I was sick of everyone telling me all these sweet and romantic movies to watch on Valentine's Day which only made me cranky and sad. Even though I'm currently in a relationship, it seemed as though the perfect man in those sappy love stories always made me second guess my guy and think he wasn't doing anything right. (It took me a long time to realize that the men in movies are actors and paid to do all the sweet things in the movie, as well as having all the sweet lines written for them.) Whether you're single this year, or your loved one is far away, these movies are surely going to make you smile during and after the movie! No sappy tears and doubt in this list, I promise!

Continue reading "Movies to cuddle up with by yourself on Valentine's Day that won't make you feel lonely or cry (much)." »

When our beloved Christine suggested an article on this topic, I have to admit my first gut reaction was "Why should I HAVE to pretend to feel sexy when I'm in pain?" It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I got all defensive immediately and got that emotional guard wall up and thought of lots of self-righteous reasons why I should not be expected to feel sexy... ever... when I am hurting. My knee-jerk reaction assumed instantly that to be sexy while you are in pain would require pretending... Then, I realized that she did not use the word, "pretend," in her suggestion!

Continue reading "How To Feel Sexy When You Are In Pain?" »

With a new baby on the way, I was looking into cleaning supplies that were chemical free and the "healthiest" for my baby. I also recently tried to take a renewed interest in doing what I can to live a healthier lifestyle. I think it is important to not only seek traditional medical advice, but to pay attention to what we are putting in, on and near our bodies. That being said, I was recently given the opportunity to bring some new cleaning products from Shaklee into my house for a product review and I was pleasantly surprised.

Continue reading "Product Review: Shaklee Get Clean Cleaning Products" »

I work part time in a public library on Long Island and boy have libraries changed. When my children were younger, the library was a wonderful place where we went to read and pick up books to take home. During the summer, they were excited to take part in a program called Reading is Fundamental, where reading a certain amount of books earned them points and books to keep.

The library is now so much more than just books. Fast forward to 2008 and the library, instead of being replaced by the Internet, has now become a great place for all kinds of programs and community events. I can only speak for my library and my area, but we have something for everyone and there are so many added benefits for those with a disability.

Continue reading "Re-discovering your local library" »

It's easy to say "I Love You" with these low-effort and inexpensive Valentine's Day gifts!

Continue reading "5 Easy Valentine Gifts To Make For Around $5 " »

The Handy Burpee TM is a wonderfully unique mom-invented burp cloth, which puts an end to ever having to hunt for your burp cloth again and also saves your hands from getting spit up on. I liked this product right away for two
reasons. The first being, it supported a work at home mom, which to me is always a good thing. Secondly, I know many people including myself who have skin sensitivities, and this product addresses that issue.

Continue reading "Product Review: The Handy Burpee TM" »

One of my all time favorite finds in kitchen gadgets has been the Black and Decker HandyChopper. I have terrible arthritis in my hands so chopping, dicing, and slicing are extremely difficult. I purchased this product and fell in love. I use it to chop chicken for all types of dishes as well as; onions, bell peppers, and all kinds of veggies. It has made my life so much easier because most of my dishes require this kind of precision. I can think of millions of things to make with it.

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In my family I was always the one the children went to for hugs and kisses. I was the mush, the softie, the emotional dishrag. My husband on the other hand was the cool one who sometimes was even perceived as distant. We are ying and yang, Mars and Venus and most of the time it works for us, that is when we aren't arguing with each other about how we uniquely handle things.

Continue reading "Love Can Be a Rice Ball" »

Empowered Patient, a regular feature from CNN Medical News correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, helps put you in the driver's seat when it comes to health care. This week's topic asks the question, "Are you an obnoxious patient?".

Christine was quoted in tips # 3, 4 and 5! Ms. Cohen was easy to speak with and it was a pleasure to work with her. I hope to again in the future as patient advocacy and empowerment is something I feel so strongly about.

Story Highlights
* Be an informed, confident patient, but also listen to your doctor's view

* Don't demand a prescription without an office visit

* Share, but don't overload, your doctor with info you've gathered independently

* If you need more than 15 minutes, make special arrangements beforehand

To read the whole story on CNN.com click here.

