Simply Bonnaroo - - This post haved 0 comments

There's a music festival for every taste and every counter culture in America and Europe. Smaller festivals can average 5000 people while larger festivals attract 100000 or more. I've visited a few festivals but none of them compare to the one and only Bonnaroo. This year I volunteered for a few days on the farm and got to experience the magic first hand.

This year's headliners were great. LCD Soundystem, Pearl Jam, and Dead & Co. I felt butterflys when I found out the lineup, and read through names of great musicians. Some I knew and some I knew I would grow to love. 

I knew that I wanted to volunteer this year so my husband and I signed up as soon as the applications came out. I signed up for Festival Activities Croo so that we would be able to interact with other Bonnaroovians. We were assigned to the Roo Run and Slip N Slide. Both were excellent jobs that I would love to be involved with again next year. Slip N Slide was definitely the most fun, we got to stay cool, play with the Roo kids, and even be close enough to catch artists in The Other Tent. 

Camping at Bonnaroo is amazing no matter if you are in the GA or Volunteer camp grounds. I've been on both sides of the fence, and I can definitely say the volunteers party a lot harder. A lot of volunteers return year after year and it is a close group, even if you are a first timer. I met up with an amazing group from around the country thanks to Facebook and social media. It was such a surreal feeling to automatically be so close to these cool kids. We all came from different corners of the country, even this one beautiful Canadian lass. But we all had music in common and a desire to live life to the fullest. We showed eachother our party techniques, worked to build a camp together, shared our supplies and looked out for eachother when we were down for the count. That's a love you don't get at other festivals. A community only Bonnaroo offers. I'm truly blessed to have met such a great new fest fam. And I can't wait to travel with them again.

Panorama of the field before Dead & Co

But back to the music. My top two showes this year were the headliners Pearl Jam and Dead & Co. I've dreamed of seeing both of them since I was a kid, something only Bonnaroo can deliver. Pearl Jam rocked, they rocked hard. Apparently it was Eddie's daughters birthday. Hubby and I showed up with a few other friends, but they left to see another set, and that gave up the opportunity to dash up toward the center front. Another beautiful thing about Roo and other festivals is that you can get so close to your favorite artists. With a little patience and timing, you can be on the rail for nearly any set. The Dead & Co show was a spiritual experience. I loved the show but the people were producing this vibrating energy of love during it that attracted me more than the performers on stage. I met some beautiful souls in that field that night. And saw some spectacular sights, but what happens at Roo stays at Roo and those stories are only for our fest fam. 

I will return to Bonnaroo again. Maybe in 2017 but I still have to see where my travels take me. While Roo will always feel like a place of peaceful self expression, I know there is more to see and do in this wonderful world. I use Bonnaroo as an inspiration for everything I do in my life now. And it has put a fire in me to travel and meet people and bring as much happiness and peace to this world as I can. I hope you get the chance to experience that magic of Bonnaroo for yourself! 

Free Love in Modern Society - - This post haved 0 comments

Free love is beautiful. It's natural and wonderful to be intimate with others. Emotionally and physically. Love is a feeling that only the luckiest get to understand. It is complicated and multifaceted  There are different types of love all of which are glorious in their own right. You can love a friend, a parent, a pet, and especially a significant other.

Free love has gotten a bad rap in the past few decades. The idea is that men and women are over sexed and are sleeping with everything possible. Gross and perverted ideas of free love and being propagated left and right from anti-peace organizations. These ideas are singular and misguided. Of course there are people that want to experience ultimately, unlimited sexuality. They take their sexual destiny into their own hands and embrace it fully. These ideals may seem extreme, but there is beauty in sexuality and power in sexual freedom.

“Yes, I am a Free Lover. I have an inalienable, constitutional and
natural right to love whom I may, to love as long or as short a
period as I can; to change that love every day if I please, and with
that right neither you nor any law you can frame have any right to
interfere."

—	Victoria Woodhull

The idea of free love is beginning to be redefined. An awakening is happening and we are beginning to open our hearts to the rest of the world. We are accepting and learning to respect the differences in others. Free love is based on the ideals of ultimate acceptance and the desire for oneness with people in our lives. The free love movement isn't about having sex with everyone, but finding the ability to love others with open hearts and open minds.

The Pregnant Virgin - - This post haved 0 comments

SOURCE

We've all heard of immaculate conception. But is it possible for a woman becomes pregnant even though she's never experienced penetration? According to one mom, it is. Here's her story.

I was a pregnant virgin and I am now a doting mommy to a 9 week old baby and this shocks many people when I tell them. Yes you can get pregnant without having sex. I’ve had 6 boyfriends and have done some sexual stuff with them but  I have never  actually had full on penetrated sex. My friend thought she was pregnant so asked me to do a test with her as a way of support and my test came out positive.

I thought because I wasn’t having sex I couldn’t get pregnant so I had not bothered with using any form of  contraception and the only way I can explain what happened was his sperm must have got onto my private area and got me pregnant.

