As more and more of us work to get healthy, many of us use vitamins to boost our bodies immune systems. We stand in front of the shelves and shelves of vitamins at the health food store, and a little bit of panic sets in.  So MANY choices!  Some are alfalfa based, others use gelatin capsules.  How do we know which vitamins are good, and which ones are full of fillers?  What brand is better?  

Well here is a good way to know EXACTLY what goes into your vitamins: MAKE THEM YOURSELF!  REALLY!!  It is not as hard as you might think!

Below you will find a quick tutorial on making your own.

To make your own vitamins you will need:
1. Desired herbs - here we are making some vitamins to help with night vision and eye problems, so we chose Bilberry fruit and Horsetail/Shavegrass.  You can find some high quality herbs here at BulkHerbStore.com 
2. Gelatin Capsules- there are several sizes of capsules, so be sure to get the ones that fit into your capsule machine.  If your not using a machine, then choose the size you will be most comfortable swallowing. 
3. Capsule machine (optional)
4. Measuring devises
5. Small bowls

Take your herbs of choice and mix them together into a small bowl.  We decided to do equal measurements of these 2 types of herbs.  We have found that 4 Tablespoons of powdered herbs makes about 100 size 0 capsules.  

Take your first capsule and remove the top part, opening it up. 

If you will not be using a capsule machine, take the larger side of the capsule and scoop out the mixed herbs.  Pack the herbs down with your fingers and fill more if necessary. Take the top part of the capsule and place it back on the now full bottom half.  Squeeze together softly, you should be able to feel it "snap" into place. 

If you are lucky enough to have a capsule machine, please follow the directions of the machine itself.  

Here you go!  Now you have your own vitamins, made with exactly the ingredients you want, with no added fillers.  Another bonus?  they cost a fraction of the price!  WOW!

Make sure you label them, and then store them in a cool, dark place for best shelf life.  

Special thanks to my oldest son, who let me photograph him for this tutorial :)  Isn't he turning into a handsome man!  ;)

Found once again from a facebook site, this recipe was originally posted by Nikki Hawk.

Enjoy!

Ok so for the crust... 
1 cup almond meal, 
1/4 cup cocoa, 
3 egg whites, 
1 heaping tbsp truvia and 
sprinkle of salt. 

I sprayed the baking dish with coconut oil spray and then par baked on 350 for 10 minutes and allowed to cool.

For the filling, 
3 blocks of cream cheese, 
3 eggs, 
4 tbsp truvia, 
1/2 tsp coconut extract and 
3/4 tsp caramel extract, 
pinch of salt and 
1/4 tsp xanthan gum. 

Blend well, pour over crust and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. 
Allow to cool. 
For the topping I made up the toasted coconut topping from Gwen's samoa milkshake recipe and multiplied it by 6 - allowed to cool in the fridge for a bit. Crumbled it all over the top of the cheesecake and drizzled generously with basic (fairly dark) skinny chocolate. Then allowed it to cool in the fridge over night.

Thank you Nikki for this fabulous treat!



Coconut topping spoken of above: 

• Topping
  
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 Tbs shredded coconut
• 1 tsp almond flour
• teeny pinch of salt
• 2 tsp sugar free brown “sugar” or 2 tsp truvia and 
• ⅛th tsp. maple extract

Instructions

1. In a small skillet, melt 1 tsp of butter on medium heat.
2. Add remaining topping ingredients: shredded coconut, almond flour, and ‘brown sugar’ or truvia + extracts to skillet.
3. Toss and toast for a few minutes until golden brown.

- See more at: http://www.gwens-nest.com/family-favorite-recipes/low-carb-samoas-milkshake/#sthash.PFJjP7kG.dpuf

Ok, I'm sorry for all the THM posts lately, but i am just loving the whole process of learning this way of cooking, so bare with me a little longer as I post a few more favorites!

This from a facebook comment, no original link available:



Tried something new tonight and we all really liked it! Took a recipe for homemade "Hamburger Helper" and tweaked it to use cauliflower instead of pasta. (This is an S meal).

