Blog Carnival

Hello ChronicBabes! It might be winter, but this year I'm fired up and determined not to let yucky weather temporarily sideline my healthy pursuits. With my goal in mind, I decided asked you: How are you approaching life differently this winter to prevent the blues, a sedentary lifestyle and the pull to just let your health priorities slide when it is cold, wet and gloomy outside?

Posted: 1/26/2012 in Blog Carnival

22 amazing women share their plans for 2012. If you're not inspired to make this year great, you're not trying hard enough. Dig? Enjoy the wide range of ideas including resolutions the Buddha might have made, practical advice for holding true when things get tough, and ideas for those who positively loathe resolutions.

Posted: 1/3/2012 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Inspiration

Whenever I ask someone this time of year what they want for Christmas or Hanukkah and they say "nothing, I have everything I need," I call B.S. Everybody wants something—even if it's completely intangible. So this year I asked my fellow ChronicBabes what they wanted from Santa and they obliged, with gusto. Check out what some of your fellow sick chicks are wishing for, and add your own wish in the comments!

Posted: 12/17/2011 in Blog Carnival

This edition is all about food, glorious food...or not-so-glorious food, depending on your chronic illness. Since it is holiday time again, and much of the holiday celebrating revolves around food, we wanted to know more about the relationship ChronicBabes have with food.

Posted: 11/28/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: The Kitchen

Welcome to our second annual Gratitude edition of the ChronicBabe blog carnival.  Since next week is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., there is no better time to celebrating the trully awesome people, places and things around us.

Posted: 11/14/2011 in Blog Carnival

Happy Halloween, babes! Thinking about Halloween, about getting all dressed up in a costume to celebrate, inspired this edition's blog carnival theme of Behind the Mask.

Posted: 10/31/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

If you could receive one gift to help you through this life with illness, what would it be? We asked this most recent ChronicBabe blog carnival question on Twitter and Facebook and here are the answers we recieved...

Posted: 10/3/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

This time we wanted to know: If you could receive one gift to help you through this life with illness, what would it be? Check out are blog carnival #36...

Posted: 10/3/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

We asked, and you weren't shy: What role does your faith, spirituality, religion, etc. play in your life with chronic illness? Here, 15 writers give you their perspectives. Take what works for you; there's room for every perspective here at ChronicBabe.com.

Posted: 9/12/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

What's hot? Besides you? Besides me? Lots; a bunch of you chimed in with your ideas, and I ran around the Internet, finding more examples of ChronicBabes writing about the ideas, trends, research and treatment ideas they find to be toasty hot. Let's jump in feet first, shall we?

Posted: 8/22/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Cool Tools

OK, all you single ChronicBabes, we've got your back this time with some great ideas and resources for dating with chronic illness.  These posts run the gammit, from playing the dating game and disclosing your big secret to your new love interest...to sustaining your relationship and moving on from a break-up. Editrix Jenni and Selena from Oh! My Aches and Pains took your submissions this edition, plus they curated a ton of entries from around the web to serve up the best selection of advice for you. 

Posted: 7/25/2011 in Blog Carnival

This time we're celebrating all the awesome people we are proud to call our best friends. They're the ones who are there for us, supporting, comforting, giving, listening, inspiring and laughing when we need it the most.

Posted: 6/27/2011 in Blog Carnival

Summer's here, and the living is easy...well, kinda. With chronic illness, sometimes it's a bit harder. We asked you how you plan to spend your summer and work around challenges to make sure you get to spend some of it having a blast—and as usual, we got a fun array of answers. Dive in!

Posted: 6/13/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Inspiration

Let's talk about sex, baby! We know this isn't the easiest subject to address and yet it is such an important part of our healthy romantic relationships.  We asked you to share the reality of trying to have a healthy sex life when you live with chronic illness: the challenges, successes and creative workarounds! We are honored that so many of you spoke up and told your real-life stories.

Posted: 5/31/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Chronically Sexy

In this edition of the blog carnival, we're feeling hyper-aware - we know there are SO MANY health awareness days in the month of may, so we thought we'd open up the floor and let some of you talk about what you wish more people would be aware of. So without further ado, here are some of the choice submissions we received...

Posted: 5/16/2011 in Blog Carnival

Welcome to the Mother's Day edition of the ChronicBabe Blog Carnival. This time we want to honor all those women who are balancing parenthood and chronic illness—because we know it's not easy. We also want you to know we admire your strength and determination to be the very best mother you can be and not let chronic illness interfere with what is important to you: your children!

