Happy New Year my wonderful friends. Very excited to share that I will be going skiing next month. Let me know if you have tried sit-skiing, I need all your tips. What should I pack? What do I need? What should I wear??? If you would like to shop the products mentioned, click through the links bellow. (Aff) Bose QC headphones: amzn.to/4jeIF3k Cats & Boxes: amzn.to/4actcN6 Water Pit: amzn.to/3ZVR6HS Nordic Socks: amzn.to/3W7R0fc Abundance Christal Tree: amzn.to/4a2SSvi
I have never skied but I have bought merino wool thermals from Icebreaker I believe they were the 300g weight ones. (I did get them in the sale as they are pricey!) they are definitely warmer than JL thermals.
Just a quick word of warning: not everyone needs to reduce salt intake. If you have POTS or hEDS (which makes you likely to have or get POTS) then reducing salt can be bad. Always check with a health professional and/or your own body before following generalised health recommendations. Public health messages are for the general public, as part of the disabled or chronically ill community these recommendations are less likely to apply to us. Always check it out for yourself! Happy new year, love, light and spoons to all!
Happy New Year, my dear! I am glad you had a wonderful Christmas! Santa gave me a mobile bar kart with a power outlet, many cubby holes, a cupboard, and an open space between the cupboards and cubby holes. We renovated our galley kitchen and moved all my dishes and cookware to the lower cabinets with pull-out shelves. This also left me with no place for my mixer, food processor, and all my spices! This Kart holds all those things easily and follows behind my chair with ease with the good casters on the bottom! This was the best gift that was definitely needed! I also received news that there was an outlet where I could receive my meds for my multiple auto-immune disorders that my US insurance stopped covering. So a welcome relief to know that I can finally go back onto these meds and once again have control of my disorders and become healthy once again. US capital insurance is the worst! It should be this difficult to get medications and be at the mercy of people behind a desk to say whether they would cover you or not. So my New Year's resolution is to get back on track with my health and continue to move forward with my life. Have a great week!
One of the most useful gifts I got for Christmas this year was an AirDoctor air purifier (the smallest model - it's actually slated to arrive tomorrow) - I live in the American Rockies, and while the wildfires weren't as bad this year as they have been in some previous years, my front door, garage door into the house, and 4 of my windows (including my bedroom window) don't seal properly, so my asthma was flaring from May to November from the smoke (we had an unseasonably warm November this year where I live, so some fires were still burning that late). I have one AirDoctor (the original model) that I got as a birthday present almost 7 years ago (and until this year was more than enough for my entire house/apartment), but during the fires this year (I moved into my current house last December, so after last year's fires were out), due to my house's layout, I had to choose between having an air purifier in my bedroom and having one in the rest of the house, when what I desperately needed was one in both places. Now I finally won't have to worry about that again.
Happy New Year Gem. I hope you have fun on the slopes. My used to volunteer as an instructor for the Uphill Ski Club in Birmingham at a Dry Slope. She said it was one of the most rewarding things she has ever done, but unfortunately a knee injury meant she had to stop. I too suffer with being overwhelmed by sound. Noise cancelling headphones are amazing. They bring peace while I'm working.
I have some BOSE headphones. They are definitely the most comfortable ones. I had open brain surgery in 2003 & tried on sooooooo many pairs of headphones. Finally tried BOSE around 8-10 years ago and they were the only ones I could wear that didn’t put pressure on my head so I can wear for an extended amount of time. Definitely recommend them.
