What pills to take?

I have been asked several times by family, friends and random strangers who have read my blog...Is this pill safe, Is that pill safe or should I take this medicine or not? I am writing this entry in dedication to my beautiful Aunt who has been diagnosed with Lupus. She made me realize that I should put some of this information out into the world. This is all based on my experience and is a personal opinion. I am not a doctor, pharmacist or medical professional just a person who was a healthy 20 y/o athlete in college who has been crippled for 5 years now all because she took the antibiotic Levaquin and has spent much of her bedridden days researching the truth. (Run on sentence I know, Mr Giffin would not be proud but hey it is to make a point)

I want to first say that I have a system: I have one young pharmacist and one old timer that both know and admit the dangers of antibiotics..I feel like this is the most important thing anyone can do especially someone with an ongoing illness. That way you get the freshest info from the young one and the real life experience from the older one. Run any meds by them before filling a script.

Doctors are not the best to talk over meds with because A: they are not required to know what they are prescribing or any of the side effects. B: They make their money by diagnosing people with ongoing diseases, giving them meds and then having to monitor them. They dont want you better, they want you coming back as often as possible. C: They get expensive perks from the drug companies to push their drugs. 

This next sentiment has been said before and if you have read it but haven’t quite bought into it, you should! You know your body! A doctor does not know your body. You are the expert on how it reacts to meds and how much you can handle of the symptoms you have. The medical and pharmaceutical world doesn’t want or strive for cures, that would be “bad biz”. They make more money off of you by giving you a label such as “Depression” telling you there is no cure, only treatment and then handing out a script or two or three that you will take for the rest of your life. It is Bullshit. A doctor will tell you that you “need” a drug but you don’t. It might help your symptom but it might also give you ten more which your doctor will then scribe you a few more pills to alleviate those symptoms until you are in your 60’s and taking 23 pills a day or more!

For those of us whose illnesses are real and not going anywhere that leaves you with the symptoms. To treat or not to treat that is the question. A symptom is a sign that something is going on inside your body. Focus on the cause rather then the effect. I should also mention that I will not take any prescription medication(this includes vaccines) unless I will literally die if I don't take it. If it is a treatment and not a cure then it is not needed in my body. So my general advice is don't take anything unless that is the case. If you can live with the symptoms or find natural ways of treating them then I would go with that. I do not take anything for my disabilities with the exception of Diphenhydramine(for allergies) and Aleve(only when it hurt so much i'll chop a limb off if it doesn’t let up a little) It is amazing what your body can adapt to and even more amazing to know what your mind can conquer. I am living and working proof of that.


People have this idea in their head that life and more so their bodies should not inconvenience them. That symptoms should go away or be treated away. Like a fever, people think it is horrible and should be treated immediately. A fever is YOUR body raising ITS temperature to kill off an unsafe intruder. If you take fever reducer you are stoping a natural process and allowing that intruder to grow inside of you, thus leaving yourself sicker for longer. I let it ride and only take reducer when it is too high which results in me only being sick for about two days. My grandmother goes straight for the cold medicine at the first sniffle and is sick for weeks. Everyone has struggles in life, maybe the point isn't to find a quick and easy band-aid solution but to learn to endure and overcome. 

Unfortunately with drugs you never know what your bodies reaction to it will be until you take it or the lasting effects until you stop. That is why you have to pick and choose what you HAVE to put in your body and what you don’t. It is also important to remember that putting chemicals in your body is dangerous. "Medicines" are not always a miracle or even a treatment but sometimes the cause. A woman who had AIDs was taking 84 pills a day, She did not die from AIDs but from liver failure as a result of the prolonged exposure to the pills. 84 pills a day took her life only 7 years after diagnosis, at the age of 49. On the flip side there is a 94 y/o woman in Portland, OR who is still walking with no assistance and describes herself to be "healthy as a horse!" I asked her what her secret is she said "I eat REAL food and never take any medicines." 

I hope I haven't scared you. There is no simple answer with this stuff except to educate and trust yourself. Be safe. 

Suffer No More...Well at least not as much.

