Join me on my journey on how to live well while being diagnosed with lupus.
Winter combines with… Blankets, Netflix, hot tea, hot cocoa, and for eating… Soup! This Classic Potato Leek Soup is just delicious and will warm ....- A new year brings the opportunity for new beginnings. We have the chance to start over, with renewed energy, and try to be an even ....
- I can’t believe the new year is here! How did that happen? 2020 passed by, and honestly, I have a blurred memory of all the ....
- Lupus is a lifelong disease that can affect many parts of your body. But, many women with lupus live long, healthy lives when following ....
- Merry Christmas! I wish all my followers and your families a merry and healthy Christmas! Although it is not easy to cope with holiday ....
- We have heard Dr. Fauci loud and clear: travel increases our chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to ....
- I can’t believe it is winter solstice! You are probably safe inside at home trying to figure out creative ideas on what to do with ....
- This year Christmas will be very different. In my case, it will be away from my extended family in Brazil. For my family, this ....
- There are more than 80 types of autoimmune conditions. Not everyone knows what an autoimmune disorder is. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune ....
- A little planning goes a long way to help a Christmas meal come together quickly and decrease the holiday’s stress. Try this Scalloped Potato Gratin, ....
- Today Hanukkah begins. It is the celebration of miracles and light. Still, it is also a reminder of what it means to live together with ....
- Some of you may know that lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both autoimmune diseases. In fact, the two conditions are sometimes confused or ....
- In stressful times, there are few things more soothing than a homemade dessert. But if you have an autoimmune disease, like me, and seek anti-inflammatory ....
- Anxiety is a common problem for many people – including myself. It characterizes by constant worry and nervousness and is sometimes related to poor brain ....
- In North America, we often call the November full moon the Beaver Moon or Frosty Moon. This November’s full moon shines directly in front of ....
- I have written in the last weeks that my sense of time has shifted. Days pass, but the sense of nothing changing gives a very ....
- At school, we’ve met at least one kid who has a super mind. Some people are born with bright brains that can easily navigate through ....
- Today is one of the most awaited days of the year! While some things we all wish could be different, life brings little blessings every ....
- Gaining weight during the holiday season is pretty common. But for someone with an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, an extra pound on the ....
- It’s that time of the year—my birthday. Eight months have passed since COVID entered my life and started to teach me what really matters – ....
- In the past few weeks, my sense of time has shifted. Days pass, but the sense of nothing changing gives a very awkward feeling. While ....
- I am not sure if there is any scientific proof, but I can speak about myself. The answer is, “yes. I guess the magic trick ....
- Most folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be. Period. – Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was right on this one. ....
- I watched last weekend a new documentary on Netflix called The Social Dilemma. It really shook me. Our super advanced, hi-technology, self-service culture seems to have both ....
- Prioritizing What Really Matters I have been taking short breaks from blogging; I’ve been trying to give myself permission to breathe more often and rush ....
- Do you know why people talk so much about detox? What is the goal? As a lupus patient, having chronic inflammation can be painful and ....
- For a couple of weeks after the cancer diagnosis, I lost our rhythm at home. There was more silence than laughter. The vibe that once was light and happy turned into heaviness.
- My Mood Amid so much disruption in our routine, I have seen myself and my friends lagging the positiveness we all need to live life ....
- Lupus and Long Term Disability
- My Best Friend Has Cancer It was a big shock. Not the type of surprise that causes one to jump around in happiness. I lost ....
- We all need to heal ourselves. Invisible wounds are as painful as physical ones.
- Gratitude, COVID-19 and I Gratitude should be part of everyone’s self-care goals. As you may know, science shows it can boost our immune system and ....
- Step Up to Your Truth The last weeks of June have been pretty intense emotionally for myself and many of us. I could sense the ....
- "We cannot end our differences; at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."- John F. Kennedy Black lives matter, and we have an unique chance to make our voices heard.
- Living with a chronic condition means having to look at our bodies with systemic eyes.Exercising can help in different areas, including depression, self-esteem and sense of well-being, sleep quality, weight among others.
