thank goodness it's thursday!

I always dread this day. It comes twice a year and I'm never quite ready for it.

TEETH CLEANING! Woohoo!!! (Not!)

I had a load of fun with my 'favorite' hygienist who takes an unnatural pleasure and diligence in scraping plaque and tartar. She apparently takes her job very seriously. Normally, my time in the chair consists of a lot of scraping. And I mean a LOT. I think I have a pretty high threshold for pain, but I always try to brace myself for the jamming of pointed tools into my gums. Ugh! Jay, on the other hand, gets the lame sonic method of cleaning, which he claims is superlative to the old fashioned method. Weeny! I think pain and teeth cleaning go hand in hand like peanut butter & jelly.

Thankfully, however, I can proudly say that the scraping was minimal today and I managed not to rinse out a bloody clot or two into the bowl.

Here's to good hygiene!

waiting patiently

for these two yummy shoes to be delivered. I ordered them online last week because the selection at the brick & mortar Nordstrom was abysmal. Yes, that IS a 3 3/4 inch heel! Fabulous isn't it! Don't know yet where I'm going to wear it, but it's HOT!


Thank you Nordstrom Anniversary sale!! Without you I would never buy shoes because nice Size 4's can sometimes be so darn expensive.

Can I Just Have Some Time to Unwind?

Inspired by Jay and the Lupus Awareness Month I started running and lifing weights again a couple months ago for my health. Since May I’ve maintained a daily schedule of alternating run days and weight sessions. While I’ve gained, both in running and strength, I seem to have lost something quite precious to me: my weeknight evenings. Gone are the week nights spent watching TV, in my scraproom creating, or reading on the chaise sandwiched by two tiny dogs. No, my evenings now consist of working out, eating dinner at 9am (maybe earlier if we're lucky), packing our lunches for the next day, and washing dishes. When all is said and done, it’s already time for bed.

The weekends aren’t any better with household chores, errands that I can’t do during the week, and cooking meals for the coming week, I don’t get the time I need to just unwind and chill. Needless to say, I’m looking forward our vacation for some quiet time to rejuvenate my spirit. I know that sounds kind of corny, but it’s been feeling shabby lately despite the exercising.

Back to Basics

After writing then reading my last entry I realized that I haven't been taking care of myself as I should. When I was first diagnosed with lupus fourteen years ago I started working out to stay healthy. All that changed after I moved back to California. I started experiencing joint swelling and pain that lasted for almost three years. Thankfully, today I now only occassionally have joint swelling and pain, but not to the same extent. While I've tried over the years to get back into a routine I haven't quite managed to do so. Until now.

I've decided to go "back to basics". I am making a conscious effect to take better care of my self. I've started working out again which is nothing short of miraculous and I've been doing it now for three weeks!

Someone You Know May Have Lupus

Most Americans are aware of the signs and health risks of breast cancer or heart disease, but few are aware of another significant health problem that disproportionately affects young women between the ages of 15 and 45. The disease is lupus. Lupus is caused by an unbalanced immune system that can be destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body. Lupus can be very unpredictable and is potentially fatal.

An estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus, but many people are unaware of the potentially disabling and life-threatening health effects of lupus. The disease is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than among Caucasians – but no one is safe from lupus.

Lupus is more than joint pain, fatigue, fevers, and skin rashes – common symptoms of the disease. Inflammation caused by lupus can damage the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain, resulting in significant disability or death. Women with lupus have a five- to ten-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease. Approximately 40 percent of people with lupus will develop nephritis, or kidney disease. People with lupus are at high risk for blood clots, stroke, and seizures. Without intervention and treatment, the outlook for people with lupus can be poor.

Early recognition, diagnosis and proper medical care of lupus often can prevent or reduce serious health complications, such as heart disease, strokes, seizures, and kidney failure.

May is National Lupus Awareness Month in order to disseminate medically sound information about lupus, increase public understanding of the physical, emotional, and economic impact of the disease, and provide support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus.

Lupus is difficult to detect and diagnose because many initial symptoms of the disease often are dismissed as nothing serious. It is not uncommon for people with lupus to suffer several years before doctors can make an accurate diagnosis. On average, people with lupus experience symptoms for four or more years and visit three or more doctors before they are able to obtain a correct diagnosis. Currently, there is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person has lupus. Diagnosis is usually made by a careful review of a person's entire medical history, coupled with an analysis of the results obtained from routine laboratory tests and some specialized tests related to immune status.

For more information go to http://www.lupus.org.

weekend re-wind

What date was my last entry? I am such a slacker! It would be justifiable if I were actually busy, but unfortunately I'm really not.

Anyway, this weekend was great! Yesterday I scrapped ALL DAY here at Picture Me Perfect's 2nd year anniversary! I had a blast! I completed two layouts yesterday! (By my standards that's actually a lot!) You can check them out at the My Little Shoebox blog along with a couple other awesome creations by some very talented women!