Gluten-free Red Lipstick Shootout-- featuring Red Apple Lipstick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VfCZHEwjSs

I recently compared and contrasted some of Red Apple Lipstick's fabulous new fall (gluten and allergen free) red lip colors with a few of their previously released colors in what I like to call a Red Shootout! I don't know which is my favorite as they're all unique and have their own beautiful undertones and twists on shades of red. In my quick little shootout video, I feature six shades of red and one berry/red lip gloss. Below I'll describe and compare the features of each one since the video is shorter and just a small visual overview. All of the products featured can be found at redapplelipstick.com

Red Apple Lipsticks Featured: (in video order)

• Red! 101 - This is the epitome of a classic red lipstick! It was the first color I ever bought from RAL and easily one of my favorite and most used colors. It's a blue based red that has the perfect amount of creaminess and shine. This really looks great on a variety of skin tones.

• Strawberry Lips - Closer to a wine color of red, Strawberry Lips is darker and has more brown undertones than Red! 101. Compared to Barcelona, it's slightly lighter in color and with less brown/orange tones in it. It has a silky finish with no sparkles but nice shine. It can be worn more sheer or darker depending on the number of coats applied.

• Light My Fire (new fall 2013) - The name of this one says it all! Light My Fire is a pretty and glowing coppery red with little shimmers that remind me of a warm fall bonfire. I really love how it slightly sparkles in the sun or shines at night.

• Ravishing (new fall 2013) - This bold red is described by RAL as "luxurious" and "crimson". I agree! It has fantastic color payoff as part of the instant color collection and is darker than Red! 101 and Strawberry Lips. I love the depth of Ravishing, and I think it even makes my teeth looks whiter when I wear it! I apply it with a lipbrush.

• Barcelona (new fall 2013) - This is such a great name for this one, it reminds me of a warm Spanish brick color. I think the brown/orange tones in this red would flatter a lot of different skin tones and it's a great color to play with intensities (sheer vs. bold).

• Fierce (new fall 2013) - The best bold and deep red/purple wine color ever! Fierce looks ultra dark in the tube, but applies lighter. I regularly use a lip brush to apply this vampy color for more accuracy--I don't want to go out of my lip line with such a bold color. While some women might think it's too dark for them, I say think again. You have total control of how light or dark you want the color to be since it's a mineral lipstick. I think a vampy dark lip in the fall/winter months is so chic!

• Berried Treasure (mint 2 be gloss) - I love this minty gloss and use it almost daily! It's a true berry color that is a little more on the sheer side, but with tons of shine and sparkle to brighten up your look. I paired this gloss over Strawberry Lips and got a great shiny mauve color! This gloss would look great on everyone in my opinion. It also contains added vitamins for great lip health and moisture around the clock.

Which gluten-free red lipstick is your favorite??

(Tip: Regularly exfoliate your lips of dead skin cells using RAL exfoliate stick before applying lipstick for an ultra smooth finish).

**Also worn in the video on my eyes: Red Apple Lipstick Mineral Eyeshadow in "Down the Earth" all over the lid and "Silver Lining" on the inner corners of my eyes and just under the brow bone for a natural awakening glow.

G-Free Spotlight: Jennifer Esposito's NYC Bakery

If I ever find myself in New York City, I'll be making a definite trip to actress Jennifer Esposito's gluten-free organic bakery. Her story of overcoming adversity is such a dose of inspiration as she fought unfair treatment concerning her Celiac disease by former employer CBS on the set of "Blue Bloods". After CBS allegedly ignored Jennifer's physician requests for her to work a temporary reduced work schedule, she collapsed on set due to complications from Celiac related symptoms. Read more about her story on her website Jennifer's Way, which is dedicated to Celiac advocacy and support. Jennifer's Way bakery offers everything from bagels to cakes, breads, and cinnamon rolls -- all free of gluten, soy, dairy, and refined sugar! If you're ever in NYC, I highly suggest you go check it out and say hi to Jennifer. In her words, "Food should be enjoyed, not feared!" Check out the full menu here.

 Photo credit: Jennifer's Way

Special Guest Post: Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Happy official fall! I'm stoked for sweater weather, apple cider, warm bonfires, and of course college football (go blue!). Nowadays, this time of year reminds me of hanging out with my sister and my brother-in-law on the weekends while they lived ten minutes away during grad and law school. Now that they live a little further away, I miss them like crazy! But the times we do share now are always just as special. I'm lucky to have an older sister who is my best friend and is so very inspiring. I'm excited to share her first guest blog post with all of you. So without further ado, here she is!

LNG:

Hello--this is Lindsey, Bethany's favorite (and only, haha) older sister!  I hope you enjoy my first guest post on her blog--I have been waiting for the perfect first recipe to share with all of you.

