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Friday, February 24, 2012
Bon Tardi Friends
Bon Tardi 
(good afternoon in Papiamento, the official language of Aruba)

Friends, it has been a really crazy few weeks for me and my blog has suffered. I haven't posted as much as I wanted to, I have at least 10 draft blog postings that are 50% complete, there is always some crazy health thing that flares up when I am stressed, and I threw a huge party for the awesome new app DishFreely on Wednesday. Needless to say I am beyond exhausted!

Luckily, I am going on a much-needed vacation to Aruba next week. I have done my gluten-free research, purchased my sunblock, and I am ready to go. This will be my first vacation in 2 years where I am NOT bringing my computer with me. No email, no Skype, no technology for an entire week. Believe it or not, this was a hard decision to make. As a new friend pointed out, I am slightly obsessive when it comes to technology and I need a break from it. It won't be easy at the beginning, but it will be exactly what I need to disconnect from the stress of life in NYC.

I hope to come back refreshed with lots of amazing stories and restaurant experiences to share with you from Aruba. In the meantime, feel free to gawk at and be jealous of my lovely view for the next week.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012
NYC Celiac Meetup Upcoming Events
Seriously, can my schedule get any busier?! Although I am not attending every event on this list, I am attending most of them. Check out our latest email blast below:



It’s a busy month for our NYC Celiac Meetup Group. Our calendar is full of some great gluten-free events over the next few weeks and beyond. Have you signed up yet?

The creators of Dish Freely, a new gluten-free iPhone app, are hosting a happy hour to celebrate the app’s launch on February 22nd from 6:30-8:30pm at Heathers Bar. Download the app ahead of the party at e (http://bit.ly/dishfreely). Don't have an iPhone? Come anyway! 


50% off Gluten-free pizza at both locations. Don’t forget to print your ticket! You will need this to get your discount


Must pre-register with Columbia University


$50 per person includes appetizers & Rodizio dinner. Must pre-register with Kicking4Celiac.


A group discussion with Curtis Brown, a psychoanalyst/psychotherapist. Only $5.50 per person


SPECIAL: Buy you discounted $29 tickets for pre-performance reception and performance until Feb 29th


SPECIAL: Discount for Meetup members until March 30th







NYC CELIAC MEETUP SPONSORS







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Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day from Gluten-Free Fun
Go ahead... hug a Celiac today! 

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Friday, February 10, 2012
Gluten-Free Videos
The Twitterverse has been buzzing with some major backlash against a company called Cappello's. In trying to jump on two trendy bandwagons at once, they produced a video called "Sh*t Gluten Free People Say". For those of you that don't know, this trend started with this video and led to a huge flood of funny and not-so-funny videos. Cappello's video falls into that latter category. Just. Not. Funny.

For those of you that know me, I am on the fence by the recent attention gluten-free is getting. It is great that I can now walk into a supermarket and find some kind of bread/pasta/cracker that I can eat; this wasn't the case when I was first diagnosed in 1981! On the other hand, when celebrities like Elisabeth H. start spewing WRONG information in their plight for the Celiac I think we lose some major credibility. People see gluten-free eating as a fleeting trend and something to poke fun at with unfunny videos. We aren't a trend, we are living with a disease.

This is for real, people. I can't eat gluten, EVER. I don't ask if "this bread is gluten-free" like in the video because I know it isn't. This Cappello's video is just stupid and uninformed on so many levels. GlutenDude, another GF blogger, did a great write up about the gluten-free boom in the media but I like the comments even more. It shows that we aren't a trend and we speak up for our cause.

What I do like the most in this PR mistake by Cappello's is how the Celiac community once again banded together to make their voices heard. Comments on FB, Twitter, and blogs are flooding in. If you know a Celiac, you know we are NOT a quiet bunch. Cappello's stepped in a big pile of Celiac sh*t if you ask me.  They want us to like them on FB and follow them on Twitter. Now, they want to send me some of their gluten-free pasta. Not sure if that is a wise choice Cappello's, I already have a bad taste in my mouth and it comes directly from you. Do you really want me to publicly review your product?

On a much lighter note, check out this fun and much more well-informed video by Royal Empire Productions. ILL Knowtice, the guy in the black, has Celiac. He gets it and makes this catchy video to prove it.



UPDATE:

Check out the email I got from ILL Knowtice in the above video. Cool guy!


Hello Erin,  
Thank you again! 
Nothing makes us happier than knowing people are enjoying and sharing our video, it is awesome :)  I watched that other video and I understand completely what you mean, it is quite offensive and not very creative or constructive.  It's almost as if the uninformed believe being Celiac is some sort of lifestyle decision and not a disease that people have to learn to live with and deal with on a daily basis.  I'm glad people are taking our song the correct way, we definately wanted to make people laugh and smile but for positive reasons as well as build awareness for Celiacs in general.  I've been dealing with it for less than a year and it has been pretty tough at times, I couldn't imagine my entire life, much love and respect to you! I have noticed our views have increased drastically the past few days so thank you for sharing with your friends and peers, it is very appreciated.  We just set up a twitter account last night due to the overwhelming response we have been getting.  It started out as a fun little video to spread awareness and it is growing into something we couldn't even have imagined. 
Hope all is well with you and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help out on any level. Have a great day 
ILL Knowtice
Royal Empire

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Thursday, February 9, 2012
It's National (GF) Bagel Day

When Celiac New Yorkers are told they need to be gluten-free, without a doubt the things I hear them complain about missing most are bagels. New Yorkers and bagels are like fish and water, they just go together. Although I have been Celiac for almost my entire life, I did cheat when I was WAAAAYYY younger and tried some real Long Island bagels. They're good, but they also made me really sick.

