Unleashing Inner Strength

Looking back on how far I've come since this summer when I was in and out the emergency room every few days, I feel a renewed sense of life. I remember how much adversity I've faced head on and come through. I'm reminded that we as humans are survivors by nature, and it's truly flooring what the human spirit is capable of.

Today I just want to post a few things that really inspire me to embrace my inner strength. No food allergies, celiac disease, tumors, or seemingly stressful jobs have power over the creation of my own happiness and full appreciation for life. This world is full of unique blooms and the brightest of rays. Open your eyes and bask in the richness of life.

 

Taken on a road trip with my sister in the Washington state peninsula.

Taken on a relaxing morning filled with the warm scent of cinnamon.


There's always time for being young and silly at heart. I find it vital to my existence.

Spontaneous brunches. My favorite coaster is shown here.

Crazy, fun, wild, love!

You are always stronger than you think.

What things do you deem important in your life?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healing with Allergies, Embracing Life

1. Claritin 24 hour tabs


2. Benadryl Liquid Gels


3. Eternal Naturally Alkaline Water--for re-hydrating and cleansing the body post-allergic reaction.


4. Now Solutions 100% Shea Butter--to soothe the skin when I have a rash break out during my reaction. Warning! Shea Butter does come from the tree nut, so if you are sensitive to tree nuts, I really don't recommend it. The only nuts I am sensitive to are peanuts. And of course, nutty people ;)


5. Epinephrine (Epi-Pen) --I carry this with me at all times.

Relaxing and healing in our favorite cozy spot.

Today I had some accidental exposure to soy while at work. There was a bustling conference of about 30 people zooming around the front lobby I was working in, and they had just ordered a plethora of pizzas, breads, sauces, steaming wings, sandwiches, and more. It wasn't the first time I'd been around a lot of allergens so I thought I'd be pretty much fine...and I was for a short time. That changed quickly when a few people approached my counter with steaming plates of allergen filled food and asked me for some favors. I served them quickly as I felt my throat tightening from inhalation of the steaming food. I made a run for my allergy medication.

The reaction got severe enough to cause twitching, shaking, numbness in the limbs and chest pains even after the throat swelling went down. I actually sat with my EpiPen in my lap for the first time in months. Right now, I'm bringing myself back to health and a good mindset from the safety of my favorite worn in seat on our cushy couch. After a food allergy scare, I remind myself it's okay to feel vulnerable and it's normal to recoil to a safer place. Nourishing myself with freshly made green juice with ginger (natural anti-inflammatory), hot water with lemon, and a comforting plate of buckwheat pilaf is a nice way to return to my spirited self. I find taking some time to heal physically and mentally, or in whatever way suits you best, is more beneficial in the long run than simply trying to play tough and reckless by just "powering through" a reaction and the aftermath. I don't take my health for granted. Not anymore. I treasure myself.

This video by the Food Allergy Initiative illustrates the life of an extremely food allergic young boy. His father speaks of the importance of being aware, growing as a food allergic individual, and trying to find that sacred balance between being careful and thriving happily. It's true to say that food allergic children are different from others, but I believe it's a difference that gives strength eventually, instead of initial fear. A stronger individual emerges from every challenge faced in life, and food allergies are no exception. I have hope for food allergic children (and adults) everywhere, that we will grow brighter in spite of setbacks and supposed limitations. I love this video, and it is very eyeopening to these realities. Let's rally our strength in hopes of a brighter future for our kids and for a food allergy cure.

Watch the video below, or Click the Link here.

What are your thoughts?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peppered Breakfast Bake

A fresh way to start a sunny Sunday.

 

 A late breakfast, early lunch that makes for great energy all day.

Usually my attempts at frittata turn into something better--a scrambled breakfast bake! My refusal to use teflon frying pans (the non-stick that lets off toxins if it gets heated too much) results in the frittata breaking apart. I don't mind though, as I then get to add all my favorite fresh ingredients and have control over how long I cook them. I like to keep things fresh and not cook out too many of the nutrients. The exception is the spinach, which I usually add first since more nutrients are absorbed when it is slightly sauteed.

Peppered Breakfast Bake

{{Soy free, Gluten free, Legume free, Casein free, Nut free}}

• 4-5 eggs
• 1 cup Spinach
• 1 cup Kale (the greens look like a lot at first, but they cook down to a smaller amount).
• 1/2 medium sized onion, roughly chopped or diced.
• 1 Poblano pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup diced tomato
• 2 sprigs fresh dill, minced
• 3 sprigs fresh parsley roughly chopped.
• Salt, Pepper, Dried Thyme, and a Dash of Cayenne.

