Month: September 2013

30 THINGS ABOUT MY INVISIBLE ILLNESS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

30 Things

1. The illness I live with is: Multiple Sclerosis
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: Either 2000 or 2001 I can’t remember what year to be exact
3. But I had symptoms since: Since I was in the 5th grade.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Learning to just take everyday as it comes because I never know what the day will hold for me
5. Most people assume: That I am lazy and/or antisocial
6. The hardest part about mornings are: Falling asleep at 4:00 AM and having to get up at 6:00 AM.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: I don’t really watch any medical tv shows now that Discovery Health isn’t on the air.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My iPhone calendar
9. The hardest part about nights are: Being awake all night and/or being in pain.
10. Each day I take _10_ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) This is only if I am not in pain.  If I am in pain it can be more like 15 or so depending on what I have to take
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I am skeptical of them but depending on what it is I may be up for trying them.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible
13. Regarding working and career: I work full time and I have days where I wonder why.
14. People would be surprised to know: I don’t think I am have any secrets…
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Having people understand
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: I really can’t think of anything
17. The commercials about my illness: There aren’t any that I have seen
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: I don’t really miss anything because I have diagnosed for so long that this is my normal now.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: I haven’t really had to give up anything because I was diagnosed so young that everything is normal for me.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Blogging and blog design
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I would sleep
22. My illness has taught me: Not to judge a book by its cover and also patience
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: But you don’t look sick
24. But I love it when people: Take time to ask questions and understand.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Knowledge is power
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How many rude and selfish people are in the world
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: ????
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to raise awareness
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like you care and want to learn a little bit more about me.

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Margaret Margaret

Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gary

Eventide-e1374784435604

Eventide by Shelley Shepard Gary was a great book.   This is the 3rd and final book in the series and I have to say that I am sad to see the series come to an end.  I did review the second book and if you want to check out that review click here.  I loved the characters and the overall storyline of this series.  I am finding that I really love Shelley’s writing and I can’t wait to check out more books by her.  Anyways lets get back to this book.  This book focus on Elise and her struggles with getting her family to let her live her life and also with trying to find someone to love her even though she is losing her eyesight.  I loved the ending and I was so happy for her and how things worked out.  I loved everything about this book and I can’t wait to check out other books by her in the future.

About Eventide

A young Amish woman harbors a difficult secret. Does she dare share the truth with the man she hopes to marry?

Elsie Keim doesn’t want to be left behind. Her twin sister, Viola, and her older brother, Roman, have both found love and are building lives of their own. But Elsie? She’s still stuck at home, being treated like a child. No one seems to consider her a capable woman-all they see are the thick lenses of her glasses, constant reminders that Elsie suffers from keratoconus and is slowly going blind.

Elsie knows there’s much more to her than her disease. That’s why when a new neighbor, Landon Troyer, shows some interest in her, she doesn’t want anything to scare him away . . . even if it means keeping her condition a secret.

Landon is ready to start a new life and feels like Elsie may just be the right woman to start it with. But when Roman steps in and shares the truth about Elsie’s illness, Landon is floored. His job is demanding and takes him away from home, sometimes for days at a time. How could he keep up with his responsibilities and take care of Elsie?

SGray-147

About Shelley Shepard Gary

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the “Sisters of the Heart”, “Seasons of Sugarcreek”, “Secrets of Crittenden County”, and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Connect with Shelley here:http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com/

Buy A Copy

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Margaret Margaret

Nails Of The Month ~ University Of Utah Football Nails

Nails

I really love my nails this month because they are something I have never done before and they are also fun now that it is football season for me.  This time  I decided to do University of Utah inspired nails because that is my favorite college team and strange enough I have never done anything like them before.  Here are pictures of what they look like:

RT RH LT LH

I have to say my favorite thing about these nails are the footballs.  I have never seen anything like them before.  I am pretty sure I am going to do something for the Ravens this winter so when I do I will make sure I blog about them.

What do you think? Do you have any ideas for next time?

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Margaret Margaret

Stepping Up To Love by Katie O’Boyle



Stepping Up To Love by Katie O’Boyle was a fun book to read.   I really loved the plot of the book but there were places where I was confused but I stuck through it because I really loved the plot like I said before. In this book you follow along with Manda as she graduates from college and as she gets away from a stalker.  From the minute I started this book I didn’t want to put it down because I loved the plot.  I am not sure what about the writing that made it hard for me to read but it was at times super hard for me to read.  All in all I loved the book and I am glad that I got the chance to review the book.

Cover-SteppingUpToLove

About Stepping Up To Love

Contemporary Romance Date Published: 8/7/2013 Soul Mate Publishing, Inc., NY

A lakeside porch in the Finger Lakes is the perfect spot for a quiet moment or a heart-to-heart with your special someone. Joel and Manda’s first heart-to-heart on the breakfast porch at the Manse Inn and Spa is anything but romantic. Joel the owner of the Manse is furious with his junior accountant for using one of the spa showers. If Manda didn’t have a desperate story and a spectacular body, Joel might not be feeding her breakfast and falling in love. Can Manda get sober, clean up her act, and open her heart to her rich, hunky boss?

Katie O'Boyle

More About Katie O’Boyle

Once upon a time, Katie O’Boyle was a stellar student and closet substance abuser at a picture-perfect small college. She credits loving friends, 12-step spirituality, and plenty of hard work for her transformation into tech-savvy college professor and passionate author of warm-hearted romance. Fall in love with her characters on the lakeside porches of the beautiful Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Lakeside Porches, Book One: Stepping Up To Love (Joel and Manda’s story); Book Two: Coming Home to Love (Justin and Gianessa’s story).

Buy A Copy

Amazon

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Excerpt

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Margaret Margaret

6 Reasons I Am Looking Forward To Fall

6 Reasons. . .

This week for the Writers Workshop I am going to write about about 6 reasons I am looking forward to fall this year.

  1. First I am so ready for the hot weather to be gone and for it cool down.  It has been so super hot all summer and I am so over the heat and how it makes me feel.
  2. Fall time means that it is time for football again and everyone who read’s me regularly knows how much I love everything football.
  3. I love the foods that my grandma tends to make in fall like Chili and those types of foods.
  4. The 3rd book in the Divergent series comes out on October 22 I believe it is.
  5. My shows start with new episodes which is always a good thing because I am so tired of watching reruns of all my shows.
  6. The leaves changing colors.  I don’t usually go and look at them but I love to look up at the mountains and see them changing colors.  There is just something pretty about fall in Utah.

Those are 6 reasons that I am looking forward to fall this year. Why are you looking forward to fall?

Have you entered in my giveaway yet?  If not click here!

Mama’s Losin’ It

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 Margaret Margaret