Summer over soon!!???? Crazy how fast time flies.  I remember when I was a kid time seemed so long. The time between seasons was an eternity. Especially waiting on Christmas and the end of the school year.  As soon as that last day of school and summer vacation was inevitable i was psyched!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seemed to go on forever!!! Playing outside with friends, pool parties, barbeques, sleep overs, up late nights sitting outside watching the stars and the most important the ICE CREAM man!!!!!!!!!  I would hear those bells ring from the ice cream man’s truck for blocks, maybe even miles away.  It didn’t matter  what I was doing at the time, when those bells went off, I went running.  One of my favorite treats was a creamsicle.  That mix of vanilla and orange just made me so happy. To this day, I smell those flavors and immediately I’m a kid again standing on my stoop in Brooklyn with my sister.  As many of you know I try to not feel deprived by this ever lovely disease that has joined my life.  Any way of capturing the love affair from yesterday with a certain taste, texture or smell, and make it into something I can have today has always been my goal.  And of course not just good taste, but must be nutritious as well, as always.  I always believe that shopping for fruit and vegetables is best when it’s seasonal.  Buying what nature is giving you at that moment in time is simply the healthier way to eat.  Think about all the man made adjusting, I will be nice and say adjusting, that has to be done to a piece of fruit to keep its color or make it taste sweet when it really doesn’t want to even exist at that particular time.  So before those gorgeous oranges leave the farmers market grab a couple and some fresh vanilla bean and taste the last bit of summer.

Oranges.  When they’re fresh and juicy I cannot stop singing the praises of these juicy little gems. With their plentiful stores of Vitamin C, fibre and phytonutrients (which have an anti-oxidant effect, hunting down those free radicals in your bloodstream and boosting your immunity) not only do they keep your heart and colon happy, but did you know they can have an effect on your mood?  Studies have linked Vitamin C deficiency with fatique and depression, with the addition of Vitamin C to the diet having mood boosting effects.  How’s that for a delicious pick-me-up?  Plus, poppyseeds have a decent dose of calcium and phosphorus, two essential components of building our bones.  With that I share with you this delicious and nutritious muffin recipe.

Orange Vanilla Poppyseed Muffin

2 cups my all purpose gluten free flour or 1/2 cup quinoa flour, 1/2 sorghum flour, 1/2 brown rice flour, 1/2 cup starch. I would mix potato/arrowroot or tapioca/arrowroot.

1tsp baking powder

1tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp himalayan sea salt. You can use other salt i just love this salt. The taste and the benefits it brings, awesome.

1/2 cup date sugar or coconut sugar, maple sugar, cane juice sugar

3/4 tsp xanthan gum

1/3 cup grapeseed oil or olive oil

1 tsp fresh vanilla bean, then another splash for dressing top

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup rice milk or almond

1 cup applesauce unsweetened

half of a very ripe banana

2 tbsp of fresh squeezed oj

1 tsp unwaxed orange rind

1/4 cup poppy seeds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

Whisk together all dry ingredients and set aside

Mix all wet ingredients except rice milk

Add dry a little at time to wet ingredients alternating with rice milk, don’t over mix.

Fold in poppy seeds

Put into muffin cups and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

Let cool

can enjoy as is or combine some powdered sugar, (i make my own out of evaporated cane juice and arrowroot starch) some orange juice, and some vanilla until a thick consistancy appears then drizzle on top of muffin for an extra CREAMsicle expierience!!!

enjoy!!!

I love these. I called them wishing flowers when I was a kid. We used to close our eyes, make a wish and blow. If all the seeds blew off, your wish would come true.

September has always felt like a new beginning to me.   Maybe it’s old memories of getting back to school,   or the end of Summer bringing the new start of Fall.  Whatever it is, it brings a sense of starting again, a chance for renewal, which I absolutely love.  Well, I’m going to take liberties with this feeling of renewal right here.  As many of you already know, my dedication to bringing understanding and information to the celiac community or anyone struggling with their health has become  a life mission for me.   While I’ve been doing just that at my bakery every day and working to finish up my book; with such massive undertakings, sadly this blog has been neglected.  No Longer.  There have been so many things I’ve wanted to share over the past few months with you. Stories about some amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at the bakery, recipes I’ve wanted to share, and oh yeah my new TROOP!  I recently welcomed a golden retriever puppy named Brooklyn Magoo to my brood.  (Pics soon).  But before I spill the beans on all these happenings I wanted to kick of September with a story of strength and starting fresh.