Fast forward 30 years and let's talk gluten-free bagels...

One of my favorite gluten-free bagels on the market is from Joan's GF Great Bakes. Today, February 9, is National Bagel Day. In honor of this day, why don't you buy yourself some gluten-free bagels from my friend Joan?? Pop her Everything Bagels in the over for 20 minutes and you have some gluten-free deliciousness at your fingertips.

You can currently find Joan's GF Great Bakes at stores in CT, IL, MA, NJ, NY, OH, and PA. You can also order online at www.gfgreatbakes.com. All products are shipped frozen.

Want a 10% discount on Joan's GF Great Bakes? Use code gfreefun at checkout for online orders only.

Joan's GF Great Bakes
90 E. Merrick Rd.
Freeport NY 11520
516-804-5600

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoansGF
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/joansgf

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery Gluten Freebies Giveaway
It's been a while since I posted about Rudi's, one of my favorite gluten-free companies out there. I was excited when I read about their new February contest in my email this week. Starting yesterday, Rudi's is having daily giveaways on their Facebook page. Prizes include Rudi's Gluten-Free breads, a Cuisinart toaster, a digital camera, and more. Check out the press release below for more information




Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery to Help Consumers Taste the Good Life this February through the Gluten Freebies Giveaway
Fans of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery on Facebook will get instant access to a $2 off coupon and the chance to win a variety of prizes that help celebrate a healthy and fulfilling gluten-free lifestyle

Boulder, Colo. – (Feb. 7, 2012) – Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is on a mission to help those suffering from gluten-intolerance or celiac disease taste the good life through a 30 day Gluten Freebies Giveaway on Facebook.  Rudi’s Gluten-Free was founded on the idea that you don’t have to give anything up to go gluten-free – the company’s breads and baked goods look, taste and feel like the real thing – and is hosting this giveaway to share how delicious a gluten-free life can be.

“Now that at least one in 133 Americans has celiac disease, according to a study by Alessio Fasano in the Archives of Internal Medicine, we’re proud to show that even if you’re gluten-free you can enjoy food just like everyone else,” said Doug Radi, vice president of marketing for Rudi’s Organic Bakery. “Our 30 day giveaway gives new and old fans on our Facebook page the opportunity to win prizes that will spiff up their gluten-free cooking repertoire and put a little fun in their daily routine to help them live a happy, healthier, gluten-free life.”

Beginning on Feb. 7, fans can log onto the Rudi’s Gluten-Free Facebook page, “Like” the brand and receive a $2 off coupon. Additionally, by visiting the Giveaway tab on the Facebook page, consumers can enter weekly to win prizes given away each day, like Rudi’s Gluten-Free breads and baked goods, a Cuisinart toaster, Crofter’s Organic jams, a Kodak digital camera, and gluten-free cookbooks. 

Unlike many gluten-free breads and baked goods on the market, Rudi’s Gluten-Free products are free of artificial ingredients, preservatives and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Plus, Rudi’s Gluten-Free products are soft and delicious, making life a little brighter for families that suffer from a gluten intolerance.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free products, including Original, Multigrain and Cinnamon Raisin Breads, Pizza Crust, Hamburger Buns and Hot Dog Rolls, are available nationally at natural foods stores and mainstream supermarkets. For more information and to find local availability, visit www.rudisglutenfree.com.

Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc., founded and headquartered in Boulder, Colo., is the nation’s largest brand of USDA certified organic breads.  Rudi’s Organic Bakery has a long history of baking bread a better and brighter way, by using simple organic ingredients that contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or trans-fat. Founded in 1976, Rudi’s offers small batch organic artisan breads, sliced sandwich breads, wide pan sandwich breads, English muffins, bagels, hamburger and hot dog buns, and wraps as well as a popular line of organic spelt breads, buns and tortillas. For more information, visit www.rudisbakery.com or follow Rudi’s Organic Bakery on Facebook and Twitter.

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Monday, February 6, 2012
wegoHealth Activist Finalist

This year, I was a finalist in the 1st ever WEGO Health Health Activist Awards as an Offline Crusader for my leadership of the NYC Celiac Meetup group. My activism goes beyond this blog, Facebook, and Twitter and has since I've been the leader of the group since 2006. Our NYC Celiac Meetup group is now close to 1400 gluten-free people living in the New York City metropolitan area. At times I feel like running the Meetup is a second job, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. It is nominations like this and positive feedback from my group members that make it all worth it.

Although I didn't win the award, I was very excited to be a finalist chosen by a national health activist panel. Thank you all for your continued support.

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Friday, February 3, 2012
2nd Annual Gluten-Free Awards: Best Blog or Website

For the second year in a row, I was nominated for The Best Gluten-Free Website or Blog as part of the 2nd Annual Gluten-Free Awards on GFreek.com. Although I didn't win, I am still honored to be a nominee and to get a shout out from Delight Gluten-Free Magazine's Editor-In-Chief Vanessa. Check out the winner in the video below.


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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Kettle Cuisine Winner!


As I sit here eating my Roasted Vegetable soup from Kettle Cuisine, I am excited to announce the giveaway winner chosen by Random.org.

Congratulations to ufg8trj! You are the winner!!

Click here to learn more about Kettle Cuisine soup.

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