Category: life curation

health · life curation

Fibro Friday – Unexpected Fibromyalgia Symptoms

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As promised in a previous post, I’m devoting Fridays to fibromyalgia and all of the information, advice, support, and discoveries that I’ve had during my fibro journey.

Today, I’m discussing some of the unexpected fibro symptoms that I’ve noted in the past year. The most common symptoms – fatigue, muscle aches, mental fog – are well known, but there are quite a few others that I feel are worth noting.

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  • Hypersensitivity to heat and cold – I found myself unable to enter certain grocery stores due to the extreme cold within certain sections of the store. Even though summers here in Virginia are scorching, I couldn’t bear to go from the heat to the air-conditioned stores. Then, during the winter, I found myself quickly adjusting my thermostat because a little too much heat would trigger intense sweats. I’m glad that my medication has given me some relief from this particular symptom, but I still notice that those sensitivities have to be actively managed (dressing in layers so I can quickly adjust to the temperatures of whatever place I’m visiting).

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  • Pronounced thirst – I find myself drinking a LOT of water. And it seems like sometimes I can’t drink enough water to quench my thirst. I suppose it’s a good thing that I’m drinking more water, but it also gets annoying. It’s also important to be careful: too much water can be harmful to the body. So I have to also make sure that I get as much of my “water” from fresh fruit as possible. Which leads to my next point . . .

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  • Taste for “light” (fresh) foods – I’ve found myself wanting very “light” foods all of the time. I crave foods that can digest easily and leave me feeling light and refreshed. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy the heady delights that can be found in Thai, Indian and Ethiopian cuisine. But over the past several months, I’ve craved smoothies, salads and other “light” foods that are gentle on my digestion. I think this may be because fibro is usually associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and, while I don’t have IBS, I still prefer foods that aren’t too taxing on my somewhat more sensitive digestive system.

Those are just a few of the symptoms that I’ve experienced that I suspect are related to my fibro. There are several more, but these were the most pronounced symptoms that I rarely saw mentioned when researching fibro.

That’s it for the week! I hope you all are well and continuing to take care of yourselves. Have a great weekend.

health · life curation · relaxation

Take a Moment to Feel the Sun

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The sun is such a blessing. I feel very connected with sun energy, and I embrace the times where I can go outside and simply feel the sun on my skin. My good friend Diana mentioned more than once that I need to intentionally connect with sun energy, and that’s why I’m devoting this post to her. I’m listening, chica. I’m choosing to regularly connect with this incredible energy source.

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Enjoy the sunshine

This life-sustaining ball of fire continues to remind me of all of the good things about life. Delicious fresh fruit and vegetables grow because THE SUN IS. My skin grows to a deeper chocolate hue every summer because THE SUN IS. Time and all things that we use to measure the span of our lives is possible because THE SUN IS.

So, if you can, take a moment, step outside and feel the sun. Let the rays kiss your skin and serve as a reminder that every day is magical. And then, embrace the other magic that shows up for you: it surrounds you, and it is waiting for you to see it.

beauty · fitness · life curation

My Latest Obsession: Mature YouTubers

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There’s something truly magical about learning to love the skin you’re in and embracing the aging process. I’ve spent a lot of time combing through YouTube to find content creators that can offer their life insights along with beauty information that’s applicable to the 40/50+ crowd. I’m inspired by these lovely women that define “aging gracefully”.

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The Free Range Diva: One of my all-time favorites. She is one of the rare mature women of color in the green beauty realm. She’s taught me about many green/clean beauty and health brands that I’d never heard of before. Here’s a video where she shares some things we can do while quarantined.

MzBrazell: She cooks, she dons different hair looks, and she’s charming. MzBrazell’s channel has been one of my favorites for quite some time. Here’s a video where she shows her most recent Amazon haul:

 

Life Over Sixty with Sandra: She has a background in media so she is amazing on YT. I love to hear her musings and refletions on her career. This video about listening to your intuition is a treasure.

 

 

NeeCJae: She has beautiful makeup looks and reviews, and I love her energy! This is a video with ideas of what you can do while quarantined.

