About

Welcome to Savvy Eats! My name is Julie, and I am a 24-year-old recent college graduate and newlywed.

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My philosophy in life is “Smart Food, Smart Fitness, & Smart Life.”

Smart Food

I aim to eat whole, fresh and local foods whenever possible. In the past, I have tried both gluten-free and vegetarian diets in the quest to improve my health and lessen my hypothyroidism symptoms. However, I have found that I feel my best when I eat a little of everything in the world of natural foods.

In the “Smart Food” category, you’ll find the following:

Smart Fitness

In the fall of 2008, I took up Pilates and running. Due to a string of IT band injuries, I switched my focus from running to cycling in the beginning of 2010. Cycling allows me spend more time with my husband, Dan, an avid biker. We actually biked through Italy for our honeymoon in 2010!

For more on my fitness, check out my Cycling Tips and How-Tos page

Smart Life

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I received a degree in Biological Systems Engineering–Food and Bioprocessing. I know, its a mouthful! Essentially, I am half Chemical Engineer, half Food Scientist.

I believe in pursuing your passions and doing what makes you happy. That’s why I’m choosing not to pursue a “traditional” engineering career, instead focusing my energies towards some other ventures that I hope to announce in the near future.

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In the “Smart Life” arena, you will find the following:

And finally, you will find information about my Savvy Blog Services. I help bloggers redesign their blogs and switch to a self-hosted platform.  I’d love to work with you!

– Julie

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at savvyjulie@gmail.com

{ 68 comments… read them below or add one }

1 leianna September 13, 2009 at 7:40 pm

Wow girl thats alot on one plate. I went to University of Wisconsin-River Falls, graduated May 12, 2007 and got married June 16, 2007!
It’s hard but all worth it in the end. Also I was born with hypothyroidism, do you take synthroid?
Anyway, found your blog and love it!

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2 Lindsey September 14, 2009 at 8:43 am

Oh my goodness I think you could be my twin. I had my thyroid removed when I was 15 (four years ago), so I know where you’re coming from there.

BTW…Can you get Armour anymore? I started taking it in August and my pharmacy keeps telling me that Armour is on back order. =/

Great blog…I’ll definitely be sticking around. =)

-Lindsey

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3 Lindsey September 14, 2009 at 11:50 am

Thanks girl! I’ve been on Levoxyl since ’06, but my body stopped converting t3 into t4 (and synthetic thyroid medicine is only t3 whereas the armour/natural medicine is BOTH), so my endo thought it was the better option for me…but it’s so FRUSTRATING trying to find it!

-Lindsey
andshelostit.wordpress.com

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4 Julie @savvyeats September 13, 2009 at 8:23 pm

Thanks, Leianna! I don’t take Synthroid, I’m on Armour because it is what my doctor prefers and it works better for me.

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5 Lizzy September 25, 2009 at 3:18 pm

You are the cutest EVER girl! You have so many great things going on right now, and i’m so excited to read about them! :)

2 cousins of mine actually have hypothyroidism as well, so i know how challenging it can be.

Can’t wait to read more! :)

http://saladdiva.wordpress.com

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6 Jessica September 25, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Hey Julie – thanks for visiting my blog! First off, congrats on getting married…it is such an exciting time, I wish I could re-live the planning period all over again. Second, I also have hypothryoidism, so it seems we have some things in common. Great job on the half marathon. And I would loooooove to go to Greece!!!

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7 Julie @savvyeats September 14, 2009 at 8:59 am

Thanks, Lindsey! I’ve been having some trouble getting Armour too. The pharmacy I usually go to when I’m at home was out last month, so I had to call 5 other pharmacies before I found one that had Armour in stock. Now I’m back at school and need more Armour, so I’ll be calling more pharmacies today!

From what I’ve heard, the FDA is looking at natural thyroid meds as “unapproved drugs,” which is why all the natural thyroid meds are on backorder. I’m going to my doctor sometime in the next two weeks to see if I have other options for treating my hypothyroidism; I’ll let you know what I find out!

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8 natalie September 27, 2009 at 12:37 am

Cute pictures love them! loved reading your about me!!

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9 Allison R. September 27, 2009 at 8:58 am

I am a fellow Badger! I just found your blog and LOVE it! I’ve been wanting to start my own actually, but am not the most computer savvy. Maybe we could meet up sometime for some foodie-ness! :)

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10 healthy ashley October 16, 2009 at 11:55 am

What a great blog! Nice to meet you :) I love the engagement photos.

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11 kathlaughs October 17, 2009 at 9:33 am

i have hypothyroidism too! i’m still struggling to lose the last 10 pounds of my 20 pound weight gain. i just started my own blog to help me stay on track!

