Category: misc

8 ways to care for your allergies without breaking your budget

Sarah over at Wisebread has several pointers for helping relieve your allergies without breaking the bank.
I’m looking into more and more of these as my (assumed) allergies seem to come and go throughout the year. I think they also play a big part in my infamous snoring — so I know Laurie is hoping I find some solutions before April 28th.
Check the list and then let us know if you have other suggestions that tend to help you.

  • Alternate decongestants – this is an interesting one. It seems like after using one decongestant for a while my body builds up immunity to it so I have to rotate brands
  • Buy decongestants at bulk stores
  • Take lots of showers – I have no problem with taking lots of warm/hot showers. The downside is you may end up paying for it later when you get your water/electric bill.
  • Drink mint tea
  • Use a saline nasal spray
  • Try homeopathic remedies
  • Drink lots of water
  • Walk up stairs. Repeat. – good thing our new townhome is two story

Any other suggestions?

Welcome to Casa de Blundell

Well Casa de Blundell has recently begun the relocation process for our brick and mortar location.
Along with the relocation, Casa de Blundell will officially merge with Casa de Turner on April 28 and both I and my beautiful wife-to-be Laurie figured it would be best if we followed tradition and relocated to the same place – together.

So despite the threat of rain and storms, we packed up her belongings in Forney, Texas and moved her things to our new place in Waxahachie.

I’d love to tell you the entire story behind this giant U-Haul Truck (but I don’t want to bad mouth anyone too bad) but we went from a 6×12 U-Haul trailer to a 22′ moving bus to load all of Laurie’s belongings…

We had help from Laurie’s brother Brian and her parents.

As soon as we shut the door on the truck the clouds opened and the biggest gully washer of them all came pouring down. I called my boss, Heath Sims, to see how the weather in Waxahachie was and he said Midlothian was getting 4″ of rain per hour. It was insane! It took us nearly an hour and a half to drive the 55 miles or so from Forney to Waxahachie.
And when we arrived we were soaking wet.

We waited the storm out and then woke up the next morning and went to work moving things into the new place.
Luckily Josh and Matt were more than willing to come help me unload the truck and bring everything inside while Laurie, Martha and Vicki arranged things inside.


We took a break later that evening for our first meal in the new place on our brand new plates and silverware. The Panda Expess dinners went great with a bottle of Pinot Noir. The spicy Chinese food and wine really made a great mix.

Sunday after church we went to lunch with Shari and Smiley and were pretty much pooped afterwards.

And after several other errands and a meeting for community 2.0 we came back and enjoyed a few quiet hours together without worrying about one of us driving an hour home.
I even finished installing the new cord for the dryer and finished a load of laundry I started earlier in the day.

So there you have it. Just a glimpse at our fun filled weekend.
Hope you enjoyed it. Give us a ring when you’re in the neighborhood and stop on by for a visit (just bring your own wine ;-)).

Laurie has her own thoughts on the weekend on her blog, as well as more pics on Flickr.

The washer is dead

I received an urgent message from my roommate Matt today:

The washer is dead…electrical smell and smoke are in the loft…and the washer is dead…FYI

I’m saddened by the loss of this great hand me down washing machine that I received from a friend nearly four years ago. It’s been a good washer. It’s been loyal and trustworthy even through 4 or 5 other dryers.
I’d love to say, “Oh well. Sucks for you” because I’m getting married in a month and my fiance already has a fairly new washer and dryer.
But I’d hate to leave my best man out to dry.
So I’m looking for someone who has a new (there’s always hope) or used washing machine that they would be willing to part with for a worthy cause.
There may be something you’d like to trade for that we can work out as well.
I do have a slightly used recliner that I might be willing to part with for the right washing machine.
Let me know if you’re interested.
Thanks

Rain, rain go away

Well we’re getting some great rain this week and it looks like we’re going to get a lot more tonight.
We have 25 roads or so closed around Pct. 3 today.
While I’m sure its needed around the county – if anyone who knows a good rain dance to keep the rain away tonight we’d appreciate the help.
Laurie and I will be moving her stuff from Forney to our new place in Waxahachie tonight and the drier things are, the better.
So rain, rain go away – come and rain another day.