Sweet Treat Swap - Happy Halloween!

 

Happy Halloween!

 

My life has been so crazy this week with appointments! But, I've been looking forward to this post for so long... I absolutely CANNOT miss it. Even if I'm a little late... I'm here. :-)

 

Sarah and Amy started such a SWEET link up and I am so glad I participated!

 

My partner was the adorable, adorable, ADORABLE Julie. We hit it off right away and I just gotta say... This girl is a keeper! I love her so much and we've only "known" eachother for about a week... ;-)

 

This is what she sent me...

 

 

First off - this girl has the BEST nose for fabulous scents. Of course, one of the candles she sent me broke in the mail (ahem, careless postman...) but I definitely found a makeshift container and have been lighting them both every night while I study... Talk about LOVE. She also sent me three yummy Russel Stover pumpkins (two of which I ate the first night...) and my personal favorite... LINDT WHITE CHOCOLATE. If you know me, you know that I'm absolutely obsessed. And, to finish off the package... She included a card with the Wicked Witch of the West on the front... Wizard of Oz is another one of my loves. :-) This girl speaks my love language!

 

This link up has been so much fun! I love meeting new friends through link ups like these... Especially when there's white chocolate included. :-)

 

Happy, happy Halloween loveys!

New blog design!

This is going to be an extremely short post - because I am supposed to be getting ready for school, but instead keep staring at my new blog design by my dear friend Jenn over at Munchkinland Designs.

 

Seriously people. Look what she's done with this blog! I am amazed. Simply because when I started working with her - I didn't have a "picture" in my head of what I wanted it to look like. I had no idea. When Jenn sent me the first draft? That was it. That was the "picture" if I ever had one.

 

Jenn is the sweetest most understanding woman on the planet and if I ever need anything else done for design - I know the one person I'm going to be getting ahold of!

 

What do you guys, the readers, think of it?

 

Have a wonderful Tuesday!



{Speed the Light} Blog sale!

This Sunday, I bring y'all my first ever blog sale! 

All proceeds from this sale go to Speed the Light - which is an organization at my youth group that aims to raise money for missions all over the world. This money is what touches, saves, and transforms lives. Christ is brought to those reached by the supplies and opportunities these funds provide.

My goal this year is $1,000. I know how much money that is. But, I also know who God is and recognize that He has put it on my heart to do in order to change lives.

The directions are EASY! Just comment with your e-mail address and which item(s) you would like if you are interested in purchasing something!

Don't see anything you like, but still want to help out? You can donate HERE!

Let's get started!

Item #1: American Eagle 3/4 sleeve sweater. Like new, size small. $15 shipped.

Item #2: Old Navy top... Worn twice. Size small, runs big, though - I'd consider it more like a medium. $15 shipped.

Item #3: Coral dress. I wore it as a swimsuit cover up once! Size small, but again, more like a medium. $15 shipped.

Item #4: Navy blue Hollister cardigan with sequins! I bought it at consignment a few months ago and haven't worn it yet. Super cute, I just have way too many cardigans! Size small. $20 shipped. (Shipping is spendy...)

Item #5: Black Maurice's vest. Bought at consignment and wore a few times. Size small. Works really well for layering! $15 shipped.

Item #6: Size small... Teal shrug. The few times I've worn it, I've left it unbuttoned. Another great piece for layering. $10 shipped.

Item #7: Brand new Forever 21 dress. Black with tan polka dots. Regular tie waist, size small. Adorable sleeves, looks great with leggings! $20 shipped.

Item #8: Aerie shirtdress... Size small. Pink and cream striped, I love the pockets it has. A great shirt for leggings! $15 shipped.

Item #9: Floral scarf. $10 shipped.

Item #10: Navy and light blue ruffle scarf. $10 shipped.

Item #11: Blue and black ocean/floral themed scarf. $10 shipped.

Item #12: Each pair $5 shipped... Take your pick!

 Item #13: Forever 21 white bead necklace. Great for layering! $5 shipped.

Item #14: Brand new Forever 21 sandals - supposedly size 8, but they fit more like a 6 1/2. So, so cute, they just don't fit my feet! $10 shipped.

E-mail me {lifeaccordingtokenz@gmail.com} with any questions about the sale and be sure to check my Instagram {@xox_kenzie} throughout the week for more sales!

Thank you! Happy Sunday! :-) 

Pain {in the midst of} something incredible!

