If you have read My Story-Health, then you know I have been through the wringer with health issues. I am always looking for ways to improve the health of my family and myself. I have learned that sometimes, unconventional is better. My biggest lesson in thinking this way came from being diagnosed with celiac disease and having my diet as my prescription to better health. I learned how little doctors have known about this disease. (Which is one reason it took me 18ish years to be diagnosed.) I have learned that doctors know much less than we think they do. This was compounded when my daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and discovering how unhappy with healthcare, thyroid patients are. Here, I will post things I have learned and continue to learn, frustrations, and hopefully my experiences will help you with your experiences. Also, check out my Gluten Free recipes. These are recipes that I use and our family likes; some I have created myself from learning to cook gf, altering other recipes, or just family favorites.

2022 Sunscreens, Gluten Free and Hormone Disrupter Free

I not only look for a good gluten free sunscreen but it also needs to be hormone disruptor free! Many people with celiac develop thyroid disease as well and so hormone disruptors are a big concern.

Celiac, Health

Serum Sickness and Auto-Immune Issues

People who have auto-immune conditions sometimes develop serum sickness. This is a rare reaction to bug bites, bee stings and wasp stings.

Celiac, Gluten Free, Health

Alone in Your Gluten Free Journey

Are you alone in your gluten free journey? Are you unsupported by your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, and/or those closest to you? It is never easy to change your diet.…

Gluten Free, Health

2020 Gluten Free/Hormone Disruptor Free Sunscreens

Every year we update our gluten free and hormone disruptor free sunscreens. Companies sometimes change formulas and you want to be sure to use the best sunscreen for you and…

Health, Relationships

COVID-19 aka Corona Virus Quarantine To Dos

So, here we all are, taking precautions by quarantining at home, due to the corona virus (COVID-19). Many people have been sent to work from home. Kids are home from…

Celiac, Gluten Free

Gluten Free Candy 2020 for Easter

Having been gluten free for more than 15 years, now, I am so happy there is more labeling than there has been previously. However, it isn’t perfect. There are laws…

Celiac, Cook, Gluten Free

Cream Puffs For A Crowd- Gluten Free

This recipe is a little involved, but it is so worth it! I needed a lot of cream puffs. First, because my daughter really wanted some cream puffs and second,…

Dining out, Gluten Free, Relationships

Gearhart and Seaside Beaches, Oregon

The last day of our whirlwind trip to Oregon was at Gearhart Beach, Seaside and then we spent the evening back on Indian Beach, in Ecola Park. Gearhart Beach AKA…

Essential Oils, Health

True Lavender! Tooth Extraction and Headaches

Before leaving on our quick trip to the coast, I discovered I had an abscessed tooth! Yikes! The dentist talked about doing a root canal, before my trip, like the…

Dining out, Gluten Free, Hobbies, Relationships

Astoria, Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park

On our whirlwind trip to the northern Oregon coast, we booked our hotel in Astoria. We made this our homebase. There’s quite a bit to do in Astoria, but we…

2022 Sunscreens, Gluten Free and Hormone Disrupter Free

May 8, 2022

The older I get, the more I learn, it is important what we put in our bodies as well as on our bodies. So, this years picks for gluten free, Hormone Disrupter free sunscreens is here!

Why Gluten Free Sunscreen?

As you sweat the sunscreen can run and get into your eyes, nose and mouth, thus entering into your system! Which can definitely cause a reaction. Years ago, my daughter came home from camp with a rash because a well meaning leader sprayed her with a sunscreen that contained gluten.

Many people will tell you, you can’t have a reaction from gluten being on your skin, my skin says differently! I also know a lot of gluten free people, from running a support group, that also react topically to gluten. This is why gluten free sunscreen is important to me.

It isn’t enough for your sunscreen to be gluten free, it also needs to be hormone disruptor free. Keep reading to find out why.

Why Hormone Disruptor Free?

If you have celiac disease, your are more prone to developing other conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease. Hormone disrupting chemicals increase that risk. A hormone disrupting chemical is one that either mimics or blocks your hormones. Some of these chemicals /toxins can build up in your tissues and become toxic.

2 of the most harmful chemicals are also very harmful for the coral reefs and are responsible for bleaching them. They are Oxybenzone and Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate). For more information about these 2 chemicals and others, check out this post that discusses hormone disrupting chemicals, what they are used for and the problems they cause.

Reef Safe does NOT mean that it is hormone free or gluten free.

The majority of spray on sunscreens are not hormone free. Click here to find certified gluten free sunscreens. The certified products on the list are there for being gluten free, some still contain harmful chemicals that should be avoided. Many brands have hormone free, chemical free, and gluten free products, but not all of their products may be safe. Check the labels to be sure.

This post contains affiliate
links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a
small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Safe Sunscreen Options 2022

These sunscreens are free of hormone disrupting chemicals and are gluten free. All of them are reef safe, as well. I am unaware of any other harmful ingredients in these products, at this time. Please double check ingredients, because like all products, ingredients can change for a multiple of reasons and may be inconsistent from one year to another.

Also, ingredients may be different throughout their line and may not be consistent across the product line.

We try a new sunscreen each year.

All Good

We tried this sunscreen a couple of years ago and it worked really well for our family.

They are also listed as being vegan and biodegradable.

Hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 16% (Non-nanoparticle)
Gluten free
EWG rating

Babo Botanicals Sunscreen

This one we are trying this year. So far we are liking it.

This product is free of: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts, SLS, Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Silicone, Synthetic Fragrances, Dyes, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, Petroleum

Be aware that it does contain Tree Nuts, Shea Butter and Coconut

Reapply every 2 hours for best results
Great for sensitive skin
Fragrance Free and Hypoallergenic
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 20%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Badger

Certified Gluten free! However, not all of their products are gluten free, only some of them are certified and free of gluten. Certified organic ingredients and no GMOs. Cruelty free, biodegradable and reef safe.

Reapply at least every 2 hours
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Uncoated Mineral Zinc Oxide 22.5%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Earth Mama

Made for the whole family: adults, kids and babies! Gentle, natural and organic ingredients.

Water resistant for 40 minutes
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 25%
Gluten free
EWG rating

Erbaviva

Award winning, organically crafted and coral reef safe with non-nano zinc oxide, aloe, sunflower, jojoba oils infused with organic essential oils of chamomile and lavender. Erbaviva baby sunscreen (spf 30) effectively provides full spectrum protection (uva & uvb) for the entire family without the unwanted chemicals.

Reapply after swimming, towel drying or every couple of hours
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
20% zinc oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Green Goddess

In a chat with Goddess Garden Organics, I was told all of their products are gluten free!

Reapply after swimming (80 minutes water resistant)
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Zinc Oxide 20%
Gluten Free
EWG rating

Kokua

Made in Hawaii and safe for the reefs. They use a natural resin extract instead of beeswax. There are 23 antioxidants in this sunscreen. They really want to look out for your skin and keep it from being damaged or aging prematurely.

Shelf life 2 years
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
(25%) of non-nano zinc oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Loving Naturals

Safe for baby and great for athletes. It does contain Mangifera Indica seed butter which is made from mango. I have a daughter anaphylactic to mango and so this is a concern for us.

Reapply every 2 hours sooner if swimming or sweating (80 minutes)
Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Gluten free
EWG rating

Suntegrity

I love the fruity smell of this sunscreen. We tried this a few years ago and it is one of my favorites! They also offer a non-scented version. The company also says it is great for babies but remember sunscreen shouldn’t be used on babies younger than 6 months without talking to your doctor.

Reef safe and hormone disruptor free
20% Zinc-Oxide (non-nano)
Gluten free
EWG rating

Happy Summer!

