So I am 3/4 done with the 2nd week of graduate school at MGH IHP for Direct Entry Nursing. I am stressed out. Today I am not doing well. Yesterday I wasn't either. Yesterday I was depressed. Today I am frustrated.
I was accepted a week before the program started. I accepted on 9/6 and classes started 9/12. A lot of my classmates were accepted MONTHS ago. They had months to prep for this. To buy their books, get scrubs, get MGH IHP patches (for scrubs & lab coat), read everything, do their EHR training, find a place closer to school. I have not. I am trying to play catch-up but it's not easy.
In August I figured that I wasn't getting accepted so I moved on. TJ and I signed a lease for a new place on the Cape, closer to his work. This place is perfect for us: 2 bedroom, central air, newer appliances, just us, just us..oh, did I mention, JUST US?! Same rent price as where we are currently, though we pay separate for utilities. Perfect.
Then the unthinkable (but wonderful) happened; MGH IHP had a spot for me. Then the whirlwind happened. We went on vacation also, got engaged while we were there. I came back and started school. It has been chaos. The schedule is nuts. Driving from the Cape is crazy. I'm grateful because I am staying at a friend-of-a-friends in Winthrop, which cuts my commute time down immensely. That is only temporary though. But I have had several people offer their spare rooms/couches, which is awesome.
I am being grateful. I got the chance to go to my DREAM school. But damn if the Universe isn't making it HARD for me.
I cannot afford to move to Boston and have the place on the Cape. TJ and I agreed we were not giving it up, at least not for now.
AND the commuting is exacerbating the pain in my body. My back, hips, and legs are aching so bad. I keep having muscle cramps in my right calf.
But this is awesome. This is an amazing experience and I will kick it's ass. Eventually.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Waitlisted no more!
Dreams do come true, but with a price. Earlier this year I applied to Mass General Hospital Institute for Health Professions in Boston for a Direct Entry Masters of Nursing program. I also applied to Regis College for the same program. Sadly I was wait-listed to both of the programs. By the time August came around I had pretty much resigned myself to not going to grad school this year. So plan B was to retake a Pharmacology Calculations class at the local community college and apply for their Associates in Nursing which would allow me to sit for the NCLEX which is the RN test. And suddenly in early August I found myself with a new job as a medical assistant at a clinic in Hyannis. I didn't tell them about being waitlisted because I had resigned myself to not being called to go to graduate school.
And then last Friday happened. I was on my way home from work taking the backroads because Route 6 was a nightmare and I received a phone call from 617 number, which I knew was Boston, and I expected that it was Mass General Hospital calling me back regarding a question I had about genetic profiles. No, instead it was Brian calling from the admissions department at MGH IHP to let me know that they had a spot for me this semester starting on September 12th. We were coming up on the Labor Day weekend and he gave me until Tuesday to make the decision.
I was completely flabbergasted and unprepared and spent the entire weekend freaking out. If your friends with me on Facebook or friends with me beyond that you know that I spent the entire weekend just losing my mind about the fact that my dream had come true. MGH ihp has been my dream school, their masters in nursing program has been my dream program for 4 years. Everything I have done in terms of school at the community college has been to get into one of these programs. This news completely changed my life.
Here I am now a couple of days away from starting the program and I am freaking out. This college does practically everything online. Because I got taken off the waitlist right before the beginning of the semester I have orientation that I have to do online ,plus orientation to my specific program and orientation to this learning environment we use which is similar to Blackboard online. Plus I have to get all my health information together and sign all the forms and go through all these modules and go through this checklist. Plus wait on financial aid before I can even buy the $900 books that I need. On top of that because I live on the Cape and I'm not moving to Boston, although we're moving to Yarmouth in a month, I have to figure out how and when I'm commuting, if I'm staying with friends during the times that I need to have early classes and late clinicals. They sure as hell don't make it easy for someone who just got taken off the waitlist. Needless to say I'm completely overwhelmed but I'm getting through it and I will get through it just like I'm going to get through this program! 😄 sure I might be stressed out and I might not have time for anybody else but my loved ones are very well aware of that and are very supportive of what I'm doing. Thank Goddess.
So if any of you have suggestions for anything that will help me along this path I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to say hi or drop me some love mail.
Love love love
Kate
And then last Friday happened. I was on my way home from work taking the backroads because Route 6 was a nightmare and I received a phone call from 617 number, which I knew was Boston, and I expected that it was Mass General Hospital calling me back regarding a question I had about genetic profiles. No, instead it was Brian calling from the admissions department at MGH IHP to let me know that they had a spot for me this semester starting on September 12th. We were coming up on the Labor Day weekend and he gave me until Tuesday to make the decision.
I was completely flabbergasted and unprepared and spent the entire weekend freaking out. If your friends with me on Facebook or friends with me beyond that you know that I spent the entire weekend just losing my mind about the fact that my dream had come true. MGH ihp has been my dream school, their masters in nursing program has been my dream program for 4 years. Everything I have done in terms of school at the community college has been to get into one of these programs. This news completely changed my life.
Here I am now a couple of days away from starting the program and I am freaking out. This college does practically everything online. Because I got taken off the waitlist right before the beginning of the semester I have orientation that I have to do online ,plus orientation to my specific program and orientation to this learning environment we use which is similar to Blackboard online. Plus I have to get all my health information together and sign all the forms and go through all these modules and go through this checklist. Plus wait on financial aid before I can even buy the $900 books that I need. On top of that because I live on the Cape and I'm not moving to Boston, although we're moving to Yarmouth in a month, I have to figure out how and when I'm commuting, if I'm staying with friends during the times that I need to have early classes and late clinicals. They sure as hell don't make it easy for someone who just got taken off the waitlist. Needless to say I'm completely overwhelmed but I'm getting through it and I will get through it just like I'm going to get through this program! 😄 sure I might be stressed out and I might not have time for anybody else but my loved ones are very well aware of that and are very supportive of what I'm doing. Thank Goddess.
So if any of you have suggestions for anything that will help me along this path I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to say hi or drop me some love mail.
Love love love
Kate
Monday, September 5, 2016
Some BIG news
Well hello there. Another long stretch of days have gone by, but this time I have NEWS, good news.
Friday I got THE call from my dream school. I have been accepted into the Direct Entry Master's of Nursing program at Mass General Hospital's Institute for Health Professionals. I will officially accept tomorrow and classes start the 12th. Holy crap.
Wow. My dreams are coming true. All the efforts I have put forth in the last 4 years are being acknowledged. Holy fucking wow.
I am still somewhat in shock. This weekend has been a whirlwind of emotions, decisions, and celebrations. Thank goddess today is a national holiday here, as I need all the time off I can get. Besides this big news, I am suffering through a fibro flare and back-pain flare. TS Hermine isn't helping with this pain but other things help.
Sadly this news means I will very likely not have time to update this blog. I will when I can. I don't yet know what my schedule will be. I am sadly resigning from both my jobs and will be spending less time with my loved ones, BUT this is a huge step in my career. I am thrilled and elated.
On that note, you can always keep in touch on Facebook , Instagram, or good ole' fashion email tildesk at gmail dot com. You can find some of my old stuff on Deviantart also.
Cheers friends!
Friday I got THE call from my dream school. I have been accepted into the Direct Entry Master's of Nursing program at Mass General Hospital's Institute for Health Professionals. I will officially accept tomorrow and classes start the 12th. Holy crap.
Wow. My dreams are coming true. All the efforts I have put forth in the last 4 years are being acknowledged. Holy fucking wow.
I am still somewhat in shock. This weekend has been a whirlwind of emotions, decisions, and celebrations. Thank goddess today is a national holiday here, as I need all the time off I can get. Besides this big news, I am suffering through a fibro flare and back-pain flare. TS Hermine isn't helping with this pain but other things help.
Sadly this news means I will very likely not have time to update this blog. I will when I can. I don't yet know what my schedule will be. I am sadly resigning from both my jobs and will be spending less time with my loved ones, BUT this is a huge step in my career. I am thrilled and elated.
