Wanna know what I am having?

Steve and I are so excited for the new addition to our family! I am so excited for Jacob to have a baby brother to play with!

Pregnancy Cravings

Old ultrasound

I have cravings almost daily...which sucks most times. All of the food my body seems to want is usually not gluten free, so I am out of luck! I have craved chicken fried steak, eclairs (I cant find gf ones anymore), chow mein, Big Macs (with the bun) and Hostess snacks. Since none of those are gluten free I am usually crabby when a craving hits.

The cravings I have had for food I can eat are:

• Pickles
• Ice cream
• French fries
• McDonald's onions
• Chinese food (thank God for GF options!)
• Hot Chocolate
• Chocolate
• Salad ( I eat one daily)
• Nutella
• Udi's bread
• Julia's Bakery cupcakes and cinnamon rolls
• Clemintines

Any expecting ladies or Mom's have any craving they would like to share?

Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix

We were having family pizza night a few weeks ago, Steve and Jacob were decorating their personal sized pizza crusts and I was going to make a gluten free pizza for myself.

I made my pizza first in order to prevent cross contamination. The dough was easy to make. I put fresh mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni, and black olives as topping. The pizza looked decent when it was finished.

Steve and Jacob's pizza looked and smelled wonderful and they said that their pizza was delicious. I had high hopes for my Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust. However, when I tried it, I was greatly disappointed. The crust tasted like a salty mess. It was inedible. I peeled off my toppings and just consumed those. I wont be making this mix again.

This Thanksgiving I am THANKFUL FOR...

I am thankful for the bun in my oven! Yes, that is right, we are expecting a baby! I cannot wait to share my gf pregnancy experience with all of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Glutenfreeda Chicken & Cheese Burrito

OMG, I missed burritos. Like majorly missed them. I would watch people around me eat them and get jealous.

I found Glutenfreeda's Gluten Free Chicken and Cheese Burritos and I am no longer envious of my non-gf friends.

I ate two of these in one sitting. I normally would practice restraint but I couldn't with these burritos.
I am excited to try the other varieties and  enjoy every bite to the fullest!

Yum,Yarn and Yoga

My friend, Kathleen is a great blogger.She is a vegetarian that dabbles in GF cooking. I like her blog so much that I decided to share this link with you:

http://yumyarnandyoga.blogspot.com/search/label/Gluten%20Free


The link will take you to all the gf recipes and posts on her site. Try some of her amazing food and let her know what you think!

Glutenfreeda Instant Oatmeal

I missed oatmeal...the oatmeal that I grew up with. The individually sized packs that came in a box with a ton of yummy flavors. Since I am gluten free, those amazing oatmeal packs are no longer something I can enjoy. I stumbled upon Glutenfreeda's Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack and I was pretty pleased. Finally a gf option that I can enjoy!

I liked the Maple Raisin with Flax the best. It was so delicious that I was bummed out when I didn't have anymore in the box.  The Apple Cinnamon with Flax was also pretty delicious. It was perfect for this time of year.

I was not a big fan of the Banana flavor. I had one and I decided to forgo eating anymore packs.

I love having the option to have the variety packs and I will definitely purchase Glutenfreeda oatmeal again.

NYPD PIZZA Gluten Free Style!

Before I start my review, sorry for my lack of posts this week, I have been very under the weather. I actually started to feel ill last week and Steve decided to take me to dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. I love how considerate my partner is!

We decided to pick up pizza from New York Pizza Department. Steve ordered their non-gf pizza and wings and I ordered the GF pizza with fresh basil and pepperoni for toppings. We were out of their delivery zone, so we made the trek to pick up our order. We had made the decision to try a slice when we got there, even though we had placed "To-Go" orders so we could try the food fresh from the oven.

My slice was amazing! I was in Heaven , the combination of basil and pepperoni was out of this world. It was worth the drive! My only wish was that NYPD would make gluten free chicken wings in a dedicated fryer. I only know of one place where I can get those and they are very far away from me. NYPD is much more geographically desirable for me to drive to and Steve said his wings were wonderful.

Steve and I did get to speak to the manager, Christina,whom was very knowledgeable about not only the gluten free pizza but also the gluten free lifestyle. It was very refreshing to go to a restaurant and find staff that actually knew what they were talking about. I have only found this in a small number of establishments and I was very pleased to find this at NYPD.

Christina explained that all of the gf pizza is not only prepared in a separate part of the kitchen but it is made in its own oven.  The crust comes from Still Riding and I can vouch that the crust does not come apart easily and it is very delicious. If you are out of delivery zone, like me, you can order the pizza frozen with your desired GF toppings (only some toppings at NYPD are gf) and you can take the pizza home to cook. The pizza tastes best fresh from the oven.

I would definitely recommend NYPD to all my fellow gluten free enthusiasts. If you are in AZ, I suggest that you try it!

Joy Bauer Slim & Scrumptious

So remember when I posted that Joy Bauer is my # 1 Fan? Ok, she isn't really, but someone at her website reads me and knows who I am, so Joy Bauer loves me by association...right....not really! But, let's pretend!

