Pain in the Gout!

I've been battling with gout for a while.

Gout is a kind of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes joint inflammation. 

My most recent (current) battle with gout had me severely limping a few days, and using crutches for one day.  It has traveled from one foot to another and seems to have decided that it wants to just mess with  my left knee now.  It's not nearly as bad as two summers ago though, when I was on crutches for over 2 months.  That was the worst.

Gout is a terrible thing.  When I had my first episode I was 24.  It landed me on the couch a full week.  It was the most intense pain I had ever known.  A single bed sheet placed gently on the affected area had me screaming and crying for hours. 

It has been about 13 years now since that first flare up.  When I had health insurance I was on a medication called allopurinol.  It didn't stop the flare ups completely, but it did help.

Now that I don't have insurance I'm trying my best to keep flare ups down.  I have read up on all sorts of home remedies and ways to keep uric acid levels low enough in my body to prevent attacks.

I've begun to learn my personal trigger foods that can cause a flare up for me.

beef
shell fish
carbonated beverages both diet and non diet
crystal light and generic replicas of it.
hot dogs
whole milk
and sadly... most recently... churches fried chicken.

I drink LOADS of water to help flush the uric acid out of my system.... I eat cherries and  berries.  Unfortunately for me, another  factor in my flare ups are weather changes....and it has been rainy here in Texas lately.  Not good.

I know that losing weight will help out also, but I need low impact exercises and cannot afford a gym with a pool.  I can't even walk a mall without suffering the next day with some sort of gouty ache.

I think I'm feeling inspired to pull out my Jack Lalanne Juicer to help with the weight loss...

Do any of you juice?

Getting to know you

 I was catching up on reading blog posts from some of my favorite blogs...and came upon a post over at Collide. It was a "getting to know you" post where Thea had been tagged by a blogger friend of hers. After reading all of her answers to the questions given to her...I saw she tagged 2 people. I was one. *EEEK*
I have never met Thea, but I LOVE reading her blog. Even though we live completely different lives, I get her. If any of you have ever read "Nurture" by Lisa Bevere, you understand.

ok so here I go...

1. Where is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation is to PARIS. ALL expenses paid....and at least 2 weeks long.

2. If you could have lunch with anyone from any time in history, who would it be and why.
My grandfather Jose Plata Sr. I was 12 years old when the Lord called him home. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him. I'd like to learn more of his testimony and how the Lord called him into ministry.

3. Do you like roller coasters? Nope.

4. Do you make a Christmas wish list (for yourself) each year?
No. I usually get gift cards from Catherine's, or Hobby Lobby though, and those are perfect for me!

5. The one song that always gets stuck in your head is...?
I don't have one song that gets stuck in my head. If there was a way for me to broadcast what goes on in my head, you would hear nothing but one song after the other. Nonstop. Seriously. I'm always singing in my mind.

6. What color is your toothbrush?
Pink and white.

7. What is your favorite movie?
Nacho Libre...Hands Down.

8. Would you rather forget your mom's birthday or Mother's Day?
Yikes...neither. I would be in so much trouble!

Here is a picture of my mother and I. I'm in the glasses.

9. What kind of car do you drive?
I drive my mothers Ford Expedition. I own a 98 Ford Escort ZX2 that has been out of commission for the past 6 months. (possibly longer)

There ya have it. A little about me wheather you wanted to know or now!

What have I been up to?

I haven't been around here too much...I've been too tempted to use my blog to vent and I really don't want that.

Things around the home front are changing. I've been doing a lot of cleaning.  Rearranging.

I'm learning to deal with difficult situations.  Dealing with a forgiveness issue;  although I think I have forgiven, I'm just hurt and untrusting at this point.  But I won't talk about that.

What I will show you is what I've been up to.  In instagram of course.

Last week My niece and I decided to make "Lucky Charms" Treats.  Me being frugal used the generic version...but I feel they came out super yummy just the same.

I made a cute beanie last week.  I

have yet to take the etsy photos of it and put it up in the shop though.

I ordered large sized double pointed needles and am beefing up my knitting skills....hopefully I will have knitted items in my etsy shop for the winter.

 

I've been making more  crochet jewelry. As soon as I can get some decent pictures of my items they will go up in the shop.

Lastly, check out what I won! 

Jesse Anne Designs 

Had a giveaway earlier this month and I WON!  WOO HOO!

A lovely necklace featuring Beatles lyrics!  I love it!

Special thanks to Jesse Anne!    

Birds nest!

I made this birds nest this weekend and wanted to share! 

It is available for purchase in my etsy shop.

I think I'll make a few more this weekend and see how they look decorated.

Beautiful Spring Weekend

 After 5 weeks in a row of cleaning, activities, and obligations to attend to, I finally had a weekend that required NO effort on my part.


So how did I spend my weekend?

Making flowers!

 I instagramed them (LOVE INSTAGRAM)!

I crocheted several little flowers....these are now paired with matching streatchy headbands for a birthday gift for a friends baby.

I then decided to make some satin petal blossoms.  I took pics of these before the rhonestone center was added.

These two are my ABSOLUTE favorites!  They are a gift for someone who just found out she is having a girl!!! 

I even added a few to my etsy shop...and hopefully will add more colors soon!

March is here!

My goals for Feb were:


To earn $100 in sales. 
     I earned $50.  I'll just keep trying. :)

To start fixing up my living room.
     I was worried that I would never be able to get new couches...and

::::PRAISE the LORD::::

  I got NEW *to me* Couches! A family from church was upgrading and offered theirs for sale for just $100! They are in GREAT condition and the best couches I have ever had!

My brother needed his car cleaned and offered me $100 to clean it....a few days later the couches were offered for sale!   This same family also gave me a queen bedroom set for free!  I feel so blessed!



Now for my March goals:

$100 in sales  (till I get it!)

Start decorating the living room. :)  I've got so many ideas from pinterest that I just need to pick colors and get to crafting!

Speaking of crafting...


I made my sister a little something for her class tomorrow!

She teaches Pre-K and asked if  I could make "Green eggs and ham."  So fun to make those eggs...the ham...not so much.

The Kinder teacher at her school asked if I could make a "Sam I Am" hat for her.  This is what I came up with.

I sure hope the kids enjoy celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday tomorrow at school!

Happy Friday everyone!!

...I'm still here...

I've been MIA!

At the beginning of Feb I had decided to make a personal goal of 2 blog postings a week.   As you can see that hasn't happened.

Life all of a sudden got a little busier for me.  I am not complaining!

My part time babysitting job went to all week at the beginning of the month.  My weekday evenings are filled with house stuff, church church stuff, and taking care of my niece 2 evening out of the week.  Of course, Weekends are filled with spending time with my family..running around and getting stuff done, and of course church.

I've decided not to stress myself out with this blog. 

I love writing...I love crafting and sharing...and I love that I have an outlet for when I am inspired.  I love connecting and getting to know the people who read my blog...I will still be here...I just wont be here as often.

Lots of Love!
Dina