A bit about myself: I am a lawyer living and working in Michigan with my husband/best friend Joe.  Like Beth, I am on a strict gluten free diet, which I started in August 2009.  I feel very fortunate to have Beth as a resource through all of the challenges of living gluten free.  Really, our mutual need to be gluten free has been a blessing in disguise, because we are closer to each other than ever!

On to the food....

It's starting to feel like FALL in Michigan!  So of course, I have been craving all things pumpkin.  Pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread...they are all on my list.  Last Saturday morning, I woke up with the pumpkin craving and Joe wanted chocolate chip pancakes.  So, we combined our cravings for an awesome batch of pumpkin pancakes!  These pancakes are very moist--almost a cake-like texture.  Please forgive the slightly overcooked pancakes mixed in with the properly cooked pancakes--I got distracted during 1 batch!

 

This recipe uses pumpkin butter instead of pumpkin puree.  Pumpkin butter isn't really "butter"-- it is basically a concentrated form of pumpkin puree, cooked down slowly with spices and sugars until it reaches a spreadable consistency, like butter.  As a result, it is quite rich and contains a ton of pumpkin flavor for the amount you need to use in a recipe.

I got brave and made my own pumpkin butter at home using pumpkin puree, apple cider, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice.  Here's the finished product!:

However, the recipe I used was very time consuming and I would not recommend it unless you want to stand stirring your bubbling, splattering pot of pumpkin puree for over an hour.  Instead, I would recommend picking up pumpkin butter at a specialty food store like Trader Joe's--I believe theirs is under $3.00 per jar.

You could probably substitute pumpkin puree for the pumpkin butter in this recipe--but I would guess you would need to add more of the Pancake Mix because the puree will be much more watery than the pumpkin butter and more pumpkin pie spice.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Yield: about 15 pancakes.

• 1-1/2 cups Pamela's Pancake Mix
• 1/4 cup pumpkin butter
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups water (add slowly)
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or up to 1/2 cup for more chocolate-y goodness!)
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Maple syrup for serving

1. Whisk eggs in a large bowl.
2. Add pumpkin butter and oil and whisk together until smooth.
3. Add pancake mix and stir together lightly, then slowly add water until you reach your desired pancake consistency.  I like mine to be a bit thick so the pancakes don't run all over the pan when I measure them out--if you like thinner pancakes, you can add more water.  Then, stir in the pumpkin pie spice and chocolate chips.
4. Heat your non-stick frying pan over medium.  Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray (I usually don't need to do this with my non-stick + Pamela's, but I noticed this batch sticking a bit--probably due to the pumpkin).
5. Measure 1/4 cup of batter per pancake and pour into pan.  Cook on side one until lightly browned, then flip and do the same for the reverse side.  Serve with warm (100% PURE) maple syrup.

 

Gluten-free sisters, and best friends!

Friday Links - Have a great weekend!

Happy Friday! Today I'm savoring probably one of the last warm weather days/weeks around here and remembering the great times I had this summer. I had a blast visiting my family and getting up north to Alpena, which is always the best place ever no matter how far I travel. I snapped some great photos of the fam which I enjoyed looking back through. My cousin Nathan is pictured above looking dapper before we engaged in a traditional intense game of thunder and lightening and my aunt's fabulous summer sangria. Have a great weekend, and enjoy these end of the week links I'm loving!

For the kiddos, 5 gluten-free back to school snacks

I'm all about the pumpkin come fall. This healthy pumpkin and spice quick-bread with nuts (vegan/gluten-free) sounds so good.

This gluten-free, soy-free sweet and sour chicken with rice is on my to-make list.

The 14 Best (and worst!) Gluten-free Beers. I love St. Peter's way too much!

GO girl! 2-time "Cupcake Wars" winner shares gluten-free dessert recipes. Totally need to step up my gf cupcake game.

A fantastic blog, "A House in the Hills" is written by a woman with Crohn's disease. Can't believe I've never read this one before!

Updates - gluten-free Tim Horton's and Niagara Falls

School is in full swing again! And I love it! If you would've said to me (anytime before now) that I'd love microbiology and biochemistry this much I would've said you were mistakenly referring to my twin sister. And you would've said, nuh-uh, you don't have a twin sister. And I would've said, exactly. I can't believe how much different of a person I am these days but it's a welcome change. I'm currently prepping applications to other graduate schools in nutrition to finish my masters degree and this includes taking the GRE...so if you've been wondering where I've been, it's been a hassled/sometimes procrastination-filled juggling act of trying to stay focused and kick butt. I will hopefully get back to a normal-ish sschedule of posting next week just to challenge myself to be better at being in a better state of being. Or something like that.

While on a trip to Niagara Falls, ON with Y, we had a leisurely "breakfast" in a little cafe area just across from the falls. The view was amazing to say the least and I finally got to eat something from Tim Hortons for the first time in my life. While in Canada, right? The gluten-free (pre-packaged!) coconut macaroons are a little less healthy than the things I usually put in my mouth but I was on vacation and was grateful for the safe menu option. And the consensus in the gluten-free community seems to be two thumbs up for taste as well as price tag. I have to agree! Have you tried Tim Hortons gluten-free coconut macaroons yet? I'm tempted to make my own version at home, sans processed sugar and frosting. Until next time--here's a few snaps from our trip to Niagara.

