Stream of Consciousness: Food allergies & formulation changes

I have had it with companies and changing formulations on products. It drives me bonkers. Why am I getting so upset? Living with food allergies means label reading, calling companies, and finding something that is safe for me to eat. Now there are nice treats out there that cater to the allergy community and I am very grateful. However, it requires several phone calls and emails to check on that.

When you live with multiple, life threatening food allergies (soy (all 3 forms), wheat/gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, modified food starch), it is hard to find a company that suits your needs and is allergy aware. Case in point...read a food label. Find out what's in your food! You see that milk and soy may be present? For me, that soy could induce anaphylaxis. I am serious! Soy is one of my hardest allergens as it is in so much these days.

I am not trying to get anyone all riled up however I am tired of companies saying they are 100% of something and then have soy lecithin in a "100% whey protein" powder. Do you know how hard it has been to find a company that is allergy aware, free of my allergens, including soy lecithin (which some soy allergics can tolerate), and tastes good? It's hard! I recently lost my safe protein powder and now I am trying to stock up on the left safe versions out there before every store has the new formulation that contains soy lecithin.

Okay...off my soap box for the day! Thanks for listening!

Five minutes-that is the mission. No editing; just a raw post in the works. Hosted by All things Fadra. Great and FREE therapy in the making. ;)

A student's loss with tears

It breaks your heart. Seeing a student struggle this week broke my heart. My student's mother died over Spring break and I have no words to describe how heartbreaking that is. He came back to school on Monday and the week got worse and worse as time went on. He did okay on Monday and Tuesday but reality set in Wednesday and his behavior went down hill the rest of the week.

Who can blame him?

A first grader losing his mom unexpectedly sucks. Pure and simple. My heart aches for him, his siblings, and his family. He is so sad and I just want to cry with him.

While I don't condone his acting out, I do know that it's normal. Comforting him with a hug and embracing him is the only way I know how. Praying, by myself, is the only other resort I can give right now.

I don't know the details.

All I know is a first grader lost his mother last week and he is devastated.

Hey girl...Ryan Gosling style

Sunday, at Extreme Parenthood, created this WONDERFUL event that occurs each Friday. Who knew Ryan Gosling was so special needs' aware? Who knew he cared so much? This is to promote special needs awareness weekly. This also shows I am not as creative as the other links. This shows I spend a bunch of my time in the trenches and I am a-okay with that.

Need to see more awesome Ryan posters?
Click on the button above.

Hey Girl: Special Needs Ryan Gosling style

Good Friday everyone!! It's time for another round of Ryan Gosling special needs awareness time. Just pull-up a chair, swallow before you read, and laugh a bunch. Want to see more Ryan Gosling posters? Just click on the below blog button.

Who knew Ryan Gosling was a special needs awareness kind of a guy?

A note to myself

Dear self,
Even though your first workout back in three weeks, post surgery, was a KILLER and you're worthless tonight, remember it will all be WORTH it soon!

Oh and unless it's another surgery or dire emergency, I wouldn't recommend taking three weeks off again anytime soon. It was rough and the pain you already feel now will be intensified by tomorrow. Just speaking the truth from experience.

Truth be told, I've been laying low this afternoon as I've maxed out on energy and have none left. Can't wait to build back up to my normal weights. Taking it slow. :-)

Salsa Chicken Bowl

Salsa Chicken Bowl

Ingredients:

* 4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

* 2 cups salsa

* 2 bags brown rice

* 100 calorie guacamole packets

* Sour cream

Directions:

Line a 9x13 pan in foil. Drizzle a 1/2 cup of salsa on the bottom. Place chicken breasts in it. Pour remaining salsa over chicken. Place pan in over for 35-35 minutes.

Boil water for rice. Cook rice according to directions.

In a plate/bowl, spoon in 1/2 cup brown rice. Add one guacamole package to the mix and the desired amount of sour cream (I used 2 tablespoons). Mix together so that the flavors are combined.

When chicken is ready, sliced pieces and add to the rice mixture.

Enjoy!

Note: Calories for this dish-500 (According to my fitness pal) :)

I am THAT driver

It's no secret DFW is under a 7 year construction project and the roads are changing daily. Major props to the DFW connection, though, as they're very organized and are ahead of schedule. With the construction, there are construction zone speed limits.