About a week ago I was out in the Hamptons by the beach for some rare down time.  Even more rare was the opportunity to do dinner with my sister (who is also celiac), her husband and my niece and nephew.  We went to an uber cool place that in the past had done ok by my sister and I, but this was during the day. For a girl with Celiac Disease, going to a restaurant in the middle of the summer, by the beach, on a super busy weekend night can be nothing but scary. Belittling. Humbling. Scary.  Regardless, we all sat down, had a bit of wine and my sister deferred to me to do the ordering.

For us, I picked a salad with absolutely no dressing and the branzino with roasted tomatoes.  We had this before and had no trouble.  I could see the waiter was busy and distracted as he took the other orders at the table.  When he came to me I told him: “I am a severe celiac and cannot have any gluten and absolutely no dairy.”  I always make sure to look them straight in the eye and follow up with this statement: “I don’t have an allergy and I’m not on a diet. I have a disease and if there is gluten in this dish I will wind up on the floor, right here in the restaurant.” I always say it very nicely, but you can tell I’m dead serious.  I then said to him to please check with the chef if it would be ok to do PLAIN olive oil and lemon for dressing.  He scribbled some words down on his pad and said, “That dish is fine”  I replied “Do you mind just checking with the chef?  I’d appreciate it.”  He said “fine”.  I could see he was a bit rushed so I stopped him before he fled away. “Please let me know if it’s too busy to accommodate me, it’s no problem really”.  He scurried away, and when he returned a minute later he said it would be fine.

Minutes later a salad was placed in front of me as shiny as a new quarter.  I looked at the supposedly plain salad and immediately knew that was not the case.  Without hesitation I sent it back and my boyfriend went to get the manager for me.  A very nice woman came to the table and when I explained the story about my disease she stated her grandmother had celiac and she totally got it.  I said “I dont mean to be a pain but I will be extremely ill.  It’s not a diet for me.” The waiter then stated that ” about half the people that come in now request gluten free so not everyone can be celiac, I think it gets the kitchen confused”. She assured me she would take care of it.  This statement made me so ill of course. For all those choosing gluten free to be cute or in “fad” or whatever, you are not making it any easier for those with an actual disease!  But ok, on with the story. Salad course complete, now on to the main.

The main course finally arrived and my sister took one bite and told me not to eat it.  She said she could taste something not right.  For my sister to speak up in this instance is unlikely.  She usually just eats it and suffers for weeks.  Of course I was already suspect of everything, but my sister had just confirmed it.  Was this really happening again?

Now here’s the transformative moment folks: instead of calling the waiter over and insisting they prepare it again, or getting upset, or eating it and suffering,  I put my fork down and pushed the dish away from me. When the waiter came over and asked if it everything was ok, a sense of calm came over me.  I wasn’t going to feel bad, or get mad, or try and make him understand something he really had no desire to, I was going to simply and honestly state what I felt. I looked him straight in the eyes and said without apologizing first or after, “I’m not going to eat it.  I don’t trust it and I refuse to be ill”.

The waiter was taken aback.  He said “the chef said it was fine”.  I said, “I’m sure he did his best but I will not be eating it, thank you.”  As I sat there and the manager came over as well I kept my story the same.  Brief, calm, pointed and at peace.  I sat there and watched everyone eat and enjoyed the conversation and realized how empowered I felt.  In this situation I had always apologized or felt bad or felt like a pain but this time I didn’t.  I felt like I honored myself and my body in a way that it needed to be.  So much of this disease renders you powerless at times.  The autoimmune disease, as celiac is, is the one in charge every day.  So taking back a moment of power was a moment that lasted and lasted. I had a lovely evening with my family that night, I wasn’t sick from anything that I might have eaten and I walked out of the restaurant feeling proud.

At this time of new beginnings I ask you to take your power back as well and stop apologizing for the disease you did not ask for.  Honoring yourself and your health tastes much better than anything you could ever possibly eat.

I will be speaking with you soon

be well

jennifer

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now onto a new year, again.  Every year we make promises to ourselves to quit something, change something or start something.  I’m suggesting only one thing to adapt this year, BE KIND TO YOURSELF!  Forget all the pressure you put on yourself and incorporate treating yourself well.  That begins, in my opinion, with taking care of your health!

