Friday, June 19, 2009

Follow Friday #2 – Three Blogs I Stalk Way Too Often

Here is my second installment of Follow Friday. These are blogs that I follow for many reasons, but mostly, it is because I do not have a life. So without further ado and nonsense, here is my Follow Friday Three Blogs I Stalk Way Too Often.



YaYa Stuff Yaya and her hubby are on the quest to be parents and they have been trying for six and half years. They are currently focusing on adopting a child (or children) and from reading Yaya’s blog, I honestly believe that she will be an amazing mother. Take a look at this Friday Fragments post in which she shows us drawings drawn by the children she babysits and she takes an amazing view on those drawings. Yaya is also a comedian of sorts; just take look at this Wordless Wednesday post that will cause you to laugh your head off and forget to focus on your bladder (Depends, please). Last, but not least, this is the post that got me hooked on Yaya’s blog. I, among the hundreds of readers of Yaya Stuff, am praying for Yaya, her hubby and those beautiful children.



Funny how you can realize what an amazing person someone is just by reading about them, their thoughts, visions and feelings – Let’s all wish the best for Yaya and hopefully, something gives. Of course, once she is a mother, Yaya will be too busy to blog, but who cares; no one is more deserving than she is. I am going to leave you with a random thought from Yaya’s most recent post: "Random Thought Of The Week: Why is it the "new thing" for fast food places to put a computer game in as the toy? What happened to a cheap little toya kid could play with for a day or two? What the heck is a near 3-year-old supposed to do with a computer disc while I'm getting her lunch set out? In fact, this was her exact reaction when I said, "It's a computer game."



The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo Cathy is a wife and mother with rheumatoid arthritis, just like me. Cathy is my inspiration because she has been med free for quite some time. For me, Cathy and others who blog about RA, are helpful to us who are new to RA and to those who know nothing about RA who have a struggling family member and want to know more. Cathy has taken a med free approach to RA, which includes daily supplements of fish oil, Vitamin D, an enzyme, Primal Defense Ultra Probiotic, glucosamin/chondroitin, Zinc, Heel brand of Zeel, Inflammation and Spasm. Also, as needed Ultra InflamX shake. She is following a gluten/dairy free diet and minimizing grains, tomatoes, sugars and processed foods.



Take a look at Cathy’s five year journey with RA and you too, will agree, that she is definitely an motivator for others struggling with RA and other chronic pain conditions. I was particularly inspired by her recent post titled: My Many Lives. This is one you should definitely check out. Cathy notes the following: “That feeling is changing. I am beginning to see my life merging back into one. I feel this newness coming into my life. I don't know what it is but I sense it and I am excited by it. I feel like RA is going to be a part of it, but it isn't going to be my focus in this life. It is going to play a minor role. Maybe that is why I am excited. I am feeling strength and motivation to move into new areas of my life and not focus on just RA.” Thanks Cathy, this is inspiration at its finest. I hope Cathy does not mind, but I am borrowing this quote from the header on her blog. "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi



Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker Kristin thinks she is merely a stay at home, but she also, works in HR and takes on the following jobs that no one else is willing to take on: Laundress, Cook, Maid, Chauffeur, Baker, Nurse, Counselor, Teacher, Seamstress, Gardener, Bookkeeper, Executive Officer – MOM, and much more, I am sure. She is a mother of five and four of those are boys and any mother of boys can tell you that there is so much in the world you appreciate when you spend your days chasing after boys. The Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker is all Kristin’s daily routine with family recipes, frugal tips and, you know, that occasional random post that we all love to read.



Here is allabout Kristin in her own words: “I am a forty-ish stay at home mother of 5. Our 4 boys, the Musician, the Thinker, the Engineer and the Comedian were adopted at birth and our daughter, Princess Pat, was a SURPRISE. My life is spent keeping up with boys, laundry, a 2 year old, budgeting, and everything else that seems to pile up around our home all the while trying to keep joy in my life and remembering to stop and smell the roses.” Agreed Kristen, smelling the roses is important. I call it seeing the glass half-full, instead of half-empty.



