Adventure in LA

It's been 9 months since we've been back in Indy from our unexpected 6 month stay in sunny LA. We never intended to be gone that long, but we are so thankful for the opportunity to stay longer than the 30 days we had planned for. In case you are out of the loop, I'll do my best to get you caught up!

My husband owns a clothing brand called Vardagen, and we have dreamed of bringing it to the west coast for a few years. He had gone out to LA in the spring and found a location he thought would be perfect for the brand. He kept his eye on that ever-so-popular shopping stretch of Abbot Kinney and finally a space became available for a 30-day lease! We had 10 days to pack up all our belongings and move our family of six to Southern California! Needless to say, it was a whirlwind of packing and preparing, and   we were so excited to make the 32 hour trek across the country, trailer in tow!

We stayed in an 800 square foot, one bedroom apartment, which sounds unpleasant for a family of our size, but it was actually so much fun. Our family had never experienced closeness like that... both physically and emotionally. We were sharing a small living space and only one vehicle, so we just naturally began doing everything together. I learned so much about how the business functions, and Jared learned so much about how our family operates on a day to day basis. It was fun and challenging and we were very intentional about exploring our new surroundings!

Our business was thriving in LA. We weren't expecting it to do as well as it did, and we started making so many great connections, meeting the locals, and falling in love with California. We were offered by our landlord to stay another month, so we gladly accepted. The only problem was our little apartment in West Hollywood was quite a drive from where the store was in Venice. When we chose that living situation, we were under the impression that 10 miles meant roughly 10 minutes away. In LA, 10 miles means it will most likely take a couple hours, depending on traffic!! So we decided to look for another place to live, hoping to get a space within walking distance from the store.

The day before we had to be out of our apartment, we found a cute little beach house only a couple blocks from Venice Beach. It couldn't have been a more perfect place for our family. It had two bedrooms, which at that point felt like a mansion and was fully stocked! It even came with boogie boards and a surfboard! We all bought wetsuits and decided if we were going to live in California, we better learn how to surf. Most of us picked it up fairly quickly, especially the kids. They were riding green waves in no time and it was such a fun learning experience for all of us. Our new family rhythm developed quickly... we would get up around 8:00, surf till 10:00, eat a big breakfast (surfer's breakfast), and then Jared would skate to work around 11:00. Skateboards became our new mode of transportation. We could all ride one decently enough (the little guys were on scooters), but our time in LA caused us to rely on them so much they became just as comfortable to us as walking! We would ride to the store a couple times a day, just to visit daddy and to make connections with people coming to shop. Mostly everyone who came in had a cool story, came from an interesting place, and loved our brand. We made friends with the locals, and the surrounding stores on Abbot Kinney knew our family by name. It was no surprise then that when the space was offered to us through the rest of the year, we said yes!

The next few months were a little different. We fell into a better rhythm, and we were starting to make real friendships with people around the area. We got a membership to the Natural History Museum, we were visiting all the local donut and coffee shops, we went on a whale watching excursion, got to meet/see lots of celebrities, hiked the Los Angeles Mountains, and the brand was continuing to grow. Things felt really right in LA, but I also experienced times of homesickness. I missed the slower paced life of Indy, friends, family, etc. But anytime I felt that way, it seemed like God provided just exactly what I needed. (phone calls, care packages, visits from friends, etc) Even our next door neighbors went out of their way to show us kindness and make us feel welcome. Our neighbor, Joan (an elderly woman who had no grandchildren of her own) offered to give the kids a pottery lesson every Saturday! It was just what we needed to feel connected and to help the kids grow in a skill they hadn't been exposed to yet. They made so many incredible ceramic creations, and it was such a blessing during that time of our weird homeschool transition.

For the most part I didn't do any formal education. I always say "Living is Learning," so I was really forced to live that out. I did cary guilt sometimes that maybe I wasn't doing enough, but I also know there are season for everything, and that was just a season of learning in a different way than we were used to. I had to remind myself that my kids were not falling behind and they were learning about so many things that they wouldn't normally get to experience.

People keep wanting to know what is next for us. As of now, we decided to keep the store open in LA. We have some friends who are running it for us out there, and Jared keeps flying out about once a month to check in. If the store continues to do well, our family may go out again sometime. We have no plans to move there, and as much as we loved it... we really love Indy too. Being out there has actually given me a greater appreciation for Indy, and the midwest in general. (Although I could definitely do without the freezing temps!!)  It also made me so grateful for my home, church, friends, etc. Not that I wasn't grateful for them before, but just gives fresh perspective and a new fire to be more intentional with friends and investing in people.

I think about LA every day, and who knows what the future holds, but I'm so thankful for the opportunity we had to be out there for those 6 months and hoping the brand continues to grow and prosper! Thanks for following our journey! Your prayers, messages, comments, texts meant so much to us. Love you all!

NASHVILLE, BABY!

In just a couple of weeks, 800 mamas will be headed to beautiful Nashville, Tennessee for the first National Wild + Free Conference! I am so excited to be a part of this community and thankful for the opportunity to meet so many incredible women! If you will be attending this year, I hope I get a chance to meet you, and least give you a hug! We're going to have so much fun!

Living in Indianapolis has given us the chance to visit Nashville a few times. It's a beautiful city, full of legendary country music venues such as the Grand Ole Opry House, Country Music Hall of Fame, the historic Ryman Theater and many more. But if you're looking for something beyond honky tonkin'... Nashville is chock- full of good places to eat and shop, so I've put together a list of some of my favorite places to eat! (Some are also recommendations from friends that we have yet to try... but these trustworthy friends wouldn't lead a food-lovin' Mama astray.)

BRUNCH

*Biscuit Love: http://biscuitlove.com

* Acme Feed and Seed: http://theacmenashville.com

* Prima: https://www.primanashville.com

* Butcher and Bee: https://butcherandbee.com


DINNER

TACOS
* Mas Tacos: https://www.facebook.com/mastacos/

* Bartaco: https://bartaco.com/location/nashville-tn/

* Taco Mamacita: http://tacomamacita.com

BURGERS
* Burger Up: http://www.burger-up.com

* The Pharmacy Burger Parlor: http://thepharmacynashville.com

PIZZA
* City House: http://cityhousenashville.com

* Two Boots: http://twoboots.com/location/nashville/

* Bella Napoli Pizzeria: https://bellanapolipizzeria.com

We've never had a chance to try Hot Chicken, but I hear it's a must! Ask any of the locals. We can never think beyond tacos. Also, Pinewood Social is an amazing place to get good eats, go bowling,and hang... but its hard to get a lane unless you made reservations in 1999.

Now for the most important part of adventuring in Nashville:

DONUTS AND COFFEE:

* Five Daughters Bakery is an absolute must! (One located inside The Factory)
http://www.fivedaughtersbakery.com

                       Three Brothers Coffee                                         Five Daughters Bakery

*Barista Parlor: https://baristaparlor.com

*Three Brothers Coffee: https://threebroscoffee.com

*Crema: https://crema-coffee.com

*The Frothy Monkey: https://frothymonkey.com

*Steadfast: https://steadfast.coffee

*Dose: http://dosenashville.com

Definitely check out The Soda Parlor for fun drinks, delicious waffles, and free arcade games! http://thesodaparlor.com

If you are limited on time, simply head to 12South! It's really the best one-stop destination for eats, drinks, and shops!! Also, plenty of instagram worthy walls!
Hopefully I'll be seeing you soon! I'll be the one with a Five Daughter's Bakery cronut in my mouth!

TOP 10 DONUT SHOPS IN INDY!!

It's no secret that the Ingolds LOVE donuts! I'm talking about gourmet, craft, preferably bacon infused donuts. We try to make a donut run at least once a week, and anytime we are visiting a new city, we seek out the "best local donut shop" in town! I decided to put together a Top Ten list of our favorite places in Indy, in case anyone is ever up for a DONUT TOUR INDY 2016. (Already made the t-shirts.)

These are in no particular order, as we love every one of these places for different reasons!

The Dancing Donut

I know I just said this is in no particular order, but we really really love this place... ok, it's our favorite, there I said it. With their clever names (the Kevin Bacon, are you kidding me??), their adorable atmosphere, super friendly staff, and insanely delicious donuts. I have tried just about every kind... including the one as big as yo' head, and they all blow my tastebuds! Also, they recently introduced a "make your own" option, which HELLO, gimmie all the sprinkles. 

*Be sure to try: The Mayberry and the Brown Butter Crumble

General American Donut Company

When I first heard these guys were coming to town, my mouth literally watered for 8 months until they finally opened their doors. We've got to know the owners and they are such rad people. Their made-from-scratch-every-morning donuts are out of this world. The aesthetic of the whole place gives me all the heart eyes (plants and cacti everywhere!!!), and there will most likely be some throwback movie projected on the wall. (Goonies never say die!) You can't go wrong visiting this place. 

