Friday, September 28, 2018

Another Great You Tube Channel: Coco Lime Fitness

I have mentioned before, I think, that I have a condition known as Neuropathic Pain or Chronic Pain. While my condition is not the same as fibromyalgia, it has some similar symptoms.  Basically, I feel pain every minute of every day.  I manage that pain in various ways.  If you want to learn more about chronic pain you can check out these links.

What is the difference between acute and chronic pain? 
A video about pain... 
The Spoon Theory

Today, I want to share a You Tube Channel with you.  It's called Coco Lime Fitness and more specifically, I like to use the Fibro-Fit Series.  The channel belongs to an amazing woman, Suzanne, who has Fibromyalgia and wants to help other people who live with chronic illnesses including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and more.  She is a qualified personal trainer so she knows her stuff AND she knows (from personal experience) the real struggle of living with a chronic illness. She demonstrates exercises as well as modifications so you can adapt work outs to suit your pain and your body.

Fibro Fit has truly helped me to get up and get moving.  I can work out in my own home and know that no one is watching me.  I can control the length of my work outs by choosing a full workout or putting together a series of shorter work outs.  There are warm up videos, low impact cardio, strengthening, dance or kick boxing, stretches for cool-down or just for helping you relax.  These videos are great for those with chronic pain or just anyone who can't get to the gym, can't fit in time to run or walk or just wants to try something low key at home.  Most videos require no equipment other than a device to watch the video and a supportive pair of shoes. Some videos use house hold items such as a chair or step.  Others give you the option of using light dumbells, but you don't have to use these if you don't have them.  You can do it without weights or use two equally weighted items like cans of soup, packets of rice or even bottles of water.

If you're looking for an easy fitness routine that will help you get moving or just to change it up from your regular routine, this is the You Tube Channel for you!

I will say again... I am not compensated for my comments here and I will not be compensated.  My opinions are my own!

Have a great week! :)

Friday, September 21, 2018

1 Card Panel = 3 Cards!

So excited to share this with you.  Not because I think you will learn a lot from me.  I'm just a little bit proud of myself!

I managed to make 3 cards out of 1 card panel.  That's right, people!  Paper Saving AND Time Saving brilliance at its best.  Check it out!

I started out with a piece of cardstock cut at 5 and 3 quarter inches by 4 inches.  I later cut this down to fit on my card bases with an even border all the way around the edge.  The next step is the most fun.  Some direct to paper (using Catherine Pooler inks, which are perfect for this technique), tone on tone stamping and spraying the panel with water (mixed with perfect pearls pigment powder) makes this shiny, textured background.  I wrote about this technique in more detail last month.  The stamps are from the 'Celebrate Friends' Stamp of Approval collection from Catherine Pooler Designs.

Pulling out the dies, I cut Happy Birthday (From Kasier craft)  from the centre of my pink and purple card panel, then die cut a rounded rectangle (also from Kaiser craft) around the negative space.  I also die cut the Happy Birthday die again using black card stock.

This card uses the negative space from the word die and an inlaid die cutting technique.  
I used silver glitter tape to create a border around the outside, then glued the rounded rectangle on top of it. 

This card uses the Happy Birthday die cut (isn't it gorgeous?!) and some black chevron washi tape. 
I put the tape down first and glued the words on the diagonal to line up with the tape.  
The tape is all the same width, it's the chevrons that make it look wonky like that. 
I accidentally smudged a bit of pink ink on the card, so I decided to do some 'splatters'
by smooshing some ink on an acrylic block then flicking it with a wet brush.  


After making the first two cards I couldn't bear to throw away this beautiful frame. 
So, I stamped the big Happy Birthday stamp (from Sugarpea Designs) directly onto a card base.
Then, I adhered the frame with foam tape and used some iridescent sequins so it 
looks almost like a shaker card.  I love this card the best and it was literally made from a scrap! 

There you have it.  One panel of card stock, a fun technique and Bing, Bang, Boom, I have 3 gorgeous cards for my birthday card stash! I can see myself doing this one again! 

Have a wonderful week, my crafty friends. 





Friday, September 14, 2018

Checkin' in with the Goals

Reaching Goals requires work.  Learning requires work.  Sometimes, work is hard!

I'm just too tired for 'hard' these days.  

Instead of telling you how much I've been struggling with... everything.  I decided I am going to show you a couple of pictures. 



I need to look at these pictures and remind myself that it's okay to have bad days and bad weeks.  I like these pictures because it reminds me that setbacks are normal and real.  Anyone who tells you their success looks like the first one up there... a straight and steady movement upwards.... they are probably lying.

You can do this.  I can do this.
Let's go!

Friday, September 7, 2018

Reasons to Smile




This is a list of things that make me smile.  Sometimes entirely without reason.  :) 

Friends








Toddlers explaining how the world works
Dad's impish smirk
Pretty craft supplies
Other people smiling because of me
When a kid learns something

Babies
Taking a photo of someone
My Bestie
Cameras
Lying in bed
Silly word play
A job well done
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream
Shelly the cat


Happy music
Veggietales
Lasagne
Cuddles

Comfy clothes
The Sound of Music
Helping
Kindness
Quiet
Happy Memories
Nanny's Rissoles
Singing
Getting into bed with fresh sheets.  

I hope you have plenty of reasons to smile today!