Life, Gluten Free

Hold the ones you love, tight

Being a part of the food allergy community, I often hear of tragic stories that weigh hard on my heart. This month, two young men have lost their lives to a food allergic reaction. And even though I don't personally know them or their family, I silently send prayers their way. (Tyler Davis, Jharell Dillard).

In just takes an instant my friends, and your life can change forever and suddenly you are traveling down a different path. And instead of it being well-beaten and smooth, there aren't even any footprints to guide you. Even though this isn't the right path and it isn't the one that you wanted, you take it and hope that someday you will look back and see a clear path where you've managed to make your way. There may still be potholes from time to time, but you've made it through. One step at a time.

This is what I hope for the families that have recently lost a loved one, that someday their path will become smoother and life will unfold around them, enveloping them in a sweet bliss that reminds them of the loved ones that they have lost.

Because the ones we love, that touch our lives everyday, are the people who make our life sparkle. They make our life sweeter and our days brighter.

Here's a big thanks to all of my friends and family, you all hold a special place in my heart and my life is better with you in it.

A huge thanks to my husband who is an awesome advocate for our daughter Sophie, who has life-threatening allergies. She makes our whole life shine.

Hold the ones you love, tight, and remember that life is ever-changing. Be in the moment as much as you can. Take a moment tonight to spend even longer in the bliss of each other's company and send some prayers across the world because the whole world and everyone in it could use a lot more love, a lot more hugs and a lot more compassion.

Big thanks to each of these organizations that offer support to families with food allergies.

Kids with Food Allergies

Food Allergy Initiative

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

*A recent study showed that food allergies now affect 5.9 million children in the U.S. alone.

Be an advocate for your child. Awareness counts.

Epi-pens save lives and knowledge makes it all possible.

 

Coconut Cream Popsicles

These were a big hit, I barely got to get any photos of them before they were gone. We will definitely make them again, and next time perhaps add some vanilla bean powder - not that they even really need it.

It's still hot outsie, if you haven't noticed. Too hot.

Coconut Cream Popsicles

no: dairy, tree-nuts, soy

Ingredients:

1 can organic coconut cream (full fat, we use thai kitchen which is 13.66 ounces)

1/4 cup water

1 cup organic finely shredded coconut (we use tropical traditions)

2 heaping tablespoons raw honey

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Add coconut milk and water to a sauce pan.

Warm on medium heat, stirring in honey.

Allow honey to completely melt, continually stirring.

Add cinnamon, if you choose.

Remove from heat and add shredded coconut, mixing well with a spoon or a whisk.

Pour into popsicle molds and freeze! 

The dog days of summer

"Dog Days" (Latin: diēs caniculārēs) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. (wikipedia)

I don't know about you, but the weather here sure has been hot lately.

I-sure-hope-fall-comes-early kind of hot.

Mom-please-can-I-have-a-popsicle kind of hot.

Luckily for my daughter, I've been enjoying expirementing with our new popsicle molds!

A good popsicle mold must have these qualifying specifications:

BPA-FREE

Easy to clean

Easy to store in the freezer

Fun

Groovy

Pink

The ones we have now almost fit the following requirements, minus the pink. So, we got yellow instead.. which is pretty too. Tovolo Groovy Yellow Popsicle Molds are easy to clean, but they do take up a lot of room in the freezer. 

This is what I do: once the popsicles have become fully frozen (4-6 hours) then I take them all and place them in a plastic bag, minus the yellow stand. I do still keep them in their individual sleeves.

My daughter's favorite popsicles, that I have created so far, are definitely the plum coconut cream ones. (pictured above).

The first day we received the popsicle molds, we had to make some.

I decided to do something rather simple with the first batch and so we cut up some bananas and grapes. We tossed them into the sleeves and pushed them down towards the bottom. I added coconut water to three of the popsicle sleeves, and then for the other half I pureed a coconut milk and banana mixture. 

You know you make good popsicles when all six of them are gone before a week goes by. Earlier this week I made a Coconut Cream Popsicle (with shredded coconut, sounds good right?) I know you're sitting on the edge of your seat. It is Sophie-approved, and the recipe will soon be in a google-reader near you.

Let children play

"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing.  What!  Is it nothing to be happy?  Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long?  Never in his life will he be so busy again." Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

DIY Homemade Birthday Cards

 

Never buy a birthday card again!

My daughter loves making birthday cards, and why put that creativity to waste?

Pictured above is the card she made for her good friend who just had a birthday party last weekend. It was fun... and there were water balloons. Needless to say I got wet.

Thanks to my husband.

Whom I told I would not forget being pelted in the back and then later, in the front, with water balloons.

I will remember.

But back to the cards! All you need is glitter glue, markers, paper and other fun craft supplies that you may want to add.

We got the idea for the birthday balloons from Valerie at Frugral Family Fun Blog (love this girl! She has so many awesome ideas). We used marker for the balloon strings and then the balloons are simply color coded stickers. We've already made a few cards with these balloons on them, they are just so much fun who can resist?

Tip: For little ones, draw the balloon strings for them and then let them add the color coded stickers. A great way to practice hand-eye coordination!

Supplies:

Paper (we like using cardstock, so it's thicker and fairly sturdy)

Glitter glue (obviously, a necessity!)

Markers or colored pencils

Colored coded stickers (for the balloons)

Tip: I got our pack of glitter glue from Joann's for just under $3... because it was 70% off right now.

And this is the one she made her cousin, it took a while to dry (lots of glitter glue mounds)