    This blog is for any who have allergies, children with allergies, family or even friends whose repeated sneezes make you sad. Don't forget to say bless you! I have literally suffered for years and years from allergies to the point that my eyes swell shut for days and I sneeze in excess of 40 times a day which results in nose bleeds, all over body pain and headaches. I read up a bit and even joined an online support group for allergy sufferers :) After much research I have narrowed down my experiments for this year to two things. Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and Raw localish Honey. 


   The Apple Cider Vinegar has done lots for me beside allergy relief, most noticeably my face has gotten super clear in a very short amount of time. One of the nasty and lasting side effects of quinolone poisoning is the face of a preteen who binges on potato chips for breakfast. I have tried the expensive treatments and even proactiv which is what I was using when I began the ACV. My face was badly broken out due to the proactiv within a week of the ACV my face had cleared greatly. I also have more energy and feel hungry less often then before. I  have been drinking two tablespoons a day and spritzing a 50/50 water ACV mix on my face AM and PM. 


   Raw Localish Honey! This is honey that is collected in the region of America that you live in, in the picture you can see in the upper right hand corner it says collected in the Pacific Northwest. This seems to be the key as far as the allergy aid is concerned. I get two kinds, the local raw by Uncle Henry's and Y.S. organic bee farms Raw, unfiltered, unparteurized honey because they each have a different texture and taste. I love them both and now sweeten my tea, smoothies, cereal and quinoa with honey. I eat it as a dip with fresh Strawberries(plus real whipped cream), apples, blackberries and cinnamon teddy grahams. I love to make peanut butter and honey sandwiches and eat it straight up on a spoon. :) Other ways that I have used the honey is as a wound treatment, I put it on a bad burn and it was weird but helped a lot. I try to eat at 3-4 tablespoons a day, which for me isn't hard. I will note that it was hard at first because my taste buds were used to artificial sweeteners and white sugar. Now i don't use anything but honey! 


   Now, back to the allergies. This season I have taken no allergy meds. Have I sneezed? Yes, but no more then 4 times a day!! Having the muscle pain the sneezing gets to a point where I am in so much pain that each sneeze feels like it is tearing several muscles in my back and chest, I am so happy to have the sneezing minimized!! I have itched but not to the point of uncontrolled scratching. My eyes have not itched yet and have not swollen at all. I still have some nasal swelling but can breath easily enough through my nostrils. I am not sure if it is the honey or the vinegar or the combination of the two, but this has been the best allergy season I can remember. In conclusion neither is a miracle cure is certainly helpful.

Attention "Gentleman"

Are you a man who is single? Have you ever thought to yourself "I did everything right, I held the door for her, complimented her, struck up conversation and even made myself look silly in an attempt to make her smile! Why doesn't she want to date me!?" Ever said there are no good girls out there or they are all bitches? Well good sir Maybe it is not us but rather you....True there are a lot of useless woman out there, girls looking for free drinks, girls that are gold digging, and some that just want to have fun then ignore your texts for further amusement. My defense is simply that those women have been burned by D-bags in the past and are now using men the way they were used... Doesn't feel so good does it boys? If you have grown beyond that phase in your life and really are wanting a woman you can love then ask yourself if you have the skills to be relationship material. Are you a gentleman? No No No A real gentleman! Let me tell you a true story.


I'm at the gym, it's late morning and I am enjoying myself in the Zumba Gold for seniors class with my mother. Why does a woman in her 20's go to the Seniors Zumba you ask? Because I'm crippled and I like the people! I have found that 90 percent of people in their twilight years are kind, non-judgmental, encouraging, accepting and have no place in their life for comparison. I'm three songs in and dying, when this dude comes in....maybe 35 idk. He Zumbas a bit and then sits in the back of the class...Hello Buddy, there is a mirror and I can see you staring at my ass....NOT COOL.


Mom and I are guzzling water between songs and he approaches me holds out his hand and introduces himself while I am mid gulp so I nod and he asks for my name. I tell him and he tells me I'm good at Zumba. I get it, you are a man so certainly not a mind reader and can't tell by looking at me that I am disabled with multiple system damage and spent the last two days in bed. Common sense would tell me that the reason a person like me would pick a crowd like this is one of two reasons, I like to do Zumba with my Nana or I don't want to be hit on and stared at like the lovely ladies in the Full on Zumba classes have to endure. I do give him props for being bold enough to say hello however what really bothered me about this encounter is the fact that he acted as though my mother did not exist. Are you kidding me bro!? That kind of behavior sends off my douche bag radar.


