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in Lifestyle &middot June 30, 2014

June Lovin

I’ve decided to try and make a once-a-month post about things I’m loving that month. Here are the books, articles, website, products, food, and people I’m loving this month!

What I'm Loving in June

Read


– I’m working my way through the Outlander series, which I’m rereading because it’s coming out as a show in August. I’m currently on the fifth book and I can’t say enough good things about the series.

– Teachers: I’m currently reading Reading Reasons: Motivational Mini-Lessons for Middle and High School by Kelly Gallagher, and you definitely need to check it out!

Watch


– They released a teaser trailer of the next Doctor Who series! It comes back on August 23 and I’m so ridiculously excited!


Use

I’ve been testing out a fair amount of mascaras (from Influenster, Ipsy, samples from Sephora) from Covergirl, Smashbox, Maybelline, Mary Kay, and Bombshell.
best mascara

So I tried Maybelline’s “The Rocket Volume Express,” Covergirl’s “Bombshell Curvaceous by lashblast,” Mary Kay’s “Lash Love,” Smashbox’s “Full Exposure Mascara,” and Be a Bombshell Cosmetic’s “Last Out” (not pictured) mascaras. Without a doubt, the absolute best one was Maybelline’s! I have had people ask me if my lashes are real when I’m wearing it. If you are looking for volume and length, absolutely go with that one. 

Eat


– I’ve been super in love with quinoa “pizza” bites. Healthy, delicious, and gluten-free.
gluten free pizza bites

Check Out 


– Finally, I have to acknowledge my incredible sponsors. They have sponsored me over the past month or so, and I haven’t been the best and pointing out their awesomeness (I’m kinda dealing with a quarter-life crisis right now and have been kind of out of it). So, without further ado, go check out these awesome people. 
Marla – A Weekend Crossing

A Weekend Crossing

I’m just a California girl trying to figure out to do with my post-grad life. I have a boyfriend of six years who is pretty swell, two guinea pig children, an amazing family, and an adventurous spirit. I like eating out, reading books, and writing letters, and I’m a HUGE animal lover. My favorite movie hands down is Pride & Prejudice (the one with Keira Knightley teehee).

Angel – Sew Crafty Angel

Sew Crafty Angel

My blog is a variety that is my life.  I post about life, marriage, crafts, DIY projects, trash to treasure. 

I’m a huge Shabby Chic Fan.  I love fun, laughter, inspiration, creating and sharing life’s adventures along my journey.  I am a Christian who loves life and tries to find light in any situation. 

Lena – Shiny Stout

Shiny Stout
Lena over at Shiny Stout is currently reevaluating her blog and what she wants from it, but you should still check her lifestyle blog out!

Natalie – All Things Natalie Christa
All Things Natalie Christa

I started All Things Natalie Christa (ATNC) back in June of 2013 because I started reading other blogs and I saw how much they loved it. All these ideas began popping into my head of what I could write about and suddenly I realized how much I wanted to start a blog of my own. So, ATNC was born, and now a year later it has become not only my hobby, but also a full time job. People don’t realize all the work that goes into having a blog. A day doesn’t go by where I’m not writing new posts, responding to emails, replying to comments, or answering questions. It has been one heck of a roller coaster, with times where I’ve been in love with it and times where I’ve almost deleted the blog completely. But overall its been such a rewarding experience, that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I’ve made friends who are literally on the other side of the world from me. I’ve learned about marketing and graphic design. Before I had a blog, I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career, or even what I wanted to study in college. After going through this whole experience, I’ve now decided that I want to major in marketing and get a minor in graphic design. I would of never decided those things or been exposed to either of those fields if I hadn’t started ATNC. This blog has opened so many new doors for me and I can’t wait to see where this blogging roller coaster takes me next.




If you want to be like these people, my sponsorship options are from $5-7 (other than the small free one). I swear, I’m usually better at sponsoring than I was in June. I’m also usually better at life than I was in June, soo …

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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kiki says

    June 30, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    I have seen those quinoa pizza bites floating around Pinterest and they look amazing, I need to give them a try soon.

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  2. Blogger Ash says

    June 30, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Did you get your Bombshell mascara in your Ipsy glam bag? Does it smell terrible? Mine smells terrible! I heard the Outlanders series is awesome!

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  3. Brittney, Breaking Free says

    June 30, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    I haven't had quinoa yet but I think I need to try that!

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  4. Sophia says

    June 30, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    I can't wait for Doctor Who to come back too!
    ~Sophia
    http://plaidismyfavouritecolour.blogspot.com/

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  5. Marla Rogers says

    July 1, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Thanks for the shout out :] Those quinoa bites look really truly amazing, I'm going to have to try them out sometime! And I'm always in need of new mascaras…I've never tried the Maybelline one though! Next trip to Target I guess! And I've actually never seen Doctor Who…lol don't hate me. I have been meaning to watch it but I just never get around to it because it's going to take me so so so long to catch up.