On that note, you can always keep in touch on Facebook , Instagram, or good ole' fashion email tildesk at gmail dot com. You can find some of my old stuff on Deviantart also.
Cheers friends!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Very late but here is the Post-GFAF Expo blog!
Hello again lovelies. Today is my day off and I actually have time to write a blog entry! I haev a new job, which is great. I have been working 3 jobs, which is not. And I am working on some health stuff. BUT...here you go. :)
So the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo was a few weeks ago in Worcester, MA, at the DCU Center. I went on Sunday as it was the easiest day to take off of work (I work 3 jobs, 6 days a week right now). This time I remembered to bring some of my blogger cards! The drive was nice, albeit hot (ac is broken in my car, $400 fix), and I listened to Twenty One Pilots the whole way. The DCU Center Exhibit hall was packed, like it was last year, though I heard Saturday was THE day to be there. It was still very busy with lots of people, which is great.
There were a few of the same vendors from last year, like Udi's, Sunbutter, glutino, Enjoy Life, and a few others. Then there were a bunch of new vendors, like BFree (maybe they were there last year), Bixby & Co candy, curate, Kevita, Nantucket Pasta Goddess, and many, many more! Here are a few of my favorites:
(in no numerical value order I swear)
1. Nantucket Pasta Goddess. Wowie! She makes authentic Italian gluten-free pasta, like ravioli, and she is local to me (I live on the Cape). She had samples of 3 raviolis: Butternut squash, Mushroom goat cheese, and Lemon ricotta. Oh my, these are heavenly! And Liliana is very nice. :) These are available ON-LINE and at some retailers, including one near me. I just need to remember to go!
website
Facebook
Twitter
2. Peace of Mind Baking Co. makes fabulous gluten-free and vegan baked goods, such as whoopie pies (which were sold out), muffins, cookies, and pizza crust. Nancy and company are in North Conway, NH. I had 2 of their muffins and took their info to pass on back here on the Cape. The muffins were Pumpkin Chocolate chip and Banana Chocolate Chip, which were both delicious and SO much better than the most common gluten free muffins, made by a very popular company I won't name. If you are looking for great gluten-free and vegan muffins, see if you can get these.
Website
Facebook
3. Bfree Foods has a lot of products and they are all gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy free, including wraps, bagels, rolls, and loaves of bread. I took home samples of the Multi-grain wrap and the quinoa and Chia seed wrap. I love using the wraps for sandwiches or just a plain old quesadilla, which I had for lunch today. I have seen some of their products at my local grocery stores also.
Website
Fb
Twitter
Instagram
4. Sin City Swiss Rolls. Holy cow. I haven't had a swiss roll in over 9 years. This guy happens to be from my home state of OH and he has the most delectable gluten-free swiss rolls. I had to buy a pack and they were AMAZING. They are on Facebook, but I couldn't find it. The email is sincityswissrolls@gmail.com. YOU NEED THESE!
So here are some pictures.
So the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo was a few weeks ago in Worcester, MA, at the DCU Center. I went on Sunday as it was the easiest day to take off of work (I work 3 jobs, 6 days a week right now). This time I remembered to bring some of my blogger cards! The drive was nice, albeit hot (ac is broken in my car, $400 fix), and I listened to Twenty One Pilots the whole way. The DCU Center Exhibit hall was packed, like it was last year, though I heard Saturday was THE day to be there. It was still very busy with lots of people, which is great.
There were a few of the same vendors from last year, like Udi's, Sunbutter, glutino, Enjoy Life, and a few others. Then there were a bunch of new vendors, like BFree (maybe they were there last year), Bixby & Co candy, curate, Kevita, Nantucket Pasta Goddess, and many, many more! Here are a few of my favorites:
(in no numerical value order I swear)
1. Nantucket Pasta Goddess. Wowie! She makes authentic Italian gluten-free pasta, like ravioli, and she is local to me (I live on the Cape). She had samples of 3 raviolis: Butternut squash, Mushroom goat cheese, and Lemon ricotta. Oh my, these are heavenly! And Liliana is very nice. :) These are available ON-LINE and at some retailers, including one near me. I just need to remember to go!
website
2. Peace of Mind Baking Co. makes fabulous gluten-free and vegan baked goods, such as whoopie pies (which were sold out), muffins, cookies, and pizza crust. Nancy and company are in North Conway, NH. I had 2 of their muffins and took their info to pass on back here on the Cape. The muffins were Pumpkin Chocolate chip and Banana Chocolate Chip, which were both delicious and SO much better than the most common gluten free muffins, made by a very popular company I won't name. If you are looking for great gluten-free and vegan muffins, see if you can get these.
3. Bfree Foods has a lot of products and they are all gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy free, including wraps, bagels, rolls, and loaves of bread. I took home samples of the Multi-grain wrap and the quinoa and Chia seed wrap. I love using the wraps for sandwiches or just a plain old quesadilla, which I had for lunch today. I have seen some of their products at my local grocery stores also.
Website
Fb
4. Sin City Swiss Rolls. Holy cow. I haven't had a swiss roll in over 9 years. This guy happens to be from my home state of OH and he has the most delectable gluten-free swiss rolls. I had to buy a pack and they were AMAZING. They are on Facebook, but I couldn't find it. The email is sincityswissrolls@gmail.com. YOU NEED THESE!
So here are some pictures.
 |
| right side |
 |
| stoked! |
  |
left side                 |
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
My Etsy shop, post-colonoscopy and some odds & ends
Did you know that I have an Etsy shop? Well, I do! I make wampum shell pendants from locally collected wampum shells. Please check it out at https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapeCodDragonShells?ref=hdr_shop_menu. I added a few new pendants today. Please feel free to share all over the internet as well.
Otherwise, I am doing well. I'm recovering from my annual colonoscopy yesterday. Yes, I am young (33), but I have Lynch Syndrome, aka hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer/HNPCC. It's an inherited disorder associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancers, as well as cancers of the stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, liver, upper urinary tract, brain, skin, ovaries and endometrium, and throw some occasional colon polyps in the mix too. It's a whole barrel of fun (sarcasm font!) but it is easily dealt with by keeping on track with colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, PAP smears, endometrial biopsies, urine screenings, and a slew of lab tests. If you want to know more about Lynch Syndrome there are LOADS of websites, but I like this one overall: http://lynchcancers.com/. If you have a family history of colon cancer, please get tested. It can save your life!
So, I did the colonoscopy prep (Suprep) as usual and it sucked as it always does. I had lots of water, juice, popsicles, lollipops, hard candy, and tea w/o milk, even though I use dairy-free milks. I took a Udi's Gluten Free blueberry muffin with me JUST IN CASE the center did not have any AGAIN, which they didn't. SO glad i brought my own. Ridiculous. I went for my appointment, had a huge kerflufflle to deal with, but I did get the procedure done and I am a-okay this round. I came home, took a 4 hour nap, made some Rice Ramen and finished season 3 of Bitten on Netflix (on Syfy here).
In the evening I found myself CRAVING mashed potatoes, so TJ and I went to the store and got some, along with a nice organic, grass-fed steak. I approached the steak with caution as I had not cooked grass-fed beef at home. A Google search led me to one of my favorite blogs, Primally Inspired, and her easy-to-follow guide, found HERE. I made some pre-spiralized butternut squash noodles and it was all fantastic. The steak was perfect.
Today I slept in, made myself a yummy breakfast of gluten-free waffles, a hard-boiled egg, strawberries, and my favorite breakfast sausages. (My favorite sausages are Applegate's GF Natural Chicken & Maple sausages, link is HERE.). I added some new items to my Etsy Shop (see the 1st paragraph of this blog post) and am now considering lunch with a bearded dragon on my lap.
The internet gave me some great new books to download, mostly freebies, which I have shared on Pinterest today: follow me on Pinterest.
Oh, the Rice Ramen I mentioned is made by Lotus Foods. I had Buckwheat Mushroom for the first time and it was just what I needed. Link for that is HERE.
Don't forget you can find me on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.
