Brownie Bites via Part Time Health Nut

The pounds are coming back, and I can almost guarantee it is because I am not careful with my food choices.  Poor attitude is also a factor; although, I can’t blame it all on the food.  Lots of starches and sugars don’t help.

It’s been a few days since I tried to make brownies or any other gluten free dessert.  Tonight I have a craving, and I would love to sit down to watch Saturday Night Live with a brownie, cookie or cupcake.

I found a great recipe for brownie bites at Part Time Health Nut.  I can totally relate to Mayra who has been eating healthy, gluten free; however, the cravings just don’t stop.  She creates recipes that are low in sugar.   She substitutes sugar in her recipes with alternatives low on the Glycemic scale.  I know I could learn a lot from her.

So tonight, I turned to one of her recipes.  This one for Caffeine Free Brownie Bites caught my attention.  I get a little nervous when I see beans in a dessert recipe, but I forced myself through the terror and plunged right in.  And, of course, I had to make some substitutions.

Not too many, though.  I still used the beans.  I used the coconut cream.  I guess the biggest change was using chia seeds instead of flax for the egg replacer.  I used half of the normal amount and added some smashed banana and beet.  Yah, you heard right.  I am afraid of beans, but have been experimenting with beet.  I can rationalize my dessert as “healthy” – protein from the beans, and iron from the beet.  YUM!!

I suggest if you try the recipe, follow the instructions.  Someday, I hope to understand how to create my own recipes–perhaps these substitutions will pay off someday.  Tonight’s dessert was good.  It was fluffy like a cupcake, not necessarily a brownie texture.  I’m not a fan of processed sugar substitutes so I substituted maple syrup for the Stevia.  Since Stevia is super sweet, the maple syrup and beet did not create enough sugary taste for me.  I am sure Mayra’s “bites”, if followed well, will create a different experience.  She is amazing!!

I am going to indulge in one more.  Good Night!!

Dinner Rolls, On the Lighter Side

I noticed the last few posts I’ve written have been pretty gloomy, and although I know my weaknesses make me stronger, it can look a little whiny coming through to the reader.   Living life one day at a time really shows me that emotions and situations can change in an instant.  Knowing this, too, can make it even more difficult when you don’t see life changing.

I’m supposed to be giving my life up to the Universe.  This is possible; although, it is easy to get complacent.  I don’t want to be one of “those people” who settle for less, using God’s plan as part of the reason, when the truth is fear paralyzes them from moving forward.  I have felt this fear so many times in my life, so many times I felt there was nothing else out there for me.  So a few months ago I took some initiative and did some research on all my goals – and hit a WALL!

And now I sit here with a headache that I have had for the last 3 days or so.  My teeth hurt, but they don’t hurt all the time.  When the pain comes, it settles on my cheekbone under my eye.  The pain goes away and comes back during certain times of the day or the next day in the afternoon.  Strange.  I am so tired of trying to figure out what is wrong with me.

So, I headed back to the kitchen.

I decided to make something simple like rice and beans.  Then, decided I needed a bread to go with it.  I don’t have enough cornmeal to make cornbread, so I turn to the Gluten Free Goddess!  I found this delightful recipe for dinner rolls:

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2011/03/gluten-free-dinner-rolls.html

Of course, the recipe looks long, but I know if I plunge forward into mixing the ingredients, it will most likely turn out unless I make a minor, or major, mistake.  I have the best results with this website.

I made a few substitutions, not important.  I used up the rest of my cornmeal for the buckwheat (not a big fan)

The consistency turned out like the Goddess mentioned – “batter-like”.  I felt that was a good sign as I followed the rest of the directions (I was to learn later of a direction that I ignored that costs me a perfect dinner roll)

Looks lovely, doesn’t it?

I thought it would be easier to use my muffin cups instead of greasing the muffin tins.  Works with muffins, right?

This is as far as the paper liner will unravel

So I tried placing vegan butter along the sides of the roll to loosen things up. . .

