Sun Protection Clothing Reviews

I was going away to Mexico this summer and I was concerned about the sun- not only because of sunburn, but because of my Lupus. I find that I am more sun sensitive than most, so I wanted to find sun protection clothing which was both functional and fashionable, without spending a ton of money. I did

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The Ultimate Spoonie Valentine’s Day Gift!

What’s better than chocolate on Valentine’s Day? Chocolate spoons! These fun and easy to make gifts are perfect presents for friends, lovers, teachers, neighbors—and anyone who needs some spoons! You can also use season-appropriate candy and colors and give these all year long. They’re also

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“Spoonie” Gardening in Late Winter/Early Spring

Many "Spoonies" acknowledge the benefits that fresh air, relaxation and being around nature can bring, but how many of us think that gardening is not for us, not with our conditions? However, this negative view is so wrong. Gardening as a Spoonie, requires re-evaluation of priorities and sometimes a

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The Importance of Keeping a Medical Journal

I had thought that I had a lot of experience being an "advocate" for a sick person. After all, I unfortunately had a lot of practice with doctors and hospitals, as a result of my daughter Christine's decade long struggle with Lupus. I knew all about coming to a doctor's office or hospital armed wi

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Pregnancy & Fibromyalgia: Lessons Learned and Other Random Thoughts

I’m not an expert. And one thing I am sure of is that everyone is unique, one’s body reacts to things in her own way, and that there is no predictability of what’s going to happen. Having a 15-month-old son, I think back on the whirlwind of pregnancy, remembering things I wish I had known j

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Sex and Politics: Safe, Covered, and Totally Satisfied.

Sometimes I have to compare politics to sex. Politics can be confusing and scary, but when I look at it from a biological point of view, somehow everything seems to fall into place. Therefore, if this ongoing debate between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama is one romp in the sack, then Thursd

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Poetry: They Don’t Know Me

A Poem submitted by one of our readers. I have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. I wrote this after a friend who I had not talked to in a year or so said to me on the phone, "you don't sound sick". -Stacey Yount They don't know me These people who say They are my friends They don't know

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Movies to cuddle up with by yourself on Valentine’s Day that won’t make you feel lonely or cry (much).

I was sick of everyone telling me all these sweet and romantic movies to watch on Valentine's Day which only made me cranky and sad. Even though I'm currently in a relationship, it seemed as though the perfect man in those sappy love stories always made me second guess my guy and think he wasn't doi

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How To Feel Sexy When You Are In Pain?

When our beloved Christine suggested an article on this topic, I have to admit my first gut reaction was "Why should I HAVE to pretend to feel sexy when I'm in pain?" It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I got all defensive immediately and got that emotional guard wall up and thought o

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Book Review: The Tea Drinker’s Handbook by Francois Xavier Lelmas, Mathias Minet, Christine Barbaste

This book is amazing. It’s printed on high gloss paper and filled with beautiful photographs. It covers enough about tea that you could write a thesis paper on it! It is all about tea – kinds, places it’s grown, how it’s harvested, the colors of tea, how to brew it, how it tastes, and wh

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