Guess what? I follow them and I can spot a {sneaky} police officer a long distance away. Call me paranoid but I do not want a ticket, that could double in a construction zone, for going too fast. People can get mad and go around me. However, those construction speed limits are there for a reason and should be followed when construction workers are present. If there's no construction worker present, then the normal speed limit applies.

I've heard people and even my family say "I'll just go the flow of traffic." BUT what if the flow is faster than posted? I'll be THAT driver and slow down in construction zones. I try to use the right hand lane as much as possible but there are some times where the road forks and doesn't allow the right lane accessibility.

As I drove to Dallas this morning, I noticed something. If you are going too fast when the curves and turns occur, you can't just float in another lane. You're kind of SOL if you're going too fast. The lanes are already slim and those 18-wheelers can not stop fast enough. You go too fast and you're putting you and others in danger.

Even in a non-construction zone, I rarely go over the posted speed limit. Sometimes, I'll do five miles over but usually stay within the limit. It's just what I do!

So, to stay on the safe side, I will be THAT driver who follows construction zone speed limits, will stay in the right lane, and who can spot a police officer from a distance.

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Stream of Consciousness: not to my prime

Brain dump time-set the clock for five minutes, no editing, and go!

Optional writing prompt today: Have you reached the prime of your life? What do you want to be your legacy?

I hope, okay dream, that my prime is not right now. I am a recent college graduate, last May, and am just getting my feet wet in this society and in the working world. My HOPE is to have a full time teaching job, whether in regular or special education, next school year. I also hope to have the opportunity to help more students with special needs before that supposed "prime" is up.

I want to be remembered as someone who took more than five minutes to help students with special needs. I want to change how "old-school" educators think of students with special needs. Whether it be Dyslexia to Autism, I want students to embrace what they have and be successful post-education. I want to equip students with skills they need to be successful. I want to help them see themselves as a student with something with potential. We all learn differently, so what?!?! Who cares?!?!

It's about what you give and not hide behind a diagnosis. I will openly say I have Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Sensory Processing Disorder, and more. However, that's not written on my forehead. Does it mean I learn differently? Yes! However, it doesn't mean I hide behind that in the real world. I want to give my students ways to deal with their diagnosis and then succeed in the world. That is my hope in my prime (whenever it gets here).

(To view more SOC Sunday posts, click on the button above)

Special Needs, Ryan Gosling style

It's a party over here. Sunday at Extreme Parenthood created this fantastic meme all from the Special Needs parents/educators/population. It's about awareness through laughter and connections. Want to see more Special Needs, Ryan Gosling style posts? Click on the blog button below.

Disconnecting with a purpose

This weekend, I realized something. I spend way too much time "checking" my phone/computer for updates and comments. Between twitter, facebook, blogging, and more, I spend too much time caring what is going around me rather than what is going on in front of me.

So, this weekend, I realized I needed to disconnect or pull away from some of my screen time and do what I need to get done.

Ya know what?

It worked!

I haven't felt this productive in weeks and I learned that I am missing out on something that I coveted more than I realized...weekends at home.

I workout and run errands on Saturday and spend a majority of my time on Sunday at church. I realized I miss moments where I can sip my coffee (or the whole pot) while reading the news or looking at emails. I miss not having to do my hair all day or care if I am wearing the same comfy clothes for the fifth morning in a row. I miss being able to enjoy the dogs when they just wake up.

This weekend alone, I cleaned out/organized three freezers, one medicine cabinet, one bathroom closet, did 13 loads of laundry (family's too), made two huge batches of dinners for my brother and I, played with the dogs, talked to my brother, dealt with our washer coding various things, cleaned up what I haven't in a while, and enjoyed a few hours off the computer. Progress!

Life's not all about what happens on or in the screen; it's about what occurs before your very eyes!

Special Needs Ryan Gosling

What have I got myself into now? ;) Sunday, from Extreme Parenthood, created this snazzy idea to create Ryan Gosling Special Needs Awareness posters. I took the bait am am playing along. Sunday hopes to create new posters each week by creating your own "hey girl." It's all about a little creativity. Click here to read more and see different "hey girls" for this week.