I was petrified of labor thinking it would hurt so much more as I hadn’t  been stretched’ down there, but I ended up having internal exams (which were quite uncomfortable but didn’t hurt) and a fast labor (4 and a half hours).

I haven’t told anyone (obviously the father of my baby knows) because I was really embarrassed that I am a 20 year old virgin. I wanted to write this purely because when I searched ‘pregnant virgins’ online I found nothing that said it was possible to happen and felt really alone about it.

It's a scary thought. This woman had avoided intercourse, probably for a number of reasons, including an unwanted pregnancy.  If there is anything to learn from this story, it's to always ALWAYS be careful and use  some form of birth control. Even if you think you can't get pregnant because you are only "playing around". Sperm is tricky, and it only takes 1 out of millions!

Family Dinner: Let's Eat Together - - This post haved 0 comments

Accepted in EVERY culture.

Family dinner, a memento of the 1950's. What happened to the time when we come together around a great meal and enjoy the company of our children and our parents? These days, parents are too busy to cook dinner. Moms are working late and fathers still don't know their way around the kitchen. With a decline in family dinner time, it's important to remember the benefits of eating together and what we are missing out on.

It’s hard to overlook the overwhelming research on the positive effects of family dinners on children’s diet, social development, and sense of connection with their parents and siblings.

When a family eats dinner together they are able to bond in a way that only dinner allows. Maybe it's the privacy, maybe it's just a routine; either way family diners allow for open communication and education. Traditionally, dinner is a time to discuss the events of the day. Children offer up stories from school and parents have a chance to give feedback and guidance. Teenagers are often going through a difficult transition period. Family meal time allows parents to stay informed on what their teenagers are going through. To help encourage their good decisions while guiding them away from any harmful ones. With younger children, dinner is a time for learning healthy eating habits and table manners. Offering small children different food options allow them to grow into well rounded healthy eaters.

Compared to teens who eat family dinners 5 to 7 days per week, those who only eat family dinners fewer than 3 per week are:

• Nearly twice as likely to use alcohol
• Twice as likely to use tobacco
• One and a half times more likely to use marijuana

Conversations at dinner can be easier than you think. A lot of people, including parents, have trouble holding a conversation. Especially one of merit. But it's really a lot easier that you think. Start by talking about how your day went. What were some of the highs and some of the lows of the day? Talk about your favorite foods. These simple tips are great for younger children. For older children and teenagers, the same questions can be applied, but consider getting a little deeper. Ask about their grades in school or about their crush. It's easy to communicate when you start by asking questions.

Boys and Girls can Cook

Family dinner can also be a great time to get your children involved. Ask the younger ones to set the table or fix drinks. Older children can have a hand in helping to make dinner. Both boys and girls should be introduced to the stove and taught how to make different types of food. Food is for everyone, not just females. These chores are a healthy part of raising children with initiative. Teaching them that we work together as a family is nearly as important as the topics of conversation.

Here are some tips to help encourage happy family dinners:

• Turn off the TV and all other electric devices. This includes phones.
• Teach your small children about different foods. Fix foods with different colors and textures.
• Give your children dinner time chores.
• If both parents can't attend dinner, one parent will be just fine.
• Allow your children to invite their friends over for dinner. This will open up new topics.
• If you can't cook 7 nights a week, do it as often as possible.
• Even after the children have become adults and moved out, it's still nice to eat together once in a while.

Sources:
www.kevinmd.com
blog.foodnetwork.com

Attachment Parenting - It's Not Right For Everyone - - This post haved 0 comments

Attachment parenting is all the rage for today's hip mommies. The concept seems sweet enough. Parents wearing their babies in harnesses and co-sleeping are the top two applications. There are a number of techniques applied in attachment parenting that are criticized for their bad track record. Specifically, the idea that co-sleeping greatly increases the risk of S.I.D.S. and "roll over" deaths.

Ideally, the concept of attachment parenting allows children and parents more time to bond and increases the "closeness" of the family. You can define "closeness" however you wish, I define it as a feeling of inseparability. Often times I wonder why some families choose to take it to such extremes. Many APs were raised in an AP environment as children themselves. It's what they know and what they saw modeled for them. This is a small percentage of APs.

Most new APs are coming to the movement with no prior experience. They are learning of AP through social media, the internet, news and watching their friends pick up a few AP traits. They are falling into a "monkey see monkey do" pattern, a trend of new movements and social media input. Probably, without actually conducting research on the pros and importantly, the cons associated with AP. This is not claiming that AP is a new concept. It should be understood that AP is an ancient concept and has been practiced all around the world.

So what is this Attachment Parenting all about? There are different ways of implementing AP into a family, but there are also a number of common methods.

