How Not to Make Homemade Yogurt
There are about a gazillion posts out there on the interwebz about how to make homemade yogurt. This is one of them. 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...
Read MoreEcocentric Mom Box May 2013 {Discount Code!}
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...
Read MoreHealthful Mama Summer Camp: Have a Fun, Healthy, Safe, & Affordable Summer
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...
Read More5 Lead-Free Lipsticks (that are also free of other toxic junk)
Although the fact that some lipsticks contain lead isn’t new news, this fact has been circulating mainstream media recently. I’m happy that toxins in cosmetics are getting more exposure, because until the Safe Cosmetics Act is put fully into place, there are no regulations for the products which we put on our hair and skin. 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...
Read MoreBirth Story film: “Your Body is Not a Lemon” ~Ina May Gaskin
The story of my son’s birth is not one I’ve discussed on this blog, and in truth, is a bit painful for me to tell, despite having a flawless pregnancy and relatively easy birth. Our plan had been to birth at a freestanding, midwife-owned birth center two hours from our home (the closest option for a woman-supported, non-hospitalized, natural birth scenario). However, as the “recommended” gestation period of 42 weeks drew to a close, Little B, otherwise known as genderless “Sprout,” had no intention of moving and instead remained floating around inside of me...
Read MoreHealthy Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Coconut-Oat Bars~No Bake!
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. Print Healthy Chocolate-PB-Coconut-Oat Bars~No Bake! Author: HealthfulMama.com Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 2 mins Total time: 7 mins Serves: 2...
Read MoreDIY Sunscreen in a Pump: Safe & Cost-Effective
Sunscreen is expensive, especially if you’re purchasing a brand that is natural and safe (see my picks for safe sunscreens that work). There’s no way around it: ounce-for-ounce, safer ingredients are priced higher. If you wear sunscreen on a daily basis, if you have active kids, or if you just like to save a buck, making your own sunscreen might be the cheapest, the safest, and the most effective method of blocking UV rays. I had no idea that making sunscreen is so simple. Four ingredients are all it takes, and you can get them all on Amazon (if you can’t find them...
Read More
Brands I Love
The Book That Changed My Life and Influenced My Health Philosophy
