Enchanted Chameleon

~ a xmas break ~

"There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in traveling in a stagecoach, that is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place."  

~ Washington Irving
Tales of a Traveler (1824)

Dearest EC friends and family.  I hope you are all finding some time to enjoy the magic of the holiday amidst all the running around and busyness that this season also brings.  I know that I haven't posted as I had planned to the past couple of weeks partly due to the extra doings surrounding the holiday and C's birthday.  I had some crafts and birthday party doings and lot's of Xmas shopping help to be posted but not only did my schedule start to close in on me but so did some recent personal changes.  

In light of these personal changes, I've discovered that I'm not a superhero and am unable to be in more than one place at one time or do more than one thing at a time or even do everything that I normally do when I'm facing a personal challenge.  I have figured that the best thing to cure what is ailing me at this time, is most likely to slow down as opposed to speeding up.  I'm doing my best to capture the happiness that is going on and the gratitude that I feel for those things and would love nothing more than to return to this space when the season has died down and I have a better grip on my time and share them post Xmas.  Above all, I personally don't want to be so caught up in the hustle and bustle while trying to tend to a long list of extra tasks and miss out completely on the importance of the season, and that is time with my beloveds. Especially in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, more than anything a hug and a cuddle are 100 times more gratifying than 100 things off my to do list.

Perhaps I will have opened myself up to posting something now that I have opened myself up to you, maybe not.  I think you will all find the perfect gifts and the perfect recipes with or without me this year.  And what an incredible year.  I have so much to be grateful for, and I am hanging onto that wonderful feeling as I 'shift positions'.  I look forward to a relaxing and joyful holiday full of only the best things, I wish you the same.  I look forward to a wonderful new year, that experience shows is always better than the last, I also wish you the same.  

Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice and Happy Hanukkah!  XO.  S 

~ roth :: winter 2012 ~

 I always experience a small thrill when I see that the new season of Rhythm of the Home is out.  It's like when the next issue of your favourite magazine comes out and better than that cause it is free!  Rhythm of the Home Winter 2012 is here and I just wanted to share with you the many articles that caught my eye and will be keeping me comforted, along with a wool blanket and almond milk hot chocolate this winter!  As a bonus to the free magazine, if you head on over to the ROTH Blog you can enter to win many wonderful handmade and earth inspired prizes in celebration of the winter edition's release.  Check it out!  And Enjoy!  XO.  S

Starting in the top left corner and working around clockwise ending in the centre:  1. Designing a Winter Day's Rhythm  2. Simple Waldorf Doll Shoes  3. Mason Jar Snow Globes  4. Hula Hooping  5. Carve Your Own Rubber Stamps  6. Bark Worth Biting  7. Being Saint Nicholas  8. Celebrating Winter Festivals   9. Creating a Blessingway 10. A Cooperative Farm Experience   11. A Photographic Journey 12. Homeschooling in Winter  13. Winter Family Reading List  14. Marking Special Moments with Henna  15. Creating a Cookie Club  16. Felted Wool Farm Playmat  17. Powerful Princesses for Boys

~ two daughters bakeshop :: enchanting friends ~

Saying that I love Lisa and the Two Daughters Bake Shop is an understatement.  I LOVE Lisa.  I met her at the beginning of the Juice Caboose season this year at my first North Vancouver market.  I was thrilled to be in the presence of a gluten free bakery booth and we were quickly swapping goods in no time.  She is a BIG fan of the Bacon Slicer at the Juice Caboose and I am a big fan of her cookies, and donuts and baguettes and and and.  It wasn't before long that I got to know Lisa better.  She has a fantastic sense of humour, is a super duper mom and an all around awesome human being to be around. It's been wonderful getting to know her and having her in my corner. 

Her gluten free goods are just so delicious and now her goods are popping up more and more around the city. She recently opened up her own bakeshop, expanding from the market and it's a sweet little shop here in North Van that I know that C and I will be frequenting often.  I asked Lisa to share a little about herself and her baking for us all.  

