Recent Posts

Etsy Shop Now Open!

Etsy Shop Now Open!

I’ve finally had the time to do something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: open an Etsy shop! I had started the process in 2019, but didn’t get the chance to open it. Now, the shop is open and I’m beyond excited! 

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Kisha Peterson

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Kisha Peterson

For today’s post, I’m sharing the interview with Kisha Peterson. She is 45 years old, living in Maryland, and working in property management and real estate investing. Her favorite hobbies are working out and traveling. What chronic illness do you have and when were you 

35 Things To Do While Stuck At Home

35 Things To Do While Stuck At Home

Getting Bored? Here’s a list of fun things to do while you are stuck at home.

As someone who is immunocompromised, I’ve had some practice with self isolating and social distancing. I created a list of 35 ways to keep busy while stuck at home.

And remember that you don’t need to be entertained or doing something all the time. Take advantage of this time to be still. To slow down.

1. Spa Night

Give yourself a manicure or do a face mask treatment. Play relaxing spa music and decompress.

2. Challenge Your Brain

Finish puzzles, sudoku, word searches, or crossword puzzles.

3. Get Crafty

Make decor for your room or house. Complete holiday crafts that you can use to decorate for holidays later in the year.

4. Dream Board

Use old magazines or print images off the internet to create a dream board of all the goals you hope to achieve and all the dreams you have for this life.

5. Gift Preparation

Get ahead with gift preparation for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day. Shop online or make your own gifts.

6. Check Your Local Library

Many local libraries are offering digital downloads and other resources in this unique time.

7. Call a Family Member

Take advantage of this time to connect with family members. Have meaningful conversations.

8. Movie Night

Pop some popcorn and watch a favorite movie, a classic, or something you haven’t seen before!

9. Board Games

Break out the board games. You might even have time to finish a whole game of monopoly.

10. Foster an Animal

Check with your local animal shelter and see if they are needing people to help foster.

11. Decorate a Cake

Have some fun decorating a cake or cupcakes. Then have fun eating some of them too!

12. Create your own Board Game

Get creative and design your own board game.

13. Choreograph a Dance

Turn on some tunes and create your own steps. It’s great indoor exercise too.

14. Check on Your Friends

Check in on your friends. Especially your extroverted friends!

15. Study Your Scriptures

Take time to really study your scriptures. To ponder them. To journal about them.

16. Pray

Say a prayer without rushing. Really connect and be thoughtful with your prayer.

17. Spend Time in Nature

Find quiet spaces to be alone and enjoy the natural environment.

18. Read a Book

If you’re anything like me, you have a stack of book to read that you’ve been too busy to tackle. Now is the time! If you don’t have a stack, order a book off of Amazon. Check out my poetry book The Revival of a Soul.

(*This is an affiliate link.*)

19. Get Organized

Clean and organize your house… the Marie Kondo way. Do a deep dive into those closets.

20. Try a new recipe

Get creative in the kitchen and try to cook something new.

21. Quality Time

Spend quality time with (someone you live with) without distractions.

22. Go For a Walk

Go for a walk while social distancing.

23. Exercise Indoors

Try out an indoor exercise program like pilates, yoga, dance, or other home workout. You can even break out your Just Dance game.

24. Count Your Crunches

Count how many push-ups, crunches, or other workout you can do. Keep practicing and see if you can do more by the time things return to normal.

25. Fall In love with learning again

Fall in love with learning again. If you are completing online work for school, you might have more time or energy to really learn the information. If something interests you, take the time to learn a little more about it, even if it is not going to be on a test or quiz.

26. Learn Healthy Coping Skills

Improve your mental health and learn healthy coping skills like “how to reframe thoughts” or “how to use positive self-talk.” Practice now, so you’ll have them down when things get busy again. 

27. Meditate

Take time to meditate. Learn to meditate if you don’t know how. Practice breathing techniques.

28. Write

Write a poem, play, or a book.

29. Embrace The Artist In You

Draw, paint, sidewalk chalk art, adult coloring pages, origami, sew, crochet, knit, latch-hook…The options are endless.

30. Work on your Goals

Remember the goals you set at the start of the year? Now might be a perfect time to start working on them. Didn’t set any goals? Set some that you can accomplish in your home.

31. Post Something Uplifting

Post or share something uplifting on social media.

32. Duolingo

Try out the free version of Duolingo to start learning a new language.

33. Scrapbook

Get all those photos off your phone and create a scrapbook.

34. Journal

Get a notebook or start a journal on your computer.

35. Write a Letter

Go old school and bring back letter writing. Send a letter to someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

If you don’t know how to do something, use Google or YouTube to find tutorials. There are so many resources to learn things like origami, crochet, and meditation online. So be sure to take advantage of them. Most of these things you can do with supplies you have at home. But if you don’t, don’t go out and purchase them. Choose something else. Stay home. Stay safe.

