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DIY All-Purpose Seasoning + Pantry Supplies Storage Hacks

July 25, 2016 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 134 Comments

A perfect DIY All-Purpose Seasoning recipe, gluten-free, salt and sugar-free, that will spice up any dish! Plus some trendy hacks for traveling, transporting, storing and organizing all you small pantry cooking and baking essentials!

DIY All-Purpose Seasoning + Pantry Supplies Storage Hacks | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 A perfect DIY All-Purpose Seasoning recipe, gluten-free, salt and sugar-free, that will spice up any dish! Plus some trendy hacks for traveling, transporting, storing and organizing all you small pantry cooking and baking essentials!

Young adults live a pretty nomadic life. Traveling back and forth from our childhood homes, college dorms, apartments, cross-country, overseas, we are always moving. Never settled, we basically live out of our suitcases. We can never “unpack” everything because we know we’ll just be packing it all back up in a few months (even weeks!). And I don’t know about you, but packing is not my idea of fun! Especially those smaller, harder to keep track of and organized, items.Read More

Filed Under: Condiments, Cooking, How-To's Tagged With: Baking, College, Condiments, Cooking, Cumin, Garlic, Hacks, Herbs, How-To, Oregano, Organization, Seasoning, Smoked Paprika, Spices, Storage, Tips, Travel, Turmeric

Dorm Room Organization For Food Allergies

July 6, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 80 Comments

Even though it’s still summer, the excitement and anxieties about going away to school are never far from the back of our minds. Especially if you’re a new incoming college freshman, but let’s face it, those feelings hit all of us no matter what year we’re in. But I do know, those feeling hit the most with students who have food allergies, restrictions, and special diets, like Celiac Disease, due to their health. I personally know how scary it can be to be thrown into the “unknown” with the added responsibilities or dealing with Celiac Disease and food allergies. I’ve already outlined my 6 steps to a safe college experience and today I have some extra advice to share.

Dorm Room Organization For Food Allergies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 @pbteen #sponsored

Organization! One of my favorite things and something crucial to have good skills and a plan in when you have food allergies or autoimmune disease. Not only should your college food allergy plan include organization, but of course you want to do so in style. Every other college student will be picking out fun things to make their dorm room fun, relaxing, and feel a little more like home. There is nothing worse than being stuck in a tiny room all year, with your stress of food allergies, and nothing to brighten the mood and piles of supplies/food in sad boxes. I’ve partnered with Pottery Barn to share my ideas with how to organize your food allergy life when you go away, safe, and in style!

Dorm Room Organization For Food Allergies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 @pbteen #sponsored

1. Mix ‘N’ Match Storage Bins – Storage bins are a must! You can easily organize your boxes of snacks, cereals, bags or grains, beans, cans, etc., right in the bins. You can easily move them around, as they have handles, and like me, lug them down to the kitchen with supplies to possibly make some pancakes 😉 I love open bins like these since you can see what inside and have different height supplies in them. I’d put my essential products in these types of bins which can be stored right on a shelf out in the open for easy access. You should also dedicate a bin or two to your cleaning supplies. Think Lysol, sanitizing wipes, etc. These need to be used constantly to avoid cross contamination in your dorm room!

2. See-Thru Underbed Organizers – I think have underbed storage was one of the most important things I had in my room. Not only can you store extra clothes and sheets like a normal student, but you can store bulk and extra food items, pots, pans, and bulkier appliances that you don’t need everyday. I brought down a ton of “extras” with me and a ton of cooking supplies (like my waffle maker), but I didn’t need them all the time and sometimes not for months. I loved being able to store extra bottles, cans, boxes, etc. that I had stocked up on, away and out of sight, but still giving me the peace of mind that I would never have an emergency and run out of something I would need. Before you move-in, don’t be scared to bring “too much”. Have a surplus of your allergy-free essentials and any small appliances you think you’d like to have and simply store them under the bed! Plus, these have a see-thru cover so you know what you have and where everything is when you do actually need it!

