Gluten-Free Play Dough:
Ingredients:

½ cup rice flour
½ cup cornstarch
½ cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cooking oil

Water color based paint, if desired

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Heat over low until the mixture holds together (3 – 5 minutes). Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Gluten Free “Goop”
Ingredients:

1 Cup corn starch
2 Cups warm water water

Directions:
Stir together until smooth. This is fun and holds together as long you are working with it. As soon as you are finished playing the goop it looses it’s shape completely. This is fun to play with over and over again. Store in a air tight container.

Enjoy!

It’s been a few days longer than I thought or wanted since I’ve shared a message. Life and weather are really happening around us here in Parker, Colorado.
Yesterday was the eighth (I think) day in a row where we had tornado warnings near us. Thankfully, none of them were in our backyard – or even within sight!
The boys and I went to Castlewood Canyon yesterday to sign them up for the Junior Ranger program. While there it began to rain pretty hard. We decided to leave and go out to lunch in Castle Rock. A wonderful Irish restaurant was our intended destination.
On the way to Castle Rock we entered the worst hail storm I have ever witnessed in my life. I honestly thought the hail was going to crack or break through my windshield. Thankfully, we made our way, slowly, through the storm.
We arrived in Castle Rock to discover that the Irish restaurant was closed. How sad that such a wonderful, beautiful and unique restaurant was no longer open. An unfortunate sign of the times, “For Lease,” was in the window.
We ended up at Red Robin and had a wonderful lunch while watching the tornado – on the ground – near Elizabeth, but not near us… once again.
We also saw a beautiful bird that we had never seen before. This beautiful bird was bright and colorful – warm browns, tans and a bit of black. It had a large black beak and red eyes. As soon as we figure out what he was I’ll share his identity. If anyone has a suggestion I’m open to hearing!
Thank you for sharing a part of our day with us. Be safe, happy and healthy.

My boys were wanting sherbet yesterday afternoon. It was a hot. I was tired and I didn’t feel like driving over to the health food store to try and find a sherbet that my GF / CF son would like… only to pay $5.00 for a pint! I have an ice cream maker and I’ve a pretty creative cook so I mixed a few things together and came up with The Best GF / CF Piña Colada Sherbet I have ever tasted!

Here’s the recipe:
2 14 oz cans coconut milk
1 cup coconut
1 14 oz can crushed pineapple
2 T brown sugar

Mix all together well and pour into your ice cream maker. Ours was ready in about 20 minutes! IF you don’t have an ice cream maker you should be able to pour the mix into a pan or bowl and freeze for about 20 minutes or so – just until it starts to “set.” THEN – don’t forget this part – you’ll want to mix it up well before it freezes too solid. Beating in the air is what makes it “light.”

My two boys and I ate most of it up right away! Later that night my husband and I shared the little that was left over by adding in a bit of rum. *I added one “bit” — he added in two “bits!” Yummy!

This is the title of my August article for Autism Today. After my July article, “What’s in an Acronym?” I began, more intently than ever, to research RDI treatment. Relationship Development Intervention is, I believe, the most complete training that exists for someone on the spectrum. One of the best elements about RDI is that the entire family learns right along with the person who has an ASD.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders are so much more than what most people realize and, at the same time, Autistic Spectrum Disorders are so much less. For example, on one hand, people with ASD’s are often thought of as being “unable” or ‘weak” when the exact opposite is usually the case. On the other hand, people with ASD’s are often regarded as being “too much trouble” when they are often the most willing helpers available.

It’s figuring out the magical “formula” to connect with people on the spectrum that leaves most of us struggling. This is where RDI comes in. I’m thrilled to say that I am on my way to learning more about RDI daily and even more thrilled to announce that I intend to become an RDI Certified Consultant in the very near future – after completing treatments with my son under an RDI Certified Consultant that I hope to be working with soon.