Kristin’s most recent post is a yummy French Toast Casserole. Kristin had three left over hoagie rolls that were going stale so take a look and see what she turned them into. This is one the reasons I turn to Kristin, because, like an idiot, I throw out stale bread, but it is not very frugal considering the state of economy and the state of my bank account. Kristin also manages to keep me sane especially with this Thursday Thirteen post in which she shows us her clearly organized spice cupboard and lets us know all the spices she used this week. I was quite envious to say the least, but at the same time, I wanted Kristin to come over and organize my spices and my panty for that matter. Just let me know when you will be over so that I can pretend to clean my house.



*** So, here you go folks, my monthly Follow Friday post and my three blogs I stalk way too often. Click on the Follow Friday label to see my previous post. Feel free to comment and tell me about your favorites and make sure you check out these blogs. Happy Friday, Happy Reading and Happy Blogging!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Getting it All Done Friday (or Sorting It All Out Saturday): Fibromyalgia on the Job

I am a bit late for my Getting It All Done Friday post, but this is a good a time as any. (I can always call it Sorting It All Out Saturday.) Most of my followers know that suffer from fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis: two conditions my employers are unaware that I have. One thing that I always stress about suffering from these conditions or any chronic pain condition is that support and education are essential. I also wish that someone or something had warned me about pushing myself and ignoring my symptoms for so many years. One significant factor is that I am finding it quite difficult to hide my condition as well I did previously. I am smart enough to understand that my flare-ups are a result of a combination of stress, contorted positions and repetitive motions. While I can focus my own ways not to allow my condition to affect my job, I work in a high-pressure environment. However, other factors and persons are not in my control. You guessed it; I am in an administrative position as a legal assistant and I cannot control the stress that others bring with them; I can only train myself to respond better.

I have not yet concluded that it the time to approach my employers is here. However, I have taught myself ways to deal with my symptoms and not allow them to interfere with my work. Here are some pointers that I have come across in my research to make my workday a less painful experience.

• Give your body a break, especially if you sit in a sustained position or a job requires contact repetitive movement.
• Turn away from your computer every twenty to thirty minutes to relax your neck and rest your eyes.
• Get up and walk around to get your body moving and focus back on track.
• Arrange your work area so you have access to all the things you need so that you are not consistently moving.
• Pace yourself. Do not attempt to take on everything at once. Pacing and scheduling are very important.
• Make sure your computer screen is the correct height so you do not have to stress your neck to see your screen.
• If you talk on the phone a lot, a headset is a good way to keep you from straining and putting pressure on your neck and shoulders.
• Install an anti-glare screen for your computer monitor.
• Allow your chair to be your back support. Keep your arms at a 90-degree angle to your keyboard. Keep your feet straight and allow yourself legroom to strength your legs often.
• Make use of a document holder so you are straining your neck to see your document.
• Breathing techniques can so along way to easing stress.
• Getting up to stretch often and practicing movement therapies can go a long way in making your day less painful.

The following video offers some more insight on assistance that employers can provide and ways that employees can take control of their symptoms and manage their conditions.


Fibromyalgia can make one’s life difficult and it can put a strain on one’s career, but I am leaving proof that adjustment and understanding can go a long way. I am not required tell my employers about my conditions because I do not have a full disability. When and if I feel the time has come, I will. For now, I have fibromyalgia and RA but it does not mean that fibromyalgia or RA have me. I take charge of my life everyday and my job is my key to keeping it that way. RA and Fibromyalgia do not own me, define me or even change me. Yes, I have bad days and I have bad flare-ups, but I move forward and I listen my body. Sometimes it tells me to rest and sometimes, it tells I can on more. That is the biggest lesson of any chronic pain condition and every pain condition has roadblocks. There are times when you cannot knock those roadblocks down so you just have to find alternative routes.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Getting It All Done Friday: Finding Inspiration in Blogging


In addition to my “Follow Friday” monthly posts, I will also be doing a “Getting It All Done Friday” post once a month which I will dedicate to helpful resources on internet.

This first post’s inspiration came to me due to several weeks of my missing the blogging antics of a certain Canadian blogger who had blogger’s block and just finally got her mojo back. (Blog stalking is fun isn’t it?) So at risk of my Canadian friend, Lana, thinking I am absolutely obsessed with her, let’s discuss finding inspiration when you are all blogged out.