I hope this list helps you to find safe sunscreen that you love! Watch out for other allergy reactions, but hopefully this list will cut down on those issues too. Have a happy and safe time playing in the sun!

Serum Sickness and Auto-Immune Issues

Aug 21, 2021

You would think having an auto-immune disease would be enough to worry about, right?! Did you know that if you have an auto-immune disease you can develop serum sickness from getting a wasp, bee sting, or other insect?

Learning from life

So, we had a wasp infestation! They were building their house under the cement and our back porch. Totally not invited or welcome!

My daughter’s puppy got stung and then one of my other daughters also got stung. It seemed like no big deal. It was just a little sting on her ankle. We did all the things you do for a wasp sting: antihistamine, pain killer, and put an ice pack on it.

Bennett also recovered from his wasp sting.

It seemed fine! She seemed recovered, but then about 10 days later, it wasn’t!

Wasp sting complications

Her ankle looked like she had just been stung, 10 days after the actual sting! She developed a rash and it became so hot!!! We went through all the things again: Benadryl, ibuprofen, and ice pack. Finally, realized we needed to get her into the doctor.

The rash was starting on her other foot too! What?! That doesn’t make sense! Who has a wasp reaction nearly two weeks after being stung?

Turns out people with auto-immune disease can and apparently do!

Serum sickness

This reaction even has its own name, serum sickness. It is a reaction to some bug bites, bee stings, wasp stings and anti-venom treatments. It is similar to an allergy, but is actually an immune system response.

The body creates antiserum in the plasma when a toxin is introduced to it. Like the toxins from being stung. This is a normal thing that the body does.

What happens

In serum sickness, the body mistakes this protein-based antiserum your body has created to fight off the toxin and your body attacks it as a danger. This attack is a triggered immune response.

Unlike an allergic reaction which happens quickly, serum sickness can happen 10 days to 3 weeks after the sting. (Some sources I looked at said up to 2 weeks and others said up to 3 weeks.) Talk about a delayed reaction!

I suppose during that time the body is creating the antiserum which it later attacks.

Symptoms of Serum sickness

Rash– starts in a small area and then spreads out. It can open into lesions. It can be quite itchy.

In my daughter’s case (I got a few pictures a few days after starting the steroid cream.), the sting area was very red and then a little dotted rash spread out from there as well as thicker red patches. Thankfully no lesions!

She is pointing to where she was stung by the wasp.
The rash appeared on both ankles a day or so after the sting site got very warm and the rash began to appear.
The redness wraps all the way around her ankle.
Look closely and you will see the tiny rash. It is itchy and starting to fade with the use of the steroid cream.

Fever– You can run a fever that can be more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

My daughter had a slight fever, but her sting sight had a fever. Meaning the sting sight was quite hot! We put an ice pack on it to help.

Joint Pain– pain in hands, wrists, ankles, knees, and shoulders.

As I am writing this, I remembered that we took her to the chiropractor because of the pain in her shoulder. Now I am seeing that it was another symptom during that time.

Swelling– swelling is a build up of fluid and usually occurs in your hands, feet and face.

My daughter had swelling in her ankle, but we thought that was because of where her sting occurred. Evidently, not and makes sense as to why the other ankle also swelled. After 3 days of medication, can almost comfortably wear shoes again.

Serum Sickness Treatment

Often, as the bee or wasp serum is filtered out of your system, the symptoms of serum sickness will improve on their own and go away.

Not my daughter’s case! Our doctor prescribed a steroid cream to use on the rash and sting sight. It took a few days to begin working and looking better. (We have been especially concerned since she will be leaving for college in a week.)

Non-steroidal pain medication- like ibuprofen. This will help with swelling, discomfort and fever.
Antihistamines – to reduce the rash and itching.

A day after my daughter started her steroid cream, the rash appeared on her arm and her wrist looked like it was swelling. Benadryl did help with it and it settled down quickly.

Most of the time patients have complete recovery, but need to avoid stings in the future.

Avoiding Serum Sickness

Just like people with allergies to wasp and bee stings, you should avoid being stung in the future. Seems like a silly thing to say, since, who wants to be stung?

Sting prevention

If you have had serum sickness once, you are likely to have a reaction and sooner than before. The best thing to do is to avoid being stung again.

Avoid the odor of sweat. Evidently insects are attracted to sweat. Wear clean sweat free clothes and bathe daily.
Stay away from flowering plants that attract stinging insects.
Avoid food and drinks that attract stinging insects when you are outside.
Don’t swat out or irritate stinging insects. Be calm and move away from them.
Avoid perfumed or heavily scented soaps, shampoos, lotions, and deodorants.
Wear light colored clothing
Clothing that covers your body will keep them from getting to your skin.
Wear shoes and socks.

Conclusion

Serum sickness is potentially avoidable, if you avoid stinging insects and insect bites. There are ways you can protect yourself to have a better chance of not getting this.

In my opinion, since this involves an immune system reaction, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor. The symptoms are quite alarming and you want to make sure there isn’t anything else that should be done, watched for or considered.

Serum sickness is a rare reaction people with autoimmune conditions sometimes develop to bug bites, bee and wasp stings.

Alone in Your Gluten Free Journey

Aug 10, 2020

Are you alone in your gluten free journey? Are you unsupported by your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, and/or those closest to you?

Alone in your Gluten Free Journey - Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/StockSnap-894430/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2591874">StockSnap</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2591874">Pixabay</a>

It is never easy to change your diet. When someone, like a doctor tells you it is medically necessary, it is complex. You know you need to, but may feel forced into making that change. Now, don’t get me wrong, it can be just as difficult if you have come to this decision through other means. Not having support makes it much more difficult.

A Medical Diagnosis

With a medical diagnosis, you at least have the doctor and others in the medical field on your side. (If you have the right doctors.) There are support groups and so much information to be found. It is extremely helpful when you have a definitive answer to why you need to be gluten free, through having a diagnosis.

If you have read very much of what I write, you know how important I believe getting a diagnosis is. However, it isn’t always possible. I feel it is important to warn people, to not decide they are NOT celiac, if they haven’t been tested. You CANNOT know for certain that it isn’t celiac without full testing.

Testing

Another complication is that testing isn’t perfect. The damage to the intestines can be missed, even if you have had biopsies. Damage to the intestines happens in patches, so if they don’t get the right patch, the damage is not found. You may need to be tested more than once or twice. Having a firm diagnosis helps you to know exactly what you are dealing with.

Gluten free without an official diagnosis

This can be a hard route to go. Just because you test negative one time doesn’t mean that you are free and clear, especially if the disease is in your family. Family members of those with celiac, should have periodic testing whether they have symptoms or not.

If you are lucky and look really hard, you may find a doctor who understands that diagnosis can be tricky and some people suffer from gluten intolerance or other conditions.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Reasons people don’t get a firm diagnosis

Not enough biopsy samples
Too expensive to be tested/ no insurance
If it is a child, doctors are very reluctant to continue testing without a positive blood test.
There aren’t tests for intolerance. Everything else is ruled out, in order to get the diagnosis of non-celiac gluten intolerance.
Many people don’t understand, other diseases also respond better to treatment, when gluten free: crohn’s and thyroid disease are two great examples.

Unsupportive Family Members

This can be harder than not being supported by your doctor. Not being supported by those you love makes this dietary change not only challenging but sometimes impossible!

I have seen parents, unsupportive of their own children who need to be gluten free and tell them figuring out is their responsibility. I’m talking about children 14 or younger. Or even worse, not believing they need to be gluten free and continuing to feed them gluten, thinking that a little bit won’t hurt.