Wednesday was a really overwhelming day for me. All I wanted was for it to be over. I was on the verge of tears for the entirety of the day. I had a "big" doctor appointment that evening and I was anticipating a very real treatment change... I knew it was coming. I felt it. I'd been told. But, I did everything in my power to avoid accepting it.

As of yesterday, I have officially begun yet another 4-week round of physical therapy. It's been about a year since my last round. The only real "differences" this year are as follows:

1.) I nanny 3 mornings/evenings a week.

2.) I'm taking 2 college classes on top of my high school courses.

3.) My neck condition has progressed.

I don't have time before/after school. I cannot afford to skip class. Progression = more complex treatment plan.

I know that being a juvenile arthritis patient often means that I have to work 10 times as hard as every "normal" teen my age. I get that. I've accepted that. I know what I need to do.

Yesterday was my first appointment. It was for me to walk into that office again, but I realize now that struggles and pain are always going to try to interfere with the joy already surrounding us... It's only a matter of perspective and what we choose to focus on.

This is me for the next 3-5 days. How I shower, sleep, etc. This tape acts as pain relieving patches and also serves as a posture aid. 

I got so many questions today... "What HAPPENED to you?!" I don't think I fully explained once. Somedays, it's just not worth it. I just giggled a lot at the appalling looks I was receiving and breathed deep... ;-)

And so, here's to the next 8 appointments. It's going to be tough to stay motivated, but I know it's worth it.

And I'm going to do it.

Y'all need to know that the one thing {aside from my faith} keeping me going right now is the support I've been receiving from my online friends.

All crazyness put aside, Wednesday was also an incredibly joyful day for me. I shared my Speed the Light launch post and you, my bloggy friends, from all over the U.S., stepped up and supported me in any and EVERY way possible. You still are!

I've already raised $105 towards my Speed the Light goal and I assure you that growth is going to continue because God has called me to do something. Not only that... But, the people He's blessed me with continue to be the people that they are called to be. I am so beyond grateful for the friends I've never "met," but know so well. 

You know who you are, ladies. And you need to know that without you, my days would be a lot tougher.

I believe that through this time of growth and change, God is teaching me to fully and wholeheartedly rely on Him. He's teaching me to give, even when it's hard. And of course, He's teaching me all about perspective and perception.

Despite the struggles that seemingly "change" throughout life - my God never does. He still in charge and I'm still learning from Him daily.

I cannot say thank you enough for the support that y'all show. You keep me going, you know. You really do.

Let's continue to do awesome things through an awesome God!

Dreaming a God-sized dream

I'm a goal setter. A daydreamer. One of those girls that constantly has a new {and typically slightly crazy} idea. I'm one of those "I'm gonna change the world!" type of people, if ya know what I mean.

I'm realistic. A doer. A determined, stubborn, fierce little thing that doesn't stop until things are done the "right" way. I'm a real piece of work, to be quite honest.

I attended a youth convention on the 18th/19th and God clearly laid out His plans to use me in a brand new way. All I needed to do for God to open these doors was dedicate time solely to Him for those two days and open my heart and ALLOW Him to reveal His awesome plans to me.

At my youth group, we have an opportunity to change the world through an organization called Speed The Light.

This organization aims to raise money for missions all over the world. This money is what touches, saves, and transforms lives. Christ is brought to those reached by the supplies and opportunities these funds provide.

God spoke to me at Minnesota Youth Convention this year and has asked me to raise $500 $1,000 within the next 3 weeks. I don't know how it's going to be done, but because God put it on my heart, I know that it will be done and I know that lives will be changed because of it. 

Within the next 3 weeks, I will be selling things such as: handmade ornaments, handmade holiday/birthday cards, clothing, and other misc. things on the blog/Instagram. I will also be selling these things in "real life" ;-) and hosting an event called "Parents Night Out," in my community, which clearly involves my passion... Children. I have also formed "The Backpack Project" which consists of filling backpacks with necessities (i.e. toothbrushes/toothpaste, toilet paper, non-perishable food items, hats/mittens, etc.) and donating them to the local food shelf. Each backpack will also contain a Bible. 

Please make sure to keep checking back here - I will be posting various clothing items for sale in a special post this weekend. E-mail me {lifeaccordingtokenz@gmail.com} with any questions.

You can also comment on a post or picture to claim an item. Go check out the items I'm currently offering on Instagram {xox_Kenzie} right now!

And, if you feel called to donate, you can do so HERE on my fundraising page or through the widget below.

    If you do not have the means to help financially, I also accept ALL help spiritually. Keeping this organization in your prayers means more than words will ever say.