Posted: 5/2/2011 in Blog Carnival

For this carnival, we asked y'all to tell us about the causes close to your heart, and you didn't disappoint. We learned about some incredible causes and organizations! Check out these inspiring posts and you'll learn about some great people and organizations doing wonderful work, some of whom could use your support.

Posted: 4/18/2011 in Blog Carnival

Here at ChronicBabe HQ love to hear you Babes talk about the things that inspire thankfulness in you. You know, those things that keep you going when the going gets tough. We also know that when things get really bad, it can be hard to remember what those things are, so we decided to help you reconnect with your attitude of gratitude for this edition of the blog carnival.

Posted: 4/4/2011 in Blog Carnival

"I can do it." These are words I used to have a hard time uttering about so many things, especially in the early days after diagnosis with fibromyalgia—and I count the first few years as "early days." After being a very athletic young woman, I became a sluggish, pain-ridden, frustrated, constant patient. And I felt like there were a bazillion things I couldn't do. Now I feel like there's almost nothing I can't do. I travel, I go dancing, I've run my own consulting and freelance-writing business for nearly nine years, and I say yes to things much, much more often than I say no. (I used to say "no" almost automatically!) I can't do everything the same way I used to, but something is better than nothing.

If you've been a long-time reader of this site, you've experienced lots of stories from me and other ChronicBabes about breakthroughs, moments when we've achieved things we thought we never could because we are sick. Here's another big 'ol batch of 'em, collected together for your inspiration. I hope you spot yourself among these amazing women—and find the motivation to try something you've been afraid of trying. I believe in you!

Posted: 3/21/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Cool Tools

This time we're talking about great workarounds: you know, those life changes we ChronicBabes make in the name of living a better life in spite of chronic illness. 

Color us impressed by the collection of responses we received this time around.  Not only did our bloggers cover many aspects of life with chronic illness—from parenting to career, laundry to travel—they also manged to inspire and inform with a wonderful blend of personal stories and practical advice.  If you are a sick chick struggling with making changes in your life, we think this edition is the ultimate primer on this topic.

Posted: 3/7/2011 in Blog Carnival

Hosting Patients for a Moment is a labor of love, only fitting for the theme: Show Me the Love. We've got posts about the love of friends, family, spouses and lovers. We hope you enjoy the perspectives of a variety of ChronicBabes, who show us the power of love that can come from the most unexpected places to change and heal us in powerful ways. (And some of the posts show what happens when love goes away.)

Posted: 2/23/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

This week, our blog carnival is Linky Love—a blog carnival highlighting our readers' fave writers. But our little twist this time is this: the Secret Admirer. We won't be saying who sent in the suggestions, so writers will have to guess who submitted their work. (If the readers who emailed us want to tell, they are more than welcome, of course. That's what the new comments section is for!) We have more than a dozen fabulous entries, so come on in!

Posted: 2/21/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

Over here at ChronicBabe HQ in Chicago, we're all feeling like we've been punked.  We asked you Babes to write about getting through the heart of the winter blahs and in response Mother Nature has dropped two feet of snow on us. How's that for cold, gray and snow-covered...

Posted: 2/7/2011 in Blog Carnival

People can be idiots. They just have no clue what we ChronicBabes go through when we live with chronic illness and invisible (or even visible) disibility. Some folks are well-meaning but ignorant, and I can give those folks some leeway; they often see the error of their ways if you explain your situation, and go on to be awesomely understanding. But there are other folks who are just plain blind to the experience of others. So for this carnival, we offer up a few examples of their idiotic comments and resulting ridiculous situations, and some snappy comebacks (and a few thoughtful analyses thrown in for good measure).

Posted: 1/24/2011 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Venting

Welcome to 2011, Babes!

As you read in my post And that's why I resolved to stop giving a F#%!& about what other people think. (About New Year's Resolutions.), making the most of this new year and the clean slate it represents is super-important to me.

I wanted to find out how important the whole notion of starting fresh in the New Year is to you, too, and the posts you sent in to ChronicBabe HQ did not disappoint... XO - Editrix Jenni

Posted: 1/10/2011 in Blog Carnival

It's the end of the year, and while most folks are resolving to lose a few pounds or see their nieces more in the new year, our bloggers are trying to make sure their patients are healthier...that we learn to use robots to teach patients to manage pain...that health care legislation works well for millions...we are an ambitious crew. Editrix Jenni Prokopy is proud to present Vol. 7, No. 13 of Grand Rounds, the last edition of 2010, chock full of fun and compelling new year's health care resolutions. Enjoy!