I mentioned in my previous Joy Bauer post that I was sent two books to review. This is the latter of the two and I spent my time cooking away and mainly forgetting to snap pictures because the food was pretty amazing.

Slim & Scrumptious is not specifically a gluten free cookbook but it has health conscious meals that many can enjoy. I was able to cater many of the meals to the GF lifestyle. 

These were my favorite:

• Italian Sunday Brunch Bake
• Apricot Almond Oats (Use dedicated GF Oats!)
• Sicilian Quinoa Salad
• Pistachio Chicken Salad
• Lemon Sage Chicken Breast
• Crispy Kale
• Frozen Hot Chocolate (MY FAVORITE!!!)

Check out the book for yourself and let me know what you think! Does the book not being a GF cookbook exclude it from being used in your home?

Mediterranean Snacks:Baked Lentil Chips

When I received some Baked Lentil Chips at the GFXcon and I cant wait to get my hands on more! These were so good! Humus has never been so amazing...I usually eat it with cucumbers but this was just superb!

When Is a good time for a Whenever Bar? Whenever!

Pamela's Products has a new line called Whenever Bars and they are delicious. I was so relieved to have them one morning at my desk at work, because they saved me in a jam when I neglected to eat breakfast, that I even tweeted my thanks.

There are four varieties, Oat Blueberry Lemon, Oat Chocolate Chip Coconut, Oat Cranberry Almond,  Oat Raisin Walnut Spice. I have tried all four varieties and I like specific things about each one.


Oat Blueberry Lemon: I specifically like this flavor for breakfast. It compliments tea very well. I often enjoyed this in the car. Sad that I am so busy, but I guess they are called Whenever Bars for a reason!

Oat Chocolate Chip Coconut: This flavor was my favorite! It was as though I was eating dessert!

Oat Cranberry Almond:  I also enjoyed this one as a breakfast treat. I kept this variety in my purse for GF emergencies. If I couldn't find a place to eat or if I went to a restaurant and they did not have a gf friendly option on the menu that I liked, I knew I could eat a Whenever Bar and I would be ok!

Oat Raisin Walnut Spice: This flavor reminded me of Autumn. It tasted really delicious and made me excited for the upcoming season.


I really like the new line and I hope you guys do too! Let me know what you guys think of it!

Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had a snack sized bag of Lucy's at my desk at work. I thought it would be the perfect afternoon snack...I was somewhat mistaken. These were not the delicious chocolate chip mouth explosion I was hoping for. Instead, my mouth was "treated" to a grainy,remotely-bearable,  cookie that had to suffice because there was nothing else at my disposal at work to replace it.

Harsh? Maybe. But, hey...now that I have been GF for a long while, I have standards. I would eat these again? But, I would not spend my hard earned cash on them. These would be eaten on the rare occasion that I had nothing else at hand and I really needed a cookie fix.


The Stats:

Serving Size: 3 cookies, 1.3 Servings per container
Calories: 130
Total Fat: 5 Grams
Total Carbohydrates: 20 grams
Sugar: 12 grams
Protein: 2 grams

I am Fine...Are you?

I mentioned on my Q&A post about an upcoming beauty product I wanted to introduce my readers to,  well this is it!

 I was introduced to I Am Fine Pure Skin Products at the GFXCon by Anne Marie Fine. Anne Marie is the CEO and the Founder.  She created the line because she wanted to revolutionize skin care one face at a time, with pure ingredients. Her products are gluten free and amazing. Her credentials are impressive and she has been featured in Martha Stewart twice!

I have been using the Youth Serum since the expo and I have been loving it. It makes my face softer than ever and I cannot think of one negative thing to say. I was worried because it looked oily when you first rub it in and I have very sensitive skin, but I did not break out, my skin remained blemish free. I even received compliments from a friend telling me that I had a glow about me.

I was given the opportunity to interview Anne Marie! Here are her insights on beauty and exciting new news on  her skin care line:

What made you decide to invent your skin care line?

As a environmental medicine doctor, I decided to formulate my skin care line to address the skin stressors resulting from a broad range of environmental toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and UV exposure from the skin- the main contributors to skin aging! As a national and international lecturer on toxins in personal care products, I have done the research to know what is really in those skin creams and lotions out there, and concluded that most skin creams are actually aging your skin due to their poor quality ingredients. My line is focused on being a solution to the problem of both premature aging and the role of toxicity in skin care products.


 I have been using your product for a couple weeks, how long does a bottle of the Youth Serum last?
A bottle of Youth Serum lasts approximately one month.



Do you prefer the Youth Serum or the Purifying Mask?
I like and use them both! The Purifying Mask has been called The 15 Minute Facelift! It lifts, tones, and draws out the toxins while exfoliating and reducing pores. It is a special kind of clay that pulls out environmental toxins and leaves the skin impossibly soft, fresh, and youthful. And the Youth Serum works to deeply hydrate and nourish skin, revealing younger looking skin very quickly. They are best used together!


Are you planning on developing more beauty products to your line?

I am right now formulating more products to be added to the line.



 At what age do you think a person needs to worry about anti-aging products?



