She does not represent me..

In the fibromyalgia, chronic pain, lupus, me/cfs community we have had MANY hurdles to overcome. We have had to prove to our doctors, to our friends, to our families, that we are indeed ill, and we do indeed need treatment for our pain. That our chronic, disabling pain is REAL. That all of 'this' is 'not in our heads'.

Having to overcome these hurdles has only made us stronger, as one, as well as a community whole. Then to have one person so publicly tear down what we have all worked so diligently to over come, is tragic, is heartbreaking.

It is not beneficial to teach those of us in our chronic pain community(as a whole, all inclusive, too many illnesses to name one by one) to snort, cut in half, use rectally, or crush our pain meds or other 'tricks you have learned in rehab'. To teach this, it tragically undermines all the hard work we have ALL AS A COMMUNITY have had to overcome from our own doctors and medical community as a whole. We are not drug seekers. We do not need to be taught such 'tricks'.

These types of people who use such 'tricks' is what causes the medical community to see the chronic pain community, as a whole, as drug seekers. I know for a fact there are other ways to get your pain under control. I have successfully been treated WITHOUT using the drug seeker methods. These should NOT be condoned by anyone, much less taught.

Please be aware of who you are getting your chronic pain support from. While it all may seem in fun, and we can all get caught up in fun! I just want it to be known...

She does not represent me.
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What's wrong with my earring?

It seems as if I've always had bad hearing in my left ear. It dates back to constant ear infections as a kid and again as an adult. Just one more dr I didn't want to go to.

I've never thought of it as a hindrance but more of a useful tool at night when husband snores. I mean, really, a built in earplug, right? It didn't hurt, so I never saw a dr for it.

Besides, I have another ear to hear with, right? You all have to see the humor in this. Because, really, I do. My family, notsomuch!

So now, BOTH ears are blocked and I can hear only bits and pieces. Of course, my kids like to talk to me at the lunch or dinner table. Nothing like having a peaceful(for once) or so I'd thought, meal, and I notice the whole table is staring at me. Apparently, they'd asked me a question! Quick. I better act like I knew what was going on!! Nope. Total fail on my part.

I looked at my daughter and touched my ear, and said,"what's wrong with my earring?" To which she replied with laughter. I didn't see what was so funny with such a mundane sentence. My husband just shook and hung his head.

She said,"No, what's wrong with your hearing?". Loudly. Ya know, so I could hear.

I'm off to the dr. I'm driving everyone, I mean, everyone, nuts.

It's only taken me two days to write what would be normally a simple piece, but it isn't since I now have to look up to see if anyone is talking to me, and look at their mouth moving. Sounds fun, right? /sarcasm

What did the dr say? I have swimmer's ear and he prescribed me two weeks of antibiotics. After this time, he will do a hearing test.

There's going to be big trouble if I start to hear my husband snore after 13 years!
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Congrats Marie Noelle!

Congrats Marie Noelle! You are #9, the number random.org picked for our Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Email me jennybucket @ gmail the email you want the gift certificate emailed to within 3 days!

PS. Please forgive my screenshot- tech wasn't working with me very well today!
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Ready, Set, GIVEAWAY!

Here it is, our July giveaway!!
To celebrate my newly designed and VERY PINK blog, I have partnered with @somethinspecial to give you a VERY special and girly giveaway this month: a $30 gift certificate to http://www.somethinspecial.com !
Here's what ya do: follow me (@jennybucket) and Sue (@somethinspecial) and leave me a comment here on my blog. That's it!
Oh! I can now be reached by going to http://bucketsblog.com as well!
RT, forward to your friends, get the word out!

giveaway ends august 1! winner will be drawn by random.org :0)

Peace, love & smell pretties, Jen xo

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A HUGE Thanks!

A HUGE thanks goes to @Sjipygirl (Daphny) for helping me revamp my blog! She made the background as well as the banner- she knows I love tokidoki as well as PINK!!

Another change to my blog is it is now viewable via mobile device. I'm really excited about that since I'm almost a strictly mobile viewer, myself!

Don't forget- follow my blog, giveaway coming soon!

Thanks again, Daphny! You are a true gem!
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A couple things...

Hi everyone!

I promise I haven't forgotten all my hotties out there in blogland and tweeterville! I've been busy soaking up vitamin D and *gasps* swimming! Yes, I have color to show for it,too!

I have @somethinspecial cooking up for this months giveaway, never fear, so stay tuned! Keep an eye on Sue's (@somethinspecial) twitter!

I have also been organizing like crazy. I think the swimming has been good for me and my fibro, although this bronchitis is making me SO tired from all the coughing!

I'd love to hear from you all: what have you been doing? Have you taken time for you? Leave me some comments guys and dolls!

Sent from my Atrix 4g.. with Love <3

SPOONIES UNITE!

Why didn't I think of this sooner?

In the comments below add the following info: name, twitter username, affliction (fibro,lupus,RA, family, supporter, etc..), website or blog (if you have one). This way we can all come together and UNITE and help each other like we are so awesome at doing!