Are you going to the Alps? Dolomites? Somewhere else? Can't wait to hear all about it! The area where I grew up is perfect for cross country skiing, so I did a fair amount of that as a kid, and in college I went on a 4-day cross country skipacking trip in Grand Teton National Park (we were outside the entire time, so we cooked outside in the snow and slept in quigloos, a type of snow cave, that we built ourselves) and (a later year) a 3-day backcountry skipacking trip in Colorado (we used telemark skis for that one and stayed in a rustic cabin in the mountains). My best advice would be to not underestimate how cold it can get going downhill, or even standing/sitting still, even if you have windproof jacket and pants on. What all layers you need will depend on what gear (if any) is provided. For a baselayer, silk, merino wool, synthetic, cotton blend, whatever is most comfortable for you that will keep moisture away from your skin and still keep you warm even if it does get damp; I generally wear a cotton blend crew neck sleeveless shirt (because being pressed directly against merino makes my back really itchy - if it didn't, I'd start with the merino) under a midweight merino half-zip fitted longsleeve shirt and midweight merino leggings (my merinos are Smartwool brand). If it's really cold, I'll wear an oversized pair of fleece-lined leggings/baselayer pants (I think the ones I have are Cuddle Duds brand, and mine are 2-3 sizes bigger than the leggings that I wear underneath them to allow for warmth without being constricting - I have suspected Raynaud's, and compression can cut off my circulation pretty easily, so I have to keep things a little on the looser side than what other people can wear) over the merino ones. What I wear over those depends on what my outer layers (both jacket and pants) will be, but I always make sure to have a warm insulating layer top and bottom (wool/cashmere sweater, fleece jacket, fleece pants, puffy, etc.), the top for sure which I can vent easily when needed (so zippers are very helpful). Many ski jackets have an insulating layer that zips in and out, and some others have the zippers to allow for it but do not include the extra layer themselves, but a large percentage of ski jackets just have the insulating layer built right into them, same as a regular winter coat does (from what I've seen in outdoor gear stores, the built-in insulation appears to be a common feature of many ski pants as well, though definitely not of all). If the ski jacket or ski pants have the built-in insulation, that won't require as much of an additional insulating layer than if they were just shells (single layer windproof waterproof jacket and pants, raingear basically - compact, lightweight, and fold down small, but they do absolutely nothing for the warmth part). Regarding headwear, I highly recommend a good windproof hat/balaclava/ski mask and a good pair of polarized sunglasses (unless you'll be wearing ski goggles, in which case you might still want the sunglasses for when you're not skiing, but probably won't need them for the skiing part) - the higher the altitude, the more intense the sun, and the snow doubles (at minimum) the glare's intensity (that's where the term "snow blindness" comes from), taking very little to burn your eyes (or skin or lips, for that matter - sunscreen and SPF lip balm are essential). For your feet, how thick of socks you want to wear will depend on how compromised (if at all) your circulation to your feet is and how tight your ski boots will be. I personally go for knee high merino wool liner socks to start, but, like the baselayers, this depends on what material you're most comfortable in and what keeps the moisture away from your skin while still insulating when damp, so you do you. Then I add a pair of either midweight or heavyweight wool blend socks. That, plus a pair of hiking boots, used to be enough for me no matter what I was doing, but these days I have to add toe warmers as well - my personal favorite are the kind with the sticky bottom, which I stick to the insole/inner bootie of my boots - I started sticking them to the boot instead of to my sock because my boots won't move, but my socks will (I'm not familiar enough to know how much of a difference sticking it to sock vs. boot would make for a full time wheelchair user - you would know better than me (I'm genuinely curious to know your thoughts on that) - so take that with a grain of salt, but as an ambie wheelie, my personal physical ability allows me to ride and work around the barn without needing my wheelchair, so my socks definitely shift around in my boots, making sticking the warmers to the inside of my boots a significant advantage for me). Regardless, make sure there is enough space between your socks and boots for air to circulate around your feet - I personally have to allow a little extra space because it doesn't take much to cut off circulation to my feet (to the point that I nearly got frostbite while sitting inside wearing heavy wool socks and hiking boots - the cause? my feet, boots, and socks were all cold when I put them on and my boots were a little too tight, and so, without an external heat source, all that did was insulate my cold feet, making them get colder and colder until I finally pulled off the socks and boots to allow my feet to painfully warm back up). Hope that helps at least as a start.
Happy New Year. I got some money for Christmas which I am putting towards an Empulse F35. I’ve had a look at one in a local mobility shop but couldn’t try it out properly as I would need a different bracket for my wheelchair. It is like your Batec but smaller, more compact and easier to store when not in use as parts fold down to make it even smaller. The whole thing weighs less than the battery on my mobility scooter. It is a bit heavy on the price at £2,500 but that’s why I’m saving for it. Can’t wait to be able to order it and use it.