2 bags frozen cauliflower, thawed
1 pound ground beef
2 cups almond milk
1/2 block cream cheese (1/3 fat)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
tiny sprinkle of stevia
Gluccomannan
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown and drain ground beef. Stir in cream cheese & almond milk till creamy. Add spices, a few shakes of glucc- cook till thickened a little, then add 1/2 of the cheese. Mix in cauliflower and pour into greased 13X9. Top with other 1/2 of cheese. Bake till cauli is cooked through/cheese is starting to brown (350 for about 30 min).

Just today i ran across this measurement chart, and had to share!  

Original post here: The San Francisco Globe 

Today I was looking for a new recipe to try out the erythritol sweetener I just bought. I have been trying out a few new sweeteners, as I am not a huge sugar fan, and honey just doesn't work as well for some things.  Ran accross this post on fb, and thought it sounded delish!    It was posted by Taste Approved - putting THM recipes to the test. Click on the link to go to the original post.

Can't wait to try these out this afternoon!



This weekend I made Rich Fudgy Brownies..... In a word.... YUM! My 7 year old devoured them! I will have to post a picture of what's in the pan, because I forgot to take a picture of them on my plate. I will take a pic of that later today when I have some more.  

Rich Fudgy Brownies -S
1 c. Melted butter (hubby about died when he saw me melting that much butter!)
1 c. Erythritol sweetener 
4 eggs
2/3 c. special dark cocoa powder (I only had regular and only about 1/2 c. I ran out)
1 c. Almond flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 tbsp. almond milk
Combine all ingredients. Spread into greased (I used coconut oil) 9x13 (mine was being used so I used 6x9. Bake 25 mins (35 if using smaller pan) @350. 
Enjoy!

Not a great pic, but gives you an idea.

As i said, I am NOT good at keeping up with a blog.  Too many other things going on right now.  But today I ran across something I would like to share with you.  Body Wraps are all the rage right now, and I found this fun post listing ways to make one for yourself!    Make sure when you are using Essential Oils that you get high quality, Therapeutic grade ones!   The link to the original posting is HERE.   Enjoy!

Lose inches & cellulite DIY Body Wrap and more 

Body wrapping is a therapeutic treatment that is used to detoxify the body using simple all natural ingredients. These simple readily available ingredients have been used over the years traditionally to tighten and tone the skin and help stimulate the body to rid itself of trapped toxins, excess fat and excessive trapped lymph fluids. This detoxification improves the appearance of cellulite, creates inch loss, and helps tighten and tone the skin. 

HERBAL BODY WRAP RECIPE 
Mix a cup of corn oil with 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice and 2 teaspoons dried thyme. Massage into hip, thigh, and buttock areas. Cover with plastic wrap to lock in body heat. 

(For extra results lay a heating pad over each area for five minutes) 


CLAY BODY WRAP RECIPE 

1 cup bentonite or green clay 
1/4 cup sea salt 
2 tbsp. olive oil 
2 cups water 
Boil water and add sea salt until it is dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Adjust the water if necessary to form a wet paste. Rub the mixture over your entire body and cover yourself with thin towels or a clean white sheet. Most salons will recommend that you use proper wrapping sheets as the compaction helps to squeeze the tissues together for greater results. 
Lay in the tub for a minimum of 45 min. to one hour. 
Cellulite and Fat Fighting Ingredient Tips 

Coffee Grounds 

Rub coffee grounds on cellulite/fat area before taking a shower every night. The coffee helps firm the area and lessen that "cheese" look. 

WHY? 

Caffeine is the first ingredient in most cellulite treatments. The same way caffeine gets us moving in the morning, it can also help to get our fat cells moving. This trick, employed by famous models and beauty contestants, involves rubbing warm coffee grounds into the cellulite-laden areas of your legs, using your hands or a loofah mitt. To intensify the treatment, take a rolling pin and roll the area to further smooth out the cellulite 

Another Anti-Cellulite treatment with Caffeine 
Put magazines or newspaper on the floor of your bathroom or if you would like not to mess again, get in the tub and get messy!!!!. Mix a 1/4-cup of warm used coffee grounds with one tablespoon of olive oil. Stand on the paper or sit in the tub and apply the coffee mixture to your cellulite areas using your hands or a loofah mitt. Don’t worry if a lot of the coffee mixture falls to the floor or tub; don’t worry if many coffee grounds fall as most will stick to your skin to do the trick. Wrap the area in plastic wrap and allow to remain for several minutes (for as long as you can handle it). Remove wrap and shower with warm water. This procedure is most effective when repeated twice a week. 


