Meet the woman behind the blog and taking a short break!

Do you ever wonder who is the real person behind A Squirrel in the kitchen?  I always find it so interesting when I get a glimpse into a blogger’s life!  I like to connect somehow with the person behind the computer or the camera lens.  So today I would like to give you some insider info about me and the reason why I started a blog solely focused on the paleo autoimmune protocol.

Why did I name my blog A Squirrel in the kitchen?  Ha, I bet some of you already have a good idea!  I will let you in on a little secret: squirrel is an endearment my husband uses for me, because of the color and fluffiness of my hair.  I also spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking, baking, experimenting, and creating recipes that comply with the autoimmune protocol.  So it was almost natural for me to choose a name that would represent me and my passion. Hence the squirrel in the kitchen!

Why did I start blogging?  In 2009, I got really really sick and it took many months, many tests, and several doctors to finally find out what exactly was wrong with me.  In the meantime, I suffered greatly from anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and total exhaustion.  You can read all about  it in this post (part 1) and this post (part 2).  I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which my body attacks the thyroid gland, wreaking havoc in my entire system!  I was prescribed thyroid medication and removed gluten from my diet.  But that was not enough and my health continued to deteriorate.  I decided then to try the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol and it has been life changing!  I have achieved total remission!  Yes, you read this correctly, my autoimmune disease is in total remission!  I wanted to share my story with others who are suffering on a daily basis and tell them that it is possible to get better.  I wished to give people hope that there is a way out of pain and exhaustion.  And I wished to share the way I have been cooking for over three years now to nourish my body with a healing, nutrient dense diet.  

Now do you want to learn fun facts about me?  Here we go!

1. I used to be a tomboy when I was a kid and I loved playing soccer, or racing my bike against the boys in our neighborhood.
2. One summer, I got a student job in a farm and was selling vegetables at local farmer’s markets.
3. I have a leg shorter than the other due to a car accident.
4. My husband and I have three teenage daughters (Diane, Caroline, and Rosalie) and we all speak French at home (that’s because we started our life in the French speaking part of Belgium).
5. My dream vacation would be to visit old castles in Scotland (without a drop of rain!)

I also wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break from blogging during the month of December.  I won’t be posting recipes or articles, but I will still be active on my Facebook page as well as Instagram.  I am actually working on a big project and I feel the need to step away for a few weeks from the blog in order to work full time on that enterprise.  You see, I can’t do it all, and then some, without jeopardizing my inner harmony.  Life with an autoimmune disease is always a balancing act which requires all my strength and attention on a daily basis.  I personally suffered greatly from anxiety and panic attacks at the beginning of my healing journey and I don’t want to be in that position again.  To do so, I dedicate a big chunk of my time to personal care, including regular exercise, stress reduction through meditation, yoga, or other grounding activities.  It is extremely important for me to keep a healthy balance between work and life.

You can expect new recipes and research articles starting in January 2016.  Until then, why don’t you watch this short video below and have a good laugh?