Being Celiac, as many of you know takes tons of time, patience, self education, constant scrutiny of food, planning, and much, much more.  So why put even MORE pressure on yourself by silly resolutions. Don’t we deal with enough already?  I say YES!  I know for me I will be adapting this rule as well.  I still get really down on myself when I don’t feel well for whatever reason Celiac brings that day.  I’m extremely careful with my food, lifestyle and surroundings but yet there are days that I go down, literally.  Over Christmas I was visiting my boyfriend’s family for the first time in England and drank some Rice milk that wasn’t gluten free I’m guessing. (Not the same regulations on food over there and didn’t have my gluten sniffing pup, Frankie Beans, with me.)   Well, I  wound up in bed with terrible pain throughout my body and sleeping for hrs,  making us BOTH late for Christmas dinner even though I begged my boyfriend to go ahead without me.    What a GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION don’t ya think???!?!??!!????!?!!?!!!!!!!!!!  I was so disgusted with myself you couldn’t believe, or maybe you could.

When we arrived I apologized profusely yet didn’t want to talk about ME and my disease as the Christmas dinner topic.  Everyone was loving, kind and very forgiving.  Everyone except me.  I could have been swallowed up by my pity party until my boyfriend used my own words on me, “Jen, it is what it is.”  He was right, Well I was right, but he reminded me.  IT IS WHAT IT IS.  I say this all the time to life’s little boulders it throws our way at times. So why wasn’t it the same with this boulder?  It IS what IT IS. And WHAT IT IS is an ever changing autoimmune disease that sometimes gets the best of you, BUT so what!!!!!!!!!!!!  Move on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What can you do other than take care of yourself, educate yourself to the best of your ability, do your best, and MOVE ON!  I will not apologize anymore for having an autoimmune disease.  I DID NOT CHOOSE THIS!  Of course I will always apologize for being late in such situations, but beyond that, no more.  And its ME who needs the forgiving.  Forgiving myself that I am only human and this human needs special loving care of both body and mind.

So here’s to a 2013 full of forgiveness, kindness, compassion and patience for THYSELF!

Also this year look forward to more great nutritious recipes, more products that you can TRUST, and OH YES, THE BAKERY IS OPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be Well

Much Love

Jennifer

P.S  Frankie B. LOOOVVVED all the attention for his superhero ability to sniff out gluten and save me from days of destruction!  He is demanding a cape!!!!!!!!!

Be Well,

Jennifer Esposito

Hey all my gluten free friends!!  With all the holiday festivities and everyone running around like mad I’m sure YOUR not your number one concern.  Unfortunately when you are dealing with this every changing autoimmune disease taking a “day off” is a luxury you just don’t have.  I know for me I’ve been so busy lately that inflammation creeps up every once and a while indicating that something is off.  So I took a break from all the green and red around a decided to go ORANGE!   If you follow this blog you know how excited I get for all things fall, especially the colorful shades of orange veggies.  Not only do I love the color but the nutrition benefits are amazing and perfect in reducing inflammation!  I decided on mashed Butternut Squash over organic WILD Salmon with a touch of green Asparagus to keep with the green of the season.  Butternut squash is packed with vitamin A and full of antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and reduces chronic inflammation.  Did you also know that it also helps support a healthy reproductive system??  Then, of course there is the the wonderful, omega 3 packed salmon – full of vitamin D, selenium, and again controls inflammation.  To round it off, some detoxifying asparagus that also helps reduce pain and inflammation. An easy, quick, healthy dinner to nourish YOU this crazy holiday season.

Enjoy

Mashed Butternut Squash over Wild Salmon and Asparagus

• 2 Cups cubed butternut squash
• 2 pieces of wild salmon about 1 1/2  (can double)
• 1 bunch of asparagus
• olive oil ( about a half a cup, separated)
• sea salt/ pepper to taste
• A few sage leaves
• tablespoon chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoon rice milk
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. place cut up squash on a baking dish and bake until tender
2. When squash is done remove from oven and set aside.
3. Then take salmon and place in aluminum foil, skin side down.  Sprinkle with about 2 tbsp of olive oil, parsley, fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Wrap up so salmon is enclosed and place in baking dish.   Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Depending of thickness this time will vary.  Check with a fork, inside should be still pink while outside is pale pink/white-ish.
4. Take another piece of tin foil and place the asparagus on it.  Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and squeeze some fresh lemon.  Again cover with the foil and place on a baking sheet and bake until crisp.
5. In the meantime place squash in standing mixer or use hand mixer, add the rice milk, olive oil, and salt and pepper.   Whip until creamy
6. Place whipped squash on plate, top with cooked salmon and asparagus.

