Elevator Blog

30 secs to tell my blog-ry (my blog, my story—my blog-ry) Born and raised in Houston, Texas; married the man of my dreams; lived in Maui for two years and now living in the Emerald City telling people about our journey including all the ups and downs—his new jobs; my job searching; my certification as Nutrition and Wellness Consultant; work as a mentor for the NPF; and our second year of marriage in a brand new city. 1 min to tell my blog-ry My inspiration comes from my family, friends, work, husband and the life we are living together. Whatever we are going through as a first-time married couple—with no kids and no mortgage— I want to be able to help those couples going through the same thing. We have been grateful to live in some great places (Houston, Maui, Seattle) and we want people to know that it's not just about where you are but who you are with as well. I want to debunk that "one year and three year marriage itch" myth. In a marriage you have to fully committed to actually wanting to spend your life with this person, make them happy and live the best life you can together. We want to tell the same couples—or those who feel like they may be struggling—what has worked and what hasn't and offer up as much advice as we can. I like to touch on how being a supportive wife is a really essential component to happy marriage. I also like to bring in my experience as a psoriasis mentor and a certified health instructor. 2 mins to tell my blog-ry You might think living in three places in the last three years might be stressful. All while planning your dream wedding. Well, at first it was. What kept us sane was definitely the support of our family and friends. But for me it was also having an outlet to write down and document everything I was—and continue—to go through. At first Chris thought it was kind of silly. But while writing I thought it was a good idea to bring in a male's prospective too, and it seem to worked well. This is just life, thoughts and stories of a married couple living their life together. I like to talk about the amazing adventures we are so grateful to go through, our trials and tribulations, accomplishments and promotions and so much more. I also like to take time and write about my role as a wife and supporting my husband while trying to get a full-time job. I like to talk about stress—who doesn't have it—how I over come it; living with psoriasis and being a part of a reputable organization(NPF) and my health certification. As I continue to start my health website— offering educated guidance to clients seeking nutritional advice, weight management tips and enhancing health and fitness performance—I will be researching what I can do to help me along the way. I think society needs to look at choosing food in a completely different way. All it takes is a little knowledge and a different way of thinking and we all could be making healthy food choices—that's where I would come in. If we can help any first-time married couples by lending our advice and funny stories then that's a good day. If I can help make a difference in someones life dealing with stress and psoriasis, then I hope more people will find out. This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

If It Aint Broke, Don’t Fix It

What is working well in your community, health care, blogs, social media, or your work in particular? What do you like about it?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the Educational Summit for Patient Advocacy and the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, as a mentor for the NPF. Phew, just saying the long title gets me winded. While a lot of the topics were a little over my head, I was excited to hear how, myself as an individual, can truly make a difference. Sara Kofman, from the NPF, was there to speak as part of some of the many patient advocacy organizations.

What is working, which is something she touched on that I think the NPF does so well, is that they inform and educate their volunteers and advocates so well. They equip us with the information we need in order to do our job better. I think that is something a lot of organizations and companies can learn from. In order for your employees, staff, volunteers, etc to be at their best, they have to be equip with the best and correct information. If they don't know what their own companies message is, then how are they supposed to reproduce that to others? Another thing that is working is people actually wanting to be informed and wanting to make a difference. To be apart of a generation making these changes is inspiring.

That's the thing that is so great online. If you don't know something, research and the answer—albeit, probably not the right one at first—is right there. It may take some digging, but you'll get there eventually. Social forums, blogs and discussion sites are the best for this. It allows the public to have an open conversation and get input from people ALL AROUND THE WORLD. The power of the Internet, right? I think that is by far the greatest tool. The power of being connected at our finger tips is changing the world and how we interact with one another. It's time to be apart of that and start making changes.
People my age love it. We were born and raised on computers. I can only imagine what it's going to be like when my future kids come into this world. But for people like my parents and grandparents who grew up on news print and handwritten letters, the Internet can be a funny thing. But there really isn't anything better than getting a handwritten letter in the mail. I still get them from time to time and I LOVE. And I still write them. It's different, but still cool with a vintage feel. To know that someone took the time out of their day to sit down—and not on their drive to work, their 5 min coffee break, during a board meeting or at dinner— and write something, leaves you with a good feeling.

