Homeboy loves his bench. Or at least he thinks it's his bench. I think he likes the extra height ;) I've been working on renovating said bench for a while, but it's just soooo hot outside- it makes the job very unmotivating. I still need to touch up the black paint in some places and paint a final varnish coat after that.... I'm done! Hooray to another project being *almost* finished. There are some more items that are in the works, but in the mean time I'll leave you with this:
May 24: More than 90 percent of people with lupus will experience joint and/or muscle pain. Treatments are available that can help to control the pain associated with lupus.
May 25: The malar, or butterfly rash on the face, is present in about one third of those with systemic lupus.
May 26: Discoid lupus (most common skin lupus) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cases of lupus and occurs in 20 percent of those with systemic lupus.
May 27: Approximately 95 percent of people with lupus suffer from some form of oral involvement that will affect their mouth or gums. Ulcers on the roof of the mouth or in the nose can be a sign of lupus among people who are not yet diagnosed with the disease.
May 28: Eye disease occurs in approximately 20 percent of people with lupus. The disease can affect the eyeball, the retina, and the muscles that control eye movement.
May 29: Lupus can be expensive to manage and live with. A study found that the average annual cost to provide healthcare for a person with lupus was $12,643 and was nearly $21,000 when lost productivity on the job due to illness is included.
May 30: Successful treatment of lupus often requires a combination of medications. Nearly two dozen clinical studies are underway to develop new safe, more tolerable and effective treatments for lupus.
May 31: As many as 80 percent of people with lupus experience fatigue. For some people with lupus, fatigue is their main symptom and can be debilitating, even to the point of forcing them to stop working.
As Lupus Awareness Month comes to an end, I want to thank everyone for following along! Lupus Awareness is a cause that is near and dear to me and it means so much to me that you have commented and followed me along this journey :)
To celebrate.... I have one more giveaway to offer! Melinda, of Palindrome at Home, has donated a lovely hand-made tote, sewn from Hawaiian fabric and embellished with bamboo handles and a clay button. In addition, she has donated fabric and supplies to sew your own tote!
To Enter:
TO ENTER:
1) Post a comment telling me about a cause you care about and why it is meaningful to you.
2) Tweet this giveaway with the #lupusawarenessmonth hash tag and post a separate comment with the twitter link.
3) Blog about this giveaway and post a separate comment with your blog link.
So I'm sure many of you know Kelly Moore by her fabulous camera bags or incredible photography. Here's another reason to love her: an incredible home renovation.
The best part? Those counter-tops you see? They're DIY. They're concrete. The cost was around $300. This has probably replaced the butcher block counter-top as my new favorite. Now, if only I can convince my husband to feel the same....
I can't believe May is already coming to an end next week! Has it flown by for anyone else??
This weekend marked a momentous occasion for my sister- she graduated from UT! I am so proud, happy, and excited for her to start on this new journey of her life. In honor of this special occasion, and because it's Monday, and because it's almost June, and just because.....
I'm hosting a double, cooking-themed giveaway today!
A yummy, favorite childhood treat: Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies graciously donated by the lovely Kate at Marsh Mellow Goodness.
AND a super cute apron donated by the sweet, mama-to-be, Jenn at Orange You Sweet:
Choose from one of her handmade, waist-tie aprons-
TO ENTER:
1) Post a comment telling me your favorite dish to make or your favorite dish to eat :)
2) Tweet this giveaway with the #lupusawarenessmonth hash tag and post a separate comment with the twitter link.
3) Blog about this giveaway and post a separate comment with your blog link.
May 19: Since many symptoms of lupus mimic those of other illnesses, lupus often can take three to five years to diagnose. Symptoms of lupus can come and go over time, which makes a definite diagnosis more difficult.
May 20: There is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person does or does not have lupus. Diagnosing lupus involves analyzing the results of several lab tests that are used to monitor the immune system, along with a review of the person’s entire medical history.
May 21: With current methods of therapy, 80 to 90 percent of people with non-organ threatening lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.
May 22: It is estimated that as many as 40 percent of all people with lupus, and as many as two-thirds of all children with lupus, will develop kidney complications that require medical care and treatment.
May 23: Lupus develops most often between ages 15 and 44. However, lupus can develop among males and females of any age, including children and teens.
I am horrible at handling stress. This is something I've really had to work hard at managing, and, many times, I've failed. Emotionally, I get incredibly anxious when there are too many things on my plate or when I've avoided confronting or dealing with a problem. Work, studying, commitments to friends and family, deadlines, responsibilities, expectations from others and myself, and everyday life can be overwhelming at times. I know that if I don't handle my stress carefully, it will end up snowballing down on me at some point which leads to emotional and physical fatigue and pain. Both of these consequences are exasperated by my autoimmune illness, and it usually takes days or weeks to recover from it. In summary, it sucks.
However, over the last 10 years, I've learned that there are things that I can do to help prevent this. Specifically, I've found that through art and creativity, I am able to release some of the tension that I tend to keep pent up inside. Other stress-relieving methods such as exercise, yoga, and meditation also seem to help, but art is definitely my go-to solution for stress management.