I know spouses who tempt and torment the one needing to be gluten free; it is never fun to live with a bully! Sometimes they even go so far as to make it difficult or impossible for the spouse to eat gluten free. This is medical abuse, your life and health is being put at risk of other diseases and complications related to celiac disease.

The prescription for celiac and gluten intolerance is eating gluten free!

What Can You Do?

Medically:

Don’t go gluten free before being tested.
Keep looking for a doctor you can trust and who will listen to you.
Learn what you can from accurate sources about gluten intolerance, celiac disease and any other medical issues you have.
Always get copies of your blood work- be involved in your medical journey. You are your own advocate!
Ask questions to doctors and nurses. Even if they get annoyed.

Dealing with family

Stick to your diet regardless of what family is doing.
Learn everything you can about being gluten free and how to do it safely in a shared kitchen.
Cook and shop for yourself.
Try to educate family members about your medical condition and how the gluten free diet is the prescription.
*It is much harder if you are a child or a spouse in a controlling relationship. You may want to seek counseling, ask your doctor for help/resources, or do what you can to change your environment.
Join a local support group. If you don’t have support at home or with your family, a support group can be especially helpful to talk about issues and difficulties.
Many places have Facebook groups in different areas. There might be one near you or you might consider starting one up, so you can help and support one another. Example: Gluten Intolerance Group of Utah County (Gluten Intolerance Group is a national organization and trademarked. Do not use their name if you begin a group, unless it is with them and okayed by them.) or Gluten Free in Utah County
Be consistent with your diet. If you don’t take it seriously, neither will anyone else.

Work and School

Take your own food.
Get a 504 plan with the school.
Bullying isn’t tolerated in the work place and should be reported to HR. Most states have laws about work place bullying.

Move Forward

Alone in your gf journey- moving forward Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=918900">Free-Photos</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=918900">Pixabay</a>

Especially if you have a diagnosis, stick to being gluten free even though it is difficult. Be your own advocate.

Find a support group
Look for on line resources, blogs, Pinterest pages, reputable groups and organizations.
Many areas have gluten free pages on Facebook
Try gluten free apps here’s my favorite.
Look to help, support and mentor others. You will help yourself in the process and it is very rewarding.

2020 Gluten Free/Hormone Disruptor Free Sunscreens

May 8, 2020

Every year we update our gluten free and hormone disruptor free sunscreens. Companies sometimes change formulas and you want to be sure to use the best sunscreen for you and your family!

To find out more about the harmful chemicals that disrupt hormones check out this post.

Gluten Free Sunscreen

I won’t use a sunscreen that isn’t gluten free. My daughter came home from camp one year with a rash that was undoubtedly from the sunscreen. She didn’t use the one I sent her, too hard to get to and a kind leader sprayed her down with sunscreen. Unfortunately, it contained gluten.

I have also had reactions from using body products that contain gluten. Many say that you don’t need to worry about gluten in body products, but that isn’t my experience. Also, if you sweat, the sunscreen can make its way into your eyes and mouth therefore ingesting the gluten.

Gluten free or certified gluten free doesn’t mean it doesn’t have other issues that are unsafe.

Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

2020 Hormone Disrupting Chemical free and gluten free sunscreens — Image by 13smok from Pixabay

Reef Safe does NOT mean that it is hormone free or gluten free.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Safe Sunscreen Options

These sunscreens are free of hormone disrupting chemicals and are gluten free. All of them are reef safe, as well. I am unaware of any other harmful ingredients in these products, at this time.

Suntegrity

This was my favorite sunscreen we tried last year. It has a wonderful fruity scent! They also offer a non-scented version. The company also says it is great for babies but remember sunscreen shouldn’t be used on babies younger than 6 months without talking to your doctor. Not rated as gluten free but doesn’t contain gluten ingredients. No one in our family (and we are sensitive) reacted negatively to it.

UV Chemical-Free Sunscreen
Broad Spectrum Protection
Paraben, Phthalate and Mineral Oil Free
None of the hormone disrupting chemicals
Cruelty Free, Vegan and Reef Friendly (Leaping Bunny Certified)
Fragrance Free
Non Greasy for Smooth Application
Contains Organic Ingredients like Green Tea Extract, Cucumber Extract, and Pomegranate Seed Oil for added protection.

All Good Sunscreen

This is another sunscreen we tried last year and liked. No one burned or had any adverse reactions to it.

Lists their products as being gluten free on their web-site. Free of hormone disrupting chemicals and safe for the coral reef. Excellent rating by EWG. Their sunscreens are vegan and biodegradable.

Can purchase as tinted, so you can be sure you are getting covered.

UVA/UVB broad spectrum sun protection
Oxybenzone-free, made with only Reef Friendly ingredients
Water Resistant (80 minutes)
Gluten free
Hormone disrupting chemicals free
Biodegradeable
Leaping Bunny Certified

Earth Mama

Made for the whole family: adults, kids and babies! Gentle, natural and organic ingredients.

Reef friendly: NO chemical sunscreens, NO artificial fragrance, non-nano zinc
Dermatologist tested and clinically tested for irritation
Rated ONE on the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, the lowest hazard rating a product can achieve.
Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection
Water Resistant (40 Min)
NSF/ANSI 305 Certified by Oregon Tilth (Contains Organic Red Raspberry Seed Oil and Organic Argan Oil)
Gluten Free- contains no gluten ingredients
No disrupting hormone chemicals

Babo Botanicals

This product is free of: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts, SLS, Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Dyes, Sodium chloride, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, and most common allergens. It does contain a tree nut: Shea Butter.

Certified organic ingredients
Cruelty free
Gluten free
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Re-apply every 80 minutes
Non-nano
19% Zinc oxide
Clear, non-greasy and fragrance free

Goddess Garden

In a chat with Goddess Garden Organics, I was told all of their products are gluten free! Excellent ratings at EWG. New sheer formula in their daily mineral sunscreen. Non-nano zinc oxide and is reef safe without harmful chemicals for you and your skin.

Badger

Un-coated clear zinc oxide (22.5%) and fragrance free.

Un-coated clear zinc oxide (22.5%) and fragrance free.
Cruelty free
Gluten free
No disrupting hormone chemicals
Non-Nano
Clear zinc
Bio-degradable
Re-apply 80 minutes
Reef friendly
98% organic ingredients

Raw Elements

Really good ratings a EWG. Safe for the reefs and biodegradable. This sunscreen is also soy and nut free, besides being gluten free. Re-apply every 80 minutes. Non nano (23%) and hormone disrupting chemical free. USDA certified organic. It does contain Mangifera Indica seed butter which is made from mango. I have a daughter anaphylactic to mango and so this is a concern for us.

Safe for baby, but also great for athletes!
Reef Safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
Biodegradeable
Re-apply 80 minutes
Cruelty free
Non nano zinc oxide (23%)

Kokua

Excellent EWG ratings. Made in Hawaii and safe for the reefs. Non-nano zinc (25%), hormone disrupting chemicals free, biodegradable, and broad spectrum protection. They are also gluten free! They use a natural resin extract instead of beeswax. There are 23 antioxidants in this sunscreen. They really want to look out for your skin and keep it from being damaged or aging prematurely.

No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
Non-nano zinc oxide (25%)
No harsh preservatives or artificial fragrances
Paraben and phthalate free
Shelf life 2 years

Raw Love

Could not find an EWG rating. Non-Nano, free of hormone disrupting chemicals, and made with natural ingredients, they don’t use fillers. The owner of the company is gluten free and developed her sunscreen to be safe for her skin. Needing skin products that were hormone disrupting free, were a necessity as well. Cute company in Hawaii. Re-apply often.

