From this in January..........To this at the end of February....................
Four weeks of battling a cold that turned in to bronchitis. Coughing like I've never coughed before. 3 Cortisone shots, 5 days of steroids, 10 days of antibiotics, an inhaler prescribed, cough medicine with codeine...........and I have yet to sleep through the night. Took off 2 weeks from work........went back for the last 3 days.......had to take today off.......the coughing won't stop! To the point of gasping for air, gagging, etc.

Now this has entered the picture.....................

They are called Tessalon Perles. I called my doctor yesterday afternoon and begged for something else to get relief from the coughing. Target finally filled the prescription at lunchtime today and I took my first dose and within 20 minutes, the cough had subsided! So I went on the internet to research this medicine a little further. Apparently they work by reducing the reflex in the lungs that causes the urge to cough. It "numbs" the stretch sensors in the lungs. Quite a few side effects associated with the medicine but the pharmacist said the best thing to do with this medication is drink lots of fluid. No problem! Have been a little light headed and have got a bit of a headache going on, but I can take Tylenol and deal with it if the coughing continues to stay at bay.
Here's hoping that I look like this kitten tonight!!!

~Allie

A Great Giveaway in Dallas!

"Nest has been a destination for unique gifts and home accents for over a decade. The original store had two locations in Dallas before its owners moved it to University Park's Snider Plaza, where it currently lives. Two years after the move to Snider Plaza, Nest was ready to be sold.
Enter: Scott Alexander and Heather Wiese-Alexander, budding entrepreneurs, and soon-to-be new owners of The Nest. Nearly four years later, Nest has undergone a full transformation. Although the merchandise assortment is dramatically different, the heart of the original store is still quite alive. The original art concept inspired a full gallery in the upstairs catwalk surrounding the entire store. The hand-made crafts blossomed into hand-made categories in every "department" from gifts to linens, to home accents, to furniture. The merchandise assortment still has a very high percentage of exclusive musings, making Nest a destination for an array of unequivocally clever findings." excerpted from nestdallas.com

Have yet to visit this store, but it's on my bucket list for this spring! I went to college with Donald Fowler, their buyer and store manager, and his eye for style has been nothing but fascinating since the day I met him!! Check out the Nest Interior Design blog site........it's got great style and wonderful photos that inspires every persons inner decorator!!!

~Allie

23 years ago today..........

23 years ago today, my sweet Patrick, asked me to marry him. Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you are sharing the day with someone you love.
~Allie

Mardi Gras Disappointment.........

I am SO disappointed! I was selected to host a Zatarain's Mardi Gras House Party through this really cool site. I registered , answered a questionaire and was selected. Having lived in New Orleans for the first years of our married life, my husband and I were so EXCITED to have been selected. We had big plans!The party in a box arrived with so much great stuff! Beads, masks, coins, awesome Zatarain's products, recipes, party ideas, Mardi Gras trivia, coupons, a Zatarian's apron, my own party website to do all of my party planning and inviting.....the party planning had begun! Let's see.......Earl's shrimp dip to start off the night, some gumbo, some jambalya, some red beans and rice, some crusty, french bread.............and this!!!...............

Big Daddy LOVES himself some king cake and especially the one's from Meche's Donut King in Lousianna. They will ship these decadent, bad boys to you. His favorite is the raspberry and cream cheese filled king cake that weighs in around 10 POUNDS!!!! Yes, Ma'am!!! One of these was coming to MY house!!! The Cupcake Princess was set to bring a car load of college friends down for a Mardi Gras celebration. Her British exchange student friend really excited and the guys just happy to have free food. Friends had RSVP'd. Mardi Gras music was selected.......lesse le bon temps roulez...................
And then.....bronchitis hit! I haven't stopped coughing in 9 days. Steroids, cough medicine with codeine, antibiotics, a cortisone shot............my abs are KILLING ME!!!

So the big question is this...........is it possible to reschedule a Mardi Gras party during Lent? Hmmmmm.........what would you do?

~Allie

Snow, bronchitis.....it must still be winter!

Mother Nature paid the DFW area an arctic visit this past Thursday and Friday. Around 7 inches of beautiful snow, power outages, and phone outages.

Wish I wasn't under the weather (ha!ha!) with stupid bronchitis. Have been down with it for a week. Antibiotics, steroid pack, prescription cough medicine, and a follow up cortisone shot that finally opened up the airways and I'm still coughing my head off and don't feel any better. Back to the doctor's office on Monday, I guess. I really can't miss any more work, but don't want this to get worse.

Anybody have any home remedies for the relief of bronchitis symptoms? I feel like I've tried them all. I'm making a pot of chicken tortilla soup right now. Stay warm and healthy.......

~Allie