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~ DRESS:  Banana Republic  ~  SHOES:  Chinese Laundry  ~

~  SIMILAR:  Neiman Marcus / Neiman Marcus / Macy's / Macy's  ~

​The other day, some friends and I went to check out a new bar in Austin that's circus themed.  It was a lot of fun, but the best part was that this lady was there that fosters dogs and she had a ton of puppies with her.  Literally, they were just chilling in her purse.  I got to snuggle with one for an hour and he was adorable.  You know those little puppy bellies and soft fur?  So cute!  Jose kept eyeing me the whole time like, "are we stuck with him?" It totally made my day though. 

As for this dress, I've been eyeing it for awhile, but every time I go to Banana Republic, it's out of stock.  I finally went online to grab it and it was on sale!  Don't you just love when that happens?  The next day, while waiting for it to get here, I went online to look at it again and it was already sold out.  I must have gotten it just in time.  I've linked to some others though that aren't exactly the same, but are a similar shape.

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I've been wanting to do this post for awhile because it's one of my favorite go-to soups.  As far as soups go, it doesn’t get much easier to go gluten-free than Tom Kha Gai.  If you haven’t tried it before, take a classic chicken noodle, add some Asian flair and a hint of lime and you’ve got Thai Coconut Chicken Soup.  Trust me, it’ll be your new favorite in no time.

Next, stir in the coconut milk.  If you’re struggling to find it, it tends to be in the baking aisle.  If you can't find it there, you can always get a carton of it in the lactose-free section next to the milk.  Be careful when opening the cans though.  The milk tends to separate into coconut oil and a syrupy liquid.  Flip it over and open it from the bottom, then flip it right side up, pointing away from you and into the pot.  This way you might just save that gorgeous shirt you’re wearing. 

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Peel your piece of ginger and chop it up finely (think grains of sea salt size).  The tinier you chop it, the less likely you are to get a big spicy bite when you’re eating.  Of course, if that’s what you’re into, go for it!

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Next, I like to pour any liquid that's left over from cooking the chicken into the pot.  This isn't a traditional part of the recipe, but I think it gives it more flavor.


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Plate and serve.

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One of the most challenging things about having to eat gluten-free is finding places to eat while traveling! Especially when you're traveling to a place that's not a top tourist destination.  Below I've put together some of the places that Jose and I found to eat in St. Croix and man was it difficult. 

Some things to keep in mind:

1. While I didn't have a reaction from eating at these places, I have no control over the food they serve.  Always make sure to ask before you order and compare it to your own gluten-free standards.

2. Food on the island is expensiveeee.  A low-end restaurant dish for 1 person is upwards of $20 and as we all know, gluten-free options tend to cost more.  Just make sure you're going in prepared for that!

3. Grocery stores are a good place to grab some snacks to tide you over if you're not staying at a resort or can't find any gluten-free options nearby.  Just be warned though, the grocery stores don't have a lot of options, especially in the fruit and veggie department.  In our experience, there was very little to choose from and most of the produce was half rotten (yes, like the food that was for sale).  I kid you not, there would be a bin of 4 rotten apples being sold for $5 each. When we talked to our AirBNB host, she said that that's normal and one of the most frustrating things about living on the island.  Because of that my suggestion is....

4. Pack lots of snacks!  Gluten-free granola bars, fruit, cereal, trail mix, etc.  Anything that will keep well and that you can eat to tide you over for a meal.  It's way better to be safe than sorry.  Plus by the end of the trip you'll have so much extra space to pack souvenirs!

5. Your cell phone may not work.  I was told by Verizon that I'd have my normal cell and data coverage while in St. Croix, but as soon as I landed, nothing worked.  Thankfully Jose's did, but just go in prepared with some ideas on places to eat and how to get there.  I'm sure you'll have wifi wherever you're staying, but back home I'm constantly googling what gluten-free options are at different restaurants before I order.  It's a little stressful not to have that easy access especially when you're more uncertain than ever what's on the menu... uhhh cassava??

6.  Most restaurants don't have websites.  Some have Facebook pages that may have a picture of their menu or hours.  Don't get frustrated when you have to go to a few places before finding one with gluten-free options.  


