45 Minutes, $20, and 5 Layers Later...

45 Minutes, $20, and  5 Layers later we arrived at Bear Mountain in Peekskill, NY. Having hiked all over the country, I was a little biased when arriving but shortly felt like I was on a hiking trail on Mount Sanitas in Boulder, Co.  There were a ton of stone steps to climb and boulders to fool around on.  Although it was 15 degrees out and very windy my friend and I had a great time creating our own trails and taking pictures.  I have some great shots and a cold, all well worth it. 

My Friend, Allison

Cosmically Creative

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" Walt Emerson

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart .  Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."  Carl Gustav Jung

Custom Boots!

I started sewing patches on boots and making some custom patches as well, back when I lived in the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont.  I havent really thought about it until lately and I have made a new pair of boots today.  I can make custom orders so if you'd like a pair let me know! (Boots are premade and purchased, patches can be sent to me or you can request a homemade lightning bolt patch in your choice of fabric). When your boots get warn out, cut the patches off to save!

Tomato Onion and Kale Soup

I used all organic products which I recommend for your health, but feel free to use conventional as a subsitute. 

You will need:
1 tsp ground red pepper
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (I used Arbequina Flavored from whole foods)
2 cloves of garlice chopped
1/2 a yellow onion chopped
Several Kale leaves
Trader Joes Organic Tomato Soup

On Medium Low heat, in sauce pan, add oil and 1/2 your garlic
Once the garlic browns, add tomato soup, onions, kale and rest of garlic.  Now add sea salt and ground red pepper.  Let cook on medium low for ten minutes.  Once kale has wilted your soup is done. Enjoy!

A chocolate bar a day keeps the doctor away!

Believe it or not real chocolate, not the junk on the shelves that cost $1, but the good stuff, that you splurge and maybe buy a chocolate bar for $9, is really good for you and can help you lose weight, get the vitamins and minerals you need and improve your mood.  Below are some facts about chocolate that I find really interesting.  

How to Recognize Real Chocolate:
1. Real chocolate must contain cocoa solids as primary ingredients.  Many mass market chocolates use less than 5%. 
2. Real chocolate must use cocoa butter as its only fat.  Mass market chocolate uses solid hydrogenated vegetable fats, nut oils and other trans fats that leave a greasy, waxy residue; many products actual include wax.
3. Real chocolate uses natural vanilla rather than vanillin, an artificial flavoring derived from pine trees. 
4. Real chocolate uses cane sugar as its only sweetener, which have been shown to make cells more resistant to insulin, increase triglyceride levels and reduce the body's ability to burn fat.

Real Chocolate is Nutritious and Helps Weight Management:
1. Vitamins: A, B1, C, D, E, more effective than the same vitamins taken in pill form
2. Minerals: Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, chromiumand phosphorous
3. Rich in complex alkaloids
4.  Oxalic acid bonds iron and calcium so that it is bioavailable; 93% usable by the body.
5. Contains only 6 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, less than the amount found in decaffeinated coffee
6. Helps the body feels fuller longer
7.  Chocolate has a very low glycemic index and recent studies shoe that replacing other desserts and snacks with chocolate can help weight loss and diabetes


Real Chocolate Promotes Good Health:
1. Real Chocolate is rich in flavinoids (as in red wine) that reduce the likelihood of deep-vein thrombosis and strokes, with the dangers of alcohol
2.  Rich in antioxidants that destroy free radicals and boost immune system, two important factors in cancer prevention
3. A recent study has shown that the flavinoids and antioxidants in cocoa can protect the skin from sun damage and even reverse some of the effects of sun damage
4. Polyphenols in chocolate make endothelial cells in the walls of blood vessels more flexible, which helps prevent the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart attacks
5.  Researchers have found that the theobromine found in cocoa was nearly a third more effective in stopping persistent coughs than codeine, currently considered the best cough medicine
6. Cocoa butter has been proven to lower overall blood cholesterol and LDL
7.  Cocoa possesses antibacterial properties that prevent tooth decay
8.  Real chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure better than blood pressure better than blood pressure medicine. 



Real Chocolate Promotes Good Mental Health and Improves Mood and Outlooks:
1. Naturally occurring antidepressant phenylalanine, increases serotonin levels and boosts energy levels and mental alertness
2.  The aroma produces an immediate calming effect
3.  Theobromine and valeric acid stimulate brain, muscles and central nervous system and have been shown to lower blood pressure
4.  White chocolate is chemically the closest substance to human breast milk
5.  Recent studies have shown that pregnant women who eat chocolate have less stressful pregnancies.  What's more, they have happier, less anxious babies

Jewelry Making

Getting Crafty!

Workshop!

My newest creation "Plucked", Pheasant Feathers (plucked by me), Bullet casing (shot by me), Silver wire, Silver beads, adventurine charm and blue agate beads, plus arkansas quartz point grade AAA

"Plucked" a gift to my sister Whitney

Tools

"Pearl Drop"
Pearl and silver beads with crystal beads

A gift to my mother

Quartz points and spent shells waiting to be made into pendants.  These were all hand fit together using no adhesive.

Juicing! and Flavoring Kombucha

I had to return my juicer because it's juice was less than parr, but I did have some fun while it was in my possesion.  Do not, I repeat do not ever buy a Hamilton Beach Juicer, it's pretty budget, I had to use cheese cloth to sift through the excess pulp. 

For Kombucha flavoring all I really did was add fruit to juicer, extract excess pulp with cheese cloth and put about 1/2 cup of juice in each Kombucha bottle.  I like the pulp but someone people like their drinks with out chunks in it so the cheese cloth is a life saver. 

Apple Pear Juice.

Apple Carrot Juice

Ingredients for Kombucha Flavoring, Chop dice and slice

 

My friend of many moons Phish helping out

My Finished Products: Mango, Mango Pear, Pear, Pear Apple, Apple and Apple Cinnamon Kombucha


*Toats to Nick aka Phish for being my sous chef*

White Chocolate Covered Bacon

I am a naughty naughty vegeterian when bacon enters the picture.  I've had so many candy bars with bacon pieces in it that are absolutlely delicious, I could not resist uping the ante and making my own recipe. 

All you need is
BACON!!
wax paper and a cookie sheet
White cocolate (I like to use the dipping brand or the ones that make candy bc they solidify the best)

In a frying pan cook bacon to desired texture. (you could use a baking sheet and the oven to cook the bacon if you feel so inclined)

Place bacon on paper towel to degrease.

Place wax paper on baking sheet.
Melt chocolate using a double boiler system or in the microwave if you are lazy and gross (hey I did it like that).
Coat bacon liberally with chocolate with a spoon.










Place on wax paper and place in feezer for a few minutes to harden.
Take them out and eat them up! YUMMMY

Shake it 2011 it's 2012

So I am a few weeks late, but my computer has been broken, and I haven't been able to post. Happy 2012 People! This year is such a special year for so many reasons, and I am going to LIVE IT UP! I've released all negatvity from my life and am focusing in on some great ventures and ideas.  This year is all about priorities, so stop making excuses and live the life you want!

Promise yourself that you'll be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind, to speak of health happiness and prosperity to every person you meet, to make all your friends aware of the special qualities in them, let your optimism work to let your dreams come true, to be just as enthusiastic of the success of others as you are about your own, to forget about mistakes and press towards a greater future, to be too wise for worry, too tolerant for anger and too courageous for fear.

Bless  Up!!