jmengert

I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant, and I've been doing a lot of research on this, too. My plan is similar to Tiffany's: I plan to breastfeed for hopefully a year, introduce solids at 6 months or so, and avoid gluten entirely for the first year. Other than the limited gluten that my husband brings into the house, our house is gluten free, so he/she will be eating gluten free, as well, at home. Outside of the house, after a year old, I'll probably allow gluten at that point.

Awesome! Thanks for the update!

I emailed the company two months ago and never heard back. I'd love to know if you find out!

I'm also newly pregnant, and constipation has also never been an issue of mine (I also am 100% gluten-free and haven't eaten in a restaurant in 5 years). I've had *horrible* diarrhea since becoming pregnant, so I called my doctor last week, and they told me Imodium is safe to take during the first trimester. However, I'm only trying to take it once a week or so, and it's not helping. I'm also doing the small meals, and that's not helping, either. Sigh. The joys of hormones!

Congratulations, and I hope your symptoms improve!

I've been using Badger Balm for years--they have lots of different moisturizing products, and their lip balm is some of the best I've used. Soy free and mostly organic.

That's a great idea! I'd definitely be up for that if you do!

Welcome to the forum!

As far as gluten-free personal products are concerned, you can do a search here to find a whole bunch of products. Here's what I personally use:

Dove shampoos/conditioners/body washes/soap/lotions--they are made by Unilever, which clearly lists gluten--if it reads gluten-free, it is.

Crest toothpaste--all their products are gluten-free

Nars makeup (all their products are gluten-free, but they are rather pricey) and Origins makeup (email them to see which products are gluten-free--just make sure you give them specific product names to look up; I've had a lot of good interactions with this company)

Burts Bees lip products--there is a list on this site of their gluten-free products

Garnier fructis or Dove hairspray, anti-freeze creme, other hair products

Suave shampoos/conditioners/lotions/body washes are also made by Unilever and will also clearly list gluten. There is also a Paul Mitchell list on the site if you do a search, if you're looking for professional haircare products.

It does get easier with time, and this place is great for learning and support!

To answer your question Debmidge, yes, you should only invite people to your bridal shower who are invited to the wedding. Wedding etiquette is pretty specific about that.

I'm not sure about the christening and baby shower situation, though...

I'm currently planning my wedding, so I have two wedding etiquette books (the best one is by Peggy Post). You are *definitely* supposed to invite people's spouses, partners, or live-in significant others. Most people say you should invite the other half of the couple who is in a serious relationship, too, whether or not the couple lives together. Guests beyond that are optional.

I'm sorry you got left out, but I agree--you'll save money on a gift and have no food worries!

I've tried their chocolate cake, yellow cake, brownies, muffins, and cookie mix. All, in my opinion, were very, very good. I've heard some people, however, complain about the taste, as Namaste uses a different flour mix (arrowroot flour? I can't remember which) that some people don't like the taste of.

So, I think it's a personal preference thing, but I really like them, and they're very easy to make.

I hope you like them!

I'm also soy and dairy free, and for potatoes, I use Smart Squeeze (from the Smart Balance company). I find it at Food Lion or Kroger. I verified with the company that it is gluten-free, soy free, and dairy free. It's pretty good and has satisfied my craving for "butter"--you can't bake with it, but it's good for topping things like potatoes, waffles, pancakes, etc.

Thanks for letting us know! I just found these at Whole Foods and bought some--I can't wait to try them! I've really missed ice cream since I've gone dairy and soy free!

Um, you just made my summer! I'm soy free and dairy free, in addition to gluten-free, so it's hard for me to find "ice cream" and this looks wonderful, especially since it's made by Turtle Mountain, whose products I see everywhere! I'll keep an eye out for it; thanks for the info!

I'm dairy free, so I use coconut oil for everything--baking, cooking, etc.--mostly in place of butter. It's great stuff, and I feel better if I use it (I also have yeast issues).

So, here's one positive vote for coconut oil--I use Spectrum's brand.

I use either Whole Foods brand plain rice milk or Pacific Foods plain rice milk daily, too, without any problems for two years now.

Hopefully, you can find a rice milk that works for you.

The only butter substitute I've found that is soy and dairy free, too, is Smart Squeeze--it's not really a margarine, though, as you can't bake with it (it's "butter" in a squeeze bottle). Instead, I use it as a topping: on potatoes, waffles, veggies, etc. The taste is good, and I've verified it soy, dairy, and gluten free with the company. To bake and cook, I still use coconut oil to bake in place of butter.

If anyone knows of another one, I'd love to hear about it!

If you go to Beechnut's website, they have a program where you can enter in certain allergens (gluten included), and they will tell you the foods that are free of those allergens.

I've used several of their fruits and veggies to cook with and had no problems.

The only thing I've found is Smart Squeeze, which is a very liquid form of "butter"--however, because it comes in a squeeze bottle, you can't use it for cooking/baking. I use it for things like butter on potatoes, waffles, shrimp scampi, veggies, etc. To bake I use coconut oil or shortening, depending on the recipe.

It tastes pretty good--a bit salty, in my opinion, but it gives that butter flavor I had been missing.

I hope you can find it up by you! I've also verified by the company (Smart Balance) that it is, indeed, soy, gluten, and dairy free.

NARS cosmetics are all gluten-free, last I emailed them. I use their lipstick without a problem (I buy their products at Sephora).

Some Origins lipsticks are gluten-free, too (I can't remember which ones off the top of my head, but their customer service is excellent if you email or call them).

Regarding the bladder problems and candida, I went to a specialist because she suspected IC; however, she said I had a sort of "precursor" to it. She said I had some of the bacteria that caused it but didn't have the full blown disease yet. My mom has, IC, however, and keeps hers in control with diet.

I actually haven't had too many bladder problems since going gluten-free (this was all pre-diagnosis).

Oh, there are a lot of Paul Mitchell products with gluten, but they also have many without, and the gluten is always clearly listed. I've been using them for a year without problems, and I am super sensitive, so the ones I'm using are fine.

I get my hair professionally colored, and my hair dresser uses Paul Mitchell hair color. I think they're all gluten-free (I don't know how many types they make...), but I would double-check (everything she's ever used on me is gluten-free). She called the hotline for me and asked about which of their products were gluten-free, and she said their customer service was extremely helpful. I also use some of their hair products that are gluten-free (there is a list somewhere on this forum of those).

Good luck! I hope your hair dresser carries Paul Mitchell!

Count me in! I'm watching the season finale again tonight to catch up (and, that was one of the best tv shows, period, I've ever seen!), and I've blocked out tomorrow from 8-10--no one is to call or talk to me then!

Yea for Lost!

Thanks for sharing this, Richard! I get the Roanoke Times every day and will make sure to look for the article today.

I don't do soy or dairy, so all I use to cook with is rice milk. I usually use just a bit less of the rice milk than the recipe calls for because it's very thin. But, I've made pies, cakes, muffins, etc. with it and never had a flop.