Love, love, love, Kate
Otherwise, I am doing well. I'm recovering from my annual colonoscopy yesterday. Yes, I am young (33), but I have Lynch Syndrome, aka hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer/HNPCC. It's an inherited disorder associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal cancers, as well as cancers of the stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, liver, upper urinary tract, brain, skin, ovaries and endometrium, and throw some occasional colon polyps in the mix too. It's a whole barrel of fun (sarcasm font!) but it is easily dealt with by keeping on track with colonoscopies, upper endoscopies, PAP smears, endometrial biopsies, urine screenings, and a slew of lab tests. If you want to know more about Lynch Syndrome there are LOADS of websites, but I like this one overall: http://lynchcancers.com/. If you have a family history of colon cancer, please get tested. It can save your life!
So, I did the colonoscopy prep (Suprep) as usual and it sucked as it always does. I had lots of water, juice, popsicles, lollipops, hard candy, and tea w/o milk, even though I use dairy-free milks. I took a Udi's Gluten Free blueberry muffin with me JUST IN CASE the center did not have any AGAIN, which they didn't. SO glad i brought my own. Ridiculous. I went for my appointment, had a huge kerflufflle to deal with, but I did get the procedure done and I am a-okay this round. I came home, took a 4 hour nap, made some Rice Ramen and finished season 3 of Bitten on Netflix (on Syfy here).
In the evening I found myself CRAVING mashed potatoes, so TJ and I went to the store and got some, along with a nice organic, grass-fed steak. I approached the steak with caution as I had not cooked grass-fed beef at home. A Google search led me to one of my favorite blogs, Primally Inspired, and her easy-to-follow guide, found HERE. I made some pre-spiralized butternut squash noodles and it was all fantastic. The steak was perfect.
 |
| See? Tasty! |
Today I slept in, made myself a yummy breakfast of gluten-free waffles, a hard-boiled egg, strawberries, and my favorite breakfast sausages. (My favorite sausages are Applegate's GF Natural Chicken & Maple sausages, link is HERE.). I added some new items to my Etsy Shop (see the 1st paragraph of this blog post) and am now considering lunch with a bearded dragon on my lap.
The internet gave me some great new books to download, mostly freebies, which I have shared on Pinterest today: follow me on Pinterest.
Oh, the Rice Ramen I mentioned is made by Lotus Foods. I had Buckwheat Mushroom for the first time and it was just what I needed. Link for that is HERE.
Don't forget you can find me on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.
Love, love, love, Kate
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Some sweet treats, Brazilian cheese bread, and reminder about GF & AF expo!
Hi folks! It's been a bit, again, and I'm sorry...life, you know? But the semester is over and I am back to just working 2 jobs. (how do professional bloggers DO THIS?!).
Here are a few products I tried in the last month or so.
Wildwood Foods organic-sprouted baked tofu royal thai
Find them at http://www.brazibites.com/products/. The site has a Store Locater and links to buy them on-line. If you're gluten-free and miss Brazilian cheese bread, find these and give them a try.
Also, I'm going to take this moment to remind you about the Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo that is coming up in Worcester, MA, on July 23-24th. Here is the website for more info: http://gfafexpo.com/locations/worcester-ma-2016/#when-where
I still have 5 FREE TICKETS to give away! Please contact me if you are interested! And there are still 20% off tickets (use code ADVANCE through 7/22). I will be attending the Sunday day only but I hope to see some readers there!
Anyway....love, love, love
Kate
Here are a few products I tried in the last month or so.
- Mom's Organic Munchies are DELICIOUS. They are gluten free, free of refined sugar, and paleo friendly! I have found them at Whole Food Stores and some local alternative grocery stores. The Skinny Mint cookies are a healthier alternative to Thin Mints (I know some of you are Thin Mint addicts). Moms Munchies products
- Last week I made a simple gluten-free Indian meal out of Tasty Bite's Channa Masala, Wildwood's Baked Tofu, Royal Thai (which IS gluten free according to the packaging), jasmine rice, and mixed veggies. Oh so good and easy peasy.
Wildwood Foods organic-sprouted baked tofu royal thai
- I found 2 flavors of the Brazi Bites brazilian cheese breads at a local Brazilian market, for wicked cheap! I had only tried the Original, and loved it, so when I saw Garlic Asiago and Nitrate-free Bacon I had to try them. These are yummy, gluten-free, Non-GMO, little balls of scrumptious, cheesy bread, and they are SO worth it. They're super easy to make too. No defrosting required! I like to pair them with just about any home-cooked meal, especially spaghetti and meatballs.
Find them at http://www.brazibites.com/products/. The site has a Store Locater and links to buy them on-line. If you're gluten-free and miss Brazilian cheese bread, find these and give them a try.
Also, I'm going to take this moment to remind you about the Gluten Free & Allergen Free Expo that is coming up in Worcester, MA, on July 23-24th. Here is the website for more info: http://gfafexpo.com/locations/worcester-ma-2016/#when-where
I still have 5 FREE TICKETS to give away! Please contact me if you are interested! And there are still 20% off tickets (use code ADVANCE through 7/22). I will be attending the Sunday day only but I hope to see some readers there!
Anyway....love, love, love
Kate
Cook's Organics Sweet Dreams Foot Cream is amazing!
But don't take that from just me (channeling LeVar Burton here). Head over to the website HERE and check out 1 of my favorite products ever, Cook's Organics Sweet Dream Foot Cream. This stuff is absolutely fabulous and I try very hard to not go without it.
Why do I love it? Well, first off you need to know that I work at a local health food store (the Orleans Whole Food Store). Cookie is a local who I *believe* started selling this stuff at the Wellfleet Farmers Market. One of my coworkers suggested it be brought into the shop. This same person convinced me to try it out so I picked up a sample size (these) and gave it a whirl.
The packaging isn't showy or over-the-top. Instead it comes with this little card that tells the consumer what some of the benefits are, such as "reduce leg/foot cramps; reduce workout recovery time; sleep like a champ", gives you Cook's website and lists the ingredients on the back. The product itself comes in a little white tub.
So what IS this stuff? Well, it's a magnesium foot cream. The other ingredients include coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax and aloe. It smells a bit like coconut oil and beeswax and is a white, creamy substance.
But this stuff is fantabulous. (yes, I know, this isn't a real word). I use it every night to help alleviate insomnia, which I have suffered from for YEARS, muscle cramps and spasms in my calves, and overall muscle relaxation. Believe me, it helps. And if I forget to use it, I know; my body reminds me. I recommend it to EVERYONE that I can.
Do you suffer from insomnia? Try this.
How about Restless Leg Syndrome and/or leg cramps? Please try this! I do NOT have leg cramps at night if I use this cream.
Fibromyalgia? Yep ,you need this. Trust me.
Are you a runner/jogger/exercise enthusiast who is always looking for something to help your body? Try this! Seriously, TRY this.
Where do you get it? The website for one: http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/. The Orleans Whole Food Store in Orleans, MA, carries it. (other places might too, but I am not sure).
AND right now, until Monday the 11th, you can get 40% off with BIG40 coupon code.
One more time, you can find this product here:
http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/sweet-dreams-foot-cream-trial-size-3-pack
OR the larger size here:
http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/sweet-dreams-foot-cream-4-oz
I cannot express how much this stuff has helped me. You should try it for yourself.
**I am in NO way compensated for this blog entry. I genuinely love this stuff and want everyone to use it.**
Why do I love it? Well, first off you need to know that I work at a local health food store (the Orleans Whole Food Store). Cookie is a local who I *believe* started selling this stuff at the Wellfleet Farmers Market. One of my coworkers suggested it be brought into the shop. This same person convinced me to try it out so I picked up a sample size (these) and gave it a whirl.
The packaging isn't showy or over-the-top. Instead it comes with this little card that tells the consumer what some of the benefits are, such as "reduce leg/foot cramps; reduce workout recovery time; sleep like a champ", gives you Cook's website and lists the ingredients on the back. The product itself comes in a little white tub.
So what IS this stuff? Well, it's a magnesium foot cream. The other ingredients include coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax and aloe. It smells a bit like coconut oil and beeswax and is a white, creamy substance.