Not satisfied with his failed attempt he decided to stand by me when the song "Stand By Me" comes on and Zumbas in unison with me.... creepy! He tires of this quickly and resumes his position of staring at my ass while sitting on his. At the end of the class he waits for me at the door so we purposely wait him out but he doesn't give up.... So we give in and head for the door he holds the door for me and then lets it go in the face of a few elderly ladies that were behind me!!!! Seriously!? Then has the nerve to meaningfully look me in the eyes and tell me to have an amazing day. I flash him my ring and a quick thanks then walk away.


This sort of thing happens all the time to women all around the world. Dude you think you are doing all the right things but all you did was show how immature and not ready for a relationship you are. The good girls of this world are that way for a reason...we are smart! We look at this scenario and say to ourselves.


He has poor observational skills: Ring + Left hand = Taken,  asked for my name mid drink. Disrespectful: acted like my companion was invisible, stared at my ass for an hour. Presumptuous: Really, do you think we are ready to be dancing to Stand by me together? Not a true gentleman: If you are going to hold a door for a pretty lady before an elderly one you suck at life! This action tells a woman that the chivalrous actions you are displaying towards them is a ruse and will soon enough stop once the newness of dating wears off. Men, you can not fool a "good girl" we see right through it.


So for those that really are wanting a good girl and a relationship that lasts, start skill building. Train yourself to be the best person you can be, just like working on a six pack it takes time and effort. Begin by opening the door for any woman you come across no matter her looks, age, or size. If there is a man behind her hold it for him too, its call human decency. Resist the urge to look at a woman's breast and butt, I know this is hard but we do notice even when you think you were slick. Work on your skills of observation, check for a ring before you check the booty. Don't ask questions when she is eating, drinking or mid sentence. Give compliments and advice, If you see a guy in the razor section looking confused as to which he should buy... recommend your favorite. If you see a women in her late 50's twisting in the mirror muling over a new dress... tell her it looks amazing. In short I'm saying be kind and bold to everyone. Women want a man who is genuinely kind and chivalrous not one who pretends to be for her. I'm sure you are a great guy with a lot to offer, if you add a few of these skills and turn them into healthy habits you will find a good girl. I was lucky and landed myself a man you was very well skilled in being a true gentleman, I owe his mother, grandmother, aunts and sister my gratitude! Thanks you ladies you did a fabulous job although he is sick of shopping :P  Happy Love Hunting.

Manestage Theatre Company

I found this hidden jewel while living in Bonney Lake, WA. I ventured into the tiny town of  Sumner looking for a used book store that resides in its historic downtown strip. The book store, named A GOOD BOOK is full of AMAZING books and great people. I am biased though, being a bookworm I think all other bookworms are great. Really though these ladies and a gentleman love books and between them all you can be pointed in the direction of an amazing book in any genre. I highly recommend stopping in there if you love books. So here I am driving towards A Good Book and I see a sign that says Pride and Prejudice by Manestage Theatre Company. I get home with my haul of books and google for the website to find the next showing.

I grabbed Yogi and we headed to the theatre to watch a play. It was delightful, this was my first time seeing live theatre outside of a high school production. I enjoyed it so much that we have continued going even after we moved. I have seen several of their plays now and my favorites were as I formentioned Pride and Prejudice...

Cinderella: This was wonderfully done. All of the cast fit their characters well and their voices were top notch. The prince was the stand out for me and my little sister in this one.

State Fair: This was perhaps my favorite that I have seen, It went by so fast. I wished it wasn't over or that I could rewind it. I don't have a favorite in this one because everyone did so amazing!

The Wizard of Oz: Of all the times I've been to the play now this was the most detailed and splendid makeup/costuming I have seen. The scarecrow was so funny, Toto was a true professional, the tin man was intriguing and the cowardly lion was lovable! I was disappointed not to hear over the rainbow but loved the songs they chose. This was my younger siblings first introduction to the story of OZ and they loved it.

