Enchanted Chameleon

~ serendipity smoothie ~

I love blending.  That's why you're here aren't you?  It's sure why I started here and ended up here.  That is for shizzle.  A blender would be my coat of armour.  That and some knitting needles and Persol glasses and if possible, without looking overaccessorized, flip flops.

I'm not sure that I've come flat out and said it here but I'll say it today:  I sold the Juice Caboose.  It's true.  It lives on in my soul and in memories and the blog that is still up to taunt and tease Vancouverites with the possibility of it coming to a venue (not intentionally, just sheer laziness and hope that it may come in use again).

It was a bittersweet decision.  Naturally I didn't want to give up my dream but in so doing I have freed up my life and finances in a way that I wouldn't have been able to do before in order to be with my family throughout my father's sickness this past year and a half, not to mention giving me a ton of space and time to heal.  Sometimes even marriages that aren't meant to be and past their expiration date require time for mourning.  Another dream, gone.  Grieving, a necessity. 

One hard thing about giving up the Caboose was giving up the Vitamix blender.  My Cuisinart was great and I know how to work a blender to make things like a Vitamix but still, it's a nice piece of kitchen bling that is hard to part with.  However, the decision to sell the business included that piece of equipment.  It was a package deal and regardless of what I wanted, the right decision was to keep the package together.  So I let it go.

Not long after, I was visiting Harvest Project, a place where I shop once a month for free groceries for low to no income people, a place that has helped me stay afloat and treading comfortably since I became a single parent.  They offer career counselling and professional clothing as well for those in need.  An amazing and award winning not-for-profit here on the North Shore that I'm eternally grateful for and hoping to repay someday with time, money or whathave you that I can offer when the opportunity arises.  I was there for my monthly shop and one of the volunteers approached me with a paper bag and asked me if I juice or blend.  Well, yes, if anyone does, I do.  Thinking she was handing me a bag of culled apples or juicing carrots I accepted the bag from her only to discover a practically new Vitamix Blender.  I but but butted, that this was a Vitamix.  The volunteer agreed it was in fact a really nice blender and it was mine to keep. 

After nearly falling over and scooping my jaw from the floor I thanked the Universe.  Sometimes when a dream comes to an end, it is easy to think one is not deserving.  I couldn't have questioned my deserving in any measure at that moment.  Again, thank you Universe, Higher Power, Good Rich Person of the North Shore that Didn't need a Vitamix?!?!  Thank you, you made my life.

It took me a little time to warm up to it.  It sat on my counter like a very expensive piece of art for the first few weeks till I finally mustered the acceptance that it wasn't going anywhere and it was mine to keep.  And naturally, just like my beat up used one that was from craigslist that went off into the sunset of someone elses dreams, so did this one magically start to make delicious smoothies from random who knows what I had in my fridge, was on sale, etc., just like I used to do in the truck.  Enter my Serendipity Smoothie.  The most delicious smoothie to touch my lips since October 2012 when the Caboose unknowingly sold its last batches.

Isn't she a beaut?

Serendipity Smoothie, fills a Wide Mouth Mason

Needed: 1 young thai coconut water and meat, 1/2 large bunch of fresh cilantro, 1/2 large bunch of fresh mint, 1 large mango or 2 small, 1 lemon, juiced, honey or agave to taste (I used about a tablespoon), 1 cup ice if you prefer it chilled (don 't bother with ice if you use frozen mango)

If you are blending with a regular blender or a bullet, first don't feel bad, I have used them for years.  Blend the greens with the liquid first until smooth and then add fruit and meat.  If you are fortunate enough to have a Vitamix or a Blendtec just throw it all in a blend up this delicious smoothie.  Enjoy.

XO.  Suzanne

 

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~ happy birthday juice caboose ~

~ one month :: green smoothie 365 ~

One month down and 11 to go!  The first month went off sooo well!  I am extremely grateful for the routine that I have created every morning to make this first month go off so easily.  The combinations feel like they are still endless at this point!  I'm sure that come month 11 I will be singing a different tune.  I will admit that part of me looks forward to the summer months of doing this when there will be bounties available at all the farmer's markets in particular greens that I don't normally find at the grocery store.  