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12 Lillian Lum October 26, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Hi Julie
I love what you are doing. Food scientist, eng. aweseome. Mom-I-L has the other thyroid prob-loses weight from here to there, under meds easier to control. I wanted to maintain my weight after I had children, been active and hardbody half my life. I am losing inches-working out and eating smaller portions but throughout the day. Arbonne has a great weight-loss program you may want to look into. My two friends are testimonials-they both lost 30 lbs. in one year-regular exercise, meal replacements. Our products don’t have sugar but stevia, all natural sweetener. Need producs for makeup, etc.? Please visit my website-vegan, non-toxic-this is another way to take care of yourself, not just by eating but what you are putting on your skin. I am researching for a foodie website I am creating (Chinese culture and cuisine, can’t give too much away-thinking about WordPress), so any tips, etc. you offer on your website will interest me. I met a nutritionist who I hired to come into my kitchen to teach me and six friends how to make meals more nutritious without using low fat ingredients. We live in a world of over-processed everything and she taught us low-fat can mean more additives of sodium, sugar, etc. to accommodate. I am looking forward to the lesson! I wish you success with your health and your upcoming nuptials. Will stay tuned . . .

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13 Salt November 9, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Your engagement pics are ADORABLE! Congrats on the upcoming wedding. Isn’t planning so much fun?

PS. You have some of the most delicious looking food on your blog!

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14 Julie @savvyeats December 3, 2009 at 7:02 pm

Thank you!

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15 Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness November 17, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Hi Julie! Thanks for sharing your story and blog. I found Savvy Eats through Oh She Glows.
I am a fellow Wisconsin blogger based out of Milwaukee.
Cheers!

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16 Karla @ Foodologie November 18, 2009 at 9:54 am

Hey Julie!

I just came across your blog from Oh She Glows and it looks great! I can’t wait to read more about food science :) Sounds really interesting.

I saw your moving to Ithaca in January. I’m currently living in Ithaca for Grad School at Cornell. Hope you like it!

Great blog!

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17 Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run November 18, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Excited to keep reading. Great blog!

- Hillary

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18 Pam November 19, 2009 at 10:23 am

Beautiful photo’s! You were meant for each other!

Enjoy and blessings!

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19 Marty November 23, 2009 at 9:53 pm

There is a group of ladies from Cincinnati and Dayton training to do the Princess Half. Our local running store – Fleet Feet and Miles that Matter are conducting the training sessions. I’ll have to have them look at your training schedule.

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20 Tiffanie December 3, 2009 at 4:30 pm

I’m going to be running the Disney Princess 1/2 in March 2010 too!!!

My degree is in Food and Nutrition Science :) I’m a mommy though and the only food science I’m doing is in my kitchen…and loving it! :)

Maybe we’ll get to know one another between then and now and will see each other on race day?! LOL

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21 Julie @savvyeats December 3, 2009 at 7:02 pm

That would be great!

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22 Chrysta December 8, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Hey! Just found your site and love it! Great stuff..what kind of biking do you do?

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23 Julie @savvyeats December 8, 2009 at 10:24 pm

Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been getting into road biking lately, thanks to my fiance!

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24 maria March 3, 2010 at 12:49 am

We have a lot in common. I got married on May 30,2009… two weeks after I graduated from college! Good luck!

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25 Christina@Health-Foodie March 5, 2010 at 11:23 pm

These pictures are so beautiful! Looking at them I kind of regret not getting any engagement pictures. I guess it is never too late for some nice pictures! :) Thanks for the inspiration!

I am sorry about your condition. I am glad you figured it all out! You seem like such a sweet person! Love reading your thoughts!

- Christina

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26 Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] March 15, 2010 at 10:29 pm

Hi Julie -
Struggling with Thesis1.6 over here. Must I be self-hosted to install thesis? Do you know if I can use it in conjunction with WordPress? Will you share with me how you when about downloading and getting it into WP? Your site looks great =]

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27 Brittany March 21, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Hi Julie. It was so great to meet you this weekend. I wish we could have spent more time getting to know one another! Hopefully we’ll get to see each other again sometime!!

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28 Christie March 24, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Awww! Love the engagement pics- thanks for sharing them :)

~Christie http://rollerkoesterrun.wordpress.com/

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29 Lisa April 1, 2010 at 11:51 am

What were your symptoms of hypothyroidism besides the weight gain? I gained 15 pounds last year because of some medication I was taking. I recently stopped taking it and had yet to lose that 15. :(

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30 Joanne April 13, 2010 at 7:42 am

Hello,

I found your site while searching Google and have found your website information and advice to be a very good fit for our visitors. As such, we are interested in buying advertising space on your home page http://www.savvyeat.com/.