Golden and Delicious!

It didn’t work . . .

Bottom wasted

This gave me permission to remove the tops of three more and chew the inside out as well as I could.  They were delicious!  They would have been the perfect bread if not for battling the muffin cup.

Not too much of a mistake, and I was able to enjoy most of the outcome.

Gratitude – Things are looking UP on the bread experiment

Falling out of Hope

It’s amazing to me how easy it is to fall out of Hope.  I am already discouraged that I am using the word amazing because I am sure there is another word that would fit the description; however, I am not motivated to look at at Thesaurus.  Phenomenal, Perplexing, Discouraging, Revolutionary – hell, its all just a freakin shame that I cannot hold the vision of light at the end of the tunnel.

That “amazing” list of goals at the beginning of the year has floated off into space somewhere.  I haven’t quite tackled any pursuit of mastering diabetes.  I have been too busy researching Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Lewy Body disorder which is what my mother has been diagnosed with so far.  I keep thinking there has to be something else that’s taking over her body and mind; although, these are extreme disorders that are comprised of too many symptoms.  All of them lumped together could quite be the end result of how she is moving around these days.

How is this related to food?  I would love to find out.  I dream of someday proving my theory with today’s nutrition culture.  Too many illnesses today leading to prominent disorders, too many prescriptions given for behavior modification, too many unknowns.  Could our food be the cause or the cure?  Probably both.  Sure, there are other factors such as genetics, but I am more concerned about how we are surviving on a day to day basis and how that is affecting us emotionally and physically.

My mother was in the hospital a few weeks back, and as I listened to her unknowingly exclaim, “there’s nothing they can do for me”, I realized that I also had lost hope last month.  I was excited about participating in an online nutrition course at the beginning of the year.  It fizzled.  I spent weeks searching for an affordable home that fit my dream description – its not out there.  I gave up on finding allergy free recipes and as a result, have not been eating as well as I would like.  This in turn brings out my depression, although, I tell myself I am just going through a phase.

At this stage of my life, the hopelessness I feel is more like a stagnant standstill.  Perhaps hopelessness is not the right feeling.  My mother loses hope in finding a solution for her symptoms.  I, on the other hand, have lost that blissful hopeful feeling I had when I was on a mission to fulfill my goals.  However, I am not in a state of despair.

Where do I go from here?

The only place to go is a state of Gratitude.  I have a place to come home to, with dogs who love to greet me.  I have options when it comes to finding food to eat.  It’s nice to take a vacation from work while taking care of a sick parent.  I still have most of my plants in tact.

The new plant I had purchased in March is a Walking Stick Kale.  I heard it was edible and the stalk of the plant can be dried out and used as a cane.  This is my third one purchased because the dogs seem to really like this particular kale.  Take a look and goodnight.  I am going to sleep with gratitude.

The Money Pit

Suze Orman is on t.v. tonight.  As she leads in to her money talk, she emphasizes the most obvious to me of buying product in order to make ourselves feel good.  The car will make us feel good.  The house will make us feel good.  We are in credit card debt but our friends ask us to go out to dinner, and we want to go and feel a part of, so we put dinner on our credit card.

The reason why this is most obvious to me is because I have spent my whole life hoping to get ahead.  If I can get paid more, if I can get that status at work, if I could buy the best drinks with the premium alcohol in the fanciest glass, then I would feel more important.  I would feel good.

Perhaps most people who also fall into this emotional trap spend their money on more tangible things.  Perhaps its the car, the boat, the house that makes them feel good.  I no longer spend money on fancy bar drinks; however, I am stuck with this yearning to feel good from pricey purchases. Mine, however, are transient, or short lived.

It just seems so ironic that I am tuning in to her rerun tonight as I plunk down on the sofa completely disgusted with myself.  All week, I could feel I was spending too much money.  It snuck up on me compulsively as I needed groceries.  Then, it was coffee, and more coffee, and more fast food, and more spending, with nothing to show for it but a pot belly.