I know that whatever YOU give, God will give back to you ten-fold. This is coming from a girl who has given absolutely EVERYTHING. I currently have $60 to my name... But, I have put my heart and soul into this cause and will continue to because it's something I'm called to do and something I believe in. I know that...

God will provide.

He blesses us when we give.

Ten-fold.

{Deuteronomy 15:10~ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.}

"We cannot control the rain, but, we can control where it does not fall. Bring Him to them." - Eric Samuel Timm

It. Is. Finished.

Please welcome Hallie from Life:Oceanside!

Hey y'all! Happy Friday!   Today, I'm happy to introduce you to a fellow lovey who's originally from Minnesota! Hallie is a sweetheart and her blog is one of my favorites. Show her some love today!   ***   Hey Life According to Kenz readers! I am very excited that Kenzie has allowed me to invade her space and allow me to have y'all know a little bit about myself, and my blog.   I am Hallie, a native Minnesotan like Ms. Kenzie. I was born in raised in a very small town and one day decided that it was just time to get up, get out, and follow my dreams My dreams happen to have landed me in the sunshine state in a big Oceanside city. Thus the name of my blog Life:Oceanside   I blog about my husband to be, my two fur babies, and all of the wonderful things my crazy hectic life encounters.  

  I am learning all the tricks and trades of becoming a wife. Learning to cook is a LOT harder than you think it is. I went from box mac & cheese to feeding a 6'5 monster, I can proudly say I have mastered the art of spaghetti...hey, at least I am trying.   I also am a avid Do-it-yourself(er). I love making the new out of the old, and making treasure from trash.   Here are a few of my favorite creations  

  I would love for you to stop over at Life:Oceanside and say "Hi." I love making new friends!   Thanks agian Kenzie for allowing me to post, isn't she just the best?!  

Please welcome Lindsey from Love to the Moon and Back!

Today, my darling friend Lindsey is posting a little bit about her blog and how it came to be! Y'all go visit her and show her some love when you get a chance! She and her family are precious!

***

Hello to all of Kenzie's fabulous followers!!

 I am both honored and excited to guest post for my sweet friend! My name is Lindsey and I blog over at Love to the Moon & Back where I ramble about life, motherhood and my crazy journeys along the way. I recently started a link up on Fridays called Fashionista Friday in which anyone can join me in linking up their favorite fashion finds with either a personal picture of themselves in a fabulous ensemble (I have greatly stepped out of my comfort zone to do this), or use a pinterest inspired outfit, or even create an account on polyvore and show off your dream clothes. Hopefully if you enjoy this sort of thing, you'll consider joining us on Fridays and linking up.
 

When Kenzie asked me if I would like to guest post, I of course got butterflies in my stomach because I never know what to write about and I certainly do not want to disappoint the host! Well, I decided that after introducing myself a bit, that I should introduce you to why I chose the title "Love to the Moon and Back" for my blog. This phrase has significant meaning for me because it is the saying that I use every night when I put my girls to bed and kiss them goodnight. This also serves as my reminder that no matter what happened that day, (because let's face it with two toddlers things can get a bit crazy), that I will always love my girls to the moon and back. 

Also, when I began dating my husband and once we got engaged, my lovely mother in law would always sign every birthday card, christmas card, etc. with the words "I love you to the moon and back" and seeing how that has meant so much to all of us- I most certainly needed to make that a phrase we could use to describe just how much we love each other (my husband and I) and our girls. It has become a staple in our daily routine and that makes my mommy heart fill with love and happiness.

If my sort of blogging is what you may enjoy reading about, I invite you to come on over and follow along as I try to blog often about the sillies, the fun and sometimes the amazing times we share together as a family.

Thanks again Kenzie for allowing me to guest post for you today I am truly blessed! XOXO!

Please welcome Kenzie from Life & Lemons!

Today, I'm excited to introduce my sweet friend Kenzie! We found eachother through a link up this past summer and hit it off right away! We are so alike it's insane! Make sure y'all go visit her!

***

Hey gorgeous Life According to Kenzie fans!

I am so excited to be able to do a guest post for Kenzie and meet all of her wonderful readers!

A little about me: I'm a fellow Kenzie and I blog over at Life & Lemons. Kenzie and I are so alike it is crazy! Other than us both being daughters, sisters, and best friends (not of, to, and from the same people of course) we both ride horses, are addicted to Pinterest, love coffee, hoard nail polish, adore cardigans, and follow Jesus. While Kenzie has been raising awareness for Juvenile Arthritis I have been raising awareness for Breast Cancer. We could be twins!