Y and I at the horseshoe falls.

Gluten-Free Zone -- Murraysville, PA.

During the end of June this summer, my fiance and I took a fun road trip to Philly to visit his family. On the way home, we were able to stop by a charming little cafe in Murraysville, PA (just outside of Pittsburgh) called Gluten Free Zone which was amazingly 100% gluten-free! There were loads of allergy friendly and gluten-free groceries and a wonderful in house cafe/bakery. I actually had trouble deciding what I wanted to eat which is not a problem I'm used to having (but a welcome one at that). What I loved about this place besides it being dedicated gluten-free was the friendly staff and the story behind the business. The owner's daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease after some health struggles and the family pulled together to support her new positive gluten-free journey. They set out to make delicious, high quality gluten-free and allergy friendly food options and I have to say, they certainly achieved that! You can read more about their story here. I ordered a gluten-free, soy-free pizza and a tomato bisque soup while my non-gluten-free fiance had a gluten-free sub sandwich that he said was amazing. The pizza was one of the best I've ever tasted and our visit made for two happy and full road trippers--reaction free!

We sat down on the cute patio just outside the cafe to enjoy our meal and I was amazed by the total dedication of the shop to keeping the area free from gluten and allergen contamination. Positioned clearly on our table was a sign (pictured above) that stated in bold letters, "Due to Food Allergies, For Gluten Free Zone Customers Only". I felt super cared for, understood, and very surprised in the best way possible. They take their customer's safety seriously and that deserves big applause my friends. Basically, this place is a gluten-free dream and ranks among the best to my knowledge and consideration. Check them out in Murraysville, PA!

I found out about Gluten Free Zone by checking for gluten-free restaurants and shops on the Find Me Gluten-Free iPhone app and website. This site is a serious gem and I highly recommend it for any gluten-free traveler. Thanks to the Find Me Gluten-Free team!

Allergy-friendly Summer Beauty Bag (gluten-free, soy-free)

Throughout the life of this blog, one of the most requested topics has been allergy friendly, toxin-free, gluten-free, and soy-free cosmetic alternatives. Not surprisingly, these products have proved challenging to find in the past. Today, there are many great products and awesome companies bringing us safe and beautiful collections that not only highlight our natural beauty, but keep us reaction free in the process! What goes on the skin sinks in, so being mindful is key. I've spent a good deal of time perfecting my own safe beauty bag and I'd like to share my favorite trusted brands and products with everyone in hopes of shedding some light on this popular topic. (Note: The following comments are my own unsolicited opinions). If you're new to my site, this is kind of a part-two to an earlier post I did on products in my beauty bag. Be sure to check it out for more information.

Top Gluten-free, Allergen-free Cosmetics Brand:

RED APPLE LIPSTICK

I discovered Red Apple Lipstick some time ago and I'm excited to say they are definitely my favorite cosmetics company by a landslide. The owners Jay and Andrea Harper are fantastic to their customers and are real innovators in toxic-free products. I recently was named the winner of their Red Apple Girls Instagram photo contest and was featured in an ad on their facebook page which can be seen here. Not only do they have amazing lipsticks, glosses, and eye-shadows, rumor has it a mascara is in the works! Check out their YouTube Channel for some great tutorial videos put together by Ashley from Red Apple Lipstick, and a few other videos from Jay, Andrea, and happy customers. Allergen-free, gluten-free, Vegan, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and awesome...what's more to love? (Picture above left: Wearing a matte lip in Secrets and using Silver Lining as an eyeshadow and face highlighter).

Favorite Red Apple Lipstick products for summer:

1. Lipstick in Sunkissed
2. Lipstick in Secrets
3. Lip-gloss in Diamond Sands
4. Lip-gloss in Amor Caliente
5. Eye-shadow in Down to Earth
6. Eye-shadow in Vamp
7. Eye-shadow in Siren

-Pictured from left to right: Red Apple Lipstick Lip-glosses in Diamond Sands, Hot Mess, Berried Treasure, Fuzzy Navel, Amor Caliente, and Nude Peppermint.-

Other Gluten-free, Soy-free Top Picks (shown above):

1. RMS Beauty -- "Living Luminizer" (shown top left) is one of my favorite products and is a great highlighter for a natural glow on the skin. It is rich in coconut oil and vitamins for the skin. I use it almost daily. Also pictured is a cream eye-shadow in Magnetic (bottom center) which is a lovely metallic prune shade.  RMS "un-coverup" is amazing as a light-wear foundation as well (not pictured).


