Spring is that transitional time of the year that signifies new beginnings. Nature is at its best version of creativity and rejuvenation. The days start getting longer, warmer weather sets in, pretty flowers start blooming, trees start growing their leaves back, birds are building their nests, and squirrels and bunnies are running around in yards.
Celebrate the fresh flavors of spring with this easy Spring Veggie Frittata, a light yet satisfying dish that comes together with just a few ingredients. Tender asparagus, sweet peas, and creamy goat cheese, it’s the perfect way to highlight seasonal produce in a quick and delicious meal. Whether you’re serving it for brunch, lunch, or a simple weeknight dinner, this frittata is packed with protein and easy to make.
By Stacie Prada
Without changes in routines or seasonal differences, it’s easy to lose track of time, day of the week, month, and even time of year. It’s good to have consistent healthy habits, but variety in schedule, activities, and environment helps us mark time.
Consider driving a long stretch of highway. They have names for the experience of driving a distance, losing track of time, and being surprised not to remember it: highway hypnosis and white line fever.
The more monotonous an experience, the less alert we’ll be, and we become more apt to operate on autopilot. It’s a small leap to compare this to our lives and how we experience time passing. The less we notice and the more we operate on autopilot, the more time can fly by.
Continue readingSpring is officially in bloom, and with that comes a sense of renewal and fresh beginnings. The new, warm season is the perfect opportunity to embrace a clean slate and positive energy. Whether it’s decluttering your home, prioritizing health and wellness, or taking a step back for some relaxation and self-care, now is a great time to start anew and focus on things that bring you joy!
This spring, I have challenged myself to prioritize overall wellness. This means, I am striving to put in extra energy towards eating well and consuming whole foods, remaining consistent with exercise, going for more walks, spending quality time with loved ones, and focusing on what brings me overall happiness and health. Especially when dealing with an autoimmune disease, I’ve found that it’s so important to put energy into enriching aspects of life: nutrition, health, loving connections, and happiness in the small things. With that being said, I have decided to make my personal challenge a fun one by creating my own spring bingo card!
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It started with realizing that the sun had not set yet before dinner, noticing that my shoulders didn’t automatically hunch against the wind when walking outside. Then, when the flower blossoms started blooming and my allergies came again, I finally realized that we were running headfirst into spring.
It is interesting how spring brings up similar feelings of new beginnings and motivation as the new year. While ‘resolutions’ are attributed solely to the January holiday, springtime has its own version of starting anew – spring cleaning.
Continue readingLiving with multiple sclerosis (MS) takes a huge toll on the body. One of the greatest challenges is mobility changes. Those living with MS often find their activity level changes. Things that once came easily, such as walking, cooking, gardening, and shopping, become difficult.
MultipleSclerosis.net published an article about coping with changes in mobility. Many community members responded by sharing their experiences. Here are some of their insights.
Continue readingMSAA features the work of many talented artists affected by multiple sclerosis as part of our annual MSAA Art Showcase. Each month we share these artists’ inspiring stories and beautiful artwork with you as our Artist of the Month. This month, we celebrate April Palmer as April’s Artist of the Month. April is from Holstein, IA.
“Lady Bug in Spring”
Continue readingMSAA is proud to serve the MS community in our mission of Improving Lives Today. As a national nonprofit organization with a small staff team, volunteers are the backbone of our organization giving of their time and talents to support MSAA’s mission. To fundraise, raise awareness, and ultimately fulfill our mission, we rely heavily on our incredible volunteers. Whether sitting on our Board of Directors, sitting on an event committee, helping at in-person at events, or fundraising to support MSAA, we truly couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers.
We have volunteer opportunities available throughout the year and welcome anyone interested in volunteering to complete our Volunteer Interest Form here. Some volunteer opportunities include joining our Executive Committee; hosting a Women of Action Luncheon; helping with day of event logistics such as registration, setup and breakdown, and greeting guests; creating a DIY event, and more!
More information on some of our key volunteer opportunities can be found below. If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities, please contact volunteer@mymsaa.org.
Continue readingAs MSAA continues to highlight MS Awareness Month this March through the campaign theme of “Empowered from the Start with MSAA,” our efforts to raise awareness and provide vital support to the MS community remains our priority. This month specifically, we are spotlighting both educational and supportive resources that may be of use to those who are newly diagnosed and navigating their MS journey. With this in mind, MSAA would like to present one of the many free resources available to the community – MSAA’s Podcast.
This month, MSAA has released a three-part podcast series titled, “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis.” This special series highlights expert insights for newly diagnosed individuals, as well as the personal stories and experiences from community members with MS.
Being diagnosed with MS can be disheartening news for many since the road ahead can be so scary and unpredictable. If left undiagnosed, it can lead to severe disability over time.
It is of utmost importance that you schedule your appointments with your neurologists and other care providers regularly so that they can help with managing your symptoms and keeping your MS at bay. The high costs associated with the treatment make medical coverage crucial as over time, MS may unfortunately place a financial strain on individuals and families. Fortunately, there are organizations like the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) can direct you to valuable resources while navigating the bumps along the way.
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