Making a beaded bracelet is easy and fun! This project will cost you around $5.00 and you can keep it for yourself or give it to a friend for a special Valentine gift! Caution - making beaded jewelry is addictive!

Continue reading "Let's Make A Valentine Bracelet!" »

Grand Rounds is the weekly rotating carnival of the best of the medical blogosphere. Each week, a doctor, nurse, patient or healthcare professional hosts Grand Rounds and compiles links to noteworthy posts about medicine.

I learned allot this week, while stuck in bed with a yucky, exhausting cold. I slept, I coughed, I ached, and I lost some of my hair. I cried, went to the doctors, took medicine, and spent time online. That describes my week. But in between all that, I learned allot.

I learned to "reach out" and allow friends and family to help me. I learned that even if you used to love orange juice and tea, too much of anything can make you sick of it. I also learned that some things just take time to get better. So even though I am not a doctor, I am prescribing myself lots of rest in the next few days and luckily I found all these new health blogs to read while I have some "free time".

I found so much information related to colds and flu from my fellow health bloggers. I can't wait to share some of these posts with you. Maybe the information will help you when you have a cold, or help someone you know.

Continue reading "Grand Rounds Vol. 4 No. 18 - The All Too Common Cold" »

I really wanted to love Juno. I wanted to be blown away and left startled and laughing in my seat. Not only are the reviews for Juno raving and wooshing across my television screen, but also my closest friends urged and begged me to see the movie. “It’s so you!” they claimed, spouting that I would adore the music and the movie was heartwarming and eye opening. So, I listened. Maybe it’s me, or maybe it’s the slow time of year, but I have to say, I was not impressed. The acting was weak, the plot lines were un-original, and the dialogue was hard to understand and weirdly paced. Juno may have been exciting to moviegoers because it’s a new “indie” movie with stimulating music, but thrilling and innovative it was not. Good reviews aside, I really, truly did have high hopes for Juno; it’s directed by Jason Reitman, son of famed director Ivan Reitman and full of some of my favorite comedic actors (who doesn’t love Allison Janey?). But, sometimes all we can do is hope, right?

Continue reading "Movie Review: Juno" »

Craft Type: Decoupage
Time it will take: As simple as 15 minutes! Or as fun as hours and hours…

This totally easy and fun craft is a perfect gift for yourself to use in every day life or as a present for someone you love. Not only is it a simple craft to do on a rainy day, but it’s a perfect party craft! Invite some girlfriends over and make each other original and beautiful pill boxes.

Continue reading "Craft Project: The Perfect and Personal Pill Box" »

I know it is easy to only read and focus on the stories and articles that are featured on the front page of our site, but sometimes it is good to take a look back. With a new year upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to re- introduce you to some of our most popular articles on butyoudontlooksick.com. I decided what was most popular by click count and my reader feedback. (Please note that I focused on articles and essays this time around, and did not include reviews from our directory of product, service, book, movie, and website reviews.)

If the following articles are new to you, I hope you enjoy them! If you read them when they were originally posted, I encourage you to take this opportunity to revisit the articles. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

Continue reading "ButYouDontLookSick.com Top Ten Most Popular Articles" »

I have been a big Will Smith fan since he was in the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" I think he's smart and funny. He's a pretty good actor too, so it doesn't hurt that he's also pretty cute! Whenever he comes out with a new movie, I am usually interested in going to see it, so I have seen most of his movies, except for Wild Wild West, which just didn't appeal to me.

Continue reading "Movie Review: I am Legend" »

There’s nothing cozier than snuggling up to a warm body on cold winter’s night. And that body doesn’t even have to be human. I recently discovered Warm Whiskers, a company that makes an array of stuffed animal-like products that you microwave for thirty seconds and then cuddle up to.

Continue reading "Product Review:Warm Whiskers Heating Pads" »

Netflix came to my family under the guise of a wrapped diminutive Christmas box over a year ago and it has turned out to be one of the most advantageous gifts we could have received. I don’t know about you, but I have a difficult time getting out of the house. Even before we had our son, we didn’t exactly frequent the movies, but now that feat would be next to impossible. Enter, my sister, who delivered a perfect solution to the movie fiends that we are, when given the opportunity.