So I leave you with the good of what is working in our health field and all around us, and how it will only continue to improve with education, research, discussions, blogs and social media. But I also leave you with this questions: when was the last time you wrote a letter to someone?

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

The Future of Online Activism

Our favorite social media sites are constantly undergoing renovations to become quicker to navigate, easier to interact with, all encompassing, mobile, and everywhere. Imagine the same thing about your community – how will they evolve, improve, and grow?

I remember the first time I saw a commercial on TV telling everyone to get more information by going to this World Wide Web address. It was the craziest thing. And it just took off from there. I started a computer learning class in high school—had to practice our typing skills; then how to write online correspondence; and get familiar with this new and amazing thing. And then I got my first computer! It has evolved since then and it will continue to do so.

With Google+ now, we see how email is evolving. You can now categorize everyone into circles and just see what they have been doing, who is connected to who, etc. I think google will only continue to improve. How? I am definitely not the expert. Because right now we can send emails, search online for ANYTHING, call and facetime with anyone in our phone book; watch movies; read books, all at our finger tips.

Who am I do say how that will improve? I can only imagine. But to me it's like that movie Walle. Where basically all the humans got so lazy that all they had to do was sit on their butts because this magical chip inside their head did everything for them. I sure hope it doesn't come down to that.

As far as social media goes, Facebook is by far the coolest thing for keeping touch with everyone. I am talking to my family from ARGENTINA on a day to day basis. Not having to worry about the time difference, or if I missed a major thing that happened in their life. Now we all know what happens—right as it happens. Which is really cool—and weird—in a sense. It will continue to connect people after years of not knowing where they were; it will connect adopted children to their biological parents(and has already done that); connect families after natural disasters. Leaders have even taken to Facebook to create groups on their organizations advocacy issues.

Twitter is also a great tool for online activism as well as pushing out important messages. Especially when natural disasters happen. The Red Cross is great about sending out tweets and updates on their efforts. In that aspect, it will only continue to improve the technology and presences to reach as many people as they can. Twitter has also been great with all the elections. To think that President Obama was the first president to fully incorporate social media into his presidential campaign was a huge leap in that department. He was reaching demographics they never were able to reach in the past. Online activism? Of course.

Social media has been great at pushing out important news in the health field too, which is what I love. I am able to stay on top of the current health bills that are being past; what I can do as a psoriasis patient and mentor; the representatives I can reach in my community to speak to personally and so much more.. If it wasn't for the National Psoriasis Foundation's online efforts to reach out to more people and bring awareness to this disease, I would never have been a mentor. Now I have the opportunity to do that as well. Health activism at its best.

It gives us those outlets we didn't use to have. It gives us a voice we didn't we have. And it will continue to give us a place where people can hear what we're saying and truly make a difference.

I look forward to what the future has in store and can only be thankful to be apart of all these incredible changes.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

3 Truths and 1 Lie

The Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge

Tell us 3 things that are true about you, your condition, your Health Activism, or your life. Now tell us 1 lie. Do you think we will be able to tell the difference?

For those reading this blog who know me, will most likely be able to tell which one is the lie. But here goes.

I am in the process of starting a health and nutrition website with my AFPA Health and Nutrition Consultant certification.

Chris and I have backpacked through Europe and our favorite place was Tuscany.

I have had psoriasis for over 10 years and am now a National Psoriasis Foundation mentor.

I have family from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Spanish was the first language I spoke.

Can you guess which one is a lie?



Keep guessing?



Think you have it?



Well, by now you should know I do have psoriasis and have had it for a long time and I am also in the process of starting a health website. So if you guessed those, you're wrong!

Next, Spanish WAS actually the first language I spoke growing up. My mother is from Argentina and we would go almost every Summer. We had the best time.

So Chris and I have never backpacked through Europe. That is actually one of our long-term goals. He has only been out of the country once, and that was recently when we went to Vancouver. He has also been dying to go to Argentina since meeting me and hearing all these wonderful stories from my family. So our next, long, long-term goal is to take about a month off and go to Europe... before we have kids :)

Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about me and my life!

Think your close friends could guess the lie? Try it today!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

5 Things That Changed My Life

The Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge

5 things that changed my life. For better? For worse? List 5 things that changed your life as a patient, caregiver, or Health Activist and how.

There has definitely been more than 5 things that have changed my life not just as a patient or Health Activist, but as a daughter, sister, friend and wife.

1. Being diagnosed with psoriasis. It was definitely a change for the worse when it first happened. I was in high school, and these red, scaly patches started to appear on my skin. All we knew was that my mom had it, it was obviously genetic and there is no cure. Lovely. After undergoing numerous medications, trials, tar baths and disgusting shampoo's, it's now under control. But back then I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I barely spoke to my family about it. I just didn't know a lot about it, so how was I supposed explain I felt?
Fast forward to present: I still have it on my elbows and scalp. Elbows are manageable with weekly medication, and scalp... well let's just not go there (haven't found anything that works). But I am now a National Psoriasis Foundation mentor and love it. I no longer shy away from it. I want to talk about it and help anyone I can. So, now I can say it has changed me for the better.

2. Being there for my parents while they have battled through their health scares with cancer and a triple by-pass. They both and my mother-in-law were the strongest people I know while going through their own problems. They never once had a pity party (well who doesn't?) but always made sure everyone else around them were taken care. It's because of how they have responded to what life as thrown at them, that gives me the strength to take on life now. Definitely changed me for the good.

3. This next thing changed me and my husband... well it just changed us. I include it because my husbands best friend was a caregiver himself, a Registered Nurse. And we actually lost him very unexpectedly—and it hasn't been easy. No matter what he did, he absolutely loved his job helping others as a nurse and he made a lasting impression where ever he went. He could make friends with anyone and was loved by everyone. If I can make that type of impression on—not only the people in my life—but complete strangers than I owe that to him. We miss you a lot Kenny. It's definitely been a change.

4. Another change would be becoming a certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. After being there for my parents, I want to be able to equip anyone I can with the simple knowledge it takes to lead a healthy life. No one can ever predict cancer or an sudden illness, but you can do everything in your power to live the best life you can—which I think my parents are doing a great job at.

5. Living with psoriasis has also given me the power to research and want to learn more about other less known about diseases. Something I probably would have never done if I didn't have psoriasis. Thinking, "Oh, if I don't have that, it doesn't affect me." I have a completely different view on things like that. I now want to educate myself and others. Psoriasis(or anything bothering you at the moment) can be a very stressful thing if you let it. Or it can completely change your life—for the better.

Take a look around. If you have always wanted to research something, get to know your new co-worker or read that book you never got around to—take the time now. You never know what you do, who you meet or what you'll see next that might change your life—in more ways than one.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

National Psoriasis Foundation Mentor

I am excited to announce that I am officially a mentor for the National Psoriasis Foundation. It's mission is to find a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and eliminate their devastating effects through research, advocacy and education.

My role as a mentor is to provide disease and treatment education to mentees and to encourage and support them through their initial diagnosis, major flares or during a difficult time.

I have to say, I love this opportunity NPF has created. I have had psoriasis going on 10 years and I honestly wish I had these resources: education, event information, treatment availability and other people going through what I was going through. It can be an embarrassing thing to deal with if you don't know what's going on with your body and much less how to explain it to others.

I first became involved with NPF last August when I participated in their National Psoriasis Awareness Challenge— we had challenges every day of the month of August. I learned a lot about myself (I have accepted having psoriasis and want to educate those around me); find a lot more resources I didn't know were out there and now I'm able to help out others.

I am also excited to incorporate my love for nutrition to this aspect of my life. Eating healthy plays a big part in someone living with psoriasis.

I look forward to this next step in my life and I hope that I am able to help others going through the same thing as I am.

To learn more about psoriasis or how to help find a cure, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation

Thanks for reading!