I am escaping.

And what is my reason for escaping?  This week I had a birthday.  I accepted that the Universe is in perfect order with my dreams, even though I am single, unemployed,  and have not found my happy place.  I feel okay with where I am at today, yet I am baking and buying gluten free sugary treats for comfort.  The more sweets I consume, the more I want to purchase until I completely gorge myself with whatever is on hand.  I should stay away from soy, milk and eggs but if it is in the sugary snack before me, I am justifying my pride of avoiding gluten – until my stomach is so painfully bloated that it doesn’t matter if I grab something questionable.

Self-Sabotage

I turn the channel to Melissa McCarthy on Saturday Night Live playing a teacher beating up on college students. This is how I feel now that I have lost my money due to a gambling urge.  I just left the casino shouting out obscenities.  I have lost my serenity, and I chuckle as Melissa McCarthy is taking out her anger on these students by hitting them with basketballs, taser guns, and toasters.

I start to feel even better as Melissa McCarthy dances to a song about ham.

Suze Orman emphasized wanting more time and peace of mind, not having to worry about things due to financial struggles.  I have felt this peace of mind along my journey.  Unfortunately, this week has been a setback which encompasses my health, money and peace of mind.  I am hoping to get back on track tomorrow.  I hope I can get back to integrating vegetables into my meals, discovering more wholesome recipes, and staying away from all foods that are toxic to my body’s system.

I know in order to accomplish these things, I will have to cook at home, which will save me from impulse purchases and questionable take out meals.  My health and my money will be at a better place.

As far as my addictions of wanting “more”, I can only overcome this with a daily conscious effort.  If I work on all the pure things in my life, there will be no room for “more”, and only good things will follow.  I have to believe this.

So tomorrow is a new day.  Tomorrow I can start over and not feel guilty.

The setback does not have to last too long.

Good Night to all.

Why is living in the moment so difficult?

Its amazing to me how the entire animal kingdom can live in the moment, following their instincts.   If they are not searching for their next meal, they are basking in the sun, drifting, or observing what is around them – and they don’t feel guilty or ashamed for it.  They spend their whole life doing what’s in front of them.  Even when they are in flight or fight mode, it is a feeling that comes spontaneously and leaves when the danger is no longer near.

Why is this so hard for the human species to live in the moment?

Granted, we are the most complex species, and I love that we can use our brains for so many intricate details.  We have the ability to rationalize and think ideas through before acting, which is very beneficial at times.  I don’t know if it is true that we only use 10% of our brain, but I do feel us humans could do more with our brains than what is intended. This is only based on my experience, and those that I have witnessed, but it appears as though a good % of our brain is put towards worry of tomorrow, regrets of the past, and my favorite, “what’s on t.v. tonight?” curiosity.

My twelve step program tells me all I have is today.  We don’t regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.  What that tells me is that I can learn from my mistakes so I do not repeat them, but I don’t spend my day regretting what I should have done with my life.  I also know that by worrying about tomorrow, I am in essence “future tripping”.  It creates fears of what if’s, what am I gonna do’s, and how will I’s, that consume my whole day so nothing else is acknowledged or appreciated.

Perhaps the master-minds of today succeed with this “one day at a time” motto.  They may not even know that they are using it because it is a part of their mindset.  A little worry is good because it pushes us to perform better, setting goals along the way.  Perhaps these successors know, naturally, how to push through their fear so they accomplish their goals faster.

For me, I have to practice living in the moment.  I have lived in fear all my life.  I have spent a lot of time trying to prove myself to people.  I have spent a lot of time believing I am not good enough.  I have spent a lot of time wondering what my life purpose is.  All this keeps me from appreciating what is in front of me.

So I practice, practice, practice.

