I consulted various websites, blogs, and friends before attempting my yogurt batch. They all said the same thing: “making yogurt at home is easy!” Score. That sounds right up my alley.

So, I bought some yogurt cultures from an online retailer. The cultures were to be mixed with a cup of milk and left on the counter for 16-48 (48?!) hours to create the starter. After 22 hours, I was tired of waiting, my milk was just curdled (not solid, like yogurt) and I decided that was a bust. So much for easy, no-machine-required yogurt making. “Maybe you’re just not cut out to make yogurt,” said Hubs.

Challenge Accepted.

I moved on to “the crock pot method,” determined to make some mother-effing yogurt. This method seems to be the most popular among People Who Blog About Yogurt. I followed the blog post exactly:

After mixing your starter back into the pot of warmed milk,

Yes, people, that’s correct. The bottom of my Crock Pot(TM) cracked at the edge and milk was pouring across the counter and down the cabinets. And here’s why you shouldn’t always trust bloggers: (Wait. I’m a blogger. Trust me! You can trust me! Really, you can trust me. You can trust me? You trust me? Really?) Anyway, bloggers don’t always get recipes right. In fact, I will tell you straight-up that you should proceed with caution if you’re not much of a cook when following a recipe found on a blog. And, apparently, I’m not much of a cook.

The recipe I followed instructed to turn on your Crock Pot(TM) BEFORE heating the milk, to get it warmed up. Now, the First Rule of Crockpot Club is Don’t Turn on The Crock with Nothing In It. I should have heeded my own knowledge and realized that the temperature change when the heated crock got splashed with slightly-cooler milk would create a problem.

But all was not lost!

Thankfully, stovetop yogurt (not this bastardized form of stovetop/crockpot ridiculousness I was following) is really simple. I had not poured all of my milk into the crockpot, so I covered the warmed milk again, wrapped the pot in a towel, and put it in my oven with the light on. After 16 hours, my yogurt was miraculously firm and adequately yogurt-y.

After losing some milk to my first failed attempt, and losing some milk in The CrockPot Incident, I had a little less than a gallon with which to work. I strained the yogurt through cheesecloth (probably not necessary, but I wanted it THICK), and it yielded about 40 ounces of Greek yogurt.

The yogurt tastes delicious and it’s super-thick & creamy.

Overall, I’m really pleased with the results and will be making this again, sans CrockPot. RIP, my friend.

And make sure to save that whey!

You can bake with it, ferment with it, or make a tasty drink.

The Ecocentric Mom May 2013 box is a great compilation of skin and healthcare hits! In this jam-packed box of surprises, you’ll find classic favorites like:

 
“Zesty!”by doTerra (doTerra Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade(R) Lemon Essential Oil)
“Relax”by Pura Botanica (Pura Botanica Bath Infusion)
“Pump It Up!” by Orgain (Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shake)
“Lip Bomb” by Elma & Sana (Elma & Sana Argan Oil Lip Balm) and
“Silky Smooth” by Kallari (Kallari Chocolate Bar)

In addition to these great products, you’ll find new favorites such as:

“I Gnu You Liked It” by Gnu Bar (Gnu Flavor & Fiber Bar)
“Cleanin’ Houz” by Branch Basics (Branch Basics all-purpose soap concentrate) and
“Let’s Get Fisika” by FISIKA Soap (Soap sample)

Don’t forget about these fresh beats!

“Soothe Ya Body” by CocoPlum (CoCoPlum Soothe Spray)
“Violet Eyes” by Purely You (Purely You Minerals Plum Eye Shadow)
“So Fresh and So Clean-Clean” by OraMD (OraMD liquid toothpaste)
“Wash Me Down” by WaterWipes (WaterWipes personal wipes)

Just for being a unique listener, you’ll also hear:

“Native Cloth” by Indigenous ($15 gift card to Indigenous)
“Hey Big Spender” by GreenDeals & The Green Marketplace ($5 gift card to each GreenDeals.org & GreenMarketPlace.com).