We all get what I call “blogger’s block.” It is simply writer’s block for bloggers. So, what is a blogger to do when all that inspiration has dried out? The answer is “go to the internet!” I have found four helpful sites in my quest to not run out of blogging ideas so I do not lose any of my own blog stalkers. After all, what fun would I be talking to myself? (Thus, the reason I like comments. Just a note, when you comment, beware of my nonsensical rules.)

Without further ado, here are some bloggers who offer advice to help you to keep the writing ideas coming.

1) Blog Inspiration

Blog Inspiration was created with one sole purpose: “Helping bloggers find something to write about.” The author of this blog (who name I could not locate) was sitting in front of his or her computer a couple years ago while dealing with a case of “blogger’s block.” The idea juices just weren’t flowing and our blogger thought to himself: (or herself – I hope to identify our blogger friend through some investigation and will update this post when I do.) “Well, there are web sites for everything else I can think of. I’ll bet someone out there has a site full of blog ideas that I can browse through and borrow.” So our blogger hero did what any blogger would do in the same position; our hero enlisted the help of Google and came up with the most “lame” searches known to humanity. So our blogger hero then exclaimed: “We need a blog inspiration site!” Thus, Blog Inspiration was born.

If you visit the site, you will see that our blogger hero does not give advice on blogging. Instead, our hero shares with us specific blogging ideas and gives an opinion as to what could be written. Take a look at this March 22, 2009 post I have copied from the site:

What Was the First Book that Made you Laugh?
I read a lot when I was younger. In elementary school, I think I managed to read every science and science-fiction book in our library. But I also occasionally read fiction. One of my favorites as a kid was Judy Blume’s “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing “. I remember laughing uncontrollably at some of the things that happened in that book. Sadly, my step-children showed no interest in it when I bought a copy and gave it to them.

Anyway… how about you? What was the first book you ever read that made you laugh out loud? What was so funny about it? If you go back and read it today, do you still get a chuckle out of it?

Apparently, our blogger hero has been AWOL for several weeks now. Hopefully, our hero will be back soon for more adventures and ideas in the blogging. In the meantime, feel free to visit the previous blogging ideas posted at Blog Inspiration.

2) Lorelle on WordPress

Lorelle’s Goal: Helping you learn more about blogging and WordPress every day with help, tips, advice, and techniques for blogging and using WordPress and WordPress.com. The blogging help you need now.

Lorelle VanFossen is a public speaker, trainer, writer and consultant in web writing, web design and blogger and she is blogging expert on WordPress. (I pulled this information from her “Who is Lorelle” section). Lorelle also works as a professional photographer. On WordPress, Lorelle writes about “everything WordPress, blogging and social media, covering more than you may want to know about how all this blogging business and social stuff works.”

So for everything blogging, Lorelle on WordPress is the place to go. Just take a look at this excerpt from her most recent post titled: “Looking for Blogging Ideas?

While it seems like installing and setting up your blog is the hardest part of the challenges associated with blogging, the reality is that coming up with new ideas is actually the hardest part of blogging. For a while, the ideas and words flow. You can barely keep up with them. But over time, energy and enthusiasm wanes and the ideas begin to dry up. So you go prowling the Internet to see what other people are saying and start linking to their good ideas. Still, the thrill wanes. What you need is a kick in the idea butt to get those brain functions jazzed and excited about various projects to blog about.
You will have to visit Lorelle on WordPress for the rest of this post.

3) How to Make My Blog

Are you a newbie to the blogging world or do you just need some tips to keep your blog interesting for your readers? How to Make My Blog was created by Marko Saric from London England who “writes articles on all things blogging.” Marko (yes, we are on a first name basis) helps bloggers with questions on setting up their blogs, themes, branding, blog promoting, search engine optimizing and marketing. He even has a video introduction in which he has not shaved nor had a hair cut in quite some time due to getting this entire wonderful blogging information site set up. (Ladies, the accent is to die for!)

My favorite post from Marko’s blog is titled: “13 blogging lessons learned from Stephen King’s On Writing”, which I have pulled the following selection from.

