A couple of years ago I had to pleasure of sitting and talking with Gluten-Free Girl” over coffee. There were a few things that struck me as we chatted; her sincerity, her joy, her love of being gluten-free and writing about it. And her book Gluten Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back is no different.

For those of us who can’t eat gluten, food can become a daunting experience but Shauna’s upbeat attitude (she has the word YES tattooed on her arm!), brilliant writing, and photography can help you fall in-love with (gluten free) food all over again. She’s on a mission to change the way people eat and to change the way people who are diagnosed with Celiac feel. Her book is part of that mission.

Food blogs are currently dishing about her book with glowing reviews. Both those who can and can’t eat gluten are eating it up, too. Shanua has a gift of not only writing beautiful about food and recipes but in telling a constant love story; a love of food, of life, of herself and her partner. And who doesn’t love that?

BUY AT: Amazon

After re-discovering music thanks to my new speakers, I wanted to have sound with me everywhere. You know, a personal theme song that follows me - like Amelie.

With a 3 day road trip from Austin Texas to LA coming up, I had to get my theme songs ready as radio on the drive is futile (unless you love Polka). When I realised the amount of CD’s I’d have to burn I looked for another option. That’s when I found the Kensington Digital FM Transmitter.

FM Transmitters for ipods were rather shoddy in the past. I had read enough horrible reviews to vow never to buy one. Never say never. The reviews for this product were amazing and I just have to chime in and agree.

Not only can you play your ipod in your car using the transmitter, it also charges it at the same time. All I had to do was create playlists which is far easier and less time consuming than burning CD’s - plus I have all my music at my finger tips!

Whether you’re driving around town or across country, this keeps you grooving to your music without having to stop and change the CD.

BUY AT: Amazon

I’ll admit that great sound was never really important to me for movies, music or the computer. I had my laptop with great headphones so why bother with speakers?

Bother!

I cannot believe how amazing these little speakers are - especially considering the price! The bass is amazing, clarity amazinger, style aminglyerness. Ok, getting a little crazy there but that’s what great sound can do to a person. All of a sudden watching movies becomes an experience (I should confess this helps to having a 24″ apple flat screen monitor) and I can jump up, jump up and get down now with iTunes.

This replaced a Sony stereo that I paid much more for years ago but never used because it didn’t hook up to the computer and I don’t have a TV. But I do have a laptop and nano that I’ve been running the speakers off and it’s a sound party!

BUY AT: Amazon

One of my favourite things to give is mixed tapes (I am from olden times so I still refer to them as “mixed tapes”). The only thing, however, is that they’ve never really been the prettiest gift to give. Those label printing products never really turned out right on my computer and the CD cases were always ugly and the paper never really fit. Despite putting together fun, fitting music, the packaging of it often left me frustrated and wanting something more.

Luckily, this pretty little CD Packaging Kit from Chronicle Books makes packaging your CD’s as quick & simple as making them! And pretty? With 25 CD decorated labels in 5 different charming patterns, 25 CD sleeves in two designs, 3 pages of stickers to help put it all together, let’s just say you and your friends will be playing and petting them.

Now I must make my next CD “Shake That Ass Volume 1″ and put it in the pretty white bird with heart sleeve. That seems to match, no?

BUY AT: Amazon

Admit it, you love it. I love it. Sometimes a person just wants to eat cookie dough. Baking shmaking! However, the problem is that sometimes getting to the cookie dough stage requires too much effort (especially if, like me, you don’t own a microwave and just can’t wait for butter to naturally soften). But for people who can’t eat gluten, finding a ready-made cookie dough has been impossible.

Until GlutenFreeda.

This pre-formed cookie dough bakes a dozen cookies if you can make it that far (I can’t). With several different flavours, these all natural treats are amazing and I confess to being slightly addicted to eating the little dough bits before I can bake them. But on the odd occasion they’ve made their way into the oven, they’ve come out extraordinarily tasty. So you can have instant satisfaction either way!

