Make Your Own Yogurt!

The first thing I started making from scratch was yogurt. We go through tons of the stuff, in smoothies, lunchboxes, and frozen into popsicles. It makes an easy breakfast before school too!

Making your own yogurt is not only easy, it's made from ingredients you probably already have and has no impossible to pronounce additives and dyes. 

My kids haven't missed Trix yogurt at all! (I might, though - seriously, cotton candy flavor? Yum.)

So to make yogurt, you need:

A crockpot

8 cups of whole milk (half a gallon)

1/2 cup dry nonfat milk (optional)

1 cup honey or sugar (optional)

1 Tbsp. vanilla (optional)

1/3 cup plain yogurt (to use as a starter)

Mix the milk and dry milk in your crockpot. I add the dry milk because I have found it helps to thicken the yogurt, but you could strain it through cheese cloth to thicken. I have used both ways, but I prefer the dry milk addition because it's easier and less messy! The advantage of cheese cloth is that you can strain is until it is as thick as you like, even like Greek yogurt. 

Put the lid on, set your crockpot on low, and let it go for 2 1/2 hours.

Yeah, another picture of milk in a crockpot. 

Not super exciting, but it is delicious!

Now, if you want to make vanilla yogurt, here is where you add your sweetener and flavoring.

I use honey, but sugar would work too.

If you want plain yogurt, do nothing!

Put the lid back on, but turn the heat off. Leave it for 3 hours.

After 3 hours, it's time to whisk in our starter.

You want to use a plain yogurt with live cultures. After your first time making yogurt, just set aside 1/3 cup of your own yogurt to use as a starter next time! 

Get ready, the next step is a doozy: wrap a towel around your crockpot and leave it.

Yup.

I leave mine overnight, about 12 hours.

And... it's done! Doesn't look like much, but it's thick and delicious! It will thicken up even more after being refrigerated for a few hours, but we didn't wait, it was breakfast time!

There is nothing better to wake up to!

Unless, of course, you have a mimosa or something.

I always make plain or vanilla, because I use it in so many different ways, but I imagine there would be a lot of different ways to flavor this yogurt! Let me know if you try it!

Homemade Coffee Creamer (and Sweetened Condensed Milk) Recipe

Oh coffee.

How I love thee.

Totes the best part of my morning.

But, I can't drink it black. Bleck. I like it sweet and creamy!

Store bought creamer, is delicious. And full of chemicals. 

And holy kachow, it's expensive!

Making your own creamer is so easy. Literally two ingredients.

Sweetened condensed milk and milk. 

Let's start first with the sweet con milk. (I'm not sure why I always say it like that, but I do, so there you go.)

You need: 

1 cup dry milk

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 - 3/4 cup hot water

1/4 cup melted butter

Mix 1/2 cup water with the rest of the ingredients in a blender. If it's too thick, add the rest of the water until it is pour-able.

This makes roughly 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk. 

Now on to the creamer!

My creamer is one part sweet con milk to one part milk. 

I used whole milk, because that's what I had. I think it would be good with 2% or even skim.

I added a scoop of caramel (which is also made with sweet con milk!),

2 tsp. of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon.

Blend it up and you're done!

For real you guys, this stuff tastes just as good as the kind that originally came in this bottle!

I can't wait to try other add-ins! I'm already planning on adding some pumpkin puree in the next batch - fall is coming!

If you end up making this, please let me know what you added and how it turned out!

Craft Room Inspiration Board

1. Craft shelves 2.Wall decal 3. Pendant light 4. Chalkboard paint

5. Quatrefoil pattern 6. Curtains 7. Desk 8. Jute rug 9. Lamp

10. Birdcage mirror 11. Futon 12. Dresser 13. Fish bowl 14. Pillow

Right now the back room of my house is completely unfinished. It has no flooring, and just plain drywall, but eventually, it will be a craft/guest room! 

I need a space to have my sewing machine and craft supplies, all which are super colorful, so I want to keep the room itself neutral. 

1. I love the idea of displaying certain craft supplies. Buttons in jars, paint bottles, glitter, brushes. Hopefully seeing all my supplies on the wall will inspire me!

2. I love birch trees, and since I don't have any in my yard, I want to paint some on my wall. Maybe throw some birds up there for fun.

3. I have wanted this pendant light since I saw it while shopping at Lowes. I tried to convince Dave that it would look awesome in our kitchen, but he didn't go for it. BUT I WILL HAVE THIS IN MY HOUSE.