2. Ultrapure Cosmetics, Mineral Makeup -- Flawless Finish Powder Foundation in Beach Babe (pictured with brush) is the perfect shade for my skin and is very lightweight. It lets your natural skin shine through and just helps to even out the tone throughout. Ultrapure Cosmetics carries a great pressed powder foundation, (shown in the very first photo upper right), safe mascara, eye-shadows, face cleansers, and eye-liners.


3. Physician's Formula -- While some of their products aren't labeled gluten-free, a lot of them are clearly labeled and can be found in most cosmetics sections in major stores. I use the Super BB All in One Powder with Zinc Oxide sunscreen and absolutely love it. It's gluten-free, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, and fragrance-free. It isn't specifically listed as "soy-free", but I have never had a soy reaction to it despite being very sensitive. I also use the mineral bronzer (shown in the very first photo far right) and eye-liners designed for hazel eyes (also shown in the very first photo upper right). Physicians Formula has a large range of products, so be sure to read the ingredients. Some products do contain soybean oil and I stay away from those. They are clearly labeled.

Pictured from left: Red Apple Lipsticks in Secrets, Strawberry Lips, Red!, Ultrapure Cosmetics Lipstick in Delicate Plum, and Red Apple Lipstick's Lip Exfoliate product.

What are your favorite non-toxic, allergen-free, gluten-free beauty finds?

Soy-free Vegan Pad Thai (Gluten-free)

I apologize for the photo quality, as I didn't have time to grab my DSLR the night I made this. Plus the lighting in my kitchen was less than ideal for a quality photo-shoot (it was after 10:00pm). So without further ado, here is my take on a soy-free pad thai using my favorite soy sauce replacement; coconut aminos! Coconut aminos is made from the sap of the coconut tree and has a softer, but similar taste to soy sauce. It's quite salty but is minimally processed and rich in essential amino acids, especially the raw enzyme rich Coconut Secret brand (my unsolicited opinion). I splash it onto warm brown rice noodles with stir-fried veggies and spices for instant delicious take-out worthy food--all while enjoying a night in. I know authentic pad thai doesn't usually incorporate curry, but I love the warmth it adds to the dish and since I don't use fish sauce, I decided the curry could give it a unique kick in the place of it. I also add kale for some green goodness and an unexpected healthy twist.

Soy-free Vegan Pad Thai (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan).

• 1 box Thai Kitchen Brown Rice Noodles (or your favorite gluten-free long, skinny noodles).
• 1 can organic diced tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh kale
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for coating noodles later (optional).
• 1/3 cup sliced water chestnuts
• 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons coconut aminos (or more to taste).
• 2 teaspoons Simply Organic curry powder (or your favorite brand of curry powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 2 tablespoons water from the noodles (adds starch to thicken the sauce).
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

1. Using a saucepan filled with hot water, soak the Thai kitchen brown rice noodles for at least 5 minutes to soften. (I use the whole box, which consists of 4 individual packets). Be sure to save 2 tablespoons of this pasta water after soaking is finished to add to the sauce.
2. While the noodles are softening, add olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the onion, garlic, and water chestnuts and heat for about 2 minutes or until onions are slightly softened.
3. Add the diced tomatoes from the can, (fresh can be used as well, but the juice from the can helps create a nicer sauce), kale, pine nuts, spices, and coconut aminos. Saute over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Add the softened brown rice noodles and any additional olive oil to coat them and reduce sticking. Mix well over low heat for 2-3 minutes.
5. Optional: For a spicier dish, add a dash of cayenne pepper right at the end and mix thoroughly. Serve hot.

Spiral Cucumber "Noodles" with Balsamic and Bleu Gorgonzola

My soon to be mother-in-law gifted me an amazing spiral slicer for my birthday this past May. I first saw this unique kitchen tool used by the always fabulous Mimi Kirk in her raw cookbook, Live Raw.  Ever since then, I had the itch to experiment with making my own veggie "noodles".  I thought they'd be a welcome change of pace from regular gluten-free pasta, something I tend to make at least once a week.

Now that our summer garden currently resembles a wild jungle of produce, we have more cucumbers than we know what to do with--which is a fantastic problem to have. Using the spiral slicer, I grabbed a few fresh large cucumbers and spun them into something I'd like to call "un-spaghetti". I left the dark green peel on for some added color to the "noodles" and immediately tossed them with balsamic vinaigrette, crumbled bleu gorgonzola cheese, diced red onion, and warm roasted pecans. This is a vegetarian dish but could easily be made vegan by using a non-dairy crumbled cheese instead. It's a perfect light summer bite that creates a whole new take on salad.

Spiral Cucumber "Noodles" with Balsamic and Bleu Gorgonzola

Yield: 2 servings

• 2 medium cucumbers
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup crumbled bleu gorgonzola cheese (or non-dairy option)
• 1/4 roasted pecans
• balsamic vinaigrette
• Optional: salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

1. Using a spiral slicer, spin two unpeeled cucumbers into long noodle-like ribbons.
2. Toss with all other ingredients and serve as a fresh take on salad.