If you are interested in what I am up to, please check out the Green Smoothie Challenge 365 over at the Juice Caboose blog.  If you are just interested in the wonderful, life changing food/drink that is a green smoothie, check out my hero Victoria Boutenko over at the Raw Family.  XO.  S

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~ green smoothie 365 ~

~ green smoothie 365 challenge ~

~ 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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~ real pumpkin pie ~

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~ green smoothie 365 challenge ~

My Green Smoothie 365 Challenge is well under way.  I am posting daily at the Juice Caboose blog.  Currently, this is my most favourite thing in the world.  Every day I am creating a new recipe, snapping a photo with a little make shift smoothie studio set up in my kitchen and every night I am playing on Pic Monkey, trying all sorts of photo filters and fonts I may not normally use.  This is exercising more than the my creative smoothie bone which was my original intent. I'm pleased to be getting so much more out of this besides the 2.5 lbs that I released!   Hopefully the inspiration that I draw from a little daily creation will keep this smoothie challenge going strong.

Check out the above smoothies and their ingredients here:  11, 12, 7, 9, 3 

Feel free to join in on the fun at any time!  XO.  S

~ the herb quarterly ~

Sometimes when guests come through my lineups with magazines that I love I comment on my mutual love for them.  In particular, I love Living Etc.  Such a beautiful, urban decorating magazine. Sometimes I use this as an opportuity to introduce them to other intriguing and not so mainstream magazines that we carry in the store.  Mostly I refer to The Herb Quarterly.  Of course, it is completely unrelated to Living Etc. except that it is also a magazine.  Most guests don't share my enthusiasm.  But I believe I'll find one yet. 

In the meantime... I picked up my Winter 2012 Edition of The Herb Quarterly and thought I would share my love with you!  I am reading it as slowly as possible, savouring each page and picture, trying not to miss any tidbit that will make me one ounce wiser in making healing smoothies, healing foods or knowing the one random thing on a herb that could make someone feel better one day.  It is all utterly dreamy to me.  

And while I am still a far cry from a modern day medicine woman, this little treat of mine will hopefully last me till spring and help me concoct a simple potion or two of my own.  Maybe the next big thing for the Juice Caboose.  Maybe the next simple remedy for my loves at home. Maybe Etc.  Yum yum yum.  Dream dream dream.  XO.  S 

~ a bushel of apples ~

With the closing of Juice Caboose on such a rainy note I was left with a fair bit of unexpected produce on my hands.  About 200 lbs of apples unexpected, to be approximate.  That's what happens when torrential downpour happens during the apple festivals.  While I knew I couldn't possibly go through all the produce that was left over, I knew I could make use of a good chunk of it quite easily.

First, I gave a ridiculous amount of apples away to friends and family. 

Then we made dehydrated apple chips...

an apple pie....

vanilla apple sauce...

and apple juice cubes, for blending into smoothies.

It is the first time I have felt preserved for winter.  

One other awesome thing that came home with me from the apple festival was the brand spanking new apple here in Canada.  A brand new apple you say?  By George yes, a brand spanking, 25 years in the making new apple was introduced at the UBC Apple Festival.  

It's name is:

It's a beauty.  Delicious too and I love the name - Salish.  A great BC apple name.  I brought a couple home for C and I to try together and it was well received.  Really can't go wrong with apples.  AND, drum roll... guess what rolled into Whole Foods Park Royal last week... you got it, Salish.  I was super stoked to see these guys coming down the conveyor belt. Don't be shy when you see them at Whole Foods.  Ask a produce clerk to give it a try and they will happily cut one open for you.  Check out the story on Salish here.

So I guess only one things remains... what's your favourite apple recipes?  I still got another bushel to go.  XO.  S

~ green smoothie 365 ~

With the winter weather setting in and the Juice Caboose feeling like it's already been in storage forever I wanted to come up with a project to keep my creative smoothies flowing.  I decided for a few reasons, to try my hand at a one a day, 365 Green Smoothie recipes project.  Besides wanting to stay in touch with my creative smoothie making side and keeping the Juice Caboose blog active, I was hoping to set up my regular routine of daily Green Smoothies for breakfast as well maybe a shed a few pounds of those food truck loving foods that was bountiful this summer.  Feel free to join along and watch the wonder of daily Green Smoothies work its magic!  XO.  S   

~ the great big boo review ~

I had the chance to take the boys (C and his friend) to see the Great Big Boo a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to report back.  This particular production company does other seasonal shows here in Vancouver (namely, The Magic of Santa coming up next month).  I'll review from two perspectives: the boys and mine.