 

Sussex Sandra: One of our sisters across the pond has a YT channel that discusses makeup and beauty. She does a lot of unboxing videos, so if that’s your thing, her channel is worth checking out. Here, she does a Treasure Tress Hair Subscription unboxing:

 

These are a few of the ladies that I’m watching right now. Do you have any favorite mature YTers? Please let me know in the comments below!

health · life curation

How I’m Managing Anxiety Right Now

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During this time, I continue to surprise myself with how calm and level-headed I have been. Yes, I know that having many privileges and blessing (comfortable home, enough food, adequate finances, family in good health) factor into my relatively anxiety-free state. But, I’m also actively managing my anxiety levels because I’m very susceptible to low moods and bouts of nervousness that can easily aggravate my fibromyalgia and trigger a flare-up of my symptoms.

For starters, I’ve tried to maintain my normal schedule as much as possible. Remaining committed to a regular schedule can really help you feel “in control” of your circumstances and more relaxed as a result. Along with good nutrition and continuing to take my pain management medications, I also have been incorporating yoga into my routine several times per week. I find that doing stretches and sensing the areas of tension in my body have been crucial in learning to relax and manage my anxiety.

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I pour my feelings into a journal in order to give myself some relief. I have designed over 100 journals that I absolutely love, and I have happily used several of them to capture my musings and to help me manage anxious feelings whenever they arise. I’m glad that I haven’t had to use them daily, but whenever it’s needed, it’s good to know that this method is available to me and it’s effective.

I’m also taking a supplement that I purchased from a local health food store. I cannot guarantee that this supplement will give you amazing results, but I find that it gives me some relief, especially when I’m experiencing fibro symptoms. This hypericum performatum is great and I’ve enjoyed using it occasionally. I’ve found that it really does help with my symptoms

How are you all managing your anxiety right now? Please let me know in the comments below!

 

 

 

*Affiliate links are featured in this article.

 

health · life curation

What If I Just Want to Rest Right Now?

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With all of this unexpected time to stay home and devote to the projects that have been nagging us, it only makes sense that some of us feel it is necessary to do all of our “to-dos” while we can.

But . . . What if all we really want to do is rest and relax?

What if we are too tired to actually do all of the things that we said we’d do when we had “free time”?

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We shouldn’t feel guilty about deciding to simply BE at this time. This time isn’t truly “free” time: this is a period of unexpected, forced containment that has us all feeling uncertain right now.

So if you’re feeling tired, or just want to relax right now . . . DO IT. You’ll be better for it.

art · hollywood glamour · life curation · music

Andrew Lloyd Webber Loves Us . . .

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I’m taking a break from “Fibro Friday” (I’ll be back with FF next week) to share some exciting news. One of the most heartbreaking things that has happened since the emergence of COVID-19 is seeing Broadway go dark. While I don’t intend to minimize the tragic loss of life during this time, I was still saddened to see the live theater tradition halted in NYC.

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But with every cloud, there is a silver lining. I’m thrilled to share that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals will be available to view for FREE on YouTube. The musicals started premiering today, at 11 AM on the YouTube channel “The Shows Must Go On“. The musicals will be available for 48 hours for your enjoyment. The first musical showing this weekend is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

This is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak experience. I hope you all take time to enjoy some amazing live theater in the comfort of your home this weekend.

Well, that’s it for this week. I hope you all are well and taking good care of yourselves. Much love to you all!

 

 

 

life curation

What I’m Enjoying This Week

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Despite being temporarily confined to my home, I’ve been making it a point to enjoy small pleasures each day. This really helps me to maintain a positive attitude and keeps my energy high. I take delight in indulging in little self-care rituals each day.

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I continue to use a modified version of the Korean 10-step skincare approach. My skincare routine has been a source of comfort and relaxation for me. Unfortunately, some of my favorite essence options have increased significantly in price, and I’d rather spend my money on other things. So I have been using the Bliss Rose Gold Rescue Toner Mist as an essence instead. It’s more affordable and easy to use. I’ve found this product to be gentle and lovely. So far, I’ve enjoyed using this tremendously.