I also recommend setting social media limits for yourself. Right now social media is filled with posts that can contribute to anxiety and stress. It’s important to stay informed and know what is going on, but I recommend setting limits so you don’t waste your whole day scrolling away.

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Anna Giannakouros

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Anna Giannakouros

Today I’m sharing my interview with Anna Giannakouros. She is an amazing 44-year-old living in Montreal, Canada. She worked as a software tester and is now retired. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, and exercising. WHAT CHRONIC ILLNESS DO YOU HAVE AND WHEN WERE YOU DIAGNOSED? 

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Sisi Alfred

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Sisi Alfred

Sisi is a 25-year-old living in the UK. She works with children with special needs while working towards a masters degree in translating. She loves nature, long walks, running (when she used to be able to), animals, reading and food! WHEN WERE YOU DIAGNOSED WITH 

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Jessica Velazquez

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Jessica Velazquez

Today I’m sharing my interview with Jessica Velazquez. She is a 25-year-old who lives in Florida. She is a fellow poetry writer who also loves singing, playing guitar, reading, and doing DIY/miscellaneous projects. She has a full-time job working the front desk for an insurance agency.

When were you diagnosed with Lupus?

5 days after my 17th birthday.

How has it impacted your life?

It completely changed my life. I went from being an active teen who walked everywhere under the sun, to debilitated and unable to lift even a glass of water to my lips. It’s been a strange journey to say the least, and 8 years later I’m still learning how to live with it. Some days I almost feel normal again and I can accomplish a lot, but I’ve never been the same since my first flare.

With Lupus, what have been the hardest things to deal with?

Everything about being disabled/chronically ill is difficult, as it impacts all aspects of our lives, but for me the hardest has been the judgement of those closest to me and how their voices became my internal dialogue. I believed I was lazy, weak, and deserving of being ill for too many years. I believed that if I used a mobility aid or identified as disabled or sick and asked for help I was “giving in” because that’s what I was told, but it’s not true and I know that for sure today.

What have you learned? What positive impact has Lupus had on your life?

It has taught me to be more empathetic and understanding of others. Thanks to Instagram I’ve been able to meet other warriors, and that’s not only been helpful and validating but refreshing. It’s also given me a lot to write and sing about.

What do you do to stay positive?

As odd as it may sound, to remain positive I allow myself to be negative. I give myself the time and space to sit with all that I am genuinely feeling physically and emotionally, I don’t ignore it, I listen to what I need, and I find that it makes me feel better despite the circumstances. 

What would you say to others who are fighting chronic illness?

Don’t hide it. Be honest and ask for help. Be honest with those who are close to you, be honest with your coworkers/bosses, and be honest especially with your doctors, and as cliche as it sounds, don’t listen to the haters.

What is your favorite quote?

“It’s okay if you fall. You can just get up again. Why don’t you look up at the sky, while you’re down there.The blue sky spreads across above you. Can you see it smiling at you? You are alive.” – Aya Kitou

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Ele Tranquil

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Ele Tranquil

For today’s post, I’m sharing my interview with Ele Tranquil, a fellow Michigan resident. She is 44-years-old and a homemaker who loves writing, reading, and all things nature. What chronic illness do you have and when were you diagnosed? Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Diagnosed with 

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Ashlee Edens

The Chronic Illness Chronicles: Ashlee Edens

I’ve decided to embark on a new writing project that I hope will provide encouragement and a sense of community for those suffering with chronic illness. I hope it will also provide understanding for those that don’t. As part of this project, I plan to 

My Favorite Self-Improvement Books

My Favorite Self-Improvement Books

(This post contains affiliate links.)

Today I am sharing my favorite self-improvement books that I’ve read in the past three years. I know self-improvement books often get a bad rap. But confession: the self-improvement section is one of my favorites.

I mean, why would you not want to improve yourself? There are so many resources out there to help with a plethora of topics. I think it’s a good thing to read books that can help as grow as individuals.

Favorite Self-Improvement Books

-The Gratitude Diaries: For the person who wants to be happier.

-Big Magic: For the artists, authors, and creative people.

-How to Talk to Anyone: For my fellow introverts.

-Writing Down the Bones: For the writers.

-Present Over Perfect: For the perfectionist.

-The Best Yes: For the person who is overwhelmed trying to do all the right things.

-Girl, Wash Your Face: For the girl who needs a little motivation to chase her dreams and be her best self.

-His Needs, Her Needs: For the married couple.

-Wife For Life: For the wife, both young and old.

Check back soon for my favorite children’s books!

My Favorite Parenting Books

My Favorite Parenting Books

(This post contains affiliate links.) Today I am sharing my favorite parenting books that I’ve read in the past three years. Now keep in mind that I don’t like or even agree with every single thing in each of these books. I have listed the