Dealing with Allergies as an Adult

It’s springtime and quickly moving into summer. With that brings dirt, dust, pollen and other allergens floating through the air and into your face. Oh allergies, I have been cursed with them since I was in grade school. No matter where I live, there is a certain plant, tree or flower with a vendetta against me. Spring and fall; my two favorite short seasons here in Phoenix. With that brings many runny noses, sneezes and itchy eyes. I am pretty much allergic to everything outside. I should be in a bubble when I decide to leave the house. I had an allergy test once on my arm. The test consists of little needles with the ingredients of allergen triggers. Let me just tell you, my whole arm blew up. The nurse said that she had not seen that much of a reaction to so many different types of allergy triggers before. So yeah, let’s just say I’m a professional when it comes to knowing what works when it comes to allergy medicine. I also know what life is like when I take my pill, and when I forget to take it.

I have taken everything on the market, and for me, I have always gone back to Claritin. Those little guys have been a constant in my medicine cabinet since I can remember.

My go-to has always been Claritin-D for many years now. My daily morning wake-up sneeze took some getting used to by my dear husband, especially when he is fast asleep.

The thing about allergies is that it does not discriminate and you can actually start to develop allergies at any age, even in our 30s and 40s. It may seem like a cold that just doesn't go away, then out of nowhere, wham!, allergies for life.

The beautiful and talented Brooke Burke-Charvet is the host of Dancing with the Stars and has
teamed up with Claritin to create an over-the-top scenario of what can happen to her day when
she is not able to control her allergies with her Claritin. You can check out the video below.



Whether you have always had allergies, or they have snuck up into your life and you are learning how to deal, you are not alone. Here are some celebrities in their 30s that have been reported having to deal with their allergies too.

Jessica Alba, 31, has tweeted about her allergy sneezing fit she had recently where she sneezed 20 times in a row. “So unfair. Sooooooo unfair”

Nicole Richie, 30, has also tweeted about her allergies. “Dear Allergies, feel free to take a day off from my eyes. I swear, I won’t be mad.”

You are not alone and as soon as you learn the best way to control them, your life will (and runny nose) will feel a lot better.

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Burst Media on behalf of Claritin ®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, but my opinions are my own.

De-Funk Your Bath Towels

Last week, I wrote about how to wash your washing machine, I then received some fabulous feedback on how to fix those funky towels and their smell. Sometimes your towels can smell even if your washing machine is pristine.

Smelling that sour scent in towels is truly one of my biggest pet peeves. It drives me crazy and really grosses me out. So this was a fabulous trick to know. Vinegar and baking soda can fix that mess.

After time, with many washes and use, the towels will start to build up detergent, fabric softener residue and because of this won't allow your towel to absorb as much water, and start to smell.

Instead of buying new towels when you start to smell that stench, just do this simple trick:

Wash your towels in hot water with a cup of vinegar, then run again in hot water with a half-cup of baking soda. That will strip your towels from all of that residue and mildew smell and will actually leave them feeling fluffy and smelling fresh.

***Do not add laundry detergent to either wash. Just once with vinegar and once with baking soda.
*** This trick also works well with wet bathing suits that were left to dry.

Ombre Hair Trend - A Great Look in Your 30s

The ombre hair look came on trend last year, but it was so popular it doesn't look like it is leaving anytime soon. Ombre looks great on all hair colors, whether your blondne, bruntette, or even red. This look is something I should reall consider since I am not a natural blonde, and my hair grows really fast, so my roots show pretty quick. 

Another great reason to consider this look is that ombre works on all complexions Women with light skin have more room to play with like copper and  dark gold. For medium skin tones, neutral to ash is the best way to go to give contrast to your ends that will make your eyes really stand out. Darker skin should choose cooler ombre as well. The reason ombre has been so popular is that if it is done right, it will enhance your skin tone. 

Here are some beautiul women in their 30s rocking the ombre look. 

Minka Kelly, 30

Kristen Wiig, 38, miss her already!

Cameron Diaz, 39

Rachel Bilson, 30

Jessica Biel, 30

Gisele Bundchen, 32 

Drew Barrymore, 37, I think the ombre style is just stunning on her. It really does its job and bring out Drew's pretty complexion. 

Oreo Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies. I had my first whoopie pie just a couple of years ago and it was so tasty. It was like a cupcake, but different because the filling is in the center, and the outside of the cookie/cake is a little crispy but inside is so soft and moist and once my tongue hits the cream filling, watch out. It is such a fun snack or dessert.

Oreo whoopie pie is something that is nostalgic and delicious at the same time. And they are not too difficult to make and I promise your friends and family will love you forever with these treats. This Oreo cookie is not as difficult to make as you would imagine. It is made with a cake mix!

Oreo Whoopie Pies

Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
14 Oreo cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine cake mix, oil, eggs, and water in bowl. Crush 10 Oreo cookies in a plastic baggie. Pour crushed cookies into batter and stir to incorporate.
Drop by 2 tablespoons onto lined cookie sheet (leave about an inch between each cookie)

Bake 8-9 minutes

Cool on pan 5 minutes, move to wire rack and cool 15 more minutes.


Oreo Filling:

2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk or half and half
8 crushed oreo cookies

In an electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes). Add a little more milk or sugar, if needed. Add the crushed oreo cookies, until frosting is smooth.

Take one cookie and add about 1 tbs. Oreo filling in the center and place another cookie on top and the filling will spread to the edges.