Welcome Lisa, my lovely, talented and enchanting friend.

EC - What are your biggest challenges as a mother?

Lisa - Not having breakfast with my girls everyday.  Sawyer, my youngest, has taken to getting up at 5am so she can eat with me and then go back to bed when I leave, I cherish those mornings.

EC - How did your work as a baker begin?

Lisa - I have always loved to bake and have been doing it for as long as I can remember.  Everytime I pick up a food magazine I go straight to the baking.  It became a career when I was unable to find a job after being home with my children for 11 years.  I had always worked part-time and was planning to return full time once the youngest started school.  This was right around the time that the economy was hit hard and there was a lot of competition for the few jobs on the market. Rather than be discouraged by this I looked at it as an opportunity to reinvent myself, when I look back now I realize that I was not intereseted in going back into the grind of working in an office and sitting at a computer all day, I was a different person with different ideas. So I signed up to sell my organic baking at local farmers markets, at this point I was using regular wheat flour in my baking.  About 8 months into my new business venture our youngest daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and an extreme egg allergy.  I know some sort of cosmic joke, right. I was floored, now what?  Well, I reinvented myself again, took about 6 months to learn how to bake gluten free and egg free. I launched again at the local farmers market and found greater success than the first time.  After that the opportunities just started coming, we found this great little spot here in lower Lonsdale and took the next step in growing our business.

EC - What motivates you?

Lisa - My family. Teaching my girls that no matter what life throws at you, you carry on and make the best of the situation.

EC - What lessons have you learned from selling your baked goods and starting a business?

Lisa - My husband has been self employed for many years so running a business is not a new concept.  With that said, I have been able to apply alot of the lessons learned from mistakes made in his business to our new venture. I have also learned how much I love people and their stories, everyone has a different story to tell and to be involved in such a personal way is truly a gift.

 

EC - What is your ultimate goal? 

Lisa - To provide something unique and decadent to the gluten free market.  To build a sucessful business for my family and of course world domination.

 

EC - What's your favourite thing on the menu?

Lisa - Hands down the Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie. What could be better than two peanut butter cookies filled with a bittersweet chocolate ganache.

Thank you so much Lisa, for sharing a little bit of yourself today.  I hope you all enjoyed this little interview as much as I did!  To learn more about Lisa and the Two Daughters Bake Shop, please visit her at Two Daughters Bakeshop Online or in the store 121 East 1st Street at the rear of the building via the alley off Lonsdale.

• Two Daughters Bakeshop on Facebook
• Two Daughters Bakeshop on Twitter

You can also find Two Daughters Bakeshop goods in the following North Shore Locations:

• Queensdale Market, top of Lonsdale (at 29th)
• Sprout Market, 700 East 7th, North Van
• Nourish Market, Lynn Valley Square
• S'wich Cafe, 7th & Queensbury

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~ 12 days of xmas traditions ~

I am super proud and honoured to be colaborating with other Mama's from the Top 30 Vancouver Mom Blogs 2012 via Vancouvermom.Ca this holiday season.  For the next 12 days, beginning today, 12 Mama's will be taking their turn to share some Christmas Traditions from their own homes, straight to yours!  I am happy to be sharing one of my favourite traditions, Christmas dinner, and making it gluten free for everyone including those crazy Celiacs to enjoy! Check out the list below and follow along, get the insider scoop on homemade ornaments, stained glass cookies, being together and so much more!

Monday November 26th - Julie Nowell

Tuesday November 27th - MamaPapaBubba

Wednesday November 28th - The Write Mama

Thursday November 29th - The Connection We Share

Friday November 30th - Erin at Large

Saturday December 1st - North Shore Mama

Sunday December 2nd - Enchanted Chameleon

Monday December 3rd - Hillary with Two L's

Tuesday December 4th - The Sprog

Wednesday December 5th - Mumfection

Thursday December 6th - One Crazy Kid

Friday December 7th - Little Miss Mama

Some other of my favourite Christmas Traditions include:

solstice jammies...

gluten free ginger bread shack...

post birthday party Xmas tree shopping...

advent calendar...

and my absolute favourite, trek up Grouse Mountain to visit with Santa and frolick.

