A Prescription for Vacation!

As some of you already know (and I thank each of you who have contacted expressing your kind tips and concern), my significant other, Bronson, as some of you know him as, has been dealing with on-going back pain for the last year now. 

Despite the many supplements and remedies my sweetheart has tried throughout this painful year -- many of which I've reviewed here on Ribbons & Pearls -- he can't seem to keep the pain away for very long. And well, supplements for something like back pain are not exactly budget-friendly, not when one needs to take them daily in order to get any relief from the pain. 

He began working longer hours this winter, and as many of you chronic back pain-sufferers are all too familiar with, the cold weather isn't kind on pain. 

These long hours, plus the tiny sliver of sleep he's lucky if he gets each night (the pain tends to wake him up after only a few hours of sleep) has just totally broken him, and over the last three months, we've finally arrived at the conclusion that my love-bird needed to start looking into professional care, as scary as that has been to think about.

While he does want to be "fixed," he doesn't want the typical blankets that only cover up and mask some symptoms of pain. He wants to simply be "fixed," he says. 

So, initially, my first suggestion was to look into something of a holistic practitioner, someone who can help him get to the root of the issues and use their own techniques to "fix him," even if his issue cannot be completely cured, although personally, I am a believer that anything is possible. 

Imagine the disappointment, when after he started to feel some excitement about seeing a holistic practitioner and began expressing feelings of hopeful-ness (for the first time since he fell off that ladder back in the summer), we came up with nothing. Not a single thing close to holistic care in our area! None. 

So, my second suggestion came tonight as I worked through my mind all day yesterday and today what types of options he may have was seeing a Reiki worker! Why I didn't think of this before, as someone who's highly into this sort of healing modalities. 

After the severe let-down we were stuck with when we found nothing but conventional practitioners in our area, he was leery when I made the Reiki suggestion this evening. I asked if he'd be willing to try it, and he responded with a desperate "yes," although the fear of yet another disappointment was pasted to his face.

I don't want him to stay in pain, or be let-down anymore. I have been working him to get hopeful, feel excitement because it's my thinking (and experience) that those feelings put us in a positive vibration that can have hugely positive impacts on our outcomes. It can make all the difference in the world when we seek more positive thinking on something like pain. 

"I just don't want to be disappointed again. It's too much, so if I just don't let myself believe too much that there is any hope, then being let-down again won't be so hard to take," he told me, totally deflated and drained. 

The black half circles under his eyes, and the complete sag in his frame stood out bigger than ever before as I watched him closely while he expressed those fears of disappointment.

This stuff is really taking a toll on him.

No, it took its toll long ago. 

And now more than ever before, it showed to the extent that my stomach lurched up into my throat. 

We scheduled a chat-session with a Naturopath who I was blessed enough to find, somewhat near to us. 

Due to our not being able to schedule an in-person visit anytime soon with this new practitioner, we settled for an hour long discussion with her, and she had some pretty amazing, if not odd suggestions for him. 

In fact, her suggestions sound more like vacation. 

Not that we can complain about a vacation! Especially considering we had to skip our annual trip to the beach this year, something that my significant other did not take well. It's something our entire family looks forward to all year long, so that was quite the added disappointment to a year that had already earned struggles for all of us.

I'd heard of hydro-therapy before, but my significant other and I haven't ever used it before. We've delved into some energy healing, something I was incredibly responsive to doing from day 1. In fact, I've surprised myself with the techniques of energy healing. I'm more of a beginner, but have been able to get results from it.

I'm no expert, by no means, and I want him to have nothing other than the best care available. 

Of all the things to "try" for his pain, and all the possible routes of relief, the most out-there suggestion our brand new friend and future Naturopath gave us was the vacation.

"Is it at all possible that you can take at least 3 days off right now, right this minute?" She asked, and he responded with a strained "I have no idea. Why?"

We both stared into each others faces for a lengthy duration before I shrugged and asked "well, can you?" 

Neither of us were sure where this was going, and he wasn't even sure if he would be able to take an hour off from work right now, much less a 3-day mini vacation.

When our friend carefully and almost hesitantly laid out exactly what she had in mind for him, I think we both thought she was joking us. A vacation? Out of nowhere? An actual vacation? Somewhere tropical and warm, with more water than the typical ponds and lakes here in our area. The ocean. 

Our all-time favorite place on earth. 

She had her own ideas of the "best" oceans that a person in ill-health could visit, but obviously, someone on a budget and a last-minute mini vacation needed to compromise, so she basically  told us that any ocean, as long as it was one that we felt we could feel fulfilled and truly enjoy an experience visiting would do just fine, for now.

"Just until you can actually get in and see me," she said.

I was still waiting for her to laugh in our faces and say "April fool's!" or something.

Like I said, I'd heard of hydro-therapy, and fully believe in its possible benefits because I've always kind of felt like my best ideas came when I am indulging in a warm shower or bath, and even some of my most spiritual moments, oddly enough. 

I figure there must be some link to water and our well-being. So I was all for visiting the beach, any beach, for his benefit. Oh, what a beautiful "prescription!" 

Even as we packed our belongings, left a bill to go un-paid, and took off to the nearest beach (more than 6 hours away), there was still a sense of uncertainty, and maybe even a touch of fear in the air as we began the drive.

Despite the oddness of this suggestion that we take off to a beach, and despite the great feelings of uncertainty we both had as we took off virtually without a clue as to what we'd do or how anything would go, the 2 1/2 day trip was absolutely unlike anything either of us had ever experienced.

We stayed in touch, via Skype with our new friend and healer for the entire trip, her giving us specific suggestions on how to go about our days in order to put him in the "receiving" and "relaxed" state.

It worked. 

He was totally open to yoga techniques, and even breathing techniques that she instructed us through. I'd never seen him so ... not tense and truly relaxed.

I still didn't know how this would help his back. At all. In fact, there were times that I felt like we were being scammed somehow!

As we made our way back after our last night, and after the Naturopath asked us a handful of seemingly strange and out of nowhere questions, it hit me.

I knew exactly why we were told to take off, at random, to a beach. I knew why she asked the questions, and everything that had happened made complete sense to me.

He needed to be pushed into a receptive state, and as someone who was so filled with fear that he was stubborn, there was really only one way to get him in that state of mind quickly.

And I can't believe it, but it worked! 

Now, he's on his way to a multitude of "fix-him-up visits," as I call them, and I can't begin to describe how much has changed. Even though his back isn't healed, so many other areas of him (and me!) have been that the entire experience so far has already been beyond worth it.

Hope, excitement, relaxed, joy, and a little bit of peace -- those are all things he now has that he had none of before. 

The dark eye circles are looking better as he continues the many breathing techniques and diet suggestions. 

This was all about getting him in the "right" state of mind, and healing him in areas that were contributing so negatively to his entire health, well-being, and pain. 

We are filled with hope that progress will be made any time now. We feel like as we progress with the proper care by our side, helping us along the way, we'll really get him somewhere much better than the previous pain-filled life.

We don't know what will happen, or how he will get fully better and completely recover from the injury to his back, but we both are certain it will happen.

Who knew going to the beach -- in the middle of a full-force, stress-filled life -- could be so therapeutic? 

Ever since we arrived back home, our attitudes and mind-sets have totally changed, and we often joke anytime something "goes wrong" in our day "well, I guess we'll have to go back to the beach!" 

Next time, though, I told him we'd be staying at Las Ventanas Del Mar, located in Costa Rica, somewhere we've never even been, but where our close friends recently vacationed and sent us photos of them lounging in what appears to be the world's most fabulous 9,000 thousand square foot infinity pool (and boy did I ever feel the jealousy monster strike when I seen their images!) 

We have to stay in the Las Ventanas Del Mar! I tell him anytime the topic of vacation comes up. 

