About Me.

I remember learning the word 'entrepreneur' & realizing that is what I wanted to do. I wanted to own my own business so I could do things "right". Lead a group of people, focused on values, people and kindness. Empower people to follow their own dreams and passions. I want to change the world by empowering people with the belief that they can change their own world. I wanted to pay people a livable wage. I wanted to create a safe space for women in the food service industry. Food Service is my industry, but people, that is my passion.

I have been a student, a teacher, a CEO, a farmer,  a parent. Now I am disabled. I am housebound & facing changes unlike anything I have every experienced before. This illness has taken almost everything from me, from my business, my career, my friends, my home. It has taken what I thought my life would look like & who I thought it was & burned it while I lay in bed watching. I have pulled the pieces I could back together & it has forced me to focus on only what it truly most important. I will always be sick and I will always be in pain but through my love of food & sharing what I know I hope to regain some security & peace in my life. Through you and the community I hope to build with Life According to Food.  ​

The Starfish Story​

​One day a man was walking along the beach when

​he noticed a boy picking something up and gently

throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy,

he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied,

“Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf

is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw

them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said,

“don’t you realize there are miles and miles of

beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t

make a difference!” After listening politely, the

boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and

threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the

man, he said…..“It makes a difference for that one.”

                               Original Story by: Loren Eisley

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My Disability. 

People are always curious what my condition is & I am happy to share & educate. Unfortunately, like many other people with chronic illness I am collecting diagnoses like Pokémon. 

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It has taken 12 specialist doctors over 10 years to diagnose me. Meanwhile, my once mild condition progressed & became increasingly more disabling. I am unable to work a job out of the house. I cannot walk far or stand for very long. In order to go out with my son I use a wheelchair or electric scooter. There are days where I cannot wake my body up & I lay in bed unable to move or speak but I can hear what is going on around me. There are days where I experience intense kaleidoscope vision or lose my vision completely. If I push myself (like taking a shower or when I was working) I experience presyncope & adrenaline dumps.

I still do not have a doctor who specializes in my most debilitating condition. As of now, I have been waiting 8 months for my disability application & it is still pending. I share all of this to help those who are able bodied understand that our society is not designed to help those of us who are disabled. The disabled community is the only minority group anyone can join, at anytime. I did not expect to become disabled. I want to work. I am an ambitious person stuck in a bedridden body. 

My Diagnoses.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Fibromyalgia

Tick Borne Relapsing Fever

Migraine

Scoliosis 

Degenerative Disc Disease

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