Do you know what water kefir is? Maybe you’ve seen, bought, or even made the “milk” kind of kefir. But did you know there’s another kind made with water?

Water kefir is, essentially, soda that’s good for you! Enough said, right? Okay, maybe, but you probably want more information. Water kefir is made by culturing sugar water with water kefir grains (that aren’t actually grains) and then flavoring that cultured sugar water with fruit or flavor extracts to make whatever kind of probiotic “soda” that you want!

Oh yeah – and you can also flavor it with herbs! Herbs can be used for natural remedies for anything from a cold to anemia. When you combine the probiotic benefits of water kefir with whatever remedy you are getting from the herbs you are using, you will be one healthy mama!

Wait – what’s that I hear? Oh, you want to learn how to do it? Sure, I’ll tell you!

How to make herb Infused Water Kefir:

So here’s what you’ll need (and feel free to halve this recipe):

1/4 c. organic sugar or sucanat. Honey or maple syrup won’t work.

4 c. spring water. Tap water or reverse osmosis water might kill the grains. Use spring water!

2-3 tbsp. water kefir grains. You can get these from a friend that makes water kefir (they multiply so we’re usually willing to share) or online from Cultures for Health. If you get them online you will have to rehydrate them, and the instructions for that come with the grains.

A handful of dried or fresh herbs. Just make sure you do your research on that herb first! Here are some ideas:

• Nettle leaf for more iron
• Red raspberry leaf to tone that uterus
• Chamomile for calming or sleeping
• Echinacea to strengthen your immune system

You can get your herbs from Bulk Herb Store or grow them in your very own herb garden!

4 c. boiling water. This doesn’t have to be spring water.

2 quart-sized mason jars and a half-gallon one too. Unless you want to halve the recipe, then you know.

A plastic strainer. Metal kills the grains, and you certainly don’t want to do that.

Optional: a funnel and Grolsch style flip-top bottles. This makes the water kefir extra fizzy.

Now, here’s what you do:

1. Add your sugar or sucanat to the bottom of a quart-sized mason jar, then heat a little bit of spring water – just enough to dissolve the sweetener – and pour it over. Once it’s dissolved, add the rest of your cold or room temperature spring water. Make sure the water is not hot, then add the grains. Secure with a paper towel or coffee filter and a rubber band or the band from a mason jar lid. Let it sit for 24-48 hours.

2. 6 or more hours before you plan to end the ferment, combine the herbs with the boiling water in another mason jar, and let it sit. Strain out the herbs.

3. Strain out the kefir grains and add to a new batch of sugar water. Combine your new water kefir with your new herbal infusion in a half-gallon sized jar, and let it sit again for 24-48 hours. It should be a little fizzy by now.

4. If you want, grab a funnel and some flip-top bottles, pour it in and put it in the fridge. This will make it extra fizzy in a day or two, but I usually can’t wait that long.

5. Pour yourself (and the kiddos and the hubby and your friends and neighbors) a glass and add a drop or two of liquid stevia (optional). Add one of those little umbrellas, a citrus slice, and a crazy straw (mandatory). Drink in the amazing benefits.

Ta-da! It’s as simple as that. You’ve now made herb infused water kefir and can brag about it to your friends. Doesn’t that sound sophisticated?

Have you ever made water kefir? What kind is your favorite?

*this post is linked to: Encourage One Another, Titus 2sdays, and WFMW*

The post Herb Infused Water Kefir appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Written by Liz, Contributing Writer

Leafy greens are an important part of a balanced diet. They are a strong source of vital nutrients including iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin K, and beta-carotene. They are especially important for women, because we are more susceptible to anemia and osteoporosis – diseases resulting from iron deficiency and calcium deficiency, respectively.

The USDA recommends we all get at least 3 cups of leafy greens per week…and I don’t know about you, but they aren’t my favorite things to eat…so I struggle to do that! (source)

One easy way to get your green goodness in is to make green smoothies. Before you get all grossed out, I promise they are YUMMY! I have them in the morning and sometimes for snacks, and believe me, I wouldn’t drink them if I didn’t like them! They are easy to make and easy to drink – a win-win situation, right?

photo credit

At a nutritional seminar I attended about a year ago, the speaker said, “If you want to change your life tomorrow, drink green smoothies (source).” I have been making them ever since then and she was right – I feel so much better!

There are a few main components to a green smoothie, and a couple optional ones. They are very versatile, and you can put in whatever you want to suit your taste buds.

