HAPPY HALF WAY DAY YA'LL!

Good am,

How are ya'll doing? Good I hope. How was your Tuesday? Leaving politics alone other than to say I hope & pray our country makes/sees tremendous positive changes moving forward. :) It was a wonderful day. We celebrated Kayla's 8th birthday. We talked about what the day meant and how meaningful, thankful & joyful it is that her & I are both here living life. We almost didn't make it 8 years ago. But, by the grace of God we're both alive and kicking. To see her today brings a rush of emotion and memories and I'm grateful/thankful we get to keep making more. We were hoping at least for a dusting of snow but no sign.

She got mommy & me time early on, the she got a birthday gift from T & then her Papa took her to school! She got nice birthday wishes at school and a certificate from her teacher. In the pm, we enjoyed movies, jammies, dinner was brought in & she enjoyed some DS then homework then bed. I managed to get some research done and have contacted several hospitals to obtain some information on things. I love arming myself with knowledge. Got in some chores and worked my To Do List & I was incredibly tired by the end of the night. Conked out pretty well.

What's on the books for your Wednesday? Its going to be pretty cold again. Going to try & get in my nature time today. Working on some To Do List items & speaking with a few folks about some studies & trials I've been researching. I'm also working on some sobriety steps and that is helping me in ways I hadn't imagined. I am missing some things in my life right now. Having so much is a wonderful thing but I need to seek the things that bring life back into me. I've been slacking in major areas and I see it now for what it is. We all falter but I know too we all reach the line where we pick ourselves up and draw the lines in the sand. I'm there. :) Have the BEST Wednesday you can!

Good AM, beautifu.  Steve and I just got home a few minutes ago from work and are exhausted.  He is already in bed since he has to work today.  I am cooking Kara's breakfast and catching up.  Will be waking  her up inn just a few minutes for school.   Once she is there then I will crash for a bit.  I took the day off from work and have an appt. at the gym for a prenatal yoga class.  I also have a few items to return to the store and need to pick up some other things.  I really just need a day to rest.  I am on antibotics that I got yesterday at my checkup (sinus inection and streap throat) so at least now I know why I have been feeling so rough.  Tuesday was pretty good...just tiring.  I will catch up more later.  Love you!

Hi ladies (and gents) - i hope you both have a day as fabulous as you both are.  KK, knowledge is power, so good for you getting in touch with some hospitals.  Tam - sorry it's a sinus infection, but so glad you got some good meds.  Me?  back to work today (slacker me), curriculum meeting after work, already been to the gym this am.  Having a friends hubby over for dinner (from OR), got sarah off to school getting ready to leave for work.  I hope everyone has a great day!  lys

Morning Beautiful!  Sounds like Kayla had a wonderful bday with her family.  Seems like you are on a roll with getting your knowledge & getting things situated right for you & your family.  You Rock!  Keep it up!

Feeling pretty groggy today.  Not sure why but will work my way through it.  My Tuesday was good.  Very quiet as many in my office (& building) were off.  Came home & fixed dinner while the hubby went to get the girlies.  Ended up running out to the store for some soccer supplies & then it was home to get ready for bed.  Nothing really on the books for today other than work.  No plans for the evening.  Hope you have a great one!  Love you much!!

Good Morning, Sunshine....

Glad to hear that your books are helping you out.  Sounds like you had a busy day yesterday and that kayla enjoyed her day.  That's great!

Well, yesterday ended up being a big fat disappointment.  I wanted snow - haha.  Oh well.......I got a lot completed here at work, and then went home to watch some of the inauguration and then my yoga dvd.  I'm liking this dvd.  It's not as difficult as some of the classes I have taken, but very rewarding.  The stretching is awesome and just what my body needs on Tuesdays after my heavy workouts on Mondays.

Right now I am on this big kick (which I think will last) that I'm sick and tired of not knowing what I am eating.  So, I've started making my own yogurt, my own bread (which I can actually eat without any problems), my own almond butter and a few other things.  From a price perspective, it's not cheaper...yet...because I purchased a few things to help me out.  But it will end up cheaper and it's actually fun and rewarding.  PLUS....I have reaped a few benefits as well.