The boys loved it.  They were on the edges of their seats trying to take it all in.  There was some dancing and lots of giggles.  C continued to figure it out and ask me questions for days after the show and he has referenced the story and characters a couple of times when trying to figure things out in relation to Halloween and being scared and such.  C didn't want to leave after, he was having lots of fun and I guess was kind of hoping for more when it was all said and done. On a scary scale of 1 being least to 10 being very, they initially gave me a 2 acknowledging that what was going on was scary but knowing they were just people in costumes and there was nothing to be scared of.  C later changed it to a higher score, perhaps more of a 5, admitting that it had scared him a little more than he first mentioned.

As for me, it was a super fun show to share with the boys.  The price was high in my opinion, 19.50 per general admission seat which feels steep for 6 year olds.  I can't imagine buying a ticket for that price for a child any younger.  I'm frugal and I like to spend my money and time wisely, but I do prefer experiences over things and this did fit the bill.  

As a grown up that doesn't like cartoons and is a bit cynical about children stuff, I'm not a huge fan of cartoony characters with huge heads.  However, speaking as an ex-actor and musical theatre snob the overall costumes, singing, choreography and casting was great and well enjoyed by the audience.  I especially enjoyed watching the children cast perform.

A big concern of mine was would it in fact be a non-scary performance as advertised.  C can be quite sensitive and the last thing I wanted was him to be up all night plagued by a giant head character.  I had high expectations going in so perhaps I'm a little hard them.  Part of the lesson of the show was to learn how not to be scared of things.  On the scary scale, I gave it a higher 7 right off the bat.  My anxiety went right up from the first sound of scary music and when the witch took the stage for her performance I saw several smaller children leave their seats for parents laps.  Being a Waldorf parent I'm very particular about keeping things non-scary, and if I had ones younger than 5-6 with me I would have rated it as a 9.  That's just my experience of scary with a sensitive child.  

Finally, CONCESSION.  I think I'm just naive walking into a place like the PNE Forum and not expecting a concession of junk food and expensive popcorn and pop combos and of course, souvenirs for sale.  I did my best to avoid the variety of candy apples and have the boys just settle with the free trick or treating that took place after the show.  Moral of that story is, I run a Juice Caboose specifically to see that healthier options are available to families in and around Vancouver at markets and events, I would have been happy to attend such a show.

In the end, I'm going with the boys vote for loving it.  I loved attending with them and watching them discover and enjoy it too much.  I also love having as many opportunities to dress up in our Halloween costumes as we can and the boys seemed to enjoy that too.  I'm sure the The Magic of Santa has nothing scary to be worried about and is just as enjoyable.  Happy Halloween!  XO.  S 

~ top 25 mompreneurs of 2012 ~

Hi friends!  I'm back.  I'm feeling a lot more collected these days.  Ending the season with Juice Caboose and switching back to my winter work at Whole Foods wasn't an easy transition but after my first weekend full time back and the truck parked safely and most importantly C is in good hands on the days I do work, I can finally relax a little bit and allow my winter routine to kick in. It was an exhausting and slightly dramatic finale with the torrential downpour of rain at my last two events.  All is well, post lots of sleep and hot baths.  I'm even behaving a little and getting to bed at a more decent hour on work nights.

I thought we could begin on a high note.  The results of the Circle of Moms Top 25 Mompreneurs have come in and I'm pleased to announce that the Juice Caboose and I ranked in at #16!  Thank you so much to all of you, your support and daily votes!  I so appreciate you all keeping me in the Top 25.  Again, this has been a monumental year for the Caboose and I and this is absolutely another notch in my belt that I am grateful to accept and honoured to be a part of.

I have yet to set aside some comfort time to browse all the other Top 25 Mompreneurs.  You can check them out here.  I'm sure there is a new favourite or two for me in there somewhere.  As a Top 25 Mompreneur, I have updated my profile page at Circle of Moms and answered a few entrepreneurial questions for any up and coming Mompreneurs out there.  You can find my answers here.

Thank you all again.  I can't say thanks enough.  I'm really looking forward to this next chapter in my life.  A little winter hibernation teamed up with some entrepreneurial planning and I'm hoping to see more of the next level of life as a Mom and Mompreneur.  Thanks for sharing it with me.  XO.  S

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama