As you guys know, I'm a chronic illness warrior and part of the reason I started this blog was to create a place that I could help educate others and end the stigma against mental and physical illnesses. With that, I have stumbled upon some awesome movements that are also focused on those goals. Because I support them so deeply, I have written about my two favorite ones: #WhatYouDontSee and #BesidesMyDiagnosis.

Well, today I've got another one. One of my favorite chronic illness bloggers has started her own movement and it's called #VisibleWeStand. If you're interested in reading all about it, you can check out the blog post, "#VisibleWeStand: An Introduction" on A Spoonie's Tale. 

Without going too into depth, the #VisibleWeStand movement was brought about to:

- Promote awareness of chronic & invisible illnesses

- Shed light on the unique challenges we face as chronic illness warriors

- Add to the already amazing & extensive community of support created by spoonies for spoonies.

- Promote confidence & pride in spite of illness.

Of course, I support all of these things! So, I wanted to jump on this movement as soon as I heard about it! Lucky for me, all I have to do is answer 10 simple questions for all of you :)

1. How would you introduce yourself?

Honestly, it depends who I'm talking to. If I'm introducing myself in a business environment, then I label myself a blogger, writer, artist, and graphic designer. I really only introduce myself as a spoonies if someone asks what I blog about or it comes up in conversation. Of course, I'm very open about it on my blog and my social media accounts. 

2. What diagnoses have you received?

Where do I even begin?! Here's a list of everything that I can recall off of the top of my head, but I'm probably forgetting a few.

   - Early Childhood ~ PTSD                                - 2016 ~ Sleep Apnea

   - 2010 ~ Astigmatism                                        - 2016 ~ Fibromyalgia

   - 2012 ~ Hypothyroidism                                  - 2016 ~ CREST

   - 2013 ~ Hashimoto's Thyroiditis                      - 2016 ~ Pulmonary Hypertension

   - 2013 ~ Anxiety                                                - 2016 ~ Chronic Sinusitis

   - 2013 ~ Depression                                           - 2016 ~ Chronic Tonsilitis

   - 2016 ~ Lupus                                                   - 2016 ~ Lung Nodules

3. What would you like others to know about your illnesses? What kind of symptoms do you face?

In all honesty, I just want others to know that whether or not they can see my illnesses, I am still sick. Most of my illnesses are considered "invisible illnesses" because my symptoms can't be seen from the outside. Although personally, I think that they could be, if anyone looked hard enough, no matter how hard I try to hide them. Apparently I do a pretty good job though, because people rarely believe that I am sick. I've had nurses look at my medical chart and say "bless your heart. If I saw you on the street I would have no idea that you were this sick." Little do people know that I rest myself for days before and after any outings. I know that I have to save enough energy to successfully make it out of the house and I also know that it will take everything out of me too. My symptoms vary from migraines, body aches, upset stomach, varying temperatures, brain fog, dizziness, weakness, buckling legs, and more. Living with a chronic illness is an ongoing battle. 

4. What kind of challenges or obstacles have you faced since becoming ill? How were you able to overcome them?

I think my biggest challenge was realizing that I'm not going to be able to do everything that I was once able to do. I was devastated when I had to quit school and my job. It only got worse when I realized that I couldn't even manage a normal social life or activities at home. I had to stop baking (which I loved), hanging out with my friends, and more. 

I can't truthfully say that I have overcome these obstacles, however, I can say that I've made some positive effort to. I've looked in to various online programs to continue my degree, which I will hopefully be able to do once my symptoms get under control. I've also started working from home. Besides my blog, I've also got a few services up on Fiverr and a shop on Storenvy. My life at home is still difficult, but I'm managing. My husband has been awesome at doing the cooking and cleaning and it's helped a ton. As far as my social life goes, I've learned to make friends online. I still try to meet up with the wives every once in a while, but it's difficult with my symptoms and all of their children. Of course, I'm still trying to make it all work. Many of my diagnoses arrived this year, so I'm still getting used to everything.

5. If you could ask the spoonie community for advice on one thing, what would it be?

How do you do it?

There are so many changes that come with a chronic diagnosis. Then there's the physical symptoms which can be excruitating. On top of that, there's the stigma that comes from society and sometimes even family. There's the judgments that come from others that can't quite understand what you're going through. There's just so much that chronic illness warriors have to go through and adjust for. So my question to them is, how do you do it?

6. If you could send a message to the healthy community, what would you say?

I would just ask that they rethink their feelings towards the chronic illness community and question what they've been taught about people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. There are so many people out there that think we are less because we aren't healthy, but it's not true. Then there are the people that think that all illnesses should be visible and all people in wheelchairs cannot walk. Every single person and every single illness is different. Society needs to stop generalizing and stereotyping every group out there. 

For the healthy community that have dealt with the spoonie community first hand and understand what we want from you, I want to say thank you. I know that in a lot of chronic illness related posts it might sound like we assume that every healthy and able person treats us poorly, but that is not the case. It's just that we have dealt with some very judgmental people and it can make what we're going through much harder. 

7. What inspired you to participate in the #VisibleWeStand movement?

Tracy and I are part of the same blogger network and I've realized that we have a lot of the same values and goals. So, when I found out that she created her own movement, I wanted to support her with it. The best part is, I love every part about it! I believe in everything that this movement stands for and I want others to know about it too.

8. If you could go back in time and give yourself advice when you first got sick, what would it be?

Enjoy the present!

Before I got sick, all I could focus on was the future. I worked three jobs to make sure that I could go away to college and I was in various after school activities. I did everything that I possibly could to guarantee my future. Because of that, I missed out on hanging out with my friends and most of all, living in the moment. I was too busy working, volunteering, and building my resume that I didn't get to enjoy the things that most people do as a teen. So, I wish that I could go back and do those things.

9. What, in your opinion, can we do to further promote chronic and invisible illness awareness?

Before reading this question, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw an ALS ice bucket challenge video. It turns out that the challenge actually helped ALS research from the donations and they found something that could help identify it in future patients. So I'm not sure if this is something, but maybe in addition to movements and word of mouth, we can create some type of video challenge or campaign to help spread the word.

10. What advice would you give to someone who is afraid to disclose their illness because of the stigmas that spoonies often face?

I would say that it's not only important to be honest with yourself, but be honest with others as well. At the very least, be honest with your friends and loved ones. I don't necessarily think that every person you meet needs to hear your life story, but I do think that sharing it will help you and our community. The best way that we can promote awareness is by word of mouth, so share whatever you're comfortable with. However, don't let other peoples ignorance ruin you being who you really are. 

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can be life changing and unfortunately, things aren't always easy. People like to judge others for things that they couldn't possibly understand and feel the need to tell them how they should be living their life. That is why I am so adamant about supporting movements like #VisibleWeStand, #BesidesMyDiagnosis, and #WhatYouDontSee. It's important that we take the time to educate others so that they can understand us just a little bit more. Dealing with a chronic illness is difficult and we need as much support as we can get!

If you have been diagnosed with either a mental or physical illness, I recommend that you take part in this movement. I would love to get to know you a little better, so feel free to drop your links in the comments!

Please take a moment to share this post on social media and help us spread the word about spoonies all over the world!

A few month's ago, I wrote a post titled "75 Things I Wish I Had Learned in High School." However, I forgot one very important thing. We should learn how to save money! More importantly, we should learn how to save money the right way. 

As a kid, we learned to fill our piggy banks up with money from chores, the tooth fairy, and special occasions. But as an adult, we rarely have any extra money to put away. So, it's important that we figure out how to save money, while still spending money. 

Invest in necessities.

This is a big one! While I may buy cheap clothes and cheap shoes, I'll pay the big bucks for something I know is a necessity. I learned the hard way that it's better to just invest in the things that you will use continuously instead of having to frequently repair the cheaper model. Over the years, we've decided to invest in our furniture (especially mattresses), our electronics, and our cars. I also make a point to invest in my purses. With my chronic pain, I've learned that I need functional, fashionable, and comfortable handbags and backpacks. On the plus side, the more expensive products also last longer too!

Live within your means. 

This one is a little self explanatory, but it's still important! The best way to live within your means is by creating a budget. It will not only help you stay on track, but it will help you figure out where you can save more. Our biggest monthly expense is food. We eat out way more often than we should, but it's just so much more convenient. However, we know that if we want to save more money, we need to limit the meals that we eat out of the house. In order to do this, we create our weekly shopping list based on our grocery store's specials. We then create a meal plan to follow, in hopes that it will help us remember to take out any meat we need to thaw ahead of time. 

In addition to planning ahead, we also know what kind of lifestyle we can afford. Every once in a while, I'll treat myself to a pedicure, but other than that we don't make too many purchases for ourselves. By doing this, we've been able to save enough money to plan our first vacation together!

Wait to make purchases. 

This is an important tip for all of you impulse shoppers. I know I used to be really bad at this, especially when it comes to the racks along the check out lines. Now, I have a list each time I go shopping and I don't stray from it. If I happen to find something that I like in addition to the list, I will take a picture of the tag and come back to it later. If you've slept on it and you are still thinking about it, then it's usually safe to go back for it. However, if you don't think about it again, then it's probably best that you didn't waste your money on it! 

Another reason to wait to make purchases is for sales. When I worked at Rue21, I began learning the sale schedule. I knew how long it would take before an item I liked would go on sale, so I would just wait until then. If they still had the product in my size, I'd happily make the purchase. 

Compare prices. 

With there being so many different big box stores and retailers, a majority of what you're looking for can be found at more than one location. With that being said, one of them will more than likely have some type of sale or special going on. Personally, I like to make my big brand purchases online. I usually find a product I like in person and then go home and search various sites for the best price. More than likely, you can find a 10-20% off coupon as well as free shipping too. Some stores even throw in an added free gift with purchase. 

Take advantage of student discounts. 

You'd be surprised by how many companies offer student discounts. So if you have a student email or a student id, make sure to use it and ask companies if they have discounts. I know personally, I've gotten free Amazon Prime memberships, Apple discounts, and free Microsoft office. Best Buy and other brands also have separate accounts for students that automatically add discounts when you're shopping. 

Sign up for rewards programs. 

If you frequent a certain hotel, airline, or store, you should really consider checking to see if they have a rewards program. After we signed up for Marriott rewards, we have received multiple free nights and other perks. In addition to your favorite brands, you can also find credit cards with great rewards programs. Many of them provide points for signing up in addition to the points you'll earn with each purchase. A majority of credit cards allow you to redeem those points for products, trips, and even cash back!

Cut out frivolous spending. 

Except for food, I like to think that Zach and I do a pretty good job of avoiding frivolous spending. One of our biggest expenses used to be cable. We were spending $30 a month on it and now that we've cut it out, we're saving $360 dollars a year! We also don't spend a lot on clothing. I like to shop at Ross and Marshall's and we'll occasionally hit the sales at Target and Kohl's. I try not to spend too much money on things that I know we will have to replace quickly, which helps a lot!

Buy staples in bulk.

If you don't already, I recommend buying staples in bulk. Before signing up for a Sam's Club membership, we did a lot of calculations and figured out that even with the membership we could still save money on toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, razors, and other supplies. Stocking up on office supplies before the school year is also a great way to save money. Their huge bundles of pens, notebooks, and ink cartridges usually lasted me a full year of college. The bulk packages of shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste actually ended up lasting me my first two years of college!

From one person trying to become debt free and financially stable to another, saving money is not going to be easy. It will be worth it though! Just think about how nice it would be to pay off your loans and take that trip that you've always wanted, or maybe you're saving up to buy a house. Whatever it is, making these changes will definitely help and I wish you the best of luck! 

Do you have any tips on saving money? I'd love to see them in the comments!

Chronic illnesses have taken over my life. I wish it weren't true, but it is. They affect almost every aspect of my day to day life. They even affect the lives of those around me. However, not many people know the true cost of living with one or more chronic illnesses. 

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece titled, "Dear Chronic Illness, I Want to Say Thank You." While I am thankful for certain results of being diagnosed with a chronic illness, there are still more costs than benefits. Unfortunately, they aren't just limited to financial costs either.

Living with a chronic illness can sometimes mean...

... having to make lifestyle changes.

More often than not, your life will change with a new diagnosis. You might endure chronic symptoms, problems with mobility, and more. There are times when you won't be able to do all of the things that you used to be able to do and sadly, you'll have to learn to accept that and adapt. Everyone that is diagnosed with a chronic or illness will experience things differently, but it is rare for someone to continue living life as they used to.

... listening to unwanted advice. 

It's crazy to me how everyone and their mom will have an opinion on your body and your lifestyle choices. Although they haven't been with you through your chronic illness journey, they still think that they have a right to tell you what you need to be doing differently. I've been told, time and time again, that I need to "exercise more," or "eat better." But realistically, I know that I can't. My body doesn't have the energy or capability of exercising and I have a strong intolerance to a variety of foods. However, people still think that they know how to fix your illness, even when the doctors can't. 

... making sacrifices.

While the type of sacrifices may not all be the same, many chronic illness patients have to make them. Personally, I've had to drop out of school, quit my job, and even shut down my two businesses. I might not have been a fan of school or work, but I never thought that there would be a day that It was no longer my decision to go. Beyond that, I've had to give up my dreams of being a successful photographer and artist, because I can no longer walk long distances, be outside, or stand for long periods of time. So, I've had to change my dreams and pursue other passions. 

... being judged by strangers.

I think being judged by strangers, is the hardest thing that I've had to deal with since being diagnosed.  Society has an idea of what they think people with chronic illnesses should look like, and they judge anyone that doesn't fit that description. Honestly, I have yet to find my way around this. I'm judged for not looking sick enough, because I do my best to hide it. I'm judged if I use a mobility aid, because people assume that I'm lazy. I'm even judged when I leave my wheelchair at home and attempt to walk on my own, because passersby think I'm just another drunk millennial stumbling around. I just wish that one day, I can end this stigma. 

... spending way too much money on medical expenses. 

Even with insurance, medical expenses can be ridiculous. It's been two years since my first emergency room visit and I've only just now paid off my hospital bills. In addition to that, I have to pay for my monthly medications which can add up quickly. I'm currently taking nine prescriptions and two vitamins a day, plus I get an injection every three months. Many chronic illness patients also have to pay for health insurance, co-pays or office visits, and more. I honestly couldn't tell you how much my husband and I spend in medical expenses each month, I've lost track.

... feeling like a lab rat.

Diagnosing a chronic illness can be difficult. It often takes weeks or months, and in my case, years. I've been diagnosed with 15 chronic illnesses and counting. I am continuously sent in for tests, blood work, and scans in hopes that we are able to learn a little bit more about my situation. As all of my illnesses are incurable, my doctors have been experimenting with various medications in order to lessen my symptoms. I'm constantly introducing new medications to my body, switching doses, and trying new treatments then patiently waiting for the results. 

... losing out on time as well as income. 

Since my first diagnosis, I have spent a crazy amount of time in doctor's offices. It seems like each chronic illness has a different specialist and I am constantly meeting with each one. I've had to create a medical binder in order to keep track of them all. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just doctor's appointments, as many employers would understandably approve the time off. However, many of those that struggle with a chronic illness or chronic pain have to work less or are unable to work all together. As I mentioned in an earlier post, "Chronic Illness + Employment," many of us struggle with the most popular job requirements: the ability to lift/move 50 pounds, the ability to stand for long periods of time, the ability to show up to work on time, the ability to follow through with scheduled shifts, and the ability to find reliable transportation.

Needless to say, living with a chronic illness is difficult. There are ways to find silver linings, but many of us struggle with the true cost associated with our diagnosis. For some of us, that cost is minimal, but not always. I know first hand that living with a chronic illness can be overwhelming. That is why it is so important to have a great team of doctors, supportive friends and family, and a platform to educate those of us that don't understand what we're going through. 

Please help me inform others by sharing this post on social media! 

Marianna Di Regolo is a perfectly ambitious woman from Sacramento, California. She is the owner and operator of the blog titled The Collective Mill. Marianna's blog is a platform that provides blogging and business related resources to the entrepreneurial woman. She's constantly posting articles that focus on blogging, entrepreneurship, social media, email marketing, and more!

Marianna dreamt about becoming an entrepreneur ever since she was little. She ended up going to college in San Francisco and had the opportunity to start and work with a handful of small businesses. She then realized, from this experience, that what she loved most was connecting with and helping other entrepreneurs. That's when The Collective Mill was born!

When I was first starting this blog, I decided to choose a name that not only represented myself, but others too. I wanted to let others know that it's ok to be perfectly ambitious.

In my first post, Perfectly Ambitious, I posted about all of the things that I'd like to accomplish this year. Today, I'm going to update you guys on my progress!

There's only a few more DIY projects until the house is completely decorated! I don't think you guys understand how excited I am about that! We have been working on the house since April and we are almost finished! Once I finish decorating the house, we will begin transforming the front and back yards!

Today's DIY project is an easy initial door hanger with burlap roses! I don't know why, but I am really liking paper and fabric flowers this year. In fact, I've already created a wooden initial plaque with paper roses a few months ago! So, it was only a matter of time before I got to this project!

On my journey to writing my first novel, I signed up to participate in the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. That's where I met Cassandra Larsen, author of the Witches Circle series.

We got to talking in the group message and eventually switched over to email. She was working on the third installment of her current series and we discussed swapping chapters. Of course, I knew I needed to read the first two books in the series in order to get all caught up. Luckily, Cassandra was kind enough to offer a copy of each and sent them my way.

