Back at the Ranch

Every few months I have the pleasure of visiting my old horse, Uno. At 21 years of age, he's been in the family for 17. Uno and I used to compete together across the state of Arizona, Nevada, and even Texas. He pretty much taught me everything I know about horsemanship, as he is most likely one of the smartest equines I've ever met. Over the years of standard domestic horse-care, we slowly discovered that providing these animals with a more "natural" habitat (i.e. space + other horses + constant forage + barefoot hooves) was truly the way to go. So we stumbled upon a ranch that met our specifications, and for the last 3 years, we've been making the drive (roughly 4.5 hours from where I reside) up the mountains to the little oasis. Not only do we get to see our beloved friend, Uno, but we get the added benefit of completely de-stressing and recharging our own juices. It's heavenly.

Here are some photos taken during my last visit:

All photos by Samantha Jane Samuels, Copyright ® 2013

The Sweet Smell of Cinnamon - A Granola Recipe

I just love the way my kitchen smells when I bake granola.  Infused with vanilla and cinnamon, the aromas fill my tiny apartment.  When I started living more "budget-conscious", I realized how expensive and sugar/oil-loaded store-bought granola was.  It's one of my favorite foods, and I became increasingly more interested in trying a concoction out in my own oven.  When I landed on Pinterest, I immediately started searching for granola recipes.  At first, I was hunting for the raw variety, but since I don't own a dehydrator, that would make raw baking possible, I opted for a more traditional oven-baked "oat-based" granola.  

I landed upon a couple promising ones, but immediately I knew I would need to make some modifications.  I'm still perfecting my own version, but this is as close as I've gotten to satisfaction.  The origins for this recipe are from http://www.you-made-that.com/homemade-granola/, and to which I'm most grateful for providing me with an excellent foundation.  At first, I tried the recipe (cutting everything in half to yield less product), but the brown sugar solidified and wouldn't "melt" during the heating process.  While the result was still delicious, I found it to be too sweet.  The next time I tried it, I would use maple syrup instead of the brown sugar.  I cut the sugar in half, and the end result was still pleasant, however, I may end up adding a little more sweetener in future attempts, since the soy milk I use is unsweetened.

Even so, I've been using this modified recipe for several weeks.  My room-mate has caught on, adding dried apples, pears, cranberries, or raisins.  My mom simply can't stop snacking on it, and I find it's the perfect way to start the day, or to get through the mid-afternoon "slump".

I hope you enjoy and continue modifying as I have.  There's nothing quite like home-made granola, and the sweet smell of cinnamon.

Recipe (yields about 6 cups of baked goodness):

• 4 cups rolled oats (I buy mine in bulk.  I prefer thick oats, but any kind will do.  I've considered making this with buckwheat, instead, to create a grain-free version)

• 1/2 cup flax meal (you can find this at Trader Joe's, where it's more affordable.  I like mixing this in with oatmeal and smoothies, too, so you can keep it in your cupboard for such occasions)

• 1 cup sliced almonds (you can slice them yourself or buy them pre-sliced.  They add just the right amount of crunch)

• 1 cup sliced walnuts (you could also use pecans or cashews- I just love the taste of these after they've been baked with the cinnamon and vanilla - I might try these by themselves for the holidays)

• 1/2 cup sweetened (or not) coconut flakes (optional) - (adds a little more coconut flavor and texture)

• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or more, depending on desired consistency - full recipe calls for 3/4 cup) - (I prefer raw or cold-pressed oils if available)

• 1/4 maple syrup (or more for desired sweetness - the full recipe calls for 1 cup sugar, so I may end up upping mine to 1/2 cup)

• 1/4 raw honey (optional - this will add a different flavor, but I like the extra sweetness, plus I like licking the spoon when I'm done adding it to the mix)

• 1/4 tsp salt (helps to bring out the sweetness and the flavors of the 

• 1/2 Tbs vanilla (sometimes I add the whole Tablespoon - I'm crazy about vanilla)

• 1/2 Tbs cinnamon (or if you're like me, you won't measure this part - I'm also crazy about cinnamon)

• 1/2-1 cup dried fruit (optional - if you skimp on the sugar, you may choose to add more dried fruit to balance the palate)

Directions:

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Add the oats, coconut flakes, nuts, flax meal, and cinnamon to a large mixing bowl and stir well. 

Step 2: In a small pot, add the coconut oil, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, and salt, and heat gently, just until the coconut oil melts completely, and be sure to stir in order to fuse the flavors together.

Step 3: Pour the "wet" mixture into the oat mixture and stir until well combined.  Sometimes I stir with my hands, just to make sure all the goodness at the bottom of the bowl gets utilized.

Step 4: Take a paper towel and spread some of the left-over coconut oil to coat a large baking sheet.  I prefer sheets that have edges, which help prevent the oats from falling off while you take it in and out of the oven.

Step 5: Bake for 12 minutes. You'll notice browning around the edges.  Stir well, and bake for another 10-12 minutes, until the oats have reached a golden brown color.  If you decide to bake with the full amounts, you may have to stir again and bake for a few more minutes.  Trial and error, as different ovens produce different results.

Step 6: Let the granola cool completely.  It will be incredibly tempting to dive right in and take a bite, but please proceed with caution, as it just came out of a 350 degree oven.  If you plan on adding dried fruit, you can add them at this time.  

Step 7: Transfer your creation to tupperware containers and store in a cool, dry place for up to 3 weeks.  But I guarantee you it won't last that long.  It's too delicious!  

Please let me know if you have any other ideas for making this the best granola ever!  And thanks to Suzanne at you-made-that.com for sharing this amazing recipe!

Enjoy!

A few of my favorite things.

There are a lot of things I can't live without, but these particular items could potentially force me to crawl under a rock if they were to vanish off the shelves...

1: Trader Joe's® crystalized vitamin C

-I really don't think I could survive without this.  I think if I were stranded on a desert island, I would this would be my carry-on.  Mix a teaspoon with some water or fresh-squeezed juice, and you'll have so much energy, you won't know what to do with it!  I take it to not only boost my immune system, but to help balance my blood sugar and my mood.  It's wild how much energy I get from this!

2: Natural Immunogenics Sovereign Silver® Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol

-I put this on cuts, zits, rashes, you name it. In many cases it heals overnight. You can also ingest it if you're in need of an immunity boost. The results are amazing!

3: Bragg® organic apple cider vinegar
-I take it when I am feeling run down.  I mix a couple tablespoons with an 8 oz glass of water and just force it down.  It's hard for me to tolerate the bitterness, so I take it with a spoonful of raw honey.

4: Navitas Naturals® raw cacao powder
-I put a 1/4 cup in each and every smoothie I make.  It's bitter on it's own, but if you add it to a smoothie with blueberries or a banana (or even a little raw honey), it'll taste like the chocolate you know and love.  And since it's incredibly high in antioxidants, iron, and magnesium, it'll make you feel okay about adding so much!

5: Artisana® raw organic coconut oil
-I love how I can bake with this, or use it as a moisturizer.  It feeds the brain without storing as fat, too.  Which is such a lovely thing.

6: Ann Webb® coconut water face cleanser
-another reason to love coconut.  My hyper-sensitive skin reacts so well to this.  And since it's not a soap per-se, I feel like I could leave it on for hours.  So soothing, but takes all the makeup off!

7: Boot's® organic hydrating face day cream

-nothing works as good, for as cheap. Nothing.  I'm so sad that Target no longer carries this.  I almost have no more reason to shop there.  I kid. I kid.  It's Target.  Let's be real.  But it would be really nice if they carried Boots again.

okay, so seven...

Photos coming soon!!!





*Disclaimer:
The products and statements made about specific products on this web site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided on this web site or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new vitamins, supplements, diet, or exercise program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

Any testimonials on this web site are based on individual results and do not constitute a guarantee that you will achieve the same results.

Happy 2013

It's now more than halfway through January, so I might as well add a "Happy 2013" post.

I've been increasingly more and more interested in "starting" my blog.  Even though I've done a few posts already, I'm ready to start making it more of a regular ordeal.  I have big plans for it, too.  Not only do I want to feature the projects that I'm working on, but I want to share the happenings of the people in my life.  Whether they be knitters, bakers, painters, foodies, or animation enthusiasts, I hope to share their gifts with the world through my blog.

To start things off, I'd like to dedicate this post to a blogger whom I admire very much.  She doesn't know it, but I just LOVE her site, and feel very inspired by her posts and photographs.  Caitlin of Roostblog.com has motivated me to blog more, join pinterest, take better photos, and eat in a more healthy, clean way.  Thanks, Caitlin!

Here's to 2013!

xo,
Sam

French Women Don't Get Fat

If there is one "diet" book you should read, it's "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mareille Guiliano.  As an obsessor of healthy food and well being, I tend to overdo it sometimes... okay most of the time.  The hardest part of maintaining any healthy lifestyle, is balance.  Guiliano does an amazing job of reminding the reader that she has absolute control over her relationship with food.  Rather than being enslaved by diets, gyms, and unwanted pounds, she unveils several tricks up the sleeves of every slender French woman.  

This was a life changer, and falls wonderfully in line with what I've learned and implemented from Eckhart Tolle's teachings in The Power of Now and A New Earth.

If we become more aware of not only WHAT we are eating, but more importantly, HOW we are eating, and WHY, we will start to enjoy food in a whole new light.  We will no longer need large portions to fulfill our hunger and fill our stomachs.  

Needless to say, I have started to implement her ideas into my life, and I am really enjoying the results.  Not only have I found times to just go for a walk and drink more water, I'm savoring every bite of my food!  Oh and my jeans are baggier than ever!

Life is so much more pleasurable when you stop to smell the roses, and taste the chocolate as it melts on your tongue.  