Putting the good in

Often, I look around at "it" and think about where all the negativity and sheer wickedness in the world stems from. That's certainly a place I'd never want to find, or find out how it makes itself so. Regardless of where it comes from, it rears its face, disturbingly strong at times. It can test hope and harbor discouragement even on the brightest of days. One look at the front page of the paper or the bombarding media headlines following us on our smartphones, laptops, and television threatens to turn the love in our hearts into anger, resentment, snap judgement, false entitlement, and even dark feelings of revenge. Is it a surprise that the amount of disconnect and the number of grave stories grows stronger even, as a result? I doubt we should actually wonder where "it" comes from. "Its" time is only dependent on the time we give it. All we have to do each day is give forward as much love and light as possible in order to put the good back in, everywhere. We can't linger in sadness over everything that's gone wrong. We're here to acknowledge the good and the light and to spread it as far as we can. Please enjoy these smile worthy things that remind me no matter what's happening, love can conquer anything.

My partner in fun, life and light.

3 Links that put the good back in:

• Happify
• The Better Man Project
• How to put a Rainbow in the sky in 20 seconds.

Photo catch up

From left to right, and top to bottom:

• Birthday dinner at Roast Restaurant Detroit, owned by Michael Simon of the Food Network.
• Gluten-free Namaste Blondies for my birthday cake.
• Filet Mignon at Roast Detroit was probably the best steak I've had while eating out. It was close to my dad's grilled steak, but still not as good.
• A sweet balloon birthday surprise from my lovely fiance!

I sheepishly admit I've been away from the blog for far too long, and I can only blame so much of it on grad school and organic chemistry. While I will never recommend to anyone to take organic chemistry, lab, and other chemistry in a 7.5 week summer semester, I will admit I probably became more consumed with all of it out of sheer panic and I really shouldn't have. Lesson to self: Find Balance. Work hard, but don't forget to breathe. And certainly don't forget to keep doing the things you enjoy most, i.e. blogging, cooking, adventuring, and EATING.

Nevertheless, I am finally back and have a great many things lined up for posting that I'm so excited to share with everyone out there. I luckily ended up documenting my last couple months away through Instagram, so first things first I'll be catching up through these photos with small captions. I've really missed being away. It's more than great to be writing again.

Here are the TOP TEN things that happened during the break:

1. Finished my first semester of grad school. (also see #10 for details).
2. I turned 26! Now that's scary...
3. Passed three chemistry courses in a summer semester, and my fiance graduated with a Graduate Certificate in Finance. Way to go lovebird!
4. Took a road trip to Philly with my fiance to visit my soon to be in-laws.
5. Traveled to northern Michigan to visit my family for Independence Day. It was amazing to see everyone!
6. Had another article published in Delight Gluten-Free Magazine's July/August issue on Ann Arbor, Michigan Gluten-free eats! On store shelves now, or available at delightglutenfree.com
7. Ate out successfully so many times that I can't even recall how many exactly.
8. Found a great 100% gluten-free shop and cafe in the outer part of Pittsburgh that was out of this world!! I'll be doing a separate post on this coming up soon -- Gluten-Free Zone!!
9. Finally got my passport. Now I can go anywhere!
10. Made the Dean's List!

From left to right, and top to bottom:

• Homemade Gluten-free Irish Soda Bread
• Gluten-free Paella at Sava's Ann Arbor
• Gluten-free Pizza from Silvio's Organic Pizza in Ann Arbor. Check out my feature of them in Delight Gluten-free Magazine's July/August issue!
• Oysters at Roast Restaurant Detroit, owned by Michael Simon of the Food Network.
• Italian herb baked Salmon with fresh chopped green onions from our garden. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Yum.

What Celiac Disease Awareness Month means to me

This is a face of too many misdiagnoses. This is me before I finally had an answer.

My body was wracked and in shambles. Nervous system stressed to the point of strong shaking episodes. I could no longer drive myself more than ten minutes without experiencing massive dizziness and bouts of blurry vision. No food would stay down no matter how much I ate, which resulted in a scary weight of less than 95 pounds. ADHD ruled my everyday, my mind raced constantly, and then there was the pain. A lot searing pain. These things were the norm, and the norm was becoming worse and worse--fast. I thought I would never function in society normally ever again because of what seemed to be eating me alive from the inside out. But I couldn't find an answer. And I knew I couldn't go on like that.

I remember feeling incredibly frustrated and ready to give up after doctor upon doctor brushed off my debilitating symptoms, whittling them down to things like stress, "being a college student", irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression,  just "getting older", and even an eating disorder. Well of course I had an "eating disorder"; food just went in and came right back out...unintentionally! The fact that I saw half a dozen doctors that misdiagnosed me and failed to look for the root cause, (one that isn't "solved" with a pill) frankly scares me. It scares me more today than it even did back in that moment because at the time, I didn't realize that I really could have died from this.