Thankfully, he was just as intrigued by  the monstrosity of an infinity pool, and the massages, which are done in your own room were all we had to hear and we were sold. In fact, we've already discussed taking a trip back with our friends who stayed there before, and splitting the expenses between the four of us. 

Our couple friend said that while they didn't "get around to it," the Las Ventanas place where they stayed offered yoga -- which will be perfect for keeping him in that peaceful, relaxed state of mind, -- fishing, whitewater rafting, helicopter tours, and even volcano tours -- all things my sweet love-bucket absolutely loves, or has expressed a desire to try before (like the helicopter and volcano experiences.) The coffee plantation tour, access to organic fruit and veggie markets, and zip lining will be the first things I get in line for. I never knew you could do so much at one resort.

Needless to say, no convincing was necessary to get him to want to stay at such a place for our next vacation, the annual one we won't be missing this year. 

So, it looks like we'll be getting a refill on that "prescription" vacation, only this time, we'll have already planned our entire journey of fun-things-to-try before we ever arrive.


Have any of you ever had an experience similar to this? Care to share it? We'd all love if you did.

What would your idea of the perfect "healing" vacation be? Have you ever been to this resort? What was your experience? Do tell!

Lavendar Greens - My cheetah print body wrap

 There's like a billion women who suffer from migraines, body aches, cramps, back pain, etc. Most of us have quite a cocktail of all of these every single horrifying month. Men experience pain as well & strained muscles, etc. Some experience debilitating pain such as women with menstrual disorders.

  As most of my precious readers know, I suffered from the beginning of my teen years until last year with very bad reproductive system issues one being endometriosis. It got to the point to where I knew I only had 2 weeks each month to do everything from trying to work, clean house, do laundry, etc. Only 2 weeks. I have since had surgery and was put on meds for pain, anxiety, and meds to keep the endometriosis from growing as quickly.

  I am a totally new person and that's true. I'm really not the same person I used to be all because of less pain. Even still though, I do have flare-ups. I still have pretty intense symptoms each month. To get to the point, I wanted to introduce y'all to Lavender Green. I have a Body Wrap from them that is specifically for abdominal areas and back, but I find that it works on ANY part of your body.

                                  VARIETIES OF BODY WRAPS
  Now, this body wrap or body pillow, or body pad whatever you prefer to call it, is not your regular rice filled body wrap from Grandma Edna. This little lovely is filled with buckwheat berries & lavendar buds that have amazing tension relieving and calming/relaxation techniques. You can choose from many different types. Like I said, mine is the tummy/back wrap. I had it just in time for an awful flare up last week. I had serious stomach issues again & was able to find so much relief in the pad.


                                         ENDLESS USES
  This lovely, fashionable body wrap can be heated or chilled. I'm very fond of the effects of mine being chilled in the freezer. It surprisingly lasts a very long time after only 10 min. in the freezer. I also have migraines quite a bit & have used it on my temples and neck. I laid down on my side with the body wrap under my temple & after a good 30 minutes I got up feeling much better and more relaxed. It also completely relieved neck pain for me.

  I am so in love with the cute pad, I've been going on about it all week. I've found so much use in it.

  I love that it's such a large size so you can use it anywhere, literally. It holds well and feels so wonderful after being in the freezer. Although I've yet to heat it. Another thing I totally admire about it is that it's scented. Not strongly, not enough to take your breath, but it's scented from the lavendar which is one of my favorite scents for relaxing (really works wonders for my anxiety!)

  I actually have it laying right beside me now. I slept with it like a pillow and loved it! It holds a great firm shape. The reason I slept with it was to help with anxiety. It's unbelievably relaxing and calming even just having it near & getting small whiffs of the lavendar is calming.