Saute onions, poblano pepper, and garlic in a pan with olive oil (or coconut oil) over medium heat. Add the spinach after a few minutes, and the kale just afterwards. When the greens begin to wilt, add the tomato and the 4 or 5 whisked soy free eggs. Mix around in the pan just as you would to scramble the eggs, but making sure the veggies and greens are incorporated. Add the salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Take the pan off the heat and add the fresh herbs.

 

What's your power breakfast?

Wishing a sunny Sunday to all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beauty Bag

My picks for the best soy and gluten free beauty products and body care. All of the following have been stated as soy and gluten free either on the website, package, or by my personal inquiries.

1. RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream


2. RMS Beauty "Un-cover up". I use shade 22 usually, but sometimes 33 depending on my skin tone.


3. RMS Beauty Living Luminizer--A staple for natural, simple beauty.


4. Ultrapure Cosmetics Light Reflecting Blush--I prefer Simmering Plum, but there are 6 shades to choose from.


5. Ultrapure Cosmetics Synful Lips Lipstick in Smooch. There are 10 shades to choose from.


6. Ultrapure Cosmetics Omega Brilliance Lip Gloss in Melon Sorbet--SF, GF, Vegan, dye free. Available in 10 shades.


7. RMS Beauty Lip Shine in Moment.


8. Ultrapure Cosmetics Perfectly Natural Eyeliners--Available in 8 shades.


9. Kiss Me Costmetics Mineral Eyeliner--SF, GF, Vegan. Available on Etsy.


10. RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Magnetic.


11. RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Spark.


12. Refreshingly Free Nail Polish--Around 35 shades!


13. Piggy Paint Nail Polish in Somtimes Sweet--Stated gluten, soy, and nut free in the FAQ.


14. Now Foods Virgin Coconut Oil--I use it all over my skin. It's the best moisturizer I've found so far.


15. RMS Beauty Lip and Skin Balm


16. CocoCare 100% Cocoa butter "Yellow Stick"--A great moisturizer and smells so yummy. Be careful with the non-100% versions as I haven't confirmed their soy free status.

It's safe to say my go-to soy free, gluten free products are mainly RMS Beauty.

It really takes the cake, so check out the actual website here: RMS Beauty

Ultrapure Cosmetics is truly amazing too, sending much love and thanks!

What are your favorite allergy friendly beauty picks? Leave me a comment below, and shine on!

Sweet Tooth

From time to time, it's nice to indulge--in moderation of course. Most of these sweet allergen free treats can be found in my pantry on a rotating basis. Many of them are actually lower in sugar or organic sweeteners than normal sweets found in the grocery store. So you can satisfy that occasional craving while not setting your health back. Agave nectar, stevia, and organic fruit juices are some of the sweeteners that can be found in some of my favorite yums...I support a health conscious, and very moderate sweet tooth. The following items are gluten, soy, wheat, peanut, fish, shellfish, egg, and dairy free.

1. Navitas Naturals Cacao powder--I add this to my Brown Rice protein shakes for a healthy boost of flavor with no added sugar. Just pure antioxidants.
2. Navitas Naturals Raw Cacao Nibs--A strong source of healthy antioxidants. Add them to daily shakes, trail mixes flax cereals, gluten free oatmeal, and more. Read about the benefits of Cacao here, at the bottom of the page.
3. Yummy Earth Organic Gummy Bears--All organic and natural gummies. NO artificial colors or anything! Some are even colored with beet juice--but trust me, they taste better than the super sugar laden versions you'd usually find in the candy aisle. Made in an allergen free facility.
4. Enjoy life Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies--Delectable! I compared the sugar content to Chips Ahoy (a popular "regular" allergy laden standard cookie brand) and found it to be about 2 times less sugar per serving size.
5. Glee Gum, Bubblegum Flavor--I am so happy to finally find allergen free chewing gum! About to feel like a 5th grader again in 5..4...3..2...1...
6. Surf Sweets Jelly Beans--Made in a facility free of the top 8 allergens.
7. Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss Ice Cream in Dark Chocolate--They have so many awesome flavors to choose from, and what I especially love is that they use Agave nectar instead of processed sugar. They also refrain from using legumes like Locust bean gum and Carob bean gum (which I react to having soy and legume allergies). I LOVE this brand.
8. and 9. VerMints, in Peppermint, Chai, and many other flavors--Free of the top 8 allergens, and made in a dedicated allergen free facility.

10.  Surf Sweets Gummy Fruity Hearts--Such a cute gift for your allergen free sweetie. No hints here at all.
11. Navitas Naturals Organic Goji Berries--Just raw goji berries and nothing else. A naturally sweet and healthy treat.
12. Enjoy Life Snickdoodle Cookies--Soft baked, chewy, cinnaminny goodness! My personal favorite of the moment.