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So the Chicken Shack is not a dedicated gluten-free destination, but it is a must eat.  Everyone on the island kept telling us about it so when we got a car, we had to go check it out.  It says that it's in Christiansted, but it's more towards the middle of the island.  Once you get there, you'll see tons of locals (always a good sign :) ) and the cashier was super nice.  It was a little difficult to figure out what should be gluten-free, especially since there were some more local dishes, but in the end it all worked out. 

Here's what we ordered:  Roasted chicken, cassava, plantains, green figs (although this arrived looking exactly like plantains, sooo we're not sure what happened with that), and Johnny Cakes (just for Jose, those definitely have gluten).  

Everything we ordered tasted great, but our favorites were definitely the roasted chicken and the plantains. This was definitely one of the top places that we ate at!  What was even better though was that the whole meal was $12.  Which was completely unrivaled by any other restaurant on the island.  


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This place is AMAZING!!!  Unfortunately, we didn't discover it until we were about to leave Frederiksted, but it was the only place we found on the island with a dedicated gluten-free menu.  It even had gluten-free bread?!?!  It's this adorable cafe close to the pier and has the most friendly staff.  It's only open from 8 - 3 PM though so no dinner options, but the breakfast/ lunch was great. 

Here's what we ordered:  Caribbean Jerk rice bowl, and Southwestern Rice Bowl.  Both were delicious, but if I was to go back, I'd try one of their sandwiches on gluten-free bread. 

Bonus?  They've got great Piña Coladas!  Something Jose and I were obsessed with during our trip. 


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Next to the Chicken Shack, this was our favorite food place on the island.  It was like a St. Croix version of Chipotle (and who doesn't love Chipotle?!).  The place is right on the beach and while it doesn't have a ton of options, everything we had there was great.  As with everywhere but Polly's, this isn't a dedicated gluten-free restaurant, but they did a pretty good job of making accommodations.  

The first night that we got to Frederiksted we wandered around for hours looking for food.  Almost nothing was open or was only serving fried food.  When we found this place we were in heaven.  Plus this was our first Piña Colada experience on the island and it totally started our addiction.  During our time on this side of St. Croix, we would try to find all of these new restaurants to try, get there and find out their hours were different than online or they didn't have any gluten-free options, and end up right back here.  It was our life saver!

Here's what we ordered:  Their version of a burrito bowl (we had a few of these and it's a big portion too, so you can take some back home for a meal later on), sausage and fries cone (the sauce that comes with this is delicious and tastes like a fruity version of In-and-Out sauce.  It's definitely better than it sounds.  This is a little smaller than most of their other dishes, but makes a great snack), and lots and lots of Piña Coladas!

They also have paddle board rentals if that's something you're interested in.


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Sooo, yet again, we were starving by the time we got here and only got pictures while we were waiting for our food... although I guess that means we were just too busy having a good time.  Castaway's doesn't have a lot of gluten-free options, but they do have some great food that's not crazy expensive.  Their menu is a lot of bar food and they seem to be well known for their pizzas (not gluten-free).  

They also had the best priced Piña Coladas on the island!  And our first night there the girl made too much and just gave us the extra on the side.  Who doesn't like a buy one, get one?  This was another repeat destination seeing as there weren't a ton of options near us.

Here's what we ordered:  Bar cheese burger wrapped in lettuce and fries (They struggled with the lettuce wrapping, but the taste was great.  It was also less than $10 which is a steal for island food.  Jose also tried this but with a bun and said that it was pretty good.), bar pizza (not gluten-free), BBQ pork nachos (delicious although very filling). 

So we never ate at Ziggy's, but it's right next door to Castaway's.  A lot of locals suggested it, but we were always lured away by Castaway's Piña Coladas.  There aren't a ton of gluten-free options, but it might be worth checking out. 

Here's the link to their menu!


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This cafe is hidden in the heart of Christiansted.  It's easy to pass if you aren't looking for it, but has this cute secluded courtyard that feels really relaxed.  They had some great breakfast options and... we finally managed to get some pictures of the actual food, success!  They had lots of great menu options for breakfast and lunch, but their gluten-free options were much more limited.  

