Arthritis LIFE (2026)

22/12/2025

Every year, I have a vision of a beautifully formatted, Instagram-worthy year-end post. One where I sagely summarize all my hard-earned wisdom and wrap everything up with a tidy little bow. ✨

And every year, I “fail” to complete that goal.

But this year, instead of feeling guilty about what didn’t get finished, I’m choosing to celebrate all my unfinished projects.

🏰I’m waving hello to all my castles in the sky that are still awaiting foundations, or that may never be built at all.

❤I’m taking a moment to remember that "I am a work in progress.” If you can relate, let's celebrate our imperfections together!

As 2025 rounds to a close, I also wanted to share one of my favorite quotes:

“In the depth of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
— Albert Camus

Living with chronic health issues has certainly challenged my sense of invincibility. But I am captivated by the idea of an “invincible summer.” To me, it represents a deep inner drive to keep turning toward beauty, meaning, and possibility, even when life is hard.

Let's be clear: clinging to possibilities of sun, while in the depth of winter, is HARD. But doing it with community and social support can lessen that load.

❤With that in mind. I sincerely thank everyone in the Arthritis Life community who has taken the time to support, inspire, and uplift me and one another this year!

Whether you’ve listened to the Arthritis Life Podcast, sent a thoughtful DM, shared a post, or participated in a Rheum to THRIVE support program, your presence matters.

Together, we’re helping make the world a more understanding, compassionate place for people living with rheumatoid arthritis and similar conditions, and that is truly a beautiful thing.

With that, I’m saying goodbye to 2025 and looking ahead to the new year.

I’ll be back on January 5th, and the Arthritis Life Podcast will be back in early 2026 with a special 200th episode 🎧

Take care, and I’ll see you in 2026!
— Cheryl 💚

19/12/2025

Just a little fun for Friday! Anyone else feel this way? 😂🎄

17/12/2025

✨ Overwhelmed after an RA diagnosis?
You’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate this by yourself.

Most people with rheumatic diseases get a diagnosis and a short appointment…but no practical roadmap for managing pain, fatigue, stress, flares, or daily life.

That’s exactly why I created Rheum to THRIVE, a self-paced course that gives you the tools and clarity you should have been given from the start.

Everything inside is grounded in evidence-based strategies I use both as an occupational therapist and as someone who’s lived with RA for over 20 years.

🎁 Holiday Special!
✨ 30% off through Saturday, December 20
✨ Lowest price of the entire year
🧡 Use code: THRIVEHOLIDAY

👉 Sign up here: https://arthritislifeschool.thinkific.com/

You deserve clarity.
You deserve confidence.
You deserve support, and you don’t have to wait to feel better. 💚

Questions? Drop them in the comments!

15/12/2025

Wrapping gifts can be surprisingly hard when you have hand pain from arthritis 🎁💚

Here are 4 ways I make it easier:
✨ Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper
✂️ Use arthritis-friendly scissors
📦 Use a one-handed tape dispenser
😎 Delegate, to save my energy for other tasks!

What are your arthritis-friendly holiday hacks? Drop them in the comments ⬇️

13/12/2025

Happy Swiftmas and happy birthday to Taylor! 🎄🎅🥳

✅ As someone living with arthritis, I'm all about finding joy in ways that fit my energy levels. So this small Swiftmas tree was perfect!

🎄If you're celebrating the holidays, I hope you give yourself permission to do things in a way that works for your body too.

☺️Remember it's okay to pace yourself, take breaks, and say no when you need to!

💬Comment SELF CARE for a link to my favorite arthritis products that will help you take care of yourself during the holiday season!

How do you take care of yourself during the busy holiday season? Let me know in the comments! 👇

12/12/2025

😂💗Flashback Friday! Let’s go back to 1991, when little-me filmed a very serious instructional video on how to make homemade almond roca

(If you look closely, you’ll spot my green troll earrings, probably from Claire’s Botique - very on trend at the time!)

Be sure to watch til the end so you can hear me crack up when I can’t figure out how to untwist the top of the “almond grinder.” Same laugh today, 34 years later 🤣

Pretty sure this was my first blooper ever caught on camera!
Almond roca is a toffee–chocolate–almond holiday tradition in my family.

Only the first 90 seconds of the original VHS survived (classic), but fear not, I’m sharing the full recipe below!

And PSA: this is not an anti-inflammatory recipe 😅
But I’m all about joyful eating and enjoying sweets in moderation (and hey, almonds do add some healthy fats!).