- "Food is really and truly the most effective medicine.” ― Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Plant Based Doctor
- eople say that setting challenges to ourselves can make us stronger. Amid COVID-19, controlling our minds is probably the hardest work we ever had.
- Mental Health Stress and anxiety trigger a potent hormone in our body called cortisol. This is part of our ‘emergency call’ or the fight/flight response ....
- We all have the power to choose. Traumatic events such as COVID-19, loss os a beloved one, can leave deep scars, but we can control our mindset and emotions.
- People need to know that being down with lupus is not a cold or the flu. It’s not contagious, it won’t improve, it won’t go away, a nap won’t help, there is no magical treatment, and it does not have a cure yet.
- To say, “The past few weeks have been strange” is an understatement. Many of us are blessed as we can stay inside our home instead ....
- COVID-19 is making us live a different life. Living under emotional stress, is causing trauma in many of us.
- In a world that seems to be falling apart, we can be the ones working to reassemble it. Last week, we talked about things we ....
- Coronavirus has hit a pause in the world. With COVID-19 out, the safest place to be is within our homes. It's time to look at ourselves, and evaluate who we really are.
- 10 easy ideas of what to do to stay mentally healthy and protect our health while in social isolation because of CONVID-19.
- My story as a lupus warrior.
- Coronavirus may damage our minds more than our body health. We need to control our answer to fear, and the best first step is to get closer to our thoughts.
- COVID-19 and I Everywhere, I hear people talking about COVID-19 and how fast it is affecting people across the world. Millions of messages of fear ....
- My health has been unstable since the beginning of the year. The end of year festivities and stressful schedule did take a toll on me. ....
- I don’t know about you, but it is still hard for me to talk about lupus with people around me. I feel exposed when I ....
- Project 20|20 – Week 9: Transforming Reality On my week 8 blog, A Surprising Way to Better Your Days, I talked about ways to improve our ....
- Time, Kindness and Courage This week, as I talked to one of my best friends, I kept thinking about the value of time and the ....
- Preventive Care Works We can learn a lot about ourselves by paying attention to what we think, focus, and do every day. Last week, I ....
- Life Happens We all have our ups and downs. Happiness is temporary, and we need to adjust our expectations day-by-day to what it is and ....
- Are You Unstoppable? I have been thinking about habits and how I model life in a way that brings me joy while keeping my health ....
- The first 30 days of 2020 are gone, and we are now in February! Many times, we lose the momentum and the new year’s energy, ....
- Mindset Last few weeks, we talked about how to create and implement new habits. I can’t emphasize how helpful it was for me to acknowledge ....
- Do You Know Your Calling? Earlier this week I was thinking about how I get tangled in my thoughts of must-haves and should-haves. My old ....
- Fitting in New Habits Last week we discussed the importance of identifying habits that are not beneficial. We look at things we do daily, that we ....
- White Winter The winter season in the NW has been cold and wet. Lots of rain, with some white here in there. It is a ....
- First Step to Change a Bad Habit In my last two blogs, my focus was to look at goals we wanted to reach, and things ....
- I am not sure what this new year will bring. I am curious to see what secrets life will unveil this time around as I continue my journey to reframe my identity. To be able to receive the blessings this year, I need to let go of the past and be grateful for what is.
- Project 20|20 – Week 2: Gratitude Last week, I suggested a self-reflection exercise to identify what types of goals we want to achieve in 2020. ....
- In the United States, when we go to an optometrist to check our eyesight, the goal is to have a 20|20 vision. This is a term ....
- The Time Is Now I can’t believe it’s over — another year of living with lupus, another life chapter with learnings and milestones. Just one ....
- The Real Present Everyone is busy. Decorating homes, planning a big meal, buying gifts, and getting new outfits for parties and pictures. Last Friday, my ....
- Gemstones and Healing Regardless of the belief people may have about gemstones – magical, psychic energy, healing, or none; I decided to get a book ....
- Are you ready? Last week, a mega-fit friend who helps me be in shape and on my tiptoes, asked me a million-dollar question. What are ....
- Letting Go I can’t believe we are in December. For Christians, it means we started the advent phase, which is counting down to Jesus’ birth. ....
- Wake-Up Call In my last blog, I mentioned how I have been out of pocket for a few days with all the cold/flu symptoms plus the usual ....