Today I had to practice some more.  I went for a walk down by the creek.   I had a couple of hours to kill and the weather was amazing!  I found myself wanting to look at the time, but I trekked on.  I finally stopped at the edge of the water on a tree stump to eat my orange (oh, yes, this is a blog about food isn’t it? well, I was happy I remembered a healthy snack).

I was tempted again to look at my phone for the time.  Forcing myself to look out at the creek, I observed a duck swimming in the water.  He was coming closer to me, possibly hoping for some bread.  He didn’t like my orange. 

This is where the magic happened.  I began experiencing the moment.  I heard the sound of the rushing water hitting the rocks.  I heard the singing, the fluttering, and the chirping.   I noticed more ducks.

What amazed me is that these little ducks didn’t have a care in the world.  Well, except the possibility of getting some bread.  But they were in the moment.  They have adapted to learn that when someone comes to the edge of the creek with something in their hand, a morsel might come their way.  Then, they go back to dipping their head in the water foraging for bugs or algae.  This particular duck dipped his head a few times and then floated downstream.

And I was able to stay in the moment.

I found another spot by the creek and observed more ducks

I began to talk to them

I realized that I truly take beauty for granted.  Even when I believe I am observant, I miss out on so many little moments in the day.

Heading down the trail, I kept listening to the bugs and the birds, taking pictures along the way

I realize that I am very lucky to be able to take advantage of these little moments.  I should set aside more time for them.  I am still trying to figure out what my life purpose is; meanwhile, I will try to be like the rest of the animal kingdom and do what is in front of me on a day to day basis, without any judgement or remorse.

My Potted Garden March 2013

The rain has finally subsided, and I am finally able to step outside again.

At least til the April showers hit.

Yep, that’s right.  I am a wimpy California Girl who can’t stand the cold.  I am sure there are worst conditions; however, at the sign of any wind or dew drops, I am running for cover.

So it is time to take a look to see how my plants are doing.  I took a peak last month and it didn’t look too promising:

Remember that Aloe Vera plant I tried to save?

A friend of mine gave me another one:

I feel like I have replaced a dead pet.

Remember the basil and lentil?  Well, let’s just say it’s time to move on to better ideas.

I thought my lavender plant would be my best grower; however, when I checked on it 2 months ago, it was already dead.  Gone forever, so I thought.  Until hope shined through when I discovered, a couple of weeks ago, something growing under the crunchy brush:

Do you see it?? Keep looking. . .

This is my kind of plant:)

In fact, that is the answer for me today.  I need to find plants that make their way back even after I have neglected them for a while.  Through wind and rain, sleet and snow – it could happen here ya know.  If I want to grow herbs or any other plant, I am going to have to go for the. . .  what are they called? Perennials? Annuals? I can never remember. . .

Ugh.  More research.  Good news is, it looks like I already have some plants that fit the description:

I am sure a beautiful flower will grow here someday

Mystery plant and succulents

Another mystery plant – LOOK Flowers!!

I won’t forget the herbs:

Thyme – TWO Kinds!!

MINT!!

OREGANO!!

Unfortunately, Copper, the Beast, or perhaps it was the innocent Hershey Girl, decided to eat my best looking horseradish plant.  I do have another one growing and it should thrive:

And if they could stop eating the soil of this one, I might have another mystery plant:

I have another plant to share with you.  It is a type of Kale. Its new and been replaced a few times due to the wonderful Labradors residing in my home that quickly sniffed it out and gobbled it up.  The survivor is out of eyes’ view so I hope I remember to water it by next post.  Not sure if it is a perennial, annual or mystery; but I will share with you soon.

For now, I am just happy I have not killed everything in the back yard.

Sweet Cravings – Quinoa “oat” Cookies

It’s that time again.  Time to make cookies.  Every night about 9 o’clock, I get the urge to bake cookies.  Or brownies.  Or cake.  Oh, I need to satisfy my sweet tooth.  The problem for me is I have issues with food.  I make something sweet.  I eat it.  All of it. Despite how well it turned out.