So let's hear it, what are your favourite holiday traditions?  I just love Christmas!  XO.  S

~ Interview at Eat + Read ~

Awesome little interview with me over at the Eat + Read blog with Tasleem.  I had a lovely tea and chat with her last week.  I am always happy to share my experience with coming to health and healing the long way especially if it will inspire health and healing in others.  Enjoy!  XO.  S

~ enchanting friends :: shanti uganda ~

When I became a mom it was so important to me to learn the ways of parenting that came from unadvanced countries.  I wanted to know how people carried their baby and how the baby slept and I wanted to do it that way cause to me it seemed like the closest thing to the most natural way to care for a baby.  It made sense that the ways that they did it was probably the ways they had been doing it for a long time and we Westerners with our technologies and sciences had lost those natural instincts.  I discovered the book the Continuum Concept and the theories behind Attachment Parenting.  They suited me well and answered the questions that I was hoping to learn.  And although, there are some gaps between trying to parent a baby here the way they parent a baby in the jungles of Southern America it was my contribution to the world where I believed we needed to reclaim natural ways of parenting, slow down and better connect with my little one.  

I've always envied these communities that raise children, the one thing that was truly missing in my story of attachment parenting.  My parents live across the country and at the time I only had a handful of friends.  Sometimes I can be really naive.

Remember Kony 2012, the video by Jason Russell that went viral and inspired and enraged the population back in March 2012?  I was one of the many inspired by this video.  I was one of the many that awoke to the tragedies of Uganda having watched that video.  When I watched it my son caught a glimpse of it and I tried to explain to him as simply as the director had to his own son. There is a man far away.  He kidnaps children and makes the boys soldiers.  They don't get to see their families ever again.  Recently the topic of Kony has come back up in my house.  My son asks about it, he is a curious kid.  He tells me he has a plan that we should share with the police to catch Kony.  He informs me that he wants to be a beekeeper and someone that catches bad guys without guns when he grows up.

Kony and his army is just a part of the tragedies of Uganda.  Uganda has been torn apart for a long time now.  So long now that traditions and rituals have taken a back seat to survival.  So long now that even the natural means of birthing and raising children has been forgotten.

It amazed me that when I went to breastfeed my son that it wasn't the most natural thing in the world to do.  I had assumed and had been quite wrong.  With the great loss of the art of breastfeeding in our history this past century, no longer with mothers or grandmothers to pass along this tradition, us mothers of present day are turning to books, videos, and professionals. With this in mind it makes sense that the art of birthing can also be lost, especially within a country falling apart and in constant conflict.

In Uganda, 14 mothers die every day.  That's about 352.3 per 100,000 per year.  Many of them from preventable complications.  150 Ugandan babies are born dead, or die in the first 7 days after birth.

In Canada, 6.6 women die per 100,000 per year.  That's a big gap.  

I look back at my birth experience an exceptional birth experience if I do say so myself, with this new found knowledge of Uganda and I am so grateful.  Who cares if it wasn't perfect or exactly like my birth plan.  I had a doctor if I wanted one, a midwife if I wanted one, a doula, nurses, breastfeeding counselling, pre-natal groups, post partum doula, post natal mothering groups, yoga, and more.  It's like my friend Tricia said:

"While I'm thoughtful and careful about the role that conventional medicine plays in our live, I am also very grateful.  I approached pregnancy as a normal and natural part of life, but when I was six months pregnant, an unusual medical situation threw me into a world of much more structured medical care.  Without that care, I would not be here to parent my daughter and my daughter might not have been born alive".

Imagine that all of us, my circle of moms that continues to grow were all faced with these medical complications?  It would mean that 1 out of 22 of us would die every year from pregnancy.  It would mean that every pregnancy was as commonly deadly as cancer.

As unadvanced countries like Uganda were a part of the initial inspiration to attachment parenting, gifting us with so many ways to carry and raise our children, now we have the chance to gift Uganda with the birth support that the women there so desperately need.

