Family * Travel * Food

Airfree Air Purifiers 40% Off July 4th Sale

Can y'all believe it is JULY already? It is hot, hot, HOT out there! I often think the hotter it gets, the worse allergy symptoms seem to be. Right now is the best time to take advantage of the Airfree Air Purifier July 4th sale running now until July 9, 2018 at 23:59 PM.


They are offering 40% off on their most popular air purifier models:

Airfree Iris 3000
Original Price: $329.00
4th of July Price: $199.00


Airfree T800
Original Price: $159.00
4th of July Price: $99.00

You can find these incredible prices by shopping online at major retailers like: Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Wayfair, Amazon and by visiting their website at Airfee.com.  A complete list of participating websites can be found at Airfree.com.

Airfree products reduce microbiological contamination in the air naturally, without using chemicals or filters.  Airfree’s exclusive technology works by eliminating microorganisms and allergens using heat, destroying them in a fraction of a second. Depending on the model, between 14,000 and 20,000 liters of air pass through the Airfree device every hour, treating all the air in the room in a very short space of time. The process works in much the same way as sterilizing water by boiling it; when water is boiled, the microorganisms it contains are eliminated.

Airfree continually draws in air from the room, heating it to over 400 ºF and instantly sterilizing it. The purified air is then cooled inside the device before being returned to the room. The entire process is completely silent and requires no maintenance, not even the occasional replacement of parts. All you have to do is switch the device on and leave it on to perform the task.

The Iris 3000 standalone model is recommended for rooms up to 650sqft., weighs only 3.3 pounds, is guaranteed for 2 years, has a low energy consumption of 44 watts, uses 120 volts of electricity and offers users exclusive multicolor light option.


The T800 standalone model is recommended for rooms up to 180sqft., weighs only 1.5 pounds, is guaranteed for 2 years, has a low energy consumption of 33 watts, and uses only 110-127 volts of electricity.

We have owned air purifiers from Airfree for a couple years now and they are fantastic! I especially love that there is no maintenance and the unit it silent. It works so well for allergy and asthma sufferers. If you have been considering getting an air purifier or even upgrading, Airfree is the way to go!


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What You Need to Know about Nasal Polyps

Have you been experiencing trouble breathing through your nose? Losing your sense of smell and taste? Perhaps painful sinus headaches that affect life, making daily activities difficult? These could be the signs of nasal polyps. Many patients begin to notice this issue after developing symptoms that won’t go away after a lengthy period of time.

image credit


What Are Polyps?


Nasal polyps are grape-like growths that occurs in the nasal and sinus cavities. They begin to block the airways in the nostrils and can even begin to spread. Most people don’t notice that there is anything wrong until an obvious sign occurs, such as a persistent sinus headache or a rise in the number of times they get sick or develop an infection. The polyps grow gradually over time, which means that many patients don’t notice that they have a problem because the body has adjusted with the growth. Patients who have their polyps treated often note a major positive impact on their nasal breathing as well as other nose and sinus related symptoms.

How Are Polyps Diagnosed?

Patients with stuffy nose, diminished sense of smell and taste, postnasal drainage, etc may at some point make their way to an ear, nose and throat physician. Further evaluation will often involve a nasal endoscopy in which the doctor uses a small lighted rod to view back into the nasal passages. It is on careful examination, often with endoscopy, that patients are sometimes found to have nasal polyps. Further studies, such as CT scans, may be performed to help determine the extent of the polyps and the sinus blockage.

How Can Polyps be Treated?

Some polyps respond well to medications and others do not. There is an increasingly wide range of prescription nasal sprays and oral medications that can slow down the growth of polyps and, in some cases, shrink them. On occasion, it may be recommended that polyps be surgically removed so that the topical medications can work more effectively to keep them from coming back. Fortunately, surgery for polyps has changed a lot during the past few years, and is now usually an outpatient, minimally-invasive procedure without packing, bruising, or splints, and only minimal discomfort while the healing process occurs.  Small stents are now available that can be implanted during surgery and give off anti-inflammatory medication for several weeks.