Our budget is within $10/month. If you are interested, please send me your rate per month and PayPal information.

If we are happy with your price we will send you the link details that you can place on your website and we will make the payments to the PayPal ID provided.

Thanks for your time.

Regards,

Joanne

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31 Annie April 13, 2010 at 2:32 pm

Can’t wait to keep up with your blog! Loving the pictures. How sweet :)

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32 Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman April 19, 2010 at 4:08 pm

So glad I just found your blog. I have knee problems too (chondromalacia in both knees) so I feel your pain. Can’t wait to read more!

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33 Hayley May 25, 2010 at 11:08 am

You and your fiance are gorgeous. You’ve got a lot of exciting life changes coming up- can’t wait to read about it all!

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34 Jennifer @ shesafitchick June 25, 2010 at 3:58 pm

What beautiful engagement pictures! :)

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35 Robin July 1, 2010 at 1:30 pm

I’m a rising sophomore chemical engineering student who has a passion for food! How would you recommend building the bridge to fuse chemical engineering and food science into a future devoid of cubicles and nerdy male coworkers? :p

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36 Julie @savvyeats July 1, 2010 at 1:38 pm

Hi Robin! A LOT of the big food companies hire Chemical Engineers for Product Research & Development, Quality Control, etc. I’ve noticed, too, that a lot of consumer product companies have a higher ratio of women in their R&D departments than the average engineering job. If you have more questions or want to hear more about my internship experiences (including one with one of the ‘big names’ in food), send me an email at savvyjulie@gmail.com !

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37 Dorry July 7, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Hi Julie! Glad to connect in blogworld – can’t wait to meet you in Chicago at HLS!

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38 Cynthia (It All Changes) September 7, 2010 at 7:35 pm

You are so savvy you deserve an award. Find out more on this post…http://itallchanges.com/2010/09/06/loving-yourself-blogger-award/

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39 Elizabeth Jarrard September 26, 2010 at 7:27 pm

wow great blog!! love the organizatioN!

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40 Kristina @ Life as Kristina January 2, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Love your blog-so glad I stumbled upon it! Looking forward to following you:)

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41 Kathleen @ Kat's Health Corner January 6, 2011 at 10:35 am

I just found your blog and I LOVE IT!!! It is STUNNING!
I love the science behind food! :)

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42 Julie @savvyeats January 6, 2011 at 11:32 am

Thanks so much for your sweet comment! Welcome!

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43 Allie January 6, 2011 at 1:55 pm

New to your blog, and I am definately subscribing. I hear you on the running injuries. I have my own limitations and it makes exercising hard. It’s good to see you found a sport you can do. I hope to find one soon!

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44 Chelsey @ Chew With Your Mouth Open May 6, 2011 at 3:56 pm

I love your personal story! Thanks for sharing and being so transparent. I also struggle with two metabolic/endocrine disorders… The whole game is still very new to me and frustrating. It is great to know there are others out there who understand!
Chelsey @ Chew With Your Mouth Open recently posted..Myth Buster 4 – Superfoods- Are they really super

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45 Tori (Fresh Fruition) May 19, 2011 at 3:37 pm

Good for you for following your heart and doing what you love!

I look forward to reading more :)
Tori (Fresh Fruition) recently posted..A Weekend of Firsts

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46 Juju @ Get Fit with Juju June 13, 2011 at 2:56 pm

Hi, Julie!
I wanted to head over to your blog, after signing up with HLB.com. Thank you for all the hard work that goes into HLB.com, and for giving us, a wonderful blog like yours! You are so organized and write so well! :)
I’m so glad to have found you through HLB, and love your blog!
Juju @ Get Fit with Juju recently posted..Book- A New Earth By Eckhart Tolle

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47 Julie @savvyeats June 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Thank you so much. Welcome to Savvy Eats and HLB!

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48 Laura @ prettylittlewords July 12, 2011 at 11:33 pm

Hey girl! Just found your blog, I’m also a Badger :)
Laura @ prettylittlewords recently posted..Grown-up responsibilities

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49 Kristen @ notsodomesticated July 14, 2011 at 3:05 pm

I found you on “Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life” and I love all of your photography! You have awesome skills!! :)
Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..Wednesday’s Big Brother

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50 Callie @ Callieflower Kitchen July 31, 2011 at 8:13 pm

Wow, I can’t believe I just found your blog! I’m a chemical engineering student right now, and you basically have the degree/life I want once I graduate, haha. Your photos are beautiful, and so are you! :)
Callie @ Callieflower Kitchen recently posted..The Great Fundraising Act

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51 Julie @savvyeats August 1, 2011 at 10:46 am

Thank you so much. Welcome to Savvy Eats! Where are you studying?

