Protect Yourself from Pollen

Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Every spring (summer and fall too!) plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds, and grasses. Be prepared to protect yourself from pollen!


Use appliances with a HEPA filter. Using HEPA filters can trap pollen and may help bring allergy relief! Air purifiers and vacuums with a HEPA filter can help with both indoor and outdoor allergens.

Start a nasal spray. Nasal sprays often work faster than allergy pills and help combat symptoms such as sneezing, runny, stuffy, or itchy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. Nasal sprays work by blocking certain natural substances that cause allergy symptoms. Sprays such as Flonase, Rhinocort, and Nasacort are now available over the counter!

Turn on the air conditioning. Air conditioning can drastically reduce and even eliminate in door allergies, but make sure to practice routine maintenance of the system! A well-maintained air conditioning system can prevent allergens from circulating in the home and keep symptoms at bay.




Monday Madness 4.15.19


In case you didn't see my Insta yesterday, winter is back in Michigan. I wish I could say this is a fluke, but it happens Every.Single.April.


Last week was a little crazy. I wasn't feeling my best and work was so busy (as always), but luckily we did have some warmer days and sunshine.


Friday night Nick and I went to a Griffins hockey game with friends. It was the first time seeing them since they welcomed their first little one! It was great to see them and meet their little guy!


On Saturday I went on a farm adventure with my SIL (sister-in-love) and niece. We saw tons of moms and baby lambs, chicks, and went on a little tractor ride! 




I hope everyone has a great week!







Affordable Overalls for Spring and Summer


Celebrities from Sarah Jessica Parker to Emma Watson to Hilary Duff and Selena Gomez are stepping out in this Spring's hottest trend... overalls! Overalls aren't just for kids anymore. If styled appropriately, a great pair of overalls can look laid back and casual or effortlessly elegant and dressed up. And you don't need a celeb-sized budget. Check out the budget-friendly picks below and head here for some styling inspiration!




























Spring Vegetable Couscous


What You'll Need

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 large garlic cloves, minced and divded
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
1 1/3 cups of Israeli (pear) couscous
1 3/4 cups of vegetable stock
2 1/2 cups of thin asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 1/2 cups of sugar snap peas, cut in to 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup of shelled frozen peas, defrosted
1/3 cup of finely diced scallions
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

What You'll Need to Do

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 garlic clove, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Set aside.
In a medium pot heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat.
Add couscous and a dash of salt.
Saute until most of the couscous is golden brown (about 3 minutes)
Add the vegetable stock, increase the heat, and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender (about 10 minutes), adding more broth by tablespoons if too dry.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil over high heat in  large nonstick saute pan.
Add asparagus, sugar snap peas, peas, and garlic clove.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Saute until crisp and tender (about 3 minutes)
Transfer vegetables to a large bowl.
Add couscous to the bowl with vegetables,
Drizzle lemon juice and olive oil mix over the mixture.
Add the scallions and Parmesan cheese. Toss.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
ENJOY!






Conquer Closet Chaos

We can't all have the closet of our dreams, but we can have our closets organized they way we've dreamed! Simple additions and subtracts along with helpful tips can help maximize space for a beautiful closet no matter what the size!



Add extra storage. Create more storage by placing a free standing drawer unit in the closet. These units sturdy and not only offer more space with the drawers, but also with their solid tops. 

Use wasted wall space. Attach a towel bar and hooks to unused wall space in the closet to create a personalized display for your scarves, belts, hats, and other accessories.

Stagger shoes. You can fit more shoes on a closet shelf if you store each pair in opposite directions. Face one shoe toe to the front and it's mate's heel to the front.

Spend of self dividers. Shelf dividers are a handy organizing tool that keep items separate while also preventing piles from toppling over, allowing you to stack items higher.

Hang bags on the door. Adding hooks to the inside of the closet door will offer space for your entire purse, bag, and tote collection. It also allows you to see what you have and makes picking a purse for your outfit much easier!

Label. Storage bins and baskets are a great way to organize a closet, but labeling is key! It's easy for bins to become crammed and jammed with unrelated items. Avoid this by creating a cute label for each bin or basket.



Five Things to Consider When Rescuing a Dog

Approximately 3.3 million dogs arrive in shelters every year through no fault of their own. Giving a shelter dog a furever home can be noble and rewarding, but there are several factors to consider when adding a rescue pup to your family.


//1// Age
Senior dogs make up large population of shelter animals, and older dogs learn more slowly than puppies. Patience is a must. You may have a lifetime of bad habits to break. It's important that training starts the day the dog is brought home and should be worked on every day.

Annie
Yellow Lab Mix
Age 10

//2// Breed
Only 25% of shelter dogs are purebreds. If you are interesting in a purebred dog, there are specialized shelters to accommodate this desire. Learning as much as you can about the breeds of your mixed pooch can be helpful to understand your new pet's innate instincts. Remember - the breeds that make up a shelter mutt are often unidentifiable!

Scott Speed
Mixed Breed
11 months old
will be over 44 pounds full grown

//3// History
Learn and gather as much information about the history of the dog you are interested in adopting. Ask questions! Shelter dogs have often experienced abuse or neglect. Knowing the dog's history will help you better understand his or her behaviors. Always train your new shelter pet with positive reinforcement.

