La Belle Naturelle

Dear readers....this is a long time coming. I've written 'truth' articles before...but always hiding behind some sort of mask to save my feelings. But brace yourself, I am going to let it all out because I am tired. I am tired of fighting, yet I can't seem to let go of my dream. So, let's dig into the nitty gritty shall we? We've been an official business now for 5 years. Having a business means spending long nights thinking of product, doing research, testing product, taking time away from family to fulfill orders, redoing websites/scents, doing taxes....the list is literally endless. As soon as I think I am done, there is something else. We then have to market, because how else are people going to find out about us? Marketing is going on all social outlets...facebook, instagram, twitter (which I'll admit that I haven't done in months, probably more like a year), then there are other outlets now like ello and snapchat.... then there's doing ema...

Ok, I know....WHY OH WHY am I doing this to you? You're trying to be healthy. You're trying to fit into your skinnies this year. Let me tell you...yes, these have sugar. Yes, these have cocoa powder. Yes, there is some flour....but they are DELICIOUS. AND...if this helps, we cut the sugar down from the original called amount and cut the cocoa powder too, because...hold on to your panties....our kids aren't big on anything that is 'too' sweet. Ya, don't even worry about reading that last part over again....you read it right. What you need: - 3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder - 1 1/2 c sugar - 3/4 c melted butter - 2 eggs - 1 c flour (i used unbleached) - 2 tsp vanilla - 1/4 tsp salt (suggest not doing if your butter is salted) What to do: 1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2) Mix all the dry ingredients together. 3) Make sure butter is completely melted and put all the wet ingredients together and mix. 4) pour wet slowly into the dry ...

        So, it's been a while hasn't it? Ok, so long story short....I lost my ever loving mind. The shop got a little busy, my oldest started school, I went to Florida to see my sister, I had a birthday, my youngest was sick, my oldest had her birthday. So...life has been busy to say the least. Forgive me.         Now...let's get to it. As you all should know by now, I am French. I LOVE French cuisine. I love making things that are challenging...but I also LOVE easy. I am not going to go into why I love easy...but if you're a mom, or you've read at least ONE of my posts...you'll know why.    Crepes are an amazing meal. Yes...meal. If done right, they're light, airy and can be filled with ANYTHING. Yes...anything. In France, they aren't small. Usually you only need one to get your fill for what ever you're needing. Get more, and they stare at you like you're crazy. But, I digress.         For me and m...

   I am anxious to see who will actually read this, because while I think it's super important....people don't like back story. So, why in the hell am I spending time on a blog that is going to have the throw down truth in it about my business? Because, it's important that as my family, friends, fans, clients, etc know exactly what makes LBN so different. Now wait, I swear I just felt the eye roll and the huff of air out of your mouth....but really....besides price, or that you may know me....do you really know why would want to purchase my items? Please, before judging, take a minute to read the article. Truly understand WHAT you are investing in.    As most of you know that little girl in the picture above is now my oldest child. She is the WHOLE basis of the company. In fact, her name is part of the business. We call her Belle. Now, before I make this into a huge sappy story....the name of my business is VERY important. If you didn't know, surprise... I am Fren...

    Let's talk bread. Stick to your thighs bread. Yummy, golden, soft, know what the hell is in your bread kind of bread. THHHHAAATTTT's right....I'm talking about the kind of bread that you, yourself made. Get ready for a shocker moment...people have been making bread for thousands of years! Wait for it..........without a bread machine! *mic drop*     Ok, sarcasm out of the way...I've been making my bread on and off for years, but normally the ease of making it, wasn't easy and to make things worse, I'm impatient. Impatient + bread making = disaster. Which is why I suppose someone came up with the bread machine. BUT, I don't have one. Hence, my need to find a way to make bread that was easy, doesn't take a whole day and without a crap ton of stuff in it. I know, you're thinking, it's flour, water and yeast....have you read the label to your bread? Go ahead, take a gander. Not likely that it's JUST flour, water and yeast. Also, when making...

     As you all should have gathered from now, I....like....easy. With the family and business, I don't have time to fool around trying to to 'be pretty'. Let me be clear, I am speaking of jewelry. I see so many people with amazing necklaces and cool looking bracelets and with dogs and kids....my hands are in a lot of places....a...lot...of...places. Seriously.      I've mentioned this company before Isle Coast) with their amazing 'I Care' bracelet line that helps support ocean life...but these bracelets, which are something that is also in their line of goodies is beyond amazing. I can wear them with just about everything. They dress up my outfit, or give me a 'cool' relaxed feeling when I am dressed in my lazy clothes.      Is that it? Absolutely not. It comes in this amazing packaging with a cleaning cloth AND instructions to keep YOUR arm candy in simple perfection! How many small businesses do that anymore? I mean really? So they ca...