Let me introduce you to the Shanti Uganda Society.  The Shanti Uganda Society improves infant and maternal health, provides women-centered care and supports the well-being of birthing mothers and women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

The Shanti Uganda Birth House is a solar powered maternity center on one acre of land in the Luwero District of Uganda.  Opened in 2010, the Birth House provides mother-centered care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period and is staffed by a team of Ugandan Midwives, Traditional Birth Attendant and Lab Technician.  From the Birth House, Shanti Uganda runs prenatal education classes, a Community Garden Program, a Teen Girls Program and a Women's Income Generating Group - a collective of HIV positive women who produce bags and jewellery which are sold throughout North America.

"Of over the 100 women who have given birth at the centre in the almost 2 years of operation 100% have left healthy, happy and supported by the dedicated team of midwives."
~  Shanti Uganda Founder & Executive Director Natalie Angell-Besseling

That's a pretty impressive improvement rate if you ask me.

Here's what I think.  There are lots of charities out there.  Personally I would love to help more of them and because that is not feasible I try to focus on the causes that are close to my heart.  And as my son couldn't be more close to my heart than anything, if Uganda is the one that he wants to help than Uganda it is for us.  I'll take care of the mama's and he'll take care of Kony.  I know that this particular cause is going to call to some of you and that's why I'm very happy to be bringing it to your attention today.  There are many ways to support the Shanti Uganda Society. If you are interested in exploring those options whether it is to pass along this post, donate money or supplies or even visit, check out their site here and Get Involved.

When I mentioned this program to another mom at my son's school she said, "My wish for every woman is that all could have the birth support they need from a loving midwife... And to feel empowered with the choices."

Shanti Uganda is therefore, a wish come true.  XO.  S

"Start where you are.  Use what you have.  Do what you can".  Arthur Ashe. 

~ rhythm of the home :: autumn edition 2012 ~

Things have been so busy hectic lately that I missed the first day of the Autumn Edition of Rhythm of the Home going up.  But that's ok.  It's still crazy sunny and warm here and it feels as though autumn is giving me plenty of time to ease my way in.  Here's a peak and the things that have peaked my interest for the season.  There is still plenty more articles to browse and Enjoy! XO.  S

Starting in the top, going down left to right:  1.  Pretty Fall Scarf  2.  Autumn Festivals  3.  10 Steps Towards Getting the Break You Need, Tired Mama, Without Relying on TV  4.  Capturing the Season ::  Autumn Photography Tips  5.  When the Student is Ready  6.  Four Fall Simplicity Seeds  7.  Autumn Reading List  8.  Simple Newborn Hat and Mitten Set  9.  Using the Kitchen as a Place to Bond  10.  Hearty Potato Leek Soup  11.  Sew Your Own Reusable Sandwich Bags

~ the hungry oven ~

C and I were recently invited to take a tour of a very special cooking school called The Hungry Oven, just minutes away from our place in Lower Lonsdale.  We were honoured to do a little looksie with Owner and Founder, Debby Tonn.

The Hungry Oven specializes in teaching children and young adults aged 3-16 years to cook and bake.  Their goal is to instill a lifelong passion for cooking healthy and delicious meals from scratch with fresh local ingredients.  The Hungry Oven is also a place "where kids are encouraged to play with their food!"

Right off the bat, this cooking school has EVERYTHING!  We had the chance to look in on a small class making a meal, while we toured the state of the art kitchens (there are 3), a parent observation room, dining room, front office and gigantic walk in fridge that contained inside a walk in freezer.  How cool!  It's possible I was more excited about the walk in fridge and freezer than most children probably are.

And did I say EVERYTHING?  Well I meant it.  There are also adult classes, girls night out, guys night out, date night, catering, birthday parties, summer and spring break camps, Pro-D Days and of course, the most important thing to me of all in a cooking school for my child - inclusion of gluten free.  Although the classes are not set up separately into gluten free or vegetarian classes the talented teachers/Chefs are prepped and ready for every one that puts on an apron, providing a separate working space for gluten free and vegetarian learners within the classroom, and appropriate teaching recipes, materials and ingredients for those that are looking to learn the alternatives.  It was enough to make our gluten sensitive bellies sing!