               EVEN THE KITTIES ARE LAVENDER GREEN FANS!
  I'm not the only person who's enjoyed the body wrap. My neice who's only a year old snatched it from me, laid it in the floor & curled up with it under her head as a pillow! It was adorable, but she had allergies and took a big sniff & sneezed. Then I came in from my nephew's ball game to find Fuzz (my cat) curled up on top of it! I'm having to fight the cat for it now. :)

                                               MY BENEFITS
  It's definitely beyond amazing. I've really gotten so much out of it already. Perfect for any pain, no matter where. Chilled, it gets deep down where the pain and inflammation is and relieves it. I know if it were warmed it'd certainly be the best option for relieving tired, sore, strained, or damaged tissues/muscles. It also relieves tension in the neck, temples which in turn relieves stress. It's really a plus for everything.

  Overall, I'd give this one a 100% absolutely perfect! I could not be happier. I'm used to taking 1-2 BC powders every day or two, pain killers, anxiety meds. & usually every day. The body wrap has relieved a lot of my pain to the point of not needing medication some days. If I can take a few minutes to lay down right when I experience an intense migraine I can usually lessen the intensity by a mile then of course a BC when it's time to get up and deal with chaos. lol

Tip of the day: Simple weight management tips & my hell-of-a-week update

  Hay again my sparkly little rock star who I adore so much.
I am terribly sorry about the un-organized & not-so-great posts lately. I feel guilty. I'm doing my best & I know I promised some great weight tips, but the truth is the past 3 days, all I've seen suddenly are weight posts. It just really burned me out and depressed me a little bit. I'll give you my tips below, but first I have a little something to say.

  After seeing all these posts about weight loss, losing weight, oops I went 40 calories over today, it just really made me sick.

  I was telling my BF just the other day how miserable it would have to be to never let yourself enjoy food & actually be able to keep your eating under control. I said man, I never want to have to spend my life worrying about everything I put in my mouth. I am female, so don't get me wrong, I do know what it's like to worry about looks. But I never want to be a person who has to stay away from all sweets because I will over eat. That's never been too much of a problem for me. I guess because of the problems I have with abdominal pain I've always stopped when I quit being hungry. I do watch what I eat thanks to certain times out of the month I get too many stomach problems.

  I hate the feeling of eating too much. It's so miserable.

  I'm very big on chocolate & you better believe I'm gonna have a mini kit-kat just about every day. I strongly believe in not depriving yourself of things like favorite foods every now & then. I just think we should do it in moderation. I hear so many people say "I can't eat one cookie or I will eat 20." That's crazy. Now sometimes I can eat several cookies a day, but it shouldn't be something that you just can't control. I'm not saying it's not hard.

  So I think we should eat what we like, but be satisfied with a pretty reasonable amount. Sorry to be a downer, it just really depressed me lately after reading & hearing my sister say that I would end up not being able to control my weight when I'm older. I believed her until I thought about it & realized that I'M THE ONE IN CONTROL. NOT HER, NOT ANYONE BUT ME. I exercise regularly although while we've been remodelling somehow someone has confiscated my ab lounge thingy & took it a part & it's missing. I've been on a mission to find it & I did find 2 parts by the way lol.

  Anyways, I finally realized that we are not "doomed" to a certain weight. I know there are some who are unable to do as much & have a real struggle & I'm not referring to those who may have higher needs when it comes to weight. I totally understand that.

 On to the tips:

1. When you do have a piece of chocolate or something you enjoy, take one or a handful depending on what it is & leave the rest in the kitchen. I usually take a kit kat to my bed room & eat it. When you don't have access to the entire bag you'll be less likely to eat more.

2. My most important one: When you have a craving wait at least 15 minutes. Don't spend those minutes thinking about the food, do something like read, listen to music, clean, etc. After 15 minutes, if you even remember the food, ask yourself if you truly still want it. Most of the time I find it wasn't anything but some compulsive craving & usually passes. This happens to me a lot if I see pop-corn or something on TV. Instead of going immediately to the food, wait & if you still want it, by all means have it!

3. Yall have heard me say this one. Try sprinkling a little ground cinnammon to your food. It helps with cravings, weight, & energy! I add it to cereal, waffles, sliced apples, etc.

