Music- The Archies- Sugar Sugar

Hello my beauts and welcome to my channel! Thank you so much for stopping by, I appreciate it a ton, means a lot to me! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day so far, I know I am! What has everyone been up to lately? Honestly, I have been catching up on some blog posts lately and have been busy getting ready for a new job that I will be starting at the beginning of July. I will be a daycare teacher, so I am very excited about that, and I will be moving back home again!  I am excited for this new chapter in my life and I am nervous a bit to start! I know that I will enjoy this a lot, and I am excited to see where this journey goes! You can do anything you set your mind to,  and if you work hard and want to accomplish your dreams you certainly can! Speaking of chasing your dreams, and working hard, I have one certain individual that comes to mind when I think of all of this. I have known this individual throughout high school and she was always a sweet girl. Although I did not know her on a personal level, she always had an absolutely rocking style and had great hair! We are talking all sorts of colours, absolutely love it. This beautiful kind soul is Sam Auton, and I have followed Sam for quite some time over Instagram, always admiring her cooking posts! Honestly, I am not the greatest cook in the world myself, so I always admire when someone else can cook well! Who knows, maybe it will inspire me one day! Not only is Sam full of amazing hair colours, tattoos galore, and is a wonderful chef, she is a mom to a handsome boy and decided to create her own business recently. I don’t know about you beauts, but when someone I know starts their own business I am over the moon happy for them! It’s not easy. Especially if you have a hectic schedule! Sam recently started her own business called, “Hearts and Tarts” (love the name, it’s so catchy!), and is doing quite well so far!

I knew I had to reach out to Sam in regards to her new business she started up! I was super happy when she agreed to collaborate with me on a blog post! Sam is a 25-year-old, who is the mom of an amazing 5-year-old boy. She is also an avid sports fan as well! Cooking and baking have always been a huge part of her life ever since she could remember!  Sam states, “I love new and challenging adventures when it comes to my cooking“. I absolutely love this, and if it were me, the pan would already go flying across the room… that is how much patience I have when it comes to cooking, so I really respect her for that! I wanted to jump right in and start asking Sam the questions we are dying to know about her history when it comes to cooking and baking! Right away I was curious as to how long she had started cooking and baking. Sam explains, “I’ve been baking since I was a little girl, whether it was with my mom or my grandma I loved to bake ever since I can remember. Cooking came a little bit later in life once I started working in restaurants at 15. I always had a curiosity for food, and always wanted to learn more”.

“…I dyed my hair! It’s pretty crazy but I’m absolutely LOVING it. It’s super bright, and fun and it makes me insanely happy”- Sam Auton

Another question that I was very curious about was I wanted to know if it was self-taught or if Sam had taken any classes at all? Sam attended George Brown for the Culinary Management Program which was a two-year program.  Sam states, “it taught me a lot being in that program. It’s more French-based learning but was able to learn a lot of other types of food and cuisine as well. It was a lot of fun and hard work. I had an externship at Trump Hotel which gave me a lot of experience in the high-end culinary world and helps me really finesse my skills that I was able to bring with me to any job I’ve been at”.  That’s awesome Sam, way to go! You are doing so well for yourself! It really helps when you enjoy what you are doing in life, and are satisfied with your job! There is nothing like going to a job and dreading it, it makes your day go by so slow and just…. you hate it!

When did you first notice you wanted to get into the food industry? “I knew I wanted to get into the food industry full time when I was about 18. My family had always told me I should be a chef, and it wasn’t actually till I was at McMaster University that I really realized what I wanted to do. After one year at McMaster, I made the jump to George Brown and never looked back. It’s a tough and gruelling industry but can be really rewarding at the time”. I highly agree that it can be a very rewarding career path for sure! I am so happy and proud of you that you found your calling!

One thing that’s pretty neat about Sam that I think you beauts should know about is that she loves her food tattoos which I think is honestly so amazing and unique! I wanted to know a bit more about what kinds of food tattoos she has, and what inspired her to get them! Sam explains, “over the years I have gotten quite a few food tattoos. Some are just silly (like my grilled cheese and avocado) and others were based on family. My favourite food tattoo is my butter tart. My grandma was a big inspiration to me through many aspects of my life, but baking and cooking were the ones that really stuck. She was famous in our family for her butter tarts, and the last thing I was able to make her before she passed away was butter tarts that were her recipe. She told me they were perfect and that has always stuck with me as the biggest compliment of my career. She, unfortunately, didn’t make it to when I started culinary school, but I know she would have been proud of me. I have a few other silly food tattoos like my “lettuce turnip the beets” tattoo and a pineapple and some other small ones (also I have a hotdog which I’m pretty stoked about)”.  I love this Sam, I think your grandma would be so proud of you and how far you have come! I mean look at you, now starting your own business, that is such an accomplishment! I love all the other food tattoos you shared, I think that is so unique and different, they suit you so much!

I know all you beauts are dying to know how her business, “Hearts and Tarts” came to be! Sam explains, “the inspiration came from entering a buttertart competition that I was in a week or so ago. Everyone who taste-tested my tarts told me they were great and some told me I should start selling them. Baking is something I’ve always been told I’m a natural at and I wanted to pursue it more as I’m mainly focusing on cooking at the moment”.  I love this, and I am dying to taste some of the tarts myself! I am waiting for a special occasion to come up then I will purchase some! The pictures look absolutely amazing! Yum! If you beauts would like to place an order for yourselves, the best way would be through either Facebook Messenger, the direct messenger on Instagram, or you can also email Sam at heartsandtarts18@gmail.com. You can also call or text Sam, as her number is located on both her Facebook and Instagram page. Her Facebook can be reached at ” http://www.facebook.com/heartsandtarts” and her Instagram page can be reached at “@heartsandtartss”. 

