Unplanned & not feeling great but oh-so-beautiful.

Brian and I are the proud owners of a 87 year old house. With this house comes a lot of work… and dust. Not cool for my allergies.
A few weeks ago, Brian asked me what I wanted to do for Mother’s Day and I suggested that we just have a quiet day, just the three of us. I envisioned Madilyn sleeping in until 10 AM, Brian bringing me breakfast in bed, all the house chores done, myself reading a book outside in the warm sun… Sike.
Well, things didn’t go quite as planned. We are getting a patio put on our house and needless to say, our backyard is a mud pit. So, my wonderful dad, amazing husband and generous brother-in-law worked in the yard ALL DAY. I’m talking 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM.  So, my momma, sister, Madilyn and I went shopping. Early in the morning, I woke up with a little bit of a runny nose. As the day progressed my allergies got worse and worse. I was in denial. I kept telling myself that it was just a little cold. Nope. Allergies. Just like I got years ago. Crap.
Seasonal allergies are part of the reason I went back to school and studied nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I have suffered from this nasty condition as long as I can remember. Through the years I have tried everything: allergy shots, nasal sprays, over-the-counter meds… I even had sinus surgery a few years ago.
Through school and listening to my body I have seen some correlation to the food I eat and my allergies. I have found that when I eat refined sugar, processed foods, too much dairy, and not enough leafy greens my tolerance to environmental allergins is lower. Basically, if I eat better my guard is up to better fight off the dust, pollen and grass seed. This weekend I ate out more than normal. I admit I had my share of leftover Easter candy. Yep. Gotta get back on track. Below is my plan this week:
Up My Intake of Allergy-Fighting Foods. Loads of research out there that says that peeps eating omega-3 fatty acids were less likely to suffer allergy symptoms than those who didn’t regularly eat these foods. Omega-3s help fight inflammation and can be found in cold-water fish, walnuts and flaxseed oil, as well as grass-fed meat and eggs. Also, increasing my intake of foods with Vitamin C will help. Foods such as citrus fruits and juices, papaya, kiwi, baked potatoes with skin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cauliflower, kale and red bell peppers. In need of some new recipes? Enter to win my first giveaway which is a copy of one of my favorite cookbooks.
Use My Neti Pot Regulary. What could be simpler than rinsing away allergens with saltwater? Neti pots, small vessels shaped like Aladdin’s lamp, have been used in India for thousands of years to flush the sinuses and keep them clear. It’s an idea that takes some getting used to for most Westerners, but it’s a bit like using nasal spray. A little douse of saltwater can rinse away those prickly pollen grains and help treat allergies and other forms of sinus congestion.
Up My Water Intake. It is amazing how simply drinking more water makes me feel better.

After a few hours of shopping, my allergies got so bad that I just wanted to go home. When I get home I find the men digging in my flower beds. They attempt to hold back my huge, beautifully flowering azalea plant to dig around it and the plant basically snaps in half so now I have this huge empty spot in the front of my house. Awesome.
So, it is obvious that my 2nd Mother’s Day wasn’t quite what I expected but it was perfect. I got to spend a beautiful day with my family. Madilyn got her first ride in a wheelbarrow by my dad. Nona (my mom) bought Madilyn two pair of new shoes when we were shopping. My sister Katie bought me a beautiful new shirt from Anthropology and said that I am an amazing mom.
One that I will always remember.
Now, I just have to battle these allergies. What is your seasonal allergy remedy?