I think the question of what age to begin an anti-aging program would be better viewed as when should someone start taking care of their skin. Good skin habits and pure products that aren’t irritating and inflaming the skin are appropriate at any age.



Aside from I Am Fine, what are your top five beauty tips?

1. Use organic, pure products for the face and body.


2. Use sunscreen on your face every day to prevent sun damage which is very aging
3. Detox your face at least once a week.

4. Avoid an inflammatory diet- it will show on your skin!
5. Make sure to include sources of Omega-3 essential fatty acids in your diet to moisturize from within

 What are your top five health tips?
1. Detoxify, detoxify, detoxify- this is the missing link in health.

2. Adequate pure clean water
3. Adequate sleep- at least 7 hours per night.
4. Move your body everyday
5. Keep stress under control

Is there anything that you see people doing to their skin that it totally damaging? What are the best ways to reverse it?

The most damaging thing people do to their skin today is slather on chemically laden creams and lotions that create inflammation and free radicals- both processes lead to premature aging of the skin.




Thank you so much for the interview and for sharing your words of wisdom with the readers of Gluten Free Gluttony.

Email Questions Anwered!

I have been receiving a lot of reader questions, which I love! Keep sending questions! I selected two to post to the blog! If you have questions, please feel free to send them to my email. If you do not want them posted, please enclose that in your email.

1. Michelle,

I work in a bakery, how do I not get glutened at lunch time? How do I keep myself from getting gluten all over myself?
            
 Respectfully,

   Marge



Marge,

I am assuming that your bakery is not gluten free. I suggest that you wash your hands as often as possible. Wear an apron to keep your clothes free of gluten. Try to avoid touching your face. Bring your own food from home and create a gluten free zone for it. If that is not possible, do not introduce your gf food to your work environment and eat out.
 - Michelle





2.   Dear GF Glutton-

Do you use GF skin care? What are your GF beauty tips?

- Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I have a skin care post coming up soon, I will mention a new product I have been using...so keep a look out for it!

I am rather sensitive to gluten in products. For a while my scalp broke out and was itchy and I couldn't figure out why, finally...ok, after a few months of being unhappy (I bought the largest bottle ever of this shampoo), I read the ingredients and there was WHEAT in it! This isn't the 1st time that this happened to me. I have found wheat in my lotion and in my lip products before.

So currently, I am using an all natural, GF shampoo that I really like-

Desert Essence Red Raspberry Shampoo smells really good and I don't have to worry about my scalp hating me. I use essential oils to condition my scalp. I get regular trims (4-6 weeks) to keep my hair healthy and I either straight iron my hair or use hot rollers to curl it. If I am lazy, I let it dry naturally.

I also wear SPF daily, year round. My co-workers tease me for being so pale. I try to sleep as much as possible and I am trying to be better about my water consumption.

-Michelle

Sometimes, you just need thank people...thank you Brendi from Venezia's Pizzeria!

Last week , Steve, Jacob and I went out for a nice night out. We went to our favorite local book store and we went to get some pizza before hand. Venezia's does not have a gluten free pizza, I called before hand, however they did have salad options, so I decided to give them a try.

When we got there, they had football on the TV, so I knew my son would be thrilled...he was for the entire time we were there.

When I ordered, Brendi carefully took my order. I explained my situation regarding my celiacs and she made sure that the cooks understood "NO CROUTONS"! She was so carefully made sure to let them know that this was an allergen situation and that they could not just remove the croutons if they made an error. She was simply amazing.

It really makes a difference when people pay attention to the needs of a celiac when they go out to eat. I want to thank Brendi and Venezia's for there help. Even though they do not have a gluten free pizza, my salad was delicious and I cannot wait to go back there again.  My family had a great time and our service was excellent.

So, celiacs- I encourage you all to think outside the gf pizza box when we go out to eat at pizza restaurants...this may not always be an option for us. We just have to be very vocal of our needs. Also, know that cross contamination is a risk...there is flour everywhere in a pizzeria. However, if we are willing to work with establishments, often they are willing to work with us.

Kind Bars

I am always trying new snack bars. I go through phases where I think I found my snack bar "soul mate" and that I will never eat another brand, but then I cheat...right now, I am having a serious love affair with Kind Bars. Why? Because Kind Bars treat me so well. I have tried a variety of kind bars and right now, these are the ones I am really digging...

Do you guys like Kind Bars? If so, which is your favorite one?

INTERVIEW & BOOK REVIEW! The Food Allery Cookbook: A Guide to Living with Allergies and Entertaining with Healthy, Delicious Meals- By Carmel Nelson and Amra Ibrisimovic

I must be honest, I was pretty concerned when this book reached my hands...

It is challenging enough at times to make delicious foods that are free of gluten and this cookbook takes it to the next level; it eliminates all allergens.  However, Amra and Carmel have found the perfect harmony of flavors without needing to sacrifice our health.

My favorite dishes in The Food Allergy Cookbook are:  Roasted potatoes, Risotto, Barbecue Chicken Legs, Barbecued Sloppy Joes( I used Udi's Buns and ground turkey as a substitution) and the chocolate mousse.  I am dying to make the Coconut Creme Brulee and the Forgotten Cookies.