Pass this on! Let's support each other! :)

Good evening!

How is everyone feeling? Today has been a curiously pain free day. Pretty awesome when we get days like that!

I don't know if it is because I am out in the sun and swimming each day, or if it is a fluke - I'm taking it! I've been out in our pool 2 to 3 times a day and I think its had a positive effect on me. I get this break in pain for about two months a year; and it coincidentally coincides with summer and the pool. Not really a coincidence, but it sounded good.

Our small town doesn't have a physical therapy heated pool so our inground cold water pool only gets used for 2-3months depending on weather. I can't get in when its too cold or it makes my pain worse. When it is 110deg F out, I'm out there soaking up the sun and vitamin D! I also enjoy some laps as well as serious vigorous water treading even though my svelte body floats! ;-)

We do have plans in the next 10yrs to enclose it so i can swim year round but various house projects come first. You know, life and raising children happen along the way.

So, here is to more pain free days and hoping you all have some as well. Ta for now!  xoxo

Sent from my Atrix 4g.. with Love <3

What helps you?

Good early morning fellow insomniacs and early risers! How is everyone feeling?

I had a particularly rough patch today and wondered what you all do FIRST THING when sideswiped by this Mack truck we call fibro?

The VERY first thing I do is ask my husband or kids for a big hug. Second, I lay down. Third, I take a steaming hot shower(winter) or jump in the pool(heat of the summer). Lastly, pain meds!

I'm looking into working more holistic routines into my day. Any thoughts?

I'd like to take a few minutes and open upon my blog to discussion about what helps you in times of pain. Who do you turn to? What do you do?

Happy Daddy's Day!

I'd like to take a break from my normal posts to wish all the great dad's out there Happy Daddy's Day! Especially one super special one who came into my life 13 years ago.

He came into mine and my older two kids' lives 13 years ago and never blinked an eye. Even through a relatively unknown diagnosis of fibromyalgia and a myriad of other diagnoses. Fibromyalgia being the biggy.

Without you Billy, I would not he the person I am today. You are patient, loving, kind, gentle, sweet, caring and did I mention patient? Without you by my side the past 13 years I have no idea how or where I'd be, but i know I am a better person for having you in my life.

You never blinked at having two kids, instantly, then two more over a two year period. We made it through their infancy together as a team, we will make it through their teen years the same way.

You are a sweet man, a gentle man, in every way. You take the time to care for me when I'm ill. You know just what i need before I need it at times. Sometimes I wondernif you know me better than I know myself!

I thank you for being THE greatest dad I know and our kids are lucky enough to have you. I love you,Billy. Eternity & Beyond.

PS. Any man can be a Father...but it takes a GREAT Man to be a Daddy :)

Congrats Phillip!

Congrats Phillip! You have 3 days to contact me at jennybucket @ gmail to claim your trio of MiO! Please send name and address and i will get it out to you within 3 days! Thanks for following and playing! Xo

Redrawing of MiO Contest tomorrow!

Since Courtney hasn't contacted me yet we will be doing a redraw of the winner for the MiO tomorrow! Good luck everyone!

Truly Somethin Special...

I first found Somethin Special on eBay close to 9 years ago. Her shop online really is a welcoming place. It's like a candy store for us bath, candle and scented anything junkies! Sue Faunt, the proprietor, is not only eco friendly but is truly a friendly person and one you immediately warm to.

I've bought bath salts, reed diffuser oils(which she send you the reeds!), tropical butter cream lotion, Shea butter cream lotion, soy wax tarts, room and linen sprays, as well as body sprays. They all have been top quality and the yummiest of smelling products!

You won't believe her scent list. It is truly amazing! I could shop there for months on end and not buy the same thing twice! I admit, I have my favorites, but it doesn't stop me from buying and trying new scents!

Sue makes each product FRESH to send to you with each and every order. She has never disappointed! She truly is Somethin Special!

Follow her on twitter @somethinspecial and visit her site at www.somethinspecial.com!
Be on the lookout... come July the giveaway will be somethin special ;-) hint: follow Sue on twitter as there may be a quiz for the giveaway!

Congrats Courtney!

Congrats Courtney on winning my first giveaway! Email me at jennybucket@gmail.com your name and address WITHIN 3 DAYS OR I WILL DRAW A NEW WINNER! I will get this out within 3 days!

Be on the look out everyone for a July giveaway and an extra @somethinspecial post very soon! xoxo

....and GO!

I have been having back to back migraines so sorry for my unfancy, unwitty post.

This is how this contest works:

1- make sure you are following me on twitter @jennybucket . I hope you have actually sent me an @ and said hi!

2- Please be following my blog

3- leave me a comment below! Multiple comments will be deleted, as will spam.(Remember, the point of my blog is EASY and to SIMPLIFY!)

On Sunday the 12th, health pending (haha), I will be using random.org I think it is and will post a screenie of the winner!