Crush the remaining 4 cookies in a plastic baggie and top each cookie with a little topping.

Love For 30 Project: Finding Good in Goodbye

Jammie Chasteen is the featured blogger this week for the Love For 30 Project. Jammie reveals the struggles life has brought her and how it has changed so much from her 20s to her 30s. She wrties what she has learned and where she may be going. With time, life and yourself changes, and Jammie shares her story.

If you are interested in joining the Love For 30 Project, please email me!

Jammie's 30th Birthday

Finding The Good In Goodbye

By my 30th birthday, life was nothing as I pictured that it would be. I didn’t have the husband, 2.5 kids and a picket fence. I was about to give up my career and life was closer to falling apart than looking like any sort of success. On the outside everything looked great, only people really close to me knew that I was beginning to crumble on the inside. I spent my birthday celebrating with friends as usual, smiles, laughs and good food. But what they didn’t know was that I had made a decision that morning that would change my life entirely.

A month earlier I was packing for a trip to see my sister in, Paris, I was also handed separation papers from my husband. He had heard I was leaving the country and wanted to make sure this was taken care of, just in case. I knew it was coming; we had grown apart long ago. He was still the same man I married over 10 years ago; I was a different woman. But like any life-altering occasion, there is nothing to prepare you for the moment it actually happens. I was officially a failure.

I spent the next two weeks traveling between Paris and Italy. Enjoying laughs and bonding over pizza and wine with my sister, running around the Eiffel Tower to start my day and ending it with a fresh baguette from the bakery below her apartment. I watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle every night from her window and it made me want to sparkle again. That trip made me realize that I wasn’t living the life I should be living. I experienced freedom and enjoyment in those two weeks in a way I hadn’t since I was a teenager.

I had lost myself somewhere in-between getting married and becoming a serious workaholic. I became a master of wearing masks. I could be whatever you wanted or needed me to be, but the real me? It was rare. April 2011 was one of the worst months of my life and at the end of it; I was to turn 30… awesome! Go out with a bang right? Everything else sucks; I might as well just get old too. My birthday was April 27th, I planned to leave on May 4th. I told almost nobody until May 3rd. The plan was to get away and re-group, come back in a few months after I figure out life. My mom was having health issues and I had siblings still living at home who were growing up not knowing their sister (I am the oldest of 7). It was a great excuse to pack up my life and go. So I packed 2 suitcases and boarded a plane, with my dog Jackson, from Richmond, VA to Seattle, WA. I never did return.

But it happened again, that feeling of failure. Even when you anticipate something, nothing can ever really prepare you for losing it all. Literally, life as I knew it was gone. Everything and everyone that I had known for the last 10 years was just… goner. How does that even happen? My job title was everything that defined me, I loved my brand new car, and I was leaving people that I loved. They needed me here. Didn’t they? It’s a harsh reality to realize that life goes on even when you’re not around. You find out who your friends are when you’re going through the valley. Who loves you for you and who loves you when you are who they want you to be.

A month after I had been staying with my family, I got an email from my sister. I’m leaving, Paris, pick me up on June 4th. What? Although I was sad for her, I was also excited to have my sister by my side and go through this together. We started our summer off in the most perfect way I could imagine. With laugher. Straight from the airport we headed to a Vince Vaughn (my absolute favorite actor, btw) comedy show, laughed until our belly’s ached and then laughed the entire night away with the cast and crew.

I spent the summer road tripping and making s’mores on the deck with my sister in the little town where we went to high school. Danced the night away with old friends, made dinner with my family and got to know my siblings. Things I hadn’t done in YEARS. Then, as life usually does, things didn’t go as planned. It became clear that going back to VA was not an option. Again, another moment that even though it was anticipated, I was not prepared for it to be official. My sister would be moving to Australia soon and here I am, stuck. What is going on? I was 30, divorced, jobless and living with mom and dad in the gloomiest part of the country of all places. Summer fun was over and I thought that my life was too.

I stuck around to spend the holidays with my family but I knew that come 2012 something had to change. I did not belong in Richmond, VA anymore, but I didn’t belong here either. Come February I got myself together. I bought a car that I paid cash for (talk about humbling, aren’t I supposed to be driving some super nice car at this age?) but it was mine and nobody could take it away from me. I packed up everything I owned, with Jackson in tow and headed for a new life in LA.

I’m starting over, but I know that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m happy and I’m finally chasing my dream. Becoming who I want to be not who others think I should be. I’m not defined by a title, my identity is finally what it’s supposed to be, ME. I’ve met amazing friends, got a great new job doing what I love (Personal Styling) and I’m loving life.

As I face my 31st birthday I think back and wow… what a difference a year makes! I realize now that I went through all of the stages of grief. I was bitter, angry and even depressed at times, but I knew that I had to press through it. Find the good in every moment of time. I allowed myself to feel every feeling and by doing so I was able to let go.

I wouldn’t change a thing about the year I have spent as a 30 year old. It refined me; I am a better person because of it. God had a plan, I just had to have faith even when it felt like there was no hope. When life knocks you down, you have two choices: to become a victim or to grow. I chose to grow. I chose to embrace 30 and boy am I glad that I did. I look forward to the years to come. I may be older but I no longer look at my age as a bad thing, it’s just a part of who I am.

I said goodbye to many things in the last year. My 20s, my comfort zone, my “identity” and my “friends”. But I found the GOOD in goodbye.

Jammie Chasteen @CAFashionGirl Faithfullyfabulous.tumblr.com