Rachel:  Yea!  Today I’m excited to be sharing with you one of my new bloggy friends.  It’s just amazing the way the web brings together like-minded folks.  When Jeanine of Rosie Girl Dreams found my sewing blog, Stitched in Color, we connected instantly.  From homeschooling to homebirthing, we share lots in common.  Jeanine, I’m excited to get to know you better.  Tell us about yourself!

Jeanine:  I’m mother to three little children. Yep, currently our household has three littles under the age of 5. Days and nights are filled with plenty of life, love and happiness. Yawn. And sometimes a bit of tiredness.

I was born and raised in sunny San Diego, but have chosen to live elsewhere ever since I left for college. Right now, my family lives in the mountains east of L.A. in a little town “up the hill.” Here I have learned how much I truly love real-life seasons. All those years growing up in San Diego we didn’t really have seasons. It was kind of warm, warmer, or hot there, with an occasional strong windy day. But feeling the seasons now as they blend into one another, marking time with visible layers of change, feels so right to me.

Rachel:  Speaking of San Diego, one thing that attracted me to your blog is your lovely photographs.  This one reminds me of San Diego:

What stunning beauty!  So, tell me about your blog.  Why do you blog, and can you share a favorite post?

Jeanine:  I started blogging at Rosie Girl Dreams right before my third baby was born earlier this year.

I had already been imagining a space where I could write for a few years by this time. But first I had to work through all the little issues I had: sharing so much personal information, broadcasting to the “world,” creating an online identity, figuring out html (a work in progress), and opening myself up to possibilities in this new context.

As I figured this all out, my mind had already begun to blog. Tidbits of my day would shape themselves into little posts. (Yes, I was becoming an avid blog reader at this time too.) And after a while, mind-blogging and already taking photos, I decided to give it a try.

So, here I am. Newly blogging. And loving it. There seems to be something about finding oneself again after your first child begins to enter the world more on their own. It’s been a big part of this experience for me.

One favorite blog post is “10 Reasons to Draw with Your Children”. I go back to this post over and over again, reminding myself to lay down on the carpet and get drawing with my kids. Sometimes it’s so easy to feel too busy to join our kids in the fun. But it always feels like the real learning and living take place when you can drop it all.

Rachel:  Drawing…  this is something we need a little help to make happen.  Last year, early in the homeschool year, the kids and I would draw together once a week.  And, yes, we all enjoyed it.  I let that slide, but I have put it back into our weekly rhythm plan with the new school year.  I hope it’s a tradition we’re able to hold onto this time. 

So, I’ve gathered from your blog that you walk the “alternative” path lots of the time, be it elimination communication, cloth diapers, gentle discipline, breastfeeding, cooking from scratch, eating a vegetarian diet, home birth….

Jeanine:  I know I’ve been labeled “crunchy.” And, I do fit the description. But really, I’m not a label person. Never have been. I feel comfortable in a world without boxes. A world where people don’t judge as much as they offer a hand. And I feel very comfortable sharing my approach, so that’s the goal of Rosie Girl Dreams. To share a frugal, simple and green approach to family living.

Rachel:  Well, I love it!  We need each other to learn and to grow as people.  I know that my own journey into eco-consciousness and “green” living was heavily influenced (and continues to be) by bloggers and writers.  Can you share with us your motivation for being green and how you’re living it out?

Jeanine:  My children motivate me to live a greener life. But just as important–humankind, animal life, the green layer (plants), and Mother Earth all inspire me to approach life with more respect, humbleness and love.

One change I’ve made in this last year is to be more aware of re-using and re-working our old things. Sometimes this is in the kitchen.  Other times it’s with the things we wear. And occasionally it’s all about fun.

Rachel:  Thanks so much for sharing, Jeanine!  I really enjoyed it.

Jeanine:  Rachel, thanks so much for inviting me to share a little here. I already feel so incredibly lucky to have met so many wonderful people online. And your blog is truly a peaceful, inspiring and thoughtful place to visit. I would love to welcome anyone over to Rosie Girl Dreams if they have a moment in their day. Cheers!