Kiki's Kitchen - KIKI'S KORNER

60011 432476260985 553610985 5621121 3486261 n

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, and forget about the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance; take it. If it changes your life; let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

~Unknown

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can

never get back."

~ Unknown

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile."
~ Unknown

It is never too late to become healthy! I sit on my comfy couch as the scent of peppermint tea fills the air and my thoughts float to the reason why Kiki’s was fashioned. As I glare into my past I admit I have not always been the healthiest. It seems food has always been a huge part of my life...

Through my teen and early adult years, I suffered silently with anorexia and bulemia. In and out of hospitals and care facilities, different doctors and therapists, numerous ulcers, kidney stones, a deadly low weight of 82 pounds and osteo-arthritis in my jaw at the ripe old age of 25. "If I knew then what I know now" seems to fit perfectly right here.

For so many years, I ignored my hunger and starved myself. Worked out only to burn calories not to be healthy or fit. I was literally skinny fat!! With the incredible support of my highschool sweetheart, I progressed through the proper help and moved forward. I married Matt and had a

baby boy. Life was grand!! I was determined to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Just when I wanted to love food again I have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and IBS. It is funny how life moves you into directions without your permission. For most of my life I fought against food, and now I fight for it.
Well...just because you’re ready does not mean your body is. Shortly after giving birth to Grayden seven years ago it seemed as if my health went into a downward spiral.....

Strike One! Hypothyroidism, no big deal, I just take a pill a day for the rest of my life. But then...

Strike Two! I've always had stomach and digestion problems but my symptoms worsened. After years of doctor visits, numerous specialists’ appointments and many misdiagnosis, the answer has finally come! I have Celiac Disease. But that did not stop me...determined to beat this I turned to a life of Gluten-free.
It worked for awhile, I gained perspective and gained control of my disease! Until...

Strike Three...First I was diagnosed with Crohn's but just came to find out it's IBS! What?...this cannot be happening! But I refused to be out of the game!

That brings me to my deliberation! Kiki's, I hope it will bring awareness and support to these life altering diseases. I have also recently decided to go vegan (my new passion-gluten free/vegan cooking!) because I was still feeling ill and having some bloating and stomach pains. It was the best decision I could've made because I feel like an entirely new person!! I now workout to be fit, healthy and strong because haven't you heard?...Strong is the NEW skinny!!! I want people to know that even though they suffer -

and let's not kid ourselves - some days are really bad, life is not over! There are people just like you willing to help and support you, like me! Strangers are friends that you just haven't met yet. I leave you with one of my favourite quotes....

"If you don't think every day is a great day try going without one."

QUICK LINKS