Enchanted Chameleon

~ a little downtime ~

C's been a little under the weather the past couple of weeks.  I've been trying my best to keep him close, home from school and rested on days that I have off and also to listen to him and respect his instincts. Not an easy task by any means.  All last week he didn't want to go to school and now that the week has passed and he didn't say the same this morning I realize I'm getting closer to understanding that staying home was in fact temporary and because of how he felt, not because he never wanted to go back to school again, like he said.  I would have been safe to follow his instincts.     

We had lots of catch up time, or at least that's how it felt.  I let him relax on the cozy chair and watch a bunch of TV.  That's what I feel like doing when I feel yucky so I respected the same for him.  I caught up on some knitting and other work that's been lingering while he overdosed on Magic School Bus.  As soon as other things, like making Valentine Days cards or helping papa with the trailer reno came up he was raring to go and the TV watching slowly dissipated.  It was a nice cozy few days.  It was just missing a warm fire.  

Although I'm feeling a little awkward and out of sorts from our current lack routine and rules that I essentially tossed for the sake of observation and experimentation to see what my child would initiate and respond to, it was worth it.  I learned a lot last week and again am feeling a little more connection and understanding.  There are a lot more "mama I love you's" and a lot less power struggles, so I think that I may be onto something. Some day I hope to find the balance between following the direction that the child leads us and the essential parental boundaries to keep us feeling comfortable and fulfilled.  I feel that I am on the right track and that is satisfaction enough.  Oh, and there can never be enough child initiated "mama, I love you's".  XO.  S

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama

~ all they should have taught woman about hormones when they were 12 ~

I attended an incredibly informative lecture last evening on woman's health and hormones.  It was a free lecture at Whole Foods Park Royal with Lorna Vanderhaeghe.  I hadn't heard of her or even known that Whole Foods carries all of her supplements until the posters for the free lecture went up but I was sold on hearing all I could about thyroid, hormones and beautiful skin.  I looked her up and started to take notice when guests at the store passed through with her products in their basket.  I quickly found out I was the crazy person with no cable that had never heard of her!  Her legacy is EPIC.  She is an award winning researcher, editor and devout convert to natural healing.  She is a product of all her products and I tell you never in a million years standing with her would I have dreamed that she is post-menopause.  She is radiant.  I was fortunate to get into the lecture which started off with the introduction, "everything that they should teach woman about their hormones when they are 12".  And so it was.  She informed us that everything she spoke of in her lecture plus some is in her book including a thorough test for determining the state of your own hormonal health.  If it's the case that this book is indeed a larger reflection of her lecture that I would say that if every woman out there reads only one book this year, this should be it!  Imagine knowing our own hormonal health better than our own doctors?  I say kudos to that!

I hope to get my hands on a copy of her book, A Smart Woman's Guide To Hormones and check things out in more detail myself, the books did sell out in the store this evening!  However, I received my own personal consultation with Lorna which I feel so fortunate to have had.  We discussed my current dosage of anti-depressant and what it would take to replace those naturally since her lecture informed me that I am now at an increased rate for breast cancer for taking them.  YIKES!  She also gave me her recommendation for my adult onset acne that started 2 years ago.  I hope more than anything to report to you that the proof is in the pudding and these products live up to the information behind them.  More than anything I'm just thrilled to have been in the presence of such greatness.  I haven't been so inspired by health and healing since I was first introduced to Green Smoothies by Victoria Boutenko.  

Come on ladies!  Take control.  What could be more empowering than total hormonal health?  Periods without pain or PMS and a symptom free Menopause naturally??  Amen sisters!  XO.  S

~ something borrowed ~

I'm totally in love with this Window Frame Jewelry Display Tutorial.  I discovered it on the blog The Borrwed Abode which highlights adventures in decorating a rented house.  Although we are proud owners of our tiny little apartment abode I still feel like it's temporary since our ultimate goal is to buy property with a house.  It gives me the challenge of decorating to sell vs. decorating to live.  One day I'm one, one day I'm the other.  The other challenge is the overworked handyman!  I'm hoping to see more up and finished this year but I will not lie, the Christmas decorations are down but still not put away into storage, the broken tree stand is still sitting at the door waiting to go to the dump and there is pretty much piles of stuff on any available flat space.  Is it possible I can no longer call myself a stay at home mom?  I think the house was this messy still sometimes when I was.  