Drink Green Tea Daily 

WHY? 

According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition "consumption of green tea produces thermogenesis and increases energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. 
Green tea is an active ingredient used in many of the top weight loss products. When a weight loss product claims it contains natural ingredients, green tea is nearly always in the list. Did you know that? 

Essential Oils for fighting Cellulite and Fat 

Buy essential oils (they are cheap on Ebay) and use them for a massage everyday. If you hate the feel of oil, try adding the oils in a cream which you use as your moisturizer. A simple way to do this is to buy a fragrance-free lotion or cream (available at health food stores) and add 20 drops of essential oils per ounce of the product. 

WHY? 

The "bumps" of cellulite are composed of fat, cellular wastes and water. The oils used to counteract the condition improve circulation, strengthen connective tissues, encourage the elimination of wastes and fight fluid retention. 

Experiment with the following oils: (Always use a carrier oil) 

Defeat your cellulite and fatty areas with: 

Basil, birch, cedar wood, clary sage, coriander, cypress, fennel, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, orange, patchouli, pine, rosemary, and thyme. 

Always keep in mind, the essential oils need to be mixed ALWAYS with a carrier oil*. 
It is very dangerous to use essential oils on their own on your skin without mixing them with carrier oil. Please use caution 

What are Carrier Oils? 
*Carrier oils also referred to as base oils or vegetable oils are used to dilute essential oils, CO2s and absolutes before applying to the skin. They “carry” the essential oil onto the skin. Different carrier oils offer different properties and the choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought. 
Examples of carrier oils are sweet almond, apricot kernel, grape seed, avocado, peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut and wheat germ. 

Special Cellulite Massaging Oil 
5 drops fennel oil 
4 drops rosemary oil 
2 drops juniper oil 
4 drops lavender oil 
Add these oils in 20 ml of carrier oil. Massage into affected area daily. 

Moisturizer Cellulite Rub 
2 drops bay oil 
2 drops lemon oil 
4 drops lavender oil 
Add these oils in 20 ml of sesame oil. Massage into affected area daily.

Cellulite Cream 
Add Algae Powder to any of your favorite body lotion/cream. This combination will help reduce cellulite and water retention and it also aids in the reduction of toxins and stress. 
Adding 2 tablespoons of this powder to your bath will leave both your body and mind free of impurities. 

CHART OF ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS 
Water Retention
• Angelica 
• White Birch 
• Carrot Seed 
• Cypress 
• Sweet Fennel 
• Geranium 
• Grapefruit 
• Juniper 
• Lovage 
• Mandarin 
• Sweet Orange 
• Rosemary 
• Sage 

Cellulite
• White Birch 
• Cypress 
• Sweet Fennel 
• Geranium 
• Grapefruit 
• Juniper 
• Lemon 
• Parsley 
• Rosemary 
• Thyme 

Circulation
• Peru Balsam 
• Benzoin 
• White Birch 
• Borneol 
• Coriander 
• Cypress 
• Blue Gum Eucalyptus 
• Geranium 
• Ginger 
• Lemon 
• Lemongrass 
• Niaouli 
• Orange Blossom 
• Black Pepper 
• Pine 
• Rose 
• Rosemary 
• Spruce 
• Spanish Sage 
• Thyme 
• Violet 

Firming
• Geranium 
• Grapefruit 
• Juniper 
• Lemongrass 
• Lime 
• Mandarin 
• Sweet Marjarom 
• Orange blossom 
• Black pepper 
• Petitgrain 
• Rosemary 
• Yarrow

I know a lot of us are trying to get away from chemicals in our products, while doing our best to conserve money along the way.  DIY Dryer Balls are an awesome way of doing just that.  Made from wool, dryer balls can be used instead of dryer sheets.  All you have to do is make a few (I like to use 4-5) and toss them into your dryer along with each load and watch the savings add up.  These Wool Dryer Balls save you money, energy and time by cutting the dryer’s drying time and by you not having to use softeners or dryer sheets. When you use 4 balls in your dryer, you can cut up to an average of 25% off your large load drying time and cut around 30-45% off your small loads!! Less electricity, Less money! 
So lets get started!

