Gluten & Dairy Free

Well, the Whole 30 on day one was a big flop!  HA!  At dinner I realized that I needed to be more realistic.  I am going to start with a much smaller baby step.  I am eliminating dairy and gluten first.  I am hoping to see a difference after a week.  I have been doing some research and I have every symptom of gluten intolerance.  What's sad is I have had them pretty much my entire life.  Here is my goal for even typing this on a public blog.  I have always asked people I know to make a list of gluten free products they "go to".  I know there are a lot of options out there and unfortunately most are AWEFUL.  So here I go, I am starting the list.  As I discover things I will add them on to the list for your reference.  

I am off to get organized for the day, as I drink my black coffee with Splenda only.  

Gluten Free Products
Heinz Ketchup

Whole 30

Whole 30

For those that have known me for a while all know I have chronic "belly issues" and have fought with symptoms for decades.  I spent a fun weekend with some amazing friends in Austin celebrating Kimberly's birthday.  Everyone that knows Kimberly knows that she LOVES to work out.  UGH.  We went on a 5.5 mile hike along Town Lake, it was perfect weather, and we had amazing company, so I actually enjoyed it.  One of the conversations we had while on our walk was about dieting and healthy eating, shocker with eight ladies.  

A few of the ladies do not eat gluten, dairy and honestly are some of the most disciplined eaters on the planet.  That is what brings me to my newest venture, starting the Whole 30.  I am not sure I will even be able to do this, but I am certainly going to try.  I have not worn my hair down in more than three years because it is so brittle.  My skin is so dry I am embarrassed to shake people's hands.  I can't sleep, am bloated, the list goes on and on.  My goal is to do the best I can at each meal and try some meal planning so I am set up for success.  

I am cutting out dairy, gluten, as much sugar as possible and grains.  This is not going to be easy, my first meal was at Smash Burger.  I honestly did not know what I was going to order but I made it work.  I was starving so a salad with no cheese and no dressing was out.  I ordered the burger, no bun, with lettuce, spinach, onion, tomatoes and guacamole.  I also added s side of sweet potato fries, no ketchup.  I even had an unsweet tea!  Not the healthiest but definitely should help reduce the inflammation in my body.  

For dinner tonight, we are having spaghetti and zoodles with broccoli and asparagus.  It will be SO much easier once we are finally back downstairs and have a full kitchen.  In the mean time I will figure this out one day at a time.  

Jules

My first two days of retirement . . .

Well, to say that my focus has been on the house, I think, is an understatement.  I have never been so caught up on laundry and I even had time to go to the grocery store yesterday without running through like a chicken with my head cut off.  I know, I am sure people around the neighborhood have thought I was SO rude because I didn't ever say hi.  Well, let me tell you, I didn't see them because I was running frantically and trying to not let my kid be the last one standing at pick up, where ever that would have been.

So, I have started cleaning, never mind waiting for the cleaning crew who has not been answering their phones.  Shocker, that's the thing about living in Houston right now and doing ANY work on your house.  "Subs" are in such short demand NO ONE can finish anything.  I was thinking of a great "gift" to someone on the home stretch of rebuilding, a couple of hours with a handy man.  Let's face it, there is always something to be done in anyone's home, especially one under construction.  I have found myself adding little things like a doggie door and a key pad entry door knob.

So here is what I have been up to the past two days, full disclosure, there was some tennis involved.  I cleaned the kitchen some so that we could move the upstairs mini-fridge back outside and cleaned the main fridge, that took a LOT longer than I thought.  But, I am so happy to finally be using a full size appliance again!!  Ric came home after a full day at work and power-washed and cleaned the toilets that have been sitting outside since last August, had to do that before the plumber can put those suckers in.  And today, well, I "wallpapered" my spice cabinet in my pantry.  I LOVE it!  I cannot say it was ANYTHING like the video online but I am so happy with it.  To find the wall paper you can go to www.wallsneedlove.com.  I am trying to decide what the next wall I am going to paper will be.  As for the pantry, I keep walking around the corner and just peaking inside.  I obviously cannot move anything into it but a girl can dream.  I do have a 26"x56" piece left that I am trying to decided what to do with.  Let me know if you have any suggestions!  #wallsneedlove #organizedspicecabinet #momlife

I did have several "work" related calls today.  There are some interesting opportunities out there, I am definitely keeping my eyes, ears and heart open and know when the right thing comes along I will know.  As for now, I still have a lot to do around here!

State of the House

Well a LOT has changed since the last post on this blog, 2012!  WHAT!?!?

I sit here with Lucy, our mini white schnauzer after sending the family off for their day.  There is a too familiar sound in the background of GMA, an excavator, biting away at yet another flooded house being torn to the ground.  Yesterday was my last day at Allergan.  After almost ten years with the organization, and working since I was 15, I find myself without a "job".  What does today hold?  Well, there is TENNIS!  HA!  I have my first match with my new partner Ashley.  Don't get me wrong, we have had matches this season but because of my crazy schedule we have yet to play.

So much is going through my mind.  I feel so liberated in one way but in another I feel like I am a lost child roaming the mall, unsure of who to talk to and ask what to do and where to go.  I know this, I have some goals and some things I want to accomplish while being so fortunate to have this time.

1.  I want to get the house back in order.  This is going to be a VERY long process and from what I understand, emotional.
2.  I want to write and publish my "book", Hilarity in the Midst of Harvey, all of my Top Ten posts and comments.
3.  I will start working out again, I was on a roll and in pretty good shape before Harvey but lets face it, life consumed me. #beachbody
4.  Volunteer at the girls school for something, nothing too big, lets be real here.
5.  Start this blog, let's face it, anyone that knows me knows I have an opinion, on just about everything.  Not sure who will read it other than my Mom! 
      Topics I am considering talking about, Parenting, Cooking, Aesthetics, Organization, Fitness, Job Talk and ???

I am off to Starbucks!  They opened a new one in the neighborhood, YES, IN the neighborhood!  I could not be more excited.  I think I will ride my bike there in fact.  Speaking of bikes, they are picking up my company car tomorrow around lunch so it looks like that is going to be the way I roll until I figure that next step out.

Until later, which could be only a few minutes seeing all I have is time!  HA!