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in Lifestyle · August 29, 2017

Currently [Vol. 12]

And another month has come to a close! It’s hard to believe that we are now about 2/3 done with the year but I am okay with it. September through New Years is my favorite time of the year, so I’m so glad that we are just about there. This month was kind of all over the place; lots of trips to Maine, lots of family time, writing pretty much non-stop, a ton of medical appointments, starting homework for the new semester, and more.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click them and buy something I get a small profit. This post also contains a product that I was sent for free in exchange for my honest review. However, that review was not on here and was instead on Sephora’s website. My posting about it here isn’t part of that review exchange. As always, my opinions about everything here are my own. You can learn more here.

Sharing what I've been up to, listening to, feeling, reading, and more!

I’m currently …

looking forward to … fall really getting here, being done with grad school, and the new season of Outlander starting in less than 2 weeks – I started my last semester of school yesterday! It’s hard to believe that 2.5 years of hard work is almost over. But I’m so excited for fall weather, especially since my body apparently hates temperatures over 80, and one of my all-time favorite shows comes back on the 10th. You should really be watching Outlander. It has time travel, intense and well-met romance, war drama, and more. It’s based on the book series, which is some of my all-time favorite books.

wearing … Old Navy boyfriend shorts, The Future Is Accessible shirt, Make Up Forever foundation, Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara, Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter, Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Birthday Suit – If you want a The Future Is Accessible Shirt, they’re available for 10 more days. They come in 5 colors and 17 styles, and you can pick one up here. (Eyebrow quirk comes separately 😉)

Sharing what I've been feeling, hoping for, reading, wearing, and more! Check out where you can get this The Future Is Accessible Shirt, too! Perfect if you are disabled or you care about disabled people.

feeling … excited for the school year, happy that I finally finished writing the first draft of TLM (my second novel) – After YEARS of work, I finally finished the first draft of TLM on Sunday. I’m so excited to have that done – and now I can start editing.

watching … Gotham, Big Brother, CSI.

loving … the fall-ish weather we’ve been having in Boston – Have I mentioned that I don’t like the warmth any more? Give me fall!

listening to … my Working playlist, the new Old Dominion album, Thomas Rhett’s new song Unforgettable.

grateful for … my medical team, but especially my physical therapy and my gynecologist; everyone who has supported me while writing TLM – Every since I started having episodes of multiple ovarian cysts rupturing, I haven’t gone more than 2 months without having an episode. Until now. I started a new medication for my endometriosis (the cause behind the episodes) back in May and I successfully made it to the next dose this month without having another episode. I’m so, so grateful for that. Additionally, I’ve made the progress that I have with my knee recovery thanks to my physical therapist. I’m super grateful for that.

reading … The Bat, The Problem of Pain, and Moonglow for myself and Framely Parsonage and The Woman in White for school. The Bat is a detective novel set in Sydney in the 2000s. It’s the first Harry Hole novel by Jo Nesbo and I’m really enjoying it! There are some terms used that aren’t considered okay now (transmisic terms really) because it was written in the 2000s, but overall I enjoy the story. The Problem of Pain was a reread and basically it’s perfect for anyone who has asked the question, “If God is real and good, why do bad things happen in the world?” I’m currently listening to Moonglow on Audible and it’s really engrossing. It’s framed as a memoir of the narrator’s grandfather (might be loosely based on the author’s life; I’m confused on that front) and it’s really interesting, funny, touching, and more. I strongly suggest it.

I’ve just about finished re-reading this, and it’s just as good as I remembered. It’s all about answering the question, “If God is real and He is good, how can bad things happen?” If you’ve wondered that, I suggest you read this masterpiece by C. S. Lewis. | #amreading #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #cslewis #whatiread

A post shared by Kate | Boston Blogger & Writer (@katethealmostgreat) on Aug 19, 2017 at 7:01am PDT

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All Currently posts, Holy Grail Beauty Products According to Bloggers, My Favorite Face Masks, My Summer Essentials

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

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Some housekeeping! 1) I am not sponsored. 2) These Some housekeeping! 1) I am not sponsored. 2) These were recommended by my foot surgeon. When you have RA affecting most joints and tarsal coalitions, good sneakers are essential. 

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Video: 3 pairs of HOKA sneakers on wood floor. Kate’s hand picks up one and tosses it out of view. White text reads “My Hoka system” and there are captions in a black box. 

#AlmostGreatLife #TarsalCoalition #RheumatoidDisease #RheumatoidArthritis
In July 2025, it will have been 15 years since my In July 2025, it will have been 15 years since my RA diagnosis. Here's how I've changed since then!⁣
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(And I'm not talking about how my health has changed!)⁣
▪ I trust myself and my instincts a LOT more⁣
▪ I understand my body's limitations AND the best ways o get around them to have the life I want⁣
▪ I love using mobility aids as they make my life a lot better⁣
▪ I cook and bake a lot more⁣
▪ Work-life balance is not an option for me: it's a requirement⁣
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How have you changed since your diagnosis?⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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ID: Kate sits at a desk with her head in her hand. On her desk are notebooks and pens. She is a brunette white woman wearing an olive dress, gray stone necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses. ⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #RheumatoidArthritis #arthritis #SpoonieLife #healthblogger #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #chronicallyill #healthblog #chronicallyill #disability #disabled #invisibleillness #DisabledAndCute #spoonielife #RheumatoidDisease
Week 18 of #2025Weekly ⁣ ⁣ This week was prima Week 18 of #2025Weekly ⁣
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This week was primarily about getting things set and wrapped up before a heavy appointment week, including my infusion, next week. ⁣
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1️⃣ Meal prepping (the finished product of this salad has a lot more ingredients, including protein, but it doesn’t looks as aesthetically pleasing once they’re in there) ⁣
2️⃣ Started the week at the doctor and with a cortisone shot in my knee. He was very impressed with me and I had to point out that when you start your cortisone shots with some in your ankle area - which has a lot more stuff in it and requires being done under x-ray) your knee is truly nothing.⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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1️⃣ Cut up vegetables in a clear glass container⁣
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor's office. She's a brunette white woman wearing a green t-shirt, blue mask, round tortoiseshell glasses, and silver Claddagh necklace.⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #AlmostGreatLife #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #RheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidDisease #Rheum #Arthritis #ArthritisAwareness #AutoimmuneDisease #Autoimmune #SpoonieLife
Drop your suggestions in the comments _______ Drop your suggestions in the comments 