Here are the supplies you will need:

- Wool filler, cut into 1in strips -
Here I found some wool socks, but you can use sweaters, blankets etc, anything wool.

- 1-2 rolls of Wool yarn -
make sure you find 100% wool yarn so that it will felt correctly.  I like to use a base color, and then other colors for added patterns on the outside.

-Scissors-

- Crochet Hook -
(used to tuck in the end of the yarn)

_Old Nylons -
(oops, forgot to add them to my supplies picture!))

Start by cutting your wool filler into 1in wide strips.  leave each strip as long as possible for a total of about 4-6ft in length.  Once you have the strips cut, roll them around each other into a ball(ish) shape.  Really, it will look more like a blob at this point!

Use your wool yarn to hold the pieces together, once you get them rolled into a ball/blob. 

Continue to wrap your wool yarn around the filler, alternating directions and making sure to make it all come together in a round shape. Keep wrapping until you can no longer see the inside filler. How much yarn you use will depend on how big of a ball you want to make, and how much filling you put inside.  Remember, they will shrink down a bit during the felting process. 

Once you are done winding the base yarn, Use your knitting needle to tuck the end down into the center.  Make sure it is pretty secure, as you don't want it popping loose later on. 

Now, if you want to add another color, wrap it around your ball in any pattern you like. 

Again, make sure your ends are tucked down in nicely so that they don't come undone later on. There is nothing more frustrating then watching your ball bounce across the floor out of your hands, unwinding on the way :(

Here are a couple of different patterns that I have done.

Now that the winding is done, you need to felt your dryer balls.  For this you need old nylons. 
Place the balls carefully down into the nylons.  Make sure not to shove them in, or you might mess up the wool pattern you have worked so hard to get.
Between each ball, tie a knot or use a string to keep them separate.
This is important because if they are allowed to touch while being felted, they will stick together and become difficult to remove from each other.    Felt is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together.

Place your string of dryer balls into your washing machine, along with a towel or other small load of laundry.  Let them run through a normal cycle.

One the wash cycle is done, through them immediately into the dryer, and let them run through a full high heat cycle.  Once they are finished, repeat the washer/dryer cycles with them at least once more. (a lot of times I run my dryer balls through with my laundry loads 3-4 times, just to be sure they felt completely)

Once you believe the Balls to be felted, remove the nylons.  YEAH! They are now ready to use!!! (if they are not fully felted, meaning you can still pull individual pieces apart from the others, just put them back in some nylons, and wash/dry them a few more times!)

What are we giving away this time?  A 4 oz bottle of Homemade Vanilla Extract!  Whether you use it yourself, or give it as a gift to someone who loves to cook, this vanilla is sure to please.  Made from Organic vanilla beans, everyone is sure to enjoy the richness and creaminess of this Vanilla.  
Enter to win yours today!!!
Click on the rafflecopter link below

Today we received a fun email from our friends at TCCC (Triple Crown Commodities Cooperative) asking if they could spotlight our company in the first issue of the new quarterly newsletter they are putting out.  Of course I accepted!  What a fun way to be able to reach out and share our products with our local community.  Now I just have to find time to sit down and fill out the email interview questions they sent our way.

It is that time of year again!  The leaves on the trees start to change to beautiful reds, and oranges.  The air gets a crisp, fresh feel to it in the mornings.  It is Fall.  It is time for Craft Fairs!   Having a bunch of kids means having a lot of schedules to work around, but that doesn't stop us from getting out there to be a part of at least a few craft fairs this year.  On today's to-do list, finish up a bunch of wool dryer balls!  

Don't know what in the world those are?  Simply put, they are wool balls that you throw into your dryer to replace those wonderfully smelling, and full-of-chemicals, dryer sheets.  Not only do they save you money by helping your dryer loads dry faster, thus using less electricity, but they also save you from buying dryer sheets every couple weeks.  :)  And who doesn't like saving money!  
Best part (better part?)  is that you can buy your favorite essential oil, add a few drops to your dryer balls, and boom, they are customized to your liking, and have no crazy chemicals in them!  My favorite scent?  I love a mix of lemon and tangerine, making a fun and fresh citrus scent.  


Check back later, and I will have a tutorial posted on how to make your own dryer balls :)