But this stuff is fantabulous. (yes, I know, this isn't a real word). I use it every night to help alleviate insomnia, which I have suffered from for YEARS, muscle cramps and spasms in my calves, and overall muscle relaxation. Believe me, it helps. And if I forget to use it, I know; my body reminds me. I recommend it to EVERYONE that I can.
Do you suffer from insomnia? Try this.
How about Restless Leg Syndrome and/or leg cramps? Please try this! I do NOT have leg cramps at night if I use this cream.
Fibromyalgia? Yep ,you need this. Trust me.
Are you a runner/jogger/exercise enthusiast who is always looking for something to help your body? Try this! Seriously, TRY this.
Where do you get it? The website for one: http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/. The Orleans Whole Food Store in Orleans, MA, carries it. (other places might too, but I am not sure).
AND right now, until Monday the 11th, you can get 40% off with BIG40 coupon code.
One more time, you can find this product here:
http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/sweet-dreams-foot-cream-trial-size-3-pack
OR the larger size here:
http://www.sweetdreamsfootcream.com/shop/sweet-dreams-foot-cream-4-oz
I cannot express how much this stuff has helped me. You should try it for yourself.
**I am in NO way compensated for this blog entry. I genuinely love this stuff and want everyone to use it.**
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
upcoming Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo in Worcester, MA + giveaway
Hi readers! I wanted to pop in and inform you of the upcoming Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo that is occurring at the DCU Center-North Exhibit Hall, in Worcester, MA, on July 23 & 24th. I went last year and had a blast, so I MUST go this year. I got to meet lots of great bloggers and spokespeople for fabulous companies, and ate A LOT OF FREE FOOD!
The Expo has been kind enough to give bloggers 5 FREE tickets to the event. If you are interested please reply below. :) AND, if you miss the FREE TICKETS then you can still get 20% off w/ code ADVANCE (thru 7/22)!
Here are ALL the social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/
Go check them out! Plus there are other Expos all over the country, listed on their webpage.
love love love,
http://goo.gl/ZRDpgQhttp://goo.gl/it0SM4http://goo.gl/jYr1zMhttp://goo.gl/3xeZpFhttp://goo.gl/v6yGE7
And DON'T FORGET to hit REPLY and enter to win FREE TICKETS to the Worcester Expo 7/23 & 7/24!
Kate
The Expo has been kind enough to give bloggers 5 FREE tickets to the event. If you are interested please reply below. :) AND, if you miss the FREE TICKETS then you can still get 20% off w/ code ADVANCE (thru 7/22)!
Here are ALL the social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/
Go check them out! Plus there are other Expos all over the country, listed on their webpage.
love love love,
http://goo.gl/ZRDpgQhttp://goo.gl/it0SM4http://goo.gl/jYr1zMhttp://goo.gl/3xeZpFhttp://goo.gl/v6yGE7
And DON'T FORGET to hit REPLY and enter to win FREE TICKETS to the Worcester Expo 7/23 & 7/24!
Kate
Monday, June 6, 2016
Update, making your own kombucha,and Neil Gaiman
Hi! It's been awhile and I apologize for that. But, here I am. It's June and the summer has been, if not officially, as its 70-odd degrees here, the birds are going nuts and the Gypsy Moth caterpillers are eating all of our trees.
Some updates for ya:
*I'm working full-time and taking a Pharmacology Calculations course at the local community college, hence why I have neglected my blog. Time is short.
*I still haven't been taken off the wait-list at the 2 schools I applied to, which is good, I guess, but bad because I haven't been accepted yet and the WAIT IS KILLING ME! >< I can't make any long-term plans until I know about school and they have until September. UGH.
*My health is fair. Meds have been changed, PT for my back starts soon, and life goes on.
How about some talk of food, as this is a food blog? Lol. I picked up some O'doughs Gluten Free Flax Bagels at my local Shaws last week. Never heard of em? Me either. I wonder if its because it's a Canadian company. Anyway...
They are frozen, whole bagel thins. They cut easily with a bread knife once thawed. I was skeptical, as I always am about gf bagels, but these are great. Plus, the 1st bag I bought had a $1 coupon inside it! These flax bagels are soft, doughy, and toast very well. I like to eat them toasted with almond butter (I'm currently using Justin's Maple Almond butter) and raspberry jam. Such a good on-the-run-to-work breakfast!
Here is O'Doughs website http://odoughs.com/products/. Their products are also available at the Gluten Free Mall, Check out their website and product list because there is a LOT more available than just bagels!
Kombucha
The post title mentions making your own Kombucha. Well, I am doing that now! What is Kombucha? Well, it's a fermented tea drink that has a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast; apple cider vinegar like Bragg's, also has a mother). Basically it contains tea, sugar, and water. I made it when I live in Providence, RI, and forgot about it, so I had to discard my SCOBY then. At work we sell several kombuchas, from GTS/Synergy and Katalyst, both of which are great, but at about $4 a bottle an expensive habit. So the solution is to make my own. A regular customer makes his own and he brought me a SCOBY mother, which I set to brew last Sunday. This morning I skimmed off some of the tea and bottled it with mango puree, to get somewhat close to my favorite kombucha, Synergy Mango.
Why does anyone want to drink this? Well, there is some debate about its benefits, of course. Kombucha popped up in the US in the 1990s, but the origins are probably Japanese. Kombucha is full of awesome probiotics and gut bacteria, such as Saccromyces and Gluconacetobacter xylinus.
It's been touted as having all sorts of benefits, such as curing AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and boosting the immune system. These are unfounded and untested. BUT it's very tasty. I like to use it because 1) it's tasty, 2) it seems to help with my gut, and 3) I like it!
LOTS of resources (mostly pro, sorry):
http://whatiskombucha.com/
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/11/kombucha-really-good-you
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-is-kombucha-10-facts-need-to-know/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/2014/10/28/7ba5f68a-5ad6-11e4-8264-deed989ae9a2_story.html
How do you get started? Well, you can always use a search engine. You can find SCOBY's in lots of places. A great website to start with is Kombucha Brooklyn which sells SCOBYs and LOTS of other stuff, plus great FAQ. Ask around your area, neighborhood, local health food store; you never know who has one.
I'll let you know how mine turns out! Here's a picture of the set-up I use.
OH! You know I LOVE Neil Gaiman and he just put out a new book: The View from the Cheap Seats. Here is the link on his website http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/The+View+from+the+Cheap+Seats%3A+Selected+Nonfiction/.
OFF to work. love, love, love
K
Some updates for ya:
*I'm working full-time and taking a Pharmacology Calculations course at the local community college, hence why I have neglected my blog. Time is short.
*I still haven't been taken off the wait-list at the 2 schools I applied to, which is good, I guess, but bad because I haven't been accepted yet and the WAIT IS KILLING ME! >< I can't make any long-term plans until I know about school and they have until September. UGH.
*My health is fair. Meds have been changed, PT for my back starts soon, and life goes on.
How about some talk of food, as this is a food blog? Lol. I picked up some O'doughs Gluten Free Flax Bagels at my local Shaws last week. Never heard of em? Me either. I wonder if its because it's a Canadian company. Anyway...
They are frozen, whole bagel thins. They cut easily with a bread knife once thawed. I was skeptical, as I always am about gf bagels, but these are great. Plus, the 1st bag I bought had a $1 coupon inside it! These flax bagels are soft, doughy, and toast very well. I like to eat them toasted with almond butter (I'm currently using Justin's Maple Almond butter) and raspberry jam. Such a good on-the-run-to-work breakfast!
Here is O'Doughs website http://odoughs.com/products/. Their products are also available at the Gluten Free Mall, Check out their website and product list because there is a LOT more available than just bagels!