Besides the fact that I was impressed by the gorgeous commercial kitchen layouts and wanted to camp out in my own corner and start blending and baking, I was impressed by the depth of The Hungry Oven.  Truly it is an original space and set up and there really isn't another school like this in Canada.

Here's a few things that stood out for me:

::  Children not only make the burgers, they make the buns.  That's right.  Children are there to learn everything.  There is no cutting corners.

::  There is lots of room to grow in this school and lots of support that comes with it.  One of the teachers/chefs that was working that day was a former student of the school and was not only a teaching assistant at this time, he was a competitive chef.  Truly if your calling is food, a great start might be in this very kitchen.

::  There's swag.  But not just any swag, it's useful swag.  The one-time membership fee for students registering for monthly sessions provides them with a Hungry Oven apron and recipe book binder.  Chefs in training receive recipe inserts for everything they make.  

::  And make, they will!  I was informed that one student went on to shop, prep and cook a lovely chicken cordon bleu that her mother raved about.  Can you imagine the possibilities!?!

::  Finally, my favourite, is the motto:  One bite can change your mind.  If only all of us parents could so easily instill this in our own children when serving a new dish.

pictures by C

So dare I say, if you are looking for a little local love of cooking on the North Shore, go no further than The Hungry Oven.  In fact, I would dare say if the cooking force is strong within your little cooking Jedi, I would even cross the bridge for these classes.  Debby Tonn has outdone herself with her experience and knowledge as a professional in her field and the space reflects a lifetime of experience all packaged into one great place for everyone to come and learn.

Ladies and mama's may I bring your attention to one last little detail before the egg timer goes off?  You like cooking?  How about Firemen?  Hmm.  What if Cooking + Firemen = Supporting a Great Cause?  

The Hungry Oven is very proud to be presenting the Firehouse Cooking Event in support of Sage House for Women & Children and the DNFD Firemen's Fund.  A limited number of tickets are available for this awesome event coming up quickly on Thursday October 25th.  On the menu for the evening is a variety of delicious foods and of course, some firemen.  Check out all the juicy hot details here.  I have to say I'm blushing just thinking about the auction and door prize.  

Didn't I say this school has EVERYTHING!  XO. S 

~ get out and play in north vancouver ~

Just wanted to bring a lot of attention to a great article a friend and fellow bee enthusiast, Tricia Edgar, wrote for North Shore Outlook on getting our children outside and over any little case of nature deficit disorder in which we may be suffering from.  Tricia is the founder of the Fresh Air Learning program in North Vancouver (C is a graduate of the inaugural first year!) and the education coordinator at the Lynn Valley Ecology Centre.  Enjoy!  XO.  S 

~ enchanting friends :: serena from heavens earth ~

It recently came to my attention how lucky a lady I am.  Not just because of all the good things that happen to me but also because of the good people I know.  When I posted about raising funds for a new generator for the Juice Caboose, I was so honored to receive donations from fellow bloggers.  Women that I had never formerly met, with whom my relationship has been completely online.  How incredible is that?  I think it's pretty amazing.

One of those amazing ladies is Serena.  We connected a while ago during one of my Green Smoothie Challenges.  She is an incredibly talented artist, photographer and mama, and I really wanted to share her and her work with you.  She lives in Winnipeg with her two children and hubby, sells her goods on her Etsy Heavens Earth and blogs about life on What a Sweet Life.  Please welcome the enchanting Serena!    

EC - What are your biggest challenges as a mother?