Well, the skies of cleared here in North Vancouver, so I guess it doesn't really rain all the time.  I suppose my house won't always be a mess and still not decorated either!  XO.  S

~ homeschooling our children, unschooling ourselves ~

"That's why Christian could become a radio engineer at thirteen.  No one ever told him he was too young to consider doing the work.  He's grown up doing things when he felt ready to do them.  He's not waiting for someone to tell him he is old enough or knows enough to do particular tasks.  This means that he is really living in our community"  Alison McKee, Homeschooling Our Children, Unschooling Ourselves

Three gifts that I would love to give my son:

1.  A life lived without the fear of failure

2.  A life lived with a positive sense of self worth

3.  A life lived to the fullest

Oh the dicotomy between Waldorf and unschooling.  This book has opened up Pandora's unschooling box for me.  I had some serious plotting thoughts yesterday morning on my walk with Georgia about how to keep my jobs, have another baby and stay home with C after another year of kindergarten at the Waldorf school.  Lots can happen on the trail with all that fresh air.  

The least to say that I really enjoyed the story of Alison McKee and her family's story of unschooling in her book, Homeschooling Our Children, Unschooling Ourselves.  A teacher herself, with all the same concerns and insecurities as me when it comes to homeschooling.  Will a child be motivated to learn math?  Will they get into college?  Will a child really learn all they need to know without a plan or lessons?  Will they turn out normal in the end?  Alison McKee says so and her children are the proof in the pudding.  

I would probably be freaking out every time my child was inspired to go in a certain direction only to change their mind and go in another one a few short months later.  But this book reveals to me that not only does that not spell flake as I have been so callously labelled with for such behaviour, but this might actually be the secret ingredient to a child that lives without the fear of failure.  No really, true story. And when I think about it, it makes sense.  They only learn things they feel like learning.  They don't get reprimanded for not handing in an assignment.  They don't get bad grades for having to do work they aren't interested in anyway.  Sounds pretty awesome to me!!  

In a way, these past few years I have been unschooling myself.  I picked up the knitting book and needles and just tried, and I signed up for guitar lessons and I signed up for mastery acting classes.  I started sewing and writing and taking pictures and this year I'm devout to get myself back into fashion and style.

THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS I GAVE UP TRYING TO DO SO THAT I COULD DO SCHOOL.

Let me repeat.

I used to sew and knit but because fashion design wasn't a University degree I took psychology instead.  I used to like baking and trying to cook but I always got kicked out of home economics.  I used to try out for school plays and even got parts but I got made fun of cause my slip was hanging out of my skirt once and I was playing a hill billy sister in another.  I used to have this wild fashion sense and I would stand out like a sore thumb wearing things that just weren't in and so I taught myself to dress down and wear baby T's and jeans like the rest of the girls so I could fit in.  

It took me a long time to get back to my roots and I want nothing more to see that my son never gets out of touch with his.  Even if he is only motivated to watch episodes of Magic School Bus for a week? Eeek.  Well, perhaps he just needs kindergarten and play with his friends for now.  

But in the meantime, I'm listening.  I'm aware.  I'm thinking of clearing out a few more things around here.  Maybe a few less toys would help.  Get on that New Years intention of a daily clean up schedule. Make space for him.  I see a little boy that is extremely anxious and high strung sometimes.  It's his nature and mine.  It takes practice at making space and not wanting to do everything at once.  I brought him to the craft store and literally he says to me he wants everything.  So yes, we're not ready to narrow down to one focus of study at this point and that's good.  But I'm listening and aware.  Keenly aware. And even if he stays in school and I never homeschool, his weekends and time at home with me will be an unschooling haven.

