Recap of #GFAFevent in Austin, Texas

Where to begin? The weekend of the #GFAFevent was spectacular!

Pam's GF shirts were a hit!

HUGE shout out to Pam@ImaCeliac for being the blogger organizer and Red Apple Lipstick for sponsoring the bloggers of the #GFAFevent!

I found a few new products that I've never seen before and they were good! :) Then, there were several favorites that were just fab too! Below are pictures from the event! All products are Gluten free and some are also food-allergy friendly as well. 

Noosa Yoghurt, Namaste GF and top 8 free products, Ebenezer Foods, & Kinnikinnick

Oatmega, Udi's, and Say Cheezz Brazilian tapioca cheese rolls

Glutino

By far my favorite new item! Better Bites Bakery is GF, food allergy friendly, corn free, and vegan! They were so sweet and I couldn't not share! Their cookie dough cake balls were amazing! When I say amazing, I mean swoon! Heavenly!

Enjoy Life rocked with the samples and presence. It's nice when there is a company where you don't have to guess if product x has soy/wheat/ect. All of their products are GF, top 8 free, and more! Truly amazing company! 

A few highlighted brands of the expo...

* Red Apple Lipstick: They are awesome and willing to go above and beyond for their customers. Their makeup is soy free, vegan, GF, and more! They rock and provide amazing products! 

* Better Bites Bakery is GF, food allergy friendly, corn free, and vegan! They were so sweet and I couldn't not share! Their cookie dough cake balls were amazing! When I say amazing, I mean swoon! Heavenly!

* Enjoy Life Foods: They rock my world!! Enjoy Life is top 8 free as well as free of sesame, sulfites, potato, and fillers. They are PR friendly (x1000) and truly rock. They are fabulous about giving samples too. 

* Udi's Gluten Free: Their millet-chia bread is amazing and my favorite! It is also soy, nut, and more free. They have breads and other GF products that are available in most health food stores.

* Namaste Foods: All products are GF, top-8 free, corn free, and potato free. I love their brownie mixture and their spice cake is divine too. 

* Say Cheezz: Gluten free Brazilian rolls with style. With three flavors to choose from, they give the roll style without the gluten. I was really impressed with the regular and sun dried tomato sample. They also have a bacon roll too. 

* Noosa Yoghurt: Noose is heaven in a container. It's not greek but has a heavier texture than regular yoghurt. I have found it at Super Target with the yogurts and they said they're also in Costco. 

* Tito's Vodka: Made in Texas and GF! It's delicious with Fruit punch! :)

To view all the vendors from this event, please visit the GFAF Austin event page.

This expo was amazing and I am so grateful I was able to attend this fabulous event! If you ever have a chance to go to any local expo, jump at the chance. It's not just about the samples, it's about the relationships you will form, with others, and the bond you all share as a whole community. 

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I attended this event as a blogger.

GFAF Wellness event in Austin, Texas {2/2/14}

An opportunity fell in my lap that I can not refuse. I will be attending the #GFAFevent on Sunday, February 2, 2014, as a blogger. For me, I jumped at the chance as the drive is just above three hours from DFW. The #GFAFevent will be at the Travis County Expo center in Austin, Texas, from 10am-3pm.

Here's the skinny on the details...

To see the presentation or event schedule as well as the sponsors, please visit the GFAF wellness event site online! There will be product samples, raffles, presentations, and time to meet authors/speakers.

Tickets: $10 for anyone above 13 years old. 13 and below are free. 

Tickets are available at the door or online.

Parking: FREE!

Date: Sunday, February 2, 2014

Time: 10am-3pm

Location:

Travis County Expo Center

Banquet Hall

7311 Decker Lane

Austin, TX 78724

Want to enter for a chance to win tickets?
Pam@Imaceliac is holding a giveaway!

#FABlogCon is a smashing success

I had the opportunity to attend the Food Allergy Bloggers Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, from November 2nd through November 4th and was seriously blown away. 

This conference was for people who wanted to come together for a greater good. As a whole, we all came together, shared our walks of life, and learned how to be better advocates as a food allergy community. This community not only supports but embraces each person in it. This was unlike anything I had ever imagined or dreamed of. There is so much to tell and share. I can't do it all in one post but will hit the highlights today. 

The masterminds behind this beautiful event are Jenny Sprague {blog} and Homa Woodrum {blog}. Not only was this conference unlike anything I've ever seen or heard, this conference was planned across the country, literally. Jenny is from Maine and Homa was local. It truly had talent from the moment you walked in the conference doors.