Luckily, my parents were able to help me find a doctor who finally listened to all of my symptoms. That doctor turned my life and health completely around in a matter of weeks with the first mention I'd ever heard of Celiac Disease and gluten. While grateful, I questioned why I was not correctly diagnosed when my first symptoms showed as a toddler. I was nearly 21 years old when the diagnosis came, and it came at the breaking point. This is not acceptable to me, and shouldn't be to anyone.

May is Celiac Disease awareness month. I see it as my moment to shine and be proud of what I've overcome. I'm healthy and alive today, living in harmony with my lifelong disease. While I often advocate for awareness throughout the year, I'm taking the special opportunity today to share my story again in hopes that the more we share, the shorter the diagnosis time will become. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, the average time it takes for someone to be correctly diagnosed with the disease is 6 to 10 years. Misdiagnosis and no diagnosis can cause permanent damage, cancer, and can kill.

Healing can only begin after answers are found. Talk to someone about Celiac Disease today. Read about Celiac Disease on the NFCA website, or follow the links in my Resources page. And don't forget to hug a lovely Celiac near you ;)

Happy Celiac Disease Awareness Month!

Classic Gluten-free Blueberry Pie

Sometimes when I embark on something new and big, I usually crave something comfortable and familiar to keep things feeling balanced. Like gluten-free blueberry pie. Warm, juicy and naturally sweet, it pairs perfectly with a scoop of sugar-free vanilla coconut milk ice cream. One of my favorite blueberry pie recipes is gluten-free and dairy-free from The Spunky Coconut. I'll be indulging in a similar blueberry cobbler (above) today, as I just finished a two-day long overhaul of my blog (as you've probably come to notice). I'm now completely self hosted and couldn't be happier with the new design! To top it off, my fiance just finished graduate school and starts his new job next week. He'll be spending more time at home this summer, something I know we'll both cherish. So what's not to celebrate? I hope you're looking forward to the long days of summer as much as I am.

On the Wild Inner Self and Breakfast Quesadillas

I used to be a wild child of sorts. I say of sorts because somewhere in my excitable nature, that lively and unfiltered strain of myself still lurks. You know, the part that spontaneously dances like mad with the grace of an uncoordinated five year old. Well, I suppose you don't know but rather my sister does. Or the part that picks the most obnoxious catchy parts of songs and sings them loudly and repeatedly without thinking twice (Sorry Lindsey). Or the part that occasionally likes to split a bottle of wine on a Wednesday night and frolic around in the park and play on the playground. Yes, that slightly wild and silly part that I suppress sometimes (a lot more than I should) not only exists, but reels like crazy deep down. And I'm okay with that, now more than ever.

The past few months of this winter really had me feeling older than my years. I found myself suppressing my inner happy go lucky self in order to be taken more seriously and try to be more productive. Over the last few years actually, that has been the trend. After college graduation, I thought it was time to "grow up". But I think the opposite of what I wanted to happen, happened. And I didn't expect it. I became less interested with myself, more tired, and frankly more boring. I was working hard, and had some successes, but wasn't really happy. I felt like a stifled, shushed, whiny, and tired-of-it-all woman. At my own hand no less.

This year, and even more so with the recent coming of spring, I find a familiar feeling bubbling up inside of me; something that makes me take a step back and wonder, "Hang on, where the hell have I been??" The other morning, I woke up with "Another One Bites The Dust" stuck in my head (don't ask), and suddenly found myself belting out some Queen and shakin' it like nobody's business--like it was automatic. And it is, because it's who I am. I'm dancing like crazy. I'm not being overly cautious. I'm not catering to what "they" might think. I'm finding more and more happiness with letting that wild vibrant spirit of mine come to light with the realization that I was perfectly imperfect before I tried to "grow up" too much. Perhaps I tried to suppress that part of me to make up for the time I thought I'd lost. My battle with undiagnosed gluten issues, food allergies, and ADHD made being successful difficult. Really difficult. I managed, but I had to work around these things for a long time and had to work A LOT harder than I do after diagnosis to make it all jive. Maybe I tried to kill that wild, silly, lovely part of myself because it reminded me of more hazy, uncertain, and unhealthier days. But the fact is, I'm not unhealthy anymore. I'm bursting with life and heart and crazy big opportunities that demand my inner vibrancy! It's been a long time coming, but now I'm just finding I've reached that refreshing balance of being young at heart while still being a capable professional gearing up to take on the world. This is my crazy state of grace. Please excuse my rambles.

By the way, this really has nothing to do with gluten-free Breakfast Quesadillas, other than the fact that they're also quite bold and pack a punch of spicy flavor. Oh well. I feel like my own authentic self now more than ever before. There's something to be said for that.

And no one said it better than Pink Floyd... so shine on you crazy diamond.

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter,
come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!
You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions,
come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!"

