Wow. This has been an incredible year or so. In just 15 months time I threw two Bar Mitzvahs (one for each of my darling boys), built a new house, and wrote another book Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. I do not recommend grouping these projects together into just over one year’s time to anyone. It was amazing fun, and also incredibly exhausting.
First, the Bar Mitzvahs. Of course (as any Jewish mother would attest!) the boys were amazing at each of their Bar Mitzvahs, chanting Hebrew for more than 3 hours in front of over 100 people. What a feat. What mazel! For each of their Bar Mitzvahs we held multiple gluten-free events and get togethers over a fun-filled weekend for friends and family (no I did not cook for the 100+ people that came to each one) and had an amazing time with our tribe of loved ones. I’m glad that those huge gatherings are behind us, as they were wonderful, yet at the same time somewhat stressful.
This amazing year, 2013 was also consumed by the building of a new home. We stripped a historic house, built in 1912, down to the studs, basically building a new green home inside an old one. Installing non-toxic recycled blue denim (sound-proof insulation) as well as geothermal energy, and many, many more green features, I was up to my ears in every detail of the project. I seemed to hold it all together until we moved in and I had a complete melt down (now I’m fine). Perhaps that was because my younger son’s Bar Mitzvah, the move to the new house, and the release of my latest book were all within 6 weeks of one another. Not by my planning of course –construction schedules can be very “flexible,” and we had intended to spread things out more, but in the end it was not to be, and I was up to my ears in stress.
It was good stress of course. But I view stress the way I view food. Too much of anything is generally not a good thing. Even if one is eating healthy food, it’s important to stop when one reaches one’s limit. But the wheels were already in motion and there was no stopping the train that was 2013.
Next on my plate was the release of my latest book, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. Sometimes I wonder, why did I do this book in the middle of two Bar Mitzvahs and a house renovation? Well, being a housewife is a mixed thing for me. I’m so happy that I get to be there everyday when the boys get home from school –this is very important to me. At the same time, if I’m not doing my own projects I can end up feeling like a kept woman or a Stepford wife, neither of which makes me happy. I need to work! I’ve been doing so since I started my first business at age eight, but that’s a story for another time. I just had to fit a little bit of me into this crazy year.
So you must be wondering if I’m ok. Yes, after some deep exhaustion, I’m fine. I’ve taken extra rest this fall and am bouncing back quite nicely. Along those lines, I’m planning on a quiet, health-focused 2014, with lots of reading, research and rest –three of my favorite things.
In this new year I’ll be sharing a bunch of healthy dinner recipes, healthy lifestyle ideas and healthy exercise tips with you, my dearest online family. Happy New Year to you my lovely readers. I hope you had a wonderful 2013 and wish you the best in 2014! Here’s to an abundance of rest and relaxation.
What was your 2013 like? Please leave a comment and let me know, I’m all ears!
Melissa says
Dear Elana,
I have been following your posts and receive your emails for about a year now. I have a 5 and 3 year old. My oldest is Ilana, we pronounce it the same way you say your name! Mazel Tov to your boys and to your family on the Bar Mitzvah’s and the cookbook and new home! I am worrying about my children’s future bar/bat mitzvah’s.. I am planning to try the bagels from your latest cookbook today:) Looking forward to enjoying all your future recipes.. you are truly talented! I admire you and your way of life. I am striving for gluten and grain free and slowly weaning the kids, but it has it’s challenges.. all while trying to lose weight myself and be healthier for the whole family! Wishing you all the best in 2014 with much time to enjoy your new home, and with less (good) stress! Melissa
Barbara Eppley says
Mazel Tov and thank you for the wonderful recipes you offer. My freezer is never without some of your cookies. Happy New Year.
Christine (Merf) says
I’ve had too much going on, too, and the stress is at a point where I can actually feel it in my body. I need to focus on stress relieving activities like yoga and meditation this year. I recently found your blog and am enjoying the recipes, especially the BREAD. Happy new year!
esther says
Mazal Tov! Mazal Tov! I empathize with you. We had our youngest son’s wedding and the day after (almost) we started remodeling our kitchen! There were guests from abroad. And I was working full time then. The remodeling was the most stressful and seemed to drag on forever. But you know there is a saying that I will try to translate. Nothing is worthwhile if it isn’t accompanied with ‘hard work’ (sacrifice, etc.)
Sharon says
Hi Elana, thank you for your incredible generousity. Not only your wonderful recipes but also the glimpses into your life and your illness. I stared following you years ago as I was going gf to deal with autoimmune diseases. I got some improvement but this new year I am going Paleo. So I’ll be there in the background following your encouraging journey. Thanks again and all the best for the new year from Australia.
Myrna says
We are enjoying some of your recipes tonight for our New Year’s Eve celebration. Thanks so much for teaching us how to make such luscious goodies.
I hope you and your family have a very peaceful and fulfilling year in 2014. I look forward to all your new creations and information.
Gratefully,
Myrna
Jean Conway says
Mazel Tov!
You deserve some rest after all of that work. Thank you for all you do for us online.
Have a very happy new year.
Best Wishes,
Jean
Chara says
Elana, thank you so much for your recipes. You are “with us” in our family at least twice a week when I cook from your cookbooks. You have made gluten-free so much easier for us and have encouraged me as I, too, work on addressing health issues via a Paleo eating plan. You are such a delightful guide, making life easier for me, my gluten-free mother, and my gluten-free son.
mike ernst says
Elana –
Thanks for all your posts, and congratulations on completing several stressful projects. I’m wondering if you’re hiking to the top of Vail Mountain again this year :-) As another person challenged by MS, I was quite impressed with your post last year. I can still ski down the mountains – sticking to greens and blues, thankfully, but I can’t even visualize myself hiking up anymore.
For me, it has been a year of major upset with the food industry, when my very healthy daughter started showing signs of asthma (ER visit because she couldn’t breath) and allergies. That led me to Robyn O’Brien’s “Unhealthy Truth”, and I have gone even further into the non-GMO, organics and pasture raised products. I’m loving my trips to Rocky Plains meats – I live in Boulder County as well.
If anyone missed it – the Gluten Summit put on by Dr Tom O’Bryan was incredible. So many research-based presentations from world-leading experts on celiac and gluten-sensitivity, all presented for free. There is a follow-on series of webinars, for free, scheduled for Jan 9-12th, plus a few of the talks are still available at http://theglutensummit.com/now-that-you-know-where-do-you-go/
My latest approach at self-managing my health is connecting up with a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and looking into low-dose Naltrexone and electro-stimulation. My continual project is developing school lunches for the kids that are gluten-free, attractive to the kids and put together in a reasonable amount of time each morning.
Wishing you a happy and restful New Year.
– Mike
Charlotte Moore says
WOW!!! What a year you had!! To say my year was even in the least bit of a small percentage as yours would not be at all right.
Hope you have a more relaxed 2014.
I have made some of your recipes for our grand daughter in law. She seems to be gluten intolerate. I have some of your cookbooks. Thanks for going to all the work to make them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!