Enchanted Chameleon

~ may 16th :: whole foods 10% off day ~

Today is the day to do your shopping at Whole Foods my friends!  Here in the Vancouver and West Vancouver stores only, Whole Foods Markets are celebrating their 10 year anniversary of opening up their first store in Canada.  On Wednesday May 16th only, customers will get 10% off their orders.  10%!!  Yay for customer appreciation!  

I have such a busy day and I normally do my shopping on Thursdays but I'll be there bright and early, squeezing my shopping in before the day really begins!  Hope you have the chance to take advantage too!  XO.  S

~ for my mama ~

Thankfully my obsession with Martha Stewart pays off every once in a while.  Mostly it makes me want to do more than I have time for.  However, in the case of Mother's Day it had me prepared with presents in advance to send out to my mom in Ontario.  

Have I never spoken of my obsession with Martha?  Let's just say I know the day and time every week when 'she' updates her website and I'm up late waiting for it.  You know, just a minor obsession.

So about a month ago, when Martha first mentioned Mother's Day present inspirations I was right there plotting what to do and when.  I've been really wanting to make a yarn wreath for my mom, to share my love of making these with someone else, and so I made this Mother's Day my opportunity to do so.

I love it.  And so did my mom!  I think it turned out great.  I was just sad not to have a bolder ribbon on hand but then the simple pastel green doesn't take away from the pretty flowers.  Settling on the felt flower tutorials for this was the most challenging.  There are a lot of tutorials out there but I managed to find the ultimate one at Paper'n'Stitch, that had them 5 different ways.  Click here for the tutorials.

I fiddled and played and made them my own...

And then of course, little C made a present for grandma as well!  We went to Michael's and I let him pick what he wanted to make for her.  Deciding what he wanted to make for grandma was the easy part.  Getting out of the store with only the supplies needed for that and nothing else for us was the hard part.

We had made Ink Blob T-shirts in the past and that is where C got his idea for grandma.  For us they are never just black, they are always coloured.  We have an arsenal of clothing paint to choose from.  Since we last had done them a couple of years ago, C's blobs have now become little pictures.  C's inspiration:  hot dogs.  He made a little hot dog man and then we folded it in half and made two.  Not sure why, but that's the beauty of it!

We also managed to squeeze in some Skype time with my mom as well on Sunday.  My mom is a lovely lady.  She is wonderfully youthful for her age (ya me!) and she is really good at keeping house and thinking of others.  I often ask myself, 'what would my mom do' in situations and notice that I tend to choose her way and it makes me feel proud and little more grown up each time!  She's a great lady and she deserved some great gifts!  I'm glad we were able to deliver! XO.  S   

~ things are about to get really juicy ~

::  photo source  ::

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  The sun was gorgeous and summer was here for us!  I had a lovely Mother's Day, at work, but still lovely all the same.  I hit Kitty Nights West Burlesque show with "the Mama's" and had great fun after a busy day of ringing in last minute bouquets and cards at Whole Foods!  

And now for a real treat.  I have a Monday off and C is out until 3 pm.  Sigh.  Kick back my feet, spread out on the lawn chair and bask in a few precious moments of sun and silence.  Oh, if only it could last all day!  Unfortunately it'll have to remain just a few precious moments because...

Market Season is here!!!

AHHHHHH!

The past couple of months have zoomed by since Juice Caboose went back on the road part time but MARKET SEASON is HERE again and things are about to get JUICY!  I have a mostly booked and somewhat double booked season.  I'm doing my best to stay on top of the schedule posted on the Juice Caboose blog and will be updating by Twitter, Facebook and also on the Eat St App which has been updated and is raring to go!  Please follow or Like any of the above for all the latest updates and locations for 2012.

We start off this new season with our favourite spot in Vancouver... Kitsilano Market next Sunday May 20th from 10 am - 2 pm.

Hooray!  

But that's not all for our grand opening for 2012.  Mark your calendars because JC is celebrating its first year in business on Sunday May 27th at the Maplewood Farm Sheep Festival.  THERE WILL BE PRIZES!!!  Stay tuned.

I'm truly excited for this summer and at the same time I'm really nervous.  We are going to be open more days, at new markets, we will be sporting new equipment and selling new products!!! What's not to be excited and nervous about?!?!  XOXO.  S

~ happy mama's day ~

::  winning portrait for the Picture Mom Mother's Day contest for the Edmonton Journal  ::

Thank you to my beautiful kula friend Jacqueline for letting me post her first place portrait of her mother here in honour of mother's everywhere, including all the mama's to be like Jacquleline with her big, growing bundle on it's way.

Will share the handmade goodies we sent my mom later this week when we know they have arrived.  In the meantime, look what ended up on my fridge the other day:

Happy Mother's Day!!!

"No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love.  It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star."
~  Edwin Hubbell Chapin

~ mother's day smoothie recipe ~

Thinking of surprising your mom with some flowers this Sunday?  Why not surprise her with a delicious homemade rose-water and mango smoothie from you.  Float on over to the Juice Caboose site for a recipe made just for mama's!  Click the recipe here.  XO.  S 

{this moment}

Inspired by Soulemama

~ the real TV free experience ~

So you are probably wondering how the real 'person of interest' fared in our week going TV free. That person being my little one C.  Forget about the multitude of ways that I kept myself busy, I'm not the one who's brain we are trying to save from zombielesence.  

Now this wasn't the first time we've gone without TV for a week.  And it was interesting to observe that every time that we go TV free the same thing happens and I even said it to myself the few days going into the week.  Every time we go TV free C gets sick.  Sure enough C was home for 2 1/2 days with a fever, not feeling well.  Now, this is an issue simply because as a child my holy grail of being sick was getting to be sick on a couch and to watch a bunch of TV. In fact, in the past, with C, I've even pulled out the pull out couch for such a time.  Another sacred ritual of my youth.  So this time, I guess you could say that I went into the week prepared, that C would get sick and I wasn't going to let that stop us from succeeding at a week away from the screen.  

It turned out to be quite easy.  He was happy to do a little something than, lie down and nap for a while.  It made me wonder who really makes the fuss about watching TV when they are sick. Mostly what he wanted was comfort and me around and luckily he got both last week cause I had a few extra days off from work.

As for the rest of the time, it went well.  Naturally there were complaints and hopes to watch TV.  He made far less fuss than I had anticipated.  I find that the fuss that he usually makes about watching TV comes from having watched TV and having to stop watching TV.  I find that the TV makes he edgy and cranky and that really wasn't the case last week, which in turn confirms, for me, that the TV has an effect on his mood and his need for it.  It's possible that this time round of not watching TV was easier than usual.  We already have restricted watching times, only on weekends.  However it was the weekends of watching endlessly, or so it felt for me regarding C, that had me wanting this break.  

By the weekend, after a trip to the library and a new stack of books, I found that I had replaced the TV watching.  He wanted lots of stories.  I decided to indulge that.  I had already accomplished a lot last week and with the extra few days off, I was in no hurry to be doing anything else.  It was great to feel free to just indulge C in some quality story time.  Also, without the TV, C's little creative spunk returned in full force.  He had a full arsenal of stuff packed up at the front door Saturday afternoon for us to go outside and have a picnic.  It was nice to be overwhelmed by the grande plans of a five year old instead of the cranky poopy pants that is pent up with energy not expended and having to go to bed without having played or used his brain or body enough.  

And of course that feeling, you know, the flash of guilt that we mama's often, ahem, sometimes get when we are 'choosing a battle' in the path that is most often taken.  It was alleviated or at least moved on to another area that needs more time, more energy, more something or another to be improved, to reach an ideal, in the hopeful near future.  Can I get an assistant please?

And currently out of everyone in the house, little C is now the only one that is still TV free from the beginning of last week.  Go C!  He's rockin' it and doesn't even realize it.

One source that helped us get prepared for this and other TV free weeks, is the book above, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV by Jan and Stan Berenstain.  The Bear Family goes TV free for a week, of course in true Bear Family style Papa Bear is the real culprit.  I liked that they are doing what we are doing.  And in the end TV just isn't as interesting as C, Jeff and I re-discovered again this past week.  We read this at bedtime the few nights before we began the week, and spoke with C about it so he knew it was coming up.  It definitely helped him to understand the concept of what we are up to, and we had no problem initiating a smooth entry into the week.

So do you think you are up for the challenge?  Don't think you can do it?  Why not just give it a try and see what you discover.  I assure you, every time we do there is new information out there, beyond the screen for us to learn and assimilate to make for a far more balanced life.  XO.  S  

~ fresh & warm air learning ~

It was a lovely day out with my little Fresh Air Learning peeps yesterday.  First, because it was WARM!  And there was a little bit of sun!  Oh, Mother Earth, you had me at sunshine!  But there was more in store for us.  We had some great activities, stories and a new volunteer adding a little something new to our day.  

By new volunteer, I did not mean the Banana Slug.  Although he was a pretty great start to our session.

First up, the children molded "Blobsters" out of clay and then they wove stories and adventures for their little creatures in the forest.  There was lot's of colourful yarn woven about.  It was such a pleasure to hear the stories.  Some went to space, some under logs, most just all over the place.