Posted: 12/21/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

If I were somewhere warm, I would have different issues. In fact, no matter where I live, there would be something I could find troubling. But I make a choice to make it work no matter where I am, as best I can, with the help of friends and family—the same way I try to help them. So it's in that spirit that I pass along these ladies' great ideas as well. I hope if you're inspired that you'll share even more ideas, too!

Posted: 12/13/2010 in Blog Carnival

Sure, the holidays can be wonderous and joyful, but they can also be stressful and challenging, even more so when you are coping with chronic illness. 

We asked you to send us your survival techniques and tips, as well as stories about your experiences and advice for doing things differently from years past and we received a lot of great advice. We also went searching around on the Internet for holiday advice and found some new favorite bloggers too.

Posted: 11/28/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

Next week is Thanksgiving, and I love the idea of getting all Oprah and writing in my gratitude journal and celebrating how awesome everyone and everything is around me. So why not focus our blog carnival on the topic? Some folks with chronic illness have a hard time finding things to be grateful for, but not these Babes...we've got loving husbands, farting, mean people, fellow bloggers, our bodies...it's quite a collection. Enjoy!

Posted: 11/15/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Inspiration

Remember when you were a kid, holding hands with your friends in a circle, singing "Ring Around the Rosie" and falling down at the end? What you didn't know back then was that sometimes this is exactly what happens in life: sometimes you fall down. 

Fortunately we've assembled a group of 14 babes that can help you get back up when life with illness gets you down. Just like how your friends would help you back up after the end of the song...

Posted: 11/1/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

We've got more tricks than treats, actually, which kind of makes sense considering the crowd. A big batch of fabulous health bloggers share their stories of the tricks and treats of modern medicine. If you like growing hair on your tongue or going postal, read on!

Posted: 10/18/2010 in Blog Carnival

Hey Babes, this time we asked, What are the funniest things you've experienced or done to deal with chronic illness? and you responded with some pretty funny stories. You proved our point that chronic illness isn't all about tears and struggles; sometimes chronic illness is damn funny! This edition showcases 16 posts—from porn to poop—that prove laughter IS the best medicine and humor a mighty powerful coping mechanism.

Posted: 10/5/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Inspiration

Hey Babes, not exactly a crisis over here, but still, a big enough flare-up that it took Editrix Jenni a few extra days to put together this edition of the blog carnival. So here at ChronicBabe HQ, we can relate to crisis management! (Well, we already could, but...you know.) Following are a lucky 13 takes on handling crises when you're a sick chick. If you like what you read, I hope you'll follow up with some feedback on our Forum.

Posted: 9/21/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

Today's Blog Carnival (#12!) is all about health care reform. Reform legislation is six months old and some parts of it are starting to come into play now. ChronicBabes are naturally active participants in our health care. As health care reform is something that will touch all of us, of course we’re paying attention!

People with chronic health issues have the most to lose or gain by this legislation so we asked ChronicBabes for their opinions of the USA’s current health care reform. Thirteen bloggers share info, ask questions and provide input. Some of us even get out the soapboxes and rant. Plus, we have points of view from ChronicBabes in other countries. So read what ChronicBabes have to say about health care reform and get informed!

Posted: 9/7/2010 in Blog Carnival

After reading all the submissions for this edition of the ChronicBabe blog carnival, we are in awe of how creative, crafty and clever you Babes truly are. It's impressive how you all use your own brand of art therapy as an amazing and life-affirming chronic illness coping tool.

For those of you who don't consider yourselves very crafty or
artistic, read on and get inspired by your fellow ChronicBabes. Then
we'll meet you at the fabric and crafts store afterward to help you
pick out the supplies for your very own first project.

Posted: 8/24/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Crafty

For those of us with chronic illness, dealing with the medical establishment—whether it's doctors and nurses, or billing specialists and health insurance reps—can be a big pain in the tush. Other times, we find ourselves in positive interactions and great relationships. Here's what 15 of our fave bloggers had to say about their dealings with the medical establishment.

Posted: 8/10/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

Welcome to The Chronic Babe Carnival #9: The Big Breakdown: When Everything Goes to Hell, What Do We Do? Sixteen ChronicBabes tell you exactly how they deal when things go down. We've got some great stories and tips for you, Babes

Posted: 7/29/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

There's no way to get through all this without an awesome support team. That's why this issue, we've gathered a bunch of ChronicBabes to share their thoughts on folks who we love and love us back. We let you in on our medical teams and talk about the people who come together and touch our lives.