I got a new phone with a phone case that came with a lanyard! I really want a lap stacker but I keep being told “just use your belt” 😂 They are pricey to be fair. I got Bose headphones a few years ago and they are amazing! So comfy! I keep seeing those water flossers all over TH-cam 😂 I was tempted by a few sales I got emails for, but, no, I don’t need anymore clothes at the minute either 😂 Towards the end of the year our attention was brought to a Chinese takeaway we hadn’t been to before and omg it’s our favourite ever! 😂 One of my new year resolutions is to read more and I’ve been doing it since New Year’s Day 😀 Proud of myself for that. I also want to exercise more, eat better and drink more water and I will fail miserably at every single one of these 😂 No, I’ll try my best to keep them up throughout the year 🙂
My parents bought my husband and I some prints of art we've chosen for the living room this year for Christmas! I am very excited, we've been wanting to put them up for ages! Now I just need to sort out frames (though that's way harder than it sounds lol).
Happy New Year Gem! We also want to get less takeaways! While the apps have made it so much easier its also made it more expensive at least here in the US, the mark ups and the fees just drive the price up, so we are right there with you. I love batch cooking but I have also neglected it last year so I want to get back into it as well.
My favourite Christmas gifts were 2 Lego sets from my Mum (botanicals range, building Lego is a newish way I switch off from my job in anti-trafficking/anti-modern slavery) and one of my sisters got me Ellie Middleton’s latest book “How to be You” (working with your “spicy”/neurodivergent brain not against it).
I got my first Stanley cup! I go through reusable cups for increased hydration (due to POTS) and my mom finally saw a Stanley IceFlow on my wishlist. 😊 I got several other things including a nice blanket, but the Stanley was the coolest thing! Happy New Year!
Oh! I forgot to mention goals. I don't really set them anymore, but I found a "word of the year" to be something I can get behind. This year's word is "Invest". Invest in myself, others, etc. This includes learning about personal finances to hopefully fix some things.
Great goals Gem! And I'm so excited for you about. the Ski trip, that's awesome. The cat game looks awesome - Elise would love it (so would I!). My best present was an automatic pump for my wheelchair tyres. I've kept my goals quite low key this year - I want to save for the 40th birthday trip and, like you, step out of my comfort zone more. I'm in a better place with my mental health, so now feels like a good time to gently push myself when I'm able to. I hope 2025 is everything you hope for and more! x
I happened to be a bit spiritual myself that I believe in the universe that I do have crystals and do meditate that also what I got for Christmas is a NutriBullet blender and a Frapper for coffee and some of the goals for 2025 is to meditate more exercise more and try to eat healthy and have a blessed 2025.
Happy new year everyone! ❤ Skiing! Looks like 2025 has barely started but you've already got heaps planned, how exciting! Nothing planned for me. Boring, regular job woes perhaps... 😂 You sure have green fingers Gem!
I’ve always wanted to go to Italy I keep saying I’m going to get money together to go I’m going to try hard this year , hope it goes great for you there. Love your new game never heard of it before.
If you're concerned about high blood pressure, it turns out that it's only a minority of people whose blood pressure is affected by salt. There's growing evidence of a connection between blood pressure and sugar intake.
So funny, I've just been looking at Nordic socks!! I have those Bose headphones and they are great! Good on an airplane too as it blocks out all that horrid humming sound around you. I've had aloes for years but they have never flowered, so you must be special!! Like yours, mine kept sprouting babies and got bigger and bigger. Unfortunately I had to say goodbye to it a few months ago as it kept falling over, despite me re-potting it and just became too much trouble. Great Christmas gifts. I bought Fergus a cheaper version of the Velvitiser. It's by Salter and it's a hot chocolate maker although it makes great lattes too! However I have used it more than him so it's a win win for me!!!!!
Happy New Year my wonderful friends. Very excited to share that I will be going skiing next month. Let me know if you have tried sit-skiing, I need all your tips. What should I pack? What do I need? What should I wear???
If you would like to shop the products mentioned, click through the links bellow. (Aff)
Bose QC headphones: amzn.to/4jeIF3k
Cats & Boxes: amzn.to/4actcN6
Water Pit: amzn.to/3ZVR6HS
Nordic Socks: amzn.to/3W7R0fc
Abundance Christal Tree: amzn.to/4a2SSvi
Happy new year for you and your loved ones, Gem!
@@coopi1481 thank you for all your support. Wow you used to mak the christal trees??? thats so cool
I have never skied but I have bought merino wool thermals from Icebreaker I believe they were the 300g weight ones. (I did get them in the sale as they are pricey!) they are definitely warmer than JL thermals.