Bon Appetit!

http://frenchwomendontgetfat.com/

http://mireilleguiliano.com/

My Total Money Makeover

I've been in debt ever since I started working.  My first job, selling high-end western wear, was the summer in-between my freshman and sophomore years of college.  I babysat here and there in high school, but always pissed the money away.  When I started earning real cash, I had already spent it, on mainly an expensive computer that I couldn't wait to have.  I naturally lack patience.  I want everything to happen this instant.  I've been getting better over the past several months, due to my own spiritual growth, but when it came to buying things, I didn't have much will power.  I easily spent money I didn't have on trips to see friends, concerts, technology, food, clothing and other "essentials".  I am now 28 years old with $16,000 in debt.  I have the job of my dreams, but it's entry-level, so I only take home about $26,000 per year.  I've never lived on a budget. EVER. A budget for me was making sure I had enough money to pay my credit card bills, but still used credit cards elsewhere.  It was a classic situation, and a vicious cycle.  My debt has forced me to live in a home with 3 other young women, all trying to make ends meet.  At times I get very frustrated and impatient, upset with myself over getting into this situation.

If I were debt-free, I'd be able to live on my own comfortably.  I dream of owning my own ranch and film studio.  It's a far cry from what I have now, but I have to dream to stay motivated.  My first goal once I'm debt-free is to buy a two-bedroom condo.  I love the idea of having guests come and stay with me, but living in a "sorority" house isn't cutting it.  My other goals for being debt-free are spending money on healthy, organic produce and cooking.  I'm somewhat obsessed with living a healthy lifestyle, and that's usually where I spend what little money I have.  Someday, I'd even like to have enough space where I can grow fruits and vegetables in my own garden.

The whole money thing has stressed me out for quite a long time.  I've been paying myself back ever since I started working.  I've never lived debt-free. Well, when I was 18 and didn't have a credit card, I was debt-free, and boy, I felt so free.  I felt like I could accomplish anything!  Recently, I was out on a walk and there was a voice that spoke inside my head, and it told me that I should get a finance book.  I had heard of Dave Ramsey's books, but I never got around to getting one.  The next day at work, I bumped in to a couple of coworkers who were switching offices and had to box up all their stuff.  One of them had come across Dave's book Total Money Makeover.  She had remembered that I was struggling with money and interested in reading more about it, so she gave me the book.  I knew in that moment that it was a blessing from the divine, and immediately went home and started reading.

Not many books have changed my life.  A few have helped me awaken to my life's purpose and live more in the present, and receiving this book came because I was spiritually ready.  I accepted it with open arms, and while reading, it brought me to tears several times.  It not only changed the way I thought about money, but it has encouraged me to sell some stuff I no longer needed to help build my initial emergency fund.  Something I had never attempted before.  Another thing I had never attempted before was living on a budget.  It was really freeing to go through what I had coming in and actually designate an amount to different necessities.  I literally felt lighter, knowing that I had a plan to get to step one, and as soon as that was done, I could start attacking my debt once and for all.

I also cut up ALL my credit cards.  I don't even know how many there were, but it was more than anyone should have.  I put the pieces in a ziplock bag and pinned it to my bulletin board.  My parents were concerned that I didn't have a back-up for emergencies.  But honestly, it feels good to know that I don't have a choice.  I HAVE to have the money in order to pay for ANYTHING.  I now have $500 in my emergency fund, and I am living on a budget. I'll be able to get to $1000 within the next couple weeks.  And then it's on to the debt snowball.

If I can live on a budget and pay off my debt while only bringing home $26,000 a year, I  can only imagine what I'll be able to accomplish when I start earning more.  My personal mantra is "Debt-Free by Thirty!"  It's going to take a lot of work, but it will also require a lot of patience.  I can wait to buy things until I have the cash.  Oh and cash is so much fun to pay with.  I use my debit card only to withdrawl cash from the atm.

Dave has taught me that if I am willing to live like no one else.  I'm talking no more new gadgets, no matter how cool they are, I'll someday (soon) be able to live like no one else.  The most important thing is to dream about what I will do with that money.  Where would I live?  Where would I travel?  Who will I share it with?  How would I invest it?  How will I enjoy it?  How will I honor it?

Thank you Dave, for writing a life-changing book!  And thanks to my co-worker who found it useless, and then handed it over to me.

I'm on my way!!!

Morning Fresh Smoothie!

Since it's been over two months since my last posting, I might was well share with you a smoothie recipe I tried this morning.

I've been reading more and more about how celery and cucumbers are good for your complexion.  So I figured I'd through them in the blender to see what happens.

Here's what I added:

2 celery sticks
1 banana
1 kiwi
1/2 cucumber (peeled)
1/2 cup coconut water (more or less based on your desired consistency)
handful of blueberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 oz vegan protein powder

Blend it baby!

Yields roughly two servings.

Enjoy!

-Sam