This will probably be one of those times.  I turned to the Gluten Free Goddess tonight for some inspiration.

Right after watching Lazaro on American Idol, I started putting together some ideas on what I wanted to create in my kitchen to satisfy my urges.  I found this: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

What I have noticed about the Gluten Free Goddess is this: Don’t mess with the recipe!!  She has some wonderful recipes, tasty, inventive, amazing!   Since I am such a novice, I can only blame any mishaps on myself.  And it doesn’t help that I cannot simply follow a recipe to its exact direction.

It’s not like I can’t follow directions.

Well, yeh, maybe it is.  I can be a rebel sometimes, and since I am too scared to break the law, I get my opportunity to break the rules in the kitchen.  Sometimes, when I change something, it is merely for taste.  Perhaps there is something in my kitchen that will really add some zest to a recipe.  Tonight it was my almond extract instead of vanilla.

But it didn’t stop there.

A lot of times, I just don’t have all the ingredients listed at 9:00pm – and since I didn’t prepare, I try to utilize what I have.  First of all, I didn’t have quinoa flour.  Yay, for me, for having quinoa flakes though.  I used quinoa flakes as the recipe called for, and then used almond flour instead of the quinoa.  That shouldn’t be too bad, right?

Then, I took a look at the sugar.  Not much sugar in my cupboard.  I have been trying to stay away from “refined” sugar.  I believe I, eventually, will turn to some natural sugars instead of what’s in the bag.   Tonight I had raw turbinado sugar instead of organic brown sugar, which the recipe called for.  Not much, though – It measured about 1/2 cup and my plan was to add some extra agave/maple syrup later on – and I did.

The egg replacer I used was 1 Tbs flax meal with 3 Tbs of water (standard for one egg).  At the last minute, I prepared the 2nd egg with 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of vinegar to the flax egg that had been sitting.  I was especially proud of my eggs.  I don’t think they caused a problem with my recipe, this time.

Where I believe I went wrong with this recipe was when I replaced the olive oil with grapeseed oil.  To tell you the truth, I haven’t really been too happy with this grapeseed oil since I bought it.  I think this was the final straw.

I bought my 8 oz olive oil at the farmer’s market for $8.00 (wow, in writing, that sounds like an awful idea).  I wanted to know the difference between “good olive oil” and the stuff at the supermarket.  So, to use all my olive oil in this recipe didn’t seem right.  I used my grapeseed oil instead.

I was really happy to see the batter come out.  To see all the ingredients stick together brought tears to my eyes.

Then there are more tears when I form the cookie balls and I feel the oil coming out onto my fingers.  My intuition comes in a little too late as I realize the oil might actually be the cause of crumbly cookies.  Looking back, perhaps I should have used less oil since I used less sugar.

The cookies look pretty good coming out of the oven.  Almost look like a real cookie, don’t they?

Oh, I forgot to mention that I did not have chocolate chips.  So, quite a variation of the Goddess’ cookies.  No wonder she is The Goddess!  I suggest you follow her recipes as best you can.  I have, with better luck, baked her Banana Cookies with a few variations and they have turned out moist and delicious.  Looks like a cookie, taste like banana bread in a cookie mouthful. Yum!

As for my cookies tonight, I will probably eat them all despite the mishap, as I throw such few not-so-perfect baked goods in the garbage. I think it is best, however, to change the name of my variation of this recipe to crumb-y cookie

Enjoy the Gluten Free Goddess links.  May you have better luck than me with the recipes.  Perhaps next time I will experiment with dinner to stay on the health train.  Good Night!

Red Apple Lipstick

My misery with makeup dates back as far as I can remember using it.  As with food, it took me some time to figure out that my eye irritations were caused by the product I placed on my lids and lashes.   As with alcohol, the allergy reactions progressively worsened as years went by.