Breastfeeding

I'm NOT Mom Enough 

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience for both parties involved! It can also be a nightmare for many mommies. Different complications arise making it difficult to enjoy the experience. An AP mother might consider breastfeeding as one of the most important/necessary aspects of raising a child. Bottle feeding poses it's own problems, specifically the lack of "proper" nutrition and "closeness". AP parents decree that breastfeeding is the most appropriate way of feeding a small child.

I must mention the length of time and the age at which stopping breastfeeding should be considered. We've all seen the Times magazine cover of the breastfeeding mom. What is an appropriate age to quit breastfeeding? Many APs would say that breastfeeding is beneficial to children as old as 8. Realistically, a child would stop breastfeeding well before turning 5. Parents that do not practice AP are likely to stop breastfeeding at 2 years, possibly extending to 3 years.

Baby Wearing

A wonderful concept with a chance to accessorize. There are many different styles of baby carriers. Backpacks, slings and front loaders, babies (and moms) have many options for how to travel together. Baby wearing is something I can support. It's often very convenient, small children can easily be kept an eye on when they are literally clinging to you. When it comes to "closeness", baby wearing is about as close as you can get.

Different Styles

Occasionally, especially as the baby grows into a larger child, many moms can't take the weight of baby wearing. Either medical conditions, or growing aches force moms to put baby down, often before the baby is ready. One problem I see with baby wearing, and see in other AP subjects, is that these routines become hard for both parties to break. In this situation, if a mom has to retire her carrier, the child could have a hard time adapting. Something to consider when starting any parenting practice.

Co-Sleeping/Bed Sharing

Co-Sleeping and Bed Sharing definitely come with some issues. A lot of APs believe it is easier to breastfeed while the baby is asleep next to them. There is also a common belief that co-sleeping and family bedding is a more natural way and keeps the family close.

There are three common arguments we hear about bed sharing. The first is that baby will have a hard time transitioning into their own bed later. Understandable. If baby likes sleeping with mom, and this trends into toddler years, it may be hard for a child to understand that they are supposed to move into their own room. Secondly, it is hard to nurture your partnership (have sex) with your spouse. Bedtime between adults should include adult bonding too! If we are too focused on our child, our relationship with our spouse can and will suffer. The third argument is a whopper. As mentioned in the introduction, bed sharing leads to a number of roll over deaths and S.I.D.S. deaths. This doesn't happen very often, but it certainly is not a myth. Parents must be very careful not to suffocate the baby.

There are a few quick tips I have as far as safely sleeping with your baby:

• Never, ever, ever, ever do this while under the influence of alcohol or sedating drugs.
• Keep all pillows and fluffy blankets away from baby.
• The best scenario is if baby can sleep between mom and a bed rail. Not between mom and dad.
• Don't swaddle baby if he is not in a basket like the one pictured above. Baby will not be able to move to tell you that you are too close.
• Use a breathing monitor such as a Snuza for extra precaution. I have one of these and love it! It monitors the up and down movement of the chest and alarms if the movement stops. 
• If you are at all nervous about bed sharing, get a cosleeper.  

Source

Bottom Line

Beautiful 

The bottom line is pretty self explanatory, Attachment Parenting isn't for everyone. It takes commitment and a lot of parents have other priorities. You're not a good or bad parent either way. Literally, this is an extreme form of parenting when taken too seriously. I wouldn't say it's "niche" but it's not the "norm" either. If you choose to adopt some of the techniques of AP, that is wonderful, don't feel pressured into diving completely into open water.

When applied in the right context, AP can be a very enjoyable experiences. Beware, there is a line that can be crossed, that leads to episodic over protective APs. Anyone can take anything too far. Playing with your child, teaching them and interacting with them are of real importance. Wearing your child (physically attached) is only one method of great parenting. Overall, take AP lightly, enjoy it, revel in it, experience your child closely. Don't make it a contest and remember that each child is special, no matter what "method" is used!

http://doublethink.us.com/paala/

Refried Hippie - - This post haved 0 comments

What is a Refried Hippie? A new age hippie, born in the wrong decade. Hippies and beatniks of the 60's have inspired a new generation to lead a path to freedom. We have taken on many cultural relics of our forefathers (and foremothers) and incorporated modern technology to give us an electric highway to spread our messages of peace and love.

Refried Hippies, like any other micro-culture, are all different people. Different backgrounds, different styles, different beliefs; all with same ideal for world peace. This blog will incorporate all the aspects of a new age hippie lifestyle, with throwbacks from the summer of love!

Topics will include (but are not limited to):

• Hippie/Beatnik culture of the 60's and beyond.
• Political Issues
• Feminism
• LGBTQ
• Family and Relationships
• Home Decorating and Environmental Tips
• Environmental Issues
• Kids - Raising and Surviving Them
• Pets
• Fashion Trends
• Food and Drink
• Health
• Travel
• Romance and Sex

If you are interested in anything you see on the site or if you would like to contribute to the blog send emails to mrsatollison@gmail.com .

Also find me on Facebook.

Peace and Love,

Mrs T