Kombucha
The post title mentions making your own Kombucha. Well, I am doing that now! What is Kombucha? Well, it's a fermented tea drink that has a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast; apple cider vinegar like Bragg's, also has a mother). Basically it contains tea, sugar, and water. I made it when I live in Providence, RI, and forgot about it, so I had to discard my SCOBY then. At work we sell several kombuchas, from GTS/Synergy and Katalyst, both of which are great, but at about $4 a bottle an expensive habit. So the solution is to make my own. A regular customer makes his own and he brought me a SCOBY mother, which I set to brew last Sunday. This morning I skimmed off some of the tea and bottled it with mango puree, to get somewhat close to my favorite kombucha, Synergy Mango.
Why does anyone want to drink this? Well, there is some debate about its benefits, of course. Kombucha popped up in the US in the 1990s, but the origins are probably Japanese. Kombucha is full of awesome probiotics and gut bacteria, such as Saccromyces and Gluconacetobacter xylinus.
It's been touted as having all sorts of benefits, such as curing AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and boosting the immune system. These are unfounded and untested. BUT it's very tasty. I like to use it because 1) it's tasty, 2) it seems to help with my gut, and 3) I like it!
http://whatiskombucha.com/
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/11/kombucha-really-good-you
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-is-kombucha-10-facts-need-to-know/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/2014/10/28/7ba5f68a-5ad6-11e4-8264-deed989ae9a2_story.html
How do you get started? Well, you can always use a search engine. You can find SCOBY's in lots of places. A great website to start with is Kombucha Brooklyn which sells SCOBYs and LOTS of other stuff, plus great FAQ. Ask around your area, neighborhood, local health food store; you never know who has one.
I'll let you know how mine turns out! Here's a picture of the set-up I use.
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| Day 7 |
OH! You know I LOVE Neil Gaiman and he just put out a new book: The View from the Cheap Seats. Here is the link on his website http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/The+View+from+the+Cheap+Seats%3A+Selected+Nonfiction/.
CHECK IT OUT! Also, read this great article, where Neil talks about his book, Ray Bradbury, and other stuff., Brain Pickings article
OFF to work. love, love, love
K
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Hello. Long time...
Hello folks. It is a drizzly Sunday morning here on Cape Cod and I am headed to volunteer at the Piggy Trot. I want to start the blog out by apologizing to the few readers that I have. I am not good at blogging. I am not good at setting aside a half an hour to sit down at my laptop without other distractions and write a little snippet to you guys. It's not that I don't have ideas; it's that I have so much other stuff going on and this is not a priority.
The last few weeks have been get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, go to sleep, and repeat, with court appointments, doctor's appointments and x-rays and MRIs and visits with friends from out of state or out of the country thrown in between. I have put this blog on the back burner because I have not taken enough time for myself and I apologize. And in case you're worried, everything is fine. Nothing is life-threatening.
I also have not had time to experiment with any gluten free recipes or do much of anything else food-related. I did make a yummy but very salty chicken salsa verde in the crock pot last week which was good. I want up having to dump the quinoa and wash off the chicken so that I could eat it because it was way too spicy so I know how to fix that in the future. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things again soon. TJ and I have also been sick for the last week. I have to thank Vietnamese and Thai restaurants for noodle soups because they really help when I am feeling under the weather. My favorite place to go to for this is Thuan Lo on Rt. 28 in South Yarmouth. Every time I go in tell the older gentleman what is wrong with me and he gives me exactly what I need. Fabulous.
This Blog has been brought to you today by voice texting which for once did not mess up that many words. Hope everyone is doing well. Have a wonderful weekend I will try to get a blog post up later this week .love love love, Kate
The last few weeks have been get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, go to sleep, and repeat, with court appointments, doctor's appointments and x-rays and MRIs and visits with friends from out of state or out of the country thrown in between. I have put this blog on the back burner because I have not taken enough time for myself and I apologize. And in case you're worried, everything is fine. Nothing is life-threatening.
I also have not had time to experiment with any gluten free recipes or do much of anything else food-related. I did make a yummy but very salty chicken salsa verde in the crock pot last week which was good. I want up having to dump the quinoa and wash off the chicken so that I could eat it because it was way too spicy so I know how to fix that in the future. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things again soon. TJ and I have also been sick for the last week. I have to thank Vietnamese and Thai restaurants for noodle soups because they really help when I am feeling under the weather. My favorite place to go to for this is Thuan Lo on Rt. 28 in South Yarmouth. Every time I go in tell the older gentleman what is wrong with me and he gives me exactly what I need. Fabulous.
This Blog has been brought to you today by voice texting which for once did not mess up that many words. Hope everyone is doing well. Have a wonderful weekend I will try to get a blog post up later this week .love love love, Kate
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Hiatus
Hi folks. Sorry, I have been on hiatus. I was out of the state for a week and today has just been SLAMMED. I will try to get a post together for next Wed.
Please stay tuned.
<3 kate="" p="">
Please stay tuned.
<3 kate="" p="">
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Review of Royal II Yarmouthport, MA
Yesterday I had an absolutely fabulous lunch at the Royal II Restaurant & Grill on 6A in Yarmouthport. A customer at work had recently recommended it to me as they have a good selection of gluten-free items on the menu.
A friend and I arrived shortly after they opened (open @ 11:30 a.m.) and sat at the bar. There was one couple at a table but soon more people arrived. They have a great drink menu with lots of options. One of the owners, Paul Bolanos, waited on us. My friend and I know him from their other place, Royal Pizza, which we used to go to in Dennisport (also fabulous!) when we lived there and my friend worked at Chase & Merchant. Paul is such a nice guy and very knowledgeable.
He served us each a slice of pizza, which I gave to my friend.It smelled amazing! Paul saw this and asked "gluten?", to which I agreed. So he got me something special, which was a fantastic Greek soup, called Avgolemono, that has lemon, chicken, rice, and egg in it. "Greek penicillin," Paul joked. It was very good, a hint of lemon and a wonderful broth. Then we ordered vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, which are one of my favorite foods. These came with cut tomatoes and a marvelous Tzatziki sauce. True Greek amazingness food. For entrees G ordered Veal Parmesan, but I was indecisive. I told Paul that I had been checking out the menu on-line and got excited about gluten free cheese ravioli, but sad because it wasn't on the menu in restaurant. Paul assured me that they have it (I was not looking at gluten-free specific menu), and they even have gluten-free bread! G's Veal Parm was "sexual" as he called it, which I will take his word for (no veal for me). My ravioli was PERFECT! I ordered marinara sauce with it, though I could have had vodka sauce. See the picture below. SO FREAKING GOOD!
Paul and I talked about gluten-free cooking and what they use. They have gluten-free pizza dough, penne pasta, cheese ravioli, and bread. He didn't disclose the names of the products, or where they get them specifically, but he did tell me that they use GF cheese ravioli and stuffed shells which come from a woman on Nantucket. (They try to use local ingredients as much as they can. Most of the meat and fish are local. ) Paul noted that the veal parm and chicken parm can be gluten-free as well! Also, they can accommodate for vegetarian/vegans as well.
5 stars. This place is absolutely wonderful. I recommend it to EVERYONE. Please check it out and tell them Kate sent you!
Royal II is located at 715 Rt. 6A, Yarmouthport, MA. Here is their website: Royal II Grill.
A friend and I arrived shortly after they opened (open @ 11:30 a.m.) and sat at the bar. There was one couple at a table but soon more people arrived. They have a great drink menu with lots of options. One of the owners, Paul Bolanos, waited on us. My friend and I know him from their other place, Royal Pizza, which we used to go to in Dennisport (also fabulous!) when we lived there and my friend worked at Chase & Merchant. Paul is such a nice guy and very knowledgeable.
He served us each a slice of pizza, which I gave to my friend.It smelled amazing! Paul saw this and asked "gluten?", to which I agreed. So he got me something special, which was a fantastic Greek soup, called Avgolemono, that has lemon, chicken, rice, and egg in it. "Greek penicillin," Paul joked. It was very good, a hint of lemon and a wonderful broth. Then we ordered vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, which are one of my favorite foods. These came with cut tomatoes and a marvelous Tzatziki sauce. True Greek amazingness food. For entrees G ordered Veal Parmesan, but I was indecisive. I told Paul that I had been checking out the menu on-line and got excited about gluten free cheese ravioli, but sad because it wasn't on the menu in restaurant. Paul assured me that they have it (I was not looking at gluten-free specific menu), and they even have gluten-free bread! G's Veal Parm was "sexual" as he called it, which I will take his word for (no veal for me). My ravioli was PERFECT! I ordered marinara sauce with it, though I could have had vodka sauce. See the picture below. SO FREAKING GOOD!
