Ten Things I learned This Weekend

I had such a FANTASTIC weekend! I met wonderful people, tried some delicious food, and discovered a heck of a lot of new things. It was a great time all around! Here are TEN things I learned about at the Charlotte Gluten & Allergen Wellness Event:

1) You can get through anything with the right 'mix' of Faith, Hope, and Love.

 

Had the chance to sample delicious spice mixtures from the folks at Virtuous Living. Prided on 'wholesome values' this company understands that even with a special diet, food should still taste good. You can find their website HERE.

2) 'Bumba-Bees' are not scary...in fact, they're kind of adorable.

 

The folks at Bumbalooza make delicious gluten free bake mixes that are so easy to make; young ones can help you in the kitchen! You can find their website HERE.

3) Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to meeting some REALLY cool people. 

 

This was the first event I went to where I didn't know ANYONE. Enter Pam. I met her at the Blogger Dinner. She is probably one of the most positive people I've met. She's a wonderful source of knowledge. Click HERE to check out her 'I'm a Celiac' website. 

4) Living with food sensitivities doesn't mean you can't 'Enjoy Life...' 

 

Discovering there was a chocolate bar that I could actually eat, made me jump with glee. No really...I totally bounced. THEN I found out they had a whole LINE of products! SO GOOD! Their website is HERE.

5) Maybe I am a role model...

A little girl recognized my flower from my facebook page. She knew who I was and asked for my autograph. I was blown away by her enthusiasm and the fact that she looks up to ME! Hands down one of the coolest moments ever!

6) Books are STILL important!

We sometimes forget that not everyone has the Internet. That's where THIS BOOK comes in handy! Actually; regardless of technology; The Gluten Free Buyers Guide is a fantastic thing to keep around! Y'all need this book! It takes the guessing out of shopping, and let's you know all about the good stuff...and for the ladies; It fits in your purse! Check out their website HERE.

7) It's OK to indulge, you just gotta know how. 

When you learn you have food issues, things can get overwhelming, and eating out can become quite scary. If you remember to do your homework ahead of time, things will get better...especially when you learn that the restaurant HAS A GLUTEN FREE MENU! 

8) Speaking of Indulging...

Tito's Handmade Vodka is gluten free. Enough said. Their website is HERE.

9) Chips and Dip are still a GREAT combo!

I snack on fruits and veggies...but I'll be honest and say that I still occasionally have that craving for crunchy munchy goodness. Discovering snacks like PLENTILS and ROOTS HUMMUS can definitely help a gal get through those days. 

10) My inner-athlete needed a boost.

After learning about my health issues and food sensitivities, I let training fall by the wayside. All of the things I used as 'fuel' for my training were now off limits. It's been a bit daunting, and even scary at times. Enter Veronica. She developed a snack for her training regimen, and decided to share it with the world. Meeting and talking with her has made me feel a little better about getting back out there! Check out her website HERE.

If you read all of this; thank you for your time! I hope you learned a thing or two! This weekend has reminded me that no matter what you're going through; there are ALWAYS others out there who understand. You just have to keep trying until you find them. 

Please keep an eye out for a Gluten & Allergen Wellness Event in your area! 

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Never a dull moment...Things you may not know about living with a Thyroid Disorder.

Living with a thyroid disorder can be quite the adventure. One thing I can tell you, is that you learn a heck of a lot about your body. Here are some things we deal with that you may or may not already know about:

1) Mood Swings

Some days we're up, some days we're down. Some days there's even a weird combination of the two. I feel bad for the world on those days...

2) Hair Issues

It gets brittle, turns gray, falls out, and sometimes resembles a place where small animals should live. Honestly...some days it's not even worth trying. This is why the Salon Gods invented the Bun.

3) Body Aches

 You remember when Dorothy had to get the oil can to help the Tin Man move? Yep...that's pretty much us on a daily basis.

4) Fatigue

Sleeping Beauty's got nothing on us. Whether it's a cat nap, or TWELVE hours; no amount of sleep is ever enough. If we can fall asleep in the first place. Don't even get me started...

5) Brain Fog

Thank heavens for sticky notes and reminders on our phones...we are the most forgetful people you will ever meet.

6) Crazy Cravings & Dietary Restrictions

There are days where we could literally eat everything in sight. But then we remember we have to watch our diet because sometimes what we eat can make things worse.

7) Temperature Sensitivity

Whether the forecast is hot or cold; the way our bodies respond is ridiculous. There is no happy medium. (If you need me; I'll be the one outside without a jacket in the snow...)

8) One word: GOITER.

It's a fancy medical term for a weird lump that can grow in our throats. They can't always be seen, but the bigger ones can make it difficult to swallow. No matter the size, they're majorly annoying.

9) Weight Issues

Whether overactive or underactive, we can't seem to get it right. We either lose it too fast, or can't lose it at all. There's no happy medium.

10) Unexplained Illness

We sometimes develop other medical issues that can be attributed to our thyroid...Spikes in Fever. Heart Palpitations. Nasty Rashes. All of them Random and without warning. How fun is that?

What else can I say? When it comes to your thyroid, even if everything seems PERFECT; you're just waiting to see what's next. There's never a dull moment.

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Find ways to make food FUN!

Hi. My name is Kristina, and I have Food Sensitivities. Why is that important to know?

Because the  Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event is coming to Charlotte!

When: Saturday, March 29th
Where: The Harris Conference Center
Time: 10am - 4pm
Cost: $10.00 per adult
(Children 13 and under are free!)



Let me tell you a little bit more about myself, and WHY this event should mean something to you...

About a year ago, some very strange things started happening to me. Through a series of trials, errors, finding a doctor who would finally listen to me, and going through a ton of testing...I was diagnosed with several food sensitivities, autoimmune issues, and told that I would need to completely change my diet if I wanted to get better.

Imagine, if you would, having to be taught how to eat again. That's exactly what people with food sensitivities and allergies have to do. We're taught how to read labels, and learn the good stuff from the bad. We have to pick and plan everything...from each meal, to a simple outing with friends. We ask our servers crazy questions, and should be given a special certification as food detectives...and if we're not careful; it can all become quite overwhelming.

That's where events like The Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event come into play.


If yourself, your spouse, your child, a relative, friend, or anyone you know has an issue like this that you'd like to understand more about, then this is your chance! It's a great place to check out what products are available. There will also be food samples, educational presenters, cooking demonstrations, and tons of fun stuff.

Please visit their WEBSITE if you'd like to know more! 

As a special treat to my followers; I'm giving away 4 tickets to the Charlotte Event!  I will draw 2 winners who will get 2 tickets each.  The winners can pick up their tickets at the Will Call table on March 29th! For more information, visit my facebook page at: 

 https://www.facebook.com/TheContraryAthlete