4. Chalkboard wall. 'Nuff said.

5. I found a bunch of containers in the Target Dollar Spot with a quatrefoil pattern in tan and black a few months ago. Love the pattern and the colors.

6. The room has sliding glass doors to our deck. If anyone ever wanted to sleep in this room, I'm going to need some curtains. Sewing curtains is super easy, but I love the look of the wide stripe at the top in these IKEA curtains. 

7. I need a desk to hold my desktop computer and my sewing machine. It's such a pain to have to lug my machine out that I don't use it as much as I want to. I cannot wait to have a place to keep it!

8. After installing our new hardwood floors, I want them to stay as perfect as possible (until I ruin them, as I'm always the one to ruin everything around here) so I want a sturdy rug that the computer chair can sit on. 

9. As if I could ever afford this lamp. But isn't it pretty? I'm planning some sort of DIY recreation... 

10. I found a birdcage mirror at Goodwill for only $8! Maybe the whole birdcage/bird thing is over done by now, but I'm still in love with the whole trend.

11. In general, I hate futons. But the room isn't really big enough for a pull out couch, and I might hate those more than futons. I do love this small futon from Target, it's low to the ground and looks somewhat comfortable. Hopefully.

12. A lot of my craft supplies aren't pretty enough to be on a shelf. So. Much. Yarn. And paper. And fabric. And just about anything you can imagine. So I definitely need storage. Also, I am planning on having a small TV back there for any guests that end up staying at our house.

13. My husband gave me this fish bowl for our anniversary this year. I had no idea what I was going to put in it until I saw that people put REAL FISH in them! Duh! 

14. I can't keep pillows on my living room couch. I mean, I could but the kids would take them all over and they'd probably end up on the floor more than the couch. Although, I would never pay $20 for a pillow, so I'm definitely planning another DIY project.

So there you have it. A super long post about what I want to do with my craft room. Hopefully in a few months I'll be sharing pictures of a room that looks just like this!

Ice Cream Social Party - Amelie's Second Birthday

(Invitations)

Man, I love birthday parties. 

They're the best, right?

And seeing as this is the last time I'll have a two year old (*le sigh*), I had to go all out!

Welcome to Amelie's Second Birthday!

Omgosh, I'm so in love with these string globe lights. I found these at Target in their "end of season" sale. 

Side note: Why is the end of summer now in the middle of July? I can't find a hammock anywhere!

(Lights)

The lights added so much charm to the party (and light). 

I used some clips I found at the dollar store to hang the lights right off the canopy.

And I only broke one bulb in the process!

They really came in handy when the kids when on a midnight tirade of the leftovers.

I didn't stick to a color scheme, I just wanted bright, fun, happy, summer colors.

Of course, lots of pictures of my pretty girl.

I made the giant number 2 out of foam core and glitter.

So much glitter.

Everywhere.

I also designed this chalkboard poster listing everything you need to know about Ami!

(You can order a custom one from me on etsy or facebook)

Birthday parties NEED balloons. And clearly the bigger the balloons the better.

I ordered a huge supply of balloons last year, and I'm so glad I did.

(Balloons)

Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon!

My oldest, Gavin, has been begging me to have a lemonade stand, but since we live on a super quiet circle drive, Ami's party was the best time to serve lemonade.

He took his job very seriously.

He was a little disappointed not to be making money, but he did make a sign saying "Free Lemonade!"

But, of course, we had much more than just lemonade.

ICE CREAM!

I kept the ice cream flavors simple, with just chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, because we had a TON of toppings.

Peanuts

White chocolate chips

Coconut

Strawberries

Gummy bears

Chocolate chips

Oreos

Blueberries

Marshmallows

Pretzels

Peanut butter cups

Cherries

Chocolate sauce

Peach sauce

Caramel sauce

Whipped cream

Bananas

I don't think two sundaes were the same.

Amelie had three cups! I, of course, didn't even finish one because I was too busy. Happens every time. 

And how awesome is Amelie's outfit?

The crown is from me, buy one here.

I bought the dress from Baby Cakes Little Girls Boutique.

Isn't it the prettiest thing ever? I LOVE IT.

Gold sparkle shoes from Target

(Shoes)

So as Amelie happily tried out her new tricycle, the other kids decorated their bikes for our parade!

Even Dave got in on the parade action.

This was by far the best, and cutest, part of the party. 

After our parade, as the sun was starting to set, it was time for sparklers. 

\

Everyone gathered around for a (small) fireworks show.

Some liked it more than others.

As favors, we gave out ice cream bubbles that I found at Dollar Tree.

(Bubbles)

It was a super fun day! Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us.