Hi guys, my name is Chandice and I love family, fun and FOOD!
My journey to VIVACIOUS freedom
As a little girl, I was always described as vivacious: bubbly, effervescent, talkative and overflowing with enthusiasm for life! As I have grown, at times I felt like my personality was “too cheesy” or overly “rainbows and sunshine” for people around me.
So, for some time, I bridled that spirited girl inside of me which made for some very tough years. In recent years, I’ve become comfortable in my own skin, and I want that part of me to shine!
Why authenticity is important to me
I am here to tell you that being authentically you is the only way to truly live happily. People will gravitate towards your authenticity and want to learn more about what makes you so joyful.
Everything I do is authentic (No smoke and mirrors here.) What you see are true excerpts from our life. If I share a blog post on how to throw an Italian dinner party, you better believe that it was styled first with my own family in mind to CELEBRATE life.
If it is a recipe I am sharing and hoping you DELIGHT in, like our Instant Pot Mac n’ Cheese, more than likely my middle son was in the kitchen with me measuring out ingredients. He wants to be a chef one day and this mama is happy to help him gain more knowledge in the kitchen!
I am all about the end memory or feeling of any event, delicious recipe or holiday idea I share. I don’t just set up a beautiful table, photograph it for my blog then put it away before my family can see it.
On the contrary, I style it for them, because I want to create a special memory that will bring them joy for many years to come. Just like we did in creating this gorgeous Bohemian wedding charcuterie spread and cookies for my little sisters wedding. I want to create traditions in the form of food and fun that continue to be passed on both in our family and yours!
This blog embodies vivacity and authenticity but it also always comes back to my three core brand values:
CELEBRATE-Let’s celebrate this ONE life we have to live together!
TRADITION-I love creating new traditions in our own family and want to help you create some too!
DELIGHT- Delight, whole heartedly, in the most delicious gluten-free food you will ever have! (You can even serve it to people who DON’T live gluten-free!)
Finding out I had celiac disease alongside one of my best friends
Now, all the “fun and glam” in my life doesn’t mean that I don’t face challenges. I have overcome many things and continue to be faced with hard things. In 2008 I was diagnosed with celiac disease. It came just a few months after my mom (and one of my very best friends) diagnosis.
Both my mom and I made the most of our new situation by transforming some of our favorite gluten-filled recipes to gluten-free. Since Thanksgiving was always the holiday my mom cooked for everyone, we made those recipes first. Mom’s gluten-free crescent rolls, are the perfect addition to any harvest table!
And these gluten-free cinnamon rolls are also a huge hit! They continue to be a recipe that everyone just loves. Nobody even knows they are gluten-free!
My mom and I, after learning we needed to permanently live gluten-free, have actively chose happiness.
I enjoy focusing on making memories with a grateful heart. I do this with the people I love most through delicious meals and gatherings.
I was taught this at a young age as my mom would always make even the smallest of holidays special for us. She didn’t do it to show the neighbors. She did it because she received great joy in seeing how happy it made us.
Since I am a very nostalgic person, so many of the traditions my mom instilled in us are things I now hope to share with my kids AND with all of you.
I hope you find this blog to be a safe haven of authentic joy and happiness in an often negative world. More than anything, I want you to know that you are free to be YOU!
Live with unbridled joy and do what makes you truly happy. Life is too short not to enjoy it with those you love most…
Taking celiac disease awareness national and working with Mark Cuban
I had the honor of co-authoring a book with my called Gluten Free on a Budget, a cookbook filled with 100+ vibrantly photographed recipes. I have had the great joy of being featured on many wonderful media outlets.
While living in Arizona, I was a contributor on Channel 3 Your Life A to Z in Arizona regularly and now contribute to Good Things Utah as often as my schedule allows.
The immense joy of sharing my love for food blogging with thousands of other food bloggers from around the globe has grown even more through my involvement in Tastemaker Conference. Being a partner along side the incredible Abbey girl of The Butter Half and talking to brands everyday as Tastemaker sponsor director fulfills my foodie soul even more!
Fun fact: My husband and I started a business a few years back hosting celiac awareness nights with professional athletic teams. We had the pleasure of working with teams such as the Miami Heat, Arizona Diamondbacks, Yankees, Padres and more. We received an angel investment from none other than Mr. Mark Cuban himself and was able to host even more celiac awareness nights. It was certainly an exciting partnership!
In addition to my above professions, I truly consider my role as a wife, mother and everyday cook to my family to be of greatest value.
If you want to learn more about the faith that grounds me and has provided me with more happiness than I could imagine, please click HERE. Get a FREE copy of my favorite book ever click HERE.
Let’s work together!
I am currently only taking on sponsored projects in the form of recipe development, styled parties and social media only campaigns. I am also available for television appearances and interviews. You can view all of my TV appearances HERE and all of my recipe videos HERE.
Time and again I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of brands to help them achieve their marketing goals and deliver a huge return on investment.
I’d love to hear more about your products and how you see us working together! Please feel free to email me at chandice (at) thisvivaciouslife (dot) com or message me on Instagram.