Get Your Own Today! Sign up for your first Ecocentric Mom (or Mom-to-Be or Baby) box for as low as $17. Use code ECOMOM10 for 10% off any subscription.

I’m a member of the Ecocentric Mom Blogger Team, so I receive these boxes gratis. All opinions, of course, are my own! If you’d like to discover more products via my past reviews you can see them all listed HERE.

Affiliate links appear in this post. The few cents I may make from your purchase help to fund this blog. Thank you!

The start of summer is one of the best times of the year, isn’t it? The weather has finally balanced and you can count on warm days for weeks to come, the anticipation of new graduates electrifies the air, the joyful screeching of kids leaping off the school bus on that final day, and the sounds of splashing in pools, spraying of hoses, and car stereos through open windows are heard almost simultaneously.

As a teacher-who-married-a-teacher, I am no stranger to the adventures summer brings when an open stretch of two months is presented in one large chunk. We’ve driven cross-country, camped up and down the East Coast, attended large music festivals, spent days lounging on the beach, and hiked to gorgeous vistas.

When one is constantly on the move, sometimes the “default mode” is convenience. And in this country, where seemingly anything goes in terms of what companies can provide you with, “convenience” often means “unhealthy” in terms of food and health. Additionally, while a person might have the knowledge that a healthier alternative exists, finding it or making it isn’t always practical during travel.

So, in honor of summer adventures, I’m bringing you my “Summer Camp” series, full of shopping guides, tips, recipes, and resources to make sure your summer is not only FUN, but healthy, safe, and affordable.

Pin this post now and have all the posts in one place!

I’ll add the links as the posts are published:
 

Healthful Mama Summer Camp

All You Need to Know About Sunscreens:

• Top Picks for Natural, Safe, Sunscreens
• DIY Sunscreen in a Pump (safe, cheap, and so easy!)
• Stop the Spray! Why Spray Sunscreen is Really Awful for Your Health

Look for posts like these Coming Soon!

Safer Summer Essentials, Camping Checklists, Recipes to Cool You Down, Natural Travel, Money-Saving Roadtrips, and more.

Just sit back and max and relax…

The following lipstick manufacturers not only make products that are free of toxic chemicals, but limit their ingredients so you KNOW what you’re putting on your face. Just because a brand markets itself as “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe.

The only questionable ingredient found in all of these lipsticks is titanium dioxide. However, according to Environmental Working Group (EWG), titanium dioxide “appears to have low skin penetration but inhalation is a concern.” So, it’s most likely safe in your lipstick, but you don’t want it in, say, your spray-on sunscreen.

Many of the lipsticks listed here can be found online at Pharmaca, a natural-health-focused pharmacy that is found only in the Western U.S. I shop at Pharmaca regularly, and love that their products are available online as well.

Afterglow Cosmetics– Lip Love Lipstick ($24)

Afterglow lipsticks are unlike other mineral lipsticks I’ve tried. Afterglow could be considered a luxury brand, comparable to department store cosmetics. The lipstick goes on smoothly and lasts long. Bonus: Afterglow Cosmetics are certified organic, cruelty-free, and gluten-free!

Mineral Hygienics–Mineral Pure Lips ($12)

All of Mineral Hygienics products have simple, safe ingredients (I use their mineral foundation daily). The only downfall is that Mineral Pure Lips is available in only a few colors.
 
 
 
 
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Nvey Eco Cosmetics Lipstick ($29)

Safflower Oil, Organic Castor Oil and Vitamin E provide antioxidant and nourishing properties to this creamy lipstick. Nvey Eco labels its product GMO-free! Nvey Eco is available most affordably through Vine.com. Get it for even less! Take 20% off your first order at Vine by using code HEALTHFUL.
 
 

ZuZu Luxe Lipstick ($17.99)

ZuZu Luxe is a division of Gabriel Cosmetics. As far as I can tell, the ingredients in the lipsticks are virtually the same. ZuZu Luxe is a bit easier to find (and often discounted), in my experience. I love using the ZuZu Luxe Oil-Free Liquid Foundation in the winter, or under my mineral foundation if I want more coverage. I’m a big fan of the quality and wearability of the ZuZu Luxe line of products.
 