In any case, polyps should always be evaluated by an ear, nose, and throat physician. Some polyps – particularly those that occur on one side only – need careful evaluation to ensure that there is not a more serious condition present.

To get help with nasal polyps, contact of Dr. Samuel S. Becker, a sinus specialist located in Pennsylvania. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a board-certified specialist in otolaryngology. For more information about him, visit his website at www.beckerent.com.

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Celiac Awareness Month with Tandoor Chef Gluten Free Entrees

Are you or any of your family members on a gluten free diet? It seems as if many people are going gluten free either because of Celiac disease or just out of personal health concerns. Tandoor Chef, the #1 frozen Indian food in the US, is a great option to incorporate into your gluten free lifestyle. They offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options--15 gluten free options to be exact! The varieties include:

Tandoori Chicken Wings, Lamb Vindaloo, Masala Dosa, Chicken Tikka Masala,
Chicken Tandoori with Spinach, Chicken Curry, Chicken Biryani, Vegetable Pad Thai, Balanced Vegetarian Vegetable Korma, Balanced Vegetarian Paneer Tikka Masala, Balanced Vegetarian Mutter Paneer, Balanced Vegetarian Palak Paneer,
Chicken Pad Thai, Palak Paneer, and Channa Masala.

My personal favorite it the Chicken Tikka Masala variety. This is the only frozen meal I have ever tasted that compares to what you would get in a fine restaurant or cook yourself at home. The best part is that you can enjoy all of the authentic Indian flavor in the comfort of your own home with no cooking! I just can't get over how juicy and succulent the chicken pieces are and how much flavor is packed into the sauce. The rice tastes as if you just scooped it fresh out of a rice cooker. I love that they use all real ingredients. It gets 5 stars from me!

Look at all of that REAL food! 

Tandoor Chef will have a special page on their website where readers can guess weekly what the gluten free dish of the week is. Every week, we will choose one winner from those who answered correctly and they will win a month supply of Tandoor Chef. The contest is going on from May 4th - June 1st.


Be sure to visit Tandoor Chef on their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for product updates and promotions.

I was provided with product coupons to purchase items and post an honest review. All opinions are my own as always.
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Red Robin introduces new Interactive Allergen Menu ($25 RR GC Giveaway)

May is National Allergy Awareness Month. Red Robin restaurant has come out with a new Customizer Hub for guests to to modify their food or beverage order to suit their taste or dietary preferences. If a guest has a food allergy, the Red Robin team member will ring in the order with an allergy alert and bright type so it is clear on the table order. The Customizer Hub is so easy to use and starts out by letting you choose your allergen-specific triggers. Here is what it looks like:
Once you pick the ingredients to avoid, you can go into specific menu categories or choose from suitable options to customize your meal. 
What makes this so great is that they offer suggestions on what is suitable and also foods suitable with modifications. My daughter was able to order a Teryaki Chicken sandwich and we requested it with no mayo. We have some good family friends who have food allergies and sensitivities that we frequently meet up with at Red Robin for lunch or dinner. I have introduced them to the Customizer Hub and they are thrilled with how much easier it is to order their meals. It helps to be able to know in advance what menu item ingredients are and what to avoid. 
Red Robin offers so many choices that are sure to satisfy any taste. I couldn't go to my favorite burger place without having an actual gourmet burger. I tried one of their newest burgers called the Black and Bleu. Oh my word, it was hands-down the BEST burger I have ever tasted. It starts off as a juicy, half- pound Black Angus burger {handmade and flame-grilled to order} and is topped with sautéed, blackened portobello mushrooms, grilled onions, house-made Bleu cheese sauce and Bleu cheese crumbles with Dijon sauce on a Ciabatta bun.  It says that it's a "fork-and-knife" type of burger. That is exactly how I ate it!
My husband was commenting how family-friendly Red Robin is. We noticed a lot of birthday gatherings as well as large groups while we were there. I highly recommend you give Red Robin a try if you haven't already. 