Happy 2025! We don't do Christmas presents but I did buy myself a LapStacker. That thing is so amazing!
Just a quick word of warning: not everyone needs to reduce salt intake. If you have POTS or hEDS (which makes you likely to have or get POTS) then reducing salt can be bad. Always check with a health professional and/or your own body before following generalised health recommendations. Public health messages are for the general public, as part of the disabled or chronically ill community these recommendations are less likely to apply to us. Always check it out for yourself!
Happy new year, love, light and spoons to all!
Happy New Year, my dear! I am glad you had a wonderful Christmas! Santa gave me a mobile bar kart with a power outlet, many cubby holes, a cupboard, and an open space between the cupboards and cubby holes. We renovated our galley kitchen and moved all my dishes and cookware to the lower cabinets with pull-out shelves. This also left me with no place for my mixer, food processor, and all my spices! This Kart holds all those things easily and follows behind my chair with ease with the good casters on the bottom! This was the best gift that was definitely needed! I also received news that there was an outlet where I could receive my meds for my multiple auto-immune disorders that my US insurance stopped covering. So a welcome relief to know that I can finally go back onto these meds and once again have control of my disorders and become healthy once again. US capital insurance is the worst! It should be this difficult to get medications and be at the mercy of people behind a desk to say whether they would cover you or not. So my New Year's resolution is to get back on track with my health and continue to move forward with my life. Have a great week!
One of the most useful gifts I got for Christmas this year was an AirDoctor air purifier (the smallest model - it's actually slated to arrive tomorrow) - I live in the American Rockies, and while the wildfires weren't as bad this year as they have been in some previous years, my front door, garage door into the house, and 4 of my windows (including my bedroom window) don't seal properly, so my asthma was flaring from May to November from the smoke (we had an unseasonably warm November this year where I live, so some fires were still burning that late). I have one AirDoctor (the original model) that I got as a birthday present almost 7 years ago (and until this year was more than enough for my entire house/apartment), but during the fires this year (I moved into my current house last December, so after last year's fires were out), due to my house's layout, I had to choose between having an air purifier in my bedroom and having one in the rest of the house, when what I desperately needed was one in both places. Now I finally won't have to worry about that again.
A Neo-walk walking stick ONCE UPON A DREAM a absolute beauty!
I got an awesome Christmas decoration from my cousin!!! Have an amazing time skiing! Much love the Redmaynes
Happy New Year Gem. I hope you have fun on the slopes. My used to volunteer as an instructor for the Uphill Ski Club in Birmingham at a Dry Slope. She said it was one of the most rewarding things she has ever done, but unfortunately a knee injury meant she had to stop. I too suffer with being overwhelmed by sound. Noise cancelling headphones are amazing. They bring peace while I'm working.
Happy New Year to you and yours, thanks for the video 💖
I have some BOSE headphones. They are definitely the most comfortable ones. I had open brain surgery in 2003 & tried on sooooooo many pairs of headphones. Finally tried BOSE around 8-10 years ago and they were the only ones I could wear that didn’t put pressure on my head so I can wear for an extended amount of time. Definitely recommend them.
LOVE ❤️ from all of my family was my best gift that I got for Christmas.
Watching your videos is one of the things I can say for sure I'm going to do this year.👍👍
Are you going to the Alps? Dolomites? Somewhere else? Can't wait to hear all about it!
The area where I grew up is perfect for cross country skiing, so I did a fair amount of that as a kid, and in college I went on a 4-day cross country skipacking trip in Grand Teton National Park (we were outside the entire time, so we cooked outside in the snow and slept in quigloos, a type of snow cave, that we built ourselves) and (a later year) a 3-day backcountry skipacking trip in Colorado (we used telemark skis for that one and stayed in a rustic cabin in the mountains).
My best advice would be to not underestimate how cold it can get going downhill, or even standing/sitting still, even if you have windproof jacket and pants on. What all layers you need will depend on what gear (if any) is provided.