I love to blog about life, lemons, crafts, recipes, and anything in between! I participate in an insane amount of link ups. Sometimes I love to brag about my incredibly handsome son and step sons. Not to mention my awesome other half. On occasion I have a funny story to tell, mostly about how I am constantly sticking my foot in my mouth. I work part time as a fitness coach and full time as a mom.

 I sure enjoyed meeting you! Hope you can say the same about me. ;)

Please welcome Shelby from Chasing Birdies!

Hi loveys! Today, I'm headed out of town for a youth conference until tomorrow night... But, for the rest of this weekend and into next week, I have arranged several guest bloggers and can't wait for you to hear from them! I will be posting again on Tuesday!

My sweet friend Shelby over at Chasing Birdies is up first! Her blog is absolutely precious and she is one of my sweetest bloggy friends! I'm so glad she agreed to write a post for the blog today! Make sure y'all go check her out after reading today's post!

***

Hello everyone! I'm so excited to be here guest posting for Kenzie. I just love her blog, and every time I talk to her, I'm reminded of what a sweetheart she is! Thank you so much, Kenz, for having me today!

As we all know, the fall season is in full swing. Leaves are changing, temps are dropping, and sweaters are coming out of the closet! However, one of my favorite parts of fall is actually something unrelated to weather. It's the premiere of all TV shows! My old favorites start up again with new seasons, and brand new shows premiere. These are the shows I'm currently obsessing over.

Castle

If you like murder mysteries, romance, and comedy all in one show, you will love Castle. I've been a faithful fan for multiple seasons, and it's still just as good as it used to be. The new season is heating up quickly with a new romance, but I won't spoil anything. ;)

New Girl

I'm literally obsessed. The second season just premiered, and it's continuing to hint at a future romance between Jess and Nick! All of the characters are awkward and endearing and hilarious at the same time. If you haven't watched it yet, you should definitely check it out.

The Mindy Project

My final pick is a show that just premiered with it's very first season. I'm sure most of you know Mindy Kaling (Kelly) from The Office, but she has her own show now and I can't get enough. She plays a doctor who's obsessed with romantic comedies. We're basically the same person. It's witty and adorable and I highly recommend it!

Thanks again for having me, Kenz! I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy these new shows.

Stop and Smell the Roses {Week 26}

Wednesday. Boom. At 3:04 today, this school week is officially over. Yep. Done-zo.

YIPPEE SKIPPY!

Anywho... Carrying on! Today I'm linking up with Mandy for Stop and Smell the Roses which is a bi-weekly link up where we film a short vlog talking about what we're thankful for. It's always loads of fun and I hope you'll join us!

{I'm very, very aware that I'm talking a mile a minute in this video! Y'all will have to excuse me as I filmed between Chemistry and College History study sessions... Excuses, excuses... I know.}

What are you thankful for? Looking forward to anything this weekend? Thanks for stopping by! Have a splendid Wednesday!

New hair and blog changes on the way!

It's Tuesday. And I'm currently jamming out while contemplating whether or not to prepare for my chemistry test tomorrow... Hmmm... Yep, let the jamming commence. I'm kidding. I do actually need to get studying. But, I hope you enjoyed some classic Backstreet Boys.  Tonight, I want to share a few things with you guys! First off... If you follow me on Instagram (xox_Kenzie), you most likely saw the picture of my new bangs this morning! I slipped a picture of my old bangs next to the new ones below for comparison. Besides for the crazed look in my eyes in the first picture... What do you think of 'em?!

I think bangs are a really easy way to change up a hairstyle when it's not quite time for a color... I think they really frame my face and fit my style, too! 

Secondly... I'm more than ecstatic to announce that I've been working with Jenn on a new blog design for quite some time now! She is amazing, amazing, amazing and I cannot wait to see what she's put together. On top of that, I'm THRILLED for y'all to see it, too! Lots of changes coming within the next couple weeks. :-)

Other than that, just a heads up... I am headed to a youth conference on Thursday morning and am going to girls night Friday night. I will be participating in Stop and Smell the Roses tomorrow, but, for the rest of the weekend, I'll be handing the blog over to several lovely ladies who have volunteered to guest post in my absence! 

It will be a good break from school and lots of quality time with my best friends will be an absolute blast. Please make sure to check back daily, though, and show my sweet friends some love!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week thus far!

