There’s something about living in Wisconsin- more specifically, surviving the dark, dreary days of winter- that makes spring feel extra magical. The world goes from black and white to color overnight. The air starts to smell sweet and alive. Birds wake you up in the morning, chattering about, and the days get longer. Summer teases a hot sunny day once in a while, and it’s the brief span of time when you can break out your medium weight jackets. I adore spring! But with the blooming of the trees, grass, and flowers, plus the shedding of cats’ winter fur, my allergies are in full swing. I know I’m not alone- this is the season of non-contagious sneezes, sniffles, and wanting to claw your itchy eyes right out of your face. So, fellow sufferers, today I bring to you my best tips and tricks for surviving- and thereby enjoying!- spring:

On The Daily

Ok friends- if you suffer from seasonal allergies, I know you already know about antihistamines!! There are plenty of options on the market, and everyone needs to find the one that works best for them. I am not here to tell you about this. I am here to tell you about buying your allergy medication at Costco.

Buying generic is also not much of a newsflash, but listen- if you or a friend have a Costco membership, buy your allergy meds there! It is so cheap I feel like the Hamburglar getting away with something whenever I buy it, which is once a year, because that is a one year supply in that bottle. For like $15. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. For comparison, the Target generic equivalent (300 pills) is $49.99; the Walgreen’s version is $47.99. Go!!! Go now!!!

Stuff For Eyeballs

My least favorite allergy symptom is itchy eyes, or worse, the feeling like something is in your eye, and then not being able to find anything in your eye. I do pretty ok with not rubbing them during the day, but I am totally guilty of rubbing my eyes during my sleep, which leads to an ever-so-lovely giant puffy eyelid in the morning. I like to use some micellar water on my eyelids before bed to get rid of any stuck-on allergens, which helps a little. When they are really irritated, I reach for one of these guys:

I used to use an OTC medicated eye drop made for allergies, but I find the “dry eye” artificial tears to give me the relief I need when my eyes are itchy, and I can get a drop or two in even if I already did my makeup for the day. The eye wash is awesome for when you don’t have makeup on, and you feel like you want to pluck your eyes right out of your head and rinse them under cool water. Totes refreshing.

For When I’m Miserable

I hate sinus rinsing (neti pots, for example), but will do it when I am desperate because it does help. A friendly client, who shares my misery this time of year, recommended Xlear nasal spray to me a few weeks ago. This product might be genius- it does the job of the neti pot (it’s a saline spray) without feeling like drowning, or tearing up your sinuses like Flonase can. Plus, it has Xylitol in it, which apparently creates some kind of non-stick surface in your face and prevents allergens from hanging around. I usually use this before bed, and sometimes in the morning if it’s particularly bad, and I have noticed a difference in my general stuffiness since using it! Plus it smells like grapefruit, which I enjoy.

Bonus Points

I don’t typically have issues with dairy, but I can’t deny that I feel better this time of year if I cut back on it. Specifically, in my morning coffee- for whatever reason, I’m always stuffiest in the morning, and having milk in my coffee tends to really make that worse. I mean, it’s no secret that dairy contributes to snot and phlegm, and also? I think it makes me sneeze sometimes, which is totally weird and maybe made up. Anyway, when my allergies are piling on, I like to switch out the milk in my coffee with a non-dairy alternative, which used to be terrible. Fortunately, we keep on living more and more in the future, and the non-dairy milk producers are realizing that nobody wants thin, watery almond milk in their coffee. I like this one by Califia Farms ok- it lightens and has the right amount of creaminess to it. For being unsweetened, I still find it a touch sweet, but it’s not a deal breaker.

Obviously, moving to a warm, tropical island is the best cure for my allergies, but until then, I live here. And mostly, I do love it, so I shall soldier on. What are your best tips and tricks for surviving during the itchiest months? Tell me in the comments!

xo

These are all real things that I use and bought with my own money. Also, I took all of these pictures in my kitchen. While you’re at Costco, you should also pick up some of their spiced rum- it’s cheap and great for summer cocktails!