Don't throw out the left over "juice"!

I wanted to just say, that anyone who uses a crock pot regularly must save the left over "juice" or broth after making pulled pork, pulled beef, or chicken. The left overs are NOT to go down the drain. They are a very healthy broth that can be used for quick soups or other miscellaneous things in recipes.
I made pulled beef the other night and I strained 2 1/2 quarts of broth ready for me to put beans or lentils and maybe some rice noodles for a quick and yummy soup.
 If you are going to freeze it, make sure you use a freezer safe ball jar, otherwise (ahem...) it will shatter and you will lose not only a jar and precious, nutritious broth, you will have quite a mess to clean up.
If anyone is wondering how to do this, it is extremely simple. Yes, you will need one of those big ones.

1 whole chicken, pork butt, beef roast (or any other whole small animal, such as rabbit)
spices that go with that particular meat
salt to taste
celery rough chopped
carrots rough chopped
Optional - potato or sweet potato rough chopped
enough filtered water to cover it all
Turn your crock pot on high for 6-8 hours or low for up to 12 hours

Spices I use:
Chicken: basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano
Pork: sage, thyme, and ground coriander
Beef: thyme and bay leaf

I purchase all of my spices from our Coop in bulk. I spend the same amount on organic spices in a pound bag, as I do buying those organic jars in the store... Think about THAT! I store all of my spices in either glass ball jars with those new spice jar lids or a previously used bulk spice container I got from BJ's (kind of like a Sam's or Costco, but with lots of organics).

ED: Day 7

Today's breakfast was very good. My sweet husband made buckwheat pancakes. I am very surprised my husband and the kids liked it too! He also brought home for me some rice wraps he found at an Asian grocery store near where he works. I love him so much!!!

Breakfast: Buckwheat pancakes, apple

Snack: Grapes
Lunch: Leftover chicken stir fry in a rice wrap with coconut amino's

Snack:Kiwi, granola, trail mix
Dinner: hamburger, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries, (salad) lettuce, carrots, sprout mix, olive oil dressing
Snack: rice cereal, coconut milk, banana

I was busy today. I made some granola so I can munch on that this week. I also made some "almond joys" without the cacao powder to have when I get a sweet tooth during the day.
I do have coconut buttons (coconut oil, cinnamon, raw honey) in the freezer, when I remember.

On another note, I weighed myself yesterday and I have lost 5lbs since I have started this. I am just praying it does not affect my milk for Emmett. Hopefully with all the oatmeal I eat, it will keep my supply just right. This is another reason I decided to make granola. So, you should be seeing some amount of oatmeal on my lists daily, from now on.

ED: Day 6

Breakfast: Rice cereal, coconut milk, dried cherries
Snack: Mango
Lunch: Mixed greens, celery, cucumber, black beans, garbanzo beans, sprouts, beet, quinoa, avocado dressing
Snack: Kiwi, Terra Chips
Dinner: Chicken stir fry (mung bean sprouts, snow peas, purple cabbage, coconut aminos), rice, apple cider

Snack: Rice cereal, coconut milk, banana

Since I have yet to see any difference this week, I will be eliminating a few more things from my diet. I just happened to come across "histamine" foods while reading an article tonight. The histamine foods that I have been eating are avocado, spinach, dried fruits, and ciders. Hopefully eliminating these also will give me the relief I have been needing.

Maxi nursing dress

In approximately June, I was tired of wearing skirts and t-shirts in order to be modest. I love skirts, but I wanted something different. So, I went to the drawing board. I went through all of my patterns and tried to see what would work together. WALLAH! I had a prairie top pattern and a maxi skirt how-to in my stash.
In the pictures, you will see that I made the prairie top, but shortened it slightly, then added elastic to the mid section to make it an empire. I then made a maxi skirt that overlaps my bra band. I am pretty pleased with the first 2 I made. I will be fixing a few thing here and there, but overall I am very happy with the results.  The 2nd is pretty wild (I've been told I look like a jail bird and not to wear both pieces at the same time. I had to make another solid color top...), but I found the material in the back of my stash and the skirt is a little more relaxed than my proto type.
I now have something to wear out that is comfortable and pretty. All you have to do is lift the empire slightly and latch baby (or toddler) on.
If anyone would like to make this too, I used the Ringger Peasant Top pattern and a similar maxi skirt tutorial. On the top, I found the knit too hard to work with to make the elastic casing on the neck, so I just hemmed the neck, then added 1/4" elastic under the seam stitches, using the same length indicated, just stretching with a zigzag stitch, just as you do already with the sleeves. Instead of the fold over waist, I lengthened the skirt and added 1-1/2" braided elastic to the top, since it wasn't going to be seen anyway and I could also just cut it to my bra band size (with 1/4" seam allowance).

Made with Modal knit from Jo-Ann Fabrics