When Celebrities Do Good: Thank You, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Robin Roberts!
Advocacy / Arthritis Ashley / Awareness / book / chronic illness / Entertainment / instagram / pain / RA awareness

When Celebrities Do Good: Thank You, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Robin Roberts!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Lately, I’ve been thinking about celebrities who use their fame for good. Sure, there are tons of recent examples: Beyonce is aiming to start a vegan revolution, Paula Abdul has worked tirelessly for pain causes and lupus organizations, the Kardashian and Jenner families have opened the eyes of many to transgender issues, and actress … Continue reading

Get My Book Sick Idiot: On Sale Now!
Arthritis Ashley / Awareness / chronic illness / Entertainment / Juvenile Arthritis / Lupus / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / SLE / social media / Types of Arthritis / Wellness

Get My Book Sick Idiot: On Sale Now!

The time has come: Sick Idiot has arrived! You can now order my funny-yet-inspiring nonfiction health memoir, Sick Idiot, in paperback! Chapter titles include: “That Time I Cried On The Pitcher’s Mound and Saw My Grandma’s Doctor” “That Time I Was a Cheerleader … With Arthritis … On A Hit-List” “That Time I Had a … Continue reading

Life Isn’t Fair: Finding Gratitude through The Grief of Chronic Illness
Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / Autoimmune / Awareness / chronic illness / Fibromyalgia / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / Lupus / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / SLE

Life Isn’t Fair: Finding Gratitude through The Grief of Chronic Illness

Sometimes, I get really mad and really mournful in regards to my health situation. And that’s okay. Keeping a positive outlook, being  happy, remaining grateful, and staying strong do not mean that everything is perfect or that it’s all rainbows and butterflies all of the time. It is possible to be positive and strong and … Continue reading

#BeMoreHuman & Celebrate Everyone’s Fitness Choices and Abilities
Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / Autoimmune / Awareness / chronic illness / Entertainment / Fibromyalgia / invisible illness

#BeMoreHuman & Celebrate Everyone’s Fitness Choices and Abilities

While I enjoyed the commercial, I joked last night that “Welp, I’m not human,” after seeing Reebok’s #BeMoreHuman Super Bowl commercial. They replied on Twitter by telling me, and I quote: “Not with that attitude.” (As a follow up, it’s worth noting that Reebok also clarified, saying that #BeMoreHuman is about being your Best You, whatever … Continue reading

Chronicles of a Sick Girl: A Rant on Feeling Conflicted and Judged
Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis blog

Chronicles of a Sick Girl: A Rant on Feeling Conflicted and Judged

Here’s a little rant; maybe some of you can relate. Sometimes, I feel conflicted. I want people to know about the illnesses that I live with. I want to inform, inspire, advocate, and educate. I want to spread awareness. I want people to empathize or understand what I’m going through. I want people to “get … Continue reading

Healthline.com: Depression Makes It Tougher to Beat Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Healthline.com: Depression Makes It Tougher to Beat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Not sure if I’ve shared this post with you all yet. It’s one of my Healthline pieces about depression and arthritis. There is a long-recognized link between depression and rheumatoid arthritis, but a new study gives more definitive proof that having depression can hamper remission in RA patients … learn more about it, here: http://www.healthline.com/health-news/depression-makes-it-tougher-to-beat-ra-121414 You … Continue reading

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain: Public Selfies & Private Illness
Arthritis / arthritis blog / Awareness / chronic illness / instagram / invisible illness / Personal Stories / selfies / social media

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain: Public Selfies & Private Illness

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.”  It’s one of the most powerful lines from the movie and book, The Wizard of Oz. It’s such a simple quote — so relevant to the scene, that we usually don’t think of the symbolism that lies within it. it got me thinking, though, about “the … Continue reading