Tis the season... to get a cold!

So the past few days I've been at my parents cooking, cleaning, and wrapping lots of presents. Tuesday I tried a new dessert and made a gluten free home made pumpkin roll! Let me just say, it is delicious! I even got a thumbs up from Laura and Mom! I think I will now make this my annual Christmas goodie. Here is a picture of my finished product..I used Tom Sawyer gluten free flour and it was awesome!

Wednesday I made pumpkin pies, one gluten one gluten free and they were a hit as well. I think I've found my calling, and yes its desserts, especially those which feature pumpkin! I also got my hair cut and highlighted and it looks so great.. I highly recommend Becky Redell for those of you in Tioga County! Today Laur Mom and I made some delicious peanut butter blossoms.. here are my cookies.. :-)

Last night Laura, Todd, and Anna rolled in and we had a really nice roast for dinner and just hung out. I went to bed feeling pretty good but only slept about 2 hours until I woke up sick as a puppy! As much as it kills me to say, I'm going to only play with Anna from a distance because I don't want to get her sick too. Here is a picture of Anna opening up presents with Laur and Todd last weekend, seriously no one can look at this picture and not smile.. just try..

trust me.. :-)

Here is a picture of Anna last night playing on the floor with us :-)

I feel like I'm 21 again.. yikes!

Alright, so since my sweet ass upenn doctors have cleared me to drink saying that I DO NOT have pancreatitis we decided to celebrate. This is great news.. not just because I can have a drink again but because anything to do with the pancreas is usually bad news. So YAY for not having a shitty pancreas =] Here is me and Laur drinking some champagne to celebrate!

Saturday night Maggie, Molly, and I went out to a bar in Conshohockon and had a grand time. I think my head looks squished here but who cares, at least we remembered to get a picture right? :-) 

Yesterday I went to my sister and Todd's bringing them Pf Changs and Jules Pizza. For those of you who are not familiar with Jules, they have amazing gluten free pizza.. check it out:

www.julesthincrust.com

Today I arrived at my parents and wrapped TONS of presents that are now under the tree. I also got to skype with my grandparents and show them my parent's newly renovated kitchen. Such a good day. More later!

Friday Funday! =]

So, today was a great day and the start of a great holiday vacation and I thought I would share my happy occasion with my bloggers! 


First, this morning my parents and I traveled to Upenn in Philly to see my new doctors. To make a long story short we left with a great bill of health and the green light to start drinking alcohol again (in moderation of course! haha).  The medications I have been taking these past 2 months have made a considerable difference in my emotional and physical health.  I am SO grateful to be able to say that, and feel it too. This is what i'll be doing tonight...

The second reason today was so incredibly awesome is after the doctors we went to http://www.trexlerpark.homeproperties.com/ which is where I signed my new lease. I will be moving January 15th if anyone wants to lend a hand =] And keep a look out for our housewarming party in February!


Today we are staying at my sister and brother-in-law's house and tomorrow I am headed to the doylestown area to spend some time with Maggie and Molly =]  More later!

living gluten free

So, the life of someone with food allergies may seem depressing. I sure thought so at first... but 7 years have passed since giving up gluten and let me tell you this.. there is gluten free junk food everywhere! :-) This post is going to be about my favorite gluten free foods, some are naturally gluten free and some we have to adapt but living gluten free is now so much easier!


First, I would have to start off with my new favorite bread.. Udi's! It is wonderful and has a great texture..

Next, anything that involves pasta will always been made in my house with Schar pasta. It has a great taste and consistency that even gluten full people enjoy!

Also, my favorite cookie is the chocolate peanut butter no bake cookie we always made growing up. Its creamy and got some oats for texture combined with my two favorite ingredients (chocolate and peanut butter). Seriously, how can you go wrong with them? But the best oats are....BOBS RED MILL!

Last but NOT least is my favorite pancake mix. I think my junior year of college I made pancakes from this just about every day, they are BY FAR the best pancakes I've had. =]

Just recently I found a gluten free support group that meets in the reading area and I'm really looking forward to going. If anyone knows ANYONE who is struggling with gluten free living, I have a lot of good resources and am willing to help as much as I can. 

Oh, Bloomsburg!

So, yesterday Maggie and I made the treck to Bloomsburg for the Carols by Candlelight Concert.  Last year we were up there singing and this year.. well.. we were still singing :-) We may not have been part of the choir but we still sang along.. in the front row none the less. I'm pretty sure the man next to us who was videotaping his daughter got somewhat annoyed. Oh well, we had a blast :-) Here are some pictures from our night.. and yet again we forgot to have someone take one of us. What's new. 

This is the Women's Choir.. Mag passed on her presidency to our love Megan and I gave my vice presidency to the cutie Cassie.. it just wasn't the same being in the audience. It was great to see everyone, especially our Vogue girls! 

 This is the Concert Choir.. they did one of my favorite songs: I want a hippopotamus for Christmas =] If you havn't heard here.. check it out here.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwWZFlkSchg&feature=fvst

These are the Husky Singers who always make us laugh and at least one of their songs has to do with getting drunk and making fun of a Bloomsburg Frat that's gotten in trouble :-) Oh good times. 

Amy = counselor NOT teacher

Well, it has been confirmed by last night's hour and a half presentation to my grad class that I really REALLY don't want to be a teacher. My sister and mom are both teachers and I've always known it takes a special kind of person with a special kind of passion and patience to teach well. But, having to teach a chapter to my grad class last night gave me even MORE appreciation and respect for teachers (especially Laura and Mom). Although the presentation went well... the whole time I was wishing I was somewhere fun and warm.. like this..

This is a place near my hometown called Big Falls and it is a blast! That is my brother Scott swinging from a rope into the water. I can't wait to go back this summer.. .anyone is welcome! =]

So, after last night's presentation I needed some fun. So I went to Doylestown to visit my friends Maggie and Molly from Bloomsburg. This is the second time in a week we've hung out and we never remember to take pictures.. so Im going to put up some older pics of us =] 

Here is me and Mag at our college graduation.. we got to sing that day and I was so happy to be able to spend it with her =] (ps, we are going back to bloom for a visit tomorrow, woot woot!)

Here is a picture of Molly and I at my 22nd birthday party.. and yes I've had a few drinks but this picture really speaks to our friendship. :-) 

Today, I have the pleasure of babysitting my niece Anna who is by far the coolest person I've ever laid eyes on. Take one look and I'm sure you'll agree..

Seriously, you cannot look at that picture and not giggle.. :-)

What makes me tick :-)

So, the most important thing in my life is my family. I love how we laugh all the time and make funny remarks and have long standing jokes from years and years ago. 

My family is composed of my parents, Bill and Teresa:

My sister, Laura, her husband, Todd, and my niece, Anna:

Also, my brother, Scott and his girlfriend Gina:

I miss them all very much. Scott is living in Indianapolis and although he is still very much in my life I miss having him around to pick on me and make me laugh. Laura and Todd live in Harrisburg and I am blessed to be able to see them so  much (not to mention their little peanut Anna) =] My parents are in my hometown Mansfield and I am glad they don't mind visiting me or having me home too. I can't wait for Christmas as we will all be together for a few days. So thanks family.. for being awesome and keeping me going :-)