Gemma Holmes

like in 30's.jpg

2009-04-20T11:32:30Z

like in 30's.jpg
Originally uploaded by sonnakanji_desu

Just gorgeous.. and lots of inspiration- thanks sonnakanji desu!

Hi everyone!

2008-01-19T08:57:25Z

With such an inspiring community- how could I hold off from posting now that I found my camera!?
Its my brothers' 30th this evening; so I set my hair in rollers- waited while watching some comedy on TV and then styled it as follows!
The scarf is one of those 'fake' headscarf things- I just turned it round the wrong way!
Thanks for looking!!
Enjoy!

Vote for me!

2007-12-27T11:05:18Z

Please......
xx

http://apps.facebook.com/aussiebeauty/candidate.php?uuid=760086154

SO SLACK!!!!!!!

2007-12-27T09:25:41Z

Ah yes.. 27th December 2007. Xmas day has been and gone in a flash, and Ive had the chrissy presents sitting there for a good few months and then they're gone in a flash. Christmas.....over.
Its been so long since I posted last, a lot has been happening... wedding plans 'all systems go' and a new job started just before christmas. Not working as a skin care consultant anymore- but as a children's services officer...in a library!
Pretty cool really, I get my own desk and computer and it all feels rather grown up!

What else has been happening.. well Im doing a few hours a week in a pub around the corner from my house as well to keep things interesting, its great having the extra cash to play with!
Ive been doing lots of gardening also- bought some Pittosporum screen for down the side of the house so the nosey next door neighbours will have a BUSH of the plant variety to stare at! hahaha That'll teach them!

Sam and I are going wonderfully, Ive got a great pic of the two of us taken at my Grandma's birthday; but my Dad emailed it as a PDF why I DONT know so if I figure out how to load and edit a pdf I'll put it up!

The MS is still an evil demon lurking in my head, affecting me on a daily basis...but I swear Im not letting it stop me! This morning I had a lovely sleep in til about 9am and then had breakfast out on the verandah on our new outdoor setting, went and treated myself to some lunch around the corner; cleaned up the house a little and got some plants from 'cost less' although I dont really think I 'spent less'...hahaha
I love my plants!

I've also been experimenting with some vintage hair-do's..the first few were SHOCKING...but after utilising the livejournal community and youtube I can honestly say that Im pretty confident that I can pull it off!

Well thats all for me this arvo- Im REALLY hungry and need to go and start din-dins.. mmmmm spag bol!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bye for now,
gem xxxxx

wedding invitations- Elizabeth & David

2007-08-09T13:38:38Z

wedding invitations- Elizabeth & David
Originally uploaded by Heatherjeany

This is awesome!!
Go the gocco!
Well done Heatherjeany!

Wedding Invitation

2007-08-09T13:06:45Z

Wedding Invitation
Originally uploaded by chocosaur

I LOVE this!!!! Well done chocosaur on flickr!
Kudos to you!

Choose your wedding invitation

2007-08-09T13:03:26Z

Choose your wedding invitation
Originally uploaded by sweetsexything

Hmms.. time to start thinking about this!
I like the 2nd and 3rd from the left on the top row, oh yeah! Folds!

Feeling great, feeling good....

2007-08-07T22:31:47Z

This morning.
Although I gorged myself on chocolate cake with cream AND icecream yesterday after reading some new literature about MS saying that all three are no good...waaaaaaaah haha stick it.
However, I am the STAIR master..actually the stott pilates with Moira master! (Thats not me below- btw)

Im making a commitment to some regular exercise. Which for those who know me is a big deal because Im not really one to 'commit' to exercise..sporadic yes...commit...no!
So its the second time Ive done pilates and admittedly the first try was a little dismal and lasted about 15 mins.... last night I got right up to around 35! YAAAAAY
Hoorah for me hahaha
So im armed and ready- got my $9.95 yoga mat and Im gonna whip it...whip it goooood.
*ahem*

Now no more of this madness..must go and make myself look presentable.
(facials for strangers today- what joy..ewww old skin, skin with pimples.....*VOMIT*)
Love,
Gemma
Xx

Im addicted...to facebook! haha

2007-08-07T12:43:54Z

New Item!!!

