Enchanted Chameleon

~ sweet, sheep, sleep ~

It was an awesome day at the 32nd Annual Sheep Shearing Festival.  We sold lots of drinks, had lots of fun and needed lots of sleep by the end of it all.  Thank you to the Sun, we're always happy when she shows up for our events, and to all our peeps that came out to celebrate with us.  It was hard to keep up with all the goodness.  

A special thanks to my friend Heather and her Hubby for keeping this monkey off my back.  Oh my!  He's such a great sidekick.  He even washed the truck for me afterwards.  Sigh.  Someone is teaching him well.  And then for my favourite part of the day...

If I could get all the stuff that I have to get done at the end of a car ride at the end of an event....  

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  XO.  S

~ happy birthday juice caboose ~

What a ride it has been!  Thanks to our followers, friends, fans and family for helping to make the first year in business a success!  Hope to see you at the Farm today!  XOXO.  S

~ juicy goodies ~

Don't forget, if you don't have any plans for Sunday May 27th, the Sheep Shearing Festival is happening at Maplewood Farm from 10 am - 4 pm and the Juice Caboose will be celebrating its 1st Year since opening at last years festival.  There are two prizes to be won.  The main prize are the Onyx Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold and Straw Set with 2 Juice Caboose Drink Certificates and the other prize is the Mummy and Me Ruffled Apron Set from the Enchanted Chameleon.  (Ballots and handed out per purchase) 

Double don't forget that you can win 2 Juice Caboose Drink Certificates here at EC if you comment on this post.  Comments close Sunday night and the winner will be announced on Monday.  Have an awesome weekend!  XO.  S  

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama

~ vancouver's top 30 ~

I just happened to have a picture of excitement and surprise ready for such an occasion...

Thanks friends, family, fans and followers for the nomination to the VancouverMom.Ca 2012 Top 30 Mom Bloggers.  Out of 90 blogs that were nominated Enchanted Chameleon was selected as a Top 30 finalist.  There will still be a final vote for the Top Blogger of 2012 but truly, I am just so happy to be on this list, sharing the spotlight with other passionate ladies in the city. This is an awesome little moment for me, and the work that I do daily and I definitely hope to connect with some mama's and others out there looking for a little of what I have to offer here and at the Juice Caboose.  Big thanks and love friends!  XOXO.  S   

~ gluten & dairy free rhubarb strawberry pie ~

Oh gluten free living.  What an expensive little journey you can be.  Of course, I don't think it can top eating 100% raw foods, it certainly has its learning curve like the raw foods diet and that can cut into budgets.  Here I am to tell you to skip all other gluten free pie crust recipes and just get the one I just tried.  I've tried a few, and my relatives were so loving in their compliments to the baker but seriously, that pie sucked.  This pie, on the other hand, tasted like a full fledged pastry.  

Unlike the other gluten free pie crusts that I've tried, mainly recipes from scratch, from Bobs Red Mill recipe index, this one actually allowed me to roll it into a pie crust.  Imagine that.  But seriously, we Celiac's are living in an awesome age of foodism.  As a long time food allergy sufferer, I remember how food allergies were diagnosed when I was little... they weren't.  I was a freak! Nowadays, I'm just ahead of my time.

So the magical pie crust that I used?  Gluten Free Pantry Perfect Pie Crust Mix.  I bought it at Whole Foods (of course) and I found it to be well priced.  It really is hard to find a premade frozen or premade mix for gluten free pies so it's nice to have the one that works so easily available.  I can't say the same for all the gluten free cake mixes, ahem.  

I kept the crust dairy free by using the Earth Balance Shortening and Earth Balance Soy Free Spread.  Our go to dairy replacement for baking is always almond milk.  As for the delicious interiors, we went with the Rhubarb Strawberry Lattice Pie recipe from Martha Stewart.  I did use regular organic cane sugar for the recipe, I'm always a little overwhelmed by how much sugar goes into a recipe, organic or not.  If I remake this particular recipe I would go with Sucanut sugar instead.

Delicious it was my friends!  That pie did not last long and made a great substitute breakfast when I had to work early!  I'm looking forward to the next pie experiment which is currently leaning towards something creamy and coconuty, possibly key lime?  YUM.  Taste buds water just thinking about it.  I'm sure hubby won't be disappointed, especially after the sad face he made when putting away the dishes from the dish washer tonight.  The answer was "no" to the question "do I need the pie platter left out?".  Cute.  XO.  S

~ reign :: a juicy giveaway ~

"I inherited that calm from my father, who was a farmer.  You sow, you wait for good or bad weather, you harvest, but working is something you always need to do."
~ Miguel Indurain

I was happy to serve more people than usual on a rainy day this past weekend at the opening of Kits Farmer's Market.  I called them 'wishful drinkers' finding sunshine in our cups instead of the sky.  I'm still learning to put down my IPhone Weather App, be present and just enjoy and learn, learn, learn from every moment in the Caboose.  My hope is to someday be the calm and confident farmer that just knows the work she has to do and lets everything else fall into place. Good advice for a mom as well!

And with one year in business under my belt I am well on my way!

I'm really proud to say that Juice Caboose is celebrating one year in business this Sunday May 27th at the Maplewood Sheep Festival!  And I predict that rain or shine, it's going to be a great event like it always is.  The Juice Caboose is going to be holding a draw for every customer that purchases a juice or smoothie on Sunday for some great prizes including a set of ONYX Stainless Steel Ice Pop Molds and Straws and some homemade stuff from Enchanted Chameleon. 

In the meantime, Enchanted Chameleon has 2 - 16 oz Juice Caboose juice or smoothies to give away!!  Redeemable at the truck at any market or event!  Just comment on this post with what you love about the rain and a random winner will be drawn and announced on Monday May 28th.  Comments will close at 12:am PST on Sunday May 27th.   

And the Winner is:

Elsie Gee - I love that the rain swells the mushrooms in the forest. mmmmmmmushrooms!

I'll be in touch to mail you your gift certificates to the Juice Caboose.

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama

~ the danger zone ~

Let me explain.

Last week I was in the washroom minding my own business.  I wrapped a little bit of TP on my hand to 'finish up' and what do my wondering eyes discover right before the pivotal moment in my typical washroom experience, but a giant safety pin with string attached to the TP.  

He had even had me tie the thread to the safety pin.  

Isn't the radical things that our children do, THE best part of parenting.  The stories we get to share!  

Of course, it might also be good to parent proof around here...

Have a great day.  XO.  S

~ 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