And then it was.... PLAYTIME!

I sat on this log for a little break and then 30 seconds later.  Mission complete?

I can't look at this picture without feeling it.  

The new volunteer was very engaging and interactive.  Normally this group doesn't need a lot of direction in free play because they are quite the creative and adventurous bunch.  I think that the interaction was welcome though.  They thoroughly enjoyed digging Travis out of 'quicksand' so much though that they made a song about digging.  They then tried a game of Belly's Up and Belly's Down which I thought was a great activity and finally he toured us around to try out some edible parts of the forest.  The children were particularly interested in this activity.  My little C was ready to eat all the edible flowers in sight but we managed to detour him and save some blossoms for the bush.  

Another great day!  So nice to have warm weather and just enjoy the outside without the discomfort of rain or cool.  Can't believe that we will be wrapping up for the first year in just another month!  

And now there is a Summer Camp!  Interested?  Just click here for all the details!  XO.  S

~ peace, love and a happy purse ~

This was the first project that I completed last week.  For some reason I just wanted a new bag. I did think that maybe my collection of reusable bags that I had accumulated over the months since I've started at Whole Foods and have yet to clean out could use some progress.  I thought having a new bag (or two! oh yeah there's another) might be just the right thing that I needed to keep my bag usage to a minimum.  So far, I'm wrong.  I have a new bag that I've already started to fill and a pile of bags to clean out still.  

But whatever, I have a new bag!  I'm sure someday when I need something that's in one of the bags or when I'm tired of looking at the pile of bags that I created in order to inspire me to clean them out, I'll actually get inspired and clean them out!

The pattern that I used for the bag comes from the book Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule.  It's the Mama Bag.  This is the second time I've used this pattern.  I used it previously as a guide to create C's first school bag, otherwise known as the blue and white denim striped bag in the bottom right corner among all the culprits that need cleaning.  So yes, I like the pattern! And C would like his bag back!  Of course, only because I'm 'using it'.  

I went with a vintage sheet that I had mostly already chopped to bits for a wedding present last summer.  I made the Beach Blanket To Go pattern, coincidentally, also from the same Handmade Home book.  I just love this sheet and kept the scraps close knowing I would someday make something for me.  My only problem with the bag is how light it is.  The pattern did call for something heavier for the outside fabric, like a used curtain or bedspread.  I went with the sheet and will, ahem, just have to fill the bag up, I guess to make it sit a little more weighted on my shoulder.

Here it is in all it's awesome vintage coloured glory.  Complimented by a vintage brooch that my mama gave me.  Just perfect for the Mama bag don't ya think?  LOVE!  

Maybe your mama might want one too?  XO.  S

~ tv free crafting adventures :: doily collar ~

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  There was some pretty sweet sunshine in these parts for us to soak up as best we could!  It was nice to feel some summer sun on my face.  

My one week TV free has ended and I'm missing Mulder and Skully less than I was in the beginning.  In fact I could easily go a few more days or more without them.  My week of getting things done, turned out to be a far more EPIC journey than I originally anticipated.  I had a couple of extra days off from Whole Foods, no Caboose days and a whole lot of time on my hands.  My one project for the week turned into a project, at least, a day!  My pendulum of sitting watching the tube swung far in the opposite direction and I was on creation binge.  I'm ready to assume a nice Switzerland position between crafting and lazing about.  

I think it may be possible that I have blog posts to spare at this point.  I caught up on photographing projects, took the extra time to be thorough and to anticipate posting about what I was up to and it feels great and inspiring to be on track with my blog again.  I've been really hoping to take things to the next level around here and it's possible that this past week gave me the first step in that direction.  

So shall we begin?

Easy, peasy, lemon, squeezy my friends!  I transformed a boring grey sweater that I was no longer inspired to wear into my new favourite shirt!

Before = Blah

After = Suzy Fashionista!

Look.  I even got out of the house and commandeered another photog to take a picture of me. Originally I just started out looking for inspiration on embellishing clothing and making hair accessories.  It's hard to see but I'm also wearing a new black felt bow that I made with a few other new hair accessories (will post soon!).  In my searches I came across a blog post from Oh Renee on an Embellished T-shirt with a doily collar that she did.  I decided to take the plunge.  I mean, I really don't make that much stuff for me, let alone for me to wear.  This was an exciting little trip.  And super simple.  I took the plunge and cut my doily in half with the intention of taking great care in washing it in the future.  I never thought I would be this excited to wear my new shirt.  In the end it cost me only a couple of dollars.  The shirt had been $1 at the thrift store as well as the doily.

And this is just the beginning!  XO.  S