Remember to indulge responsibly and moderately with all sweet treats.

Wishing you a naturally sweet and magical weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In my Kitchen

Here are some of my favorite soy free, gluten free, legume free go-to items in my pantry and fridge as of late. I love to keep all these on hand for quick easy meals or snacks. These made the top 9....

1. So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk (No Sugar Added)


2. Enjoy Life Chewy Bars, Sunbutter Crunch --A great grab and go snack.


3. Fresh or Dried (Organic) Dill -- one of my favorite herbs that I add to nearly everything.


4. Simply Organic Cayenne Pepper -- I use it to add a kick to my dishes, and as a digestion aid. Almost every morning, I start my day with a warm glass of water with cayenne pepper. Taken 15 minutes before eating, nothing helps boost and clean your system better in my opinion.


5. Ancient Harvest Quinoa -- Made in a dedicated gluten and soy free facility (verified by personal email).


6. Buckwheat -- I buy mine from Meijer, which receives it straight from Poland. I adore Kasha (buckwheat porridge)!


7. 365 Whole Foods Apple Cider Vinegar--There was no link available on the site, but you can buy it at any Whole Foods Market. I take about 1-2 tablespoons daily with a glass of water. It's cheaper than Bragg's brand, and it has no cross contamination with soy that I know of. I reacted strongly to Bragg's apple cider vinegar since it is made on the same line as their soy heavy "Liquid Aminos". I avoid Bragg's for this reason.


8. Olivio Coconut Spread --Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free. So good! It's great for you too, since the main ingredient is healthy coconut oil. I love putting it on my tinkyada pasta and my quinoa dishes.


9. Tinkyada Organic Brown Rice Pasta -- My favorite gluten free pasta by far. They make 18 different types and shapes of whole grain brown rice pasta, including a fun shaped variety called "Little Dreams" which would be definitely make a cute meal for food allergic youngsters.

What are your favorite go-to items in your pantry?

Savory Belarusian Kapusta (капуста)

My boyfriend Y is from Belarus and he truly makes the best Kapusta....meaning Cabbage in Russian (капуста). Belarusian dishes like fried Kapusta (cabbage) are so flavorful, and are only made with fresh ingredients. Y throws everything together with healthy oils and fresh dill--a staple in Eastern European flavoring. It's amazing how great he can make an allergen free dish for me, and for that I say "Spasibo, Ya tebya lublu." ("Thank you, I love you" in Russian). You're my rock.

There are also tons of great recipes from Belarus that feature Bulba (бульба), meaning potato in Belarusian language. A lot of these dishes are naturally gluten-free; Potato pancakes, fried potatoes with dill, and cold salads featuring potatoes are simple to make and are loaded with flavor. They can be made sweet or savory--with applesauce topping or sour cream and spices. Check out a recipe we've made for Belarusian style potato pancakes here.

Savory Belarusian Kapusta (Fried Cabbage)

This recipe is free of the top 8 allergens, sugar, legumes, yeast, and grains.

• 1 head green or purple cabbage


• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved


• 1 cup chopped carrots


• 1 medium onion, sliced


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped


• Olive oil to taste


• Salt and black pepper to taste


• 1/4 teaspoon curry powder


• Hot Option: Dash of cayenne pepper

1. Saute all ingredients and spices in a large frying pan with olive oil until cabbage is tender and carrots are cooked through, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot with herbal tea.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Biggest Decision...

The biggest decision is the one you will probably make the most often in your life....

What will I eat today?

 

Empower and nourish yourself with the power of choice.

It's one of the most frequent choices in life, but is often overlooked. Our society claims to be evolving and growing more educated. In reality, it's come at the cost of being educated about the most basic of human needs; Sustenance. How have we come so far and so behind at the same time? In my opinion, it's a worldwide epidemic.

Processed food fills 80% of the grocery aisles of America and way more than half of them have nearly 30 ingredients. Most of these are sugar laden, chemical heavy, over-processed mush that is artificially colored and flavored to resemble something that looks like it might be edible. What happened to real, sustainable, healthy food from nature? I dare everyone to educate themselves, start reading labels, and take the processed food challenge. Eliminate all processed food with more than 5 ingredients in the label for at least one month (and the second ingredient should not be sugar. You get the gist..) You'll be surprised by the end of the month how much you'll want to stick to the challenge.

What is intelligence and societal growth when the biggest decision is the worst one?

Empower yourself and make the biggest decision an overall intelligent one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~