 
 
 
 

Need a gloss? Try Love & Toast Dollhouse Lip Glaze ($6.99)

Simple ingredients like sunflower seed oil, olive oil, and vitamin E make this a gloss you can trust to be safe AND gorgeous.
 
 
 

Affiliate links appear in this post. The few cents I may make from your purchase help to fund this blog–I thank you! photo credit: cobalt123 via photopin cc

A photo of me a few weeks before the birth of our son.

But that’s not really how it goes with a hospital birth.

Thankfully, when nurses were pushing Pitocin on me (despite labor progressing at a normal pace), my midwife, Nicole, came to the hospital and acted as doula. She advocated for me, spoke when I physically couldn’t, and was what helped me get through a less-than-ideal scenario safely and naturally. My labor was only 11 hours from first contraction to the birth of B–fairly fast for a first birth. According to the nurse who attended to me, I was the only woman on the packed labor floor who “didn’t scream and didn’t get an epidural.” I attribute this to the strength and help I received from Nicole.

My personal experience is what makes me shout from the hilltops about Birth Story, a documentary of Ina May Gaskin, the undisputed “mother of midwifery” in America.

Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin & The Farm Midwives is a tale of three parts: the story of Ina May and how she became a midwife, the story of “The Farm,” where her practice grew into one of the best-known midwifery practices in the U.S., and the love story of Ina May and her husband, Stephen. Another element of Birth Story is the emphasis on the success that The Farm midwives have had: they have very low instances of C-Sections and infant death, illustrating that a natural, midwife-supported birth is not only safe but ideal.

I had the pleasure of viewing Birth Story in a local theatre, after which a Q&A with Peggy O’Mara (formerly of Mothering Magazine) took place. The audience was packed with midwives and other birth professionals and natural birth supporters. Many of the women present had lived through, if not advocated for, putting power back in hands of women when it comes to birth. The Girl Power was palpable.

Birth Story documents the history of The Farm, and features footage of births that occurred there. For me, this was thrilling. My only experience with birth has been my own. The opportunity to witness the techniques used in textbook and more-complicated births (such as a breech baby) is not to be missed. Scenarios which may send a woman into an operating room in the hospital setting were treated with calm and wise support by The Farm midwives.

This film is certainly for those who do not fear birth. Many of the reviews mention this as a film everyone should see. While I personally loved it, I’m not sure Birth Story is exactly the vision everyone has of what birth can or should be; it could turn off a conservative thinker, since a good portion of the film focuses on the “hippies” who followed Stephen Gaskin and started The Farm commune. In this way, natural birth is presented as a liberal, anarchist idea–not exactly the message I’d want to send to a friend nervous about birth options.

All that said, I think Birth Story is an important documentary of a woman who has become a great figurehead in Women’s Rights. Perhaps everyone SHOULD see Birth Story, so they understand who is championing for the most basic of all rights: the right to control one’s body. Ina May is protecting our bodies, our children, and our sacred spaces. Birth Story portrays so many dimensions: love, commitment, and the respect for what is natural.

See Birth Story for yourself!

Limited screenings are happening on Mother’s Day. Check HERE to see if there is one near you.

Birth Story is now available for purchase!

You can find it on Amazon Instant Streaming (rental or purchase) HERE. It is also available on iTunes and DVD.

If you are an educator, you can learn about obtaining a classroom copy HERE.

I was not compensated in any way for promoting this film. I viewed Birth Story on my own and am pleased to share about this incredible film. An affiliate link appears in this post for the Amazon download.

When I get a chocolate craving, I NEED TO FEED IT. I become like a chocolate fiend, searching cupboards, licking wrappers, snorting cocoa powder to get my fix. That may be a bit of hyperbole. The goodness and ease of this recipe is no exaggeration, though. You can whip up some yummy chocolate bars without having chocolate on-hand. And they’ll be ready before your episode of Breaking Bad is finished.