I love how  Carmel and Amara write about kitchen tips (something I have written about), traveling, and I also really like the holiday menus.

If you have Celiacs or multiple food allergies, I highly recommend this book.

Also, I am really excited to share with you  my interview with the authors, Carmel Nelson & Amra Ibrisimovic!

• Amra, did you find it difficult to make Bosnian food allergy free? What Bosnian dish was the most difficult to replicate?


  It is very hard to make Bosnian food allergy free, because most of the dishes are made with fillo dough type of pastry. That is hard to replicate with gluten free flour mixes.



• Carmel, since you discovered your plethora of food allergies later on in life, what childhood food do you miss the most? Have you been able to replace that in an allergy friendly way?

I’ve always had a sweet tooth and I miss the decadent desserts from restaurants. Now I just try to make them to suit my allergies. They may not be as fancy, but my sweet tooth is still happy.

• What are your favorite dishes in the cookbook?

Carmel:I eat a lot of salmon as it’s readily available in Alaska in the summer. I can go to a local creek and haul it in, make a fire, and cook it right there creek-side! I also eat a lot of fresh fruit, salads, and an occasional burger. I love trying new meats, particularly local game, like moose, caribou, bear, or reindeer (all part of living in Alaska). What I often do is cook the meats in typical American fashion but with the allergy-free spin, e.g. roasted moose stew.

• Which dishes took the longest to perfect?

By far, the dish that took me the longest to perfect was the cinnamon rolls. I’m a huge fan of cinnamon rolls and I was converting the recipe from a yeast based wheat recipe to a quick bread gluten free recipe. I had tons of failures on that! It took about 6 months to perfect the cinnamon rolls, but I wanted to ensure they were ooey-gooey and cinnamony good!

• I found your “Traveling with Food Allergies” chapter to be most helpful; do you have any travel horror stories to share with my blog reader to help them prevent any glutening mishaps while they travel?

For me, the biggest issue with traveling has been the accidental exposure to dairy, which causes me the most sickness. Gluten is usually easier to identify, but dairy tends to be more hidden in foods, particularly in airport restaurants using pre-packaged foods and staff not knowing the ingredients. Getting sick on an airplane at 10,000 feet on a 6 hour flight is no fun!

• I had such a great time reading your cookbook and cooking from it. The way that the menus were spaced was very helpful. Was it difficult to select what went into the cookbook? How many recipes did you have to pick from?


We were actually creating recipes up until publication date (and have continued to do so, working on book number 2 right now). I have no idea how many recipes total we had to pick from as we tossed some away since they contained some allergens like nuts (which both of us can eat).

Thank you both for the opportunity to interview you and your book is really helpful and insightful.

Pop Chips

I am always on the hunt for great office snacks or additions to my packed lunch (see this past post if you need help). I am becoming a big fan of POP Chips. They are a snack that are rather low in calories, full of flavor and they usually satisfy me until I make it home. I have found that out of the varieties that I have tried, the BBQ is my favorite.

Which is your favorite POP Chip favorite?

Bolthouse Farms Hazelnut Latte

I appologize for the sideways photo, I was too busy gulping this fabulous drink to really focus on my photgraphy skills. However, I suggest that you try this delectible coffee. I downed it in the car one morning and I was bummed that I didnt purchase two. I love hazelnut flavor anything so I was pretty sure this would be love at first sip before I even tried this. I was right. I am stoked to try other flavors by Bolthouse Farms and share them with you soon.

Treehouse Bakery

At the GFXCon I had the opportunity to meet Corianne Sizemore and her staff from Treehouse Bakery. I took home the samples of the adorable mini-cupcakes (one of my ultimate indulgences!) and I could not wait to try it. 

Seriously, look at this packaging.

I asked specifically about how they prevent cross contamination and they prepare the gluten free items first and in a separate area in order to avoid getting us cross contaminated.

The cupcakes were so adorable I almost didn't want to dig in and ruin the cute factor...I said almost...

Here is the scoop:

Chocolate Cupcake: My favorite cupcake! It was rich,moist and sinful! I honestly wish that I had about a million more of these in my house waiting for me to indulge in. SO DELICIOUS!

Mesquite Mocha Cupcake: I love Mocha flavored anything, so naturally, I adored this flavor. It was the culmination of flavors was perfect!

Vanilla Cupcake- This was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it.


Strawberry Cupcake- I liked this one a lot and it had a great strawberry after taste.

All the cupcakes are vegan. The ones I are are obviously GF, I would eat every single one over again! They were that good. I totally recommend the Treehouse Bakery and I hope that you like them as much as I did.

GFXCON: Thoughts, praise and a big Thank You to Kristin Carey!

I am so happy I was able to attend the  the first ever GFXCON! Didn't attend? Don't worry! I have it on good authority that there will be more! There was so much to do at this Gluten Free Convention that there was never a dull moment. There was not only the Expo, there was also Conferences, Cooking Demonstrations, and a dinner to close out the night. I missed some of these events due to scheduling conflicts but in the future I know that I will not want to miss out on the fun!