2007-08-05T08:25:39Z

In my mintd store!
Get in quick!
"Quite Fanly My Dear'
http://www.mintd.com/stores/show/179-Gemma-Holmes-Australian-Made-Jewellery

Check it out lovelies!
Xx Love, Gemma

gem_h81 @ 2007-08-04T11:23:00

2007-08-04T02:01:38Z

Saturday morning, oh yeah, woken up with a headache AGAIN awesome! Im really starting to sound like a broken record. I guess that was bound to happen if the purpose of this journal is to record and remember how the disease effects me on a daily basis.
I struggled through the pain, put the washing on, dried some clothes in the dryer, hand washed the kitchen floor (spot dirt) and vacuumed my extremely dirty new rug (that catches all the dust etc. from outside) THEN it hit me... oh god...too hot...eyesight flickering..... quick sit down, get that water into you, strip off....CHILLOUT!!!!!!
Im still trying to do too much, thats the most frustrating thing- Ive inherited the work so hard til you pass out kinda motivation! haha

As for the pain, pins and needles etc. that I had the other night went away when Id taken some pain killers and put myself to bed (they were gone in th morning). I guess it goes to show that stress, worry, anxiety really do play a major part in how we live our day to day lives.
Overall I havent been too bad, been trying to manage the 'transient symptoms' as they arise- e.g. hot work environment.. strip off layers.. sore hips... get a lift from fiancee! hehe
Im not too bad today; although the thougt of going to work on a Saturday really puts me off and I think I manifested a headache! eep!
Decided to go with 'Copaxone' in relation to injections for the managemnt of MS; haven't started them yet though. Im still determined to get hold of the LDN, a lovely lady in Victoria called Kelli got me onto them....but as it turns out theyre mighty hard pills to get hold of. I WONT give up!!!!

Oh on a positive note- I spoke with my friend Amanda who's gone on a life changing adventure to Scotland last night...and that really brightened my spirits, I also had dinner on Thursday night with my best friend Zara (love her to bits) and havent laughed so hard in AGES! ahhh.. I love my friends!

Love, Gemma

oh god..im at the why me stage!

2007-08-01T12:14:51Z

hey all...
Well Im not quite sure how Im coping.
I saw my neurologist again today for the second time. Its been a turbulent couple of weeks and while I was nursing a few aches and pains overall Ive been okay.
Tonight, however is a different story- Im in pain, i have what can only be described as 'growing pains and pins and needles' down the rhs of my body. Excellent.. more scarring?
I also stumbled today because my foot didnt pick up properly while walking.
Im sorry to sound so down....my world is collapsing one day at a time and Im all alone. (yes there are people to support me) but noone is going through this. This evil.......
*whimper*

wow...

2007-07-28T17:00:54Z

I actually made it past 12am! Well actually, its 2.21am and Im still awake and kicking. Which is a first in a while- normally I hit 10pm and feel like Ive been hit by a truck.
Amidst the devastation, denial, anger and numbness that has been this past week- I checked my emails this evening to find the nicest surprise.... a gift voucher for a subscription to any magazine I would like from the wonderfully supportive community @ www.beadophiles.net
I have been posting there since it was started by 'Relle'- its a place to gather, share ideas, designs and general time wastage! hehe.. I never expected to have had such an impact on an awesome group of women that they would think to send me a lovely gift to cheer me up. Thankyou everyone, really...from the bottom of my heart! Now everytime I read 'Frankie' (cos thats what Im gonna get...) I'll think of you!

On a darker note, in relation to the MS, Ive had a migraine for 2 days running. Last night Id just had enough and went to the local pharmacy to see what they could give me. Luckily I had already been in, chatted with the pharmacist (because its good to build a relationship with them apparently, so that they can have your injections handy!) who gave me some SUPER strong pain killers. Around 7pm I ate dinner- took two (thanks Sam!) and about 1/2 an hour later...wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee no more pain.. feeling very light and airy. Managed to look through a magazine.. and when I could no longer focus on the pages..put myself to bed.. at 9pm!!! Woke this morning @ 9.30am feeling, for the first time in ages, truly rested.