Here's what we ordered:  Migas Wrap (without the tortilla, since that contained gluten), omelette with choice of toppings (for Jose). 

Here's the link to their menu!


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This place just has burgers and fries, but is conveniently placed right on the boardwalk.  They were able to wrap the burgers in lettuce, but don't have a dedicated gluten-free fryer for the fries, so just something to keep in mind.  

Here's what we ordered: 2 burgers wrapped in lettuce with lots of toppings, side order of parmesan truffle fries.  Simple and straight-forward.


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This place is a little on the outskirts of downtown Christiansted, but not too bad of a walk.  One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new place is to try local dishes.  This was something that was so difficult to find though in St. Croix!  We had heard about Singh's from our AirBNB host and decided to try it out.  It's not the most appealing looks wise, but it was fun to try some flavors unique to the island.  Just a warning though, it was really difficult to understand what was gluten-free and what wasn't, so I kind of took a chance with this one.  I didn't get sick, but up to you how brave you're feeling!

Here's what we ordered: boneless curry chicken combo with sweet potato stuffing and traditional rice.  Jose got the same thing, but with goat curry instead.  He was not happy haha.  He only really likes to eat chicken and the guy was like, sorry we're all out, but you can try the goat.  It didn't go so well. 

Here's a link to their menu!

This was our favorite place during our time in Christiansted.  Mainly because this awesome guy Marcus works there.  You know when you just meet someone that has this great personality and makes super engaging conversation?  That's Marcus.  Oh and they also have some great food. 

It's a breakfast and lunch place situated a little up the boardwalk near the fort.  They also do to-go lunches which is great if you're going on a Buck Island tour.  I'll talk more about that in a later post, but we got screwed over in our original tour booking and ended up with almost no time to grab breakfast.  We literally scarfed down our food at The Avocado Pitt, grabbed our to-go lunches and ran.  We ended up coming back though when we had more time and had a great experience.  

Here's what we ordered:  Mushroom omelette, Ham and cheese omelette (gluten free), Oatmeal (gluten-free... if you're okay not knowing if the oats came from a dedicated gluten-free source.  Definitely ask for sugar on the side though!  This was my to-go "lunch" since none of the lunch options were gluten-free and I seriously wished I had grabbed some sugar packets in my mad dash), chicken wrap (not gluten-free).


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So we were on our way to a bioluminescent bay tour and were told about a great restaurant that's in the little bay where the meet up point was.  We drive all the way out there and discover that Flyer's Bar and Grill is the only restaurant for miles and that it isn't gluten-free.  Oh... and doesn't offer food until after the tour starts.  

So we keep driving and driving and finally give up.  The only place we could find was McDonald's haha.  

Here's what we ordered:  French fries (probably contained gluten.  Not recommended). 

We told ourselves we'd just get a snack and then get a real meal back at Freedom City Surf and by the time we got there... it was closed.  Moral of the story:  pack snacks. 


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I hope this is helpful to any fellow Celiac's traveling to St. Croix!  If you found any other restaurants or have any questions, feel free to comment below. 


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It's so strange, but after living in Austin for 2 years and taking multiple trips here when I lived in Fort Worth, I've never been to the Capitol.  I've always seen it from a distance, but just never made it over there.  The other day Jose was saying we should go check it out and it's a hidden gem!  Well, not really hidden considering everyone else has been there.  But hidden in the sense that we didn't know what we were missing. 

We were walking around taking pictures and stopped on the street in front of the governor's house cause it had a great view of the Capitol from a distance.  We're snapping away and out of nowhere this secret service man drives up and starts asking us all these questions.  He was really nice, but it was so unexpected.  When I think secret service, I think the President and White House, not the Governor of Texas.  Oops haha.  Next time we'll just stick to the gardens...

In the summer, I love recipes that are fresh tasting and simple!  Well, let's be honest, I always like simple.  This salsa is just that.  No pureeing or crazy ingredients.  Just easy, great tasting, and good for you.  Plus it's naturally gluten-free which makes it even better. 