Cruelty free
Reef Safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
A little goes a long way

Loving Naturals

Verified gluten free through e-mail. This sunscreen has a high EWG rating. Should be applied every 40 minutes. They use all natural ingredients and are part of the Leaping Bunny Program. No testing on animals, cruelty free. Broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.

Non-nano zinc oxide (24.7%)
Safe for all ages
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free
Cruelty free
Mostly organic ingredients
Re-apply every 2 hours

Erbaviva

Certified organic ingredients
Cruelty Free
Reef Safe
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Gluten free- contains no gluten ingredients
Vegan
Broad spectrum

Kabana

Green Screen D Organic SPF 35 is free of common allergens: soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, dairy-free, Non-GMO and vegetarian. Mixed reviews on EWG. Contains 6 certified organic and mineral ingredients. 25% non-nano zinc oxide.

It’s soy-free, gluten-free, corn-free, and dairy-free!
Non-GMO
Vegetarian
Zinc oxide
No hormone disrupting chemicals
Reef safe

Make sure you check the sunscreen for safety with small children, specifically with babies. Also, babies under 6 months old should not use sunscreen, notify a doctor before using on infants.

Happy and safe fun in the sun!!!

COVID-19 aka Corona Virus Quarantine To Dos

Mar 17, 2020

So, here we all are, taking precautions by quarantining at home, due to the corona virus (COVID-19). Many people have been sent to work from home. Kids are home from school and many have gone from having empty houses during the day to full houses 24 hours, non-stop. Schedules have come to a stand still and seriously disrupted. What to do?!

You can find official information and guidelines at the CDC.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Clean-make your home a corona free zone

Not the most appealing thing to have on the list, but very productive! Do all that deep cleaning you have meant to get around to. It is almost spring, after all.

It felt so good getting the cobwebs out of the corners of my bathroom, wiping down the walls and washing the curtains! Hopefully you have cleaners on hand. Remember that vinegar is a great alternative to industrial cleaners.

Make sure you also hit those everyday surfaces: door knobs, remotes, mouse, keyboard, light switches and banisters.

Play Games

This is the perfect time to build family memories! Make the best of it! If you need some fun game ideas here are a few that we have found to be enjoyable.

Games for Younger Kids

I don’t have young kids at home, but these ones are fun!

Garden

It is so nice! At least we aren’t all stuck inside with it pouring rain out (knock on wood)! What a great time to get outside and enjoy the spring sun! The sun is good combat against the virus!

Puzzles

I love puzzles, but finding time to do them isn’t always easy. This quarantine is a great opportunity and excuse to do them!

Learn Something New

Learn something new. There are so many avenues to do this from YouTube to Amazon! What are your interests or a new hobby you have wanted to try out?

Build It

Speak It

One of my kids favorite things to do is to learn new languages. You Tube is also great for this!

Write It Down

Improve your writing skills and write about that time you were in quarantine with your entire family. Or learn how to write in fancy ways!

Explore Poetry

Poetry can be so much fun. Along those same lines, so are alliterations and idioms.

Draw It

There are so many ways to express one’s self! Drawing can come in handy in so many situations and be quite relaxing. No pressure, you don’t have to be fantastic right away, it is a skill that takes time to sharpen and acquire.

Explore Your Artistic Side

Painting is very relaxing and fun to do. So many tutorials and ways to learn or freestyle your way to some fun and creative art.

Create It

Try your hand at sewing, crocheting or knitting. There are many blogs and You Tube channels that can help you get started. Or I have a few patterns for crocheting on my blog.

Make it to eat it

Now may be a good time to try a new recipe, bake something, or just teach your kids how to cook. I love Pinterest for finding new foods and fun things to make!

Go Outdoors

There are many sources that say outdoors helps fight the Corona virus (COVID-19). Just keep to yourself. You are still social distancing, there’s a lot of room in the great outdoors! The general rule appears to be keeping 6 feet between yourself and other people whom you don’t live with.

*Kids should not be playing together on a playground.

Go for a bike ride
Go for a walk
Go running or jogging
Take a nature walk on a trail
Hike
Have a picnic (your own yard or a park where you can maintain social distancing)
Tennis
Visit with someone who can’t get outside, through their window

We will get through the Corona Virus Quarantine!

Times are tough, but we can make the best of our situations by being creative, taking precautions, and making the most of this time. We won’t let COVID-19 aka Corona Virus get the best of us!

For more information on the Corona Virus check out the CDC website.

Gluten Free Candy 2020 for Easter

Feb 6, 2020

Having been gluten free for more than 15 years, now, I am so happy there is more labeling than there has been previously. However, it isn’t perfect. There are laws and guidelines, but no real accountability nor monitoring of labels to make sure they are accurate and correct.

2020 Gluten Free Easter Candy Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Noupload-2404633/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2187345">Noupload</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2187345">Pixabay</a>

We still find gluten hidden in products that we wouldn’t expect. Some of this comes from cross-contamination and the rest comes from improper labeling and information. Keep in mind, another problem is that recipes, formulas and suppliers often change and throw things off.

To make it more difficult, the brands you like and trust to be safe aren’t always safe during the holidays.

Candy shapes

2020 Gluten Free Easter Candy Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Platus-800570/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1256649">Salah Ait Mokhtar</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1256649">Pixabay</a>

Reese’s Peanut Butter cups are a pretty safe bet when it comes to choosing a gluten free candy. However, NOT during the holidays when you can buy that favorite chocolate and peanut butter goody in a fun holiday shape. Also, as I just discovered, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup minis, that are not wrapped individually, are NOT gluten free!

Why is this? Why does being in a fun shape or mini make a difference as to it being gluten free or not?!

There are 2 reasons for this. The first one is because the molds the candy is made in and what they use, so it doesn’t stick. The candy itself is the same as the rest of their regular products, but is coated with gluten to keep it from sticking to the molds. The second reason is that the shapes and minis may be produced on shared equipment putting them more at risk for cross-contamination.

Stay away from:

This is not a complete list, but a place to start and a fairly good rule of thumb. Some candies have gluten free ingredients, but risk cross-contamination.

Seasonal shapes of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, including the heart shapes and Christmas trees
Reeses Pieces eggs
Most mini candies that aren’t wrapped (from almost every company)
Anything with obvious gluten added to it (pretzel, rice crispy, cookie, etc.)
Cadbury Creme eggs- not considered gluten free by the manufacturer
Regular flavored Milky Way
Butterfingers that come in other shapes, minis, cups and bites
Be aware that many chocolate bunnies contain gluten.

Tips for choosing gluten free candies:

Read labels- always! Formulas and recipes change or they use a different facility during times of high production where more cross contamination can occur.
When in doubt, call or e-mail the company and ask questions.
Remember holiday candy may be manufactured at a different facility or have a different process.
Buy regular sizes that you know are safe and package or present them in a fun way. (party bag, get creative decorating, put in a fun container)

Gluten free Easter Candy 2020

Here are a few links to help your Easter shopping go a little more smoothly. For a more complete list check out Very Well Fit’s Gluten Free Easter Candy List.

Dove

*We often get the Dove Easter Bunnies for our kids. I couldn’t find a link to include.

M&M’s, Kisses, Starbursts, Jelly Belly, and SweeTarts

M&M’s are made by the Mars company they will put on their label if there is a possibility of cross contamination, shared equipment, etc. Some of the Easter products that are gluten free are: plain M&M’s, solid milk chocolate Easter bunny, M&M’s candies in Easter colors, and egg-shaped M&M’s candies.