3. Ready-To-Roll Storage Cart – A movable cart with storage is great to the little things! Think medications and more personal items that are small and you’d like to keep out of sight. If you’re like me though, you might think of storing small food stuffs like spices in there. Another great option would be storing your own silverware, bowls, cups, and plates. This way no crumbs or contamination can get on these items but you still have easy access to them!

4. Dry-Erase Calendar Decal – Not only do you need organization for your material belongings, but you also should have a place to write things down! You can keep all your events and important notes all on one big calendar that can easily be changed. Reminders for appointments, tests, events. But most importantly for your food allergy needs, a wonderful place to write down a meal plan if you use one! you can also use the side space as a grocery list for things you need next time you go to the store or need to place an online order. Having this calendar will make things a lot easier with planning safe meals and keeping yourself stocked with everything you need when your have a packed schedule already and don’t want to forget a thing!

5. Supercool Fridge – I was lucky enough to have a full fridge and small freezer in my room, but not every college dorm (especially for freshman) include one. I was also given the option of getting an extra small fridge like this if I found myself needing more space for all the food I had to have on hand. If you are provided a small fridge, I would ask to see if you could be provided another one or are allowed to bring your own extra one. When you have food allergies, the perishable groceries you need on hand are going to be a lot more than the typical college student. You also don’t want to take over the whole fridge so your other roommates(s) don’t have space for their stuff. Having a little extra fridge space will really come in handy. It can also give you peace of mind that your roommate didn’t accidental cross-contaminate you peanut butter with gluten (as an example!)

6. Supercool Fridge Cart – If you have an extra fridge, why not include some extra storage while you’re at it! I wish I had this last year in my dorm! I think this would be a wonderful space to store what would typically be counter-top produce if you had a kitchen. Think potatoes, squash, lemons, onions, plantains, bananas, avocados, that sort of thing. I stored my many potatoes and the like reusable Whole Foods bag that I got at one of the service fairs on campus (haha!). But this is also a great place to store pans, baking sheets, foil, plastic wrap, plastic baggies, etc.

Organization while still having options for style, color, and fun is what everyone wants. With food allergies, autoimmune disease, and special diets, we learn to appreciate that even more. There’s so many ways you can customize your space to fit your needs and preferences. Pottery Barn has some wonderful options, as you can see from the ones I picked here, but also a ton of other options for storage and of course everything else you need to style your dorm room! So even though thinking about going back to school may not be the most “fun in the sun”, it always pays off to have a head start and start planning! (You’ll thank me later). The better storage you have, the better organization, the easier your allergy-free transition will be! Less stress and more fun!

So tell me:

+ Did you have a messy dorm room or were you super organized and clean? Very clean! I didn’t do much decorating at all! Our common room actually went unused.

+ Did you bulk buy and stock up on staples or did you always find yourself running out of important things? My roommates loved me. My dad was able to send hundreds (I mean hundreds) of plastic forks, spoons, knives, paper plates, garbage bags, and toilet paper the entire year. We never ran out!

 

**This is a sponsored post in partnership with Pottery Barn Dorm and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my honest own.**

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Filed Under: Gluten-Free Living Tagged With: Autoimmune Disease, Celiac Disease, College, Dorm, Dorm Room, Food Allergies, Gluten-Free, Gluten-Free Living, Her Campus Blogger Network, Organization, PB Teen, Pottery Barn, Storage, Style, Tips, University

I Wish I Had Some Money

October 29, 2013 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 13 Comments

Day one of crazy week done! My presentations went really well yesterday and I wasn’t even nervous. We filled up the whole 40 minutes in each class. By the end of the day my voice was weak! As I kept talking my voice would start to crack and my throat hurt. But I made it through and I am happy with it. I was also able to take my psychology and math tests so I don’t have to worry about making them up. Now today I have a Government test and an ancient history test. I am keeping my head up and trucking along!