I've always been really interested in this specific genre--young adult + paranormal--even before the whole Twilight phenomenon. So I was more than interested in started Silent Circle. It had all of the elements that usually catch my attention, so it immediately went onto my "to be read" list. Unfortunately, that list was a little long and it took a while before I could get to it. However, that just motivated me to finish the other books as soon as I could!

Synopsis:

“Most teens get a car for their seventeenth birthday. Me? I get inducted into a freaky coven of witches.”

When Emerson wakes up on her seventeenth birthday, she has no idea that her life will change forever. After her mother’s inexplicable suicide three years ago, she’s gotten used to the scorn and sideways looks of her classmates. She knows that everyone believes her mother was crazy, and that it’s only a matter of time before Emerson cracks herself. So when Emerson starts seeing auras and hearing voices, she begins to think that the rest of the town may be right.

That is, until Caiden, an enigmatic boy from her class, tells her that she’s a witch, just like her mother. With the truth revealed, a whole new world opens up to Emerson, a world she soon discovers holds its own dangers.

Caiden agrees to help Emerson navigate this secret world, training her to control her newfound abilities. But Caiden isn’t the only witch in town. When a rival coven shows up to recruit Emerson, she has to decide whether to join Caiden’s coven, or risk facing these dangerous witches alone.

Silent Circle is the first novel in the young adult urban fantasy series, The Witches Circle.

As some of you are aware, I have officially opened up space for advertisements on my blog! I have multiple advertising packages available to blogs, brands, and small businesses starting at just $1! If you're interested in checking them out, you can see them all here.

Of course, that's not what today's blog post is about! This blog post is dedicated to all of the lovely sponsors that I am working with this month!

Last week, there was a day when I was feeling really good. So much so, that I started helping my husband with the daily housework. I helped fill up the animals water and food bowels and started cleaning up. I even managed to put the dishes away for him. Then it happened, my legs started buckling beneath me.

I was happy that I was feeling better and I wanted to help my husband since he does so much around the house for us. Unfortunately, my body no longer wanted to cooperate. Living with chronic illness, it is incredibly important that I listen to what my body is telling me. It's also important that I pace myself.

In Kira Lynne's book Aches, Pain, and Love: A Guide to Dating and Relationships for Those with Chronic Pain and Illness, she mentions that we need to pace ourselves and give ourselves time to rest. She recommends resting for close to 20 minutes at least once a day, even if we don't feel the need to. While reading her book, I understood why she would say that, but I didn't take her advice. Now, I wish that I had.

In a matter of seconds, I can go from feeling perfectly fine to grasping for the nearest wall for balance. Unfortunately, I can't always see it coming. So, to better prepare myself and hopefully prevent it from happening again, I have compiled a list of things to remember when I'm feeling better despite my chronic illnesses.

1. Don't over do it!

Over the last year or so, I've gotten to know my body and I can usually tell what I can and can't do. So, on the off chance that I feel better than normal, I need to make sure that I don't over do it. Looking back, I know I probably should have chosen different chores to do in order to help my husband. Refilling the animals food and water was probably fine, but instead of lifting heavy dishes, I could have started a load of laundry or made our shopping list. Whether or not you feel spectacular, it is still important to know your limits and to make sure that you don't over do it!

2. Give yourself time to rest!

Even if it doesn't feel necessary, we should give ourselves time to rest. We might think that we don't need it when we have a burst of energy, but we still do! The additional rest will help keep our bodies energized and keep us feeling well. It's important that we make time for rest and we do it the right way. I'm sure you think it's easy, but we need to lay down and close our eyes without any distractions. I like to image that I'm in a white room and anytime a thought pops into my head I try to paint over the image with white paint. While doing that, I really try to focus on my breathing. After a little while, I usually fall asleep.

3. Enjoy the moment!

Living with a chronic illness is hard and sometimes unpredictable. However, one thing is always certain...the symptoms will eventually come back. It's hard to ignore, but we need to remember to live in the moment while we have the energy to do so. We can't be obsessing over when the pain will return or when our day will go downhill. We need to enjoy what we're doing and create memories to look back on when we do have a bad day. On another note, it's easy to want to try to accomplish everything you've been putting off on your bad days. Yes, it's good to get stuff done when you're feeling good, but don't waste your day away. Make sure you are making time to do something that you enjoy and then go do it!

While good days seem to be few and far between for me, I really hope you guys get as many as you can! Just don't forget to look out for yourself, listen to your body and follow your heart!

What do you like to do when you're having a good day? Tell me in the comments!