Living, Laughing, and Loving Life

There is so much to be thankful for in life! From my great friends to my amazing family, I just can't thank God enough for all the wonders in my life. Being able to stay an extra year in Dayton has really made me realize what a great group friends I have. Last year, my senior year, I fell prey to wishing away my days and my time at Dayton. Although I knew I had one more year, I was already to be done with school. Now as I find myself half-way through my last fall semester at UD I can't help but think I am really going to miss this place next year! I have met some amazing people here and I am looking forward to carrying those relationships with me when I leave UD in May. A few weekends ago I was able to visit my good friends from undergrad, Emily, and her husband Joel in Columbus. It was so great to get away for the weekend and spend time with Emily. I have really missed having her around UD and her quirky sense of humor :)

The following weekend after my visit with Emily I was able to go home for Fall Break. Although it didn't feel like fall in Michigan, it was 80 degrees, I still enjoyed my time at home! My mom always makes me feel right at home with enough gluten free food to last me an entire month. Going home is something I ALWAYS look forward to. However being pampered at home, doesn't make it any easier when I have to say goodbye :( It is going to be an adjustment next year, wherever I am, to be more than five hours away from my Mom and immediate family. But as the saying goes....distance makes the heart grow fonder. I know the more time I have to spend away from home just make the time I get to spend at home that much more special! I also know that I would not be to where I am today without the loving support of my family. I am in such a huge transition state right now and I am very excited to see where I end up in May )

There is something about fall :)

There really is something about fall. I am not sure what it is but every year when the leaves start to turn colors and the air becomes crisp, I have this strange desire to indulge in every fall activity I can think of... Baking, raking leaves, apple cider, apple picking, and pumpkin carving. (just to list a few of my favorite fall activities) I really enjoy the season change when it come to any season. But fall has a certain way of putting me in an extremely good mood! When the cooler weather comes in I can't help but enjoy it and start thinking about the approaching holidays in the coming months!

This week the high was around 48 degrees!!! When I returned home form work the only thing on my mind was baking pumpkin scones. I got this recipe from Tenley Molzahn's gluten free blog. I was unsure how they were going to turn out while I was baking them because the dough was VERY sticky and hard to work with. (as with most gluten free baking) A good trick I like to use is adding some extra flour to the dough to make it more manageable to work with. But I must say they turned out delicious :)

First things first

Hello Everyone,

Well after 2 years of being gluten free I have finally decided to start documenting my adventures of a gluten free lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. This news came as a complete shock to me. Not only did I have NO idea what Celiac Disease was, I was even more clueless when it came to gluten. It was hard to grasp the concept of being gluten free when all I could think about was the food I couldn't eat...pizza, cookies, brownies, Quaker toasted oatmeal squares, BEER! The first few weeks of this new lifestyle was a huge adjustment. But with the help of my ever so supportive family, especially my mother, I navigated the course of being gluten free. Some may say at this point I have finally figured everything out, I say I am just getting started. So sit back and enjoy the many adventures to come with this blog :)

Pictured below is my mother and I at ArtPrize in GR last fall!