Homemade Yogurt YUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

I was a bit apprehensive- then I asked myself, why are you doing this? Isn't spending a couple of dollars at the store for the pre-made yogurt more convenient? The answer is yes, Simply, YES!...except, lately I haven't been happy with the store bought. Too much sugar. Too runny, and tooo little effect on my gut.  More and more, I am becoming aware of labels, and quality, and basic ingredients and WHY having the live bacteria in a yogurt culture viable is so important for gut health.
I'm not old, but I'm not in the best shape- I notice if things are not working! The more I learn about eating real food, and eliminating the preservatives, and the fake of fast convenience foods- the more I know this is better for me- better for my family, and fun! So I had my answer, and motivation to stop being lazy and give something new a try! Amazing! results! I am so happy with my first batch! I just know...This is going to be a hit!
I got a Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, and a Cultures for Health Traditional FlavorYogurt Starter to use. My initial cost is going to pay off in just 1 or 2 batches!
This first batch I used 2% milk, and I am impressed! I am going to bump it up next batch to whole milk. (I wish I had a goat- I have read goats milk is fantastic!) Any way from this one batch I can make up to 7 more! And I still have 7 more culture packets beyond that- we are looking at 49 batches before I need to re-buy cultures...

 I tilted one of the 7 jars to show you how thick it was- tilted, and  still didn't pour after I grabbed camera! 2 jars are a tiny bit thinner- so I poured them in a coffee filter to strain and the result comes out super thick! I am impressed! by the time I finish using just this first 7 batches I will almost have my money back in savings, no artificial ingredients, additives or preservatives- and viable probiotic cultures growing for everyone's gut health.... Took me a half hour yesterday morning to sterilize the jars and heat the milk, after that the yogurt maker does the rest- set it aside and wait 8-10 hours, cap the jars and put them in the fridge! Soooooo simple!
Add honey, add fruit. Add granola, oats, nuts, seeds- whatever! Be happy! Yay!!!!
I am having success. Hope this helps! :) Come summer I think this will be great for frozen yogurt bars! And the more I learn! The better it will be! There is a whole host of things plain yogurt is good for! Yayyyyy!!!  LOL :)

Learning as I go... Homemade Body Lotion.

So, I could make a long story out of the why's and when's,  but the short of it is I had a bad reaction to some medicine this last year, and since then I have been researching natural alternatives, a greener lifestyle, making homemade household cleaning items, using less store bought brands, and saving a significant amount of money in the process!
I am still very new to this, and quite frankly I have to buy small until I learn how and get a stock built up. Money matters dictate these things. But today, I ventured my own homemade lotion. And ohhhhh, I am so happy with the result! Winter weather dries out my skin so bad I have to use something. Especially on my hands, and frankly- the more I learn about the chemicals in some of the products I used to buy the more I shy away from ever wasting the money again!
It is amazing the amount of websites and blogs that can be found on DIY home products and beauty products. I have seen so many I can't keep track anymore. What I have discovered is that some ingredients are common- through out, and some recipies, although typed in different fonts across the web and shown in many colors, are exactly the same. So, I started purchasing common supplies- sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, shea butter, castile oil soaps, etc etc.  And today I ventured to make my own lotion (since I am now officially out of my Aveeno lotion).  If any of you have ever wondered, it is super easy to make- and sooo nice! I will not pretend to claim I came up with the how to's on my own. No No. But I will happily share where I found it! All natural, and ohhhhh so good on the skin!
Here's where I found it:   http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/07/homemade-organic-lotion-a-recipe-free-printable.html
And here is what I made looks like- fluffy, smells awesome, and took away the alligator dry. Yay!

So, one of many baby steps in learning how to go green. I'd love to say 'accidentally green', but that's taken and an awesome title!- so I will leave it with "Janey's Natural adventures" and go from there...LOL :D