Wednesday is another appointment with Dr Martin Robinson my neurologist to get the prescription for the Copaxone. Daily injections.. what fun... NOT!!!!!!!!!
Mum and Dad are coming aswell; Im SO lucky to have such wonderful people in my life supporting me!
Love to you all...
Gem Xx

Visually Evoked Response

2007-07-24T07:40:26Z

This morning I had a 'visually Evoked Response' test to 'tick another box to confirm the fact that I have MS'
Whats that you ask well I found this on the net:
'The Visually Evoked Response test (VER), also known as the Visually Evoked Potential test (VEP), is a test for Optic Neuritis or other demyelinating events along the Optic Nerve or further back along the optic pathways.'
The test involves watching a black and white checkered pattern on a TV screen in a darkened room. The black and white squares alternate on a regular cycle which generates electrical potentials along the optic nerve and into the brain. These can be detected with electroencephalographical (EEG) sensors placed at specific sites on the top of the head (the occipital scalp). Each eye is tested independently while an eye patch is worn on the other eye.

After the test dearest other half and I went to the 'cafe on Grange' for some pancakes and a soy chai latte... awesome!
Ive had a day off work today, due to the fact that Im working part time, so I spent most of the day outside in my front garden soaking up the rays (beautiful 20 degs c.) and planting seedlings, pulling out weeds and pottering about.

Not feeling too bad regarding aches and pains etc. although I think Ive worn myself out a bit! haha.. taken some panadol and just trying to rest up a bit.

Back to work tomorrow.. first day since I was diagnosed.
Xx Gem

Day 3 after diagnosis.

2007-07-23T07:41:03Z

My thoughts are flooded, my life has been re-arranged, suddenly
Im not so 'normal' anymore.
It is reassuring, however, to read that it is manageable; and does
Not have to rule out life completely. I sure as hell don't plan on
Letting it rule over me with a weight of 1000 earths on my shoulders;
Most of the time anyway and if I can help it.. I am becoming aware
That it is very unpredictable! Haha
I'm going on an adventure today, to the MS society to get some info to
Read up on.
Tomorrow I'm having another test- I'm not sure what its called; I'm sure
You've all had it- where they put electrodes (??) on your head
Everywhere and measure the impulses from visual stimuli.... I think
That's it in a nut shell.
The hardest thing for me to deal with at the moment- is that the
Inflammation is on the right brain.. My creative side!
If you'd like to see me, my pets, my brain (ooh yeah) and my
Creations..please visit me here:
www.flickr.com/photos/gemjewellery
I just hope I don't lose my articulation, my creativity, and my sense
Of humour.. So long as I have those I think I could survive!

Day 3 Part 2:
I went to the MS society- and was really lucky to be able to have a
meeting with the head nurse, Helen. She was fantastic- very empathetic
and explaining everything to me- and letting me know not to get too flooded
by randomly searching on the internet for information! (haha)
Overall today I was quite stable emotionally, perhaps it has something
to do with the fact that Ive cried so hard over the last few days that
maybe I havent got any left for the moment!
Tomorrow is my visual stimuli test- which is free (thank goodness) this
disease has cost nearly $300 so far and thats only the beginning!
I would be interested to know how people with MS manage financially,
because at this rate Ill need to work TWO full time jobs! haha (if the fatigue
doesnt get to me first!)

Xx Gemma

MS- welcome to the dark side

2007-07-22T08:02:37Z

20th July 2007: I was diagnosed with RRMS a remitting-relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.
After an MRI, neurological testing and many doctors visits its officially going to change my life forever.
As you can see the large concentric circular shape is on the left of the picture. Thats the right side of my brain- THE ARTISTIC SIDE DAMMIT! and there are already a few other scars too.
These white marks arent supposed to be there! They interrupt the messages coming from the brain to certain bodily functions.
Starting injections soon....still unsure as to which injections Im going to choose- Im leaning towards the copaxone.

New to LJ!

2007-07-17T05:02:57Z

This is my first post!!! My name is Gemma and Im from Adelaide; I make handmade costume jewellery.. hopefully unique too!

If you'd like to see more..
http://www.myspace.com/gemjewellery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gemjewellery

or even purchase head here:
http://gemmaholmes.vstore.ca
http://www.mintd.com/stores/show/179-Gemma-Holmes-Australian-Made-Jewellery