Health
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Time Savers For Spoonies: The AngryMama Microwave Cleaner
As a parent with chronic illness and special needs children, I need all the time/energy saving tricks I can find. The AngryMama is one of my favorites. I HATE cleaning the microwave! All that baked on exploded food? Eww! And the strength and energy it takes to scrub it all off?? Especially on days where I am running low on spoons (for those who aren’t familiar with Spoon Theory, here ya go) and have to choose between two urgent needs like taking a shower or making dinner, I don’t have enough in me to scrub a microwave. Enter: The AngryMama. It is a life saver! Fast, easy, eco-friendly. All you…
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The Under-Qualified But Overly Opinionated Weirdo’s Guide To Finding Happiness When Life’s Lemons Bury You: Chapter 2
I could just be rambling and making no sense at all…. I always wonder when about this sort of thing when I write. Please understand that this is the very first draft and completely unedited. Chapter 2 The Book is Always Better Than The Movie Ever wonder why, with very few exceptions, the book is always better than the movie? The easiest explanation is that you’re comparing apples to oranges. Books are written to be read and enjoyed as a reading experience, and that’s hard to transfer to a different medium. Imagine taking a painting and trying to turn it into a sculpture (or vice versa). Now, it might turn…
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The Under-Qualified But Overly Opinionated Weirdo’s Guide To Finding Happiness When Life’s Lemons Bury You: Chapter 1
I know you all were just waiting for me to start another book before my others are finished, but here we go anyway…. I don’t know much, but there are a few things I’ve learned so far. Please understand that this is the very first draft and completely unedited. Chapter 1 Diagnosing Your Problems Life isn’t exactly like a box of chocolates. Sure, you never know what you’re gonna get, but in many ways, if you’re paying attention, you can often predict exactly what you’re gonna get. No, I’m not saying you can predict the future or know everything that’s going to happen in your life, but, generally speaking, life…
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Laura Watkins and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Frustrating Day
It’s hard to be patient with myself. With my body that doesn’t let me do what I want. With my mind that feels so broken. Like today. I wanted to go to church on Easter Sunday with my family. I tried preparing and planning ahead so kids would know the expectations and not fight me, so we’d all be showered and have clean clothes and not have to rush around stressed at the last minute or be late. But, my brain being what it is… went into manic mode yesterday. I imagine it’s a lot like what a ton of caffeine does to most people. I was speaking really fast…
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Well-Being Challenge Giveaway
Our 30 Day Well-Being Challenge is at 20 days and going strong! Enter giveaway here or at the end of this post. Since we started our challenge on July 4th, we’ve seen some great things. Read more about the challenge here. Participants have reported in daily on Facebook with at least one thing they did to improve their well-being. There’s been a huge variety of activities—focusing on physical, mental, and spiritual health. One of the most rewarding parts of this 30 Day Well-Being Challenge has been watching everybody come together as a community to encourage and support each other! The Watchers Seriesby Deirdra Eden Author Deirdra Eden has been a close friend and mentor for more than 10 years. I’ve always…
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30 Day Well-being Challenge
This last year has been hard on everyone. Covid just plain sucked. BUT it also became a catalyst for many people to make positive changes in their lives, like focusing more on family and self-care. I’ve spent a lot of time lately trying to improve my family’s overall well-being, and I’ve learned that if I don’t start improving my own well-being, it all comes to nothing. So, I’ve tried to pay more attention to my needs and my own self-care. To watch for warning signs of burnout, take time out when I need it, and give myself permission to take care of myself. I’ve always been the last person I…
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30 Day Well-being Challenge
This last year has been hard on everyone. Covid just plain sucked. BUT it also became a catalyst for many people to make positive changes in their lives, like focusing more on family and self-care. I’ve spent a lot of time lately trying to improve my family’s overall well-being, and I’ve learned that if I don’t start improving my own well-being, it all comes to nothing. So, I’ve tried to pay more attention to my needs and my own self-care. To watch for warning signs of burnout, take time out when I need it, and give myself permission to take care of myself. I’ve always been the last person I…
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Depression, Anxiety, Meds, and Hope
Finding the right medicine for depression and anxiety is awful! I wish there was a better process than trial and error. I knew going into this that there would be bad side effects, I’ve tried this MANY times before (which is why I put it off for so long). But when I started Wellbutrin, a miracle happened! I started to have energy again. I’d been convinced that my body was just too overweight and unhealthy to be able to do all but the smallest amount of physical activity. My mind has been sluggish, my ADHD out of control, and I’m just exhausted all the time. But shortly after taking Wellbutrin…
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Social Distance-Friendly Activities and Fun: Staying Safe and Sane During Covid-19
Covid-19 has our lives in upheaval. It’s changing everything, and causing stressors we never knew existed. I keep seeing one constant need: Whether you’ve suddenly found yourself teaching home school, alone and isolated, or a parent of special needs children (like me), it seems we’re all desperate to find fun things to do while social distancing. Some of us can go out and enjoy a walk, others are in quarantine. This Utlimate Guide to Social Distance-friendly Activities and Fun has something for everyone. Service Opportunities Helping someone else is one of the best ways to distract from stress. These are simple and fun ways you can serve while having fun…
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My Battle For Better Health: The Healing Power of Horses
Since we have a lot of new readers, I thought I should reintroduce myself. Welcome! I’m Laura, a mother of three, from Kennewick, Washington. Daisy, our dog, and me a several years ago, after my health problems started. I was used to living a very active lifestyle, playing tennis, colorguard, gymnastics, theater, orchestra, choir, and more. But fourteen years ago, a combination of thyroid disease, PCOS, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, etc. caused rapid weight gain and morbid obesity. Family trip to the Oregon Coast. I couldn’t complete the hike and they had to come pick me up in the car. Now, everyday tasks like grocery shopping or even showering are sometimes…
