Hello!

Today I'm showing you this video from Hank Green (John Green's, the author of The Fault in Our Stars, brother). It isn't necessarily about fibromyalgia, but he makes a lot of good points about chronic illnesses and diseases.

Regards,

Shannon G.

Spoonie Friendly Date Night Ideas:

I put each idea on a Popsicle stick and color coded the ends by the energy level required. Green for lots of energy, yellow for some energy, red for little energy. There are a few double date ideas I’m going to throw in as well. These are subjective to my own personal abilities and such, you can move them around as you need and feel free to reblog and add your own ideas in!

Green level (lots of energy/good day) ideas:

• Go to an amusement park
• Go to the boardwalk
• Visit a museum
• go to a farm or orchard and pick apples/fruit
• Arcade night, go to an arcade and see who gets the most points
• Snow day: have a snowball fight, build a snowman, make snow angels
• Bake dessert together (use a mix or bake something from scratch)
• Cook dinner together
• Playground/swing date: go to a playground and have fun (you can lower the activity level by just going on the swing sets and having your SO push you on the swing)
• Park date: grab a coffee/tea and walk around a park, feed the birds, blow bubbles, have a picnic, etc.
• Go camping: roast marshmallows, eat smores, enjoy some hot cocoa and tell stories and stargaze (bonus: watch the sunrise and sunset)
• go ice skating: you can get one of those kiddie walkers if it’s too much for you to actually skate around and lean on the walker and have your SO stand behind you and skate to push the two of you 

Yellow Level (some energy/okay day) ideas:

• Coffee date: go to a coffee shop, sip some coffee and enjoy each others company
• make dinner together: prepare something simple together (or have SO prepare it) and enjoy it together (candlelit dinner is a bonus)
• Park date: feed the birds, have a picnic, blow bubbles, read to each other, etc.
• swing date: have your SO push you on the swing and chat or ask each other questions
• beach day: pack a bag with sunglasses, sunscreen, beach towels, snacks, beach umbrella, maybe a beach ball, a book, or some buckets and shovels
• go see a play: go to a local play house and see whatever play they’re putting on
• picnic date: pack a picnic, maybe a book to read to each other, some bubbles and some bird feed
• retro game night: break out the nintendo or N64 
• wii night: get up and play some wii bowling or mario kart
• dessert only date: go out and only order dessert
• Movie night: pick a movie you’d like to see, or one you’ve never heard of, get some snacks and drinks and enjoy
• Smoothie/milkshake date: get a drink and sip, chat, and enjoy
• indoor dinner and a movie: make dinner together and watch a movie while you eat
• watch the sunrise: pack a breakfast and go for a drive with a nice view and watch the sunrise
• ice cream sundae date: make chocolate bowls and then create a banana split in them!
• blanket fort: build a blanket fort together or build 2 separate forts and wage war using paper airplanes 
• go to a drive in movie: pack some snacks and a blanket and maybe a few pillows
• blackout/no electronics: play board/card games, give each other massages, read to each other, play twister, etc. get creative
• spa night: wine/alcohol, massage oil or lotion, candles, bubble bath, etc. you get the picture
• favorites night: favorite blanket, favorite games, favorite foods/snacks, favorite drinks, etc.
• Stormy night: blanket fort, puzzles, snacks, candles, hot cocoa, alcohol, games, reading, and maybe some lotion for massages
• Adventure: Go for a drive, get lost and take pictures on the way there.
• breakfast in bed: either make breakfast together, or take turns on who makes breakfast this time or next time and then join each other in bed for a nice meal
• Wander through a bookstore. split up and try to find a book or two your SO would like and then meet back up and see how you did
• Make a bonfire in the backyard and roast marshmallows, make smores, cuddle up together have some drinks, then you can also watch the sunset and then stargaze
• camping: camp out in the backyard or living room. roast some marshmallows over the grill or a fire (or on the stove) make some smores, have hot cocoa, snuggle up and tell stories to each other
• Go on a night drive with the windows down
• Dollar store date: go to a dollar store with 15-20$ each and find gifts for your SO, then meet up and see what you got (bonus, you can shop with a theme: whoevers gifts are the most ___ (funny/romantic/cute/etc) wins)
• Craft night: pick a craft you both enjoy, or a new one all together, and go for it! crochet, paint, draw, make bead jewelry, clay sculptures, pottery, etc.
• dress up and go to dinner at a fancy restaurant
• stay in a hotel for a night
• have a candlelit dinner
• get body paints and paint murals on each other
• garden together, plant a tree or flowers or fruits/vegetables
• go to a planetarium
• play with sidewalk chalk
• theme date! pick a culture, city, or decade and make a night of it! 
• dress up as characters from your favorite movie or book and act out a date as the characters
• go to a bakery and pick out a few treats to enjoy together
• photo safari: go for a walk or drive with a camera and take pcitures of significant places in your relationship. scrapbook the pictures when you get home
• have one person pick a place but don’t tell your SO. have your SO drive with the directions you give them. and explore the place you chose together