Do you have any favorite family holiday recipes? I’d love to hear, drop them in the comments!

✨ Crow Family Almond Roca Recipe

Ingredients
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup salted almonds (90s me preferred lightly salted Blue Diamond brand 🤣)
• 1 (8 oz) Hershey bar

How to make it:
1️⃣ Place parchment paper on a pan + spread ½ cup whole almonds
2️⃣ Coarsely chop the remaining ½ cup almonds (or use the “almond grinder” 😉)
3️⃣ Break chocolate into small pieces
4️⃣ Melt butter → add sugar → cook to deep golden brown (300°F if using a thermometer)
5️⃣ Pour onto pan + spread quickly
6️⃣ Add chocolate → let melt → smooth
7️⃣ Sprinkle chopped almonds → cool completely → break into pieces

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (or freeze!).

10/12/2025

✨ Seattle travel guide for Pathways attendees! ✨
Coffee, bookstores, waterfront views, hot-tub boats (yes, really), gluten-free eats, dancing, and the best places to explore near the Sheraton (and beyond).

If you’re coming to the Arthritis Foundation Pathways Conference in March 2026, here’s your insider guide from a local with rheumatoid arthritis who knows the gems. 💚

📍 Save this for your trip!
I hope you enjoy Seattle as much as I do, and I’m happy to answer any burning questions in the comments! I hope to see you at Pathways!

Featuring (in order of appearance):
- conference hotel
– coffee + pastries
– iconic market
– bookstore with a cavalier King Charles “store dog”
– Capitol Hill bookstore
– ferries with gorgeous views
– 100% gluten-free with veggie & Mediterranean options
– dancing 7 nights/week
– quick ride to the Space Needle
– rotating viewing tower!
– historic art-deco building with mouthwatering views
+ – baseball + ballpark

I didn’t even fit in my favorite parks but have to shout out Volunteer Park in Capitol hill which has a gorgeous “Black Hole Sun” sculpture that some say inspired the Soundgarden song! I also love walking down Alki Beach in West Seattle 🙌

09/12/2025

😲Three things I'm doing to reduce pain in the kitchen this holiday season:

1. Wearing compression gloves to reduce pain, and I simply place rubber gloves over them so they don't get dirty!
2. Using opening aids and gadgets like my hands-free, one touch opener from kitchen mama.
3. To save energy and reduce stress on my joints, I'm doing thing partially homemade instead of making everything from scratch. I want to make sure to have enough energy to spend with my family and not use all my spoons cooking!

❓What are your best arthritis friendly tips for the kitchen this holiday season? Let me know in the comments! 🧑‍🍳

Comment HACK below for a link to my favorite kitchen gadgets! 🙌

08/12/2025

❓Have you ever been confused about nutrition and its importance in Rheumatic diseases? If so, this episode is for you!

✅ Cheryl and Eileen bust three Myths surrounding nutrition:

• Myth 1: Diet is all you need to treat / cure RA
• Myth 2: Dietary interventions are more effective and safe than medications
• Myth 3: It’s an either or - -you have to do diet OR medications

👇Comment NUTRITION below for the link this episode 🥦🥣🍓🍤🍕

OR Listen to Episode 181 of The Arthrits Life Podcast/ Episode 6 of Rheumer Has It now on your favorite podcast player, watch the video on YouTube, or go to the arthritis Life Website for a full transcript.

06/12/2025

One week until Seattle’s Jingle Bell Run, the most festive, dress-up-friendly fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation! 🎅💪

💚 Join or support my team: https://events.arthritis.org/teams/40608

Here are some of my favorite things about this annual event (in no particular order):
✨ Seeing everyone’s costumes - including the dogs!
✨ Reconnecting with “arthritis friends’’ from past JBRs and Arthritis Foundation events, like JA Family Camp
✨ That gorgeous Gas Works Park view over Elliott Bay
✨ The uplifting energy from walkers, runners, and families moving for a cause
✨Hearing speeches from the year's honorees; last year the youth honoree, Max, brought his entire lacrosse team on stage and it was incredibly moving!

💚 This year I set a personal goal to run the whole 5K. But unfortunately, sacroiliitis had other plans. So I’ll be doing a jog/walk combo, listening to my body and celebrating movement in the form that works for me.

Will I see you there?

💚 Join or support my team: https://events.arthritis.org/teams/40608

03/12/2025

No shame in the hot glue game! 🙌

Anyone else tried this arthritis friendly life hack for gingerbread houses? 🎄🎅

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