Hershey’s Kisses: They are considered safe whether they come in their regular wrappers or all dressed up for the holidays. Unless of course, they have cookie or some other gluten ingredient added, so be sure to read the label.

Starbursts and their special Easter varieties are gluten free.

Jelly Belly are gluten free including their licorice flavor!

Nestle is the maker of SweeTarts and they disclose on their packaging potential cross-contamination. *Their jelly beans are NOT gluten free!

Tootsie Rolls, Peeps and Kraft Easter Candies

I can’t believe how much my big kids still love the flavored Tootsie Rolls! Thank goodness they are gluten free!

Peeps are an Easter tradition staple and completely gluten free.

Kraft has fun shapes and flavored marshmallows for Easter.

Easter Ideas

In my post about Easter and What to Watch Out For you will find some fun recipes for Easter dinner; including: deviled eggs and my favorite, Pimento Cream Cheese Salad. Looking for a great Easter dessert try this Creamy Lemon Pie!

Another consideration is to have a candy free Easter. This post has several ideas of what you can put in baskets and traditions you can start, that aren’t filled with sugar.

Cream Puffs For A Crowd- Gluten Free

Oct 10, 2019

This recipe is a little involved, but it is so worth it! I needed a lot of cream puffs. First, because my daughter really wanted some cream puffs and second, because we were having a party. This recipe makes 72 cream puffs.

If you fill them, they freeze well. When they are frozen without filling them, they easily break and crumble. Also, the inside becomes tough. However, they are just as perfect if they are frozen after being filled. I haven’t frozen chicken salad ones, just cream filled ones.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Equipment

Bowl

Tablespoon

teaspoon

Measuring cup

Stand alone mixer (I love my Kitchenaide!)

Spatula

Sauce pan and stirring spoon

Cookie scoop

Muffin Tin- I like the mini muffin tin the best (I do the same size scoop regardless of which muffin tin I use.)

Cooling rack

Knife

Cream Puff Ingredients

3 Cups + 2 TBL Feather Light gluten free flour (*This is a light mixture of flour and starches for baking. Any, light gluten free baking flour should work.)

3/4 tsp salt

3 C water

1 1/2 C butter

12 eggs

Directions

Prepare the muffin tin by spraying with a gluten free cooking spray.

Pre-heat the oven to 450 F degrees.

In a bowl mix the flour and salt and set aside.

Melt butter and bring water to a boil.

Add the flour mixture, all at once. Stir it into a ball.

Put dough in mixer, add eggs 1 at a time while mixing. When all mixed together and dough is smooth, scoop with cookie scoop into prepared muffin tins.

Cream Puffs for a crowd- mix the dough until it is smooth

Cream Puffs for a crowd- use a cookie scoop

I experimented with mini muffin tins and a regular muffin tin. They come out flatter in the regular muffin tin. The flatter ones are a little easier to eat because they aren’t as tall, when you get all of your filling in.

Regular Muffin Tin
Mini Muffin Tin
Regular Muffin Tin- comes out flatter
Mini muffin tin is more mis-shapen
Comparison of the mini and regular muffin tins

It is easiest to clean out the egg dough when they are still a little warm.

You want to pull out the middle of the egg dough.
The carnage
Hallowed out puffs

Next, fill with cream, pudding or chicken salad.

Some links to cream fillings:

https://ohsodelicioso.com/cream-filling/

https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/vanilla-cream-filled-doughnuts/4aa90cce-45bb-4112-a53a-f604e6f57fca

Keep refrigerated or freeze for later. (I don’t know how the chicken salad ones freeze.)

Gluten Free Cream Puffs for a Crowd

ShannieAnnie

Great recipe for a party or special event. Will make a lot!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

change of temperature 20

Total Time 55

Course Dessert

Servings 72

Equipment

Stand alone Mixer
Sauce pan
Stiring spoon
Spatula
Cookie Scoop
Muffin tin/s
1 Tablespoon
Bowl
Measuring cup
3/4 teaspoon
Cooling rack
Knife

Ingredients

3 Cups + 2 TBS Feather Light gluten free flour
3/4 tsp salt
3 Cups Water
1 1/2 Cup Butter
12 Eggs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 F degrees
In a small bowl, combine flour and salt
In a sauce pan, on the stove, bring water and butter to a boil. Stir to help melt the butter.
As soon as water boils add your flour and and salt mixture. (Do it all at once and stir vigorously.) Mixture will ball up.
Remove from heat and put into your stand alone mixing bowl.
Beat eggs into hot mixture, one at a time. Mix until dough is smooth.
Using the cookie scoop, drop dough into the prepared muffin tins.
Bake at 450 F degrees for 15 minutes
Change the temperature to 350 F degrees (do NOT remove from oven) bake for 20 more minutes
Cool on a baking rack until they are easily handled.
Cut in half, so you have a top and a bottom.
Remove the puffy middles of the puff.
Fill with cream or chicken salad.
Serve, refrigerate or freeze,

Notes

Fillings: Cream cheese fillings, Cream fillings, pudding, or chicken or shrimp salad.

Gearhart and Seaside Beaches, Oregon

Sep 26, 2019

The last day of our whirlwind trip to Oregon was at Gearhart Beach, Seaside and then we spent the evening back on Indian Beach, in Ecola Park.

Gearhart Beach AKA Sand Dollar Beach

I was looking forward to going to Gearhart Beach after learning that it is also known as Sand Dollar Beach. Evidently, after high tide, there are a lot of sand dollars that can be found on Gearhart Beach, but you have to go early.

Unfortunately, we are NOT morning people and our morning to Gearhart Beach did NOT go as planned. By the time we got there, only broken sand dollars were to be found.

4-wheel drive

If you have a 4-wheel drive, you might consider parking down on the sand, where it is permitted. We had our car and didn’t trust we would be able to get out of the sand. Many of the locals have air compressors they can hook up to their vehicles. They deflate their tires a little bit, to get better traction on the sand and then re-inflate them before they go very far up the road.

We found a place to park, on a side street.

The Beach

It is a sandy beach, but not my favorite. It was a little dirtier looking with all the ocean debris. Lots of dried seaweed and dead crabs with sea gulls picking at them. This was the windiest place we went! The waves were very choppy. It didn’t seem as windy anywhere else we went.

Gearhart

The town of Gearhart is quaint. We went into a couple of gift shops and strolled around the streets a bit.

Seaside, Oregon

If you are into watching volleyball, the 2nd week of August is a great time to go! There are all kinds of volleyball tournaments that go on during this week. We were told more than 3,000 people were visiting Seaside for the tournaments.

Parking was crazy and not well marked. Thankfully someone gave us a heads up that the car we just waited for, had been given a parking ticket and so would we, if we parked there. Very faded on the ground was paint that said, “No Parking”. Here’s the kicker, it was just a few stalls in a public parking lot, that you weren’t allowed to park in and the paint was almost gone!!!

Carousel Mall

The Carousel Mall is a big draw in Seaside! It of course has a carousel inside the mall! There are lots of fun shops and food places to visit.

One of my daughter’s has a lot of anxiety in crowds and with all the people visiting for the volleyball tournament, it went into full swing. She was over-whelmed by the crowds and quickly wanting to escape and be done. So, there is a lot here we didn’t get to.

This post contains affiliate
links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a
small commission for the referral, but your price remains the
same.

What to do in Seaside

Promenade

There is a beautiful promenade to stroll down. We have been there before and it is quite lovely. There are landmarks and information about Lewis and Clark and their travels, blazing the Oregon Trail.

The promenade is a great place for strollers and wheelchairs. At the Sunset Empire Parks & Recreation District beach accessible wheelchairs can be rented.

