I am a P.O.T.S. warrior!

     Hey ladies and gents! Today I want to talk to you about my Fight with P.O.T.S. When I first was diagnosed I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. This disease took everything from me very suddenly. I was good one day and sick the next. It came on that fast. Things quickly spiraled downhill. I didn't want to fight. Everything was too hard. Walking up stairs, washing dishes, laundry, and the simplest of tasks became a struggle. I felt like a burden to those around me. A dead weight. Some days I could not even get off the couch. I still have days like this. The difference is I changed my mindset about it. I know I will have bad days but that doesn't mean they will all be bad days. I accepted this as the new me and decided to fight!

     Having an invisible illness means you cant see the symptoms I am experiencing. You cant see my racing heart, super low blood pressure, the dizzy spells, fatigue, muscle aches, pains, heat intolerance, nausea, and G.I. dysfunction. I worried about what others thought and if I was good enough. Sometimes I still do. But I know I am giving 110%. I am giving it my all and fighting as hard as I can everyday.

     I push through and refuse to give up. It is not easy by any means. I have many days where I am feeling defeated and down. I sometimes want to give up. I feel its unfair I have all these added struggles. I am jealous of the people who can do whatever they please with no physical limitation. I am mad at the people who take the ability to do things for granted. I feel down on myself and think I am not good enough. I think this is a normal part of having  an illness like this. Its ok to have bad days and feel sorry for yourself, as long as you don't stay there too long.

earlier this week after a bad episode

     I have decided that I want to workout like I used to before getting sick. I wanted to build back some muscle I lost from not being able to workout. I was feeling very self conscience and needed a change. I failed many attempts and threw in the towel more times than I care to admit. I started slow and learned to pace myself. I try to get some sort of workout in everyday. Maybe it will only be a 10 minute walk, but hey that is better than nothing at all. some days working out is out of the question. I am too symptomatic. Tomorrow is another day! Every workout is a challenge and I have to push through. I spend half of the workout laying on the floor recouping from 1 set of something. The point is I do it. The workout I do should take about 15 mins for someone without my struggles. It takes me about 45 mins. I am seeing results and noticing that some days it is easier. I sometimes flare after a workout and crash for the rest of the day. I like to workout close to end of the day so I can recoup at night.

heart rate after walking up stairs

    I focus on the fact that I am able to homeschool my daughter. Some days she brings her work to me in bed. When I am so symptomatic I cant get up. But I am doing it!  I take care of my family, pets, and house. Plenty of days the house is messy, laundry not done, dishes in the sink, and we order pizza because I am too off to cook. But everyone is cared for and happy. I participate in turtle rescuing which is and has always been something I am passionate about. I attend co ops for my daughter's schooling. We have outings and play dates. Some days we have to cancel and that is OK. I am doing the best I can with the circumstances I was given. I have had to adapt to things and find a way to make them all work. Everyday I have to push and fight. It is not easy but it is worth it.  You too cant fight! Focusing on what I can do and not what I cant do has helped me. It has made me thankful for everything I can do and made me fight that much harder. I hope this post has opened the eyes of some and inspired you to fight! P.O.T.S. does not define us!

     Til next time xoxox

DIY jewelry cleaner

    

      Hi guys, so for this post I would like to share with you my tried and true, Pinterest find, jewelry cleaner. I stumbled across this jewelry cleaner recipe when I was on Pinterest  in the wee hours of the am when I should have been sleeping. That is how Pinterest rolls.... You start looking up a recipe you most likely will never make, and then end hours later with pandas wearing hats!!  Its addicting and a trap lol. Anyways back to the DIY cleaner. It works awesome and it consists of things you already have in the kitchen! Win Win in my book. My ring sparkles like when I have it cleaned at the jewelry store. I don't always clean my ring.... okay okay ...  I really am bad for jewelry cleaning! But when I do clean it , this is my go to! I use this on gold and platinum with real gemstones. Not sure if it's safe for sliver so use on sliver at your own discretion.

You will need:
* a bowl
* aluminum foil
*1 tbs baking soda
* 1/4 cup vinegar
* 1 cup hot water
*  a squirt of dawn dish soap
* old toothbrush

Place the aluminum foil at the bottom of your bowl. Then add the baking soda. Next add the hot water and the vinegar. Plop your jewelry in the middle, and let the fizzing do the work. I leave my rings in there about a minute. Then I take them out and scrub with a toothbrush. Rinse well in hot water.

Voila! Now you have super clean and sparkly jewelry with none of the harsh chemicals!

Til next time, xoxox

Garage Girls Jewelry (GIVEAWAY!!)

     

      Hi there, So for this post I would like to share with you all some awesome jewelry that is car themed for us ladies. Perfect for a gear-head girl like myself. As a car girl I struggle to find  pretty stuff to wear that is car themed. Lets face it most car stuff is more geared towards the fellas. Arianna Courte founded a business that provides us car girls with an awesome yet elegant collection of jewelry.  She has so much to choose from.  

Head on over to Garage Girls Jewelry and check it out!
 www.GarageGirlsJewelry.com
 
 Car Girls Jewelry has offered my readers 10% off their entire purchase. Use my unique code: CUPCAKE to apply the discount. How awesome is that? You get to support a small business, get awesome jewelry, and a discount!! Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good deal!  Head on over to Garage Girls Jewelry and treat yourself or that special someone.


follow on instagram

@Garage.Girls Instagram

like on facebook
www.facebook.com/GarageGirlsJewelry

Here is what Arianna had to say about herself and her business.

"Hey girls and guys!! My name is Arianna or @2JZGRL.

     I grew up at the racetrack with my father, and started driving when I
was 13 years old. I was 14 years old when I took my first pass down the
track and ever since then I was hooked. I did drag racing for a while then
got into auto cross and finally drifting. I have a black on black 5 speed
Lexus IS300 (first born), S14.5 240sx with an SR20 swap that I drift for
fun. I managed a Formula Drift team for 4 years, and now I'm pursuing the
exotic world.

      I love to work on cars, race, drift, modify and design different
things.

     How Garage Girls came to be:

        I had been searching for years for jewelry & accessories for women
that were into cars and motorsports. I found close to nothing when it came
to rings, necklaces, and things like that. So I decide to take this
opportunity to make my own line of accessories for women and men!! I'm proud
to say this business (that started out as a personal hobby) has grown so
much!! I had no idea that I would be where I am today. I strive to provide
the best quality from my manufacturers and set a good price point as well.
Most of my products are hand made by me :)  I don't do this solely for the
money, I do this because I think we as women need to band together and
promote a healthy, supporting, and uplifting roll in the motorsports
community."


GIVEAWAY!!!  

  See that awesome turbo ring pictured above? One of my lucky readers will receive a turbo ring!! How exciting! To enter all you have to do is comment below with your favorite car. Deadline to enter is 1-15-18 by 10 am. I will then randomly select a winner using random.org. Good luck to all who enter. 

 DISCLAIMER: I was sent merchandise in exchange for my honest review. All views are mine and mine alone.

Til next time, xoxox