Things about me, part two

Im so over writing about MS things that I decided to go the therapeutic route and write “Things About Me, part 2”.

I feel somewhat better now. ♥

http://www.thesparkledlife.org/2013/05/things-about-me-part-2.html

 

Love, Eliz

 

What I’m learning about friendship. Part 1.

It’s hard to go through friendship with a chronic disease.

How i’m learning…and surviving…

http://www.thesparkledlife.org/2013/05/what-im-learning-about-friendship-part-1.html

Much love sparklers, Eliz

The Severity of my MS is Helping the Economy <3

Today’s silver lining as The Sparkled Life continues on in the MS Journey.

“Hope. I believe in such a little word SO hard and only can remain optimistic that it believes in me as well. I need it to.”

http://www.thesparkledlife.org/2013/04/the-severity-of-my-ms-is-helping-economy.html

Love, Eliz

A turning of the page….

Ended/turned the page of two chapters of my life today.

(The fact that goes with the feeling of “uhhh my life?!?!”)

Read more on The Sparkled Life website, http://www.thesparkledlife.org/2013/04/a-turning-of-page.html.

Love, Eliz

Pride vs Truth

My mom has said to my twice now (if not more), since the beginning of “The Sparkled Life”, that sometimes I only show the good on this site…and forget to show the bad. 

Not that every post must be pessimistic.  It’s just that it is often protratyed that I’m better off than I actually am.


I answered with Pride: if I told the truth, who would then want to be my friend? Who would want to hang out with this girl? Who would want to date this girl? Who would want to take this girl seriously? Who would want this girl on their team? 

I’m too much to love, too much of a liability.

My pride wants to “sparkle” my misfortunes out of fear in that showing my weaknesses, I’ll be left alone for the fight.  Im afraid that people will eventually stop messaging me, stop asking me to hang out, stop wanting me in their lives. 

Its already happened with some.  So maybe that is why my pride built these walls.

But this time, truth must trump. 

Because, if my end goal of this trip, The Sparkled Life, is to create Multiple Sclerosis, then Im not only doing myself a disservice but all those fighting the fight as well by not sharing. 

The truth is, I’m really, really sick. 

So sick that at the moment typing this draft is causing me pain.

Starting last Friday and trickling down through the week, my body relapsed to a bad point.

The real truth is that MS is destroying my body.  And overnight, it took all my hard work of fighting MS away, without even asking. #howrude

Yesterday was suppose to be my 4th infusion of a drug that is/was suppose to help me manage this disease.  However, once the hospital saw my condition, they immediately sent me to the neurologists to figure out what the hell was happening.

I can confirm that yesterday made it on the list of 5 worst days of my MS journey.  I wont go into details but rest assured, it is up there.

The humor of it all was that during the chaos, my mom held my phone to answer phone calls, texts and emails.  This is currently what my phone looks like:

(this is my “Today is ugly and I hate MS face”)

At least we could find the humor, bunny ears and all.

To spare details, today went a little bit more smooth.  A hospital visit, another MRI.

(making hospital gowns look good since March 2012)

Honest truth: I wear the sunglasses to hide my worn, tired, cried on face.

We have no answers yet, no confirmations. 

My team of doctors want what is best for me, they really do care and will start Monday on additional tests, treatments, therapies. etc.  I have faith that the next steps will help bring me back.

So, again, the truth is Im very sick and I need, no, I beg, for your prayers, for your good vibes, for anything you have.  

I’m tired of being that girl who one day is walking around town with her third leg to the next not being able to hold a fork, walk, type and trembles with pain all throughout her body.  I’m so over it. 

Sparkle I will forever.  But those sparkles are now arriving in tears of discouragement.  I need your love.

Thank you.

Love always, Eliz 

I cooked!!! aka the easiest meal ever

Welcome to the easiest meal ever.

image

My whole life, I’ve had the opportunity to be in a house where a home cooked meal was provided pretty much every night (Sunday’s are pizza night).  My mom is a fabulous cook.

Im very thankful for this because, well, I dont like to cook.  Im not bad at cooking I just dont like it.  I also dont like to do dishes.  And fortunately can now pull the MS card for that every night.  #loveit

This past week I’ve been dog siting two lovely puppies (getting them in one picture is challenging).  We’ve had a fun week and lots of snuggle time (yes, they both like to sleep in the bed with me).

image

With the family coming home I thought I’d be nice to have a meal ready for them their first day back.  So thus, I cooked. 

And by cooked I mean I put together the easiest meal ever.  Learned from my mother who learned from pinterest. 

Three ingredients:

1. Ranch packet dressing

image

2. Bottle of BBQ sauce

image

3. Boneless Chicken Breasts

Put these three ingredients in a crock pot for a few hours.  Shred the chicken and let sit for a few more hours for the chicken to soak up the ingredients. 

The result: Ranch BBQ Chicken.  Its fabulous on a sandwich, salad, by itself. 

And its fabulously easy. 

Hope today is fabulous too!!!

Love, Eliz

DIY Bridal Shower

As previously mentioned, I covered some of the bases for my sister’s bridal shower, which was lovely.

Here are a few of the turn-outs:

The “I DO” door hanger:

1. Gather supplies (letters, paint, ribbon, glue)

(I wonder if my parents mind me using my window seat as my painting/crafting bench?)

2. Glue items together, hang on door. Easy as that!

The “Wedding Bells” Sign:

1. Gather supplies (poster board, paint, frame, print-outs).  Glue together.

The “Instagram our Wedding”

1. Instagram is an easy way to collect pictures from your guests for showers and wedding.  Here’s how I advertised it.

The “Through the Years” Collage

1. Gather Supplies: Frame or Mirror, wrapping paper, duck tape frame, pictures, tape)

2. Put together and hang on wall.

The “Thank you Favors”

1. Pittsburgh is known for it’s Sarris Candy.  So to leave some Pittsburgh spirit behind, we decided to use their chocolate bars as the base of the favors. 

2. Around the bars I put a black glitter band, two hearts and a “thanks” tag.

Bridal Games can sometimes be a little….boring, lets be real.

So I tried a few different angels.

1. Had everyone sign a little wood plaque with a love note, advice, quote, etc.  Will eventually make into a scrapbook.

2. Wooooo can guess the amount of “love pills” aka jelly beans and M&M’s in a jar?

Even though I was tired and my MS was acting up, I thought it would be time efficient to paint the owls toes.  Priorities straight.


3. The Who Knows the Bride best game! (Printable available)

Thankfully, Mom won. (:

4. And last, an original game that I highly recommend to anyone planning a shower soon.  The Pinterest Game.

It’s the perfect game.  You have a bunch of girls/women together, discussing weddings, babies, decorations, etc.  Pinterest is bound to be a popular subject. Which is why if it goes public, buy stock.

This moment captures the game in action.  Shower guest Sarah was gloating about how many “pins” she had; which by doing so, lost her her pins.

And the prizes.  My favorite:

I had some classy ones too but I couldnt resist.

Overall, it was a great party and I had fun with my activities and projects.  Though MS thought I kinda overdid it (when does it not?)

Happy Bridal Shower sis!

Love, E

PS: This isnt my doing but that of our wonderful friends and hosts…the table settings and the food (beautiful and delicious!)