LW Designs

For months I've seen the ice bucket challenge all over social media. My husband took the challenge back in the spring for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation . At that time it seemed like the challenge was just to promote giving across the board. In the past week or so the trending charity in ALS - a myotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain. It's not that I don't find this a worthy cause - I most certainly do - but recently I found out that my sisters genetic condition has progressed and she is experiencing similar neurological deterioration due to holes in the myelin sheath of her brain.  In honor of my sister I will be donating to the Myelin Repair Foundation. In addition to research, this foundation is currently testing a trial drug on patients with multiple sclerosis to repair myelin sheath. This work is important not only to those with MS, but ...

My husband has had a kidney stone stuck for the past week and a half. Through various trips to the urgent care, ER and doctors, I've had plenty of time to listen and analyze the answers he has given to the myriad of health care professionals. What's amazing to me is when they ask to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10. Have you ever wondered what they are looking for? Is there a right answer? He'll tell me he's in a terrible amount of pain and then tell the doctor he's around a 2. And what is a 2? I know what a 2 is for me. I've had several surgeries and other ailments of my own so I have a scale to go on. 10 - I don't think I've ever felt a 10; nor do I want to because I'm almost certain I would be dead. 9 - This is where things start to get gray. My sinus surgery was the worst thing ever. I don't really remember immediately after the surgery because I was adequately medicated. However, I think that day 3 after any surgery is the worst; so da...

Something you should know about me is that I have obsessive personality tendencies. Like I once decided that I needed to have a pink wool coat for winter. I looked and looked and didn't find one, but then the next year there were pink wool coats everywhere and I finally got one. I also became obsessed with finding a particular pair of pink Reebok tennis shoes . This almost happened this past spring with kelly green shorts. I was satiated with some lime green pants. I became enamored with Sweet FROG after my first encounter. Have you ever tried the mix-your-own-toppings delight? I love their strawberry/cheesecake swirl with fruit added in. Sometimes I get wild and add some peach yogurt if they have it. But I found what I like and don't really deviate to find other flavors. I love owls . I pledged a sorority in college and their mascot was the owl. I found out that my grandparents had some and they became mine. Now I have them everywhere. On my desk at work I have a bank, ...

Does the world ever seem so chaotic and sad that it overwhelms you? I feel like that has been how I have felt for the past several years. I constantly hear about and read about parents that have found inconvenience in their children. While I have absolutely no experience in being a parent - and so my opinion on the matter is found null by those who are - I have a profound sense of frustration towards those that abuse the privilege of having children. Yesterday, while I was walking my dog he sniffed around on the edge of the woods behind our house. Since I couldn't see what he was searching for, I picked him up to discover a 5 foot long snake staring us in the face. I have had days in the past couple of months where I have needed help simply getting dressed because of some severe back pain and degeneration that I've experienced; yet, I put my dog before myself and quickly whisked him away from potential danger. MY DOG. The same dog that I have to know where he is within my...

Um.... yeah. So I go on this journey pretty regularly. One where I have the best of intentions for a project and then I get distracted, or bored, or overwhelmed, or just stuck. This blog is a perfect case-in-point. I blog, write and manage social media as part of my every day life. Sometimes when I get home there are so many other things that I have committed to do and need to do that the thing that I want to do get filed in the "parking lot." This year has been quite the whirlwind of events and that transitioned into my annual "my body hates me" attack by immune system and now here we are... it's June and I haven't written something for me in over 5 months. CRAZY! I will say that I sat down and read a book that I wanted to read just for fun last month for the first time in years. That's right; YEARS. Life is crazy but we have to be present in the day to day to not get lost in what if's and that's where I've been. Here's to tr...

It's not a secret that I like to stay busy. Partially because I get bored (you know what they say about idle hands...) and partially because my autoimmune condition kicks into high gear and my joints become very stiff and sore when I'm still. To stay organized I keep lists, and notebooks and calendars... and lots of post-it notes! Check out some of these fun planners: Greenroom planners have been my go-to for the past few years. Got this pretty book last year and a similar orange and blue floral print for 2014. Who doesn't LOVE Kate Spade?!   Jonathan Adler - vibrant geometric patterns Erin Condren has absolutely beautiful stationery In addition to my paper addiction, I just really like how a good paper notebook feels to write on and picking out a pretty book for the year. One of my goals for 2014 is to redo my "storage" room into a functioning office/craft room. I've been busy pinning creative and gorgeous organizing ideas for the...

I spend much of my time monitoring media through alerts, social media, web reports, articles, etc. This week I've watched as political, religious, moral and ethical arguments have been made for and against a man who happens to be on a popular TV show. I've held my tongue... as I'm conflict avoidant. But it makes me sad to think that we've become so overly sensitized - and desensitized at the same time - to go head-to-head with friends, family, colleagues and perfect strangers because our own opinions differ from his. I'm not going to get into my personal opinion, because it's not relevant. I am here to say that I believe political correctness has destroyed America. People are either so afraid of offending someone or so defensive about their own position that healthy discussion has gone out the window. People no longer do their own research but rely on the opinions of others to get their information. What has happened to integrity? What has happened to hard...