Chris, Kaitlyn and I have allergies. Our boys do not. Not sure how that happened, but I’m glad they don’t have to deal with it. Allergies are a pain in the patootie. My parents discovered I had allergies when I was around 7 or 8 and went to a neighbor’s house one summer day to see their new puppies.  I can even remember this, laying down on the grass, wearing some kind of smocked halter top and shorts and the puppies jumping on my tummy, which I thought was funny because it tickled.

Until I got home and my entire body was covered in itchy red welts.  My Mom made a doctor appointment and applied Calamine Lotion, there was a trip to an allergist where I learned how they test for allergies – at least back then, it was scratching the skin and applying a bit of the suspected substance to see if there was a reaction. In addition to dogs AND cats, I also tested positive for allergies to dust, tree and plant pollen, grasses, and ragweed. Which means that I’m pretty much allergic to something all year round.

So when I got an email about reviewing Allegra products I was all “YES, PLEASE RELIEVE OUR SUFFERING”, and they sent a great selection for both adults and kids, plus a fun outdoor game we can play without worrying about watery eyes and runny noses!

Allegra provides 24-hour relief from indoor and outdoor allergies and the symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and/or an itchy nose or throat. What makes Allegra different from other OTC allergy medications is that it will NOT make you drowsy.  The FAA, the Air Force, and the Army even let pilots take it  while flying! See how Allegra compares to Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl.   I’ve been taking one tablet a day in the morning, and I haven’t had a problem with my eyes at all.  I gave some of the children’s liquid to Kaitlyn for her runny nose and it did dry it up.  We’ll continue to use it over the summer.

WIN IT:  Thanks to Allegra,  I’m running a giveaway for one winner, who will get the WHAM-O Frisbee Disc Golf game pictured above, plus their choice of either Allegra Allergy or Children’s Allegra Allergy.  To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. The required entry is a comment on this post telling me what you or your child are allergic to, once you’ve done that, feel free to earn any or all of the bonus entries!

RULES:  Open to entrants 18+ with U.S. mailing addresses only, and no P.O. boxes please.  I am not a doctor nor do I play one on the internets, so please check with your doctor before starting yourself or your child on any new medication.  Thanks for entering and good luck everybody!

DISCLOSUREY STUFF: I received Allegra products and a game for review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions in this post are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This information came to me in an email, and since my daughter is sick AGAIN, I’m thinking about ways to avoid germs not just on vacation, but everywhere. I wish I could coat Kaitlyn’s entire body with hand sanitizer every day before school

These tips are courtesy of Dr. Yael Halaas, a Board Certified Ear Nose and Throat doctor who specializes in the common cold.

1. Sanitize everything! One of the first ways to ruin a vacation together is catching a cold on the plane. Carry antibacterial wipes and wipe down every surface you may touch on the plane. Wipe the belt buckle, food tray and latch, volume control, and armrests. The airline crew cannot clean all these surfaces between flights which can harbor contagious viruses and bacteria.
2. Wash your hands- especially before touching your own or a loved one’s eyes, nose or mouth. When travelling, it is impossible to avoid contact with surfaces that many others may have touched. To avoid those bugs contaminating your family, wash your hands.
3. Be proactive- On family vacations with everyone close together, take Cold-EEZE at the first sign of a cold to shorten the duration, minimizing the amount of time you are sick to better enjoy your vacation. Cold-EEZE zinc lozenges have been found to decrease the duration of colds by nearly half in studies by Dartmouth Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic. Also, by shortening your cold, it minimizes the chances of spreading the cold onto your family members.
4. Be prepared- Carry medications with you to minimize the impact of a cold or illness so you can all still enjoy your trip. Useful medications include analgesia like Tylenol or allergy medications for adults and children. Adults may also want to have some decongestants handy just in case.
5. Be healthy- Good hydration, good nutrition and exercise go a long way to giving the body the support it needs to stay strong.

I’ve tried Cold-EEZE lozenges for myself, and they give me a stomachache. Does that happen to anyone else? Have you tried anything else for keeping germs away? Let me know what it is in a comment, I could use some tips!

Related articles

• Battle the Common Cold with New Cold-EEZE Oral Spray! (susanheim.blogspot.com)
• 10 Surprising Tips: Avoid Colds and Flu this Year! (adaddyblog.com)
• Target Helps You Stay Healthy and Well This Flu Season – Giveaway (5minutesformom.com)

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) needs your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick’s Day by spreading the word that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving.  Before you make your plans to go out for drinks on St. Patrick’s Day, please read the information in this infographic! I love all of you too much to have any of you drink, drive, and get yourself or someone else hurt or killed.

Follow NHTSA on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the financial and life threatening implications of buzzed driving, and please feel free to right-click on the infographic and share it.