Adventures in yogurt making + 50k +WO

I eat yogurt.. A lot. I think I’m making up for the vegan years (5 years!) That is a whole lot of lost time. .. and I truly love the stuff.. and cheese.. YUM.. Even though “it’s not optimal” according to most paleo folks- I’m  not giving it up again.. 

I try to make sure I buy Organic and full fat- but it gets pricey, especially if your a greek yogurt fan- I only eat the plain stuff, but it’s a pain in the bum to find one that matches the organic/full fat profile that doesn’t require me to take a loan out on my house… or try to sell my art. (On second thought- selling my art would cost me money.. ) 

So I finally decided- after going to WholeFoods where they didn’t have my yogurt.. again- that I was going to make my own.. and so I did.. I can’t tell you how idiot proof this is.. and I’m kind of mad that I didn’t try this sooner.. Not only does it taste the same (or better) than store bought, but it saves a ton of money!

I did what any good hippie kid with the internet would do.. I googled that shit and found THIS recipe/tutorial. The google gods were smiling on me.. and I have never been more grateful. 

So here we go..

#1 Get your supplies

-Two 1 quart glass jars (I got mine at Michaels for $2.29 each) along with another jar- which will hold the starter for future batches (I had a left over PB jar and lid)

 -1/2 gallon on milk (preferably organic and full fat- though you can use the milk of your choice)

-Store bought yogurt with LIVE and ACTIVE cultures (4 TBSP)

-A digital thermometer, a small cooler, and time :)

#2 Heat your milk to 180 degrees (this kills any lingering bacteria)

#3 allow your milk to cool to 110 degrees and then whisk in your starter yogurt (Make sure it’s really mixed in there good- use your guns!)

#4 pour milk/yogurt mixture into your jars and cover

*The small jar will be used for your next batch*

#4 heat some water to 120 degrees- meanwhile your going to put your jars into the small cooler. When the water is up to temperature you will pour the water into the cooler- you want the water level to be an inch or two below the lids. 

#5 Shut the cooler, and walk away- for 6 hours (you can test it after six hours for tartness- leaving it a bit longer if you like it sassy) 

#6 Place your yogurt in the fridge overnight. (if you want to eat some of it before this step- go for it.. I know waiting for 6 hours is super tough- especially if you have the patience of a toddler like I do.. But I will worn you- warm yogurt.. isn’t very good.. But knock yourself out)

#7 HURRAY!! Your yogurt is FINALLY ready to eat.. Unscrew the lid and look at its wonderfulness- Then take a scoop

At this point- you have regular, wonderful, full fat, organic yogurt.. YUM.. It’s good just like this.. BUT if you want to take it just one more step (and wait a couple more hours) you will have the most amazing greek yogurt of your life.. 

#8 (optional step) Scoop your yogurt into a fine mesh strainer which has been lined with two coffee filters or two layers of cheese cloth.. Put over a bowl, stick it in the fridge and walk away for 2-3 hours.  When you come back- you will be super excited! 

#9 The best part- You just saved yourself a BOATLOAD of money.. the milk was $3.79, the yogurt you already had (if you didn’t it probably cost a $1) and the Jars are a one time purchase.. and if you have some jars the you can reuse- even better..

 TWO quarts of Organic, Full Fat, Yogurt (or greek style which will be a little less than two quarts after it’s drained) for HALF price! 

PLUS your awesome for making your own yogurt.. That’s priceless (what am I saying.. You are already awesome.. )

**Thank you Seriouseats.com** 

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Today marked a landmark for my little car

HOLD the phone.. I drove THAT much in just 3 years? I wish it was closer to 100,000.. I love road trips.. To think my little Carmine had just 4 miles when I got him.. <3 p="">

This morning my workout was super simple

(from 1fitfoodie.com)

Savage WO- run through 5 times

10 Jump Squats

10 Lateral lunges (each leg)

10 plank twisters

10 Jump lunges (each leg)

I followed it with a half hour walk  (I’m trying to incorporate more low intensity Cardio to off-set the training runs)

Hope your Monday was fantastic!