Information about the Interactive Allergen Menu:

·         Red Robin’s Customizer Hub on RedRobin.com allows Guests to test-drive different combinations of ingredients and enjoy their Red Robin menu favorites while keeping within their dietary restrictions. The Customizer Hub gives guest two options: “Customize Your Nutrition” and “Build a Customized Allergen Menu.”

·         Red Robin’s Interactive Allergen Menu provides order recommendations based on guests’ allergies and allows them to view a menu that is tailored to their specific dietary needs. 

·         Red Robin trains all restaurant Team Members to allow guests to modify their Red Robin food or beverage order to suit their taste or dietary preferences. If a guest has a food allergy, the Red Robin team member will ring in the order with an allergy alert and bright type so it is clear on the table order. 

·         This allergen alert appears in easily noticeable bright, red and bold letters on the order and notifies the kitchen that a special allergen kit is required for the order. Red Robin uses allergen kits to prepare all allergen orders. The kits include tools that are for use on allergen orders only and are purple to clearly distinguish them from other kitchen tools. Purple is the color of Allergen Awareness.

·         Red Robin provides the guest with information so they can make an educated decision on what to order themselves, whether it’s for food intolerances or food allergies.

**Just in time for Allergen Awareness Month, Omission Pale Ale will be available at participating Red Robin restaurants nationwide, beginning May 12. Omission Pale Ale, a gluten-free beer, is part of a delicious line of craft beers brewed with malted barley, but specially crafted to remove gluten. Red Robin believes it is important for Guests to have options and information to make educated decisions and is offering Omission Pale Ale on its Interactive Allergen Menu.

Connect with Red Robin on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for product updates and promotions. 

Mom Files is giving away a $25 Red Robin gift card to one lucky reader. Enter below:a Rafflecopter giveaway  

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on May 17, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received a gift card to Red Robin for my family to test out the Customizer Hub. The Red Robin information and gift cards have been provided by Red Robin. All opinions are mine. 
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What do you do when you are allergic to everything?

For many years now, our daughter Briahnna has been going through treatment for a variety of allergies. Her first 2 series of allergy testing revealed that she was allergic to all the elements dealing with the outdoors as well as dust, mold, pet dander etc.... Today we took her to get tested since it has been about 3 years and this time was a big shock to us all. She had 30 different allergens injected into both forearms. The left arm was all  foods and the right was pollen, trees and other non-food things. She also had a series of individual outdoor allergens injected via needles into her upper arm. It turns out that she tested positive for everything! 

 You see how raised her skin is? She is allergic to just about everything it seems including all pollen, mold, grass, weeds, trees, dust, pets, and virtually anything that floats in the air.

She never had food allergies before and now she does. Although her food allergies are not all at dangerous levels, it still surprised us since they are the everyday type of things. Now she can only incorporate eggs, potatoes, chicken and several other foods into her diet every 4-5 days. Other things like tomatoes, pecans, peanuts and corn should be avoided all together. We were told that the symptoms of food allergies can vary from headaches, sneezing, itching, nausea or upset stomach. It was recommended for Brie to start a food diary to see what type of reaction she has to the foods she is more allergic to. If they are something she can live with, she can continue to eat them. She made the joke that she would not have been offended if she was allergic to carrots, cucumbers or other foods she does not care for to begin with. The good thing is she will continue on the allergy shots which have helped her immensely. She will have to go from one injection each week to three. Thankfully she is very laid back and does just fine with that sort of thing.

I do recommend that if your child shows symptoms of allergies, you should get them allergy tested. It is so important to know the triggers so you can do your best to avoid them. We were also told that allergy symptoms change every two years.

