Cazoshay Marie 12/23/24 Cazoshay Marie 12/23/24

Martha May Whovier & Brain Injury

Name a more iconic Christmas queen. I’ll wait…

Bet you didn’t know that there are so many similarities between brain injury survivors & the fabulous Ms. Martha May Whovier.

View the gallery to see Martha in all her festive fabulosity, and see how her resilience, empathy and other qualities can also be found throughout the experiences of being an individual living with a traumatic brain injury.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

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©2024 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

D.I.D. with Cazoshay and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on this blog is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health related program.

Cazoshay Marie 12/2/24 Cazoshay Marie 12/2/24

Disability, But Make It Fashion

The holidays are upon us, so now is the perfect time to share about four of the top trends of the season, from the perspective of a fabulous fashion-loving brain injury baddie living with disabilities (moi!)

Having disabilities doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy fashion. In fact, it’s a way to express yourself to the world when you are often stereotyped, or assumptions are made about you as a disabled individual. Making fashion accessible may not be as difficult as you think, so here are four top trends of the season and how to make them more accessible if you have a brain injury.

Note: I read somewhere that we have enough clothing in existence right now to clothe the next seven generations of people. If you don’t already have something from these trends, I encourage you to try to find pieces secondhand. Good for the environment, your bank account, and who doesn’t love the thrill of the hunt???

Faux Fur

As someone born and raised in Alaska, faux or vintage furs make an appearance every winter-even if now that I live in Arizona. This time of year I can wear them in the morning but by the afternoon I am being roasted alive. Faux or vintage furs elevate casual outfits like sweats, which are often more comfortable when you’re living with a disability.

Burgundy

Red became a go-to shade for Fall, and now that the holidays are upon us, burgundy is making a big statement, especially with monochromatic outfits. Wearing a solid color from head to toe not only looks super chic, it also makes dressing easy when you have a brain injury-no need to try to match pieces, they’re all the same color!

Leopard Print

leopard print jumped off in the Fall and is still going strong. I’ve always considered it a neutral and therefore appropriate for any time of year, but that’s just me. You can just do a single piece or an accessory (like a handbag) if patterns aggravate your sensory sensitivities.

Statement Pieces

Try easy-to-put-on jewelry like a string(s) of pearls (faux is fine!) or clip on statement earrings that don’t require a lot of dexterity or hand-eye coordination, which can aggravate your brain injury symptoms.

Big Bags

I have to be careful with this one as I have chronic pain so if the bag is too heavy, it’s painful for me to lug it around. But having the ability to have everything you need with you at all times as a disabled person: medication, ear plugs, sunglasses, snacks, etc. and you just happen to be on trend for the season? That’s a win-win!

Are you looking forward to the chic, glitz, glam of holiday fashion? Which trend do you want to try this year?

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Cazoshay Marie 12/23/21 Cazoshay Marie 12/23/21

Secrets of The Advent Wreath

Are you familiar with the tradition of the 𝓐𝓭𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓦𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱? Each piece of the wreath has a special meaning:

•The 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 symbolize everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. No matter what the season, evergreens stays the same. Just like no matter what season you are in in your life; Jesus stays the same.

•𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 symbolize Jesus’ sacrifice and death, they remind us of Jesus’ blood that was shed for us. There is no greater love.

•𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 symbolize the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection. Pinecones contain the seeds of the evergreen tree. They represent bringing forth the new life that Jesus has given us due to the Resurrection.

•And finally, the 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 represent Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace. Sometimes a fifth one is added in the center to represent J̳e̳s̳u̳s̳.

Which of these themes (Peace, Hope, Faith, Joy) are you focusing on during this season of Advent?

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©Cazoshay Marie, 2021. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Cazoshay Marie 12/21/21 Cazoshay Marie 12/21/21

The Reason for the Season

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
-Isaiah 9:6

I have been called The Queen of Fall, but truth be told, Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday. For me it’s about all those cheesy things they say in the songs: “It’s that time of year, when the world falls in love…” Everything and everyone seems to sparkle and be bathed in goodwill towards men as we anticipate yummy food, time spent with loved ones, beloved traditions both new and old, or just the opportunity to spend some time alone enjoying the vibe of winter’s downtime and slower pace. (It is, after all, the time of year when many animals go into hibernation.)

But one of my favorite parts of Christmas has to be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I like to imagine the excitement that moved like throughout the world when the Christchild was born. To see that the prophesied Savior that everyone had been waiting for for centuries had finally arrived! How joyful must the world have felt!