Have you ever made yogurt, Kefir, Komucha, or kim chi yourself?? Tell me about it!

Reading +WO+ DIY

 Does anyone else out there read multiple books at once? It it something that I’ve always done- blame it on ADHD or the fact that I’m interested in so many things at once.. Either way, at the present moment I am reading more books at once than ever before.

   

    

        One of my students is a PE teacher and she brought me a few books that her student teacher left behind for me to check out as well… Look at my desk!

   No wonder I can never get anything done! 

   Besides reading, there has been snacking

   -EAS Chocolate Whey, almond butter, oats and water= fudge sludge 

Dawson’s creek (don’t judge, I rely on Netflix for TV entertainment) salad, water, and un-pictured egg whites.. I’ve been eating A LOT of egg whites lately.. 

    And workouts.. 

 

Toes

A little bit of sparkle makes me feel fancy :)

   And last but not least… some thrifting and DIY

  

      5 plates, 4 frames, 1 mirror- $16. I’ve been searching for smaller dinner plates for a while and all of the plates were under $3. While I don’t love the blue and white plates they are the perfect size, but I do LOVE the flower plates..

     The  mirror was my best find of the day, and immediately I knew what I wanted to do with it, and where I wanted to put it.. plus it was $1.99!

After a little clean up, sanding, and spray painting… which by the way is one of my favorite things to do… It is so simple and can really make a whole lot of difference..

    I LOVE it! There is still a bit of paint touch ups that need to happen before its hung- but its dramatic and bold. With the purchase of the spray paint, the total cost was $6.

   

And it’s FRIDAY!!! What are your plans? 

     We will be heading to a party for our friend’s birthday. Have a great night! 

Fitness Bucket List + Swim + Photo Droppings

       If your anything like me, you love a challenge. Some of my better qualities are determination and dedication, of which I seem to have an overabundance of.. so I’m always looking for something new to work towards and keep these things in check. Like a lot of you I have a fitness bucket list and I thought it was about time I shared some of it!

• Swim once again a 50 meter freestyle in 0:26 secs flat and 100 meter freestyle in 1:01 mins flat- I did this when I was 16 in the best swimming shape of my life
• Run a 1/2 Marathon 
• Run a Marathon
• Triathlon
• 5 minute plank
• Hold a freestanding handstand for 3o secs
• Back handspring
• Crossfit
• Tough Mudder

    If you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I practiced handstands like it was my job up until a couple months ago when my shoulder started to hate me

 Luckily, my shoulder has been behaving and handstanding is happening once again.. Planks and swimming are happening too.

   A few months ago during my journey through Livefit I got back in the pool for the first time in years- for laps. It was pathetic.. I mean I realize that it was 10 years after my peak swimming years, but wow… Out of swimming shape was an understatement! But it made me remember what I loved so much about the sport.. and it made me determined to get back into it on a more regular basis- just to prove I could do it. But coupled with the daily intense lifting of Livefit and teaching multiple classes a week, swimming only lasted about a month before I had to put it on the back burner, until this last week. 

    Maybe it only makes sense to those of you who are swimmers, but there is something that happens when I put my cap and goggles on and push off that wall, the way my hair and skin feels and smells afterwards, and the endorphin high… like no other! 

   But wait- let me get back to the story.. I went for a super casual swim with a friend who can swim but needed some direction.. for over an hour I taught her about freestyle. We covered breathing, stroke, and even flip turns. She was a great student and so excited which made it so much fun for me as well! Considering I had never taught anyone to swim before- she was doing great so I guess I did a pretty good job too ;) As we were leaving the adult swim group was getting in the water. I had swam with them a few times years ago and the coach still remembered me! After chatting for a few minutes, I got invited to swim with them this week and I’m PUMPED about it!   

   The last week has been filled with workouts from Phase 2 of Livefit trainer, and some cross fit from home:

 “Cindy”- 20 mins AMRAP

     5 pull ups

    10 push ups

    15 squats

I was able to complete 18 full rounds and made it halfway through the 19th.. Holy Guacamole- I was SORE the next day.. and can’t wait to be able to go to a cross fit gym someday so I can get the real experience.. But that will have to wait until I get a real job because man it is expensive around here! 