In my twenties, I spent hours plucking out my eyelashes – I thought it was a nervous condition.  The plucking ended when I no longer purchased waterproof mascara.  I’ve spent top dollars for eye product, as well as foundation and lip stick.  With lip stick, I struggle to find the right color or texture.   I have also purchased bottom line products for a $1.00.  The result is always the same – my body reacts to it.  Sometimes the reaction is a little itchy irritation, drowsiness or dry eye.  Other times it includes headache, heavy fatigue, or, the worse scenario – cold sore.  So, I have lived with the fact that I could resemble a pale, sickly redhead without makeup, or with makeup, appear as though I have contacted leprosy.

Today I know that the top allergens are a big cause for my discomfort with these products.  That is why I was so excited to try Red Apple Lipstick!   They are lab certified Gluten Free, Paraben Free, Soy Free, and Vegan.

The Red Apple Lipstick company started with a gentleman by the name of Jay Adam Harper (read the story here) .  His desire was to make the safest lipstick for gluten intolerants.  After succeeding with lipstick, the company moved on to eye shadow and now are working on a foundation line.   I had stumbled upon them online, interacted with them on Facebook, and had the opportunity to get up close and personal at the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo.

The perfect place to sample the make-up products, Andrea, Jay’s wife, applied vibrant colors on my eyes and lips.  The lipstick felt fabulous – smooth, soft and glossy without that balmy, sticky texture.  When I rubbed my lips together, the color stayed consistent with its luxurious shine.  My lips looked moist and kissable.

When I got home, all my friends and family were wow’d by my appearance.   I had never received so many compliments from wearing makeup before.  Perhaps I had finally found the right make-up line for me!

With 56,000+ likes on Facebook and growing, I wish I could say that I did not have any allergic reactions.  I do love the product, the customer service, and the allergy free authenticity;  however, even with the great reputation, my body still had side effects to the product.

I experienced a headache and sore throat the first night I had the makeup.  The next day, my headache remained and I knew it was time to do a little trial and error to see if I could have possibly picked up some virus, or allergy from some unknown source.  It had been a long weekend and there was definitely a possibility of headache from fatigue, or lack of nutrition.

The first thing I did prior to using my purchase was wash my current brushes thoroughly.  I did not want the possibility of any other eye shadow residue coming into contact with my allergen free selection. By the end of the evening, I had a migraine.  Again, I thought of all  other possibilities – dehydration, fatigue from the weekend, not eating enough healthy foods.  Oh, please don’t be the makeup. I noticed a sore throat.  How could this be possible?

The next day, I decided to go without makeup.  I had awakened with another migraine and extreme body aches; however, after taking a shower and drinking some coffee, the migraine went away.  Oh, thank goodness!  So a couple days without makeup, feeling good, and then back to the eye shadow and lipstick.

I play this trial and error game often when experimenting with a new food or body product.  I try it for a couple of days, stop taking it, go without, try to eliminate other problem triggers, and then go back to it. If I continue to have the headaches, fatigue, sore throat or other ailments, I try without again.  I continue to play the game even though I am certain of the effects, until my body hits bottom and says “I can’t take this anymore!!!”  and goes into complete pain shock – then I know there is no other possibility.  Sounds a little crazy considering my intuition is usually correct the first questionable time, but I want to prove the theory, like any other science experiment.

I even experimented dabbing Calendula cream under my eyes to ease the itching for a short time.  Dry eyes, but no headache, the first time I tried it.  Tried again another day without the ointment and my headache came back to haunt me, again.  The headache always seems to win the war.

I really wanted this to work because I looked freakin’ fantastically beautiful!!!

I don’t usually boast, but hey. . . gotta flaunt it when ya got it

Baffled by the results, I examined the ingredients for the lipstick and eye shadow. They share a few similar components:  Titanium Dioxide, Hypericum Perforatum (St. John’s Wort) Extract, Mica, Iron Oxides.  I do not know what most of these ingredients are, but it has me imagining what has caused this irritation.

