall/winter shows for 2010 3/3
93. Streamline processes
94. Double 2009 sales in 2010
95. Actually do accounting monthly 0/32
96. Develop 3 new teas 1/3
97. Do a time accounting of how long things actually take
98. Design website (or have done) (in PROGRESS)
99. Investigate greener packaging
100. Plan a product givaway
101. Have FUN completing 101 things!

American's for the Arts… Artists Marketplace

American's for the Arts… Artists Marketplace

#afta2010

This show is a pretty big deal for me possibly my biggest yet. There are MANY new items that have been in the works for their debut on Saturday.

The new “save the turtles” soap will be available helping provide additional $2 per bar to the National Wildlife Federation Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund above the 10% donation on all purchases.

So please come stop by and as always cold treats get you a gift :)

Fellow BEST artisan Yummy & Co. will also be there so stop by!

Gunpowder River Artfest

Gunpowder River Artfest

It looks like its going to be a beautiful day tomorrow (June 12) and I know there is tons of stuff going on in the city with Honfest but why not get out of the city for a while and head to the Gunpowder River Artfest. There will be music, pottery demonstrations, food, and of course lots of fine arts and crafts vendors including myself (Lana Bella), CEK Custom Designs, Doxallo Designs all from BEST and our friend Pinkkiss Pottery .

WHEN:11-8pm

WHERE: 1901 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111

Squidfire's Spring Art Mart

Squidfire's Spring Art Mart

squidfire spring postcard

Title: Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart
Location: Broadway Square Fells Point Baltimore, MD
Link out: Click here
Description: Squidfires TENTH Art Mart is announced! Join Squidfire and over 50 other local and regional talent as we swarm Fells Point for an all day open air artists marketplace. You’ll find a ton of amazing functional art from homemade dog treats to handmade soap. A full vendor list will be available soon. May 8th from 11-6pm in the heart of Fells Point!
Start Time: 11:00am
Date: 2010-05-08
End Time: 18:00

I’ve also included this handy Map so you can find  myself and fellow BEST artisans including: SugarPaperiElisaShereJewelry,BlockPartyPressDandelionBluJennyJen42TheLittlestBeanAtelierAdornments,
JerseyGirlDesignCEKCustomDesigns,TheBrokenPlateTigerLillyShopYummyAndCompanyLanabella,Sweet Pepita, and VWStudios. Look out for us all!!!

squidfire map

Detailed map of BEST artisans at spring art mart

Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart

Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart

squidfire spring postcard

Title: Squidfire’s Spring Art Mart
Location: Broadway Square Fells Point Baltimore, MD
Link out: Click here
Description: Squidfires TENTH Art Mart is announced! Join Squidfire and over 50 other local and regional talent as we swarm Fells Point for an all day open air artists marketplace. You’ll find a ton of amazing functional art from homemade dog treats to handmade soap. A full vendor list will be available soon. May 8th from 11-6pm in the heart of Fells Point!
Start Time: 11:00am
Date: 2010-05-08
End Time: 18:00

I’ve also included this handy Map so you can find  myself and fellow BEST artisans including: SugarPaperiElisaShereJewelry,BlockPartyPressDandelionBluJennyJen42TheLittlestBeanAtelierAdornments,
JerseyGirlDesignCEKCustomDesigns,TheBrokenPlateTigerLillyShopYummyAndCompanyLanabella,Sweet Pepita, and VWStudios. Look out for us all!!!

squidfire map

Detailed map of BEST artisans at spring art mart

Highlandtown Wine Fest & Craft Fair

Wondering what’s been going on lately when I’ve been so quiet. Lots of course as always with a large family. I have also been getting ready for the spring craft show season. This week I’ll be vending at the Highlandtown Wine fest. So stop on by and get some great deals on locally made soap and sundries!

When: Sunday, April 18 – 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Corner of Conkling & Claremont Sts.

Highlandtown Wine Festival 2009

Photo Courtesy of Tigerlillyshop

http://www.highlandtownwinefest.

The Highlandtown Wine Festival Committee and Di Pasquale’s Italian Market are gearing up the 7th annual Highlandtown Wine Festival — celebrating the tradition of home winemaking. As usual the event will be held at Our Lady of Pompei Convent Garden on Father Petti Lane (around the corner from Claremont & Conkling Streets). The festival will feature a Homemade Wine Competition, Wine Tastings, a Bocce Tournament, plenty of food, music by The Herd of Main Street and The Rescue Party, and an arts and crafts fair.

When: Sunday, April 18 – 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Corner of Conkling & Claremont Sts.

Tickets: $25/$20 In advance at Di Pasquale’s or purchase tickets online!

Highlandtown Wine Fest & Craft Fair

Wondering what’s been going on lately when I’ve been so quiet. Lots of course as always with a large family. I have also been getting ready for the spring craft show season. This week I’ll be vending at the Highlandtown Wine fest. So stop on by and get some great deals on locally made soap and sundries!

When: Sunday, April 18 – 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Corner of Conkling & Claremont Sts.

Highlandtown Wine Festival 2009

Photo Courtesy of Tigerlillyshop

http://www.highlandtownwinefest.

The Highlandtown Wine Festival Committee and Di Pasquale’s Italian Market are gearing up the 7th annual Highlandtown Wine Festival — celebrating the tradition of home winemaking. As usual the event will be held at Our Lady of Pompei Convent Garden on Father Petti Lane (around the corner from Claremont & Conkling Streets). The festival will feature a Homemade Wine Competition, Wine Tastings, a Bocce Tournament, plenty of food, music by The Herd of Main Street and The Rescue Party, and an arts and crafts fair.

When: Sunday, April 18 – 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Corner of Conkling & Claremont Sts.

Tickets: $25/$20 In advance at Di Pasquale’s or purchase tickets online!

Photo of the Day

Tea Blending in progress

Taste of the Tea

Have you ever wanted to try one of our teas but you just don’t like chamomile, or peppermint, or just wanted something a little different? Well now is your chance! Come see us at Squidfire’s Winter Art Mart on Saturday and together we can design a custom blend of your very own!

Frantically getting ready!


Its a busy week at the Lana Bella HQ aka my house! Our youngest assistant is about to have a birthday turning ONE on Friday! Happy Birthday Finn!! Its been a great year!

We are also getting ready for our very first craft show. The elves they are busy cutting, wrapping, simmering, & decanting. Take glimpse behind the scenes images taken by 5yo Jack.





Get in the Holiday mood by attending Sophia’s 6th Annual Holiday Fair Saturday, November 21, 2009 Noon to 5 pm


Memorial Episcopal Church 1407 Bolton Street Baltimore, MD 410-669-0220







Begin your day by having a light lunch and beverage, then you can shop ’til you drop for Christmas gifts made by our very talented crafters, and before you leave purchase a home made dessert for your Thanksgiving feast!

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND BRING A FRIEND!!

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