Who is the mastermind behind the GFXCon? Kristin Carey. Why does her name sound familiar? I have mentioned her prior; she is the owner of Nourish. She is incredible. She keeps bringing fourth new ways for the GF/Dairy free/Soy free/Vegan/Vegetarian/Allergen free communities together in exciting ways. This Conference was the perfect blend of food,education, and fun. I want to thank Kirstin Carey for creating such an all encompassing  Conference.

That said, I am a big supporter of all the GF conferences, I think we (Celiacs), should go to every conference  available to us. The more of us that show up and give the GF lifestyle a face; the more conferences that will appear in your area. This is better for us as consumers. Keep that in mind...

Back to the GFXCON:

This is what the GFXCon looks like when you enter. There were a lot of Vendors and they were all very informative. There was not one that was unfriendly. It was great to see familiar faces like Julia from Julia's Bakery!

I sampled a ton of delicious foods, drinks and tried a lot of new beauty products. Most of the tables looked like this:

This is the Udi's table. I have spoken about my love of Udi's many, many, many times on the blog. A lot of the tables were set up like the Udi's table. Had I not been chatting so much with the awesome vendors, I would have taken more pictures. I am sorry, I was having such a great time and learning so much that I neglected to take photos.

 At the bottom of the post, please check out some of the links I have included for you to look at.  Additionally, I will be posting a lot of new great reviews of products from companies that I wouldn't have otherwise known about, had I not gone to the Expo.

I also met some amazing bloggers! One that I have followed for years and one that I now am excited to read! Please check out these two awesome blogs:

Stephanie- I read her all the time when she was SkinnyJeans! She was so kind and I was very excited to meet her. I love it when readers come up to me and she was very personable. Please check out her latest blog.

Ken-Ken was so nice and he is GF. He is your go to guy for sustainable living the GF way!


While I was at the GFXCon, I happened to catch three speakers. I saw Dan Maakastad, Sous Chef from Nourish, Kirstin Carey, Owner of Nourish and Dr. Kyle Collins from Upper Cervical. Each speaker brought something very interesting and unique to the table. Dan talked about Grain Free cooking, Kristin talked about how to travel without having to worry about getting sick and Dr. Collins spoke about Eliminating toxins.

The Expo made me very hungry! So before I made my journey home, I ventured to Nourish and ordered a meal to go. 

Teriyaki Wild Rice Bowl with ground beef added. Delish! Also, I love the blackboard quote they have displayed.

I had a marvelous time. I cannot THANK everyone that made this event possible enough. I cannot wait for the next one. I was in the best mood all day because of it. I loved the GFXCon!
Every vendor there was great, please check out these websites because I think that they are amazing:

• Celicas Disease Foundation-East Valley Chapter
• I am Fine (Skin Care)
• Gluten Free Country Store
• New Planet Beer
• Treehouse Bakery
• Sprouts
• Lady Of Moore

Thoughts on GF in the workplace

My Lunch for work

I have ditched the busy life of a Stay At Home/Freelance Writer Mom. Yes,by the way, that a pretty taxing existence.  I decided to rejoin my old comfort zone of the daily 8 to 5 and since this is my first time being gluten free in the work force; I was pretty nervous about it. It seemed silly,but I was. I have now been working for a little while and I have seemed to manage pretty well. I will let you all know how things progress in my new gluten free working environment as they go. But here is what I have done to keep from getting glutened at work.

• I pack my desk full of snacks to ward off hunger. Right now, I have gf protein bars and baby carrots...and chocolate. Let's not discuss the chocolate.
• I pack my lunch daily. It not only saves money, but my lunch is made at home in my kitchen that I can guarantee is pretty free of cross contamination. I know what is in my food.
• I researched the local restaurants in the area for my gf options in case I do want to splurge one day and eat out. I know where my nearest gf pizza is, where the closest Sprouts is, etc. This is important to make myself feel "normal". I may not want to eat the same types of foods everyday. After all, variety is the spice of life and being gf shouldn't make me want to be different from anyone else.
• If I drop food on a surface at work, it goes in the trash. I mean, this should just be common sense but sometimes I think we forget. Crumbs are everywhere and so if I drop something somewhere, I trash it.
• I don't share food. I get offered food all the time at work, usually it isnt gf so I decline. I dont accept food that is gf but already opened. I never know if it has already been crossed-contaminated. The only time I will accept is if it is just opened and I can make sure that I wont get glutened.

Those are the tips that I have so far. What are your gluten-free tips for the work place?

Don't Forget! GF EXPO THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Gluten Free eXpo & Conference (and Party)!

 

Here are the details:

 

GFxCon

Gluten Free eXpo & Conference (and Party!)



WHEN: Saturday, August 13th, 10am – 10pm!



WHERE: Optima Camelview Village Event Room & Nourish restaurant. Corner of Scottsdale Road and Highland Ave, North of Fashion Square. (see map at bottom of page) 7147 E Highland Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251



WHY: This one-day-only event will impact your gluten-free, healthy-living life more than any other event you’ve ever attended.