Not all side effects come from chemicals or toxins.  Red Apple Lipstick uses a lot of natural ingredients, such as St. John’s Wort, camomile and grapeseed extract, shea butter and jojoba seed oil – I would not discredit any of them.  I have used “all natural products” in the past and have still found some kind of irritation with them.

The reality is I am super sensitive red-head.  The only way I can describe it is by comparing it to someone who is allergic to strawberries.  It is a natural fruit, not part of the allergen food chain, yet some people just cannot tolerate it.  I can’t say “don’t eat strawberries.  they will kill you”, yet to some, this might actually be the case.

I value the ethics of this company and encourage others to try the Red Apple Lipstick line, despite my misfortune.  I know others who enjoy this product with no problems.

Now, please share your story with Red Apple Lipstick.  Have you used them?  What was your experience?  Are you excited to try their foundation line?  I want to hear from you.

Zest Bakery

If you are ever in the San Francisco area, you have got to try this quaint little bakery located at 1224 Arroyo, San Carlos CA.   They offer breakfast and lunch items, including pastries, soup, sandwiches, and featured menu items of the day – all gluten free.

I was too busy looking at their display case, filled with cakes, muffins, breads, and scones, to take note of their lunch items.    A bay area local told me their sandwiches were to die for – another reason to take a road trip, stop in and try one, soon.  You can take a look at their new sandwich menu here.

What I did purchase was the vegan, GF brownie and a vegan, ginger orange muffin.  The muffin was dense, similar to what I would find with my vegan muffins; although, it wasn’t heavy.  And very moist.

I apologize for the blurry picture of said muffin.  I was taking pictures while driving, as I could not hold out on the great taste once I started biting into it.

Most gluten free shops tend to be a little pricier than other bakeries, but I noticed their prices were realistic.  Most people probably spend more at Starbucks.  Their staff is very accommodating, which is another reason why this picky girl will be back for more.

Branching Out

Getting out of my comfort zone can require a huge effort.  I knew when I signed up to volunteer with the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo that I was branching out into a new world.

For one, volunteering for any event is a huge step for me because I can be quite shy and fearful around strangers.  For another, having the courage to attend this event while being of service opens doors for my self-discovery and/or potential career change.

This was the first year the GFAF Expo branched out to San Francisco.  Jen Cafferty and her staff do an excellent job on organizing this event.  I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the experience.  If you missed it, you can check out the other locations throughout the United States in 2013:

Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Secaucus, NJ and Dallas, Texas.

Turns out the GFAF Expo was the perfect place for me to begin my volunteer services.  I had the opportunity to branch out to other bloggers.  I was surrounded by people like me who struggle with auto-immune disorders, allergies, and other impurities.   I gained insight on a new direction for my career path.

Friday night, I had the opportunity to attend the Schars Blogger Event.  This was a special night for bloggers only.  We met the night before the event, ate gluten free snacks, and heard feedback from three great role models.   I arrived in time to hear The Celiac Diva speak on maximizing your partnerships.  It was the perfect motivation talk to open myself to the public, meet new people, and share similar experiences.

The angels are always looking out for me, and Friday night they directed me towards a new friend.  She’s known as Celiac Hashi Girl on Facebook, but she also blogs at http://lifefoodme.blogspot.com/.  She introduced herself to me and right away shared some similar experiences she had with her blog that I have concerns with.   I admired the way she interacted with other people, making herself available to the vendors and other bloggers.

I talked to her before I left on Sunday and complimented her on her social availability.  She made a comment that sounded to me like she, too, was branching out of her comfort zone.

I guess I am not so special after-all. 

We all have to start somewhere.  If we settle for a common lifestyle, just so we don’t have to feel uncomfortable, we keep ourselves from acknowledging our potential.   It is only by facing our fear that we will really know how far we can go.

As one of my dearest friends used to say, “if you reach for the stars, you will never end up with a pile of dust”.  I think he quoted that one, but it’s one of my favorites