10 Interesting Things About Me

 

I am a twin and a Navy Brat. We grew up all over the world and that made me learn to appreciate and respect other cultures and, also ignited my passion for travel.

I spent the majority of my teens and young adult life (until I turned 30) living in California. I love the look, smell and feel of the ocean but I didn’t do much on the beach when I lived near it.  After visiting Colorado a few times, I found I love being in nature and near the mountains more than I love sea level.

After a traumatic accident/injury where I had a closed head injury and a T-11 compression fracture at the age of 29, I started visiting Colorado and felt better here due to the drier climate and 300 days of sunshine. I suffered seasonal depression from the fog that was so prevalent on the coast of California. I made Colorado my full time home in 2000. Colorado healed me.

In 2004 I suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks. I thought my dream of becoming a mom was over after that.

 

2009, I met Steve, the man of my dreams and my husband. One date and the rest is history.

2011 I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. What is Celiac disease?  Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. Two and one-half million Americans are un-diagnosed and are at risk for long-term health complications.

I live a gluten-free life and will be talking about this lifestyle, sharing recipes and how I cook gluten free at home in this blog. Being diagnosed and living a gluten-free life has changed my life for the better.  My husband often says that if we hadn’t have discovered this diagnosis, I probably would have died.  That’s how sick I was before being diagnosed.

October 2014, Steve proposed with hot sauce packets from Taco Bell. I will tell you the hot sauce packets and drive-thru story in a post soon. Stay tuned!

January 2015, I fell during a fluke snow storm during a Saturday night book club and shattered my left ankle. This was physically painful, emotionally challenging and financially hard (no insurance at the time). Three years and four surgeries later by three different surgeons, I’m able to walk again without crutches, a knee scooter or a walking boot. My ankle is not 100%, and I still feel pain often, but it’s manageable for now. I may need another surgery but that will have to wait now until the twins are much older. I can’t imagine being laid up with two toddlers on the move right now!

Steve and I love hot springs and we go to hot springs often. One of our first dates was at a hot springs and we got married at a hot springs resort. Hot springs are part of my self care routine.  I often escape to a hot springs to soak my worries away and meditate on whatever may be troubling me at that time. Self Care is a huge part of my life.  I will blog about self care and hot springs that we love from time to time on the blog.   

October 24, 2015, Steve and I had a magical wedding at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado. We made it a destination get-away weekend wedding and it was magical for us but also for all of our guests. This was the start of our story as husband and wife and when our discussions about starting our family began.

Family photo