HOW: There are several events you can attend. Attend one or attend them all! It’s your choice!



Space is selling out! Go to the website to sign up! http://nourish123.com/gfxcon/

I AM HAPPY

This photo is from our anniversary, and yes, I am happy. We bought these gf mood stabilizing drinks. They are called "I am Happy". I don't remember anything about the company but the drink tasted like grape and we were happy...Happy to be together, happy it was our anniversary and happy to be alive. Was it the drink? You decide! It is gf! Bonus!

Gluten Free eXpo & Conference (and Party!)

I went to dinner with Steve at Nourish recently for  another delicious meal. Pictured above is my Turkey sandwich with fresh mozzarella cheese added and sweet potato fries. DELISH! Anyway, I saw Kristen, the owner and we discussed an event that I had known about for a little while and I wanted to share with you...

Gluten Free eXpo & Conference (and Party)!

The greater Phoenix area now has two Expos to learn more and Celiacs and the gluten free lifestyle and I cannot be more thrilled. I am so excited to attend this event! 

 

Here are the details:

 

GFxCon

Gluten Free eXpo & Conference (and Party!)



WHEN: Saturday, August 13th, 10am – 10pm!



WHERE: Optima Camelview Village Event Room & Nourish restaurant. Corner of Scottsdale Road and Highland Ave, North of Fashion Square. (see map at bottom of page) 7147 E Highland Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251



WHY: This one-day-only event will impact your gluten-free, healthy-living life more than any other event you’ve ever attended.



HOW: There are several events you can attend. Attend one or attend them all! It’s your choice!



Space is selling out! Go to the website to sign up! http://nourish123.com/gfxcon/

Book Review: Joy Bauer's Food Cures

Joy Bauer's Food Cures is a New York Times Best Seller

About a month and a half ago I thought someone was playing a prank on me, I received an email from JoyBauer.com. The email expressed enthusiasm for my site. I was flipping out. Holy crap. I watch Joy Bauer on TV.  I adore the Today Show not just for Matt and Meredith (when she was on) but also for Joy.

So, back to that email...maybe not Joy herself ,but someone at her company  knows who I am. This is almost like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but healthier...this is the degrees of separation Joy Bauer style. The email asked me to review two books, one of them being Food Cures.

Funny, actually, I was planning on purchasing Food Cures for my migraines since there is a chapter on that. I had no idea that the book even touched on celiacs. I like how Food Cures breaks everything down simply for the reader to follow. Even though Joy is a Nutrition Expert, she does not overwhelm you or frighten you with terminology that one cannot follow. I also feel like her advice is easy to apply to everyday life. Her celiacs chapter was comprehensive and she knew what she was talking about. It is a good starter book for a person that has just been diagnosed and needs answers or a person that has celiacs with other issues, such as myself.
I am using Food Cures to treat my celiacs, migraines and also for weight loss.

I would highly recommend Food Cures to anyone in the Gluten Free community or anyone that just wants to improve their overall health.

Um, where did the fitness post go?

Well, have I been a slacker....yeah, technically I have been. I haven't wanted to recap because I haven't done much recapping. I have been sick. I have been losing weight but it has not been in a healthy way.

I have been to the Dr. a few times for my health issues and we will see what turns up. Anyway, thanks for reminding me to post new workouts....


My advice is to just rotate what I have already posted, switch up the times and the routines so you dont get used to it. Eat healthy and have fun wit it. Also, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Happy 4th of July (and anniversary to Steve and I!)

4th of July cookies the 3 of us made!

Happy 4th of July! I hope all of your awesome GF dreams come true today and you BBQ it up with some awesome GF buns...have you tried Udi's Hamburger or Hotdog buns yet? To die for! I know, that isn't what the Independence Day is about, it is about saving the world from Aliens..wait, no...that was a Will Smith movie.

Also, it is my anniversary with my non-gf bf! How I love him so!

What an awesome day we have in store for us :) We have been celebrating all weekend already!

Parenting non-gluten free children and avoiding cross contamination.

Can you write more about being GF and raising a gluten-eater? I have been scouring the Internet for information about this and can't find much. My wife has just gone GF but our son is a walking gluten bomb (he's 2.5). I prepare as much of his food as I can but there are times my wife has to handle his food ... and him! We're just figuring out how to navigate this new world and the kid part has me tied up in knots. We also have a 5 y.o. daughter who is less of a challenge because I think she's old enough to learn to keep herself non-toxic, so to speak, at least most of the time. Any advice is welcome!
-Jen

I love reader questions! I get them often and usually I can refer the reader to another post on my blog, but this time I couldn't, so I am going to write one! Jen, here is your answer and I hope it answers the question for any other readers I may have. If any other readers have questions, please feel free to send me an email (littleblognotes@yahoo.com).