Paul and I talked about gluten-free cooking and what they use. They have gluten-free pizza dough, penne pasta, cheese ravioli, and bread. He didn't disclose the names of the products, or where they get them specifically, but he did tell me that they use GF cheese ravioli and stuffed shells which come from a woman on Nantucket. (They try to use local ingredients as much as they can. Most of the meat and fish are local. ) Paul noted that the veal parm and chicken parm can be gluten-free as well! Also, they can accommodate for vegetarian/vegans as well.
5 stars. This place is absolutely wonderful. I recommend it to EVERYONE. Please check it out and tell them Kate sent you!
Royal II is located at 715 Rt. 6A, Yarmouthport, MA. Here is their website: Royal II Grill.
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| gluten free cheese ravioli |
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Nothing much to say
No major updates to give you. I didn't make anything new. No new recipes to share that I can think of. It's the end of March and I am grateful. March is one of my least favorite months.
See you in April.
See you in April.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Gluten-free Irish Soda Bread & review Green Lotus Cafe
Sorry for the late post, all 13 of my followers. It's been an insanely busy week. But here we go!
Here is another of my favorite recipes by Karina over at Gluten Free Goddess: Irish Soda Bread, paired w/ potato cabbage soup which I have not made, yet. The only substitutions I made were flax egg instead of actual eggs and currents instead of raisins. I have made this recipe before and it always come out great. This time it was a bit wet after 30 minutes, so I baked it for another 10 minutes and let it sit in the oven with the oven off for a few minutes. It was so good! I had some for breakfast a few days in a row.
Here is another of my favorite recipes by Karina over at Gluten Free Goddess: Irish Soda Bread, paired w/ potato cabbage soup which I have not made, yet. The only substitutions I made were flax egg instead of actual eggs and currents instead of raisins. I have made this recipe before and it always come out great. This time it was a bit wet after 30 minutes, so I baked it for another 10 minutes and let it sit in the oven with the oven off for a few minutes. It was so good! I had some for breakfast a few days in a row.
I am writing this post from the Green Lotus Cafe in Hyannis, MA. This place is a little gem. How have I missed coming here for 3 years?! I had to get up early this morning to help a friend and I was settling on Starbucks for breakfast, when the internet reminded me of this place! Green Lotus is so freaking good!
I came stumbling in right around opening and took a gander at the menu. Sandwiches, tea, bubble tea (!!), soups, and salads. Vegan options, gluten free options, smoothies and green juices! Plus Gluten free and vegan blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies right at the counter! Sold me on a Quick & Simple breakfast sandwich (egg, cheese, tomato, hold red onion, dijon mayo on Canyon gluten free bread).I had to throw in a chai with almond milk, of course. And a Nutella Blast smoothie for later.
Oh yes, this place gets 5 stars. Absolutely fabulous. I'll definitely be coming here again.
Go check Nate and his crew out at 349 Main St,Hyannis, MA. www.GreenLotusCafe.com
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Failed pretzels, awesome applesauce cake, and other updates
This weekend I attempted to make gluten-free soft pretzels. The pretzels were an utter disaster that ended in rage and me throwing the whole mess away....something I will have to try again later. I found the recipe through Gluten Free & More magazine (recipe is here).
Sunday night I didn't feel like eating much so I made a box of Annie's Organic Gluten Free Vegan Elbows & Creamy Sauce (product info). I was expecting mock mac & cheese and that is not what I got. Instead it was a weird concoction of sweet potato, pumpkin and starches, which I didn't find appetizing. I will go back to the Daiya's Cheezy Mac (product info) for sure.
I did, however, come back from the pretzel debacle to make an amazing applesauce cake, that my gluten-eating partner really enjoyed, as well as my coworkers. The recipe comes from Karina over at Glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com. It's Karina's Gluten-free Applesauce Crumb Cake with Cinnamon and my, oh, my is it FANTASTIC. The original recipe is here, please go get it and make it yourself. The only thing I substituted was flax egg for eggs, as I ran out of eggs...oops! And I used a brownie pan. But seriously, make THIS.
In other news, University of Massachusetts at Amherst rejected my application for their 2nd Bachelor's in Nursing program. That sucks, but I am STILL on a wait list for 2 other schools, so there's hope.
Our bearded dragon, Ms. Fred, who was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and metabolic bone disease, is doing just great. In fact she laid an infertile egg the other day, so I set up a dig box for her.
That's it for now. Look at pics below. Love, love, love, K
Sunday night I didn't feel like eating much so I made a box of Annie's Organic Gluten Free Vegan Elbows & Creamy Sauce (product info). I was expecting mock mac & cheese and that is not what I got. Instead it was a weird concoction of sweet potato, pumpkin and starches, which I didn't find appetizing. I will go back to the Daiya's Cheezy Mac (product info) for sure.
I did, however, come back from the pretzel debacle to make an amazing applesauce cake, that my gluten-eating partner really enjoyed, as well as my coworkers. The recipe comes from Karina over at Glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com. It's Karina's Gluten-free Applesauce Crumb Cake with Cinnamon and my, oh, my is it FANTASTIC. The original recipe is here, please go get it and make it yourself. The only thing I substituted was flax egg for eggs, as I ran out of eggs...oops! And I used a brownie pan. But seriously, make THIS.
In other news, University of Massachusetts at Amherst rejected my application for their 2nd Bachelor's in Nursing program. That sucks, but I am STILL on a wait list for 2 other schools, so there's hope.
Our bearded dragon, Ms. Fred, who was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and metabolic bone disease, is doing just great. In fact she laid an infertile egg the other day, so I set up a dig box for her.
That's it for now. Look at pics below. Love, love, love, K
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| Cake Heaven |
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| Ms. Fred |
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| Mr. Milo |
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Paleo Thin Mints, poetry & dragon tales
Hi folks. Yes, this is a day late...although I wrote half of it yesterday.
First, I made Paleo thin mints. Recipe is from Elena's Pantry recipe here. They didn't turn out exact, as the chocolate chips I had were NOT melting, much to my dismay. I tried melting in the pan, then in a hot bath, then in the microwave...to no avail. Eventually I wound up adding hot water (BY MISTAKE) and that worked well to thin out the chocolate. I was using Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips (info here.). The bag I was using expired in January so I'm not sure if that is it or not. BUT, they turned out VERY yummy. :) Sorry, no photos were taken. I will be making these again.
Second, I wrote a poem yesterday, inspired by Amanda Palmer's latest song, Machete. Please go listen to it here.The poem is called FINE. It's on my deviantArt account which is woefully neglected. Again go here.
Thirdly, our (rescue) bearded dragon, Fred, is ill. She has an upper respiratory infection and Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), but she is being treated. Thankfully these are not life-threatening and although there isn't a cure for MBD, there is treatment. MBD is basically osteoporosis for dragons. She has a good life though and is very well cared for. Below are some pics of Fred.
First, I made Paleo thin mints. Recipe is from Elena's Pantry recipe here. They didn't turn out exact, as the chocolate chips I had were NOT melting, much to my dismay. I tried melting in the pan, then in a hot bath, then in the microwave...to no avail. Eventually I wound up adding hot water (BY MISTAKE) and that worked well to thin out the chocolate. I was using Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips (info here.). The bag I was using expired in January so I'm not sure if that is it or not. BUT, they turned out VERY yummy. :) Sorry, no photos were taken. I will be making these again.
Second, I wrote a poem yesterday, inspired by Amanda Palmer's latest song, Machete. Please go listen to it here.The poem is called FINE. It's on my deviantArt account which is woefully neglected. Again go here.