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Here's what you'll need:

1 Large can of corn (drained)
2 Cans of black beans (mostly drained)
8 Roma Tomatoes
1 Bunch of cilantro
1 Lime
1/2 Yellow onion
​Salt to taste

First start by draining the corn and beans.  I like to drain all of the liquid from the corn but leave a bit in the cans of beans.  Since we aren't pureeing anything, I find this gives the salsa a bit of liquid to seep into the chips.  Not a lot though!  You don't want a puddle of bean juice at the bottom of the salsa haha. 


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Pour the corn and beans into a large bowl and mix well. 


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Next, wash and slice your tomatoes in half.


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An important step is to scoop out the seeds from the tomatoes before you start chopping them up.  I just use my fingers to gently scrape the seeds into the sink.  Your tomatoes should end up looking like the one on the left, not on the right.  This will keep your salsa from getting too liquid-y. 


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Next, dice your tomatoes.  Remember that this is for a salsa, so you don't want the chunks to be so small that they turn to mush, but also not so big that they fall off of the chips.  Use your best judgement.


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Chop your onion up and then add the tomatoes and onions to your bowl. 


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Mix everything together gently.


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Then, roll your lime around and squeeze the juice into the bowl.  I like to use my fingers to scrape some of the pulp in there as well to give it even more flavor. 


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Wash and pick off the leaves of your cilantro.  You can just chop it up if you'd rather, but I like to make sure I get as few stems in there as possible.  I will look like a lot of cilantro, but once added to the salsa it'll even out.  

Then mix it all together and add salt to taste.  I think it tastes more flavorful if you leave it over night to refrigerate, but you can also dig right in if you can't wait. 


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Plate and serve.


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Jose and I stayed at 3 different places on the island, but our favorite was an AirBnB on the Eastside of St. Croix.  Our host Gail was incredible and she reminded me much more of a hostmom from my time in Spain than of a typical host.  She constantly was going above an beyond, blowing our expectations out of the water (but seriously, I think we're spoiled for any future AirBnB stays).  

We were all chatting on the porch and she recommended that we go out to see Jack and Isaac's Bay out near Point Udall.  We left pretty early in the morning and the hike from the road to the beach was beautiful: filled with gorgeous aerial views of the water.  It made the feeling that you were hiking through a tropical rainforest much more enjoyable ;) . We finally make it down to a map and it says that Isaac's Bay is straight ahead.  So we spend some time there snorkeling and soaking up the almost deserted beach before deciding to try and find Jack's Bay.  Huge mistake!  We set off on this path and run into the occasional sign pointing towards Isaac's Bay.  We keep going and going up some pretty big cliffs and end up at...Horseshoe Bay. With no one in sight.  

Now we enjoy only having to share the beach with a couple of people, but after seeing The Shallows (with Blake Lively, if you haven't seen it you need to.  Sooo good!  Plus I've loved Blake ever since she did Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl) being the only ones on the beach seemed a little dangerous.  So we hiked back.  In our Walmart flip flops we had brought thinking this was going to be an easy stroll to the beach.  Thorns popping through the soles and drenched from the humidity we finally make it back to the last sign that says Jack's Bay, make a turn.  And we're at the exact same beach.  An hour of hiking to learn that Jack and Isaac's Bay are just two opposite sides of the same beach.  The gorgeous water though made it hard to be upset!  This was definitely one of the top three beaches we visited.  Between the crystal clear water, white sand beaches, and semi-isolated location, what's not to love!

​I love maxi dresses, but they're always too long!  Short people problems haha.  This one is awesome though because it's exactly the right length.  I'm only wearing sandals in these pics or am barefoot in others and it just hovers over the ground.  No tripping, no having to hold the dress up, no hemming.  That being said though, if you're taller then it's probably going to be too short on you (I'm 5' 3").  It's great quality fabric too which can be kind of difficult to find in a dress with this much material.  There is a black version, but while it looks like the stripes are gray in the pictures, they're actually brown :/ .

I took these pics over by Zilker park which is celebrating it's 100th anniversary.  I don't know anyone in Austin that hasn't been to this park, so if you're visiting it's a place to make sure you stop by.  It's a staple of the city between concerts, Christmas lights, festivals, and people just hanging out.  I'm hoping that they have some special events coming up for the anniversary and if so, I'll keep you all posted!