The latest production was Narnia The Musical so I will give a more in depth review. I will say if every playhouse has to have a flop this one would be it for me, They didn't draw the curtains for set changes which took away from the mystique. Warning: You should be aware of my undying devotion to the C.S Lewis novels thusly I am a stickler for these books being impeccably covered. My biggest issue was the White Witch. She screamed.... A Lot. She should at all times remain cool, calm and collected even in anger. She is so presumptuous in her power and arrogant on her thrown that she has no need to lose control. The screeching actually gave me a headache, which was unfortunate as I was seated close to the orchestra which was wonderful but tended to be louder then the voices on stage and drowned them out often. The brilliance on stage was Mr and Mrs. Beaver, they were perfect. Mr. Tumnus did terrific and was very believably a fawn. Lucy's voice was the best of the night and Edmund was perfectly dislikable, which is exactly how he should be. I would like to also mention that the makeup and costumes were admirable.

I love this company and will continue to go to each production I can until I no longer live in Washington. If you are anywhere in the area and want to have a spectacular time, this is the place!!! I suggest you take your wife, husband, children, grandparents or really anyone and everyone who will see and appreciate the beauty of live theatre. Next Up is:

http://manestagetheatre.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ManeStage-Theatre-Company/248524651840022

First Aid Beauty

I have been using First Aid Beauty or FAB products since early 2010. After getting multiple system damage as well as chemical sensitivities from taking Levaquin, I decided I wanted to try and cut out chemicals from my life. I started looking for products that didn't have harsh chemicals like paraben, sulfates, dyes, fragrances, etc. I stumbled onto a store called sephora and bought a starter kit of FAB as well as Boscia. The Boscia has weird smells to each of their products and really didn't do much for me although I love their Botanical blast tonic spray. The FAB kit though was a blessing in adorable packaging. It lasted me about 4 months and cost $15.

The Body Wash: It is virtually smell free, great with sensitive skin and washes completely

without drying out my skin. I do have sensitive skin and for me this product is perfect.

The Body Moisturizer: This is a light yet moisturizing lotion. It goes on easily and works instantly. It doesn't leave a filmy feeling but does leave my skin soft.
The Face Cleanser: It is also smell free and works well. It is one of those products that follows the rule "A little goes a long way." Yogi still uses this cleanser and loves it, I am trying out others to see which side of the fence is greener or in this case clearer.
The Daily Face Cream: This product I am in love with but I do question our future together for only one reason, it doesn't have an SPF in it. :(

I went back to repurchase in the full sizes and the Fab Favs caught my eye. It is $38.00 and all of the products are FULL SIZE!

The Ultra Repair Cream: This is the real deal for serious moisturizing. I use it after swimming as my skin really dries out afterwards. For my hubby It is great for his hands after work, My little sister has a touch of eczema and this clears it up nicely. I highly recommend this product.
Radiance Pads: Yogi works A Lot and Very Hard in a Dirty Job! These little pads are a god send for him. He gets off work and can grab one or two of these to get the guck off his face as soon as possible. For me my skin is a little too sensitive to rub with anything. He loves em though.

My Mumsie tried the Red Serum by FAB and it did have a noticeable difference in the redness to her cheeks but is in no way a miracle cure for redness.

So I went back to repurchase the Ultra Repair Cream as my whole family invades my stash! and I found this little kit! $18

I was so excited to find this because the Cleanser and Cream will last me at least 4 months and I have been dying to try their new shave cream.
Shave Cream: This stuff is the product I have always been looking for. My skin is most sensitive on my legs and the regular shave creams make my skin burn! This product works great with my sensitive skin and "A little goes a long way".
Lip Therapy: This was a bonus to me, I didn't think I'd care much for it because I have so many smashbox glosses and for balms I use Jack Black lip balms. So it came as a surprise to me that I love this stuff. Its texture is not a gloss, not a balm but something all its own. There is no flavor and the smell is light and pleasant.

I hope you found this review helpful! Thanks for reading!