Do you or your child suffer from allergies that require regular treatment?
Shelly, Mom Files
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Children's Claritin® Mom Crew

Hey guys! I wanted to let you all know that I am a Children's Claritin® Mom Crew Member. All of my kids are seasonal allergy sufferers and we depend on Claritin®to get us through the super high pollen days. I love that it does not make you sleepy and lasts all day with just one pill. Although our middle child gets allergy shots, she still has those sniffly and sneezy days especially at this time of year. She has to take Claritin® daily to get her through. I remember growing up as a child sneezing the entire way to the bus stop. Back in that time the only allergy medication my mom gave me made me want to sleep for days! Thank goodness for non-drowsy Claritin® today, raising my own kids. It is so convenient to have the option of liquid or chewables.


Here are some great Spring Allergy Tips:

It's not surprising that in the season notorious for allergies, we have the most tips to share! Beginning as early as February, invisible pollens from hardwood deciduous trees are big troublemakers for many allergy sufferers. But there's no reason to be miserable. These tips can help you minimize your exposure to allergens, and be prepared as possible for the pollen storm that's on the horizon.

~Start taking Claritin® allergy products as soon as symptoms start. Having medication on hand will help you prepare for allergy symptoms. 

~Know your nemesis- When you understand what triggers your allergy symptoms, you can make an extra effort to avoid them. For example, grass pollen levels rise when grass is disturbed, so if that's one of your triggers, wear a mask when mowing or avoid mowing altogether. 

~Beat the clock- Peak pollen production can occur in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the day. 

~Check the forecast- Avoid going outdoors when pollen counts are high. Also, heavy rains wash pollen from the air, making post-shower outings more comfortable. Beware of dry, windy days when pollen can be particularly intense. (Get the pollen counts and weather forecast for your area and sign up for the Claritin® Allergy Forecast.)

Stay connected with Claritin on Facebook and I will also post information from time to time about helping to manage your children's allergies with Claritin®. You can also print out a coupon here

Disclosure: As a member of the Children’s Claritin® Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.


Shelly, Mom Files
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Our experience with allergy shots

When my daughter Briahnna was about 7, she started suffering from severe headaches. It went from maybe 2-3 times a week to 24/7 over the course of a few years. We took her to the doctor and he recommended an MRI. It came out fine. He had her go through it again. Two tests later, nothing. He couldn't figure out what was causing it. He then sent us over to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. She has her first allergy test when she was about 10. Turns out she was suffering from all the elements in the air... dust, pollen, pet dander and everything else. She was put on allergy medication and it started to help. Her headaches stopped and she was feeling normal again. Well that lasted all of about 3-4 months. The ENT tried changing her meds and although it would work for a while, it eventually stopped. There was always the discussion about allergy shots and I was really not sure how I felt about it. I did know that I was really tired of seeing my child suffer like she was. Finally we gave in and started her on the allergy shot. She would go once a week and get check-ups to see how she was progressing every 3 months. Literally within her first 3-4 months there was a drastic change with the headaches. They were getting less and less. Now she has been going for the shots for about 3 years and lives headache free. It was one of the best decisions we could have made. I wish we did is sooner but like I said, I was very skeptical.

Do you or anyone in your family suffer from allergies? Do you get the shot?

Shelly, Mom Files
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Reason #582 why I hate spring

Most people want to go into hiding during the winter months. Not me. That's when I am thriving the most and feeling very upbeat and energized. Spring is the worst time of year to me. I have been so sick for over a week now because of the pollen clouds. It's just not right when you see cars driving next to you and it feels like you are driving on a sandy beach. It's just that bad. I wash off our cars each morning and it does not make a difference.

Dwayne's car is black so his looks even worse. I have never wanted to see rain as badly as I do right now. I'm talking 2-3 days non-stop.

On another note, if you are an allergy sufferer I suggest Allegra-D! It has been a lifesaver for me.
Has spring sprung in your neck of the woods?

