Life with Gluten Girl

  Grief and Loss During The Holiday Season: Am I wrong for not feeling happy in what should be a happy time?  Hannah Seawell | December 2, 2020 I have not written in a while. With exams and the end of the semester, I was fully preoccupied. However, now the semester is over and the holidays are here. I know holidays bring about all kinds of emotions for different people and I hope these words connect with you. This post is from the heart, emotionally charged, and very close to home. As it is my own personal experience, it may not match your experience with grief. I hope that by sharing some of my thoughts and feelings, I can put out some perspective maybe you haven't thought about, or maybe connect with you over this common hardship.  My sister, Jessica, passed away at the age of 32 in 2018. She lost her long and difficult fight with addiction and suffered an accidental overdose of what we believe to have been fentanyl laced cocaine. Addiction is a nasty illness; it takes over the m

 My Celiac Story: So Long Bread Hannah Seawell | 10/12/2020      This beach trip was right before I was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Looking back, I can see all the signs and symptoms. At the time, I was confused and not so sure what was happening. The very first experience I can recall was December of 2018. I can remember looking in the mirror and my stomach was so bloated. It looked like I was pregnant, not exaggerating. My stomach was always bloated and extended. My family and I had a joke that I had a food baby named Leonard.      The next thing I noticed was that I started burping, all the time. My boyfriend at the time, now husband, used to joke about my burps. I would get trapped gas and he would burp me (pat my back) to try and help release it. I started noticing this right after that December. It started to become painful. My stomach would get sharp pains. It would feel like something was stabbing my abdomen. My best friend became Gas-X. Eventually, it got to the point where

How the heck do you stay organized?   10 Tips for Achieving Master Organizer Hannah Seawell | 10/08/2020      Do you struggle with staying organized? Staying on top of deadlines? This post is the key to your  success; stay tuned!      Throughout my time in school, I have learned some useful tricks and tips for staying organized! They are great for students; but really perfect for anyone looking to step up their organization game. These steps are simple, effective, and easy to stick to (like a sticky note).      Step one: Buy a planner that fits your needs!     Personally, I love a nice medium sized planner with a lot of room for writing. Not too big, not too small. For me, it works best to have a planner that has a monthly section and a weekly section. Since I am a student, some of my planning revolves around academics (but the principle of the methods can be achieved in any circumstance). At the beginning of the semester, I go through my planner and mark down dates that I already kno

A Change in Plans Hannah Seawell | 10/04/2020     I am a planner. I plan out my day with a to-do list. Sticky notes and iPhone reminders are a must for me. I use a weekly & monthly planner to organize my school assignments, meetings, due dates, and anything else going on. I am constantly envisioning my 5 year plan. However, as we all know, life sometimes throws us for a loop and our plans don't fit our reality anymore. Plans change.          The love of my life, Will, proposed to me on July 25, 2020. It was the happiest day of my life. Just two months ago, we were planning on getting married in two years; after I finished my masters degree. I had it all planned out the way I thought I wanted and expected it to go. I would finish  grad school in May, 2022, I would get my first "big girl" job that summer, we would get married that fall, and move in together. We would definitely get a dog at that point! Perfect right? Every detail accounted for.            Well, at the b

                Best Gluten Free Cookie Cake                     Hannah Seawell | 10/03/2020            Ever wanted to make your own cookie cake? These are the perfect addition to any party, girls night, or normal day, just to have! This is the simplest and best tasting gluten free recipe I have tried for a cookie cake! And how cute is it? You can take your dough and make any shape you want. Personally, I love to form it into a heart!      SO, what will you need? To start, I like to use the King Arthur gluten free basic cookie mix.. This mix is an awesome gluten free cookie mix. It does not include toppings, so you can include any kind you like! I chose to make a chocolate chip cake this time. Next, the mix calls for 1 stick of melted butter, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 egg, and your toppings! Mix it all up and form your cake on a greased pan. So easy!       This cookie cake is so perfect. The best mix of crunchy and soft and a classic chocolate chip taste. You can't even tell it'