Stephen King’s book On Writing is a very good read. It is targeted towards writers and wanna-be writers, but it is a very inspiring book for anyone. As bloggers are writers, this book can teach you several lessons and can inspire you in your blogging. Here are the 13 lessons I have picked up from reading Stephen King’s On Writing.
To find out what those 13 lessons are, you will have to visit How to Make My Blog by Marko Saric.


Four simple words by Philip Liu of New York City who is also the guy behind Citmove.com, a small website matching people looking for movers. Philip blogs all about entrepreneurship, web development and social networking. Take a look at his March 21, 2009 post titled: “101 Great Posting Ideas That Will Make Your Blog Sizzle.” I have taken the first five of those ideas, but you will have to visit Philip’s page for more blogging inspiration.

1.Brainstorm by matching up your readers wants and needs using the Visitor Grid method of brainstorming.
2. Write a post by examining the pros and cons of an issue.
3. Write a tutorial.
4. Do an interview with key people in your niche.
5. Create a mock head-to-head competition like what Daniel did.

(Make sure you check out what Daniel did at his own blog. Daily Blog Tips is the place where he shares what he learned during his time developing blogs and websites.)
Here you go folks, some unsolicited/unwelcome/unwanted advice by Lana, the author of this blog, who loves to ramble all about being a working mother who is overworked, overwhelmed, underpaid and often underappreciated (at work only), who has fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, who loves her kids (and never stops) and the wide world of wrestling a.k.a. the WWE (Vince McMahon would be proud). Well, see ya next time folks.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide

For those of you with a baby or a toddler, this buying guide is one to be bookmarked. Courtesy of Shop Wiki, this site is a necessity for every parent. At the Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide, you can find unlimited information about baby gear, baby care, home safety, fun and learning and baby and children’s clothing all in one place. Now, how about that?

The site is user friendly and there are options for just about every buying area. Just take a look at the car seats buying guide. Anyone looking to purchase a car seat knows that all car seats are NOT the same. This is a great guide to help you find the best car seat for your baby, your car and even your budget. So, for example, if you are worried that you will not find a safe care seat, you have nothing to worry about since all new car seats must meet the current Federal Motor Safety Standards and here all the information and comparison about car seats you will need to decide right at your fingertips.

If it is time to baby proof because junior is just starting to get into trouble, come by and visit the Baby Proofing and Home Safety Guide. You will find everything you need here from baby gates, to play areas, electrical safety, and outdoor play.

So folks, if you are anything like me, a worry wart (a.ka. Jewish mother), when it comes to your baby, toddler or even older child, come by the Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide, where all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

Also, when you visit, come by and leave a comment on what your favorite part of the site was. Mine is the section titled “Children’s Books Buying Guide.” This section is classified by different age appropriate books suggested by the National Education Association (an organization composed of teachers all across the United States) and About.com.
Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide
For those of you with a baby or a toddler, this buying guide is one to be bookmarked. Courtesy of Shop Wiki, this site is a necessity for every parent. At the Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide, you can find unlimited information about baby gear, baby care, home safety, fun and learning and baby and children’s clothing all in one place. Now, how about that?

The site is user friendly and there are options for just about every buying area. Just take a look at the car seats buying guide. Anyone looking to purchase a car seat knows that all car seats are NOT the same. This is a great guide to help you find the best car seat for your baby, your car and even your budget. So, for example, if you are worried that you will not find a safe care seat, you have nothing to worry about since all new car seats must meet the current Federal Motor Safety Standards and here all the information and comparison about car seats you will need to decide right at your fingertips.

If it is time to baby proof because junior is just starting to get into trouble, come by and visit the Baby Proofing and Home Safety Guide. You will find everything you need here from baby gates, to play areas, electrical safety, and outdoor play.

So folks, if you are anything like me, a worry wart (a.ka. Jewish mother), when it comes to your baby, toddler or even older child, come by the Babies and Toddler Products Buying Guide, where all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

Also, when you visit, come by and leave a comment on what your favorite part of the site was. Mine is the section titled “Children’s Books Buying Guide.” This section is classified by different age appropriate books suggested by the National Education Association (an organization composed of teachers all across the United States) and About.com.