Posted: 7/13/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Relationships

In this week's carnival, we've gathered some incredible advice for all of you! This isn't a club any of us imaged we would belong to, but we enjoy each others' company and have come to see each other as family. So welcome to our world, sick chick. Here is our present: Tips for Brand-New ChronicBabes, just like you!

Posted: 6/29/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Announcements

In this edition of the blog carnival, we feature a dozen Babes who write about passion...in their relationships, families, work, hobbies...everything! Read on for tips on getting your sexual mojo back, ways to pursue hobbies, and personal experiences with hurdles - and successes!

Posted: 6/15/2010 in Blog Carnival

It's a simple question, without a simple answer: what are your favorite self-care tools and techniques? Everyone has a different approach. Here are 18 bloggers who share their faves.

Posted: 6/1/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

Parenting with a chronic illness. Getting pregnant with a chronic illness. Adopting with a chronic illness. ChronicBabes all over face these challenges, and today we bring you 15 perspectives on the topic.

Posted: 5/18/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Cool Tools

We're thrilled to host Patients for a Moment this week, where fellow ChronicBabes answer the question: What's your most laugh-out-loud illness-related experience? Thanks for letting us host, Duncan!

Posted: 5/5/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

Many of us ChronicBabes lives with everyday pain. Here are a ton of different perspectives on what it's like to live with pain - and how to do it with style, humor, and panache.

Posted: 5/4/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Coping

It's the second edition of the ChronicBabe Blog Carnival! We're bringing you a big new batch of awesomely babelicious perspectives on love, sex, relationships and chronic illness. We worked hard with co-organizer Fibrochondriac to create a real diversity of writing; in fact, she does a lot of the work, Babes, so we owe her a BIG thank you. Now, once again, we bring you... blog carnival gorgeousness! P.S. some Dudes join us this episode, too, so that's pretty sweet!

Posted: 4/20/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Cool Tools

Get ready for the first-ever ChronicBabe Blog Carnival! We're excited to bring you 20 awesomely babelicious perspectives on work and chronic illness. We worked hard with co-organizer Fibrochondriac to create a real diversity of writing on employment, unemployment, disclosure, work/life balance and more. Without further ado...

Posted: 4/6/2010 in Blog Carnival

ChronicBabe.com is going to host a bi-weekly blog carnival for young women with chronic illness! Get ready to read the best the web has to offer us ChronicBabes. More details follow...

Posted: 3/24/2010 in Blog Carnival  |  Also posted in: Cool Tools

Regular readers of the site already saw my new year's resolutions post, in which I proclaim that "self-care is #1." 

The problem in winter is that I usually let that slide. (Hence this year's resolution!) But not this time. I have a few things I'm doing to get myself in shape for bikini season in a few months! 

Read on to learn my personal weight loss goal for 2012 (gulp!) and what I'm doing to achieve it. And then comment so I can learn what YOU'RE doing!

Posted: 1/21/2012 in Cool Tools  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival

Every year I make a long list of resolutions. And most years, I'm able to stick to most of them. By there are a few I find myself annually adding to my list, and then each December I wonder why I haven't mastered them. Well, no more foolin' around! This is the year, babes. I'm gonna make magic!

Posted: 12/31/2011 in Inspiration  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival

We've always loved Leslie's blog carnival over at Getting Closer to myself: Patients for a Momemt (PFAM). Every once in a while, we get to host! So this February 23, we'll once again be home to a lovely collection of posts.

Posted: 2/14/2011 in Announcements  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival

Colleen has bionic legs and a sassy attitude, and she's not going to take any crap off of anyone. If you've ever wanted to tell someone off for not giving up the handicapped seat on the bus, well, Colleen is going to show you how it's done. Starting with saying, "bite my electric ass!"

Posted: 1/29/2011 in Venting  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival

Well, it could be worse, you could be hit by a bus. Katherine has a plan for an alternate breast cancer walk that involves lots and lots of big pink buses...hmm...

Posted: 1/29/2011 in Venting  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival

Hey laaaaadeeeeez! It's time again for Grand Rounds, ChronicBabe style, which means we're curating a collection of posts that are completely babelicious. Check out this gathering of doctors, nurses, patients and just regular folk who like to write about medicine.

Posted: 4/27/2010 in Cool Tools  |  Also posted in: Blog Carnival