Running On Empty...No More

This was one of the best weekends I've had in a really long time. Well, mostly just Friday night, but the good time feeling lasted all weekend. It began when friends, Lisé, Lisa, John and hubby Chris, gathered to drive to Philly for dinner and a show. It's been so long since we've done this type of thing with friends and I was really excited to go. It turns out I was more excited than anyone else in the group, but knowing that did not damper the evening. I've been following the band, NeedToBreathe, for quite a while now, and got some great prices on tickets for their show at the Electric Factory in Philly. There are four people in the group, but the below sample is just the two brothers, Bear and Bo Rinehart. Their songs move me in a way that I cannot explain. I have an example I'll share later and you'll see how special they are to me. Check them out - you will not be disappointed. The first treat of the evening was when John volunteered to drive. We all agre

Don't you love those days, ladies, when you just want to graze? Not necessarily on anything in particular, but nothing seems to satisfy? Chocolate helps some of my female friends, but I never did well with chocolate. Wine and vodka, yes, but not chocolate. Every 21 days, a little friend who's not so friendly visits me (yes, THAT friend, and yes, I said 21 days). I'm not a pleasant person the day before, and frankly I could be nicer during the whole darn period. But since I've given up gluten, the snack craze has not hit me. I spent a weekend on retreat playing music for the youth of my church and running to the bathroom every two hours. Oddly, I noticed, I was not hungry nor was a craving snacks like I usually did. This led me to a conversation with a friend who asked, "What in the world do you eat if you are not eating bread and pasta? And what about snacks?" I think back to a few weeks ago and remember how hungry I was during my initial gluten-free days. N

Remember that game? That's me as a mom (except I really don't hit my kids with a mallet, you get the picture, though). In the ever-challenging world of parenting, I'm constantly trying to find a balance between the three kids so that they each feel equally loved and get what they need from me. Often, I am lost in that process. So I'm making a real effort to listen to my inner-voice and quiet my thoughts. But I cannot put myself first most days. It's just a part of motherhood. This post is about NC and Gracie. That's the beauty of parenting, Ben's turn is surely right around the corner. Last week, my poor sweet Gracie was sick with a stomach bug. It was the typical run-of-the-mill puke fest which kept me hopping all through the night on two consecutive evenings. This child amazes me in how predictable she is when she gets these things, but because I'm awakened in the fog of slumber I do not recognize the pattern until it is too late. Every single time.

Today presented a bit of a challenge for me since giving up gluten. I've been wanting chicken fajitas for dinner and have not made it because the wraps are off-limits for me (until I find one on the market that has a decent taste - or learn to make them!) But today, I was pressed for time since my son has baseball practice early and needed to eat, early, so I made fajitas anyway. The filling is totally gluten-free, so I put mine in a bowl with shredded lettuce and it was really good. I'm glad I didn't wait just because of the wrap. And my kids just loved it. Chicken Fajitas Olive oil 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 green pepper, thinly sliced and seeded 1 red pepper, thinly sliced and seeded 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, thinly sliced and seeded 4 cloves of minced garlic 1 tomato, peeled and diced 3 limes 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro Salt Pepper I

Yesterday morning was the most wonderful morning I had in a really long time. I woke up and was not still tired, I had NO abdominal pain, and I felt fantastic! My waist was 2 inches smaller than last week to boot! Boot camp wasn't so bad since I had the energy to get through it. I was tuckered out by 8:30 with several gluten-symptoms coming out, though, so I'm certainly not back to 100%. I promised I would post recipes that I find really good and my first one is a doozy. I'm somewhat of a salad snob in that I only really like homemade dressing and I will only eat it fresh. Now that I'm cutting out gluten, homemade dressing is almost a necessity since gluten is in a lot of salad dressings. This picture does not do the salad justice - my taste buds were partying! It was so good that I had it for lunch today and I do not like leftover salad (I said I was a salad snob). Strawberry & Spinach Salad 2 bunches spinach 4 cups sliced strawb

I love that saying, "You are what you eat."  Tonight, this is what I'm going to resemble: Ever since I started this journey, I've been more and more conscience of what I'm putting in my mouth, and am ever-so-thankful that my nausea has subsided since I've gone gluten-free. I cannot even put into words how awesome that feels. I've been sick for so long that the only comparison I can make is that I feel like a new person. I mean altogether like someone else. I'm still fatigued, but better than before, so I think the Vitamin D is beginning to absorb; I'm still achy in my joints, but better than before. I don't think I've actually lost any weight, yet, but I think that will happen. I'm so hungry since I got off gluten that it just HAS to come off. I don't think I'm hungry from lack of food, but rather a withdrawal from gluten. I've bought a few gluten-free cookbooks and will begin trying to convert some of my classic go-

All things happen for a reason. I have always believed that. Maybe it's the optimist in me and that I actually spend time thinking about all the benefits of even negative situations. You can carve whatever beliefs you want out of any situation, and in doing so, it makes you think differently; and I love to think differently. I may be bent, but not broken, everything happens for a reason. Because if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. What happened that caused me to ponder this belief, you ask? I went to the dentist yesterday morning for a routine cleaning. (BTW, my dentist is awesome - check Dr. Jay out at Wardius Dental ). I passed with flying colors and really enjoyed hearing that I am not needed back in their office for six months. Given the problems my poor mouth has gone through at the dentist's office, this news is such joy to hear. While I was having my teeth cleaned, Nicole (my hygienist) was telling me about all the symptoms she'd been exp

Today is supposed to be "Cheese Day", aka my last supper, but that is not going to happen today. It's only 9:00 am, but a lot has happened already, and buying cheese and ice cream will have to wait until tomorrow. I prepped lunches this morning and sent the boys off to school and work. Then Gracie and I snuggled a bit before she got herself dressed and ate breakfast. After helping her choose a snack, we got in the van as usual to make it to the bus, which was due to arrive within the next five minutes. Except we got about 50 yards past our driveway and saw the mess that was blocking our way to the bus stop. The driver of a horse tractor-trailer was attempting to back up and turn around. It's probably really tough to imagine what trouble that would cause, but we live on a single lane road that looks more like a driveway than a road. I really wish I had thought to take pictures, but I was riveted by the scene. Once the vehicle was done trashing my neighbor's yard