Gluten Free Maui

Photo a Day Challenge (Day 15)

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Amanda

Theme: Happiness

I had such a great day out. It really represented the theme of the day. I can’t just post one picture, so I’ll post a few with quick captions before I fall asleep on my keyboard.

Messing up on the recipe didn't kill the results. That made me super happy. They also smelled wonderful.

Devin smiling at me from above. He's too happy to end up on "Goths Up Trees."

I made Devin stop the truck when I saw these lilies. I've never seen lilies on the mountain in the wild like that. I was in shock. They were surrounded by blackberry brambles. Metaphor?

A most spectacular sunset on our ride back down.

Delicious pizza shared with friends at the end of the day. Hamakua mushrooms, artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes.

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Photo a Day Challenge (Day 14)

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Amanda

Theme: What you’re reading.

Here’s the textbook I am reading for my Anthropology course. The class is called “Sacred Places.” We have other books to read as well, but this is the one we’re starting with. I’m not far into it, so I can’t tell you a lot. However, it is a very interesting topic. I am such a Joseph Campbell fanatic that this is right up my alley. What are you reading?

Reading for a class I am in.

By the way, if audiobooks count too, Devin and I have been listening to The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett. If you’ve never read any T. Pratchett you really ought to. He’s witty, sarcastic, and he presents his points in a fantastical and scifi sort of way.

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Photo a Day Challenge (Day 12 & 13)

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Amanda

Clearly I’m not so good at a “Photo a Day” in this challenge. At least not right now. Here are two photos for Day 12 and 13.

Day 12 Theme: Close Up

My grandma used to keep cacti and succulents. I only have this long, spindly cactus on my porch. He's the healthiest plant that doesn't naturally grow in my yard.

Day 13: In Your Bag

I only keep one of these in my purse at a time.

I keep a mini Larabar in my purse for those times when I am out and can’t find something gluten free to eat, or when I need something to keep me from starving on the way home from running errands. I haven’t seen the mini-Larabars on Maui, YET, but I’m sure they’re coming eventually. This pack doesn’t really have my favorite flavors, but it has good flavors anyway. I bought mine on Amazon after seeing them on Healthy Tipping Point. I like the size because it’s just enough to satisfy my hunger until I can get to some real food. I prefer not to eat bars as meals. However, full sized bars are good for traveling long distances when meals aren’t readily available.

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Photo a Day Challenge (Day 10 & 11)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Amanda

Day 10 Theme: Childhood

I’ll give you two photos for Day 10 since I was late in posting. The first is a picture of me (bottom left corner) with my sister (pink shirt…gosh she looks tan) and cousins. We were all so close when we were growing up. I wish that we could maintain that now, but it’s hard when I live so far away and when we’ve all got so much going on in our lives. I’m glad my sister and I are still connected. We had some tough times in which we weren’t, but in the past year we’ve been reconnecting. It makes my heart happy to be re-establishing this relationship with her. Family is so important. I lost a lot of people I thought were my friends last year and I realized how important family really is. They’ll always be there for me, and I need to rebuild those relationships because they’re the people I know I can always count on.

I love my sister and cousins.

The other picture is one of me and my dad at a Girl Scout dance. This is one of my favorite pictures. We had so much fun that night. I can definitely admit to being a daddy’s girl (though I am connected to all of my parents which makes me so glad). I love his Three Stooge’s tie in this picture. Oh yeah, and check out my hair cut. Haha! Could I have been more styling?

Me and my daddy.

I love these kinds of memories. They make me misty eyed. If you’ve been neglecting your familial connections it might be time to pick up the phone. I know some people can never return to a relationship with their families for various reasons, but they can call their chosen families and send out some love too.

Day 11 Theme: Where you sleep

There’s not a lot to say about this picture. We love the velvet and satin duvet cover, although the feathers from the comforter poofed all over it. I also always wanted a four poster canopy bed and now I have one. Hooray for Craigslist! Oh, and did I mention that we have the most amazing mattress in the world? It’s so comfortable. The majority of Devin’s back problems went away after we bought this mattress. It was an investment, but a good one. It’s even better because it is our bed. It has all of our cozy energy in it. Why black? Because I love a goth boy, and because I have an inner goth girl. I also find it rather soothing to not have a busy patterned blanket. It says, “relax, sleep, there’s nothing going on.” There’s also a bit of romance in the black blankets and the red sheets. Woowoo!

Can I crawl in now please? It looks so comfy.

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Photo a Day Challenge (Day 9)

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Amanda

Today’s Theme: Daily Routine

My daily routine is based partly on the Flylady system. I have been trying to use her program for a few years now. There’s nothing complex or complicated about it. It’s just that I find sticking to it difficult. It’s not a problem with the way her program works, it’s me. I haven’t fully committed to it. I’m attempting to now. I’m trying to make it work with my school schedule and my other daily activities. It’s definitely a useful program for those with children or those with full time jobs. I know of someone who worked eighty hour weeks and for whom the system produced wonders. Her home was spotless and her life was manageable. I think that’s what we all dream of having. A well maintained house and an easy life.

The first step in the Flylady system is shining the sink. The next is putting on your lace up shoes. Without those two things the system doesn’t work. I’ve always had trouble keeping my sink shining, and I don’t always like wearing shoes because it is Hawaii and my feet like freedom. But, if I have on my shoes I’m more likely to get up and get cracking on things that need doing. It must become a part of my daily routine.

If you want to know more, and trust me you do, check out the Flylady website.