Sharon Hubbs-Kreft, Herbalist - Amazing Grace Herbals LLC

I just came across a fabulous recipe on how to make yogurt and wanted to share it with everyone.

1. Heat 1 quart milk (cow's, goat's, soy or rice) slowly to near boiling, about 185 degrees. Stir frequently to prevent scalding.

2. Cool milk to about 112 degrees

3. Add 2-3 tablespoons room-temperature plain yogurt, or one packet of freeze-dried yogurt starter, and stir. For thicker yogurt, add 1/4-1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk (optional).

4. Incubate yogurt at 108-112 degrees for four to eight hours. Use a towel-covered heating pad set on medium (or an electric yogurt maker) to keep temperature steady. The longer it sits, the firmer and tangier the yogurt becomes.

5. Stir yogurt and pour into sterilized glass jars.

6. Refrigerate for 12 hours to stop acid development; it will keep for a week refrigerated. Eat plain or add your favorite fruit or sweetener. Then use some of the homemade yogurt as a starter for your next batch.

Plain yogurt can be used in place of sour cream in may dips, dressings and recipes.

Peaceful Blessings and Happy Yogurting!!

Your lip care products are just as important as your basic skin care needs and what you apply to your lips is even more important. Lip skin is very thin and does not have oil glands therefore, it needs deep moisture and added protection. Your lips can absorb harmful substances because of their thin nature so you must give them the beneficial nutrients they need to keep them healthy and safe.

We have all had our out bout with dry, cracked and chapped lips; cold and sun exposure can aggrivate this and can sometimes be the main cause. You should never lick your lips and this only irritates them and can cause further dryness and cracking. Water helps to moisturize the body from the inside out so be sure you are getting enough daily to also keep your lips hydrated. If you apply sunblock (natural based, see previous blog for more information on this topic) also apply a suncreen to your lips, preferably a natural balm that contains zinc oxide.

If your lips are dry and cracked all the time, whether you have been in or out of the sun, they your system may be low on B Vitamins. B Vitamins are essential for good skin and lip health. Ty eating B vitamin rich foods to give your system the extra boost or try a daily tea like Oatstraw with other added benefits.

Most lip care products you find in stores are loaded with things that you would never even think are in there like coal tar or synthetically products products made from petroleum or crude oil products! Yikes!! That's like slopping some oil from your car on your lips!!! Most of these products can cause sensitivities in some people and even allergic reactions in chemically sensitive people. Some symptoms of this are headaches, nausea, asthma attacks, sneezing, wheezing, lack of concentration, fatigue, lethargy, nervousness, irritability, confusion and on site swelling. Can't figure out why when you wear your favorite shade of rose that you get a littel edgy, you may possibly have a chemical sensitivity to the artifical colors and products used.

There are many natural brands of lip products out there that have all natural ingredients with no by-products or crude oil. Be careful too with your little ones, some toddlers love lip gloss and enjoy the flavor and may attempt to bite the tube or ingest the product itself - not good if you are using mass market products! It is still not good to let your little one eat the lip balm but if it is natural based you would feel a little better that they were not eating petroleum!!

Here's what your lip products SHOULD contain: Aloe Vera, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Natural Colors (beet powder, beta carotene, iron oxides, grape skin, turmeric, annatto), Peppermint, Shea Butter, Allantoin, Sweet Almond Oil (great for sensitive skin) and Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Vitamin A, Vitamin D.

Here's what your lip products SHOULD NOT contain: Alcohol, Cety, Cetearyl, Behentrimonium, Methosulfate, Lanolin (although naturall derived, this can cause allergic reactions, it is a powerful absorbing agent and can become contaminated with carcinogenic pesticides), Mineral Oil, Petroleum, Petrolatum, Preservatives . . basically anything you cannot pronounce or re-spell if you were asked to do so, these can lead to contact dermatitis.

I have more information on the specific ingredients listed above (good and bad), I just did not want a 5 page blog. If you would like more information, please email me and I will be happy to further educate on the chemcial hazards found in our products. wintersaurora@yahoo.com

Hope you enjoyed this "mouthful" and happy puckering!!

Peaceful Blessings!