I too have a child that has little gluten fingers :)  He has learned over time to be careful but he has glutened me on occasion. If I am eating with my boyfriend, I try and have my boyfriend sit next to him to minimize my exposure to his crumbs and his little wandering fingers, since children love to touch the plates of others. If I am eating alone, with him at home. I prepare his meal first and I wash my hands often. When we dine out, I carry  hand wipes and hand sanitizer to clean my hands. Now that he is older, I try and have him sit further away from me on the booth to minimize my exposure to the crumbs. I do not cut his chicken nuggets or food apart with my bare hands, I always use his utensils and then I place them away from mine in order to avoid confusion.

I carry his snacks in zip lock bags and he opens them himself. If they are bags that he cannot open himself, I never tear them open with my mouth. I use my hands and then I disinfect my hands. I clean his hands with sanitizer after.

I find that cleaning my kitchen and his space in the kitchen helps often too, since his spot at the table is always has the most mess :)

Keeping a close eye on them is the most helpful.  I have been glutened the most just by him wanting to try what I am eating, so asking for an extra plate and offering some to your child can spare you a glutening too :)

I hope this helps!

Fitness links to love

 Fit sugar is one of my favorite websites, actually, I like all of the Sugar sites (pretty much). I thought I would post some links to love to get the motivation pumping, maybe even fist pumping since that is aerobic...right?!?

http://www.fitsugar.com/Exercises-Beginning-Runners-Prevent-Injuries-Correct-Form-16253681

http://www.fitsugar.com/Best-Exercises-Toning-Arms-Shoulders-From-David-Kirsch-16154924

http://www.fitsugar.com/How-Fix-Common-Fitness-Mistakes-16130624


http://www.fitsugar.com/Easy-Ways-Burn-Calories-Outside-Spring-16107074

http://www.fitsugar.com/Yoga-Poses-Legs-16023419

http://www.fitsugar.com/How-Celebrity-Brides-Lose-Weight-Weddings-15943073

My go to snack!

It is hard to find a refreshing snack that is healthy and easy to eat on the go. I often find my self turning to frozen grapes. They are low in calorie, they make me feel like I am cheating since they taste sinful, and they are easily transportable.

This is from this past weekend. I are some frozen grapes for breakfast at the pool! Delicious!

Often, I will take them in the car if I am strapped for time and I don't want to hit a fast food drive through. Also, living in Arizona, the weather is pretty hot already. These are like a little frozen treat for my mouth.

Do you guys like frozen grapes?

Better Late Than Never... Stephanie's Birthday Lunch at Nourish!

Blogger has been having issues...so, I have been wanting to post these photos but I have been unable to.


These are from Stephanie's Birthday Lunch at Nourish!

Have you guys seen her cutie baby?

He makes me want to ovulate daily! He is so adorable! My bff is the BEST MOMMY EVER!

Lunch was fabulous! I loved it, I love Stephanie and her family. I adore Nourish. I have been there a few times before. I wrote about my first time, here. This time I ate the Italian Sub.

It was so delicious. Melissa is obsessed with the dressing they use on their sweet potato fries, she even bought some to take home!

It was wonderful to celebrate Stephanie's party. I love her! I think I made that pretty clear on my Ode to her a few posts back! Happy B-Day again!

Tsom

On Sunday, I went to lunch with my Mom. We decided to check out a restaurant called Tsom.

I couldn't find a website to link or a menu to link, so if you are the owner of Tsom email me and I will link you!

When you walk in, you see a salad bar to the side of the resister. The salad bar looked appetizing but I decided to order off the menu. All of the pasta items are gluten free since they strictly use rice pasta. The menu is very clear since they label the gluten free options. 

I ordered the puttanesca and so did my mom.

excuse the sideways photo!

It was so delicious! I devoured it all! I was also pleased to see a sign saying that they had gluten free and vegan cupcakes. I ordered one to go and they were kept separate to keep the cupcakes safe from cross-contamination!

It was very tasty! However, since I cannot refer to a menu, I cannot recall what kind of cupcake it was. I am sorry. I would totally go back if I am in the area again.

Workouts For Week TWO!

If you are just joining us, refer to Week One to start. If not, then please applaud yourself for an awesome week one...that is, if you did every single workout! I did not :(

Read my previous post and learn about set backs, we all have them!

Here are....

Monday:
Elliptical:  30 minutes on aerobic mode- 30 minutes on cardio mode
Weights:15 minutes
Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)

This is what it looks like in case you were wondering. I referred to it in Week One. It kicks your ass.

Tuesday:
-Treadmill: 45 minutes total- 15 highest incline- 15 minutes running-  15 minutes intervals of 3 minutes between running and walking.
 -15 minutes stationary bike
-weights 15 minutes
-Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)
Wednesday:
-Yoga Pilate's Video
- elliptical cardio mode
-Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)

Thursday:
-Elliptical : 30 minutes aerobic. 30 minutes fat burn
- 15 minutes stationary bike
-15 minutes weights
-Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)

Friday:
Elliptical: 45 minutes aerobic,15 minutes cardio, 15 minutes fat burn
Treadmill: highest incline 10 min
Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)

Saturday:
Elliptical: 45 minutes fat burn
Stationary bike: 30 minutes
Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)

Sunday:
Workout video: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (level one)
Yoga/Pilate's video

Weekly Recap from WEEK ONE!

