Living with Lupus

Having lupus has made the demands of my everyday life challenging. When my lupus is active, I have symptoms of joint stiffness, pain, extreme fatigue, confusion, and/or depression which makes simple tasks difficult, and sometimes impossible. And, because I don't have any visible signs of the disease, the people around me do not realize how much discomfort and pain I am experiencing, and some people do not even know that I am sick at all. Explaining lupus is a challenge. It is not easy to describe a disease with symptoms that are so varied and yet often not visible, whose effects can range from manageable to life-threatening, and whose course is sporadic, alternating between periods of wellness and flare. Explaining lupus is even more difficult because the causes of lupus are unknown. Of the many lessons with having lupus, none is more valuable than learning to take personal time for myself. Walking my Baby Dog Bella, listening to music on the radio, planting a flower garden, doing crossword puzzles, re-visiting a favorite book or movie, practicing yoga or playing the Wii, meditating, praying, or some other form of spiritual practice -- self-enrichment activities like these will nourish and invigorate my spirit. Taking personal time will help provide me with the strength and the relaxation I need to have a better life while living with lupus. It's hard living with Lupus, but not impossible!

Taking care of my new short hairdo

Short hair is supposed to be easier to maintain as opposed to long hair. If you’ve recently taken the plunge (as I did) and cut a few inches off your mane, you should know that short hair can also look plain,and messy. Here are some of my tips on how to take care of your new short “do” that will help you achieve a sophisticated, polished look.

Once a week, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Make sure to allow your conditioner to sit in your hair for at least 10 minutes or deep condition under a dryer. I tend to use Motions shampoo and conditioner. For my fine hair, it keeps it soft and voluminous.

Once you have rinsed out the shampoo and conditioner, spray a considerable amount of leave in conditioner.

Next, apply a generous amount of foaming wrap and then style. You can never go wrong with Motions Foaming Wrap.