Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Everything but the Cow:30 day DF and GF challenge

My tummy troubles flared up recently. In other words, I look 5 month preggers and feel like my stomach needs a release valve. I'm not sure if it was brought on by all the French food I ate on our honeymoon or one of the [many] times I slipped up and didn't take my Lactaid or maybe it's something else.

I was inspired by two amazing women and their self control. Amanda went completely grain free for 30 days, never cheating once. Aran works with constantly with food and doesn't even bat an eyelash when it comes to passing up food that contains gluten. It probably helps that her health is dependent on it.

After seeing the two of them in action, I knew that I could do better for my own sake and decided to challenge myself two fold:
  • First, I am going completely and absolutely dairy free (DF) for 30 days. I cheat and eat yogurt (yogurts with natural cultures have minimal to no lactose present) or pop a handful of Lactaid and call it good. After 30 days, I will try introducing raw cow milk into my diet. I read somewhere that lactose intolerant individuals have done well with raw milk.
  • Secondly, I am going gluten free (GF) also for 30 days. I haven't read Wheat Belly yet, but I think the jist of it is that consumption of today's massed produced grains leads to inflammation. Hmmm, could this be the root cause behind my bloated belly?
Wish me luck.

Monday, May 28, 2012

April 2012

Hi everyone. I'm so sorry for being away so long. I can't thank you enough for your patience!


Whew, what a whirlwind April was:

We finally went on our honeymoon! We spent a week in Bora Bora (Tahiti). It was GLORIOUS. I will have to do an ultra long blog post to tell you all about our adventures getting there, being there, and the trip back. Let's just say, there was never a dull moment.

Rainbow after a rainstorm.

Three days after getting home from our honeymoon, I was back on a plane and headed for Boulder, CO. I spent three days in Boulder at a crafting retreat called The Makerie. Much like Bora Bora, I will have to do a separate posts to tell you all about how it changed my life and introduce you to some new friends I made.

Crafting books galore!

Are you exhausted after reading the previous two paragraphs? Things didn't stop there. After the retreat, I came home and made cupcakes for a baby shower and then jetted off to VT for a surprise bridal shower.

The bride was very surprised.

**All photos by me**