In the end, I highly recommend this book.  It supports our children when they aren't at school.  It supports our children when they are at school.  Enjoy!  XO.  S

~ the most important work ~

I'm deep in important work these days!  Important Juice Caboose work!  It could easily fill my nights and days to keep up with all the current paperwork I have to fill out.  But this morning, the most important paper work is thank you cards.  I'm so thrilled to be deep in thanking people for their support.  I have a long way to go still until the new generator is ours but how honoured am I to be supported so well so far? Pretty darn lucky!  Hope you all had a great weekend!  XO.  S 

If you are interested in our current fundraiser for a new generator please check out this link on EC or this link on the Juice Caboose site or go directly to the Go Fund Me page.  Thanks again for stopping by!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama

~ new juice for the caboose :: fundraiser ~

Why We Are Fundraising: Much to our delight, our first summer was a success. We are fortunate to have booked Folk Fest and a regular spot at the Kits Farmer's Market so we can't help but believe that we are onto something good. We do need some financial support to keep up with the positive momentum. The requested collective funds of $2500 would help us afford a new generator which would be quieter and provide more power to the truck. This would allow us to keep our coveted spot at Kits Farmer's Markets which is now incorporating generator noise restrictions as well as expand into other Markets and events with generator noise restrictions. We are also hoping for a coveted street and roaming permit and a quieter generator is also required to avoid disruption of established businesses. A new generator will also provide us with the opportunity to expand our menu to a regular hot menu, including hot beverages and soup. At this time our current generator is loud and at it's max for power. 

The $2500 will be enough to cover more than half of the cost of the generator. We are hoping to cover the rest with a Government Grant and any additional with our own funds. We have already invested all of our personal savings (and then some...) into the truck and thought we would try to fundraise. If we happen to receive more than 100% (fingers crossed!) anything extra will go toward a Solar Panel fund which is our dream power solution. 

The Bigger Picture: The immediate embrace of this business makes us believe that people are craving healthier options to balance the demands of our over-processed lives. 

Seeing people enjoy my smoothies by giving the nod after the first sip or already establishing regulars that look forward to their weekly treat at the market makes me feel great pride and optimism. It makes me feel like I'm doing my part to make life just a bit happier and healthier by having followed my dreams. And that to me, is SUCCESS!

If you are interested in funding a new generator please click here at my Go Fund Me site.  Did I mention there are incentives?  Oh yes, there are little goodies in it for donors so go ahead and check out what might be in it for you!

Thank you for reading and thank you for your support. 

For photos, menus, recipes and more information, visit:
www.thejuicecaboose.blogspot.com

The Juice Caboose FB Page

The Juice Caboose on Twitter

~ fresh air learning 2012-2013 registration info night ~

It's becoming that time when we have to already start thinking about what we will be up to in the upcoming school year.  I'm pleased to have sat on the Board of Fresh Air Learning and to see it up and running and further to watch it unfold through the teacher, the parents and most importantly the children.  Apparently there is a lot of interest already for next years program starting in September.  If you are interested and have a child that is 4-6 and live in the North Vancouver or surrounding area than please RSVP to Andrea at info@freshairlearning.org and join the Board and the teacher Lisa to learn about a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore and learn in an entirely outdoor classroom.  Click here for a sample of my days spent as the parent volunteer with FAL.  XO.  S

~ giveaway winner ~

Anissa!

"doily me up! i only read a few blogs consistently and yours is one. I love your honesty, we seem to share some similarities in our lives including little dudes the same'ish age and well, i'd just miss you if you weren't blogging anymore. Plus, i get a canada hit - i used to live in east van once upon a time. keep on being you, i love it. love from NZ"

Thank you Anissa and thank you everyone for commenting!  It really inspired me to hear from all of you. I'll be emailing Anissa shortly to arrange for delivery of the doily bunting!  Much love and gratitude to you all.  XO.  S