Continue reading "Product Review: Netflix" »

Nicholas from Grand Rounds just wrote me a friendly reminder email about my hosting this week and I was happy to receive the reminder, but overwhelmed to have received the email from my laptop under my sheets. I am bogged down with a horrible, never ending cold...and for those of you who know A cold + Lupus =NO SPOONS! :) I have been exhausted, sneezey, dopey and a bunch of other namesless dwarfs... But in pajamas, with tissues and armed with cough medicine...the Grand Rounds must go on!

Continue reading "I am hosting Grand Rounds this week!" »

I recently discovered my passion in life. I also bought a giant poster for my dorm that says “PASSION” on the bottom, just to remind myself of why I am living. If you are not passionate about life, then you are not living at all.

I used to think that having a chronic illness was simply a burden I had to bear; it was in no way a positive addition to my life. I prevented me from living a “normal” life. Too many days were spent inside and too many nights were spent crying. I looked at my friends and felt jealousy towards them because they did not have to worry about a nearby bathroom, or making a long drive without stopping. What a beautiful thing!

Continue reading "Essay: Contributing Passion" »

I was especially reluctant to see the new movie The Bucket List starring two of my all-time favorite actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and favorite director, Rob Reiner. I mean, let’s go over the facts: it’s about two older men who are dying of cancer and want one last chance to see the world. For a girl who watched one grandfather pass away shaking from Parkinson’s and another survive lung cancer, I was not about to get excited to see two men share a hospital room on screen. However, my sister made me swear I wouldn’t see the movie Juno without her, and my friend promised Charlie Wilson’s War to his father, so I was stuck. I thought to myself, okay, I can get through this, think of Jack Nicholson in Something's Gotta Giveor Batman—not as a man dying of cancer. Armed with a giant Diet Coke and some mustered up courage, I sat in my seat waiting for the tears to begin. Funny thing was, they never started. Sure, the movie was sad: two dying men meet in a hospital room and only have six months to live; odds are they pass away. I was prepping myself for their death the whole movie, yet, when it came, it was sweet, not as heart breaking as I thought.

Continue reading "Movie Review: The Bucket List" »

Everybody needs a hug once in a while. Sometimes though, due to Fibromyalgia and other muscle and skin aches it hurts to hug! With this awesome craft we can make memorable pillows that hug us back. They’re great to sleep with, keep on the couch, or give as presents! Use a college t-shirt for your child or friend, use an old Walk for a Cause shirt to honor your cause, or use your softest, favorite shirt to make a delectably sweet pillow for those rainy days.

Continue reading "Craft Project: Hug-Me T-Shirt Pillow" »

Anybody with a pet that has fur, knows it gets everywhere. No sooner do you finish brushing Fido or Fluffy, you turn around and the house is full of hair again! It’s a never ending battle to try to control it.

There are a million products on the market that are designed to cut down on the hair that your pets shed, and I have tried most of them. There are brushes, gloves, combs and shampoos, but nothing seems to work for long.

I heard a few people talking about the FURminator, and I researched it on the web. It’s a strange looking comb, so how can a comb that looks like half a set of hair clippers work??? Well I don’t care how it works, it does, and it works well!

Continue reading "Product Review: The FURminator Pet Deshedding Tool" »

My mom received two of these massagers for Christmas, and they are impressive. The dome shape is specifically designed for feet, but my mom discovered during the Christmas aftermath that the “spot” massaging aspect of its title is also appropriate, too! Any achy spot is a great place to put these little massagers. For just $9.99 it is worth a try.

Continue reading "Product Review: Homedics Spot Massager" »

As someone who rarely gets out, online shopping has been a savior to reducing stress in my life when it comes to purchasing gifts or other items for my household. A few weeks ago, my husband and I had early 20-somethings over after church services, and we got to talking about Christmas shopping and how we managed it. I was surprised to see how people younger than me (and I am only 28) were shocked that the abundance of our family’s purchases came from Amazon.com. And I do mean abundance!