Homecoming & World Arthritis Day

Good morning! :-)

I LOVE Saturday's. I do. I really do. Up until today though, I hadn't "slept in" (without setting any type of alarm) since August. WHAT. Where is the time going?!

This week was homecoming week at my school and of course we did all kinds of fun things like participate in powderpuff football, dress up crazy, get prettied up for the dance, and infamously TP people's houses. Kidding, kidding. I totally didn't do that last one. ;-)

{The people who keep me going... <3}

It was a really fun week... But my entire class just can't believe we're already juniors. Time is flying and amazing memories are being made, but it's scary to think that we're almost done with high school. 

On Monday, for my english class, I gave a speech on juvenile arthritis and encouraged my classmates to help raise awareness. Not only did I get a perfect score, but I also felt like I did really well and my teacher and classmates were extremely supportive.

My biggest accomplishment this week, though, was participating in powderpuff football on what just so happened to be World Arthritis Day. Coincidence, or God's way of helping me show my arthritis who's boss? Definitely God's way. 

Every second of that game was so much fun and I actually played quite a bit. Even long enough to get completely plowed over by one of the foreign exchange girls that I absolutely love! ;-) It was an amazing feeling to be out there running around with some of my best friends all decked out in our class colors and I adore the fact that everyone treated me as Kenzie - another player - rather than the girl with arthritis. 

After the girls' big game (Ha!) We attended the boys' big game. It was a hard fought game, but our team ended up losing by one point. It was a great night, though. Our school raised a lot of money for breast cancer research and the dance afterwards was a lot of fun! Of course, I attended while sporting a heating/pain relieving patch... The game earlier in the day was pretty rough on me. I'm doing alright, though, and the fun I had is worth every ache and pain!

I think this quote perfectly defines me and this week's adventures...

Someone once asked me how I hold my head up so high after all I’ve been through... I said, "it’s because no matter what, I am a survivor, not a victim." 

I'm so grateful the God I serve continues to give me the strength I need to keep going. His grace is incredible! 

As for my plans for today? Two words: Lazy. Saturday. I'm gonna lounge around in yogas and my robe and turn on some Netflix. Y'all have a great weekend!

Grandma Jeanette's Apple Crumble

Well... Here we are again Monday. Welcome back.  Go back to where you came from.

I was in need of some serious cheering up today, so I decided to whip up a pan of my FAVORITE Apple Crumble. The recipe is my lovely grandmother's and today, I'm sharing it with you, loveys!

Let me just say, you are seriously deprived if you don't know my Grandma Jeanette personally... Because that means you've never gotten to taste her delicious Apple Crumble. I've literally grown up on this stuff.

This recipe is absolutely precious to me. I realize that I'm just a teeny bit extremely biased because of course I love my Grandma to pieces and think she's an even better baker than Miss Betty Crocker herself. But, there really is something so special about this apple dish. 

The recipe is short, sweet, and is as follows, friends...

 Place 4 cups of sliced/peeled apples in a buttered 8 x 8 baking dish. Sprinkle one teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of water over the top. {Pictured above}

In separate bowl, crumble together 3/4 cup of sifted flour, 1 cup of white sugar, 1/3 cup of butter, and 1/2 cup of oatmeal. After crumbled, drop mixture over apples.

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

That's all there is to it!

In my opinion, the most important step is to serve it warm with ice cream. :-) One of the best parts of this recipe is that it also reheats wonderfully!

If y'all are looking for a yummy new apple recipe to try this fall - this is it!

I'm off to have a piece of the dish I made up tonight! Mmm!



Fashionista Friday {"Not-sure-what-season-it-is" edition}

It's Friday... And I am OH so full of joy that is is! I'm also glad that I've found the time to link up with the always wonderful Lindsey for...

Every Friday, we link up with one of our outfits from the week. It's the easiest link up ever and it's so much fun because let's be real... We all love a cute outfit.

 

This week, I'm wearing a little bit of chambray the Kenz way. ;-) And, because my lovely friend Shannon has gotten me HOOKED on leggings... I must publicly admit that I am officially joining team leggings as pants! And, on another note, I'm also loving the sleeve rolling trend this fall. :-)

 

 

Coral top // {Forever 21}

Chambray top // {Target}

Leggngs // {Forever 21}

Boots // {Forever 21}

 

I am on the hunt for another chambray top. Do you have one that you absolutely love?! Please share the info on where you got it, price, etc.!