What will you win? You will win a trio of MiO! If you don't know what MiO is then you haven't read my blog. So, go! Go read! ;-)

HAPPY WINNING! GOOD LUCK Y'ALL!

STAY TUNED! GIVE AWAY SOON!

Keep an eye here..a giveaway could pop up at any time! xoxo

We all need water, right? Right?

I know we are supposed to drink the requisite 8 glasses of water a day. Some days are easier than others, natch. Until I found this.

This being MiO water 'flavor enhancer'. Best.Drink.Idea.Ever.

I'm sure you've seen the commercials where they squirt it in til the bottle of water turns blood red or whatever deep color flavoring they are using. Don't do that. Stop. Read first.

I first found this at the check out stands of my local grocery store for 3.99 for a 1.62fl oz bottle. Yeah, that's teeny! I wasn't buying that! Come the second time seeing it at my grocery the display was half empty. Hmmm. There must be something to this, right?

Upon closer examination the flavors presented were strawberry watermelon, peach mango, berry pomegranate and sweet tea.

The directions read: "Flip it, to unlock the flavor. Tip it, each squeeze into water adds more flavor. Sip it, your drink, your way." Catchy, huh? Sold! My daughter and I chose the strawberry watermelon to try.

So, of course once home we did as commercials do..squeezed a few drops into our water bottle. OH MAH GAWD NO! >.< don't do that. PLEASE don't do that. Our bottles looked just like the commercials did and lordy were they as sweet as taking a few spoonfuls of sugar into your mouth!

We learned our lesson and we hope to help you: a teeny squirt goes a LONG way! What we did learn too though was that the right ratio MiO/water mix really tastes awesome and refreshing, too! I keep one in my bag for on the go(in a Ziploc, just in case!)

We have also found that by using less, this little bottle goes a LONG way with even six of us using it. Well worth the 3.99!

We have tried them all and even have mixed them. So far family consensus is strawberry watermelon and peach mango is the best mix. Let me know what you think when you try via twitter, email or comments below.

Also, Keep an eye out for monthly give aways! One is happening soon! xoxo

HAIR!

We all have it. We all have bad hair days. My girls, seem to have more than others with their long hair,coupled with curls underneath and straight on top. It frustrates me just as it does them.

Then I found Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum. My hairdresser had used it on me once to detangle my hair after a shampoo and five years later, we are STILL using it.

We are a swimming family, so my three girls and I rely on this product religiously in summer,and in fall and winter when the heater dries out our hair.

What is so fantastic about this product is it's multiple uses. It can be used on dry or wet hair. It can used as a hand creme. It is truly a fabulous product!

How we use it: on freshly shampooed OR dry hair, a nickel size in your hand, rub your hands together and smoothe into hair ends first, then underneath, then on top; running the length of your hair. Then rub your hands together for THE softest hands ever!

You can buy Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum at any Walgreens, Rite Aid, Albertsons or any Salon that sells hair products. Or look online!A bottle the size of a standard water bottle can cost anywhere from $10-15. But this bottle will lat you easily six months to a year depending on your usage. It really is worth its' weight in gold.

Let me know what your hair tip tricks are via twitter, comments or email!

First things first.

Let's face it. Most of the world has some sort of smartphone, whether it be BlackBerry, iPhone, Android or some other brand. I've been an avid user of both BlackBerry and Android (specifically Motorola Atrix). I said in my first post I want to make my life easier- these phones have done it for me. I'm solely using my Atrix now due to the fact it is a much faster phone and I can watch movies on it when I'm flaring. That and it has cooler apps. I'm a total tech junkie. I even use my phone to post these threads to my blog. It's just a simple email, and Viola!

What else can you do with your smartphone?
• Keep your calendar up to date, appointments etc. Set your alarms to remind you
• Send, receive emails when you are on the go, unable to reach your PC/Mac due to illness,vacation, errands
• add music to your removable storage card and you have an instant music player, no need for an extra iPod/zune etc
• Use your phone to keep in touch with friends/family on Facebook/Twitter
•Take photos on the go, even crop,fix red eye, add borders etc and even upload to your favorite picture storage!

Really, the possibilities are endless! I will add more as I think of them, or you can leave a comment of what you use your phone for!

Thanks for visiting! xo

A Little About MOI...

HI! I'm Jen aka @jennybucket on twitter, where you will find me frequently.
I'm a wife to one, Bill (he's 46 to my 36) and mom to four. Our oldest is
16, our only son. The rest are girls 13, 10 and 9.

I am lucky enough to stay at home due to my husband having a pretty decent
job,not that we don't have to budget,which we do. I also stay at home due to
a chronic illness, fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia has been a mixed bag for me. In some ways it's made me slow
down and cherish each moment that I have with the kids and other ways,well,
is just a literal pain.

Having had fibromyalgia for over 15 years, 10 years officially diagnosed;
I've had to find ways to make my life as well as my family's, easier.

This... this is what my blog is all about.

Welcome!