Red level (little energy/bad day) ideas:

• watch the sunrise: get up early (or stay up really late) and watch the sunrise from bed or wherever, then enjoy breakfast together
• indoor dinner and a movie: order takeout or heat up leftovers/frozen dinner and watch a movie
• ice cream sundae date: make ice cream sundaes or go out and get ice cream
• blanket fort: make a blanket fort in bed or on the couch (or have your SO build one around you) and watch movies and play games together
• do a puzzle together
• go to a drive in movie: bring blankets and a ton of pillows  and make your own little pillow throne in the car and watch a drive in movie
• portable drive in movie: play a movie on your laptop and go sit outside or at the park. bring snacks and enjoy
• blackout/no electronics: turn everything off and enjoy each others company: play board/card games, do puzzles, read to each other, give massages, eat snacks, etc.
• watch the sunset: either in bed or go somewhere with a nice view
• indoor picnic: set up a picnic blanket on the floor (or on your bed) and enjoy some food and maybe a little wine
• go stargazing: drive somewhere with a nice view of the night sky, lay down on a blanket and enjoy the view and company
• Indoor movie night: set up the TV with a movie, dim the lights, make a big bowl of popcorn and get a bunch of other goodies
• TV marathon: watch a tv series you both have been meaning to watch and marathon it with tons of snacks and maybe a little alcohol
• If you have access to a hot tub, use it! It’ll help you feel better, it’s enjoyable and can be very intimate
• Saturday morning cartoons date: get your bowl of cereal and some other snacks and sit on the couch watching cartoons
• game night: card games, board games, snacks, and drinks
• spa night: wine/alcohol, massage oil or lotion, candles, bubble bath, etc. you get the picture
• favorites night: favorite blanket, favorite games, favorite foods/snacks, favorite drinks, etc.
• Stormy night: blanket fort, puzzles, snacks, candles, hot cocoa, alcohol, games, reading, and maybe some lotion for massages
• breakfast in bed: either make breakfast together, or take turns on who makes breakfast this time or next time and then join each other in bed for a nice meal
• Make a bonfire in the backyard and roast marshmallows, make smores, cuddle up together have some drinks, then you can also watch the sunset and then stargaze
• camping: camp out in living room or even in your bed (they make tents for kids that fit over the bed, or just use a sheet and make a tent/fort). roast some marshmallows over the grill or a fire (or on the stove) make some smores, have hot cocoa, snuggle up and tell stories to each other
• Craft night: pick a craft you both enjoy, or a new one all together, and go for it! crochet, paint, draw, make bead jewelry, clay sculptures, pottery, etc.
• go on a night car ride with the windows down
• make a relationship “bucket list” of things you’d both like to do together, etc.
• watch a documentary and then discuss it together
• book night: pick a book you both enjoy and take turns reading to each other
• music night: spend some time making short playlists for each other and then spend the rest of the night listening to the playlists
• stay in a hotel for a night
• visit a museum without leaving bed: http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/
• visit cities you’ve always wanted to travel to, without leaving bed:http://www.360cities.net/
• plan your dream vacation together
• make pillow thrones for each other and have a movie night
• have a photo shoot. one person takes pictures while the other poses, then switch. and set a timer and take a few pictures together
• use the pictures from the photoshoot date and make a scrapbook or other crafty things with them
• make comfort boxes for each other when you can’t be togetherhttp://mentalillnessmouse.tumblr.com/post/29539153962/how-to-make-a-comfort-box
• explore and learn about the universe together while still in bed www.galaxyzoo.org
• Make stationary for each other to use when you’re away
• have a skype date
• get some body paint and paint murals on each other
• have a candlelit dinner
• make a conversation jar: write down a bunch of topics, questions, and conversation starters on slips of paper, fold them up and put them in a jar
• play with sidewalk chalk
• rent a movie you haven’t seen before and set it on mute, improvise the dialogue
• theme date! pick a culture, city, or decade and make a night of it! 
• dress up as characters from your favorite movie or book and act out a date as the characters
• go to a fountain or wishing well with your spare change and make wishes together
• interview date: pretend you are interviewing your SO and record it, then switch places
• message in a bottle bubble bath: buy and decorate little bottles and write love letters to each other and slip it into the bottles, fill up the tub, add bubble bath and essential oils, and throw the bottles in. enjoy a bath together then dry off and read the letters to each other
• make a time capsule together
• have each person record a video of them talking about their favorite moments in the relationship, or about the first date, then watch the videos together
• decorate mugs or wine glasses for each other
• play “would you rather?”
• have a “throw back thursday” and get out old pictures, either baby pictures or pictures from earlier in the relationship and tell stories about the photos to each other.
• have a harry potter marathon and enjoy some HP themed treats

