Fashionable Extras | Jada Style Guide

I titled this blog, “June Cleaver” because of our recent activities and much needed focus on our families.

Our apologies to you all for our inconsistency of our blog over the last couple of weeks. We both have had a lot going on. No worries, nothing bad has happened, just very busy. Jen has been in the process of redoing her living and kitchen area of her house. Because we have volunteered to have a Christmas Party for our Service League there the first weekend of December, she is on a tight schedule to get it done. I must say, it is looking fantastic! I can’t wait to see the end result! We will share photos of the before and after with you all when completed.

I have been busy visiting my wonderful family. Unfortunately, my side of the family lives 9 hours away from me and I do not get to see them as much as I would love to. Therefor, as I am sure many of you can understand, when I do get moments to see them, I want to take full advantage and spend as much time as I can with them.

My Mom, my Sister-in-law and I all met in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. We had a fantastic time. I apologize, I had every intention on taking photos, but my intense focus on shopping got in the way. I definitely get into a zone on Michigan Ave. I will have to say, there were a lot of great items everywhere. Zara, H&M and Banana Republic were my favorite stores on this particular trip. After our Chicago departure, my Mom came back home with me and stayed for a week. It went by too quickly! Fortunately, we, as a family, all went back to my hometown to bring her back home and visit for 5 days. I had a great visit with some of my extended family. It was especially nice to see both of my Grandmas. On one of the days there, I wanted to learn how to make my Great Grandma’s Saffron buns. My Grandma came over and we spend the morning doing that. Have you ever had something that you do not get very often and you crave that taste? That is how I feel about these saffron buns. I was thrilled to learn how to make them and now I have packed on another 5 pounds, I am sure, after eating them! My daughter was with me and had a great time rolling the dough into balls.
Another fun project I attempted during our visit was making flower clips and barrets, or what my daughter calls “pretties”. My Aunt is very talented and loves to “craft.” She and I picked out some items and spent an evening being creative and drinking wine.
I just want to say that I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends! It is easy to get distracted and go too fast everyday in life. Don’t forget to take a moment each day for yourself and think about the great people in your life.

making of flower clips

making of saffron buns

This year for Halloween, Jen and her family came to our neighborhood to trick or treat. I live in a neighborhood with many children. Therefor it is always a great time for the kids! The men drive around with hay filled trailers hooked to there quads and a drink in hand directing the kids from house to house. We walk, with drink in hand, making sure our children are safe and catching up on each others busy lives. The kids walk, run, or ride, house to house, shouting “trick or treat” while trying to fill their bags full of candy. While we stayed warm with our drink of choice, mulled cider and Captain Morgans Rum, followed by a warm fire after the festivities, the kids sifted through there pounds of candy working on their sugar high.

Usually, I do not personally participate in the dressing up part of Halloween. This year, my son and daughter, have been obsessed a bit with the Star Wars Movies. My son, or Luke Skywalker, told me I should be Padmé Amidala . Apparently Padmé is Luke and Princess Leia’s Mom. My daughter had plans, and a costume, to be Princess Tiana from the Princess and the Frog. We even had a cute frog costume for our little dog. She put on the princess costume for her school party and seemed sad. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she really wanted to be princess Leia. I decided to get creative and put together and outfit for her and I mostly from items we already owned. My Son and daughter were ecstatic! How could I refuse.

Jen has the fun job of creating cute costumes that are twin related. She always has such great ideas! This year was no different. She made the Kitten and the Dog costumes. I was not only impressed by the outfits alone, but she also painted their faces herself! Although her son was a dog, my son tried to convince him that he could be Chewbacca from Star Wars and they preceded to have light savor fights throughout the entire night.

There is nothing better than spending the holidays with family and friends and watching our children laugh and smile all night!

We hope you all had a safe and Happy Holloween!

Halloween 2010 group photo