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A Not So Simple Life

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About Kristina

Gluten free, soy free, diary free, nut and much more free? Yup!  I’ve always been nut free – deathly allergic to all things nut related.  I gave up all these other things a few years ago. Here’s my story….

 I’m not sure exactly when I started feeling bad, I think it was a slow decline.  In 2008, I graduated from college, moved to a new city, started a new job, basically – I started being “an adult”.  I felt like crap every day – I was tired, no matter how much I slept and I had trouble focusing. Every time I ate I felt sick and full, for hours, no matter how much I ate. I was gaining weight and I started getting random pains in my wrists and shoulders – so bad that it would wake me up at night.  I wondered how I was going to handle a job, potentially a family, for the rest of my life feeling like this – So I took an intolerance test and realized I’ve been eating a TON of stuff my body hates.

Four weeks after cutting these foods our of my diet my family began mentioning that I looked really good, brighter, happier – I felt better too, I felt rested, I didn’t feel sick, and I had lost a few pounds. I had energy again; I could go out after eating or could get stuff done after work instead of just going to bed.  Life was good! Then I realized that this had to be a life change and I was never going to be able to eat some of my favorite foods again….. so I decided to document all of my recipe creations here (because quite honestly, I always lose stuff).

Urban organic gardener? Why not? In 2010 I bought  my little bungalow on the NW side of Chicago and in seeing my new neighbors beautiful garden decided that it would be a good idea to rip out all of the horrible shrubs in the front beds with garden delusions of grandeur. I tried flowers first…. Dirt, dirt, dirt, flowers, flowers, flowers, $$$, $$$, $$$. I planted for hours and hours – all afternoon, all night (hey gardening is really fun by street light with a vodka Red Bull ok?). One thing I didn’t realize – these beds get full sun, those plants like shade. Within weeks, I was left with shriveled twigs.

I almost gave up….until I realized that the 4 green bean plants and 4 cucumber plants in the tiny bed in the back yard were actually surviving. In a few short months – SUCCESS! We literally ate a cucumber a day for lunch and green beans every night for dinner during the entire summer! So year 3 I was determined to grow only vegetables and I did – in the front yard – with TONS of success! I’m still learning so as I do, I’ll post stuff here!

Homesteader? I’m not even close to being 100% self sufficient but I try in ways I can.  What are you supposed to do when you get like 20 pounds of zuchinni, yellow squash and pickling cucumbers?  No way to eat it all now, I figured I’d try my hand at canning (which I had never done before).  I’ve been doing it ever since with everything I can get my hands on!

Ex-Fashion Designer? I hate to say ex but quite honestly, I haven’t designed much in quite some time.  If I have a degree in it am I always one?  A lot of designers don’t have degrees and are one so can I just say I am?  Who knows. Hopefully you’ll see some posts in the Studio which means I’ve been able to set aside some time to do a little sewing!

Internet Marketing Consultant? Boring – not going to go into much detail here

Who likes to Craft? Uhhhh who doesn’t?  Not going to lie, a few years ago I wouldn’t be able to say that but there’s been a craft revolution and some of the people I would NEVER imagine picking up a glue stick are – hopefully you can learn a few things from this seasoned craft veteran!

So yeah, who says life’s simple?

 

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About Me

I'm a gluten free, soy free, diary free Mom, urban organic gardener, homesteader, ex-fashion designer and internet marketing consultant, who likes to craft. Who says life's simple?

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Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that all of my pages may include affiliate links. You can see my entire disclosure by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page but basically, I receive a small commission to help fund my blog if you make purchases through the links. I only promote the products that I use and love! I really appreciate any purchases you make and you’ll never get charged more for making them through them! So please, shop away :)

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It’s cold and rainy in Michigan today and I’m wishing I had some homemade chicken broth ready for a soup like this one. This soup is naturally gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, egg free and can be easily made vegan. It also could easily be made nightshade free with the elimination of…

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