*Be sure to try: The Creme Brûlée and the Maple Bourbon Bacon

Rocket 88

First of all, the people who work here are enough to make me go back again and again. (Oh, hi Jenny Swim!) I'll be honest, the first time I visited, I wasn't overly impressed. The presentation wasn't that great, the donuts were so-so, and the whole experience was just underwhelming. But then my sweet friend, Annalisa played a show there one night, so I gave it another try. I had the Maple Pecan and holy cannoli, it was amazing!! I've had their donuts several times since then, and have never been disappointed. This is a great place to go for vegan-friendly options and fun fact for all you Parks and Rec fans: they sell a "Leslie Knope Waffle Donut" every Wednesday! They also recently started serving brunch on the weekends! So definitely check them out!

*Be sure to try: Apple Fritter and Pumpkin Cream (it's in season now!!)
UPDATE: Rocket 88 has recently closed its doors... what a crock. 

Long's Bakery

Ok, Long's is a freaking local legend. It would be a horrible crime if I didn't mention this place. Their donuts are fresh, simple, and delicious. Their glazed yeast donuts literally melt in your mouth. Be prepared for long lines, and it's cash only, folks. So bring those dolla dolla bills. 

*Be sure to try: Glazed and Blueberry Cake

Tim's Bakery 

This place is a HOLE IN THE WALL... but you know those are the best kept secrets, right? These guys are not going for aesthetic award of the year, nor do they care if their donuts look all fancy schmancy, and you certainly don't need to wear your skinny jeans and fedora to get in. BUT their donuts are out of this world delicious. Hot and fresh... just the way I like it! And the guy behind the counter has always been so sweet and patient as we stand there for a light year trying to figure out which kinds we want! This place is a true gem!

*Be sure to try: Blueberry Fritter and Cinnamon Stick

Jack's Donuts

I love this place if I just want to grab a quick dozen. Their presentation is simple, yet so many flavors to choose from! The service is always quick and friendly and all their donuts are reasonably priced.

*Be sure to try: Tiger Tail and Peanut Butter and Jelly

Taylor's Bakery

Two words: Donut. Holes. Hands down the best donut holes I've ever had. I get at least 3 dozen every time because I can put away a dozen by myself in about 2.5 seconds. They also make great gifts (who wouldn't want a bag full of melt-in-your-mouth goodness?) 

*Be sure to try: THE DONUT HOLES

Titus Bakery

If you happen to be traveling North on I-65, plan on making a pit stop at Titus! I'm a little partial to this place because it happens to be the name of my oldest son. Also, their building is so stinking cute, even the worst photographers could capture an instagram worthy pic. The donuts aren't necessarily the best I've ever had, but they are fresh and yummy! Also, I get all the nostalgia vibes with the small town donut shop feel. 

*Be sure to try: Pershing donut and Honeybun

The Donut Shop

This place is a little dive-y breakfast joint, that feels a little bit like everyone is there to cure a hangover. But I'm telling you, there's something special about this place. If you're looking for a cheap, quick donut fix (with a huge variety to choose from)... this is the winner. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a no-frills kind of donut, where I could literally run in and pound 3 donuts in my pjs with absolutely no judgement. Oh, and bring cash!

*Be sure to try: Classic Sprinkle and any of their Cream Filled.

Quack Daddy Donuts

We only just recently tried this place out, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! When you walk in, you grab a piece of paper to fill out the flavor of donut, type of glaze, and choice of topping. THANK YOU to whomever thought of this method. Is there anything more important in life than convenience? No. No, there's not. I handed the girl the piece of paper and in 1 minute, I had a box of delicious donuts in my hand. And I would venture to say they are the best cake donuts I've possibly ever had.
*Be sure to try: Fruity Pebbles and Oreo 

So there you have it! The best donuts in Indy according to the Ingolds. I'd love to know what you think or if you have any other suggestions. And I'm serious about that Donut Tour... who's with me?

Homeschool Rhythm

A couple months ago, I was asked to write an article for Wild and Free about our homeschool rhythm. I personally love getting an inside look on how other families function on a day to day basis and I've been inspired by many homeschooling families. I've shared my article below in hopes that it encourages and inspires other like-minded friends!