Serena -  For me the biggest challenge is giving up control. I generally want to just go go go and always have a new project in my head, something I want to do with the family or a place I want to visit. Having a just turned three-year old, a seven month old, and a husband who is on 24/7 call, means that if we want to have quality time as a family, we can't have a set schedule where on Monday we would do this, Tuesday that and so on. Living without a schedule is actually pretty freeing. We do have a rhythm at home that we fall into regardless of who is home and what we may want to do that day. I've also had to accept that just because I want to finger paint in the morning and bake cookies in the afternoon with my son while wearing my daughter on my back, doesn't mean that either of them want any part of it or any part of me, sometimes they just need their Daddy!  I'm learning to just roll with it and not take it personally.

EC - How did your work as an artist begin?

Serena -  I don't have a grand story about how I became an artist. I didn't go to school for it, in fact, I did the opposite, I was a science student in university. In my late teens and early 20's I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease - this became my wake up call. I wasn't studying sciences in university for the right reasons; suddenly having a "good" job wasn't important to me anymore. I decided not to finish my degree, got a job (that turned into a wonderful career) with the federal government and started to do things just for me. I have always loved art.. always. I honestly can't remember not being interested in it in some form. Being "sick" suddenly made it ok for me to start exploring art on a professional level. At one point I was in a local gallery and just casually asked the owner if they were looking for new art and she said to bring my stuff down, so I did, and she loved it! This was a pretty big milestone for me. From there I started to do more and more art, have it displayed and sold in more galleries, and explore what would be involved in representing myself as an artist. 

My husband has also been very involved with me pursuing art - he has always 100% encouraged every new project, every new genre, medium; I know how blessed I am! He really encouraged me to open up Heavens Earth on Etsy and put in the time to create new work. 

EC - What motivates you?
 
Serena - My family is my biggest motivation. I love my family more than anything in the world and I just want them to be proud of me. Pretty simple eh?! 

EC - What lessons have you learned from selling your artwork and starting a business?

Serena - I think the biggest lesson that I've learned from selling my art online is to not take it personal. I used to feel bad about my work when it wouldn't sell hours after being uploaded on site. I soon realized that there is a lot more to just making art available for purchase.  Promotion and advertising is huge and something I struggle with. I've also had to learn and embrace that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It used to make me very upset to see people using very similar techniques and layouts. When Cloth Paper Scissors magazine contacted me about doing an article on my technique, I didn't know what to do!  Thoughts of everyone knowing how I create my art and copying it started rushing through my head! I did come to realize that no one gains anything by hoarding techniques, and that even if everyone knows how to do my work, it doesn't mean that they will do it or if they do, that it will be exactly the same... its like cooking; just because you have your favourite restaurants recipe, it doesn't mean that you'll stop going there to eat! 

EC - What fulfills you?

Serena - So many things!  And they do change from day to day, season to season. Right now I'm finding fulfillment in: seeing the way my children look at each other;  making my husband come out of his comfort level and try new things; nourishing my family; being authentic (living the beliefs I preach); letter from our sponsor child overseas; giving thanks for the small things (I think its the easiest way to make someone's day); finishing a custom painting. My list could go on and on! 

EC - How have you evolved over the years as an artist?

Serena - Over the years I've leant that it's OK if I don't want to do something that will generate revenue every day, or even every week; that its ok to do art/create something for me and my family.  Being ok with this, makes me a better artist because I'm truly doing my art because I want to, not because I "have" to.  I've also learnt to embrace my style and not be so worried if someone will like it. 

EC - What is your ultimate creative goal?

Serena - This will sound strange I think, but until about a month ago, I never had any creative goals! I've just been happily treading along doing my own thing. Around Christmas, for some reason, I got it in my head that I want to be in House and Home magazine - ridiculous eh?! Id love to see my painting, jewellery or my fabric in it; I would be over the moon! 

Thank you Serena and family for sharing your stories with us.  You can read more about Serena at her blog What a Sweet Life.  If you are interested in Serena's art work, jewels or fabric check out her Heavens Earth Facebook Page or go directly to her Heavens Earth Etsy site.  

For the month of February you can receive 20% off anything in Serena's Heavens Earth Etsy store!! Just use the code:  feb2012 to receive your discount.  Start your Easter shopping early.  There is such fabulous stuff to be had!  XO.  S