Dreams take time...part 1.

How many times have you sat down to dream and ended up discouraged? Hello, welcome to my world! Living on a 200 acre ranch with literally NOTHING on it, except a deserted well that had a fried pump,when we pulled our RV and family of seven on it last September...I get it! Homesteading and developing a ranch is anything but easy. 

I am a dreamer, a dream chaser or what I like to call our family dream CATCHERS! Why, because we have {LEARNED} that aimlessly chasing our dreams, or dreaming about our dreams without  spefic and intentional plan leads to...NOTHING. Except disappointment and discouragement. Can you relate? Then keep reading for 3 ways you can start catching those dreams planted in your heart! Today we will dig into the first. 

Fear. It is the {FIRST} thing you need to throw back at whatever planted that dream killer at you. You have to recognize that fear holds you back. It robs you from your potential. Dreaming BIG can be scary! You are vulnerable. You might fail and that's not a fun feeling. But let me help you. Here is a secret that I wish someone had told me years ago.

You WILL fail!! And learning that one truth has set our family free from fear. 

Failing is ok and actually a really, really good thing! That's sound bizzare, righ? I hear you. I used to be paralyzed with fear, thinking of there was a small chance I would fail! I would immediately stop dreaming or feel so defeated knowing failure was a possibility. But here is what I've found.

Failure is ONLY opportunity to grow! Yep, it's not as scary as I thought. It's actually powerful and I seek it out daily! The more I fail at something, the better I become. I take each failure as a chance to be better, do better, refine my dreams and goals! If you think I sound crazy...Google ANY successful person and you will see they failed FAR more and numerous times(like hundreds) before they ever caught their dream or succeeded. It's such an encouraging and empowering thing to realize!

So next time you feel fear creeping in...decide NOW that fear isn't your friend and declare that TODAY you are moving forward with your dream, regardless on how you "feel". Remember that this doesn't happen overnight and you must choose DAILY to create this new habit! Failure is just another part of your journey and it only allows you to be the fierce and confident dreamer you were created to be! Learn to embrace it.

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing the second part of how to become a dream catcher. {Dreaming so big, it SCARES you}

Thanks for stopping by! 

Almond Joy Smoothie

I love a good smoothie. Especially when I can sneak a little extra greens and my kids don't say a word. Mom win!! 

Making this I a healthy after school snack doesn't haven't to be difficult to be delicious! I keep these staples in our fridge and pantry every week because they are so vesitle. You can buy most of these ingredients in bulk either at Costco(for the win) or a local grocery store that carries bulk! If you don't know how much can money you can save buying in bulk...it's WORTH looking into! 

Here is one of our favorite after school snacks! 

Almond Joy Smoothie(for 7)

1 box of unsweetened almond milk

1 cup spinach 

2 tbsp peanut butter

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 raw almonds

1 banana 

Drizzle of local honey 

Dash of sea salt

1 cup ice

Blend and Enjoy!!! 

simply, Jen 

Simply Cream of Chicken

Sometimes you just don't know what your missing until you try it. If you buy canned cream of chicken, please STOP! Besides being filled with really bad(really bad) things, it just doesn't compare to homemade cream of chicken.

 Where have you been all my life?! I know I used to stock those cans in my pantry because our fav farm meal, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, calls for it. As I journeyed into saving money , eating clean and balanced and cooking from stratch I realized that not only does it take 5 minutes to make, but it tastes INCREDIBLE. I'll never go back. So give it a try! I promise it won't disappoint. Enjoy!!

PS I am sending out my chicken pot pie recipe ONLY to my newsletter subscriber!! So if you haven't subscribed yet, leave a comment with your email and I'll add you! 

1 3/4  cup chicken stock

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup flour or arrowroot

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp of thyme OR 1/4 tsp celery seed(optional)

Heat chicken stock in a sauce pan. Mix the milk and flour together in a small bowl. Stir until there are no lumps. Slowly whisk in the milk/flour mixture into the warm chicken stock and stir until consistent(no lumps) Add seasonings and cook over medium heat until thick. You can add more milk if it gets to thick or add more flour/milk mixture of you want it thicker! 

I told you! Easy! And simply, delicious!  

Simply, Jen 

Simply Hot Cocoa

November brisk breezes, tree is up and Christmas music fills the home. It's the perfect treat for your little ones. I like to keep things simple. Throw these ingredients in the blender, pour into a mason jar and top with marshmallow. I have a great recipe for those, but today, I just used some I had left over in the pantry. Enjoy. 

24 oz raw milk or whole milk

3 tbsp cocoa 

2 tbsp maple syrup 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

Pinch of sea salt

Blend on high(our vitamix heats it up-or you can heat up after)

Serve in mason jar with marshmallow. Curl up in a blanket and enjoy the season! 

Simply Perfect Pumpkin Bars

Choices. Small choices can make the biggest impact. So this week is Thanksgiving and I plan on making some delicious foods. Eating right and balanced DOESN'T equal bland and boring. Ask my kids..they NEVER complain! 

Take for instance this yummy chocolate chip(no soy) pumpkin bar. Instead of loading it with refined sugar that holds NO nutritional value, I sub either local honey and cut the measurement in HALF!  And use spelt or whole wheat flour. I took two not so healthy ingredients and exchanged them for two that will work FOR me and not against me. Yes, of course fresh juice or a raw apple are the BEST choice...but if we stick to making BETTER choices this holiday, then we are ahead of the game! 

Simply Pumpkin Bars

2 cups spelt or whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tap baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 cup raw honey or muscovado sugar

3/4 cup organic salted butter

2 eggs 

1 can of pumpkin

1 cup of chocolate chips

Preheat to 325 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, I use my Kitchen Aide, mix the butter, sugar, pumpkin and one egg at a time. Slowly add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mix and combine. Hand mix in the chocolate chips if you want a TASTY treat! 

Greese a 9x13 pan and put batter into 

pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Check with toothpick. It will come out clean when done. Do NOT overlook. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes! Serve warm. 

Simply Pumpkin Spiced Latte{or vanilla}

I love fall. I love pumpkins and golden orange and red leaves and crisp breezes and woodstoves with a red kettle of water always warming for good tea and better coffee. 

I love this recipe because it is easy to make, doesn't have yucky ingredients and can be guilt free! Balance is everything and if you are only using a little pure maple syrup then no need to worry! 

Add a tbsp of pumpkin spice{or 1/4 tsp on pure vanilla in your brew} to your coffee grounds when brewing! 

Heat your milk on the stove and use a hand lender to froth it all up! 

Mix your coffee with a pinch of sea salt and a tsp of pure maple syrup! 

Add steamed milk and use a spoon to scoop foam on the top! Drizzle with maple syrup(optional but oh so FUN) and sprinkle with cinnamon! Enjoy with your favorite book and warm blanket! 

Move over Starbucks-pumpkin spiced latte on the farm wins...we have a better view too! 

PS- I <3 Starbucks 

Simply Poppyseed Dressing

By far this is my go to homemade salad dressing! It is simply devine on any salad! Cobb, autumn salads, or just a simple cucumber and tomato salad. Super easy to make. I double and triple this recipe and store in a quart mason jar. A fun one for your kids too! Have them add all the ingredients, put on the kid and let them shake it up!! For the best flavor, I let chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes! You're welcome in advance!