I thought I would bring this up for a few reasons. One being that I have suffered from horrible back, neck and arm pain for the last month. Pain that would wake me up at night (trust me, it's not fun). Finally, I caved and saw my general practitioner, who after questioning me, was led to the conclusion that it was probably caused from stress stemming from the big exam I took at the beginning of April. I remembered how tense I was in the week before the exam and even on the actual exam day. I pretty much ate, slept, and breathed exam preparation for most of March, and I neglected to handle the mounting stress I was feeling- no wonder I've felt so horrible for the last month. This is the first time I've had severe muscle tension from stress, and it's really been a reminder/wake-up call that managing stress will be a continuing struggle for me.
The second reason I thought I would bring light to this is that stress management is really important for everyone- whether you suffer from an autoimmune illness or not. It affects your metabolism, immune system, muscles, emotional health, and can negatively affect overall life. It can cause ulcers and heart problems. For Lupus patients, stress can cause flare ups (increased activity of the illness) and can lead to serious problems, such as Lupus Nephritis- Lupus involvement of the kidneys. This is something that my mother suffered from, and I now wish we had made an earlier (better) effort to manage stress in our lives.
May 17: About five percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness. At present, there is no genetic screening test that can determine who might go on to develop lupus later in life.
May 18: Lupus is typically treated by a doctor called a rheumatologist. Depending on how lupus affects their body, some people with lupus may need additional care from specialists, like a dermatologist for skin problems, a nephrologist for kidney disease, or a cardiologist for heart complications.
May 16: African Americans, Hispanics/Latinas, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are two or three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians; however, lupus affects people of all races and ethnicities.
**Don't forget to enter the Wedding giveaway from Laura at Thoughfully Designed (here)!!
(I'm still processing the winners from the previous giveaways due to the errors with blogger last week)
In addition to blogging, she also runs an etsy shop: Thoughtfully Designed, where she has continued her love for creating wedding DIY projects. Laura is offering either a memorial candle:
Either of these beautiful mementos would be a wonderful way to honor a loved one that cannot join you on your big day. I love that Laura's items can be easily incorporated in to your home decor as an every day reminder of your wedding, and a continued tribute to those no longer with us.
P.S. They make great gifts too :)
To Enter:
1) Post a comment stating your favorite attribute about someone you love.
2) Tweet this giveaway with the #lupusawarenessmonth hash tag and post a separate comment with the twitter link.
3) Blog about this giveaway or Lupus Awareness and post a separate comment with the link.
*I will be donating $1 to the Lupus Foundation of America for every comment posted on this giveaway. I am not receiving anything from Laura in return for this giveaway.
May 11: The most common symptoms of lupus are: extreme fatigue or exhaustion, headaches, painful or swollen joints, fever, a butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, sun- or light-sensitivity, and hair loss.
May 12: Some of the factors that may trigger lupus in people who have the genes that make them prone to develop the disease include infections, ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain prescription drugs, and hormones.
May 13: Cutaneous lupus is a form of lupus that is limited to the skin and can cause rashes or sores.
May 14: Drug-induced lupus is a lupus-like disease caused by taking specific prescription drugs. The symptoms usually disappear within six months after these medications are stopped.
May 15: Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that affects infants of women who have lupus and is caused by antibodies from the mother that affects the infant in the womb. With proper testing, physicians can now identify most at-risk mothers, and the infant can be treated at or before birth.
**Don't forget to enter to win a pair of beautiful earrings from Integrative Creations (here)!!
-a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.
Diagnosis:
The FM diagnostic criteria, established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1990, includes a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months, and pain in at least 11 of the 18 designated tender points when a specified amount of pressure is applied.
Since people with FM tend to look healthy and conventional tests are typically normal, a physician knowledgeable about the disorder is necessary to make a diagnosis.
Physicians should rule out other causes of the symptoms before making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Symptoms:
Although chronic, widespread body pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia, a variety of other symptoms are common in FM patients. Symptoms include: moderate to severe fatigue, sleep disorders, problems with cognitive functioning, IBS, headaches and migraines, anxiety and depression, and environmental sensitivities.
Research has documented neuroendocrine physiological abnormalities that may contribute to the symptoms.
Causes:
Recent research has suggested a genetic component. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children.
Fibromyalgia often occurs following a physical trauma, such as an acute illness or injury, which may act as a “trigger” in the development of the disorder.
Increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FM. Recent studies have suggested that FM patients have generalized disturbance in pain processing and an amplified response to stimuli that would not ordinarily be painful in healthy individuals.
Treatment:
Since there is no known cure for FM, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving function.
A variety of prescription medications are often used to reduce pain levels and improve sleep. On June 21, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lyrica (pregabalin) as the first drug to treat fibromyalgia. Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) was approved in June 2008; and Savella (milnacipran HCl) was approved in January 2009.
Alternative therapies, such as massage, myofasical release, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal supplements and yoga, can be effective tools in managing FM symptoms.
Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.
All information is taken from the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association's website.
Donations to support research and awareness can be made here.