Be Well,

Jennifer Esposito

Just a quick recap and correction. The last post I spoke about Leaky Gut and what I was doing to help heal it. I’m taking Metagenics UltraClear Sustain, Glutagenics by Metagenics, and Acidophilus, and Quercetin. Also, I’m avoiding all allergens and anything else I am allergic to at the moment. The Lymphatic Drainage Sessions are to flush my body of toxins and then going for vitamin IVS at my doctor’s office. If you believe you might have Leaky Gut, please go see a doctor who will listen and help you.

Now on to the Fun Stuff!

Oh Yeah! Vegan, Dairy, Gluten, Soy, and Refined Sugar-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies! Take that falling eyelashes!

These cookies are delicious, even more delicious for me, for many reasons, let me explain.

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I was depressed beyond belief. I know many of you understand having an Autoimmune Disease sucks, yes but was the thought of giving up so much of what I loved – cakes, cookies, bread, and pasta. After realizing my fate and healing from the devastating damage this disease had already done to my body I got in the kitchen again. If course this time all was new and confusing. I managed to start to create recipes. Yummy recipes of things I loved. About 75 of them to be exact, at the time I was using dairy and regular sugar. Months after that I was happily baking away but still feeling great, I was told dairy was no longer my friend either. I discovered on my own research that white sugar was an enemy as well, which also meant corn was their evil cousin. At that time if that wasn’t enough after doing some research on Soy, I opted to keep that out as well. Now what do I bake with though? Air? Knowing me now from my posts, I got back in the kitchen Again. I REDID all recipes – All 75 of them and then some. So recently when my eyelashes and hair decided to start falling out, as explained in the last post, I thought, oh no, not another allergy. Yes, even more allergies thanks to a leaky gut. Almonds now were a big problem as well as chocolate – CHOCOLATE! Really – I’m really being tested here I thought. What was I to do? Give up, cry, scream? Not going to say I didn’t do all of that, because I did have a day that I was so pissed, maybe even two days. After I realized that it wasn’t going to the be end of the world. I got back in that kitchen and I made myself a cookie. A Gluten- Free, Dairy-Free, Corn-free, Refined Sugar -Free, Nut-Free, and Soy- Free Oatmeal Cookie. YUM to the E!!!!! Take that allergies, what a victory I thought. Again, a dance of joy came upon me as the first batch came out of the oven – Healthy, Beautiful, Delicious cookies that not only gave me some sort, however little it is, control back from this ever changing autoimmune disease. I share them with you. Make them, enjoy them, and do a little dance for you. Today you won!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (eyelash cookies)

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

Hi all, hope everyone is well. Yes, there is a lot of stuff going on, but also, some unanswered questions from earlier this summer. As some of you might have noticed I vanished for a minute there. Know that when I do, it’s usually for a very good reason…I think eyelashes and hair falling out is a good enough reason, don’t you?

Late April-early May is when it started  and I mentioned  this in one of the blogs from that period. Time for the update: who would think that in 2 1/2 years into being a Celiac; a well-informed, impeccable eater, and someone who tries her best to take care of herself, how I would, yet again, have an unsolved mystery???? When the eyelashes and rashes on my skin started I truly thought it was from too much makeup while filming, Blue Bloods, (the show I do on CBS). When the season ended the eyelashes and rashes continued. I started to have big spaces where eyelashes once sat and now nothing, not even small re-growth. At the same time, I was getting these hot burning rashes and to top it off I was seeing far too much of my scalp on the top of my head than one I would like.

Now I’ve never been a vain person but HELL, how much is one person suppose to give up with this disease? I was not about to let go of my eyelashes and hair now, too. I started to do my research which came up with a thyroid problem, Lupus, and other not so wonderful options. For me though, I’d rather know what I may be dealing with and armed with questions when going to seek a doctor. And go to the doctor I did, 10 of them! 10 of them in a three week period – not to mention having Lymphatic Drainage – going to see an energy healer, and anyone else who would try and help solve this mystery. My blood-work  for many other Autoimmune Diseases came back all negative.