Thirdly, our (rescue) bearded dragon, Fred, is ill. She has an upper respiratory infection and Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), but she is being treated. Thankfully these are not life-threatening and although there isn't a cure for MBD, there is treatment. MBD is basically osteoporosis for dragons. She has a good life though and is very well cared for. Below are some pics of Fred.
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| Fred in the carrier. |
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| Stretched out @ the vet. |
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Late post...Kite Hill cream cheese
Sorry about this being a late post. I don't have anything specific in mind and yesterday got very busy.
Yesterday we voted in the primaries, here in MA, which I did. I did purchase some Kite Hill almond cream cheese which I sampled this morning. I smeared it on 2 Van's Gluten Free blueberry waffles and topped it with peach preserves from NC and it was quite delicious. I like it better than the Tofutti and it doesn't have soy!
Here is the list of their cream cheeses. I've only found it at Whole Foods Market here on the Cape.
I'm updating this at work, so I'm off for now. I'll have a better blog next week! Til then... Love, love, love.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Homemade gluten-free bread & Lovely Candy Company candies
This week I did something I haven't done in many years; I made gluten-free bread from scratch. One of my coworker friends gave me a fabulous Lodge dutch oven (with a cute snail handle!) and I just had to use it right away. There's been a lot of conversation at work about making bread at home (bagels in one case) and it got me thinking that I should try it again. My previous attempts at breadmaking were not great, tasty, but not what I wanted. Sadly, this attempt wasn't much better.
After much searching on Pinterest, and skimming recipes, I settled on one: No Knead Dutch Oven bread from the baker upstairs. The recipe calls for all-purpose flour so I swapped it out with an gluten-free all purpose flour (1 of my favorite's is from Amy the Family Chef). The recipe calls to let the dough rise for 12-18 hours and I may have overdone it by a few hours.
I followed all directions and this is what I got: a hard, crusty, soft-inside ball of bread. It does taste good though it is very dense. The top came out quite dry and I am not sure how to fix that. The bottom was a bit thick also. Next time I will use a different all purpose blend and maybe put some olive oil on top. If anyone has suggestions, please leave them!
After much searching on Pinterest, and skimming recipes, I settled on one: No Knead Dutch Oven bread from the baker upstairs. The recipe calls for all-purpose flour so I swapped it out with an gluten-free all purpose flour (1 of my favorite's is from Amy the Family Chef). The recipe calls to let the dough rise for 12-18 hours and I may have overdone it by a few hours.
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| dough |
This week I received an order from the Lovely Candy Company, which makes gluten-free licorice and other candies. I forgot to get licorice because I was excited about fruit chews and Raspberry Fudgey Rolls. The rolls remind me of Tootsie Rolls but with filling; oh so good and chewy. The fruit chews are very sweet but good! The berry ones have little chunks of dehydrated fruit, which I love. I can't wait to try the licorice. Here is their candy list. Check 'em out!
Yesterday I was sick, and today was my day off, so I have been catching up on the on-line stuff, as well as marathoning Transparent on Amazon Instant Video. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's about the family patriarch who makes a huge life change, family secrets come out, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Jeffrey Tambor is amazing as Mort/Maura. The cast is fabulous and it certainly represents some reality. There are currently 2 seasons, though a 3rd season will be out this year. Watch it here on Amazon Prime! Now I can go back to making my way through Fringe, which is also good, but an entirely different type of show.
Until next time...love, love, love.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Gluten-free tortillas
Last night I made some pre-packed Indian food, that I get from work, and had a hankering for naan. I searched Pinterest (my Pinterest profile here) and found some great recipes, but most call for ingredients I didn't have on hand (apparently I need yeast at all times LOL) . Then I realized that the Otto's Cassava Flour bag HAS a recipe for gluten-free/paleo/AIP tortillas on the back, so I tried that out. (Otto's Naturals)
This is the 2nd time I have used the cassava flour. I scored a free bag at the GF/AF Expo in Worcester last year and haven't used it often, obviously. I followed the directions, wound up adding a bit more water as mine was too dry, and made 4 tortillas. I realized that I desperately need a rolling pin, as I rolled the balls of dough in between 2 sheets of parchment paper and used the olive oil spray can as a roller, which did work, kind of. (I have a separate tab open now browsing Amazon for one. Any recommendations?) The first one was fabulous and was eaten right away. The 2nd one burned a bit but it was still edible and tasty. The 3rd & 4th were a bit thicker so they took longer and were a bit more gooey. They were really good with the Bombay potatoes and rice (yes, I know, lots of starch). These tortillas are great even on their own! I will definitely be refining this in the future.
I also printed out some naan recipes from Pinterest and will experiment with those. I'll let you know what I find.
Also, some great news: my awesome place of employment, the Orleans Whole Food Store, featured my blog on their Facebook page! This is an honor and I am very grateful. Thank you Don, Janis, Heidi and Cori (and all my coworkers for your support). :) Check out the FB page and come by the shop some time! It's open Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. There is a fantastic group of folks who work there, including me :P.
Until next time...love, love, love.
edit: For late lunch today I had a quesadilla, with Daiya cheddar style cheeze slices. YUMMY!
This is the 2nd time I have used the cassava flour. I scored a free bag at the GF/AF Expo in Worcester last year and haven't used it often, obviously. I followed the directions, wound up adding a bit more water as mine was too dry, and made 4 tortillas. I realized that I desperately need a rolling pin, as I rolled the balls of dough in between 2 sheets of parchment paper and used the olive oil spray can as a roller, which did work, kind of. (I have a separate tab open now browsing Amazon for one. Any recommendations?) The first one was fabulous and was eaten right away. The 2nd one burned a bit but it was still edible and tasty. The 3rd & 4th were a bit thicker so they took longer and were a bit more gooey. They were really good with the Bombay potatoes and rice (yes, I know, lots of starch). These tortillas are great even on their own! I will definitely be refining this in the future.
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| rolled out |
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| 1st one! |
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| dinner |
I also printed out some naan recipes from Pinterest and will experiment with those. I'll let you know what I find.
Also, some great news: my awesome place of employment, the Orleans Whole Food Store, featured my blog on their Facebook page! This is an honor and I am very grateful. Thank you Don, Janis, Heidi and Cori (and all my coworkers for your support). :) Check out the FB page and come by the shop some time! It's open Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. There is a fantastic group of folks who work there, including me :P.
Until next time...love, love, love.
edit: For late lunch today I had a quesadilla, with Daiya cheddar style cheeze slices. YUMMY!
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
I love pizza.
Pizza is one of my favorite dishes. Back when I first started eating gluten free (in college), I had pretty much given up on gluten-free pizza though. Thankfully the market is a LOT better than it was over 8 years ago and there are some great options. My old stand-by though is Bob's Red Mill gluten-free pizza crust mix product info here.
I picked up a bag of this for last night. Having shoveled snow yesterday morning before work, I was in pain all day and didn't want to fuss with dinner. I wandered around the grocery store, eyed the gluten-free/dairy-free pizzas and lamented inside about the horrific cost ($9 for freaking pizza?!). It is almost always cheaper to make my own pizza and I typically love it.
So tonight I made the pizza crust, separated it into 2 balls as indicated, let one rise and the other went into the freezer for later. Spread it out on the pizza pan, baked it, then added toppings (Daiya mozzarella style shreds and pepperoni) and baked it some more. It came out PERFECTLY!The Daiya shreds (product info )melt just right and it tasted oh so good. I am surprised I was able to contain myself to just 4 pieces! I hope the leftovers are good tomorrow.
What are your favorite gluten-free and/or dairy-free pizza choices? I'd love to know!
Until next Wednesday...love, love, love
I picked up a bag of this for last night. Having shoveled snow yesterday morning before work, I was in pain all day and didn't want to fuss with dinner. I wandered around the grocery store, eyed the gluten-free/dairy-free pizzas and lamented inside about the horrific cost ($9 for freaking pizza?!). It is almost always cheaper to make my own pizza and I typically love it.