For a baselayer, silk, merino wool, synthetic, cotton blend, whatever is most comfortable for you that will keep moisture away from your skin and still keep you warm even if it does get damp; I generally wear a cotton blend crew neck sleeveless shirt (because being pressed directly against merino makes my back really itchy - if it didn't, I'd start with the merino) under a midweight merino half-zip fitted longsleeve shirt and midweight merino leggings (my merinos are Smartwool brand). If it's really cold, I'll wear an oversized pair of fleece-lined leggings/baselayer pants (I think the ones I have are Cuddle Duds brand, and mine are 2-3 sizes bigger than the leggings that I wear underneath them to allow for warmth without being constricting - I have suspected Raynaud's, and compression can cut off my circulation pretty easily, so I have to keep things a little on the looser side than what other people can wear) over the merino ones.
What I wear over those depends on what my outer layers (both jacket and pants) will be, but I always make sure to have a warm insulating layer top and bottom (wool/cashmere sweater, fleece jacket, fleece pants, puffy, etc.), the top for sure which I can vent easily when needed (so zippers are very helpful). Many ski jackets have an insulating layer that zips in and out, and some others have the zippers to allow for it but do not include the extra layer themselves, but a large percentage of ski jackets just have the insulating layer built right into them, same as a regular winter coat does (from what I've seen in outdoor gear stores, the built-in insulation appears to be a common feature of many ski pants as well, though definitely not of all). If the ski jacket or ski pants have the built-in insulation, that won't require as much of an additional insulating layer than if they were just shells (single layer windproof waterproof jacket and pants, raingear basically - compact, lightweight, and fold down small, but they do absolutely nothing for the warmth part).
Regarding headwear, I highly recommend a good windproof hat/balaclava/ski mask and a good pair of polarized sunglasses (unless you'll be wearing ski goggles, in which case you might still want the sunglasses for when you're not skiing, but probably won't need them for the skiing part) - the higher the altitude, the more intense the sun, and the snow doubles (at minimum) the glare's intensity (that's where the term "snow blindness" comes from), taking very little to burn your eyes (or skin or lips, for that matter - sunscreen and SPF lip balm are essential).
For your feet, how thick of socks you want to wear will depend on how compromised (if at all) your circulation to your feet is and how tight your ski boots will be. I personally go for knee high merino wool liner socks to start, but, like the baselayers, this depends on what material you're most comfortable in and what keeps the moisture away from your skin while still insulating when damp, so you do you. Then I add a pair of either midweight or heavyweight wool blend socks. That, plus a pair of hiking boots, used to be enough for me no matter what I was doing, but these days I have to add toe warmers as well - my personal favorite are the kind with the sticky bottom, which I stick to the insole/inner bootie of my boots - I started sticking them to the boot instead of to my sock because my boots won't move, but my socks will (I'm not familiar enough to know how much of a difference sticking it to sock vs. boot would make for a full time wheelchair user - you would know better than me (I'm genuinely curious to know your thoughts on that) - so take that with a grain of salt, but as an ambie wheelie, my personal physical ability allows me to ride and work around the barn without needing my wheelchair, so my socks definitely shift around in my boots, making sticking the warmers to the inside of my boots a significant advantage for me). Regardless, make sure there is enough space between your socks and boots for air to circulate around your feet - I personally have to allow a little extra space because it doesn't take much to cut off circulation to my feet (to the point that I nearly got frostbite while sitting inside wearing heavy wool socks and hiking boots - the cause? my feet, boots, and socks were all cold when I put them on and my boots were a little too tight, and so, without an external heat source, all that did was insulate my cold feet, making them get colder and colder until I finally pulled off the socks and boots to allow my feet to painfully warm back up).
Hope that helps at least as a start.
Happy New Year. I got some money for Christmas which I am putting towards an Empulse F35. I’ve had a look at one in a local mobility shop but couldn’t try it out properly as I would need a different bracket for my wheelchair. It is like your Batec but smaller, more compact and easier to store when not in use as parts fold down to make it even smaller. The whole thing weighs less than the battery on my mobility scooter. It is a bit heavy on the price at £2,500 but that’s why I’m saving for it. Can’t wait to be able to order it and use it.