Here is what you need:

Greens:

You’ll want a heaping handful or two of leafy greens like kale, spinach, or chard. I usually use kale because it’s a superfood and I don’t like to eat, but I like to drink it.

Fruit:

This is what makes the smoothie naturally sweet and delicious. Really anything goes here – an apple, a half a mango and a banana, a pear, a handful of blueberries or even an avocado – whatever! Just don’t put in too much fruit at one time to avoid sugar overload – a little goes a long way!

Liquid: 

You can use juice, milk, water, tea, or even whey. Throw in anywhere from a half a cup to two cups, depending on how thick or watery you want it to be.

Optional probiotics:

Kefir and yogurt are great additions to any smoothie. Probiotics are also a beneficial part of a healthy diet because they colonize your body with good bacteria, and this may be a good way for you to get them in too. A half a cup of either one is good.

Optional extras:

There are so many extras you can throw in, like coconut oil, bee pollen, spirulina, chia seeds, organic protein powder, raw honey, nuts/nut butter, ice, or whatever else your brain can conjure up. The sky is the limit, girl!

The instructions are easy: blend until smooth! 

Ladies, feed these things to your kids and hubby, because they will like them too, and they need those nutrients. Your little ones will have no idea it’s good for them!

**Note from Rachel: Don’t forget to subscribe via email to get your free copy of Spring into Smoothies all Summer Long, where you’ll find lots of great smoothie recipes!

Have you ever made a green smoothie? What is your favorite recipe?

The post How to Make a Green Smoothie appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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As a girl my mother dyed her hair using nothing but raspberries she plucked out of the bushes in her New Jersey backyard. Though simple, the dye worked like a charm, tinting her hair a radiant yet subtle ruby red. And best of all, it was completely natural. Today, I choose to follow in the footsteps of the woman that I have looked up to my entire life – my mother. In honor of her I have decided to dye my hair using all natural henna products.

Just kidding. My mom never did that. But she is from New Jersey. And I did have quite the adventure recently dying my hair with henna.

Admittedly, I usually dye my hair around once or twice a year. I get bored with my hair color and want a change, even if it’s only a slight change. But to get it done professionally in a salon costs an average of $60 and requires me to sit for around two hours straight – not fun! Worst of all, it burns my eyes and puts nasty chemicals on my scalp like ammonia and lead acetate. Many of these chemicals cause cancer in lab animals and are banned in Europe.

Henna, on the other hand, is a leafy green herb traditionally used in Middle Eastern countries to create beautiful tattoos. But many people don’t know that it isn’t just a skin dye – it can be used as a hair dye, too!

If you are looking to dye your hair lighter than your current shade or an unnatural color (like pink or something), henna is not for you. But if you want to make it just a little darker – enough of a change to make you feel different – you’re in for a treat. Henna smells bad, is messy, and looks kind of like meconium…but it’s so, so worth it, ladies.

I got my dark brown henna hair dye in powder form for a whopping eight bucks at my local health food store. My hair was already brown, but I wanted to get rid of the blonde in it and make it just a little bit darker. When I dyed my hair I developed an efficient method for the whole process that I’d love to share with you.

henna mixed up

Here’s what you’ll need:

4 oz. henna hair dye powder (I used Rainbow Henna)
1 c. brewed coffee, brought to a boil
Big hair clips like these ones
A pair of gloves
Shower cap
Old clothes and towels
Coconut oil
An extra person to do the back of your head
Maybe a nose-plugger doohickey? (joke)

A lot of time on your hands and extraordinary patience!

Note: if you have really long or thick hair you might want to make a double batch.

And here’s what you do:

1. Add henna to a mixing bowl and slowly pour in coffee, stirring until creamy paste is formed. I’ll warn you: it won’t be pretty.
2. Haul everything up to your bathroom (or stay in your kitchen if you want to do that), take a deep breath, cover yourself in a towel, and rub some coconut oil around your hairline.
3. Put your gloves on and grab a glob of paste. Take a piece of hair about an inch wide and spread the henna onto it, twisting your hair tightly as you go. Once the hair is covered and it’s all evenly dispersed clip the strands away from your face.
4. Do this to your whole head. You’ll probably need someone else to do the back. My raspberry-loving mom did it.
5. Don’t freak about the mess you’re making. It’s easy to clean up when you’re ready.
6. When you’re all done, put all your hair on top of your head and put a shower cap on. You can clean up now.
7. You’ll want to leave the cap on for 60-90 minutes. Go about your day even though you look like a surgeon.
8. When the time’s up, start the shower. Trust me, you will want to take a full-on shower by this point. Rinse your hair completely in hot water, then once again with cold water. But don’t shampoo it.
9. Blow-dry your hair or let it air dry. Marvel at your beautiful hair and show it off to all your friends.