Gluten-free Breakfast Stuffed Quesadillas

This recipe is free of: Gluten, Soy, Lactose (contains Casein), Peanuts, Legumes, and Refined Sugar.

Yield: One large Quesadilla

• 2 brown rice tortillas, or gluten-free tortillas of choice (I use Food For Life brand).
• 1 cup grated almond jalepeno jack cheeze (contains casein, but no lactose. I use Lisonatti Foods brand)
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 eggs, scrambled
• Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne (optional) to taste
• 1/4 cup green onions
• Salsa of choice for serving (I use Mrs. Renfro's Medium Salsa)

1. In a small fry pan, saute diced onion and green bell pepper with spices.
2. Add 3 eggs and cook until it becomes scrambled. Remove from the heat.
3. In a larger fry pan over low/medium heat, add the first tortilla to the pan and cover with shredded almond cheeze. Add the scrambled eggs on top and sprinkle with a bit more cheese.
4. Add the second tortilla on top and press down until the cheeze starts to melt. After about 3 to 4 minutes, carefully flip over the quesadilla and allow to cook the rest of the way on that side. The edges may get a little crispy, but just keep them pressed down with a pancake flipper or spatula.
5. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with chopped green onion and salsa. Serve hot.

Contest Winner, Happy Spring!

Congratulations to Anne H, the contest winner of the Red Apple Lipstick Mint 2 Be gloss giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and be sure to stay tuned for some other giveaways in the future. I also want to wish everyone a happy spring and share a picture of the beautiful spring flowers my fiance brought home the other day. Have a lovely start to the week!

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Red Apple Lipstick Lip Gloss Review and Giveaway!

Wearing "Hot Mess" Mint 2 Be gloss from Red Apple Lipstick

It seems like spring has finally sprung here (knock on wood!) and what better way to kick it off than with a colorful new line of lip gloss from Red Apple Lipstick? Red Apple let me in on a sneak peak of the new Mint 2 Be Gluten-free lip glosses and after trying them out over the holiday weekend, I was instantly hooked. I love the silky feel of the gloss and it's foolproof to apply, even for those it's-a-red-light-time-to-finish-my-makeup-while-driving-to-work types...not that I ever do that or anything.. The bright hues are amazing and the formula is not the least bit sticky--it really nourishes the lips.

I sampled the "Berried Treasure" and "Hot Mess" glosses, which have a fresh minty tingle, loads of vitamin C and E, and a flattering sparkly sheen. As always from Red Apple Lipstick, these glosses are safe and non-toxic, gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, paraben free, and of course awesome. To learn more about why toxic free cosmetics are important, check out Mr. Jay Harper's ebook, "Toxicity in Makeup - Silent Killings for a Profit". Jay is the CEO and rocking visionary behind Red Apple Lipstick. I think we should all give Jay and his team a big thanks and round of applause for not only making us all feel a little more gluten-free gorgeous, but for also caring about our health in the process. Now for the Giveaway!!

Wearing "Berried Treasure" Mint 2 Be gloss from Red Apple Lipstick

I'm so excited to be hosting my first Give-away ever on the blog! Red Apple Lipstick will be sending one of the new Mint 2 Be lip glosses to a lucky winner on my blog! To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below letting me know which new Mint 2 Be gloss shown here is your favorite, by Friday at 2:00pm Eastern Time. One winner will be chosen at random from the comments below. Please only leave one comment per entry. All repeat comments will be counted only as one entry. Thank you and Good luck to all to enter!

Giveaway contest ends Friday, April 5th at 2pm Eastern Time!

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Earth Hour 2013

"The World is using the equivalent of one and a half planets to support life on Earth."

Earth Hour 2013 is coming up tomorrow, Saturday March 23 at 8:30pm (Eastern time) and I couldn't be more excited! It snuck up on me this week and I nearly forgot all about it until yesterday evening, even after I recently wrote an article for Delight Gluten-Free Magazine about celebrating it with a gluten-free twist in the March/April issue....safe to say it's been a busy week! We're planning to switch off all our lights and appliances, have a candlelight yoga session, and indulge in vegan blueberry pie--the recipe will be posted on Sunday!

This morning as I was writing this post, I was quietly listening to the news in the background. They were discussing a nominated CNN Hero, Doc Hendley, for his work in bringing clean water to those living in impoverished areas where safe water is scarce. It's sadly not news to me that many people in other countries must walk for 4 or 5 hours just to reach their water for the day, and it's dirty water at that. Today is World Water Day and I feel incredibly lucky to live in a place where clean water is available to me whenever I turn on the sink. Clean water should not be a privilege. It's so vital that we take care to preserve the resources on this planet through our everyday actions and by celebrating our planet every day. Check out the awesome video by EarthHour.org for 2013:

In the spirit of celebrating and sustaining our mother Earth, I'd like to share five easy but effective things that I try to do on a regular basis to help sustain our planet:

1. Turn off the water faucet while brushing teeth to save water.


2. Use sustainable candles and candlelight instead of lamps a few nights per week.


3. Bring reusable grocery bags on shopping trips. If I forget, I am sure to recycle the bags by using them for small trash bags in the house or in other ways.