Well, Week One wasn't quite what I wanted, to be honest. When I hit the gym I hit it hard. However, I have health problems that keep me from wanting to go. Two days I didn't make it to the gym because I had migraines that kept me from seeing straight. I actually vomited from them. I napped instead. So, I felt slightly defeated. I am fessing up. I still did the workout videos and  I worked it hard when I did go to the gym. I also clean daily so I think house work is aerobic. I also went to the pool a few times this week. That is body movement. Does that make up for missed gym time? I sure hope so! Week Two will be posted in the morning. I will also be posting the workout videos that are my favorites shortly! I love the email feedback I have been receiving. Everyone keep up the great work! Don't be shy, become a Facebook fan too!

Link to a recipe that looks delish!

4How yummy does a GF-Vegan Apple Pie Granola Bar Sound? It sounds like perfection to me!  I cant wait to make this recipe!


http://www.fitsugar.com/Gluten-Free-Vegan-Granola-Bar-Recipe-16128730

Workouts For Week ONE!

So, as promised I am going to be posting work outs for losing the bulge and getting fit! Last week I hit the gym daily and did 45 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weights. Here is what I am going to do for the official Week One, join me, will you?

MONDAY:

Elliptical: Aerobic mode(30 minutes)
Stationary Bike:15 minutes
Weights: 15 minutes
Workout video : 30 Day Shred (week one segment)

Tuesday:
Elliptical: Manual Mode ( 30 minutes, reverse mode-15 minutes of this time)
Treadmill: 15 minutes on the highest incline
Weights 15 minutes
Workout video: 30 Day Shred (week one segment)

Wednesday:
Elliptical: Cardio Mode (45 Minutes)
Treadmill:(10 minutes on highest incline)
Weights 15 minutes
Workout video 30 Day Shred (week one segment)

Thursday:
Elliptical: Aerobic Mode(45 minutes)
Treadmill (running 10 minutes)
Weights 15 minutes
Workout video 30 Day Shred (Week One Segment)

Friday:
Elliptical: Fat Burn Mode (50 minutes)
Treadmill: 10 minutes on highest incline
Weights 15 minutes
Workout video 30 Day Shred (Week One Segment)

Saturday:
Treadmill: Highest incline 15 minutes/ running 10 minutes
YOGA PILATE'S WORKOUT VIDEO
Workout video 30 Day Shred(Week One Segment)

Sunday:
Yoga Pilates workout video
Workout Video 30 Day Shred (week one segment)

Check out FIT SUGAR, They Have A Post On GF LABELING!

Fit Sugar has a post on GF Labeling, leave comments and see if you agree with their views since they are not strictly a gluten free site!

Glutton's Let's Get Our Fitness On!

I have gained weight. There are many reasons...

• I have stopped working out as much. I worked out every day before, now it is only a few times a week.

During one of my daily work outs before

Swing dancing is a great workout, now I don'r really go.

• I would go swing dancing often, life is so hectic now, that I don't go anymore.
• I discovered this bread that turned me into a carb-o-holic.

 This bread is a serious problem for me.

• The bread, the lack of physical activity, the rise in new gf foods that are delicious (hey, I am not complaining) plus one of the hardest emotional years in my life, has lead to me re-gaining some of the weight I have lost. I will not allow it to stay on!

So, what am I going to do about it? Well, I already have started! I have started hitting the gym and eating better. Every Monday, I am going to post a workout schedule, feel free to join me! I am going to post additional supplemental information here and there to make it easier too. So, Glutton's LET'S GET OUR FITNESS ON! 

Have a gluten free blog?

If you have a gluten free blog and you are NOT already featured on my blog roll, contact me. May if Gluten Free Awareness Month and I believe that we gluten free bloggers should support each other! So, if you want to be on the blog email me. I will be updating the blog roll soon, so don't miss out!


Littleblognotes@yahoo.com  Subject:blogroll

Happy Birthday to my BFF that happens to also be a cutie glutie!

Dear Stephanie,

I am so happy to call you my friend. I cant believe we have been bff's since 7th grade. We have seen each other through it all and we are always there for the good and the bad. I love you and your family! I had such a great time celebrating your birthday with you and your family on Sunday (I wish freaking blogger would let me upload the pictures!).

Since, I am having difficulties with my photo capabilities, I will post a blast through photo past...

On my 24th birthday

Bride and Maid Of Honor (You were the prettiest Bride I had ever seen!)

Times at your parents house !

Aww, have I told you that I think you really found the right guy for you? I do believe that!

Remember this weirdo from your Bachelorette party? Yeah, I would rather forget him too! What a fun night :)

I would rather remember this awesome moment! I adore our friendship! I cherish it!

The three of us at Jacob's 1st B-day party! I cant wait to go to Ben's! Gasp, you are a MOM now!

Man, I only had access to photos I have used on my blogs! I wish I could have posted pics from us in JR High and High School! Happy Birthday! I hope your day is incredible! Everyone wish Steph a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Twitter: @GF_Steph or on her blog:

http://www.gfsteph.blogspot.com/