Seaside Aquarium

Admission to the aquarium is $8.50 for adults, $4.25 for kids 6-13, $7.25 for seniors 64+, $29 for a family (up to 6 paid admissions), Free for children under 5 with someone who has paid admission. The aquarium opens at 9 a.m. and closing varies.

They have many seals, an underwater tank and a touch tank. The touch tank is fun for kids and adults!

Carousel Mall

I couldn’t find information for how much it is to ride the carousel and didn’t think about it while we were sitting in front of it. Near the carousel, you can find public restrooms.

The mall has many shops and places to eat! Almost anything you want can be found in or around the mall!

More to do in Seaside:

Kayaking
Bird watching
Whale watching
Biking (there are many trails)
Trace Lewis and Clark’s steps, finding a beached whale
Golfing
Find out more about Tilly aka the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse (evidently it is haunted and there are tales about it)
Visit the Seaside Historical Society Museum
Go to the skateboard park

Gluten Free Dining in Seaside

There are a lot of options for gluten free dining in Seaside! We decided to try Doogers.

Unfortunately, our experience there wasn’t stellar. They have a lot of gluten free options and what they got wrong with our order didn’t put us at risk for getting sick. I ordered a sandwich without the bread and it came with gluten free bread. (I’m just not a fan of gf bread and prefer lettuce wrapped or just without the bread.) It was dry. Sometimes they leave everything that makes a sandwich good off it, because you are gluten free. That seemed to be the case.

My husband’s food was also dry and lacked the umph we were hoping for. However, our daughters got the fish and loved their food. They said it was fantastic and they wouldn’t mind going here again. So, hit and miss, was our experience.

I Love Oregon Vacations!!!

I love vacationing here and can’t wait to come back! There is so much we still haven’t done here. Not to mention, traveling farther down the Oregon coast and exploring more there.

True Lavender! Tooth Extraction and Headaches

Sep 12, 2019

Before leaving on our quick trip to the coast, I discovered I had an abscessed tooth! Yikes! The dentist talked about doing a root canal, before my trip, like the day before and then mentioned there are sometimes complications. Um, no!

So, armed with an antibiotic and pain killers we went off on our trip and scheduled the root canal for the day after I got back. I had to go to an endodontist for the procedure. I had already had a root canal in this same tooth, 20 years ago.

The failed root canal

That’s right! The root canal was unsuccessful. Not only was it unsuccessful, but it was a painful process!

The numbing shots were unpleasant for my tooth extraction

The numbing shots, very unpleasant and the whole numbing of the face, what a joy. (Insert, thick sarcasm.) From the x-ray all looked good to go. It was unpleasant having him drill through the cap and post of the tooth. There was a smell that is hard to describe, but it smelled kind of like something was burning. Then, he used another tool that sounded like screaming! My nerves were very much on edge!!!

He used a special microscope to look at where he drilled and to examine the roots. Either, when he was drilling or it was too small to see or in a weird place for the x-ray to pick up, he discovered that the root of my tooth was cracked. One of the few things they aren’t able to fix!

Sinus trouble

The endodentist said the nerves of my teeth are right up against my sinus’. While he was drilling, it shook everything loose in my sinus’. The back of my throat filled with a thick mucus and I started to gag, until his assistant used her suction thing for my throat.

It didn’t end there. For the next week, waiting to get my tooth removed, I had horrible sinus pain. (I had to go back to my regular dentist and come up with a plan of what to do, when the tooth is removed.) I knew my jaw was out of place, too, but I would need it adjusted again, next week. I endured the pain for a week.

The Tooth Extraction

Surprisingly, having my tooth extraction was less painful than the drilling and root canal process. However, it did make me a little sick hearing the sounds you hear when a tooth is removed with force!

The tooth extration messed up my sinus' besides having a painful mouth

Due to having very thin bone between my sinus’ and my teeth, I also needed a bone graft. It will be another 3-4 months before this process is complete.

I was hoping, with the removal of my tooth, the sinus pain would go away. It didn’t and the headaches were excruciating!

Bone Graft

I have been the person with the rare complications, one too many times! Hoping this isn’t one of those times, I decided to do all I can to encourage my body to grow the bone needed. I have been taking a calcium supplement and some Vitamin D3. Your body can’t absorb calcium properly if you don’t have enough Vitamin D and I am not taking any chances.

At my one week post-op, check up, the dentist said it is looking good and the bone is taking! Yeah! (Bonus, my fingernails are growing a lot, too!)

The stitches were removed and he assured me that healing will be easier, now that the stitches are gone.

Lavender! Why didn’t I think of this sooner?!

This was a duh moment, for me! After my tooth was removed, I went to the chiropractor and was adjusted and he did some stretches with my jaw that helped my bite and reduced the strain. It helped quite a bit. However, the majority of the relief only lasted a few hours.

I use Frankincense to help loosen my jaw muscles

True Lavender to help with sinus problems after tooth extraction

I had been using Frankincense on my jaw to help loosen the muscles and it was helpful, but why did it take me so long to think of using Lavender?

True Lavender is great for sinus conditions! I finally got relief! The sinus pain and problems associated with my sinus’ continued for more than a week after the extraction. I didn’t think of lavender until I was 4 days post-op and miserable. I had almost 2 weeks of unbelievable headaches and sinus issues!

Relief with True Lavender

Almost as soon as I applied the lavender, the relief came! I feel so dumb for not thinking of it sooner.

True Lavender is one of the oils that does not necessarily need a carrier oil. I have mentioned before, one of my daughters has really sensitive skin and needs a carrier for all essential oils. So, be careful, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Apply True Lavender essential oil across your sinus’: across your forehead, bridge of your nose and over your sinus areas. Only use externally!

I am so grateful the headaches are finally dull to gone and the sinus pressure and pain has been reduced. The second I feel anything, I apply True Lavender and it keeps it at bay.

Astoria, Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park

Sep 5, 2019

On our whirlwind trip to the northern Oregon coast, we booked our hotel in Astoria. We made this our homebase. There’s quite a bit to do in Astoria, but we actually didn’t spend a lot of time there. Our daughters favorite spots are actually farther south in Cannon Beach and Ecola State Park.

Astoria, Oregon

While I am always up for adventure and trying something new and unexpected, my family isn’t always on board. Astoria was pretty busy the second weekend in August. It was their city celebration and they were having a Regatta. Also, there were many people staying in Astoria and traveling down to Seaside for a huge volleyball tournament.

Astoria has a cruise ship dock, which also makes it a busy place to be. It is located right along the Columbia River.

There are several museums; including the Oregon Film Museum. I couldn’t talk my family into going there this time, but it is on my list for another time. There are several movies that have been filmed in this area!

Free Willey
The Goonies (June 7 is Goonies Day in Astoria)
Come See the Paradise
Short Circuit
Kindergarten Cop
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
The Ring Two

Gluten Free eating in Astoria

We only ate once in Astoria, we often got in late and the places we were interested in going were often closed. Frite and Scoop was a good find! I had many recommendations, before our trip to try this place.

We made it at the right time! They have some odd hours and are closed on Wednesdays. Check their hours, so you can plan to make it in time!

They only have fries and a custard-style ice cream. They offer gluten free cones and have one sorbet that is dairy free. The fries can be ordered with their special hot honey drizzled on top! Then you have a wide variety of sauces to dip into! We chose a blueberry mayo.

This post contains affiliate
links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a
small commission for the referral, but your price remains the
same.

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is the home of Haystack Rock. From the beach, you can also see Tilamook Lighthouse in the distance. This is a favorite town and beach to visit. While parking can be hard, at least in August, the town didn’t ever feel over-crowded.