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, just put your head down and get through it”- Words of advice from Sam’s mom

Sam is currently running her own business, “Hearts and Tarts” through her own home. If the business grows over the next year or two, she would consider investing in a storefront if everything was in order. Sam is always available to deliver and pickup is an option as well! That’s great Sam,  I think that is a perfect idea and I think that is very smart thinking! You have a plan and that’s all that matters.

Who are your biggest supporters? “My whole family is behind me in this. They’ve always been my biggest supporters. My son thinks it’s fantastic (I think more so because he can taste test them all, who wouldn’t be excited about that?) And also my boyfriend and his family. They’ve been exceptional at giving me support (and extra taste testers when I need them to be)”. That is so fun, I absolutely love that! I know your son would enjoy that so much, best mom of the year right there! Love it! Another question that I was dying to know was what kind of tarts Sam made! Sam states, “I know this will sound vague, but any kind you can dream of, I can make. Anything from plain butter tarts, to chocolate chip banana bread, PB&J tarts and cookie tarts, to carrot cake, key lime pie, red velvet. If you can dream it, I can make it. I cater to dietary needs as well. My son has a severe nut allergy so I can cater to nut allergies, gluten-free, and even vegan (which you can thank my vegan mom for). I try to pride myself on making people as happy as possible, and if that means catering to specific needs, I’m going to do my absolute best at doing so”.  I absolutely love this, and I love how you are so set on catering to people’s needs, I find that so important and I think that is so respectable.  That’s amazing that you can make literally any kind of tart, that sounds delicious! I am going to have to think of one and let you know! YUM! I know carrot cake sounds absolutely unreal, and so does chocolate chip banana bread!

I then went in and asked Sam some more personal questions! A lot of people start businesses or enjoy doing a certain thing from inspiration around them. Inspiration helps so much whether it be an object or even a person.  Sam expresses, “my biggest inspirations for cooking would have to be Graham Elliot. I watched him growing up, I’ve met him and he’s fantastic. He has the best personality for a chef that I’ve seen. He makes it fun while instilling in people to work hard and give it their all, push the limits on creativity because cooking is supposed to be fun. For baking, my grandma. May sound cheesy but I always remember watching her or helping her bake as a kid, and those are some of my favourite memories with her”.  Awh this is amazing Sam, not cheesy one bit! I think that that is absolutely beautiful and I think family inspires us so much. I know she is one proud grandma that is for sure!

“If you’re going to get into this industry, be prepared for the tough days…”

Cooking and baking isn’t easy, especially going into the industry. Sam has a few tips, pointers and advice for individuals who are wanting to start their own business or want to work in the food industry. Sam explains, “if you’re going to get into this industry, be prepared for the tough days. Cooking can be fun, but it’s a lot of hard work. Put in the work because it will eventually pay off. Whether it be opening a restaurant of your own, a food truck, a cookbook, a promotion at work, it will all pay off. If you want to start your own business, make sure you have support. Whether it be family or friends (or hell, even both) you need support. Days are going to be long and hard and it’ll test you, but at the end of the day, you CAN and WILL get through it. Don’t give up because it can be insanely rewarding”.   I love this and appreciate you sharing your advice on both of these subject matters, I think it really helps individuals who are interested in wanting to pursue this career path that’s for sure. Even individuals who want to create their own business, it’s not easy. I love your advice and thank you so much for sharing! I think this will help out a bunch of people that’s for sure.

“You’ll always come out the other side. When I’m having a really busy day at work and orders keep coming in, to keep myself composed, I know that if I put my head down and get through it, eventually it will be over, even if the end isn’t in your sights”- Sam Auton

The most famous question that I actually love to ask everyone who I am interviewing is where do they see themselves 5 years from now. I always find everyone’s answers so interesting and unique, there is not one bad answer and I literally respect everyone’s opinions and thoughts! Sam states, “in 5 years from now, I’ll be 30. I’ve reached all the goals I’ve set for myself up to this point and I don’t plan on stopping. By the time I’m 30, I would love to have my own food truck up and running. That’s my ultimate goal for the next 5 years is how I’m going to end up reaching that goal. Ever since my son was born, I wanted him to grow up seeing that no matter the circumstance that was thrown my way, at the end of the day, I still achieved my goals. He’s my biggest inspiration for everything in my life”.  I think you are on your way to success and have already succeeded so much in your life Sam! I know your boy is probably so proud of his hardworking momma! I know I am very proud of you and all your accomplishments. Once you have that food truck up and running in the future I will be there grabbing some food that’s for sure! I want to personally take the time to thank Sam Auton for collaborating with me on this blog post, you’re amazing! I wish you nothing but the best for you, your family and your future endeavours. I know you are going far, and I am for sure going to get my hands on some of those tarts that’s for sure. I know everyone is super proud of you and your accomplishments. I am so happy about your new business and can not wait to see where it goes! If everyone could go and spread some love on her pages, on Facebook and Instagram that would be wonderful! Give her a quick like and follow! I hope your business takes off for you, and it was a pleasure collabing with you! I hope you beauts enjoyed this blog post as much as I enjoyed writing it. Be sure to subscribe to my channel if you beauts would like to see upcoming blog posts in the near future! Take care and much love xo.