Salmon is such a great summer dish!  It's light, refreshing, and naturally gluten-free.  The really great part of this recipe though is the sauce.  The dill and lime taste so fresh that it compliments the salmon really well.  Plus you can make it in under 10 minutes, perfect for after a summer day at the pool or exploring.  



Here's what you'll need:

For the fish:

1 Tablespoon of olive oil per 6 inches of fish (length not width)
1 Pinch of salt
1 Package of Salmon*

* So I know I said this is naturally gluten-free, but you never know where companies will try to use flour as a filler.  I normally get my fish from Costco since they have such great quality meat, but just be safe and make sure you look at the packaging.  Especially if you're buying frozen fillets of salmon.


For the sauce:

1/2 Cup of sour cream
1/2 of a lime  (You can use a lemon in a pinch, but it really does taste better with lime)
1 Tablespoon of dill
1 Tablespoon of sugar

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First, pour the olive oil in a pan and turn your stove on medium-low.  (This also might be a good time to open the window or turn on your vent if the fishy smell bothers you). Once the oil looks hot, sprinkle salt on both sides of the salmon and place it in the pan, skin side down.  I know it's super tempting to try and peel the skin off before you cook the salmon, but it's so much easier if you wait.  Plus it creates this great layer to help keep the fish from getting dry while cooking.  

The benefit of cooking it on lower heat is that it's easier to keep an eye on how fast it's cooking.  Fish cooks really quickly, so don't leave the stove just yet.  Cooking time will depend on lots of things, but you're aiming for around 3-5 minutes on each side.  The big thing to look for is that the scaly side is a nice golden brown and crispy.  This side you should cook longer than the other, since it has that scaly layer to protect it from getting dry.  

Then flip it over and let it cook until right when the new side looks crispy.  Be careful when you flip it so that the fish doesn't flake apart.  After a few minutes, I normally use some soft silicon tongs to sear the four tiny sides of the fish.  Nothing too long, just a quick evening out.  

Afterwards, immediately remove it from heat.  You don't want it to keep cooking and dry out.  Put it off to the side to cool down. 

Now we're going to work on the sauce.  Pour the sour cream and dill in a bowl and then slowly add the lime juice.  Once that's well mixed in, sprinkle in the sugar, making sure to taste it as you go.  Jose likes it less sweet, while I like it super sweet, so don't be afraid to use as much or as little sugar as you like.  

Going back to your salmon, flip it over and slowly peel off the layer of skin.  It should come off easily and under it will be a layer that looks a little darker, almost gray.  That's a good part of the fish though so don't cut it off or your fish will flake apart.  

Plate and serve.  I told you it was quick!
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A week before our trip to St. Croix, I looked up the weather.  I was hoping to start packing and get an idea of what I would need (You know, the confirmation that the weather's going to be all over the place so you can just pack everything you own ;) to be safe of course!).  And every single day we were there it was supposed to storm.   Not like a little drizzle, no, a full blown thunderstorm.  This is something I would've expected if we were going to London, but I hadn't envisioned sitting on white sand beaches...under an umbrella.  It turned out to be a good thing though that Jose and I went in with the expectation of never seeing the sun, because we only ended up having two really rainy days!  So lucky!!

On one of these days we were in downtown Christiansted and were hoping to go to the beach, but didn't want to get stranded somewhere in the middle of a storm.  So we decided to take a ferry over to Protestant's Cay.  It's a really tiny island in the middle of the Christiansted harbor and the ferry literally takes 1 minute to get there.  It was perfect because we got our little beach fix for the day, but were close to a restaurant that we could run under for cover when we needed it.  The beach is definitely not the best that St. Croix has to offer and I wouldn't recommend it aside from in a situation like this.  We had a lot of fun though and Jose even found a starfish as he was snorkeling around! 

That same day (between storms) we hiked to the top of a giant hill on the outskirts of the city.  The view from the top was beautiful and we used that bit of exercise as justification to drink more piña coladas.