Allergies...

I was never someone to really "suffer" from allergies. I would get the occasional stuffy nose, but for the most part that was it. Let me just tell you that living in South Carolina is a whole different ball game. This state takes allergies to the next level! From what I've heard (and what my husband's doctor has said), most people experience allergy issues once they move to SC. With the Spring weather in full effect (and a mainly mild winter) I've had allergy ailments come out of nowhere and wreak havoc on my life.

We've all seen the commercials showing folks looking all crazy with red and watery eyes... well, itchy eyes are NOTHING to play with. I was a clueless as to what it was until it started hitting me, but about a month or so ago I couldn't keep my hands from rubbing my eyes. They itched beyond belief - - this nonstop, annoying, irritated feeling that despite how much I scratched and rubbed would not go away. There were nights I stayed awake rubbing my eyes, only to try using visine (barely worked) and fall asleep with a cold washcloth press on them. In addition to the itchy eyes I started experiencing itchy ears/throat. I was using q-tips at an alarming rate... but I have to admit it felt SO good to dig deep in my ears with those things. I know we're technically not supposed to use q-tips to clean our ears but it feels SO good.... especially when you're digging deep and hit that money spot! My god... Score one for the home team lol.

But back to the allergies lol - - I was tired of waking up with eyes that were fused together by discharge so I decided to give Allegra a try. I had originally bought it for my husband, but his doctor ended up putting him on different allergy meds so we had it lying around. Wow... this stuff did AMAZING things for me. I know it sounds a bit corny to go so hard for an allergy medicine, but I LOVE this stuff. If you're someone that doesn't necessarily suffer from allergies but are experiencing some issues I would recommend this. It's no longer prescription-only so you can get it OTC from any store. I only take 1 pill a day (they last 24 hrs) and I've had NO issues with it.

It feels wonderful being able to have my eyes function...

At a recent meet-up I attended someone suggested I try a neti pot for my allergies. I was wondering if anyone had used it before? If so, what did you think?

Bianca's Bright White Cottage

Even though Bianca's Cape Town apartment is far from small (982 sq ft) I think the layout is something everyone can relate to. It's a 1 bd + office, but closely resembles the standard 2 bedroom setup I've seen in many rentals.

My husband and I are living in a rental right now and I love the idea of stenciling on a headboard. Great way to get the look of a grounding headboard without the cost or heavy furniture to lift. Plus, it's as easy as painting over it when it's time to move!

Her designs are a good jumping off point and open the door to add your accents of colors however you'd like. Personally, I would love to see the addition of fresh flowers, touches of hot pink, and even some electric blue ikat designs.

To vote for Bianca click here.

Name: Bianca
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Division: International
Square Feet: 982

What I Love About My Home
My husband and I lovingly renovated our cottage from a dark and gloomy fixer-upper into a light and charming first nest. As our first major project together since our wedding our little home has grown with us over the past year and it really is our very own work of art.

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home
Our biggest challenge is probably a little different to other small home dwellers as our cottage is double the size of our previous 1 bedroom apartment. With the opportunity to furnish new spaces our toughest challenge was to make final decisions on what new items to buy as they were likely to be items we'll keep for many years. The pressure to make these decisions before we moved in resulted in a few mistakes but a year later we're finally living with pieces of furniture that we love!

Review: DevaCurl No Poo + One Condition

Back when I got my ends trimmed @ Flo Hair Studio they used DevaCurl's No Poo and One Condition on my hair. I remember loving the smell and feel of the products, so I was excited to see they were the next thing NaturallyCurly.com sent me to review.

Please watch the video for a complete review of both products.

Kara's Mix & Match Mini Home

A few years ago I found myself searching for an apartment in Hyde Park, yet only able to find studios that worked for my budget. I know that many of us want the location and don't mind sacrificing on the space, but I was horrified to see how crazy small most apartments were.

Real estate in New York comes at a premium so Kara took her 180 sq ft piece of the concrete jungle and made it home. The functional space is an entrant in the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool 2010 Contest (Teeny-Tiny Division) and should inspire anyone facing an uber small space that it can still be comfy and cozy.

To vote for Kara click here.

Name:

 kara 

Location:

 New York, New York 

Division:

 Teeny-Tiny 

Square Feet:

 180 

What I Love About My Home

 
I'm in love with bright colors and mixing and matching prints. I designed the apartment to attract the eye to little spaces. My favorite spot is the outdoor zen garden, a sweet place to chill and observe life in the Lower East Side. For extra seating, I've hung a swinging hammock chair which can be clipped into the (very sturdy!) ceiling when I have extra guests. The nook is the most relaxing spot, perfect for reading books in the sun. Finally, the wallpapered kitchen cabinets and closet add so much life and depth. An art-filled space with a downtown vibe, this apartment is a beautiful escape from city life. 

Biggest Challenge in Furnishing My Home

 
Umm..SPACE of course! 180 sq ft (including outdoor zen garden) makes every inch count. With the help of a few handy-men in my life, I created custom everything: queen ottoman bed (tons of storage underneath), plush corner benches in the sunning nook, bathroom shelving storage, and above-bed clothing rack (great for planning outfits while laying in bed). Under and Up! 

Nail Art: DIY Louboutin Nails

Every girl loves Louboutins, but most of us don't have it in the budget to buy them. The next best thing is rocking your nails out and treating them to the oh so envied red bottoms. Give your nails a designer touch with this DIY Louboutin nail design I spotted on 2BD.

I'm a fan of a nude nail because it's a clean look that works for any profession. The pop of red underneath your nail is a way to add life to your mani and make it fun for after hours.

To create this look 2BD used: Sally Hansen's "Cafe Au Lait" and Essie's "Really Red" - - both available at Walgreens or Ulta.

Could you live without Cable?

I'm always fascinated when I meet people that say they don't watch much TV. I don't know why I find them to be so interesting... probably because I'm GLUED to the television constantly watching all the latest shows. Still, it makes me wonder if it's really worth the expense. My husband and I have been looking for ways to scale back and save $ and looking at our bills, outside of the "Big 3" (Rent/Mortgage, Transportation, & Food) our cable/internet bill is pretty high.

Time Warner is a crook in my opinion because not only do they charge you a fee each month for their DVR service, but they charge the fee for EACH DVR box you have. That was a new one to me... I was assuming we would get charged a flat rate, but if you have 2 DVR boxes in your house they you're paying the $10 DVR fee twice. On top of that you have to pay a monthly fee for the remotes, channels, and all the other shit they throw at you. I don't even want to say how much our bill is each month because it's crazy high.

Last night while my husband and I were watching Sons of Anarchy (a show he sucked me into watching and now I'm a fan) we started debating whether or not we should get rid of our cable. *GASP* Yes, me... the self-admitted reality TV freak is actually considering saying adieu to our box. I have to admit that it would be hard to walk away from a DVR, but it may be nice to just have basic cable and a basic price. If Bravo, Oxygen, and HGTV all come thru on basic cable I think I'll be okay with scaling back.

So, my question to everyone is do you have cable? If so, how much do you pay (if you don't mind sharing), and could you live without it?

Our Netflix membership has been so amazeballs that it's quickly replacing movies and even possibly TV in our lives... I wish we had gotten a membership sooner!!