What did come back is a slew of new allergies, What?!?!? I’m already Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Corn, and Refined Sugar – Free. What am I allergic to now? Air? No, it was Almonds, Eggs, Chocolate, Watermelon, Broccoli, Avocado, and Chicken, and so on and so on. The swelling in my face from my eyes had now taken over my entire cheek that brought me to the ER one weekend, of course, they had no answers. My research led me to a naturopath doctor who told me about Leaky Gut Syndrome. It’s something I knew about but didn’t think it pertained to me. Think again! All Celiacs most likely have this condition. Leaky Gut Syndrome, is a gastrointestinal disorder in which the intestinal lining of the digestive tract becomes more permeable, or “leakier,” than normal, due to repeated irritation. The small intestine is designed to allow tiny particles of digested nutrients to pass through its wall and into the bloodstream. These are then distributed for use throughout the body. But due to a variety of causes, the intestinal wall can become more permeable and allow larger, less digested particles and toxins to pass through—causing Leaky Gut Syndrome. The body then recognizes these particles as foreign “invaders,” and the immune system attempts to fight them off—which can set the stage for various autoimmune disorders. So, basically, anything that was getting into my bloodstream, my immune system thought it was a foreign substance therefore making me have an allergic reaction to it.

What to do? Well I’m on a mega-genetic drink for Leaky Gut called L- Glutamine, tons of Acidophilus and Quercetin. Please do your research and talk with your doctor if you believe you are experiencing this. What I also learned was that the food rotation diet is a must for all Celiacs !!! Since 2009 I’ve done countless research on the subject of Celiac and am still shocked when I discover something new. A food rotation diet is a vital part of a Celiac’s diet. Otherwise you easily develop other allergies. The foods that showed up in my blood-work  were everyday things I was eating, on a daily basis. I set up a simple rotation in my frig of mandatory milks to keep in rotation. I also made a simple calendar: what I ate on Monday I couldn’t eat until Friday and so on. I discovered a great site to help understand more about the Food Rotation Diet, please click on the link.

As far as my eyelashes and hair – they are growing back…for now. Still need my gut to heal, but, I, of course, didn’t give up on my treats. I’ve managed to create some completely allergy-free treats! Soon I will be making muffins and cookies out of air. Until then, stay well and look for my new blog post – Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Completely Allergy – Free!!

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

When the going gets rough or scary or stressful I wind up in the kitchen. Which for me is a wonderful place because I get to zone out, be creative and it becomes a place for me to relieve my stress. I know it might sound odd but cooking and baking really helps me feel like I have some control over my health. When I get in the kitchen I don’t feel restricted, I’ll make something that is good for me yet I feel like I’m still a “normal person” who is eating “regular” food. If you have celiac disease or other health conditions that restrict your diet, I suggest you get in the kitchen and make something delicious that you CAN have (even if you don’t normally like to bake or cook). It really gives you a sense of control and pride and happiness. It does for me anyway!

On my latest journey (this eye lash journey) and in my attempts at cutting out most allergens from my diet I wanted to see what else I can create using the fruits and groceries I had on hand. I came up with an apple ginger breakfast bar that I absolutely love! The recipe is really so simple and so quick and so yummy and so very good for you!! Most importantly get in the kitchen and make something for yourself that is healthy and makes you feel happy inside while getting control over a part of your life that you didn’t choose to lose. Eat away and feel happy!!

Apple Ginger Breakfast Bar

preheat oven 350, 8×8 flat baking dish

Ingredients:
2 cups almond flour
1/4 cup arrowroot flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp molasses
1/2 cup sprouted gluten free granola cereal (I used Lydia’s Organics Sprouted Cinnamon Cereal)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
2 apples peeled and diced
1 ripe banana
less than 1/4 cup olive oil or grape seed oil

Directions:
1. Add all dry ingredients.
2. In separate bowl mash bananas, add oil and molasses, and stir.
3. Combine wet and dry ingredients.
4. Once combined mix in the apples and ginger.
5. Spoon out mixed batter into the flat baking dish and spread evenly.
6. Cook for 25-30 minutes depending on oven (and less time if use bigger dish).

And! The next round of “What Do You Miss” will end on June 15 so please send me your stories and most missed food item!!

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

Keeping the ducks in a row…

I was recently asked by my amazing Doctor here in New York City, Dr. Fratellone, to bake my deliciously moist carrot cake cupcakes for his wedding that was happening very soon. My doctor is also a Celiac and dairy and soy free so already knew the challenges in finding quality foods and baked goods that are not just loaded with filler ingredients to make them taste good. And since I love to bake and decorate – the idea of being a part of and creating something special for his “big day” was a honor and I was up for the task!!