One of the coolest things at the conference...

What I didn't realize is that I would converse and interact with so many professionals and members of the food allergy community. I put faces to twitter handles and met some awesome people in the process. It was an instant bond that is now deeper. It was a little intimidating, at first, when I am standing around Dr. Micheal Pistiner and Dr. John Lee of AllergyHome, Dr. Paul Ehrlich & Henry Ehrlich of AsthmaAllergiesChildren.com, and Dr. Donna DeCosta of FoodAllergyMomDoc. I mean, I am a blogger who has food allergies but I didn't have a M.D. in my name or a book to show.

What I realized, though, is that we all had a purpose at this conference and that was to come together, in one location, and advocate with one another. It didn't matter what my credentials were or what everyone else had. It was about a common goal of building a strong community of support and advocacy. 

Susan Weissman and Henry Ehrlich

One of the highlights of this conference was the food itself!

Chef Norman with Kelly Rudnicki

When I registered for this conference, I was told to list all my allergies. That's a list and it included six anaphylactic allergies and that, in itself, was hard. I didn't want to be a burden on anyone. I also didn't want to suffer an allergic reaction in a different city. However, Chef Keith Norman and his wonderful chefs made everything either safe for me or had wonderful alternatives. I had zero fear while eating and did not suffer a reaction. That was a huge victory! 

The Chefs who made it possible to eat while at the conference! 

Just a few people pictures...

Erica Dermer of Celiac and the Beast

Mary Fran Wiley of FrannyCakes

Jenny, Homa & me

Homa & I

The SWAG...

Thank you, Enjoy Life, for the phenomenal swag & bag! 

Thank you Whole Foods for the great bag! Swag details will be shared later.

Bottom line...

For the first Food Allergy Bloggers Conference, the expectation was set extremely high. Not only is this a must attend event, it supports, encourages, and motivates you to keep at it. It was a wonderful conference that has left me motivated and willing to do more in the food allergy community. Follow ups to the conference, in detail, to follow.

Can't wait for the plans for next year! This conference not only empowers but encourages and supports in one setting. A common goal defined and a connection deeper than just online.

Thank you so much to Homa and Jenny for this wonderful idea and conference! You truly outdid yourselves! 

You know it's going to be a long week when...

It has already been a long week and it's only Monday. ;) Here are a few endings that could make my week really long. 

 You know it's going to be a long week when... 

* you stay up WAY PAST your bedtime on a Sunday night to sort, finish loose ends, and organize. 

* you gripe at the computer when you become frustrated with the new blogger layout. 

* you have no filter after only getting four hours of sleep last night.

* you are frustrated with a students' difficulty and tear up. 

* you separate your "to-do" list into AM and PM.  

* you groan at this week's activities. 

 How's your day going? 

Will it be a long week for you? 

 Feel free to add to the list.

All things are possible

Lately, there have been troublesome events that have filled my head. From my uncle dying and me not being able to attend his funeral to baby Stellan having RSV to my sweet, NOT, nice, NOT neighbors having jam sessions...starting at 2AM. Last night was actually the worst it has been yet and I considered patrolling from 2AM to 4AM since I was awake...considered.

But I have to remember that God does has a plan for me and the little things that make up my life may or may not do anything to my future goal. In my heart, I know that Stellan will be just fine. Once the RSV is contained and eliminated...he will just fine. Prayers do make a difference as well. My uncle had a very good life and was very sick for a very long time. Prayers helped me be able to grieve and accept the fact that he is gone, but his legacy will prevail in the future. He will be missed, yes, but he will be remembered for the great man that he was.

The neighbors...well, God will see them eventually and hopefully they will clean up their act...hopefully. I also head home tomorrow and will sleep in my own bed, in my own room, and have no neighbors who make my walls vibrate. I loved my experience at the conference, but am SO ready to go home. I am ready to see my family and am ready to sleep more than four hours consecutively...silent hooray! I am also ready to just be HOME :)
***************************************************
Home is where my heart will always be...not trying to be too corny :) Home is where I can get more than four hours of sleep, mourn, and live my life. Home is what I L-O-V-E! Today I bought a magnet that states "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live your life you've imagined" (Thoreau.) I have loved being home...but I also love to live life...hour by hour...day by day and it is so WORTH IT!!!

Love and Live life