    Today I did the workout from the Fitnessista’s Summer Shape up. I really loved the workout. It was challenging and pretty speedy- even with 20 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill I was done in just under an hour- with a sweat halo around my head proving I got a good workout in :) 

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Remember this frame? 

I made it into this and hung it up and everything!

                                                                (P is our last name initial)

  Not only was this exciting because I finished something in a timely manner, but it also came out JUST like I had envisioned it! By the way Antique glaze is the most fun, ever! 

    I also got more pictures from the Warrior dash:

The Fire really did seem so much bigger and more scary- especially when you have a tutu made of very flammable materials! 

Dragging out from the mud for the finish

    And my most favorite of them all

  Nothing says a good time like Mud in my mouth and your eyes!

What is something from your Fitness Bucket List?

Happy Monday!!!

I’ve been absent + What I’ve been up to, photo edition

   Reason:

   The last week has been really tough. I had been feeling like I was headed down this path of overtraining for a little while now. With long intense workouts 6 mornings a week, teaching 2 classes a week, and just being an overly active person by nature- it was bound to happen. The day that I would take off from training would be a work day anyway, which means I’m still running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Honestly I just chalked being tired and drained to metal stresses more than the physical ones I put on my body. Studying for CPT and trying to find a new job, making workouts for others, doing stuff around the house (DIY projects with general maintenance) all stress me out! And I’ve been consuming more coffee, less water, and in combination with my ADHD meds I have had a whole lot of trouble sleeping, which we all know isn’t helping matters. 

    So I decided to take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off from the gym last week. Friday was my first rest day in 8 days.  In those 8 days I worked out a total of 12 times- because I skipped my rest day to take advantage of the sun… Silly me. Of course I didn’t get any solid sleep all weekend and have still not slept through the night since.. (from coffee I’m guessing?) 

   I went back to the gym yesterday and today- and taught last night as well. It’s too soon… I feel weak, I’m exhausted and guilty.  Guilty because I know Paula is more than likely not going to go to the gym if I don’t go, and because I’m supposed to be smarter than this. So now it’s time for a game plan. I’ll get back to you on that! 

   For now, so photos since I’ve been gone.

Thursday’s Class

Friday Morning “Active Rest” walk- Met up with my neighbor after I had already completed a half hour loop for another 45 minutes.. 

Little Miss Khloe getting big!

   Sunday afternoon and Monday morning was spent giving my flower beds some much, much needed love. I’m pretty excited that these guys have decided to spread all over the place!

   I also purchased this Dalmatian Foxglove at Lowes reduced section for $3.25! Even though its not in the best shape this year, next year when it returns it should be nice and strong. They can grow up to 4ft high and 2ft wide!

     I have been on a roll with the house stuff. I went thrift shopping and have started some projects with some one of the items I found.. Bit  of a big deal since we have lived in this house for 2 1/2 years and I have one mirror hung up and one picture in the entire house.. and it was time to get cracking…
 First- this guy needed only to find a home and be screwed in..

   Only $5 from the thrift store and this thing weighs a ton! When I saw initially I didn’t have any set plans for it, but I just loved it… Once I got it home it popped into my head to use it here in the kitchen for coffee mugs. We only have 4 of them, but 3 of those 4 are huge and take up a ton of space in our small cabinet- this is so much better. Plus it matches really well :)

    This guy has some potential

   This was $2.50- and I have big plans for it.

   Lastly, I’m trying to give our side door, which leads to our totally remodeled kitchen, a face lift.. it is in rough shape:

  I’m pretty sure its original to the house.. and it is certainly going to be a ton of work.. See those holes up there? Yeah about 70 years of curtains.. and multiply that times 4, just to get an idea of how many holes I have to fill! 

Have you ever had symptoms of overtraining? What did you do about it?

Do you like DIY projects, decorating, or gardening?