- being thankful when having lupus
- If today was your birthday, what would be your wish?
- 5 Steps to Practice Self Awareness Practicing Self Awareness is something I have been trying to do for the past year. Understand my new life ....
- Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Talking to a friend this week, we remembered how many things we have been through in the past few years. How our ....
- Before you die I am so used to live the present moment, that some times I forget to focus on what is critical instead of ....
- Hello God, It’s Me! On my previous blog, “Do You Have The Power To Heal“, I mentioned a letter/prayer I wrote God while I was ....
- Do You Have the Power? I joined a retreat last week with one of the healers from the Netflix documentary, Heal. It was supposed to ....
- Is This Real? For many of us, to believe something is real, we have to be able to touch or see it. Well, not for ....
- Do You Walk the Talk? Why is Walking a Great Way to Help Solve the Mystery of Lupus? In a couple of weeks, I will ....
- 10 Ways to Be Unstoppable Earlier this week, a friend of mine told me the history of a cancer survivor. While that young woman has ....
- What we tell ourselves is as important as our actions. Everything is energy, and we craft our lives with the thoughts we have. Our opinions ....
- Saying Yes to life means reframing our choices.
- Priorities I know not all of us lupies are female. Nevertheless, the majority is. As a woman, I tend to take care of others despite ....
- When I got up this morning, I began thinking about all the choices I make every day. Life fills our days with so many options ....
- What Are Your Roots? Life keeps molding me as time goes by. My personality and priorities have been different since my lupus diagnose. While so ....
- 5 Rules of Wellbeing This week, I was able to meet a few friends who helped put the Lupus Benefit Event together, here in Portland. ....
- We all have our dreams, and in my case, I have worked very hard to reach them, even though not always achieved. Some days I ....
- Choices Last week, I was talking to some book club friends, and one of them raised a thought that spoke deep in my heart. He ....
- How Grateful Are You? Last week, I had one of the most touching experiences since we moved to Portland. Many friends helped me organize a ....
- Pride Month This month, I have seen everywhere the colors of Pride, showing the importance of acceptance and respect for people’s differences, gender, and sexual ....
- Why do we label it? Have you ever thought why we tend to label things, as good or bad? For me, it goes from organizing ....
- Our Mindset “Our thoughts create the life we seek through the reflection of ourselves.” – Emmanuel I had a few a-ha moments as I was ....
- Healing with Love and Faith After watching the documentary “Heal” at Netflix, I decided to attend an energy healing session with one of the guests, ....
- Lupus and self-love. Be kind to yourself!
- Period. The End. This blog is about an end. A very long and important period of my adulthood, which now is in the past. My ....
- Lupus opens new opportunities in life.
- Lupus for me has developed over time, and numerous chronic symptoms have appeared depending on my life style and stress level.
- An autoimmune condition like lupus, allow us to stop and think about our beliefs and priorities. Above all, being thankful for the little blessings and achievements.
- Magic Wand Have you ever dreamed of having unbeatable powers, and to be able to change things with a wave of a wand?
- Monkey Mind I have a toddler’s span of attention. Technology has made me become comfortable multitasking at work and in my personal life, but because ....
- Roller Coaster My health has been unstable for the past few weeks. I know this is the nature of the “beast”: on-going lupus flares, body ....
- Spring Cleaning Time! This week, I would like to talk about deep cleaning, but in a different home – our soul!
- Sharing My Story “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are ....
- Be Seen I don’t know about you, but it is hard for me to talk about lupus with people around me. I feel weak when ....
- 7 Day Challenge To be strong, we need to feel powerful. While I am not always positive, neither I believe everything is possible, the difficulties ....
- It’s Valentine’s Day. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with people you love and care! While Valentine’s Day is a holiday to celebrate love and friendship, it can ....
- Lupus is an invisible, autoimmune disease that all warriors need to help the community to understand what it is.
- Legacy While we live day by day, many times surviving the daily churns and ups and downs; our conversation today is about the invisible legacy ....
- Suggestions on how I cope with Lupus during winter
- Leaving with Lupus, means finding a new self. Who do you want to be one year from now?
