Beyond Gluten Free

www.beyondglutenfree.ca

In September, I wrote a post in regards to some dietary changes.  The post revealed my addiction to  coffee.  I let go of coffee for a while, but must admit to returning to it for periods of time.  For example, while in Thailand Jay and I  discovered that Green Hut Bungalows made a smoken cappuccino, and I found myself in my old habits of a cup a day.  Now that I am back in Ottawa, I am back to drinking tea. I am finding this to be better for me and my system.

Another change that I have been trying to integrate in my life is a gluten free diet.  Now, I know some of you will say: "It's a fad", but for me it is more than a fad.  I have crohn's disease and these last few years, I have been having stomach issues like cramping, constipation, diarrhoea, lethargy, and joint pain.    The times that I have gone gluten free, I have noticed a remarkable difference in how I feel, and how the mentioned symptoms magically disappear.  Although, I know this is true, it has not always been easy to stay away from bread!  Especially, when I eat outside of the home.

Michele showing me how to make Gomasia

I have decided that it is time to make lasting dietary changes.  This change is difficult, and I have come to realize that it is one that I cannot do alone.  For this reason, I have turned to Michele Shubert and Beyond Gluten Free's 6 week program to help me gain leverage in my dietary needs.

Michele came over today, and raided my cupboard and we got rid of all that is processed, contains gluten, msg, sugars and more.  She gave me a manual with recipes, a shopping list,  and a goal for the first week of my program.   My first week's goal is to increase my daily vegetable intake, to make certain recipes, and not eat gluten, dairy, or starch.   Wow!  I am excited to begin.

There are more layers to the program, which I will share with you in the next few weeks.  I will also interview Michele to give you a little foundation of her philosophy, and her program.  For now you can check out her website here.

She also brought me a basket of goodness, which included seed porridge, 

and burdock root apple cider vinegar.  This little gift is an inspiration 

towards my new changes. 

Thanks Michele! 

I had a great afternoon, it was fun and I feel inspired!

MOMENTS

My camera has been clicking away, and I have been loving the craft of capturing moments into stillness.

I have decided to challenge myself with posting a photo every Wednesday, the post will be entitled moments.  Our first "MOMENTS" photo is this one of Lukas.  The children were lined up at the door and ready to head outside, and to the park.  Lukas looked so cute looking out the glass door.  I was lucky to have my camera at the ready.   I am working on getting a better focus in my pictures, which is missing here.   In this one I wish that his eyes were more in focus. Nevertheless, I like the shot!

Reset Button

I just came back from a month in Thailand.   It was a much needed retreat from school and the hectic pace of my life here in Canada.  Basically, I (Jay was there as well) swam, read, ate great food, had massages, did yoga and revelled at the simplicity of life, in a hut on the beach.  I've come back refreshed, and with a new, but old perspective.  My time away living a simple life reminded me, of how I love to be creative.  How photography, felting, and writing make me happy.   This remembering, of my love for creativity has me feeling rejuvenated, and I have promised myself to stay creative.  My plan is to go delving into those creative mediums, to challenge myself and see where I can go, to hopefully break through new ground.  This means that I will be writing more blog posts, so stay tuned!  I leave you now with a few photos of the tropics.

View from our hut, I know right? 

The book that had me enraptured.  It's a true story, and I highly recommend it.

Thai food is to die for. 

The sunsets are amazing.

The street food is interesting.

The waves rocked my world. 

What Is Your Child Interested In?

Every child is an individual.  As parents and daycare providers it is our responsibility to observe our children and see what interests them.   We then need to take steps to help them explore those interests.

Yesterday, Lucia was pretending to face paint myself and the daycare children.  She used her index finger as a paint brush and in her imagination she painted colours and lines on our faces.

Observing this interest, I remembered that we had child-friendly face painting crayons.  After nap time, Lucia moved from her imagination to reality when she face painted our faces beautiful coloured patterns.

Coffee Addict

Coffee has been my drug of choice for nearly ten years.  It all started when my son Owen was three months old, and I was exhausted.  In my desperation for sanity, I grabbed a hold of a mug of the dark liquid and never looked back.   The taste wasn't what sold me; it was the kick of energy it gave me.  My daily cup of Jo put a smile to my face and a skip to my step; I could conquer the world. If you know me, you've heard me say: "My cup of coffee is my cup of happiness, I cannot live without it."

My cup of happiness became an addiction, yes, an addiction.  The day I realized that I was a coffee addict was a couple of years ago while in Africa.  We were driving our jeep through Savuti watching elephants, hyenas, zebras and all those wild animals of Botswana, and I had a headache, a headache that I could not shake off.  I took two Tylenol extra strength and still the heaviness in my brain persisted.  I thought for sure that Malaria was my plight and death was calling.  On our return to Maun, we stopped for a coffee and lord and behold my headache vanished, just like that.  Poof!  The realization dawned on me; I am a coffee addict, and without coffee, I am not happy. Although, I admitted to my addiction,  I refused to deny myself of my cup of happiness.

I recently decided to tackle my addiction and remove coffee from my diet.   There were a few bad days where I had a headache and lived in a fog, but I perceived and came through the other side.  The benefits have been worth it.

1. Sleep: I have been sleeping like a baby.
2. Relaxed: I have been feeling more relaxed, less irritable, and a low-lying anxious feeling has left me.
3. Appetite:    I have been satisfied with the foods that I eat and not craving foods in the afternoon.

Those benefits are worth a day without coffee.  I have replaced my cup a Jo with hot ginger tea, green tea and will soon get the fixings for my friend's recommendation of dandelion, chicory root and cinnamon stick tea.  Apparently it's bitter and a good liver detoxifier.

I have also let go of gluten, but that is another story!!!

There is nothing like a walk in the woods to bring up feelings of gratitude for all that I have. Enjoy your day in whatever you do.  I give you hugs and gratitude for checking in with Annie Bananie.

Happy Thanksgiving

Gratitude is that state if being where I appreciate all that I have. This includes the people in my life, the food that comes to my mouth, the clothes that keep me warm and the experiences that bring me joy in those experiences that allow me to grow and learn. 

Let's not forget gratitude for Mother Nature because without her,  I would not be here.