I’ve been very interested in optimizing my immune system and giving my body the best chance to operate at its peak. So, I’ve been enjoying this delicious Tiesta Tea Immunity Tea: Chocolate Ginger Turmeric Spiced Cocoa Rooibos Tea. This incredible tea contains delicious bits of chocolate and caramel to offer some subtle sweetness while providing the nutritional benefits of turmeric and ginger. I love to sip this in the evenings as I unwind and prepare for bed.

Because I enjoy the ceremony of drinking a beautiful tea (you all may recall the last time I wrote about my love of tea), I’ve been especially enjoying my tea cup and saucer. I have the Mikasa Love Story set (I’ve shared it here before) but, if you aren’t interested in purchasing the full set, you can get the cup and saucer separately. I love these pieces and use them regularly.

My favorite cup and saucer set

While sipping my tea and unwinding in the evening, I’ve been making it a point to read a good book. Recently, I’ve been reading The Woman’s Herbal Apothecary by JJ Pursell. I’m curious about how herbs, teas and tinctures can be used to heal our bodies. I’m also starting to stock my cupboards with the herbs that I find may be most beneficial on my journey to optimal health.

That’s just a little of what I’m enjoying this week. How about you all: what has been giving you a little peace during this time? I’d love to hear about it!

*All links shared in this post are affiliate links.

art · life curation · reading list · relaxation

What I’ve Been Working On. . .

Mstldelano2 Comments

Let’s just take a moment to smile at the fact that we’ve made it to April. How blessed are we to see a new month and to know that things will only get better from here!

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I know that I’ve taken a couple of mini-hiatuses from the blog. As you all know, I’ve been nurturing my body after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year, but I haven’t allowed my diagnosis to stop me from pursuing my passions. At the beginning, this diagnosis felt like a hard stop: I had to relearn so many things and find a new normal.

I’ve had to adjust the pace at which I work toward my goals, but I am happy to report that, as I get better, I have more energy to work on the things that delight me. I still struggle with chronic pain, fatigue, and the mental fog that comes along with fibro, but those symptoms are not as pronounced as they used to be, which is such a blessing!

One of the biggest projects that has given me joy in the past year has been my publishing company, Bronze Butterfly Books. This precious project has allowed me to channel my creativity into designing beautiful notebooks and journals. I would love if you check out my website and let me know what you think.

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The bookstore is open!

I’ll have more special things coming from the book shop in the weeks to come. Thank you all for your continued love, support, and good vibes. Have a great day!

 

health · life curation · relaxation

NOW is the Time to Make Self Care a Priority

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In light of current events, I have more free time and energy to devote to this blog. And now, more than ever, I’ve been called to resume my posting and offer encouragement and advice.

Our world has changed drastically in the past five months. I recall tutoring ESL students from China and they mentioned the effects of COVID-19 in its infancy. In a way, I was aware of the virus earlier than many of my family and friends, due to my students that provided me an inside view of what life in quarantine is like.

In the US, many of us are experiencing quarantines and mandatory shelter-in-place while we brace ourselves for the impact of the virus. This is a drastic change from life as we knew it, and the store shortages, sudden school closures, economic instability and unexpected loss of employment are devastating for many.

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I cannot emphasize enough that NOW is the time to invest more in your self care. If you are able to read this post, you’re likely more fortunate and privileged than you realized. Investing in taking care of yourself in small (or significant) ways can do wonders for reducing your stress levels (stress negatively impacts the immune system, which you need to be at peak performance during this time). It also helps you to relax so that you can come up with solutions to your problems or, at least, to simply appreciate the good things that are already present in your life.

I don’t write this to sound dismissive and flippant: certainly plugging “self care” when people are suffering around the world may not come across as the most politically correct position to take at this time. However, I’m an advocate for self care in its minutest forms: that can mean doing some deep breathing to help calm your nerves, or stretches in the morning to loosen the tension that your body is holding, or even reminding yourself to drink more water (hydration is important).

Please continue to take care of yourselves, and I look forward to sharing more with you all tomorrow. Goodbye for now!