A highlight of the day was that I got accepted as a member of Recipe ReDux! I can’t wait for the November challenge! So stay tuned for that post at the end of November on reveal day 😉 And a not so highlight from yesterday. I was in the kitchen getting ready to leave for school but still had 15 minutes. So I turned the portable heater on and it smelled like ti was burning but I though it just needed to heat up. So I left the room to put my shoes on and then my mom comes running downstairs thinking the house is on fire. The heater filled the kitchen with smoke and smelled like it was burning up. So much for keeping warm in the morning. Then the rest of the day my hair and clothes smelled like smoke. Ugh gross!

So now for the actual post! I have a special bookmark folder on my laptop where I bookmark things I want to buy. Some people use Pinterest for this, but I like my own personal easy access bookmarks to the things that I actually will hopefully be able to buy, not just fantasy wishlist stuff. But I haven’t actually bought anything from it in awhile, maybe due to the fact that I don’t have any money, haha! But I do need to do some winter shopping ASAP because I have like no clothes. Everything is old and from last year, but I make due. I am a girl who really doesn’t care much for shopping and clothes (especially shoe shopping…the worst!) But every now and then I get a spark of interest and really want some things I see. So here are some of the clothes, (shoes…even though I know if I order them online they won’t fit and will be sent back…like always), and some other random goodies I have been wanting.

http://www.famousfootwear.com/ProductImages/shoes_ia35294.jpg

These boots. I really am thinking of buying them, but I just know I will not have much luck. Why do they make boots so wide in the calf! The shaft is so huge and basically every boot I have ever tried, it is not far. Just like how companies discriminate against larger shoe sizes (like 10s and 11s) and extra small clothes sizes (especially pants. I need the 00s please!). I fit into all these categories. Maybe that is why I hate shopping most of the time?

http://zoom.jcpenney.com/is/image/DP0805201317021810M.tif?op_usm=.4,.8,0,0&resmode=sharp2&rgn=0,0,2000,2000&scl=5.2631578947368425&id=16dUc6z9H20dBFuToRcncE

Or these boots. Which do you like better?

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9b/aa/ab/9baaabad02659586229a700c366a8076.jpg

This sweater from Victoria Secret.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ff/f6/f6/fff6f675776ded6053da69731b1d81e9.jpg

And this one which had been around since last year and I never ended up getting it. But it looks so warm and comfy.

This cute sweater form Forever 21. I like all the simple colors. As long as it is warm, big, and comfy, I am happy. That’s why I love sweater so much too, they can be big and look perfect!

http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781623361235_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG

I have been reading all the running bloggers who attended the Runner’s World event and they all raved about the recipes in this cookbook. I so want it now!

Gucci - Guilty

Mmm. Expensive perfume. This Gucci Guilty will have to be a Christmas present 😉

Please! I need Mason Jars for all my grains, beans, legumes, flours, etc. I have been dying to get them out of their ugly product bags and into beautiful glass jars.

And finally some pretty, clean, sleek, white plates. I need to enhance my food photography and give you guys more pleasing photos to look at. I need all the food props ASAP!

So those are some things I am wanting lately. Hopefully I can get some of this stuff soon…or I may just have to wait 2 months for Christmas and ask for this stuff then, haha!

So tell me:

What are you wanting lately?

Do you like shopping for clothes and shoes or do you find it difficult to ever find the right size?

Tell me which boots you like more! The first or the second?

Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: Boots, Buying, Clothes, Cookbook, Gucci, Mason Jars, Perfume, Products, Runner's World, Shopping, Size, Storage, Sweaters, Victoria Secret, Wanting, White Plates, Wishlist

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I'm so glad you're here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!


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Meet Rebecca

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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Most Popular Posts

Gluten-Free Baked Mini Powdered Doughnuts (Sugar-Free, Paleo, Vegan, Allergy-Free) Copycat Hostess Donettes
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
How To Help Ease A "Glutened" Stomach
How-To Cook Beans In A Rice Cooker
Homemade Spaghetti O's (Allergy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan)
What To Avoid With A Nightshade Allergy

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