Category Archives: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dec 05 2012
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Friends and Family, Fun for Couples, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun

Day 72: Cuddle it Up

Today I’m sick. Ugh. It’s hard to avoid when you work with a lot of people and interact with the general public most evenings. Luckily I don’t have a high fever. That’s when the threat of infection is higher and I have to call the doctor, stop medications and worry. This is the kind of thing where I just generally feel lousy and sneeze loudly. So, I’ve spent all day on the couch. (I’m even writing this on my phone from the couch with Home Alone on in the background). I find it hard to think of and do fun things when I’m laid up like this (that don’t involve tv, food or the Internet). Probably the best I’ve felt all day was when Elphie hopped up on the couch to cuddle with me. She started at my feet but before long, she was stretched out longways on her back on top of me. It was the best.

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Nov 29 2012
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Friends and Family, Fun for Couples, Games, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 66: Crossword Competition

I do my shot every week on Thursday in the evening and usually, after I’m done, I need something to distract myself from thinking too much about the possibility of side effects or how freaky it is that I just gave myself a shot while sitting at the dining room table. This week I decided to challenge the hubs to a crossword competition.

A crossword competition is when you print out a number of copies of a crossword from an online source (in this case, two) and then compete on who can finish fastest. This is something I’ve participated in at work, but decided to bring home. The puzzle we tackled was entitled “Abbreviated States,” though I cannot tell you why. We competed for about 20 minutes before we started giving each other answers. Eventually we were both so stuck, we decided to just work on it together, and we were victorious! Even though no one won, it was super fun. I highly suggest this game. You could play until someone wins on their own, or see who has to ask for help first, or just have fun competing knowing you might ultimately have to put your brains together to finish.

Nov 26 2012
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Guilty Pleasures, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun

Day 63: PJ Day

Guilty Pleasure Monday today brought some unexpected fun. At noon I was still in my pajamas and it occurred to me that it had been a long time since I was in pajamas at noon. When my health was poorer, I often wore pajamas for days, changing my clothes in to other pajamas. It was more comfortable and I just did not feel like putting the effort in to getting dressed. Today, I had a busy morning cleaning, doing laundry and working on a photo project. I just hadn’t gotten dressed yet.

So I decided to make it fun, to take back pajamas as a comfy indulgence rather than a utilitarian necessity. I continued the day in my pajamas, even walked the dog in them. In fact, I’m still wearing them now!

Nov 25 2012
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Around the House/DIY, Holiday Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 62: Christmas Decorating Mania

Today has been the dedicated Christmas Decorating Day on the calendar for a few weeks now. In preparation, I shopped for some new items and ornaments and made a Christmas music playlist (favorite albums this year include Lady Antebellum’s On This Winter’s Night and a compilation called Holiday’s Rule featuring Fun., Rufus Wainwright, and The Shins). My plan: wreath, tree, other decor.

Wreath: very simple. We saved ours (fake) from last year in a wreath box.

Wreath and jingle bell holder both from Target.

Tree: The hubs put it together (fake and pre-lit) and that was, and probably forever will be, his contribution. Well other than putting the star on top and tolerating the Christmas music playing while he was watching the Bears. I fluffed the tree because it was looking a little skimpy but then I got started on the ornaments with bulbs trying to space them out and not have too many of the same color/shine next to each other. Then I just added ornaments all over. I love a totally FULL tree. This year, I also purchased a tree skirt meant for a mini tree, but I thought it would be perfect to just cover the plastic stem on our tree but not take up too much space beyond that (nor be too tempting for a certain puppy to eat).

Tree from Target. Topper from Macy’s. Ornaments from Target, West Elm, Foursided, Pottery Barn, home (Mom).

One Special Ornament: I bought a dog ornament that I thought looked a lot like Elphie, but just to take it to the next level, I colored on it with a permanent marker to add her black markings.

Upper Left: Before. Upper Right: After. Lower Level: Compare the two! Ornament from Pottery Barn.

Other Decor: This year, I took some advice from Young House Love’s book and put all of my decor items on a table together and then tried different combinations all over the house. This was so helpful in getting me out of the mind set that certain items “belong” in certain spaces.

Side Table. All items except the snow globe (Target) from Foursided. That candle smells like mistletoe!
 

Console Table. Reindeer card holder from Target.

Dining Table. Mercury votive holders from West Elm, mercury glass trees from Target, and Santa from Foursided in our usual bowl centerpiece surrounded by glass balls from Mom.

Bar Top. Santa from Foursided. Pine cone from Pottery Barn. The wine chiller is filled with fake cranberries from Target, a glass ornament from Mom, and wine corks.

Bathroom Shelf. Santa’s boots candle holders (I honestly do not remember where I got these. I’ve had them for so long) and December activity card from Walgreens.

Finally, I hung three larger ornaments on doorknobs throughout the house (all from Foursided) and then collapsed on the couch. I should have been taking more breaks because my feet are quite sore now, but I plan on resting, watching the Giants game, and admiring my decor from the couch for the rest of the night!

Nov 22 2012
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Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family, Holiday Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 59: Giving Thanks

On holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be hard for me to choose one fun thing to write about on this blog. I love the holidays (if that isn’t clear enough already) and try to enjoy them in so many ways. Here is a list of things I will do today that will be tremendously fun:

  1. watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
  2. bake pumpkin bars
  3. watch football
  4. eat, feast, tire, eat more
  5. hug family

 
Here are some of things I’m thankful for–family (momdadmeaganbrittreddykalapadma nathanphilphiljrpriankastevegertjohnIIjohnIIIjohnIV(!)juliejenniderekcedrictanneralisonalexangel billtristangrandma), kindness, Chicago, Wild Bunch, Elphaba, theatre, blog readers, cinnamon, instagram, holiday decorations, baking, music, reality television, scarves, West Elm, philanthropy, photobooths, celebrity, How I Met Your Mother, UET, ACT, CST, CU, NMH, DIY, New York Giants, Lake Michigan, dog parks, other people’s babies, my iPhone, wordpress, health and FUN. (not the band, the purpose of this blog. ok also the band).

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