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Video: the view of a sun setting over a lake as seen through the trees. Upbeat music plays. Top text reads “How To Deal with Unsolicited Advice”. Then a series of messages pop up. The are: 
“Sorry, my mom said I can’t do that”

“Didn’t you hear? The new pope said that was heresy.” (Ideal if you’re not Catholic)

“I have to wait until mercury isn’t in retrograde, and it’s always in retrograde”

“My psychic said that will kill me”

#AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicallyIll #ChronicIllnessHumor #ChronicPainHumor #InvisiblyIll
Having decades-long health problems sometimes mean Having decades-long health problems sometimes means coming across something in your health history that you completely forgot about⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate. Follow me for more content for chronic illness patients and their loved ones!⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ID: Screenshot of a thread post written by Kate Mitchell | Kate the (Almost) Great with the username katethealmostgreat. ⁣⁣The background is dark teal. All text is what’s above the first black square.⁣⁣⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #rheumatoidarthritis #arthritis #spoonielife #healthblogger #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #chronicallyill #healthblog #dysautonomia #fibro #fibromyalgia #endo #chronicallyill #disability #disabled #invisibleillness #spoonielife #healthblogger
Here are some ways I practice self care, aka talki Here are some ways I practice self care, aka talking care of myself AND who I am as a person separate from illness⁣
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This is my Wonderful Things jar. Every day, I write down something wonderful or good that happened that day. ⁣
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I know it looks like I'm forcing Harley to sit like this, but he was making this face before I put my arm around him. Dog snuggle time is the best!⁣
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I got a Kindle this year and it has been amazing. It's so much easier on my body than lugging around books and it makes borrowing from the library a lot easier.⁣
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Yes, I share this all the time, but filling my pill boxes every 3 weeks make it so I stick with all of my medications. But the self-care part of this is that I don't have to take the time to refill a box every single week.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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IDs: ⁣
1️⃣ A glass jar on a desk with a lot of multi-color post-its inside⁣
2️⃣ Kate has her face in a golden retriever who is slumped onto her. They're in a teal room with a red rug. Kate is a brunette white woman wearing red pants and a gray sweater.⁣
3️⃣ A Kindle on dark mode in Kate's lap⁣
4️⃣ 3 open pill cases on a yellow bedspread ⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #AlmostGreatLife #SelfCare #ChronicallyIll #ChronicallyAwesome #SpoonieLife #Spoonie #ChronicLife #ButYouDontLookSick #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealthMatters #RetrieversOfInstagram #Readers #Kindle #WonderfulThings #GratitudePractice
What I Bring To the Doctor _______ Video: a pa What I Bring To the Doctor 

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Video: a pan of an exam room. White text reads “What I Bring To the Doctor ” and the “1. Planner/notebook
2. List of current medications 
3. Notes on my biggest concerns and questions 
4. My kindle for wait time” 
The intro to Maroon 5’s Priceless plays. 

#AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #SjogrensSyndrome #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis
💃🏼 Week 17 of #2025Weekly 💃🏼⁣
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1️⃣ She’s married!! ⁣
2️⃣ She married the best person in the world for her!!!!!⁣
3️⃣ I got dressed up! ⁣
4️⃣ The reality of doing fun things with chronic illness and pain is that then you have to recover from the fun things. It took … a while. One million percent worth it, but this is why I don’t do big events on a regular basis. ⁣
5️⃣ And then I had to be a person again for an appointment!⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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IDs: ⁣
1️⃣ Kate stands hugging Emmie. They're both white woman. Emmie is in a wedding dress and Kate is in a red dress and wearing round tortiseshell glasses.⁣
2️⃣ Kate and Emmie stand next to Matt, Emmie's husband. He is a white man.⁣
3️⃣ Kate takes a mirror selfie. she's in the same red dress but now also wears a jean jacket and holds a cane and mask.⁣
4️⃣ Kate takes a selfie while giving a thumbs up. She looks tired. She's now wearing a pink flowery dress. ⁣
5️⃣ Kate takes a mirror selfie. She's wearing black shorts, a gray shirt, a jean jacket, a blue mask, and black aviator sunglasses. She has a bag over her shoulder and holds a cane.⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #AlmostGreatLife #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #RheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidDisease #Autoimmune #ButYouDontLookSick #AutoimmuneDisease #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabledAndCute
On the one hand, you should always believe what pe On the one hand, you should always believe what people tell you about their bodies.⁣
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On the other hand, I’ve had so much ridiculous and unconnected health things happen that I do understand why people might not believe me.⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate. Follow me for more content for chronic illness patients and their loved ones!⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ID: Screenshots of a thread posts written by Kate Mitchell | Kate the (Almost) Great with the username katethealmostgreat. ⁣⁣The background is dark teal. All text is what’s above the first black square.⁣⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicallyIll #ChronicPain #Autoimmune #AutoimmuneDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidDisease #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness
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