So tonight I made the pizza crust, separated it into 2 balls as indicated, let one rise and the other went into the freezer for later. Spread it out on the pizza pan, baked it, then added toppings (Daiya mozzarella style shreds and pepperoni) and baked it some more. It came out PERFECTLY!The Daiya shreds (product info )melt just right and it tasted oh so good. I am surprised I was able to contain myself to just 4 pieces! I hope the leftovers are good tomorrow.
Until next Wednesday...love, love, love
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Supernatural Chronicles Mardi Gras Tour
We are so excited to bring you the Mardi Gras Blog Parade for The Supernatural Chronicles! The Supernatural Chronicles is a fantastic box set with stories from ten different authors each celebrating a distinct supernatural creature! This is the Supernatural Chronicles: The New Orleans Collection. The Tour goes from February 1st-February 10th with different authors and content each day of the tour! Make sure you check out each stop along the way and enter to win the 1 of 10 Mystery Boxes!! See why everyone is talking about #DYNAMIS, and stop by The Supernatural Chronicles Facebook Discussion Group!
Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** iBooks
Ten authors and one grand scheme of mayhem and magic
in the depths of New Orleans.
About The Supernatural Chronicles: The New Orleans Collection: Beneath the brow of Bourbon and French architecture, the iris of New Orleans swirls with flecks of worlds and beings unknown to mankind. Come with us as we chronicle their journey—each supernatural race must hunt for an offering in hopes of saving their own. Skinwalkers, Wolves, Vampires, Dragons, Succubi, Witches, Necromancers, Cupids, and Asgardians are all in danger of losing control as an uprising darkness threatens to rip the veil that protects them all from the great beyond. Ten original novellas, following each supernatural race as they fight an elusive enemy, are written by New Adult authors Lila Felix, Kristie Cook, Brenda Pandos, Delphina Henley, Julia Crane, Jamie Magee, Morgan Wylie, Kallie Ross, S.T. Bende, and Rebecca Ethington. Come join them for the hunt and discover hidden treasures inside.Don’t miss each of the individual Supernatural Chronicles!
Supernatural Chronicles: THE NECROMANCERS Synopsis:
#AreYouReadyToHunt?
Hailey Devareaux, inexperienced yet “all-knowing” 19 year old Necromancer, couldn’t care less what the world had to offer her. Five years after her mother encountered a powerful seer—albeit a dead one—they uprooted their entire clan and moved to New Orleans for a rare supernatural conjunction. Dangerous didn’t begin to describe the reality of Necromancers living in a city so rich with history involving the celebration of the dead, but Hailey didn’t have to worry. Her abilities hadn’t matured.
What good was Necromancy when she couldn’t save her mother? Hailey hadn’t been strong enough to bring her back—not even to say goodbye.
While Hailey moped around during her family’s celebration of the Day of the Dead, she met Bobby; if only she had realized he was dead before she started talking to him. Robert “Bobby” Duval died one year ago. When he died, the veil between this world and the next was at it’s thinnest. It should’ve been easy for him to cross over, but something kept him from doing so. On the day he met Hailey, he prepared to finally move on, but a moratorium was placed on departing souls—the veil, too volatile to pass into the great beyond. His chance at his afterlife once more denied.
Based on a cryptic letter her clan received, Hailey is elected by the Necromancers to embark on the dangerous quest to restore the veil. Bobby joins Hailey and helps her understand her powers.
Will Hailey give up her bitterness against the craft and her own fear of death, and forgive herself in order to embrace her purpose—to be the next leader of their clan? Will she embrace her power as well as help save the supernatural community by sealing the veil once more and will she help Bobby cross over to finally be at peace?
Hailey Devareaux, inexperienced yet “all-knowing” 19 year old Necromancer, couldn’t care less what the world had to offer her. Five years after her mother encountered a powerful seer—albeit a dead one—they uprooted their entire clan and moved to New Orleans for a rare supernatural conjunction. Dangerous didn’t begin to describe the reality of Necromancers living in a city so rich with history involving the celebration of the dead, but Hailey didn’t have to worry. Her abilities hadn’t matured.
What good was Necromancy when she couldn’t save her mother? Hailey hadn’t been strong enough to bring her back—not even to say goodbye.
While Hailey moped around during her family’s celebration of the Day of the Dead, she met Bobby; if only she had realized he was dead before she started talking to him. Robert “Bobby” Duval died one year ago. When he died, the veil between this world and the next was at it’s thinnest. It should’ve been easy for him to cross over, but something kept him from doing so. On the day he met Hailey, he prepared to finally move on, but a moratorium was placed on departing souls—the veil, too volatile to pass into the great beyond. His chance at his afterlife once more denied.
Based on a cryptic letter her clan received, Hailey is elected by the Necromancers to embark on the dangerous quest to restore the veil. Bobby joins Hailey and helps her understand her powers.
Will Hailey give up her bitterness against the craft and her own fear of death, and forgive herself in order to embrace her purpose—to be the next leader of their clan? Will she embrace her power as well as help save the supernatural community by sealing the veil once more and will she help Bobby cross over to finally be at peace?
INTERVIEW:
Supernatural Chronicles:
The Necromancers (Part 7 of 10)
Interview with Morgan
Wylie and Hailey Devareaux, a young Necromancer
Me: Hailey, thank you for joining us today! I look forward to
introducing you to the readers.
Hailey: Thanks, I guess. I’m not really sure why you would want to talk
with me, I mean you did create me so don’t you already know all these answers
anyway?
Me: Hmm. Yes, I suppose you’re right, but this way they get to know
you a little better and you always surprise me. So this will be fun!
Hailey: Ok, if you say so. Fire away!
Me: First up… Can you explain what a Necromancer is and what you do?
Hailey: We can raise the dead, well, we aren’t supposed to though. That’s
got bad juju involved.
Me: Good to know. Why don’t you tell them what you can do then.
Hailey: I can see ghosts and I usually end up talking to them before I
even know what I’m doing and then I’m the crazy person caught talking to myself
in public. It’s humiliating. I can also raise spirits, although I’m still
working on getting that one right. It takes practice.
Me: Why is so challenging to tell if they are alive or ghosts? Is
there a sign or something you could look for before you started talking, you
know so you don’t feel humiliated?
Hailey: They look like normal people… I mean alive people. If I paid attention better I’m sure I’d take note of
the confused and spacey look a lot of them have, but to be honest a lot of
alive people do that too, so there’s that.
Me: Okay, moving on… For quite some time, you’ve avoided your lessons
with your aunt and leader and neglected your responsibilities as a Necromancer.
Would you care to share why?
Hailey: I just wanted to be “normal” and to be honest, I was running away
without actually running away. I was scared and freaking angry… Mama died and
she shouldn’t have. That’s all I’m willing to say on it right now. I’m trying
to move forward now. I know what I should be doing. It’s just going to take
some time.
Me: Fair enough. I am sorry about your Mama.
Hailey: You should be. You wrote the story…*sigh*… but I digress.
Me: Yes. I am sorry. So…*clears throat* In the story you are on a
journey, looking for something. Is there anything you can share?
Hailey: I go on a journey. I’m looking for something. I get some help
along the way from some special characters but, Readers, you are just going to
have to read it. I can’t say anything else without giving away the good bits!
And there are some definite surprises and discoveries along the journey.
Me: Thank you Hailey. And yes, Readers, there are surprises
throughout the entire collection, especially a BIG one for YOU at the end. But
you’ll have to read it to find it! Thank you for joining us today!
About Morgan Wylie:
Morgan Wylie
published her first novel, Silent
Orchids, one year after moving across the country with her family on a
journey of new discovery. After an amazing three years in Nashville, TN and the
release of two more books, Morgan and her family found their way back to the
Northwest where they now reside. Still working everyday with great optimism,
Morgan continues to embrace all things: “Mama”, wife, teacher, and mediator to
the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head… where it gets
pretty loud!
Links:
Website: http://www.morganwylie.net/
Author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
The
Supernatural Chronicles Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/
Mardi Gras Blog Parade Schedule:
February 1st
February 2nd
February 3rd
February 4th
February 5th
February 6th
February 7th
February 8th
February 9th
February 10th
#DYNAMIS!
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