4. Use (or upgrade to) energy saving electronics and appliances whenever possible. My latest energy efficient purchase was an energy star ultrabook laptop.


5. Buy local produce often. I love supporting the local farmers and economy in this way. A bonus is planting a garden annually ourselves.

For more ideas to celebrate Earth Hour and Earth Day often, check out my article in the March issue of Delight Gluten-Free Magazine for tips and fun vegan/raw food recipes. I also have a plethora of easy and earth friendly recipes I've posted throughout the life of this blog that can be browsed in the Recipe page or by typing in keywords such as "vegan" or "earth day" in the search box in the upper left corner of my site.

Happy Earth Hour and World Water Day!

How will you celebrate the planet today?

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Quote of the Day

Everyone I've met that has Celiac disease or severe food allergies of any kind, I feel an automatic unspoken sort of connection to. It's a mutual feeling of understanding, of having "been there". While I've never met Zooey Deschanel, I think she's the epitome of making the most of her situation with multiple difficult food allergies. I learned Zooey is allergic to gluten, soy, dairy, and eggs from her appearance on Top Chef where she was a guest judge who challenged the contestants to create an allergy friendly vegan lunch for her and her family. It was fantastic to see her embracing herself and her health, while bringing allergy awareness to the mainstream food shows.

I fell in love with this so true quote from Zooey Deschanel, which can apply to everyone regardless of their walk in life:

"Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love."

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Vegan Homemade Shamrock Shake (Dairy-free)

One thing I appreciate about my food allergies is how they enable me to eat a lot more healthful than I might otherwise. That's not to say I never indulge in treats now and again, but I'm of the mentality now that treats can be made quite healthy and beneficial. I regularly like to hide veggies in my homemade desserts and stay away from refined sugars. Most of the time, my trusty taste tester can't tell the difference.

With all the hype around the McDonald's Shamrock Shake returning this March for St. Patrick's Day, I definitely wanted in on the creamy minty goodness. Since I'm lactose intolerant, I knew that wasn't going to happen; not conventionally anyway. I was inspired by Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere to embark on creating my own homemade dairy-free and vegan version of this coveted shake. With no added sugars, fresh mint leaves, almond milk and SO Delicious vanilla bean no sugar added dairy-free ice cream, this shake came out better than I anticipated and was pretty close to how I remember the original tasting. The best part? I even added a handful of baby SPINACH to increase the green hue of the shake! It can't be detected at all in the taste! This would be a great trick to get an extra serving of veggies in for the kids. I topped it with my own Coconut Whipped Cream recipe featured in Delight Gluten-Free Magazine's Winter 2012 issue which can be found here on Delight's Recipe page (I substituted 15 drops of liquid stevia instead of xylitol in this recipe).

So I might be a lot more French than Irish, but from a partially Irish girl to all of you, have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day!

Vegan Homemade Shamrock Shake (Dairy-free)

This recipe is free of: Gluten, Soy, Dairy, Eggs, and Peanuts. Can be modified to be free of tree nuts.

• 2 cups SO Delicious No Sugar added Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• 1 cup almond milk
• 6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
• 1 handful baby spinach (optional, but adds great nutrients and natural green color)

1. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender.
2. Blend until creamy and smooth consistency is reached.
3. Top with my Coconut Whipped Cream (dairy-free) recipe. Enjoy chilled, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint leaves.

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Potential Desensitization to Food Allergies?

Today I read an outstanding and in-depth article regarding severe food allergies and the prospect of desensitization. I recommended this reading to everyone, as it's something we should all know about. A big thanks to my sister  for sharing this article with me in the New York Times entitled, "The Allergy Buster, Can a Radical New Treatment Save Children with Severe Allergies?" This article covers everything from desensitization to food allergens to potential causes of the stark rise in food allergies today. Reading this was very personal and close to home for me, as I can totally relate to the stories of these children and the fear aspect of living with intense food allergies. I'm quite lucky to have my most severe allergies as an adult and not as a small child. I'm so glad to see that there's hope of it getting better for those of us with life threatening cases, especially children, who often cannot handle living with these problems on their own. Here's an interesting quote from the article regarding some evidence for the recent spike in food allergic youth:

 "One focus of Nadeau’s lab is studying whether the toxins found in pollution, pesticides or tobacco smoke damage the genes in ways that make children more likely to have allergies and the intimately related disease of asthma. There is evidence that having a parent or a grandparent who smoked — even if the child was never exposed to smoke — is a risk factor for food allergies, as is living in an urban area with elevated pollution."

Also the evidence between poor diet during pregnancy and food allergy risk is not surprising to me. What do you all think of this touching article? It really hit home for me as I'm sure it will for others. But it really leaves me hopeful for the future.

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