This isn’t exactly a well put together blog post where I convey a wealth of information. Those are my favorite kind to share, but I’ve been struggling to write one since March. Like many people during the time of COVID-19, I’m not in a great place mentally, physically, or emotionally. This post is more a catalog of what I’ve been struggling with over the past few months, with a few positives thrown in. I am trying to be thankful for […]
Author: Ava
What I’d Like to Say to My Medications.
I am so tired of medications. I have taken hundreds of pills since my lupus diagnosis in 2017 and I’m sick of it. The sheer number of pills overwhelms me. They take up an entire drawer in my nightstand and fill up a good-sized box in my closet. I take 15 pills a day as a baseline – that number easily jumps into the 20s if I have a lupus flare or a high pain day. These medications have put […]
How Am I Supposed to Get Better When It Seems Like I’m Always Sick?
Trying to get better with a chronic illness is a long road filled with massive roadblocks. The symptoms of being sick are standing in the way of trying to recover. If you have a chronic illness or an autoimmune disease then you’ve likely wondered how on earth you’ll overcome the daunting obstacle of trying to get better when you feel miserable. And while we may be filled with hope and perseverance at the beginning of our journey, the years wear […]
2019 Yearly Digest.
This is my fifth yearly digest since my blog began in July 2015, and I really love writing them. I enjoy going through my files, documents, statistics, and photos to relive the last year – it’s amazing how quickly I’ll forget what happened just six or seven months ago. When I started writing the digests I figured they would mostly be for my benefit, but over 200 people read my 2018 digest. That’s not a huge number, but I’m impressed […]
Our Seven Day Barbados Itinerary.
Ah, Barbados. The place where we learned how to drive on the left side of the road, saw wild monkeys, and drank the best rum cocktails we’ve ever had. It’s a relaxing, beautiful island filled with happy people. There are so many exciting things to do that it can be challenging to figure out what to include in your Barbados itinerary – hopefully, this post can help you decide. I’m sharing what we did with our seven days in Barbados […]
Tablift – the Versatile and Comfortable Tablet Holder (Product Review).
How often do you find yourself uncomfortable while holding your tablet or another electronic device? Have you tried to precariously balance it on something while you rest? I struggled with these issues daily until I started using the Tablift – a bendy, adjustable tablet holder that was designed to help people use their electronic devices more easily and ergonomically. This nifty product may look a little bizarre with its spider like legs, but being able to adjust each leg independently […]
When Your Doctor Quits Unexpectedly.
I spent a week debating whether or not to send my rheumatologist a message about my increasing joint pain. While my finger and knee joints were aching badly, there wasn’t likely anything we could do about it via message. Ultimately, I decided to take prednisone a tad more liberally than usual to cope until my next appointment so I could discuss it in person with my doctor. A few days later, at the end of a particularly stressful weekend filled […]
Cozy, Eco-friendly Treehouse in Greensboro, North Carolina.
On an unassuming street in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a lovely treehouse called The Roost. The cozy home is tucked behind the owner’s house and blends into the backyard so well that I actually drove past it the first time. It’s always in high demand as it’s one of the top Airbnb rentals in Greensboro, and yet this stunning eco-friendly treehouse is practically hidden within a residential area. In this post, I’m going to share the details of my stay […]
Eight Things I Loved About Barbados (And Four Things I Didn’t Like).
There is a lot to love about Barbados. While the island is 21 miles long and, as some like to say, a smile 14 miles wide, that space feels so much bigger when you experience the fun, friendliness, and beauty throughout. Visiting Barbados was my second foray into the Caribbean and the trip furthered my obsession with wanting to visit each and every gorgeous island in the region. What I loved the most about Barbados was the extremely friendly people! I […]
A Day Trip to Klein Curaçao with Miss Ann Boat Tours.
As we planned our trip to Curaçao last year we discovered the delightful idea of an excursion to the nearby island of Klein Curaçao. While we were concerned about taking six month old Baby Meena on a day long boat trip, we decided to go for it anyway. And I’m so glad that we did – we all had a great time! Klein Curaçao, or Little Curaçao, is nearly seven miles from the southern coast of Curaçao. It’s a small […]