So...what's up for today?  Another busy day here in the office and then home for a quick dinner before heading off to the gym.  I've got a heavy load at the gym tonight, so I will be there for a while.  It's ok....John and Patrick will take longer than me doing all of the things they want to get done.  So, I'll end up waiting for them.

Enjoy your day!

Hey Jill...how do you make your own yogurt?  Can you share?

OMG!  It is SO easy.....

42 oz of organic FF milk (You can use any kind, I prefer to use the organic)
1 6oz cup of plain FF yogurt (once you make your first batch you will use your own - just replace with a store bought every 4 batches).  I use the Stoneybrook Organic.
1/2 cup of powdered milk (again...I'm using organic).

You will take the milk and powdered milk, put into a pot and slowly bring up to 200 degrees temp.  Keep there, stirring for about 10 minutes.  careful or it will scald.  You can also use a double boiler to do this and will be less likely to burn.  This should take about 15 minutes to bring up to temp.

Remove from heat and cool to 110 degrees.  Take yogurt, place into a seperate bowl.  Add 3 tbsp of the milk mixture - tempering it.  Mix.  It will be thin.

Add yogurt mixture to the milk mixture and with a fork mix (not beat - it will get foamy).

I use a yogurt maker, but there are instructions out there on the Internet where you can use a heating pad or the oven.  I like the yogurt maker because it's regulated and came with 6 oz glass jars.

Pour mixture into the jars, place in an incubator of your choice (yogurt maker, heating pad, slow cooker, etc).

Incubate for 6 - 8 hours.

Cool in fridge for 3 hours.

After cooled, strain yogurt for about 2 - 3 hours with a coffee filter - this will give you yogurt cheese or greek yogurt.  Yogurt cheese replaces cream cheese in dips, sour cream , etc.

The whey (the liquid that is strained off) can be used in your protein shakes for that extra boost of nutrition.

Making your own is slightly higher in calories, but I know everything that is in it.

I even made a batch for hubby and son where I add honey to sweeten it.  I add it during the cooking process.

But, I now use yogurt in my protein shakes too for an extra boost of calcium and nutrition.  Yes, I'm adding more calories, but my body seems to like it.  No issues so far, only benefits.

But, definately check out the Internet.  There are lots of incubation methods that do not require the expense of buying a yogurt maker.  i bought one because with just learning, I wanted to be able to do it without equipment issues.  i bought a really nice one with a dinger that tells me when it's done.  I really didn't need that, but I'm glad that I did.

Also, you have to rememebr, homemade yogurt is different than the store bought junk.  It's more tart, the longer you incubate it.  It can be thinner - that's why I add the powdered milk.  But, it's defiantely fun for me to make and I really get a kick out of controlling what's in it.

You can also go to the health food store and buy powdered starters if you don't want to use yogurt as a starter, or to buy the pribotics stuff.

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions......

Thanks for sharing!  I will be trying this soon.  Please keep sharing anything good you have.  I LOVE cooking!

Good morning, ladies! Glad Kayla had an awesome birthday, Kat. They are so precious at that age.

For me today, I have to finish entering recipes for our PTA cookbook. I have been sitting on them like a lazy slug. LOL. I'm about to drop Nick off at school. Joey's already gone. Then hopefully, I will get to work on those recipes. I stepped on the scale today and realized I have dropped 10 lbs. so far on this liquid diet. That pleases me greatly and will hopefully please my surgeon. I'm 239. I can't remember when I was last in the 230's. WOOHOOO!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Tam, I really hope you and Steve feel better. Maybe skip the yoga and just rest girl. Seriously.

Jamie

I thought about skipping the yoga but I am all stiff fron NOT doing anything for a few days.  I did about 1/2 of the dvd...slept thru the class at the gym!  I worked with Steve last night and got home about 6:15....we were tired!  I do feel tons better for doing the dvd...hoping I won't regret it later!