Facebook, Yogurt, and Other Misc Thoughts

So far 2012 has been busy busy busy!  Grad school is in full swing now and I'm trying to find the balance between being a Christian, a mom, a student, a good roommate/cook/house cleaner and finding time for me...who?  Me?  Well, I'm trying and I fall to the bottom of my list but that's ok for now.  I am going to start exercising and make better food choices.  I am not going on a diet, I am not counting calories, carbs, sugars, points or anything of the like and I am not stepping on a scale!  Too much pressure.  Weird for me, I know but it feels good to not put so much into a "diet" only to fall off it and feel defeated so quickly.

About a month ago I deactivated my Facebook acct.  It was a hard habit to break, I'm not going to lie.  But I did eventually and I feel much better about it!  It was wasting too much of my time and I need to shift my focus to school.  That's what I need to be doing on the computer.  We'll see, I might be back but in limited amounts.  I do miss seeing my friend's pictures though and my sweet prayer group!

In more budget news, I'm saving money and selling unwanted items!  I am going to be putting all the money "earned" from selling my stuff to the purchase of a new camera!!  I have wanted a nice camera for so long and the more pictures I take that are blurry or out of focus or just plain bad, the more I am convinced I neeeeeed a great camera.  These kids are too darling to be blurry!  So, hopefully lots of thing will sell fast and I can get my camera ASAP!

Yogurt, sweet and delicious homemade yogurt, how I love you so!  I've started making yogurt and it is so wonderful and cheap!  I'm trying to made things from scratch more this year.  I'm on a strict budget to pay off some debt and to save for a house.  Plus, if I can make it then I know what exactly is in the food I feed my family.  My new rule is "If I can't pronounce it, we shouldn't be eating it!"  Here is a list of the foods I want to make: kefir, mayonnaise, ranch dressing (made with HM mayo), granola, granola bars, pasta and bread!  I'll post my successes and failures.  Here is a picture of a very successful batch of crock pot yogurt straining!  The liquid is whey and it is very good for you too!  I haven't used it for anything yet, but I plan to with the next batch!

In general, life is going really well.  The house project is very close to be finished and I can't wait to post pictures of all the rooms!  It was a pretty big undertaking!  We still need to tweak closets and cupboards but the bulk of the house is organized and on its way to being compete!  So thankful I have the mom and stepdad I do that were willing to totally rearrange their home to meet our needs!  Thanks!