Happy New Year to you Gem, and a very prosperous 2025
Happy new year to you all 🌹
I got a new phone with a phone case that came with a lanyard! I really want a lap stacker but I keep being told “just use your belt” 😂 They are pricey to be fair. I got Bose headphones a few years ago and they are amazing! So comfy! I keep seeing those water flossers all over TH-cam 😂 I was tempted by a few sales I got emails for, but, no, I don’t need anymore clothes at the minute either 😂 Towards the end of the year our attention was brought to a Chinese takeaway we hadn’t been to before and omg it’s our favourite ever! 😂 One of my new year resolutions is to read more and I’ve been doing it since New Year’s Day 😀 Proud of myself for that. I also want to exercise more, eat better and drink more water and I will fail miserably at every single one of these 😂 No, I’ll try my best to keep them up throughout the year 🙂
My parents bought my husband and I some prints of art we've chosen for the living room this year for Christmas! I am very excited, we've been wanting to put them up for ages! Now I just need to sort out frames (though that's way harder than it sounds lol).
Happy New Year Gem! We also want to get less takeaways! While the apps have made it so much easier its also made it more expensive at least here in the US, the mark ups and the fees just drive the price up, so we are right there with you. I love batch cooking but I have also neglected it last year so I want to get back into it as well.
My favourite Christmas gifts were 2 Lego sets from my Mum (botanicals range, building Lego is a newish way I switch off from my job in anti-trafficking/anti-modern slavery) and one of my sisters got me Ellie Middleton’s latest book “How to be You” (working with your “spicy”/neurodivergent brain not against it).
I got my first Stanley cup! I go through reusable cups for increased hydration (due to POTS) and my mom finally saw a Stanley IceFlow on my wishlist. 😊 I got several other things including a nice blanket, but the Stanley was the coolest thing!
Happy New Year!
Oh! I forgot to mention goals. I don't really set them anymore, but I found a "word of the year" to be something I can get behind. This year's word is "Invest". Invest in myself, others, etc. This includes learning about personal finances to hopefully fix some things.
I received a pair of the earphones my self and I love it as well!
My favourite gift I got for Christmas was a 4 hour falconry experience voucher.
Great goals Gem! And I'm so excited for you about. the Ski trip, that's awesome. The cat game looks awesome - Elise would love it (so would I!). My best present was an automatic pump for my wheelchair tyres. I've kept my goals quite low key this year - I want to save for the 40th birthday trip and, like you, step out of my comfort zone more. I'm in a better place with my mental health, so now feels like a good time to gently push myself when I'm able to. I hope 2025 is everything you hope for and more! x
happy new year gem
I happened to be a bit spiritual myself that I believe in the universe that I do have crystals and do meditate that also what I got for Christmas is a NutriBullet blender and a Frapper for coffee and some of the goals for 2025 is to meditate more exercise more and try to eat healthy and have a blessed 2025.
Happy new year everyone! ❤
Skiing! Looks like 2025 has barely started but you've already got heaps planned, how exciting!
Nothing planned for me. Boring, regular job woes perhaps... 😂
You sure have green fingers Gem!
Good luck for 2025.
Happy New year, fav gift a mag safe power bank i put it in my wheelchair under seat pouch .
My goal for 2025 is to start an Autism blog, I'm already working on the first post I just have to motivate myself to keep posting.
My #1 resolution is to stop apologizing. I find myself saying “sorry” all the time when I didn’t do anything.
My goals for 2025- get a new job, save to go to new York in 2026 & go speed dating.
I’ve always wanted to go to Italy I keep saying I’m going to get money together to go I’m going to try hard this year , hope it goes great for you there. Love your new game never heard of it before.
If you're concerned about high blood pressure, it turns out that it's only a minority of people whose blood pressure is affected by salt. There's growing evidence of a connection between blood pressure and sugar intake.
#1. Leave my house
#2. Learn to do a wheelie
#3. Move out of the USA
Hear in canada its just cold
So funny, I've just been looking at Nordic socks!! I have those Bose headphones and they are great! Good on an airplane too as it blocks out all that horrid humming sound around you. I've had aloes for years but they have never flowered, so you must be special!! Like yours, mine kept sprouting babies and got bigger and bigger. Unfortunately I had to say goodbye to it a few months ago as it kept falling over, despite me re-potting it and just became too much trouble. Great Christmas gifts. I bought Fergus a cheaper version of the Velvitiser. It's by Salter and it's a hot chocolate maker although it makes great lattes too! However I have used it more than him so it's a win win for me!!!!!
It's grear for your skin Alovera.
My goal for 2025 is to quit smoking cigarettes
hi
8:10 No, I just missed her.