BUY AT: GlutenFreeda

I’m not sure if it works or if it’s just mind over matter, but I decided to incorporate some feng shui into my flat to combat feeling sluggish (it seemed a far easier & more LA thing to do than say, running). The only thing? I’m not into crystals. So to boost my health gua I headed to Anthropologie for something unique and beautiful.

There I found this charming 12″ square collage print by artist Lorena Siminovich. The simple, playful colours appealed to me (perhaps because they’re really designed for children’s rooms?) as did the fact it was perfect for my “health” area (great! no running!). But what I really loved was how Lorena’s background, eye and how she creates her collages:

The collages are made with found, recycled, painted and vintage papers. Lorena travels (in space and time!) and collects papers from all over the world, and from different eras. For example, in her collages you may find japanese architectural drawings from the fifties next to a school map from Costa Rica.

I also love that she pursues her artistic passion alongside a “regular” job - inspiring! And her sites? Amazing!

So I’m not sure if it was the addition of the print, Lorena’s inspiring background or the feng shui at work but I certainly felt better once I brought her collage home.

BUY AT: Anthropologie or buy directly from the artist at Petit Collage

Now, there’s a few gluten free bars out there on the market and let me just tell you, they make me long even more for gluten products! They’re just nasty, usually lacking in protein and are filled with nuts (or a whole bunch of things your body can’t digest). It’s enough to make a girl weep.

But that’s why I love the Comfort Bar - it really is a comfort to have around! As someone who is on the go far too much, it’s hard to just find something to eat on the fly. So I need to carry something with me at all times in case of an EE (eating emergency) ensues.

The Comfort Bar has 15g of protein, 5g of Fiber - no gluten, trans fats or corn syrup, has 6% of your daily iron and only 180 calories for those of you who count (I don’t, especially since I seem to eat 4 at a sitting).

With all organic ingredients & agave sweetened, it’s the perfect filler for when you need something to satisfy but don’t want to feel like you’re eating chalk. My favourite? The White Chocolate Cherry Chip. Oh. My Word. Eating this bar makes me feel like I’m not missing out on anything else - gluten or not!

BUY AT: Comfort Bar & Whole Foods

I love my laptop but I don’t always love the heat it generates - especially when I watch movies on it in bed (I don’t have a TV). But this lap desk by the Container Store solves that problem. It also solves others such as trying to keep the computer even (instead of slightly lopsided as it tends to do when on my lap. What this says about me I’ve know idea) and where to keep my drink (the handy little place right at the top right, of course!).

Unlike a lot of laptop desks, these are stylish so you can keep them out when not in use. And if you don’t use a laptop, you can use them for a myriad of other reasons (crafts, reading, crosswords etc. And if someone is stuck in bed for awhile this is a comfy table alternative).

BUY AT: The Container Store

I know this woman who has a fabulous home - a home that was recently featured in a magazine. And when I saw a picture of one of her walls I was instantly in-love because I’d never seen anything like it. It was a solid wall of frames with photos here and there. It was beautiful, fun, unique and stylish.

Turns out, it’s Graham Brown “Frames” wallpaper with cut out photos of her choosing placed on top. Brilliant! What a fantastic \ way to display photos (better than having to buy generic frames and stick them up all over the place!).

As the site says, it’s completely interactive; you can paste photos on or draw right on it. I’m really anxious to do this but I’m not sure how my landlord would feel about me wallpapering the flat. Maybe we’ll just have to find out!

BUY AT: Graham Brown

Since I travel a lot but can’t eat gluten, eating at airports can be a pain. So I bought this bag to bring with me as a stylish way to bring along lunch or dinner. And if you’re in an office or at school? The perfect lunch bag!

What I love (besides the look) is that it’s waterproof, washable, and big enough to hold a drink plus my food. It’s watersuit material so it keeps my food cold (or hot), doesn’t stand and it’s pliable to roll up or lie flat when not in use. It’s also ecofriendly in the sense I’m not throwing out a bag after every meal!

BUY AT: Built NY and REI and Container Store