At Least I'm Not Allergic to Chocolate! Living as a Gluten-Intolerant, Socially Conscious Twenty-Something

AT THE  BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH. . . I FOUND MYSELF SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEDIA FAST. . .  AND. . . A 13 HOUR DRIVE.  NOW STOP FOR A MOMENT AND CONTEMPLATE THOSE TWO SITUATIONS-  HERE, I'LL HELP.

IN THE FORM OF AN EQUATION 
[JUST LIKE MY AP STUDENTS DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO PROVE THAT GIRLS, IN FACT, DO EQUAL EVIL- THAT ONE WILL HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN A LATER POST]

MEDIA FAST = NO FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM

                                      &

MEDIA FAST = NO TELEVISION OR RADIO

                                     SO

MEDIA FAST = ME + AN ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS CD

                                   NOW

13 HOUR DRIVE = JUST ME + MY CAR, SASHA 
**YES, MY CAR IS NAMED IN HONOR OF J.D.'S SCOOTER IN SCRUBS.  THANK YOU, J.D., TURK, AND DR. COX FOR GETTING ME THROUGH 4 YEARS OF BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY CLASSES IN COLLEGE**

            PUT THE EQUATIONS TOGETHER

MEDIA FAST + 13 HOUR DRIVE = JUST ME + MY CAR, SASHA + AN ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS CD

                          WHICH MEANS

MEDIA FAST + 13 HOUR DRIVE = PLENTY OF TIME TO CONTEMPLATE LIFE

NOW THESE 13 HOURS OF UNINTERRUPTED CONTEMPLATION ALLOWED FOR MANY QUESTIONS TO FLOAT THROUGH MY MIND.  QUESTIONS LIKE-

• HOW DO I BECOME BETTER AT FOLLOWING A BUDGET?  [AS A TEACHER, I HAVE ACCEPTED BUDGETING AS A NECESSARY PART OF MY LIFE THAT ALLOWS ME TO PURSUE ONE OF MY MAIN PASSIONS IN LIFE]

• HOW DO I FOLLOW SAID BUDGET WHILE MAINTAINING A GLUTEN-FREE DIET?  [THIS ONE IS VERY NEW FOR ME BECAUSE I ONLY DISCOVERED MY ALLERGY LAST OCTOBER.]

•  HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET, EAT GLUTEN-FREE, AND EAT HEALTHY? [IN PREPARATION FOR WINTER STORM 2K15, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A $4 LOAF OF GF BREAD WHICH IS HALF THE SIZE OF YOUR STANDARD LOAF OF BREAD.   BUT NEVER FEAR, READERS, I AM STILL ALOUD TO EAT CHICKEN-FAJITA NACHOS WHENEVER I LIKE- AND DON'T FORGET, CHOCOLATE!]
  
• HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET, EAT GLUTEN-FREE, EAT HEALTHY, AND STILL ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF FAMILY & FRIENDS WHILE EATING OUT?  [IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE LIKE MY FRIENDS, EATING IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE ;)]
  
• HOW DO I FOLLOW A BUDGET AND MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES ABOUT WHERE MY PRODUCTS  ORIGINATE? [AM I A CONSUMER THAT SUPPORTS FAIR WAGES FOR OTHERS OR AM I A CONSUMER THAT SUPPORTS COMPANIES WHO EMPLOY SLAVE OR CHILD LABOR?]
• IF I AM GETTING READY TO PURCHASE A HOUSE, HOW DO I MAINTAIN A BUDGET WHILE DECORATING A HOME THAT IS WELCOMING FOR OTHERS WHILE STILL LEAVING MONEY AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN OTHERS IN NEED? [THANKS, JEN HATMAKER, SEVEN HAS CHANGED MY LIFE- FOR THE BETTER- BUT I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS TO WRESTLE THROUGH!]

THESE QUESTIONS AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS  FLOATED THROUGH MY MIND THROUGHOUT THE 13 HOUR TRIP, AND I'LL BE HONEST WHILE 13 HOURS SEEMS LIKE PLENTY OF TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND ANSWERS.  I STILL HAVE VERY FEW ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.  

THAT'S WHERE THIS BLOG COMES IN-  I AM A TWENTY-SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY ON A JOURNEY.  AS I BEGAN TALKING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS, I REALIZED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE ASKING THEM.  

SO HERE'S MY STORY. MY JOURNEY.  I'LL BE SHARING-

• INEXPENSIVE GLUTEN FREE RECIPES THAT I'VE FOUND OR CREATED
• MEAL PLANS FOR THE WEEK
• INEXPENSIVE CRAFT IDEAS FOR HOME DECORATION
• SIMPLE WORK-OUT PLANS 
• MY STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY

HOPE YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED!   HOPE YOU ENJOY!

LUNCH FOR THE WEEK ($4 DOLLARS PER LUNCH)

INGREDIENTS:

5 MASON JARS 
DRESSING OF YOUR CHOICE
4 OZ OF BROCCOLI FLORETS 
1 PKG OF CARROT STICKS 
1 CAN ORGANIC WHITE CORN
1 CAN ORGANIC BLACK BEANS
1 PKG GRAPE TOMATOS
2 AVOCADOS (PITTED & DICED)
1 HEAD ROMAINE LETTUCE
** MEAT OF YOUR CHOICE COULD ALSO BE ADDED**

IN A MASON JAR, LAYER EACH OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THE ABOVE ORDER.  PLACE IN THE FRIDGE FOR UP TO 5 DAYS.