The blog lives on!

So, I came to an important decision today: I want to keep blogging. Shocking, right? Well, I am about halfway through my summer vacation, and last year that was my most productive time. This year, I haven't really felt it, and I haven't posted to this blog even once since September--even though I typically spend hours a day hanging out on my laptop. I knew I needed motivation to get posting again, but I wasn't sure exactly what would inspire me. Well, it wound up being, appropriately enough, some wise words by other bloggers.

First, I read "7 Ways You're Making Blogging Harder Than It Has To Be" by Tay at The Daily Tay. The information was helpful, the post was not in the least bit preachy, and a beautifully styled picture accompanied it. Next, I read "A Post Without Pictures" by Gabbi at Retro Ranch Reno. Gabbi's post was more about her personal experience, but, basically, it told me that it was okay that I haven't posted in 1, 2...9 months (Eek!). This is my slice of the blogosphere, and I get to jump back in (or ease myself out) whenever I feel like it. Finally, at some point during this process, I finally took the plunge and switched back to a Blogger profile and removed the Google+ comment format at the recommendation of Linda at Calling It Home. Additionally, I decided to nix the fancy titles for my weekly features...at least, for now. Now that all of that is done, I'm ready to start blogging...again!

When Dining Out Gets Dicey

What do you do when a restaurant--literally--serves nothing you can eat?

This has been a very busy, very family-filled week for me, and it included a number of family get-togethers. Fortunately, I love my in-laws, so the social aspect of it was awesome. Unfortunately, Friday night we met at an unfamiliar restaurant that--gasp!--didn't serve anything gluten-free. Ever been in that situation?

After politely asking the server about gluten-free menu items when we first arrived, I received the above information as I headed to the restroom. My response? I smiled brightly, said, "No problem!" and headed to the bathroom...where I did my best not to freak-out, break down in tears, or throw a tantrum. I knew I needed to figure out a solution, but dragging my husband away from his 30-plus extended family members was not an option, nor was politely requesting we move the whole crowd to another restaurant. (It was a surprise party, after all.) Instead, I sent a text to my husband explaining my dilemma (to avoid an emotional outburst), demanded he read the text when I got back to the table (sweetly, of course), and stewed for a bit while he came up with a plan.

After I snapped at him once or twice, my husband suggested we get permission from the manager to bring in outside food and--knowing how petulant I get in these situations--called the server over to make the request. When he came back with said permission granted, I think our server looked more relieved than me! After--again--calling on my husband to locate the closest Wendy's, I took a 15-20 minute round trip to purchase a nice, safe, tasty meal: a plain baked potato and a small chili. To appease my self-pity and brighten my mood, I also swung into a local "farmer's market" grocery store (Sprout's) and purchased four delicious, gluten-free cupcakes with amazing vanilla frosting. (Did I mention this was actually a surprise birthday party, and everyone would soon be enjoying slices of delicious, gluten-filled, chocolate sheet cake?) At the last minute, I also threw in a copy of my favorite magazine (Real Simple) because, you know, I "deserved" it.

When I got back to the restaurant, my family was just getting their food, my husband had a Sprite waiting for me, and no one thought twice about me eating something different...except my son, who kept begging for one of my cupcakes, which I flatly denied him. (He is not gluten-free and later ate two large pieces of chocolate cake--so don't feel too sorry for him.) I could have handled this situation a lot of ways, but I am glad I put my big-girl pants on and found a way to get what I needed without ruining the party for everyone else.

The take-away? Never be afraid to ask for what you need--even if that means eating Wendy's food in the middle of a sit-down Mexican restaurant. Your family--and your digestive system--will thank you for it.

Looking for more tips on gluten-free dining? 

Check out my wining & dining page for a list of tips, restaurants to try, and places to avoid!