2021 MIGHT be similar to 2020. There I said it. 

It's time to accept a new sort-of normal. The security we once felt leaving our home just isn't there anymore. The people, places & activities we once took for granted are now cemented in our hearts. The pain & suffering that many people felt will not be forgotten. There is still the weight of the unknown. The questions. The anxiety. The hope.

It's time to start rebuilding.....to create something new.

I truly believe life is what you make it & I intend to squeeze what I can out of it!!

In the past year I have . . . 
. . . deepened the unbreakable bond with my family members
. . . spent countless hours outdoors
. . . soaked up smiles, tears, laughter & air hugs
. . . improved my daily health 
. . . appreciated what surrounds me each & every day
. . . connected with new & old friends in ways I never thought possible
  & most importantly learned to really listen to myself

For me this means. . .  thinking / imagining how I want my day to go.
What are the things I want to remember to do each day?
What intentions do I have for each part of my day?
How does this relate to my relationships with others around me?

I came up with an easy way to keep these thoughts in the forefront. Being a visual person I knew I needed something I could SEE daily. Growing up I remember my grandmother taping important quotes, articles or notes all around the house. Each time I found one, I would read it to myself & imagined what she wanted out of it's daily reminder. 

The printable below is how I intend to make myself remember my intentions. I filled in my top 3 intentions for several spaces in my life: bathroom (morning/evening routine), kitchen (where most family time is spent) & my desk at work. The example below (on right) is for my desk. Simple reminders for the best version of myself. 

If this is something you're interested in trying for yourself I have included a free download below!
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Do you ever just wake up & think to yourself, "I'm getting old....everything hurts, I'm tired & I want to go back to sleep!" ?

When I was pregnant with our second child, I would often wake up thinking those exact thoughts. I was so run down, had no energy & was always tired. Being pregnant, I didn't think much of it. Fast forward almost two years later. . . I often find myself saying the same thing!
For a self-proclaimed "healthy" eater & active mom of two, I should feel better on a daily basis.

I have felt run down for TOO long . . . not to mention the handful of other issues I have dealt with since my twenties: year-long allergies, asthma, eczema, dry/itchy eyes, & digestive problems. Having our second child only exacerbated these issues, some became unmanageable. The new stress of managing two willful children, along with the anxiety that is 2020, sent my small issues to the front lines. My husband and I would often chat about this. He too experienced his own health issues for many years that over time became worse.

This can't be life as a "healthy" 31 year old. . .

So, this summer we set out to really pay attention to our health, get rid of any bad habits quarantine had promoted & get serious about what we could do.

We weren't sure where to begin so we started with the typical . . . healthier choices at meals, less snacking & more frequent workouts. I cooked at home A LOT! Which did seem to help our weight a bit. The daily health issues that we faced didn't seem to budge, maybe we needed to be more strict? 

Frustration set in. . .

By mere happenstance, my husband and I were talking with my brother who had recently taken the Wheat Zoomer test. A blood test, that measures antibodies to wheat peptides (gluten & non-gluten components) along with the antibodies that test for gut permeability (leaky gut). His results piqued my interest & prompted us to order the test for ourselves. We were able to use my future sister-in-law for our Wheat Zoomer test & consultation, who works in a Functional Medicine Clinic. *Note: such blood tests need to be run through licensed health care providers & cannot be ordered by individuals. Talk to your healthcare provider if it is something you are interested in.

Fast forward to the test results:
Both my husband & I . . .
- are highly sensitive to gluten
- experience "leaky gut syndrome"
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Based on the Wheat Zoomer test results, we should adopt a gluten free diet to reduce inflammation, heal the gut lining & promote overall immunity. So gluten free it is!

My dreams of visiting Italy & eating pasta everyday just died. Ha! 

In all honesty, this is just the first step in our journey to a healthier/longer life. I know that this will not be the answer to every ailment that comes along, BUT, I think it could truly benefit our future health & daily lives. Time will tell for this one! We are already to week two & seeing some great results! I will do an updated post on this topic in a few months.

You will begin to see food content that is centered around a gluten free diet. Let's all remember most fresh ingredients don't contain gluten! Recipes will not feature wheat or non-gluten free elements. Most ingredients in my recipes can be easily substituted already to meet your specific needs.
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House On The Hill will remain focused on stylish living, balanced eating & healthy lifestyle choices! Gluten free or not, there will be something for everyone!

​Instagram Accounts:
I have followed these accounts for several years, they are that good! They typically feature healthy food that is gluten free or super easy to adapt!
@EatingBirdFood
@RachaelsGoodEats
​@GlutenFree.FollowMe
@HealthyLittlePeach
@twist_of_lemons
@TheRealFoodrds
@RadiateWithRachel