14 Traveling Tips & Tricks

Found these links and wanted to share it with you all. Very helpful as we plan our upcoming trip!

diy home sweet home: 14 Traveling Tips & Tricks: Are you planning a trip this summer?  I've got you covered with these amazing travel tips and tricks to keep your sanity. ...

Click here for ideas and helps for traveling with young kids.

(I'll be adding to this list as we 3 girls find more ideas!)

Homemade Yogurt in a Cooler-Updated

This has been updated on April 27 to add another option using a crock pot as the heating method for the milk. It's my new favorite method because it's more hands off; I don't have to wait so long over the stove stirring and checking the temp. Let me know if you have questions or if something doesn't make sense!

In an earlier post, I explained how to make yogurt in a crock pot. Now I'm going to explain my new favorite method that was shared by a friend. I like this method because I can do a whole gallon of yogurt at one time and it's SO easy!

All you need is:

• a cooler,
• jars with lids- they can be plastic, canning jars, old spaghetti or other glass jars...
• a pot large enough to heat up the amount you want on the stove 
• anything the size of a jar or even a glass bowl to hold hot water
• Whole milk
• 1 Tablespoon for each 1/2 gallon of yogurt (you can use previously homemade yogurt)
• meat or candy thermometer

Here's how you make it: (I did about a gallon here. You can adjust accordingly.)

First, poor the amount of milk you want to convert into yogurt (1 for 1) into the saucepan or dutch oven. I poured the milk into the jars I wanted to use and then into the pot to insure I was getting the right amount.
OR pour the milk into a crock pot in the morning and turn on low. Recheck at lunch or a little after until the temperature reaches 180 degrees.

Turn the stove onto medium heat (if you get it too hot you'll burn the milk at the bottom).  Slowly stir milk until it reaches 180 degrees. (a side note: I have a dual burner stove so even though it looks like the temp is at medium high, it's medium for the large burner.)

      

As soon as it reaches 180, remove from heat (or if using crock pot, remove crock from heating element), stir and check the temperature occasionally until the milk cools to 120 degrees (this took a couple of hours in the crock). Meanwhile measure out yogurt (in my case 2 Tablespoons) and set out to warm it a bit. Once the milk starts getting close to 120, start boiling some water (or if you have a Keurig with a carafe, heat water for 2-3 cups). You'll need enough to fill a jar or two (see picture below-  I used a thick heavy glass and an old speghetti jar).

Once the temperature has reached 120, gently stir the yogurt into the milk.

Keep the milk in the pan or crock or you can pour it into a large glass container with a spout.

Place the container with the milk in a cooler and then place 2 jars with the very hot water on each side of your milk/yogurt mixture. (I put the hot water jars/glass on a hot pad just to make sure it wouldn't hurt the plastic).

Now you just close the lid, carefully move the cooler to a location where it won't be disturbed and wait.

I waited 5-6 hours and it came out wonderfully! Remember, the longer you wait, the tangier it will be.

Once it's at the consistency you desire,you can scoop the yogurt into your desired yogurt container, refrigerate and enjoy!

This yogurt is delicious in smoothies, in homemade granola, in pancakes and any other baked goods that call for buttermilk.

Inexpensive, easy, non-chemical way to remove makeup & Thoughts on Rosacea

After trying the blue bottled liquid eye makeup remover (expensive after a while), petroleum jelly (caused sties), and even the facial Norwex cloth (felt like I was pulling my skin, though it may have been the particular one I used), I finally discovered the perfect eye makeup remover (for me anyway): VIRGIN COCONUT OIL! Just get a corner of your cloth wet, rub a little of the oil (in its solid form) on that wet corner and gently wipe away your mascara, eye liner and eye shadow! It leaves the skin around your eyes clean and moisturized! If there is any makeup left  it easily comes off in the shower the next morning. The virgin coconut oil is expensive at first but will last a VERY long time! It also makes a great facial moisturizer!
If you're wondering about how to clean the makeup off the rest of your face... Let me give you a bit of my facial history: I'd been diagnosed with rosacea by several doctors and eczema by one. When I couldn't pay the $60 for the Metrogel, I started doing some research. My nose and cheeks were very red all the time. I didn't like wearing makeup all the time trying to cover it up and I didn't like drawing attention to my face either (which my redness was doing)! I sought the Lord and He directed me (as He is always so kind to do!) "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." James. Here was the discovery: my problem was not rosacea, but rather dry skin. The cure... are you ready for this?... the cure is vegetable shortening. Yes, I really said vegetable shortening, and not even the name brand stuff. I know this goes against everything we've been taught about NO OILS on your face, but in my case that's exactly what my face needed! I've been using this for years now and my complexion continues to be 100% better.
Here's how it works: the dry skin cells' bonds are weak and so bacteria easily penetrates the skin causing irritation and redness. The vegetable shortening not only moisturizes the cells making stronger bonds, but it creates a protective layer on your skin. The result is healthy skin and a beautiful complexion.
If you're wondering if my face looks greasy all the time, it did at first but my skin got used to it and doesn't anymore. Also, the shine can be covered with powder. Does my face smell like food? Only if one's nose is right at my face but you get used to it or you can mix an essential oil in for a nice scent. Does my face burn in the summer? Nope. I do put on sunblock with the shortening and someday I'm going to make my own mixture of the 2 together. How often do I put it on? In the winter, every morning and every night before bed. In the summer I can get away with just nightly. And now back to the original thought: How do I clean my face? With a clean wash cloth and water. I just gently rub off any makeup, pat dry and apply the shortening. Honestly though, I generally only put on base, etc once a weak and that's how often I wash my full face (except maybe an occasional gentle rub in the shower). I use no soap whatsoever! So here it is; easy, inexpensive, no harsh chemicals and it works!
Just a quick side note: I'm not saying that everyone who has been diagnosed with rosacea really just has dry skin, it is a real thing, but it may just be dry skin and the cure super easy and cheap!
I know that just because this works for me that doesn't mean it will work for everyone, but I do hope it will help some! I have been extremely thankful for the discovery and easy cure and thought it good to share! Feel free to ask any questions or share any of your own experiences!