 

The desire to homeschool my children stemmed from a longing to live life at a slower pace. I often found myself getting caught up in to-do lists and feeling pressured to fill a schedule with activities. I felt surrounded by amazing moms who could balance everything on their plates without blinking an eye. My plate was overflowing and my eyes were full of tears. I prayed a lot. I knew three things to be true about our family: we needed flexibility, we were terrible planners, and we liked to sleep in (and by sleep in, I mean 'don't even think about breakfast until at least 10 am'). I wanted my children to have a good education, but I had my doubts that what I could offer them at home would be enough.

As I began to research, I picked the brains of other homeschooling mamas and had a great curriculum basically handed to me. I finally thought, "Yeah, I'm crazy enough to do this!" I soon developed a rhythm that worked for our family. I also learned that homeschooling provides our kids with so much more than just a good education. With the scheduling freedom of homeschooling, my plate was full but I had such a sense of peace. Having control over the culture of our home means that we don't have to be anywhere at any certain time and we can spend as much/little time exploring and adventuring. My husband is an entrepreneur, which means he is always working, but we never really view it as work. It only made sense to approach schooling the same way. Our learning is so integrated into our lives that it never really feels like school.

Though we spend our time mostly schedule free, our days do have purpose. We have tasks to complete, chores to attend, and projects to accomplish; but when we are able to live our life according to our own schedule, our days are not burdened by someone else's expectations and that leaves flexibility.

Every day looks different, but we have certain routines and rhythms that help give us all a sense of stability. We always start our day listening to music while we fix breakfast. Some days it's classical, some days it's worship music, and sometimes it's hip-hop (which usually involves some sort of dance-off). Music sets the mood for the rest of the day, so if anyone wakes up cranky, those cranky pants shake off with the sleepy eyes and we are ready to take on the day.


Our schoolwork follows after breakfast, which includes Math, History, Language Arts, and Reading. Always reading. I probably push reading more than any other subject. Even if the only thing we accomplish all day is reading books, I am totally ok with that. This school year, the kids and I decided we wanted to share some of our favorite books with friends and other homeschooling families. Every Monday on social media, we post our favorite book of the week with a brief description. We started the hashtag #recomondays and it’s been so fun involving the kids and hearing the response from families who needed some new, fun book recommendations.

Going outside is another essential part of keeping our daily rhythm. Whether it's exploring a new park, bombing hills with our longboards, or simply sending the kids to our backyard creek, time in the great outdoors is a must! I am convinced it's the best way to cure a case of the whines while building character and trust in each other. Being a part of the Wild Explorers Club has taken our love for nature to a whole new level!

My favorite time of day is next... Tea time! It's basically an afternoon full of treat baking and tea sipping. For me, baking has always been therapeutic. Now, I take so much joy helping my kids learn how to read a recipe and figure out how to zest a lemon or frost a cake. Tea time is another slow space for us to sit quietly and read from our devotion book, recite poetry, or just talk about things on our hearts. We learn about and pray for a different people group every day. It's really changed the way we pray, helping us see how vast and complex the world is with so many needs outside of ours. It helps us become a little more selfless and develops a mind for missions.

The rest of the day is really a free-for-all. Although I always welcome a helping hand for dinner prep, I also want to respect that some of the kids may just want some time to themselves. My oldest likes to watercolor and play his drums, my only girl enjoys playing her ukulele and drawing, and my two littles are usually somewhere playing with water. (I can't even walk into their bathroom without getting my socks completely drenched.) I actually love not knowing exactly what they're doing. Somehow that freedom helps them experiment and learn things they probably wouldn't learn from me.

Our days are far from perfect with lots of attitude adjustments, loads of patience practicing, and tons of self-control building. But we love each other fiercely and have such a sense of peace about our relaxed, unhurried lifestyle.

It took me some time to realize that God created me to be the mother of my children because he knew I would be the perfect person to nurture them. He made each of us so unique, with different convictions and different rhythms. Whether your rhythm is slow paced, fast paced or somewhere in-between, it's important that we are encouraging - that we are building each other up, being gracious with our words, and being inspired. It is easy to let insecurities creep in and to believe that what we are doing is not enough for our children. I have this verse written beside my workspace in the homeschool room because that is where I need it most! "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." The truth is I am enough. We are enough. I choose to believe that.

Welcome to Ingolds at Home! Most of you reading this already know who we are, so I won't bore you with a long introduction. But thanks for following along! I will mostly be sharing photos of our family, travel adventures, favorite recipes, and our homeschooling endeavors.

We recently had a family photo session with the incredible Violet Short. Wanted to share some of our favorite shots!