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the crucifixion as well. Had Jesus not loved us enough to die for our sins, what a mess we’d be in right now. But by contrast, when I think about the precious baby Jesus being born, that was the beginning of the story, before he suffered violence, ridicule and other indignities as a part of the atonement for our sins. His birth is a happy and hopeful part of the story, a joyful and jubilant part. New life had arrived not just to Mary and Joseph, but to the whole world! And this time of year is the time that we celebrate that joy.

I know there have been arguments that Jesus could not have possibly been born in December on Christmas to which I say, so what? Do you always celebrate your birthday on the exact day and on the exact day only? I know I for one celebrate all month, and depending on what’s going on, it may start a little before or after the actual month. Who cares if Jesus was born in December? Does it really make that much of a difference? To me, it doesn't. I love celebrating Jesus all year and Christmas just gives me an opportunity to focus on it that much more, while also spreading the love of Christ a little more than usual. There are lots of ways to do it, during this time I’d like to challenge you to think of ways that you can be more kind and show those you come into contact with a little love and kindness.

If you have never formally accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior, or if you have questions about doing that, please feel free to use the Contact page to ask me about it. I am a minister and would love to talk to you about it and share what a difference having Jesus in my life has made for me.

I love you all and hope you are having a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Please enjoy this playlist of some of my favorite old-school Christian Christmas songs-they are ones I’ve been listening to since I was a kid and I hope you enjoy them!

Cazoshay Marie 12/10/20 Cazoshay Marie 12/10/20

Cazoshay's Christmas Song Playlist

“Christmastime is here, happiness and cheer”

The Charlie Brown gang summed it up nicely. Nothin15the phrase “unprecedented times” but that really is what we’re living in. Having the feel-good nostalgia of holiday music can lift your spirits and put you in mind of happier times, or provide the perfect soundtrack for creating new memories!

Below I’ve come up with a soundtrack of 51 Christmas and holiday songs that you can make a playlist with to provide the perfect backdrop for whatever holiday activity you may be engaging in during this time: Zoom family party, wrapping presents or a solo hot cocoa night with Christmas movies! I have songs from pretty much every genre you can think of (classic, hipster, r&b) so there’s something for everyone. I suggest playing DJ and adding them all and then puttin’ that list on shuffle and let the good times roll!

Check it out my list and let me know what you think in the comments section!

“Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt
“Ave Maria+Intro” by Chris Cornell
“A Winter Romance” by Dean Martin
“A Marshmallow World” by Dean Martin (anything by Dean including “White Christmas”, “Winter Wonderland”, “The Things We Did Last Summer” and “Silent Night” to name a few)
“I’m Gonna Be the First One” by Harry Connick, Jr.
“The Christmas Waltz” by Harry Connick, Jr.
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” by Harry Connick, Jr. (you get the idea, basically anything by Harry also…)
“Jingle Bells” by Sammy Davis, Jr.
“The Christmas Song” by Sammy Davis, Jr.
“Champagne (I’m Ready)” by Lisa Loeb
“Let It Snow!” by Ella Fitzgerald
“O Holy Night” by Nat King Cole
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams
“Christmas Time is Here” (Instrumental) by Vince Guaraldi Trio
“O Holy Night” by Tran-Siberian Orchestra
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Mannheim Steamroller
“Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” by Brian Setzer Orchestra
“Christmas Tonight” by Dave Barned feat Hillary Scott
“Silent Night” by Christ Botti
“Who Would Have Thought” by Brian McKnight
“Last Christmas” by Wham!
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Donnie McClurkin
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” by Frank Sinatra
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
“Winter Moon” by Mindy Mindy Gledhill
“Winter Wonderland” by Jason Mraz
“Christmas Waltz by Mindy Gledhill
“River” by Beth Orton (and the original by Joni Mitchell)
“Silent Night” by Zach Gill
“Blue Christmas” by Kevin Morby
“December” by Norah Jones
“Silent Night” by Sinead O’Connor
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Zella Day
“Maybe Next Year” by Meiko
“Long Way Around the Sea” by Low
“Winter Song” by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles
“Snowfall” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Sister Winter” by Joseph
“Santa Will Find You” by Mindy Smith
“Winter Song” by The Head and
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole (basically anything by him too)
“Christmas Auld Lang Syne” by Bobby Darin
“There’s A Train Out for Dreamland” by Nat King Cole
“Mary’s Song” by Kelly Price and Wynnonna Judd
“Who Would Imagine A King” by Whitney Houston
“Go Gabriel” by Fred Hammond
“Love is Christmas” Sara Bareilles
“Auld Lang Syne” Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis
“Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer” by Jack Johnson
“Someday at Christmas” by Stevie Wonder

What do you think of my list? Are there any songs that you would add? Let me know in the comment section!

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©2020 Cazoshay Marie. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Cazoshay Marie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.