No more time to procrastinate – it is time to get on the ball!  I got a nice start to my holiday shopping on Black Friday, but I have since fizzled out.  I need to get back on it!  The Gluten Freely Twitter party is just what I need!  This coming Monday, December 12, 2011 at 1:00 PM (EST) come join me and many of my gluten-free cohorts for some great gluten-free holiday tips. 

The Twitter party isn’t just about learning, but sharing, too!  Come prepared to share your favorite holiday recipes, what gluten-free flour you prefer to bake with and what your biggest gluten-free holiday challenge is.  Here is all of the information that you need to know:

Follow Gluten Freely on Twitter and hashtag #gfholiday

Here is a sampling of the people who will be participating in the Twitter party:

• GlutenFreely (moderating – @GlutenFreely)
• Vanessa Weisbrod (@celiacprincess)
• Maureen Stanley (@holdthegluten)
• Kim Bouldin (@gfreeislife)
• Nicole Hunn (@gfshoestring)
• University of Chicago (@cureceliac)
• University of Maryland (@celiacresearch)
• Celiac Disease Foundation (@celiacexperts)
• Danna Korn (@dannakorn)

I have made it simple for you guys – just click on the Twitter handle and it will take you right to the page to follow that specific person.  In order to make sure not to miss any of the party, follow the hashtag “#gfholiday”.  You can set up a stream on the Twitter home page by simply typing the hashtag (#gfholiday) in the search bar and then you will see any tweets with that hashtag.  You can then “save this search” and refresh it to see new tweets.  Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section if you have them.

One last thing, for recipes, tips & all things holiday, make sure to visit Gluten Freely Holiday Central.   You will find great information there from Danna Korn, Nicole Hunn of Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, Vanessa Weisbrod of Delight Gluten-Free magazine/Celiac Princess and me. 

Kim

Welcome to December!  The first few days of December were warmer than usual for us here in Ohio, but yesterday morning was quite frosty!  I don’t mind the cold temps in the AM and the mid-day warm up – that is perfect!  I headed out for a run yesterday with my friend and MIT pace coach, Susanne.  As we were running through the park we came upon some wild turkeys!  It was the coolest thing to see.

Looks like they escaped Thanksgiving, huh?  You can see the frost on the ground, can’t you?

Today the Christmas tree & decorations are going up.  Crossing my fingers and praying that all of the lights work.  It never fails that I have to make a trip to the store for more lights.  I just hope that if that does happen again this year, it is before the lights go on the tree, not after they go up.  I have been, there done that more than once it is so frustrating and defeating to have to undo all of the work you have just done. 

Menu plan

Sunday – Rotisserie chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli & salad

Monday – Baked Ziti, sauteed green beans, Chebe focaccia and salad

Tuesday – Easy enchilada bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Herb crust roast pork tenderloin, baked sweet potatoes & salad

Thursday – leftovers

Friday – MYOP with Udi’s gluten-free crust and salad

Saturday –Chipotle

Baking

Getting my Christmas cookie baking on this coming week!  I can’t wait!

Week in Review

Gluten-free Christmas cookies

So Delicious holiday drinks

Trader Joe’s corn pasta

Meijer adds gluten-free store brand cereal

Join Alice Bast for a webinar on December 15, 2011

Kim

Thursday my alarm went off at 4:20 AM, which is typical for a weekday.  I hit snooze for 9 minutes and then there were no excuses.  When I began getting up this early to run/workout 3 years ago, it wasn’t easy.  I admit that there were many days in the beginning that I wanted to go back to bed, however, there has never been a day that I have regretted getting up and going to the gym or heading out for a run.  Never. 

It is that attitude and motivation that has carried me through the past few years- that has helped me train for and run 1 full marathon, 5 half marathons and several shorter races. 

Back to Thursday.  I got up, got ready and headed to the gym.  I knew that this run would be special before I even began.  Running the 4 miles I intended to run would help me reach a very special goal. 

As I started to run I got into my zone.  I listened to some favorite songs and appreciated being alive, being present and my body for what it can do.  As I finished my run I had tears in my eyes, as those last few steps brought me to a total of 1000 miles for the year so far. 

This just goes to show you that you can do anything you put your mind to.  You can overcome obstacles.  You just have to be patient and persistent.  Changes don’t happen overnight. 

And on that note, I am off for a run – 10 miles on the agenda this morning.  Why?  Because I can…

Happy Saturday! 

Didn’t mean to leave you all hanging the other day with those pictures of cookies and no recipes, but it was “Wordless Wednesday”.  Today I am sharing all of the links so you won’t be without the yummy goodness for too long. 

• Gingersnaps
• Spritz Cookies
• Almond Cranberry Bites
• Gingerbread People – I can’t share the recipe but this post details where I found it and tips on how we made them.
• Thumbprints
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Snowstorms
• Russian Teacakes (Snowballs)

Please feel free to post questions in the comments section and I will do what I can to answer them as quickly as possible. 

On the topic of the holidays, have you started to decorate yet?  Decorating is on my agenda for this upcoming weekend.  I am actually looking forward to it this year!!  Usually I dread it because I am the one doing most of the work.  However, this year, Hannah has declared herself official Christmas tree light installers.  Fine by me!  Also time for this guy to make his appearance…

Have you heard the story of “The Elf on the Shelf”?