As I posted in my last blog, I recently visited the beautiful city of Chicago. I left the day before the tragic shootings took place in Highland Park. I debated waiting to post about Chicago, but I believe people should be aware of all the wonderful things the city has to offer—including its welcoming atmosphere, rich cultural diversity, and surprisingly fantastic gluten-free food options. While I was here, I met people from all over Chicago, as well as people who have moved

As we all know stress makes everything worse! Our body usually tells us we are stressed before we are logically aware of it. ...

I recently visited the beautiful city of Chicago. Sadly, I left the day before the tragic shootings in Highland Park. I considered postponing this post, but I believe it’s important to share all the wonderful things Chicago has to offer. During my time there, I met people from across the city and from around the world—including those who have moved to Chicago from Africa, Mexico, and many other places. Everyone I encountered was friendly, helpful, and kind. To all the familie

I love going to Disney! It has something for everyone to enjoy and there is food for everyone! It is magical especially when you have a food allergy or Celiac. I have traveled to Disney World many times with my family. There are a few tricks I've learned over the years and want to share them with you. Hack 1: Have your children carry their own stuff! Here is an example of some of the purses I made for my children. They are lightweight, as they are crocheted, and they we

When I travel, I have essential items I can't leave home without! I feel like this list has grown substantially since being diagnosed with Celiac disease. I can't just grab any snack or sandwich and eat while traveling. I can't just pick up any over-the-counter pain reliever and take it. Everything has to be checked to ensure it is gluten-free. If not, it won't be a fun trip. Here are my top five travel essentials: #1 Food Portable gluten-free snacks are a must. This ca

When planning a trip to an amusement park with celiac disease, food is often the biggest source of stress. But at Hersheypark, that’s not the case. One of the reasons I keep coming back is that they offer safe, clearly labeled gluten-free food options throughout the park. From chicken tenders and burgers to fries cooked in a dedicated fryer, I know my family and I can enjoy the day without worry. It’s such a relief not to have to pack a cooler or leave the park to eat. And be

We hit the road and headed to Buffalo recently! I have a niece that lives there and thought we would spend the day with her. Our first stop was the Walden Galleria Mall. I am not a big shopper however; my child needed some dress clothes so off we went! If you enjoy shopping this would be a great place for you! There are numerous stores here to explore. Some highlights are Lululemon, Loft, American Eagle, Apple, DSW, and Sephora. My favorite was Macy's! We found all

"Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call..." -Jimmy Buffett "Mother Ocean" seems to call me more often than I can go, but I go visit...

So, you are going away on a fabulous vacation! You are so excited, and then you start to feel the worry seeping in. Where will you eat? What if you get sick? You need to do a “Full Investigation.” Adventure Awaits! Tip 1: The Investigation begins… The first place I start is Facebook groups. I look for gluten-free/celiac groups near or in the place I’m going and join. I start searching for restaurants that are recommended. If I can’t find the answer to my specific qu

“A worried mother does better research than the FBI.” My youngest child had stomach issues from the time I introduced barley cereal into her diet. When I spoke to her doctor they suggested I go back to rice cereal. As I continued to introduce new foods she continued to have stomach issues. My husband and I brought her to a specialist when she was about two. He suggested that we give her MiraLAX daily. We did this for a while but it didn’t seem to solve her stomach aches. No

"If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, IT IS LETHAL.” -Paulo Coelho I love to travel and have a "next trip" to plan. It...

Charm City-Baltimore

Searching for gluten-free products and restaurants can be overwhelming and exhausting! Do you feel like you need to do a FULL...

When I was diagnosed I did not know anyone with Celiac. I had no idea what did and did not have gluten in it. I began to learn as much...