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SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I sh SHARING YOUR HEALTH EXPERIENCES PUBLICLY⁣⁣⁣
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I share my personal health experiences online, which I find it somewhat easy to do because I've been talking publicly - albeit to a smaller audience - since my health problems started in 2001. ⁣⁣⁣
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If you share something online, you need to be prepared for people to ask questions or argue with you. Should they? No. Will that stop them? Also do. ⁣
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That's one of the reasons that talking online about what can be trauma is not easy or for everyone. That's why it's important to practice self-care and to consciously think about what you want to share online before you do it. ⁣⁣⁣
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For example, I generally only talk publicly about a health situation once it has passed, especially if it's an emergency. I also make sure that I'm in a good place mentally before I talk about it. That way, I don't share things I'll regret sharing publicly later. It also helps me be less anxious about sharing these details.⁣⁣⁣
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And I don't share everything! There's lot of stuff that I haven't talked about not only online but with people in real life. It might seem like I share everything I've experienced, but I don't. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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IDs: Kate works on a laptop offscreen. She's a redheaded white woman wearing a beige-and-navy striped sweater, silver Claddagh necklace, and pink glasses.⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #ChronicPain #Endometriosis #SjogrensSyndrome
Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG Week 18 of 2026 Weekly 

1️⃣ Cross-stitch and IVIG 
2️⃣ Another trip to the foot doctor. We’re officially in Try To Avoid My 6th Foot Surgery mode 🤞🏻 
3️⃣ At least there were lilacs?

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs: 
1️⃣ Looking down at Kate’s lap. Tubes are coming out of her shirt. She’s working on a cross stitch.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. She’s wearing a lilac mask.
3️⃣ A lilac bush

#IVIG #CrossStitching #ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness
FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain? This is a se FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain? 

This is a series where I answer questions I frequently get about my rheumatoid arthritis. I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice - just saying the truth about my body in particular. 

Video: Kate speaks to camera. There are captions. A black text box reads “FAQ: Have I Tried Yoga for My Pain?” 

#RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneArthritis #Arthritis #ArthritisAwarenessMonth
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which is the per May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which is the perfect time to remind people of these facts. Here's today's fact.⁣
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Like, comment, and share to spread awareness 💖⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: Fact or Fiction? Let's Check! ⁣
Fiction⁣
Arthritis only affects people as they age.⁣
Fact⁣
Arthritis can affect anyone at any age, including kids as young as 3.⁣
katethealmostgreat⁣
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#ArthritisAwareness #Arthritis #RheumatoidDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #ArthritisAwarenessMonth
I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does su I’ve been on IVIG since September. So what does success look like? ⁣
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*This is all just for me and my case!*⁣
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1️⃣ I haven't gotten sick at all since I started, not even a cold. ⁣
2️⃣ My lungs are clear of any ground glass opacities, which was what pushed us over to finally doing IVIG regularly. ⁣
3️⃣ We feel better about saying that I don't have any infections. Because symptoms are often signs of the body fighting an infection, we couldn't always trust that I wasn't sick because I didn't have symptoms. ⁣
4️⃣ Because of all of this, we're increasing my next Rituxan dose! This will mean better RA symptoms and hopefully no new illnesses for a few years.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: A bunch of IVIG supplies, including a pump. ⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #AutoimmuneDisease #Autoimmune
Week 17 of 2026 Weekly 1️⃣ Making some real progr Week 17 of 2026 Weekly

1️⃣ Making some real progress with this cross stitch
2️⃣ Walking casts have multiple uses, including holding down your mat! (Don’t worry - I only did broken-foot-compatible things) 

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs:
1️⃣ An in-progress cross stitch. You can see that Kate stitched 2 bears.
3️⃣ A walking cast lies on a black yoga mat 

#CrossStitching #CrossStitcher #RheumatoidArthritis #Osteoporosis #LoopsAndThreads
Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ Fatigue Can we talk about fatigue for a sec? ⁣⁣⁣
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Fatigue is so much more than being tired. It's sleeping 10 hours at night and then struggling to stay awake during the day. It's trouble focusing because, even though you just had 3 cups of coffee, you're thinking about sleep. It's needing to factor rest in during the day because you have plans at night. ⁣⁣⁣
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It's a lot. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
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It's no secret that I have multiple chronic illnesses. But did you know that all of them - all 11+ of them - have fatigue as a symptom? Sometimes the fatigue is worse than the pain and, uh, I live with a lot of pain.⁣⁣
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This picture was taken when I was super anemic and waiting for 4 iron infusions. Now, months later, I can see it. And I also don't know how I got through the months of that anemia. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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ID: Kate takes a selfie. She's a redheaded white woman wearing a gray sweater and pink glasses.⁣
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#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis #POTS
Week 16 of 2026 This week had EVERYTHING 1️⃣ Cr Week 16 of 2026 

This week had EVERYTHING

1️⃣ Cross-stitch during virtual mass 
2️⃣ Tuesday featured a 90-minute meeting during work and then an hour advocacy work call after my day job (both were good!)
3️⃣ Wednesday started at my foot doctor’s office and I left in a walking boot. Hopefully these 3 fractured bones will heal correctly this time 🤞🏻
4️⃣ Thursday started back at MGH for my annual neurology appointment + foot CT scan
5️⃣ Then I went up to Maine … 
6️⃣ to celebrate my grandma’s 85th birthday! 

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.

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IDs: 
1️⃣ In the foreground is an in-progress cross-stitch piece. The background shows an open laptop streaming Catholic mass.
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She’s a white woman with auburn hair and green glasses.
3️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a doctor’s office. 
4️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in a car.
5️⃣ Kate takes a selfie snuggling with a golden retriever.
6️⃣ Kate and her cousins stand with their grandmother in front of a sign saying "Happy Birthday." 

#CrossStitch #ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness
My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣ ⁣ ⬛⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ I My face comes with subtitles, so .. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: Kate drinks coffee giving side eye. White text box reads "My Face When Someone Says 'You Shouldn't Need a Cane At Your Age'" ⁣
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#ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Fibromyalgia
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