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52 dominic August 22, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Hi Julie,

Congrats on your blog. I find it very good, well designed and inspiring!
Your 101 goals are also inspiring and made me write my own.
I see that part of the plan is to come to Montreal where I live. Wise choice. Montreal is amazing for any food lover. I could be your guide. I would be honoured to meet you and have a coffee.

Keep in touch. Keep on the good work.

Dominic
dominic recently posted..Travelling around Turkey in June

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53 Pearl August 28, 2011 at 12:20 am

You sure practice life very smartly. Smart fitness, should this mean biking? Cause I’ve also started biking too.
Pearl recently posted..car parking games for girls

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54 Julie @savvyeats August 28, 2011 at 9:45 pm

For me it definitely does!

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55 piliksalbador September 7, 2011 at 11:34 am

you are what you eat!! that’s what my grandma always say!
hope to read more from you soon!! stay savvy!! yeah!
piliksalbador recently posted..play angry birds game

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56 Cynthia September 13, 2011 at 9:24 am

It sounds that you are a healthy person.. Hope I could be just like you..
Cynthia recently posted..Guide to Opening a Checking Account While on Chexsystems

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57 roronoa September 25, 2011 at 1:17 pm

How would you recommend building the bridge to fuse chemical engineering and food science into a future devoid of cubicles and nerdy male coworkers.. | :P
roronoa recently posted..play truck games

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58 Julie @savvyeats September 26, 2011 at 8:18 am

Have you looked into Research and Development or Quality Control at a food company? That’s where I’d start!

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59 Irene September 28, 2011 at 11:20 am

great post i am looking forward to hear from you guys..
Irene recently posted..angry birds download

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60 jazz0506 October 4, 2011 at 3:55 pm

Congrats on your blog. I find it very good, well designed and inspiring!
Your 101 goals are also inspiring and made me write my own.
I see that part of the plan is to come to Montreal where I live. | :P
jazz0506 recently posted..cool monster truck games

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61 Loganacia October 5, 2011 at 3:22 am

hanks for sharing and being so transparent. I also struggle with two metabolic endocrine disorders The whole game is still very new to me and frustrating.
Loganacia recently posted..angry birds cake

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62 Debe October 5, 2011 at 5:02 pm

Just discovered your Blog LOVE IT…I am a fellow alum also from UWM (many moons ago! ) trust me on this one!

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63 Rebecca Magliozzi October 24, 2011 at 11:12 pm

Hi,
I love your blog! I have Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid disease that makes my thyroid hypo) and also love to eat as healthy as possible. Also take Armour too and love it! I have a boy with an autoimmune disorder and autism, and Armour saved my life and gave me so much energy and patience back. I am GF too, so will be converting your recipes a bit. I can’t wait to try the blueberry pie bars for my boys and me.
Have you looked into NAET (natural allergy elimination treatment) for your thyroid problem? We are using it for my son’s condition, which is associated with strep (PANDAS), and his autoimmune disorder is starting to decrease and go into remission. I can’t afford to do NAET for myself yet but plan on it when my boy finally finishes his treatments. I will let you know if it works for thyroid problems. It uses accupuncture to desensitize your body to whatever it is reacting to. I honestly can’t believe how well it works. I have a coworker who had great success with it too (she had multiple food allergies) but my son’s progress is just unbelievable.
you can find info on it at http://www.naet.com if you want more info.

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64 Julie @savvyeats October 26, 2011 at 8:24 am

My cousin has Hashimoto’s, and I know it can be a pain to manage. Good for you for doing what you can to help it!

I haven’t heard of NAET, but I will look into it. Thank you for that tip!

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65 Bucky loves babcock December 5, 2011 at 10:10 pm

Hey Julie!

I just found your blog by accident! I’m studying at UW-Madison too, go badgers!

Are you still in Madison? I would love to meet up with you sometime! I’ve never met a food blogger before! (:

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66 Anna @ hiddenponies December 29, 2011 at 10:37 pm

Loved reading the story behind the blog, I’m with you in feeling best when eating a bit of everything, as natural as possible! Can’t wait to try some of your recipes!
Anna @ hiddenponies recently posted..Whipped & Dipped Shortbread

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67 Julie @savvyeats September 25, 2009 at 3:27 pm

Thanks Lizzy, you just made my day!

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68 Julie @savvyeats September 27, 2009 at 1:56 pm

Sure! Feel free to email me at savvyeat *at* gmail *dot* com to set something up or ask any questions you have about starting a blog. Wordpress is super user-friendly!

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