There are a couple of public restrooms available and be prepared to walk a lot! There are great shops and restaurants to visit. However, the best part is going down to the beach to play!

At low tide you can walk right out to Haystack Rock. There are a tide pools where you can observe sea urchins and other sea life. Playing in the water and walking along or in the ocean is relaxing and fun!

The beach was a little crowded this visit and so we decided not to rent beach bikes this time, but have in the past, and it is a lot of fun! Beach bikes are ridden down on the packed wet sand during low tide.

The wind was just right to set up windsocks or fly a kite. I was wishing we would have remembered to bring our kite!

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach- low tide
Tilamook Lighthouse in the distance from Cannon Beach

Gluten Free Eating in Cannon Beach

Check hours of the places you want to eat! Some places have weird hours and others close early. If you spend a long time on the beach, you may miss eating somewhere you were looking forward to.

We found a wonderful pizza at Fetta-A-Pizza! It was worth the wait! Most of the seating is outside. The crust is a large 14″ crust made in Portland, Oregon. They take precautions, but are not a gluten free kitchen. Our family is pretty sensitive and no one had any reactions.

Ecola State Park

Ecola State Park isn’t far from Cannon Beach. There is a toll fee before entering the park of $5 per vehicle. Our first stop was to the left, after leaving the toll booth. There is a viewing area, some short trails and picnic tables. There are no places to buy food in the state park, you have to bring it with you.

We stopped back at this stop one last time before we left the park and could hear sea lions but couldn’t see them, because of all the foliage.

Haystack rock in the distance at sunset
Haystack Rock, look how high the tide is. At low tide, you can walk right up to it.

Indian Beach

You get to Indian Beach by going right instead of left at the toll booth. It is a bit of a drive to get to the beach and the roads weren’t in great condition due to the heavy storms last winter. In places, you were unable to go on trails, because of damage from those storms.

Indian Beach has iconic rock formations that can be seen in the movie Goonies. Sometimes people call Indian Beach the Goonies Beach. There are fun smooth rocks and other things that wash ashore. People like this area for bonfires, barbecues, hanging out, and surfing.

Lots of smooth rocks, worn from the ocean can be found in piles along the beach.
There is a wooden trail that is a little steep and has stairs in some areas to go down to the beach.
Here we are leaving the beach.

Our girls enjoyed having a photoshoot on the beach. (All photos are uploaded at a low resolution and not for use. Please respect.) A gymnast can’t resist doing gymnastics at the beach!

One of my favorite photos! It looks so magical!
I love her laugh!!!

Long Day, Late Night

We stayed at the beach for a long, long time. People were beginning their bonfires, just before we left the beach.

By the time we got back to the towns like Cannon Beach, most of the food places were closed. The ones still open were much more expensive and fancier than we were up for.

We found an open Wendy’s in Warrenton! It was the best Wendy’s experience we have had in many years! The cashier that helped us, also has celiac disease and was able to guide us and help us have a great experience!

We love Oregon vacations!!!

A Day at Multnomah Falls and Portland Oregon

Aug 28, 2019

On our road trip we spent a day in the Portland, Oregon area, including some time at Multnomah Falls. We have been to this area many times over the years and always include time here, when we can.

We have had trips many different times of the year, but this is the first trip to the area in August that we have taken. We couldn’t believe how crazy, busy it all was! We have never seen it like this!

Parking at Multnomah Falls

Parking was crazy! We ended up parking in the area for Wahkeena Falls. It is about 1/4 a mile from the Multnomah Falls Lodge.

There is a small road by where the cars are parked, opposite of the falls, that leads to more parking, a restroom, and a picnic area.

From Wahkeena falls there is a trail that will take you to the Multnomah Falls visitor center. There is another waterfall area on the other side of Mulnomah with parking as well, but it seemed much farther away and I don’t remember the name.

On our way home, we saw that there were areas for parking and taking a shuttle. It would be a better way to go when the parking is so difficult.

This post contains affiliate
links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a
small commission for the referral, but your price remains the
same.

Multnomah Falls Lodge

At Multnomah Falls Lodge you can find food, bathrooms and a gift shop. The restaurant at the lodge does take reservations, it is a good idea to check for reservation information when you have your trip details in order.

If you want just a snack and something more low key, there is a food cart outside the lodge.

We have hiked the falls once, but didn’t have time on this trip. We had planned to at least hike up to the bridge, but the crowds were so large we decided to forgo that, this time, as well.

Multnomah Falls

Off to Portland

We had big plans in Portland and didn’t want to eat at the falls, because of those plans. We also aren’t big on crowds, so we didn’t stay very long at the falls.

Needing to eat gluten free, Portland is a wonderful place to go! We had been to Corbett’s Fish House on Hawthorne the last time we were in Portland and have been looking forward to going there again, ever since! Lunch was a little later than we were hoping for, after the long time it took to park, at Multnomah.

When we saw Calamari was on the menu, we had to try it! It was surprisingly good. (I am not a big fish eater and so even the fact I want fish and chips is huge!) My daughter was a little freaked out by the calamari and was determined to try it. She had to psych herself up by saying things like: “I am a mermaid. I can do this. I eat things like this. I am a mermaid.” I think she ended up eating two of the little, crunchy, octopus things.

Gluten free Fish and Chips- salmon and halibut
Gluten Free Fish and Chips- halibut and cod
Gluten Free Calamari
Gluten Free raspberry lemon cheesecake

We were hoping to check a new place out (new to us, anyway), but when it was time to leave Portland and head for our hotel no one was hungry!

Powell’s Books- Portland

This was a Pinterest find my daughter ran across. As a homeschool family, we love books! So, finding that Portland has the “World’s Largest Independent Book Store” and that it is also called “Powell’s City of Books“, we had to include it in our trip!

It was amazing and we are so glad we made the stop! The family is already talking about making this a permanent stop anytime we go through Portland! In fact, we may have to go through Portland regardless of whether we “need” to or not!

The bookstore

Powell’s is an entire city block, store! It has 3 levels and you need a map to get around. There are 9 color-coded rooms!!! You can take a tour of the bookstore, if you are there on a Sunday, but make sure you plan for the 45 minutes that will take. (First come, first serve)

Our homeschool is showing

We had two of our daughters on vacation with us. Our 21 year old who is studying to be a concert pianist and our 17 year old, high school senior.

The 21 year old spent ALL of her time in the music section of the store, gushing over 100+ year books and more. She ended up with 6 books!

Our 17 year old, spent a lot of time in the language section of the store. She picked out 5 books, covering 3 different languages, that she is working on learning. However, she did explore the store more than anyone else.

We also picked up a criminology book for another daughter who is a writer and didn’t go on the trip with us.

Prices were great and with all those books we still spent less than $50!

Conclusion of our day at Multnomah and in Portland

For a quick trip, we packed in a lot of our must dos and we are so glad we didn’t skip either one of these places. It would have been easy to just say, “let’s do it next time!” Now, we know we have to go back to Powell’s!

Maybe next time we can find a new food place. Portland has several all gluten free places to eat. It is so much fun to go somewhere and know that you can eat anything on the menu, safely! No one wants to get sick, but especially on vacation!

Food place on my list to try is Cultured Caveman! (Evidently, they also have a food cart!)

Whirlwind 5 Day Trip to the Oregon Coast

Aug 22, 2019

We desperately needed a summer getaway! Everyone has been so busy, that we could only squish in a short trip, before school starts. Even with that, my husband still had to bring along his laptop and work while we drove and during an evening or two.

