Chronic Bits 

Babe Anne points us to this article at CNN.com on the peanut butter recall, where Anne Muñoz-Furlong, founder of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, says the salmonella outbreak might help people "walk away with a feeling of knowing what it's like to have a food allergy." Educational!

We're considering hosting our own blog carnival, a twice-monthly collection of women-centric health-related sassy-pants and serious-reporting kind of gathering. Take our 5-minute survey to tell us if we're on to something big (or if our idea doesn't WOW you). Thanks!

The How to Cope with Pain blog has a ton of great pain tips, and each month hosts a lovely blog carnival with lots of contributors (ahem, including ChronicBabe). Check out the wonderful resources and if you're blogging about pain, consider submitting to the February carnival and spreading your message of support!

The 2008 Medical Weblog Awards have closed, and the winners include ChronicBabe faves Kevin, MD and Six Until Me. Congrats! Check out the entire list of winners (and their incredible blogs, and btw, the finalists are all worthy of your attention, too!)

The American Pain Foundation is sponsoring a live online chat about acupuncture January 27 at 8pm EST. The sign-up process is a little complicated, but worth it: First, get a PainAid login here (it's free) and then login here to sign up for the online chat.

There's still time for submit articles for inclusion in our Grand Rounds this Tuesday, January 27, themed "Totally Babelicious: A focus on women's health care issues." Get all the details here and make your voice heard. (Thousands of people read Grand Rounds each week!)

Yup, we've got a handful of fluffy, veiny handmade heart. Thanks for the tip, Babe Kerrie! (Editrix Jenni loves anatomically correct clothing, accessories and housewares, so keep sending those tips!)

It's been a fun day here at ChronicBabe HQ, where we celebrated with friends as Barack Obama was sworn in as our new president. We're sending all our positive energy to the new prez, who we know will lead us all toward a healthier state—of both mind and body. Cheers, Babes!

Dr. Val hosts Grand Rounds today, with an inaugural theme: "Ten suggestions for healthcare reform." With tons of posts from terrific health writers, this edition is a fitting way to celebrate our new president.

We've come a long way, baby! It's been mere months since Lyrica and Cymblata were approved for fibromyalgia treatment, and now Savella is joining the club. Nice to have options for consideration, isn't it?

Babes, we need you! Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to vote for ChronicBabe in the Shorty Awards and the Wellsphere People's Health Blogger Awards. Please take a moment to vote—thanks!

We love anatomy-themed clothing, so when a pal told us she was wearing these bony arm warmers today, we had to share.

ChronicPal Amy Tenderich at Diabetes mine writes today about surprising fees she encountered when trying to share medical records across multiple doctors' offices. We share her frustration—in this digital age, why should be there be a cost?

Today is the deadline for comments on the FDA's "may contain" food labeling practices. If you have celiac disease or food allergies, this is your opportunity to speak up on this vital issue. Our pals at Please Don't Pass the Nuts have more details.

Grand Rounds is fresh at In Sickness and In Health: A Place for Couples Dealing with Illness. The theme: connections. Enjoy!

We join Tu Diabetes, Diabetes Mine and a whole host of other diabetes blogs in asking the FDA to step up and improve research and medical trials. Will you join us?

ChronicPal Laurie Edwards writes about "can vs. should" on the topic of pregnancy, childbearing and chronic illness. We know so many of you are facing these decisions, so check out what she has to say!

Here are nine tips to help you get—and stay—fit on a budget in the new year, courtesy of the National Women's Health Resource Center. Cheers!

Editrix Jenni is, and we know many of you are, too. Check out this new resource for sharing your chronic illness stories: ChronicShare. It's a place to get stuff off your chest, Babes.

ChronicPal Paula Kamen will be speaking on "nature, meaning and value" as part of "TALES FROM THE BODY: Storytelling About Illness and Disability" in NYC on January 25, from 1 to 6pm. (Her panel is at 3pm.) Babes, Paula rocks, so don't miss this opportunity! More details from sponsor The Storytelling Center of New York City.

We're finalists in the Shorty Awards. Woo hoo! Please cast your vote today and help launch us to the top, and spread the word—we can't win without you, Babes. Thanks!

Sponsored by MedGadget, the 2008 Medical Weblog Awards showcase some of the best and newest health writing online. We're a bit biased because we won in 2007, but still, believe us when we say these awards mean a lot! So does your vote: cast it today. Some of our favorite bloggers are nominated: Six Until Me, But You Don't Look Sick?, Kevin, MD, Getting Better with Dr. Val...just to name a few. Vote today!

...and that's why things have been quiet. Expect all kinds of good stuff next week! Thanks for your patience and support, as always...luv, Jenni

Babes, we're in the top 20! Voting is getting close, and the deadline is rapidly approaching. If you haven't already cast your vote, please take a moment to tell the lovely folks at Wellsphere that ChronicBabe is tops for the People's HealthBlogger Awards. Thanks!

Just one more day to send us your entries in our contest to give away a copy of Dining on a Dime! Get all the details...