The request was for 50 regular size cupcakes and one large cupcake, all adorned with these awesome yellow rubber duckies dressed in tuxedos that he provided. So I rallied up My Troops, devised a plan and headed to the kitchen to get to work!

The outcome was better than we expected! Not only did they taste amazing but after seeing 50 black and white polka dot wrapped cupcakes in line with suited up ducks sitting on top I knew this was one of my favorite final products! I could not wait to deliver these to the groom and see his reaction, and hoped he would be as excited to share these with his guests as I was with him. I also wanted to share this story and the pictures with you!! This was a reminder that it’s the small things that make me SO happy and that putting a smile on someone else’s face makes me smile on the inside and out!!!

Prepping the Troops!

Ready for delivery!

To keep up with the latest from Dr. Fratellone you can follow him on stitchyourwaytoahealthyheart.blogspot.com

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

Did you know celiac disease and depression are linked? Did you also know 90% of the bodies supply of serotonin (which is linked to depression) lies in your digestive tract? Serotonin is a chemical manufactured in the brain and when at “healthy” levels we feel balanced and happy. In short it regulates our mood. So if our gut is off then we are off! And since we, Celiacs, already have a decreased ability to absorb crucial vitamins and nutrients, we may not be absorbing enough of the important protein that create serotonin. We have millions of brain cells and serotonin affects most of them directly or indirectly – which will then affect our mood, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, and some social behavior. And that’s only to name a few! This is why it’s so VERY important we are aware of the nutrients are body needs and may or may not be getting, and the HUGE role this plays in our path to a happy life!!

I suffered with unexplained depression my whole life so when I found out I was Celiac and about the serious link to depression things started to make sense. Now gluten free for 3 years the depression is much more understandable and manageable. I know that my mood is directly linked to what I’m eating and the nutrients I’m getting. As you know, since you are on this site, that my passion is to scream from the mountain tops everything I’ve learned on this journey. It pains me to think that people are suffering in so many ways including living with depression and that maybe their eating can be a factor in helping them to live a happier life. The millions of people on anti-depressants in this country is astounding. Even worse the numbers of suicides. Which brings me to my next point.  

For the many of who understand what I’m talking about when I speak of depression you understand how devastating it can be on your life – spirit and soul. The isolation you feel sometimes feels unbearable. Hopefully you have the support of friends or family in these times. Sometimes a hug or kind words can help you through those hard days. For me it’s words.

I was watching the Today show recently and saw an interview, followed by a YouTube clip, with a young woman addressing depression and suicide and the role it plays in her life. After her father killed himself due to depression she started a movement by creating P.S. I Love You Day in honor of him and asks everyone to wear purple to remind people they are loved. And since I deal with depression at times this touched me on deep level. Her message of how just a few kind words are more powerful than you would think to someone who is feeling low and powerful in so many ways. Words can harm but more importantly can HEAL. Dealing with depression can make you feel extremely isolated, so to hear something that connects you to another human being can truly save someones day, maybe even a life.

This blog is written with love and in purple in tribute to P.S I Love You Day, February 10th. PLEASE take a few minutes to watch this video clip:

P.S. I Love You from The Troops!

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

For more information on serotonin we visited these sites:

1. webmd

2. wiki

3. yourlife

4. everydayhealth

Did you know tea tree oil is a great alternative to using harsh chemicals such as bleach?! I thought since I just posted a blog about tea tree oil’s amazing antiseptic and anti-fungal benefits for health reasons I would write a quick follow up so you have yet ANOTHER reason to go out and buy a bottle!

Besides using tea tree oil topically for my health, the other main use is as a great house hold cleaner and specifically for killing MOLD! Tea tree oil is one of the only true methods of killing mold – not just removing it or discoloring the area so that it appears to be gone, but the only great and healthy way to kill mold. I use a spray bottle and poor about 5 drops of tea tree oil per 2.5 cups of water. It is very important to remember most “commercial” cleaning supplies contain hazardous chemicals that you do not want be inhaling or putting on surfaces that you are then going to be touching- they are not good for anyone and will especially irritate those with allergies and asthma!

Tea Tree Oil is so multifunctional and so powerful that a little bit will go a long long way and well worth the purchase!!

Ever Onward,

Jennifer Esposito

For additional household uses for your tea tree oil check out:
care2.com

For bleach info:
qualityenviro.net