The Itinerary

Day 1

Drive 4 hours to Shoshone Falls for our first stop of the day.
Head another 4 hours north/west to the outskirts of Oregon and stay in Baker City.

Shoshone Falls, idaho the Niagra Falls of the West

Day 2

Go to Multnomah Falls on our way to Portland, Oregon
Set the GPS for Corbetts Fish House on Hawthorne Street in Portland
Enjoy Corbett’s Fish House and the yummy gluten free food we can’t get at home!
Head over to Powell’s Bookstore to check out the largest bookstore
Check in to the hotel in Astoria, about an hour and a half from Portland
Find Scoops and Frites for a snack of fries with spicey honey and some ice cream in a gluten free cone.

Multnomah Falls
Gluten Free Fish and Chips
Gluten Free Calamari

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Day 3

Go south to Cannon Beach and search really hard for parking
Head to the beach and play in the ocean. Walk to Haystack Rock
Relax on the beach, listen to the crashing waves and feel the sand in your toes.
Get a late lunch at Fetta-A-Pizza. Great gluten free options on a large crust made in Portland. So delicious!
Pay the toll at Ecola State Park $5 per vehicle and go to the view points and walk down to Indian Beach.
Look for cool rocks and shells.

Day 4

Go to a beach you have never gone before. For us it was Gearhart.
Get there early, we did not. Evidently, there are lots of sanddollars on the beach right after low tide. Not so many later in the day.
Drive to Seaside. Check out gift shops they have a great mall in Seaside! There’s even a carousel inside.
Eat at Doogers.
Go back to the hotel to freshen up.
Pay another $5 for your vehicle, in order to go back into Ecola State Park.
Have a photoshoot on Indian Beach and watch the sunset.

I think this one turned out so magical looking. The water is so sparkly!

Day 5

Check out of the hotel
Drive home only stopping for gas and food

Conclusion synopsis of our whirlwind coast trip

It was wonderful to get away even though it was short and a lot of driving. It could have been better and more relaxing. Especially, if hubby didn’t have to work during the trip. He worked mostly as we drove, so thankfully he was able to do that.

We have often gone to the Oregon Coast, many different times and seasons of the year. I don’t want to go during the first week of August, again. There were a lot of crowds and a lot of events going on.

Multnomah

We have never been to Multnomah Falls when it has been this crazy, busy!!! It was difficult to find a parking space and we had to hike 1/4 a mile to get to the visitors center. On our way home, we discovered there are places far away from the falls you can park and take a shuttle to the visitors center.

Portland

Corbett’s Fish House on Hawthorne Street, in Portland, is a must for us. We have eaten here on other trips and now it is one of those places we think and dream about going. They are almost completely gluten free! (I think the only think not gluten free is some of their beers.)

We had yummy gluten free fish and chips. In an adventurous spirit, we tried gluten free calamari!

After eating we were on our way to the largest bookstore, Powell’s Books! It is an amazing place! It is as big as a city block and has 3 levels.

Gluten Free Calamari
Gluten Free Fish and Chips
We called this the Princess Bridge in the Portland area

Astoria

Astoria was having their Ragatta and was a very busy place and on Saturday there were a lot of places you couldn’t park because of their parade. It’s a good thing we had all our hotels booked, because every hotel was full!

Cannon Beach

Parking at Cannon Beach was also harder than we have ever experience on any trip in the 20 years we have been going here! There were so many people! However, unlike Seaside it didn’t feel as crowded or chaotic.

The wind was warm and nice. Low tide made it easy to go up to Haystack Rock. We thought about renting bikes, like we have in the past, but the crowds made us reconsider and save that for another trip.

Tilamook Lighthouse in the distance from Cannon Beach
Gluten Free Pizza at Fetta-A-Pizza
Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach

Ecola State Park

There is a $5 fee, per vehicle, for going into Ecola State Park. There are a couple of great view point areas. Some of the trails we have taken before were closed off. Last year, they had a lot of storms that did damage to some of the trails in the area.

We started out going left to get the view of the ocean from there. We could hear seals or sea lions, but we couldn’t see them. Too much brush in the way of where they were. There are picnic tables here if you brought your lunch.

Then we headed to Indian Beach, aka the Goonies beach. We took a trail down to the beach and enjoyed finding interesting rocks and shells while we walked in the ocean. This is a favorite spot for surfers and bonfires.

You can see Haystack Rock from Ecola State Park
Walking down to the beach

Gearhart Beach

You can park on the beach, here, if you have a 4 wheel drive. We saw that some people let some air out of their tires, before venturing down. When they come out of the sand they have portable air pumps to pump their tires back up!

We weren’t confident that we could do this in our car and so we found somewhere to park and walked a long way down to the beach. This beach is messier and much windier than other places we went. The wind may have been blowing more on this day, but it was still harder and more when we were at this beach.

They say if you get to Gearhart Beach right after low tide, there are a lot of sanddollars to be found. We didn’t get there very early and what we saw was a lot of seaweed, broken shells, and yucky stuff on the beach. The waves are very choppy and it is very windy. It was not our favorite beach.

Gearhart Beach had a lot of wind and choppy waves

Seaside

Seaside was fun, but we didn’t make it down to the beach. However, we had fun in town. Luckily, someone warned us that where we had parked, everyone had gotten a parking ticket. The paint was almost faded away and you had to look very closely to see that it said “no parking”. After some effort, we found a parking place where we weren’t likely to get a ticket.

The Seaside mall is a lot of fun and we bought some fun souvenirs. It was crazy busy, though! Evidently, there was a huge volleyball tournament going on in Seaside! There were more than 3,000 people who descended on this tiny little town.

I was a little disappointed in my food at Doogers and he kind of messed up our order, but it was okay. He put some of our food on gluten free bread instead of lettuce wrap. It was dry and not very flavorful. However, my daughters really enjoyed their food there. One had the Salmon sandwich with Cajun spice.

Whirlwind Trip

For a whirlwind, quick trip, this was a nice itinerary to see and do what we wanted to do. We got in some rest and relaxing. There was shopping and trying new things. We checked things off our must do list and while it would have been more fun to take our time and go slower, this was just what we needed!

Health

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Why Gluten Free Sunscreen?

Why Hormone Disruptor Free?

Safe Sunscreen Options 2022

All Good

Babo Botanicals Sunscreen

Badger

Earth Mama

Erbaviva

Green Goddess

Kokua

Loving Naturals

Suntegrity

Happy Summer!

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Learning from life

Wasp sting complications

Serum sickness

What happens

Symptoms of Serum sickness

Serum Sickness Treatment

Avoiding Serum Sickness

Sting prevention

Conclusion

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A Medical Diagnosis

Testing

Gluten free without an official diagnosis

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Unsupportive Family Members

What Can You Do?

Medically:

Dealing with family

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Gluten Free Sunscreen

Hormone Disrupting Chemicals

Safe Sunscreen Options

Suntegrity

All Good Sunscreen

Earth Mama

Babo Botanicals

Goddess Garden

Badger

Raw Elements

Kokua

Raw Love

Loving Naturals

Erbaviva

Kabana

Happy and safe fun in the sun!!!

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Clean-make your home a corona free zone

Play Games

Games for Younger Kids

Garden

Puzzles

Learn Something New

Build It

Speak It

Write It Down

Explore Poetry

Draw It

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Create It

Make it to eat it

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We will get through the Corona Virus Quarantine!

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Candy shapes

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Tips for choosing gluten free candies:

Gluten free Easter Candy 2020

Dove

M&M’s, Kisses, Starbursts, Jelly Belly, and SweeTarts

Tootsie Rolls, Peeps and Kraft Easter Candies

Easter Ideas

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