Today's Lupus Awareness Month Giveaway is from local (Austin) artist Integrative Creations. I recently stumbled across her shop, and I absolutely love the rustic look of her jewelry creations. Of course it doesn't hurt that she resides in the best city in Texas ;)
For those of you not in Texas, she also makes customized state necklaces- <3 the little heart!
This giveaway is for one pair of these very lovely bronze earrings:
** I will be donating $1 to the Lupus Foundation of America for every comment posted on this giveaway. I am not receiving anything from Integrative Creations in return for this giveaway.
May 10: Only ten percent of people with lupus will have a close relative who already has lupus or may develop lupus. Some people with lupus also will have a relative who has lupus or another autoimmune disease.
Lupus has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I didn't know the specifics of the disease until later in life, but I remember as a child that my mom was careful to stay out of the sun and that she took medicine every day. Even so, she never let Lupus interfere with being a mom. She always put her family first and made sure we were taken care of and loved. For the most part, she balanced life and Lupus beautifully.
My Mom's Story: Mama was diagnosed with Lupus at an early age. I can't imagine how her and her family took this news initially. During that time, little was known about Lupus, and having such a diagnosis was often associated with a very, very hard battle with it. I'm not sure what her life as a teenager was like with Lupus. I believe she developed pneumonia several times, and had to spend some time out of school and in the hospital because of it. I remember my father saying that she wore white gloves on one of their first dates because she had a Lupus rash on her hands. Like always, it seems that Lupus was not something she let interfere with her life.
It wasn't until I reached high school that I remember her really having problems with it. She got sick and had to have chemo treatments. The cause of it was Lupus Nephritis: a form of Lupus that affects the kidneys. I didn't realize it at the time, but I know it must have been a very scary period of time for her. Her doctor and her were forced to make a serious decision on how to stop her Lupus from essentially attacking her kidneys, and, at the time, chemo was the answer. Unfortunately, we later found out that the same chemo used to prevent Lupus from attacking her kidneys, most likely caused the pre-leukemia she was diagnosed with nearly seven years later.
My story: During the second semester of my freshmen year, I developed vasculitis. Three months and several doctors later, a rheumatologist gave me a diagnosis: Lupus. It was scary. The only Lupus I knew was that which my mom had, and, at the time, I didn't understand that every person's Lupus was different. Thankfully, I had a wonderful rheumatologist, and the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that he prescribed to treat my illness were very effective in keeping my illness in check. Since then, I've gone through the emotional and physical struggles of coping. I saw a counselor for a while, I attended some stress-management classes, and, over time, I learned that there are certain things I must avoid that will cause me feel pain and fatigue.
I know now that in no way is my Lupus like my mother's- mine is much less invasive and much less severe. At the same time, I am aware that there are many other men and women who have a type of Lupus very much like my mother's. For that reason, I know how important it is to spread Lupus awareness and encourage continued research.
Lucy: The Beetles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was inspired by a drawing Julian Lennon made as a young child of a girl named Lucy. Lucy passed away from complications with Lupus in 2009. Julian Lennon and James Cook paired up to write this song, inspired by both Lucy and James' grandmother, who also suffered from Lupus:
Proceeds from the EP will be donated to both the Lupus Foundation of America and the St. Thomas Lupus Trust in Great Britain.
May 7: 5 percent of all cases of lupus are in children. About 20% of systemic lupus patients are diagnosed before 20 years of age. In the majority of these individuals, the illness begins around the time of puberty, or 12 to 14 years of age.
I'm sure many of you have made plans involving Mexican food and margaritas this evening. To help you celebrate even more, Amy of The Nifty Foodie has graciously offered up some of her cute puppy bandanas for y'all. (Not only can the woman cook up a storm, but she's also a very talented seamstress!)
The giveaway is for THREE puppy bandanas in either small, medium, or large (in the prints, as shown below):
To enter:
1) Post a comment telling me about your Cinco de Mayo celebration plans. (If you don't have any, just say hello :D )
2) Tweet this giveaway with the #lupusawarenessmonth hash tag and post a separate comment with the twitter link.
3) Blog about this giveaway or Lupus Awareness and post a separate comment with the link.
Contest ends Tuesday at midnight!
(And don't forget to enter the Starbucks gift card giveaway here!)
GOOD LUCK!
*I will be donating $1 to the Lupus Foundation of America for every comment posted on this giveaway. I am not receiving anything from Amy in return for this giveaway.
A theme of purple- the color representing the Lupus cause. In celebration of Lupus Awareness Month, I found some inspiring images incorporating purple into decor.
May 3: Most people with lupus will experience joint pain without swelling. Although people with lupus can have arthritis, lupus is not a form of arthritis.
May 2: In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu).The result is the production of autoantibodies that attack healthy tissue.
Edit: I've extended the contest through Friday at midnight.
GOOD LUCK!!
*I will be donating $1 to the Lupus Foundation of America for every comment posted on this giveaway. I am not receiving anything from Starbucks in return for this giveaway. They know not who I am and are in no way sponsoring this contest.
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