4. If you're a midnight snacker like me, try keeping something like peppermints in a jar in your bed-room. I keep them at my desk in my little project area because I always want to eat in there. I also keep them in my bed-room so if I do want something in the middle of the night, I try a peppermint first. It almost always keeps me from making that trip to the kitchen at least until the next day.

5. Stop worrying and telling yourself you can only have this or you can't eat that. The more you tell yourself "don't do it!" The worse the temptation will be. Before you start your day or before bed, instead of saying I won't eat this, remind yourself that if you happen to eat a little more then it's ok.

6. One thing I love about my ab machine is that it's always under my bed (well it was) and when I did eat a little extra, I didn't have to freak out because I knew I could do 30 before bed & be totally fine. So if you can work some kind of little exercise into your day & just do 30 extra when you over eat, you'll be less likely to over eat because you won't be constantly worrying about not doing it & that will lift temptations & you will have peace of mind knowing if you must have it, then you can work most of it off in a few minutes.

7. Carnation instant breakfast drinks. I bet you've seen or tried these. I used to get them & ensure when I was trying to gain my strength back from being really ill. I still drink them. The carnation breakfast drinks are like chocolate milk & they will absolutely keep you from being hungry for at least several hours. I can't eat until late in the evening after drinking one. I also think they're really great for kids because being in school all day, for some reason, makes kids so hungry. Probably because the schools really don't offer much. I remember being in high school & being so hungry all day I couldn't even think straight. You get breakfast in some cases & lunch which is usually whatever you can manage to choke down & the rest is unedible. That leaves a kid with hardly anything besides a $2.00 ice cream at break which isn't much help either.

I give them the Carnation drinks before or you can send it in a lunch box & that will keep them from starving all day as well as yourself. You can take it in a coffee mug to work. It only takes a minute to make. They're pretty good too. I like a lot of flavor with anything I eat or drink. My coffee has to be strong & I usually add some type of extra flavor to all foods. So I used 2 packets of the carnation drinks & drank it as one so it would be extra chocolate-y.

8. Special K chip crackers. I think that's what they're called. Those are really good! I actually like them better than regular potato chips. They're perfect for when you're going crazy for salty food.

These are the tips I use myself, everyday. They aren't hard & the don't require you to purchase pills, and machines. These may not seem like rapid results but they're a great way to improve without killing yourself & your health. This way, I don't feel like a failure every time I turn around & I know that it's simple so it keeps me from stressing & making problems worse.

                                       I hope you liked these.

                     And just a little update
  In my latest posts I told you about the remodelling & what a bitch it's been & then hurting my back on top of it was just a nightmare. Speaking of nightmares, I had 3 the entire week about me being kidnapped & just horrifying details. That's been really scary! Anyways, after the 3 weeks of hell with no toilet, no bathroom door, and no sink for 9 months now, I finally had the toilet put in yesterday. Well of course it was broken!

 After a nervous breadown, I finally got a new toilet (the toilet was from the same Lowe's that sold me 2 cans of terrible paint!) we got the new one it's been in since earlier today! I also now have my gorgeous black, sparkly sink in & a bath room door! Finally, I can shower in peace! I couldn't tell you how much stress is gone now that it's finished. Well, it will be finished once I re-do the damn paint & then I'll just have to get my light put in. It's a really pretty one too! I'll post pics of it as soon as possible.

  Now I'll be finding time to re-paint my bedroom & then I'll have to move my furniture in & put everything where it belongs. Then all that's left is getting my hard wood floor in. I sure hope it goes a lot better than the tile we used in the bathroom. That was a serious bitch.

   Until then I'm finally going to get some sleep, I hope. But there is bad news, our freaking dryer just screwed up! We knew it was coming because my sis was doing serious damage to it & it's ruined. Hopefully the BF will have one in this week.

*Thanks for being there. Yall have been very supportive during my hell of a week. lol I will be back to normal in no time! My back is already getting better by the way. Much Much Much love to yall. I hope yall have a very sparkly day!*