 

I also love how easy the outfit was to accessorize. I'm obsessing over the chain trend this fall, so all I had to do was throw my new chain-link necklace on and it instantly gave the whole look a face lift.

 

Necklace // {H&M}

 

It was the perfect outfit for yesterday! Comfy, casual, and warm enough to battle a blustery, high of 40 degrees, innesota day. And for those who are still fighting the heat wave? Well, let me just say, it was snowing here yesterday y'all. There's just not a happy medium...

 

But, there IS a happy weekend ahead! Thanks for stopping by today, loveys! Take care!

 

Arthritis User's Choice Awards - Juvenile Arthritis

This Wednesday - I'm blogging for the Arthritis User's Choice Awards! 

If you have been diagnosed with any form of arthritis - head on over to the User's Choice Awards website here and get your votes in!

I got an e-mail from The Arthritis Foundation early this week asking me to get in involved and I am absolutely taking full advantage of the opportunity to shed some more light on a disease that I have firsthand experience with.

First off, we need to establish what form of juvenile arthritis I have and discuss my symptoms, just so that y'all have a better understanding of how I'm feeling and why I need to keep up with various treatments.

I have been officially diagnosed with juvenile enthesitis-related arthritis. Here's the breakdown of what that actually is:

Inflammation (irritation and swelling) is a normal process in the body. It is how our immune systems protect our bodies from bacteria and viruses that cause infection.
In ERA, like other types of childhood arthritis, there is no infection. Instead, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal cells and tissues. This causes inflammation. Inflammation from ERA leads to redness, swelling, pain, warmth, stiffness, or loss of movement in the joints. For this reason, ERA is called an autoimmune disease. So far, it is not understand what causes these problems.

 There are many different types of arthritis. Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) is one type. Arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of motion in the joints. Enthesitis is swelling or inflammation where tendons or ligaments attach to bone. It is usually seen in late childhood or adolescence (8 to 15 years of age). It affects boys more often than girls. The severity of ERA can vary. For some children, it can be mild and last only a short time. For others, it can be more severe and last a lifetime. ERA is also sometimes referred to as spondyloarthritis.

That being explained - what do children with this specific disease actually feel?

Children with ERA have pain, swelling, or stiffness in joints (arthritis). The arthritis is mainly in the lower limbs (the hip, knee, and foot). Arthritis in the back and the base of the spine is not as common at first, but often occurs later. Children often complain of lower back or buttock pain that is worse with rest and better with activity. Arthritis can also occur in the upper limbs, especially the shoulders and neck.

Paraphrased from: http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca

That's about it for factual information about the disease. Next, I want to share a few statistics about juvenile arthritis in general...

A 2007 CDC study estimates that 294,000 U.S. children under age 18 (or 1 in 250 children) have been diagnosed with arthritis. 

Overall, juvenile arthritis occurs more frequently in girls than boys.

In juvenile arthritis, about 40–45% of patients still have the "active" disease after 10 years of being diagnosed.

The statistics here are startling to me. If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be 1 of those 250, I would have laughed at you and recited the infamous, "kids don't get arthritis!" line. However, now that I'm experiencing these symptoms firsthand and learning to adjust to and deal with them, I see how important it is to raise awareness by simply taking a day out of my week to inform people who don't know or don't understand. It's a lot to grasp, but it's also an urgent and growing problem in our country today that needs to be addressed.

As promised, the first half of the post was mainly for those who aren't familiar with JA, but, for the sake of blogging for the Arthritis User's Choice awards, and for the sheer fact that many are familiar with it... I thought I might also include a few of my favorite treatment products!

First and foremost... These pain relieving patches are truly the best "bang for your buck" I've found out there. And, they work brilliantly where ever you need them - whenever you need them. I use them daily and currently buy them in bulk!

For the newly diagnosed: look into joint braces with you doctor! They will help you select the perfect  "set up" that you need in order to stay mobile.

Another recent favorite of mine is the nuk brush. It's most commonly used in occupational therapy, however, I've found them to be a great tool for keeping my jaw more mobile and strengthened. They are affordable and are just a handy little tool to have!

Pretty obvious one here... But, again, for the newly diagnosed... Make absolutely SURE that you get yourself a good heating pad. They work wonderfully and unlike heating patches, you don't have to keep buying them. The one my parents purchased for me has lasted +5 years and it's still going strong!

  Thank you for stopping by and reading today! It's been a pleasure! I hope you are leaving my blog with some knowledge and insight about juvenile arthritis. Spreading awareness is key!