Layla
Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler)
4 years old
28 pounds

//4// Personality
Take time to learn about your potential adoptee's quirks, behavior, and what makes them tick. Just like people, each dog is an individual. Training will be trail and error, so start with a gentle approach with your new family member!

Ron
large mixed breed
44+ pounds full grown
2 years old

//5// Adjustment
Allow your new pet an adjustment period. It's normal for shelter dogs to go through a period of regression. They may be docile angels when you first bring them home and then start acting out as they become more comfortable in their new surroundings. When in doubt, seek out a professional for training and behavioral help!

Bella
Terrier/Pit Bull/Retriever/Labrador mix
Age 7
65 pounds

All of the dogs in today's post are available for adoption in West Michigan through either the SPCA of Southwest Michigan, Hearts of Hope Dog Rescue, or the Humane Society of West Michigan!






What's Up Wednesday?!


I've been reading a lot for book club. I've recently read The Passenger, How to Walk Away, Big Little Lies, and I'm currently working on The Lying Game. The Passenger was a really great find, How to Walk Away was a fast, cute read that didn't do much for me, and I watched the HBO series before reading Big Little Lies. The HBO series and book are very similar so I was able to read it fast.


We've been having a few warmer days. I don't think we've turned the corner yet, but I do appreciate the sun!

I started watching Queer Eye on Netflix and it.is.EVERYTHING. I love this new set of guys that make up The Fab Five, and it's a really is, truly a really inspiring show. And funny which is great! Also, I've learned a lot of grooming and fashion tips.


JT is coming through GR tomorrow night and my friend Sam and I are going to see his Man of the Woods show! Sam's more of a fan than I am, but I figure I need a night out and I should see Justin at least once as not a part of *NSYNC.


I've made this Philly Cheesesteak Chili twice now. It's doesn't taste like a Philly cheesesteak, but it has come out awesome both times! It's my go to chili recipe now and the hubs really likes and appreciates it! Win, win.


I'm obsessed with Norwex. It's really bad. I went to another friend's party over the weekend. I purchased the descaler, pillowcases, and kitchen towel this time around. I already have a window cloth, Envirocloth, body mitt, bathroom scrub mitt, hair towel, some body cloths, the Enviro Sponges, the dusting mitt, and the scrubber towel. Does anyone feel me here? I can't stop and there is so much more that I want!


Happy Hump Day!






Series I Would Watch Again

I'm officially in defrost mode here in Michigan (finally), but during the winter binge-watching should be classified as an Olympic sport. No matter the time of year there are some series that are my all-time favorites and great to go back to!



The Americans

The Americans fast became one of my favorite shows after finding it on Amazon Prime several years ago. Set in the 1980s during the Cold War, The Americans is the story of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB officers posing as a married American couple living in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, with their children Paige and Henry. Their neighbor Stan Beeman is an FBI agent working in counterintelligence. The first season begins shortly after the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in January 1981 and ends with it's sixth in December 1987 shortly before the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed.


There are so many different marks, missions, and characters that I could re-watch this entire series and still be interested and entertained. Not only is this an espionage thriller, but it takes the look at the drama and dynamics of the relationships and poses the questions of morality and what we believe is right and wrong. The Americans aired on FX from 2013-2018 and can now be watched with Amazon Prime.

Full House

Full House started airing way back in 1987 when I was just 3 years old! I got hooked on it when it became part of ABC's TGIF line up. In case you've been living under a rock Full House is about sport anchor Danny Tanner, who after the death of his wife Pam, recruits his brother-in-law Jesse, a rock musician and his childhood best friend, Joey, a stand-up comedian, to move in and help raise his three young daughters. 


Full House is such a feel good show that was such a huge part of my childhood that I can go back to any time for a bit of nostalgia and a lot of laughs. I own the entire series on DVD and my husband and I watched through every episode at the beginning of our marriage. Time to watch it again! The show ran for 8 seasons from 1987 to 1995 on ABC. If you don't have the DVDs like me, you can stream Full House on Hulu!

The Handmaid's Tale

So I know this is a current, still airing show, but I had to put it on the list! The Handmaid's Tale is based on the 1985  novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. The plot features a dystopian future following a second American Civil War where in a totalitarian society subjected fertile women, called 'Handmaids' into child-bearing servitude. In this world, women are brutally subjugated, and by law are not allowed to work, own property, handle money, and read and write.


Just like The Americans, The Handmaids Tale has so many intricacies in the story line and so many worth-while characters that every time you watch it over it's like watching it for the first time again. In re-watching, your able to pick up something new in every episode! You can binge the first two season on Hulu before Season 3 starts this month!

Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica

Remember this reality show gem? Newlyweds followed the marriage of then husband and wife (and relative unknown pop stars!) Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. Over the span of the first season the couple's popularity began growing (especially Jessica's) and by the end of 2003 both were became household names.


This series aired on MTV while I was in college, from 2003-2005, and although their marriage ended in 2006, the show will always be a pop culture phenomenon. I love to pop in the DVD when I need a laugh. The glitz and glam of the later seasons are fun, but season one will always be my favorite. Who can forget Jessica trying to figure out how to use the washing machine and asking if Chicken of the Sea was fish or chicken, and Nick's sexual innuendos as the couple did not have sex before marriage. You can watch episodes of Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica on YouTube!

#marriedlife


What are your favorite series that you always go back to?