Double Date Ideas (various energy levels):

• chip and dip night: have each couple bring a different flavor chip and dip and then taste test them all together, find new yummy combinations, and chat
• fondue night: either have each couple bring a couple different things to dip or just buy a fruit platter, some marshmallows, and some pretzels and make some chocolate fondue in a small crockpot. add some alcohol and then just chat and enjoy the company
• pudding factory: have each couple bring a different flavor pudding, then get some bowls and toppings together (candy, sprinkles, crushed cookies) and enjoy
• have a hot chocolate party (double date) get hot cocoa mix and fun flavor add ins like cinnamon, peppermint extracts, coconut extract, coffee extract, etc. and have each person make up their own concoction. then add in sprinkles and marshmallows and whipped cream. bonus: make chocolate spoons decorated with sprinkles before and candy beforehand and use them to stir your crazy concoctions up
• have a pj party and invite friends over! popcorn, snacks, movies, and board/card games
• Wine and chocolate tasting night: have each couple bring a different wine and chocolate and then set them all out, taste, chat, enjoy
• game night: have each couple bring their favorite board game and take turns playing each of them (or have this be a weekly thing and have the couples take turn on whose night it is to pick the game)
• video game night: break out the wii or the old school gaming systems and play some mario kart, mario party, or any other multiplayer game

Hello!

Sorry this post is late! I've been working two jobs and been trying to stay involved with my community theater.

Today's post is about spoonie tips and resources. Now, if you don't have a tumblr, I suggest you might get one for the spoonie community. I've connected with many other fibro-spoonies and sufferers of other chronic illnesses.

• Here are some tips. 
• About the 96% project.
• Dominie's 100 tips for coping with fibro and insomnia.
• WebMD tips (the medical version, mostly the same stuff you'll hear from a doctor).
• Here's a place you can just vent.
• And a couple of snarky images for you to relate to.

Remember to keep your head up and if you have any suggestions, put them in the comments!

Regards, 

Shannon G.

Hello!

Today is for those who identify with the spoon theory and would like some nice spoon jewelry. Mostly, this is because my mum is constantly asking about having matching spoon jewelry to show her support when she lives so far away.

Here is a list of online stores that sell jewelry made from silver spoons:

Silver Spoon Jewelry
The Spoon Jeweler
Bent Spoon Jewelry
The New Homestead Silverware Artistry

Spoon charms:

Ice Carats
Zales -Heart
Zales -Flower
Ornamentea
Bohemian Findings
Ebay

If you have any suggestions, please comment or send them and I will put them in!

Regards,

Shannon G.