This whole process will take a few hours, but it’s not all that hard. Now I know you’re all dying to see my before and after picture, right? Here I am a few days before I took the plunge with my chestnutty brown hair and blonde tips, and then a few days after with my chocolate brown do sans blonde. Gorgeous I know.

Have you ever dyed your hair with henna? What was your experience like? What about another form of natural hair dye?

The post How to Dye Your Hair with Henna {And Why You Should} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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• Plantains are God’s gift to His people.

   

• The poverty we deal with in the US is filthy rich compared to that in the rest of the world.

   

• And did you know that six people can fit on a moped? (You have to see it to believe it!)

photo credit

-Distilled water (make sure it’s distilled or it won’t work!)
-Bergamot Essential Oil (you can get this at your local health food store)

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note from Rachel: Please meet Liz, a new monthly contributor who loves motherhood although she isn’t a Mom quite yet. She is learning to embrace motherhood as she helps encourage birthing mothers as a doula. 

Since the beginning of May we’ve been inundated with advertisements for the upcoming day that all moms look forward to; Mother’s Day. Everywhere we go we are reminded, until it gets annoying, to buy our moms jewelry, flowers and chocolate and to celebrate our mothers. 

And then as soon as the day is over, we collectively forget. As someone who has made a job out of celebrating mothers, I appreciate this sentiment but find it incredibly ironic. Why?

As a whole, on every day except Mother’s Day, our society does everything it can not to celebrate mothers.
Think about it. Our maternity care system pushes mothers into C-sections without considering the consequences. The ultimate removal of motherhood; abortion; occurs 3,500 times every day. 

Unlike other countries, women are not usually granted paid maternity leave. Mothers are ostracized for breastfeeding in public; making them feel as though they have no other choice than to be hermits or to quit breastfeeding. 

Yet the crunchy crowd judges mothers every chance it gets for choosing to formula feed, circumcise, birth in hospitals or use the cry it out method. So does it strike anyone else as odd that on one day out of the year, our society all of a sudden gets excited about moms and then promptly moves on the next day?

Mother’s Day came and went about a month ago, but I don’t want to forget. This year, I am making a vow to celebrate moms every day of the year. I am surrounded by mothers every day, and I will seize the opportunity to remember their worth. 

So who do I celebrate?

• My mommy, who gave me life.
• My step-mom, who has been a part of my life as long as I can remember and is like a whole extra mommy figure to me (how lucky am I?!).
• My four grandmothers: two who are with the Lord and the other two who like to visit with me every chance they get.
• Midwives, who are mothers to all their mothers.
• The mothers in my life who give me the opportunity to join them in the most sacred yet grueling time in their life that is called motherhood ; as their doula.
• The mothers who have lost their children and mourn even when others have forgotten their sorrow.
• The women who desperately want to be mothers, but have yet to get a positive pregnancy test.
• The adoptive mothers who give their hearts to orphans.
• The mothers who join each other across the world in every second of every day, birthing together and sharing in the pain and joy of that.
• The mothers who are awake at any hour feeding babies, stripping sheets, changing diapers, caring for sick children.
• The mothers in crisis pregnancies who see abortion as the only option and just need love.
• The new mothers who are just trying to figure out this whole thing and maybe want to rip their hair out in the process. Or just take a nap. Or a shower.
• The pregnant mothers with morning sickness, back pain, mood swings, exhaustion.
• The mothers who get epidurals, birth in the woods (or just at home), breastfeed, formula feed, have elective C-sections, cry it out, co-sleep, babywear, use strollers, vaccinate, don’t vaccinate, use donor milk, homeschool, send their kids to public school, send their kids to private school, work, stay at home, eat their placentas, get their babies’ ears pierced, never let their kids get their ears pierced, cloth diaper, practice elimination communication, disposable diaper, circumcise, don’t circumcise, have natural hospital births, use an OB and a doula, use a midwife and a doula, use just an OB, use just a midwife, use an OB and three doulas, and those who do a mixture of some or all of these things.

Because they’re moms, and they work their butts off to make sure they’re doing what’s best for their children. 

And that’s all that matters.

So can we all agree to work together towards creating a culture of constant appreciation of mothers? To not judge mommies no matter what, to reach out to our fellow moms when they need help, and to recognize them as an extraordinarily important part of society? Cause I think they deserve it.

The post Celebrating Mothers appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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