Continue reading "Basics of Online Shopping" »

This has been a great week in the medical/ health blogosphere for ButYouDontLookSick.com! We are proud to have been mentioned in articles by some really talented bloggers and we even have been nominated for an award. I originally started ButYouDontLookSick.com writing about my own experiences with Lupus, but I soon began to realize that many of us with "invisible diseases" have many of the same feelings or experiences. We can use technology as a tool to help each other and build a community.

Continue reading "ButYouDontLookSick.com is busy in the Health Blogosphere" »

Right about now your skin is showing the effects of drying winter winds, central heating, and low humidity conditions. Aside from increasing the humidity in your environment, there are several other things you can do to relieve painful, dry winter skin.

Your skin is your largest living organ and its cells die and are replaced every day. The dead skin cells stack up and can become hardened and cause problems like cracked and bleeding skin - ouch! The key is to exfoliate the skin all over your body, exposing the fresh new cells underneath so that the benefits of moisture treatments can reach them.

Continue reading "Problem Solver Treatments For Winter Dry Skin" »

I live for holidays. All year long, I eagerly anticipate the next approaching day, all building up to the fall and winter seasons. With most of the major festivities (birthdays, Christmas) in my family coming in the latter half of the year, we have to wait a long time for the big events. Thus, after Christmas is over, I get the feeling I used to get as a child when the 4th of July hit: the enchantment is over and we’re about to reenter the “real world.” (If you don’t understand the 4th of July marker, here in NC, school begins in early August, so that meant the summer bliss was about to end.) So, here are 10 fun, quirky, and serious ways you might try to battle the January blahs.

Continue reading "10 Ways to Fight the Post-Holiday Blues" »

An essay submitted by one of our readers.

Denial serves a wonderful psychological purpose. Thus the “NO!! ” when someone gets terrible news. It is nature’s built in kindness to buffer the inevitable. Slowly, carefully, each according to his or her own psyche, we absorb the pain.

Continue reading "ACCEPTANCE OF MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS" »

I was just starting to clean up after the holidays and I gathered up all the beautiful Christmas cards that were sent to me. I was so blessed to receive an abundance of Christmas cards this year and I had loved opening up the mail every day and hanging the cards around the house. Some of these cards are so pretty, with glitter and 3-D details, or even just a lovely holiday scene on the cover. It seemed like such a waste to just throw them in the garbage and certainly not very environmentally friendly or "Green". I went through them and saved some of the more special cards like "Baby's First Holiday", or some cards that I wanted to keep from special friends and relatives. But then what to do with this big pile of cards? I started to ask my friends, family and other moms and I was bombarded with helpful and creative suggestions, since everyone, it seemed, was looking for solutions to this holiday dilemma. I thought I would post some of the ideas here.

Continue reading "What to do with old Christmas Cards?" »

Maybe the holiday season is so festive that we want to capture the memories forever? Maybe it is the moments with family and friends around the holidays that we want to cherish in some way special? Either way scrapbooking is more popular then ever around the holidays. Scrapbooking is a perfect hobby for those with chronic disability or pain because you can work at your own pace and start a small project like cards, or a bigger project like a book. It is really up to you how complicated and elaborate you want your scrapbooking projects to be.

Here are some holiday and winter themed scrapbooking items to help inspire you with those holiday memory pages.

Continue reading "Product Review: Holiday Scrapbooking Supplies from Hot of the Press" »

Christmas is over, the parties are finished and you are exhausted. But the traditional thank you notes haven’t been sent out yet, and they sit like an anvil on the back of your mind. Growing up, thank you notes were always carefully penned on beautiful stationary or tucked inside cute little cards. So much time spent trying to remember what everyone got you, trying to keep it all straight, finding the cards, collecting the addresses, buying stamps and mailing them all out in reasonable time. If you have a long list of thank you notes to send, you might feel like you will never get through it.

Continue reading "Start a New Tradition - Thank you emails" »

Well 2007 is over and now we open the book on 2008. Story unwritten, only the prologue from last year on the pages. What will you be filling the pages with on yours?

I have done a lot of thinking. I have been through so much in the last few years, that I really want to push my effort through, to make this year the year I run down the path to something better instead of crawling. In the last year I was on the road to constant worry over everything. Worrying robbed my spoons and made each new obstacle harder.

Continue reading "Well 2007 is over and now we open the book on 2008" »