Shelly, Mom Files
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Brie update, no headaches!

I just briefly wanted to let you all know that the medication that was prescribed to Brie mention in the last post seems to be working! We had to make some alterations to the dosage times because the poor girl was a zombie all day long and was having a lot of trouble getting up in the morning. Periactin has that Benedryl effect so we started having her take it only at night at a reasonable time so that she would go to sleep early enough to get the rest she needed to be refreshed the next day. The doc advised we introduce one pill in the morning until she can tolerate it and not feel sleepy. I am just so thrilled that the girl has been free from headaches for quite a few days now. We plan to let her try out one pill in the morning over the weekend and see how she does. Hooray for NO headaches!
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Briahnna update

I posted a couple days ago about taking Brie to the doctor for her headaches. As I expected, she did not have any signs of headache in the doc's office. The doctor checked her blood count and pressure and both checked out perfectly. She changed one of her allergy medications to Periactin. She says it is an antihistamine and is also used for a variety of ailments in children including chronic headaches. The downside of this medication is the sedative effects and it increases appetite. The doc says her body will get used to it and she will not be drowsy after a while as well as she should not have any significant weight gain. Poor kid walks around like a zombie and eats like a football player. I guess I will just have to keep some fresh fruit on hand and stock up on some relatively healthy snacks. Bless her little heart she is determined to deal with it and so far her headaches have been mild to non-existent. I just want my child to be well. I have breathed many of deep sighs in the past weeks. Thanks to everyone who showed concern and gave advice. What would I do without my blog buddies?!

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Random things in my head

I have not been posting in normal Shelly fashion because I have been pretty consumed in a lot of things. Dwayne and I painted my office over the weekend so it took up a lot of time. I went from a creamsicle orange (used to be Chardie's room) into a color called green tea leaves. I really love it and my office finally looks like a grown-up works out of it! My office was smelling of paint so I looked up ways to get rid of the scent. There were so many things I could have tried but I went with the cracked open window and a container of coffee grinds. It worked! Now I have the scent of coffee stuck in my brain but I will take that over paint any day.

Briahnna has been suffering so badly from excruciating headaches. They are so bad that she lays on the couch all day and doesn't even change from her pajamas. She has been on the allergy shots for 2 months now and the ENT Specialist says to give it time. Well when you can see the veins in your child's head throbbing then giving it time just won't cut it. I made an appointment with her pediatrician for today and I am going to beg her to do some blood work to check to see if there can be something else ailing her besides the allergies being the culprit to the headaches. It breaks my heart like you would not believe when your child is so engrossed in pain and there is nothing you can do and no pill that helps. My mind has been taken over in anguish thinking about my girl. I am hoping the doctor can help her. She has suffered way longer than anyone should.

Okay, that's it for now. I will post an update once we get some kind of answers. Chances are she will feel just fine once she steps foot in the doctor's office *sighs*
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Allergy shots

Our daughter Briahnna has been suffering from headaches for years now and has gone through many doctor visits (including 3 Cat scans) to finally come to the conclusion that it is all sinus allergy related. It was recommended by our ENT Specialist that she gets a weekly allergy shot. As a mom I was not sure if that was what we wanted to do. I insisted that we try her on a different round of allergy meds and see how she did with it for 90 days. It worked very well for about 2 weeks and then the headaches were back. There is nothing worse than seeing your kid in pain and no matter what you give her she is not improving. We finally broke down and agreed to the shot. The alternative would be surgery and the doc says he really does not want to go that route. We started the first shot last week and we are not sure if it is really happening or just in her mind but it seems to have calmed the headaches down a little bit. The doc says that it generally takes 3-6 months to see improvement (they have to give you a longer time frame) and some people have been known to see a major difference within 30 days. I am really hoping we are one of those lucky ones. The great thing about the shot is even though it seems a pain to get it once a week, the office is close to home and it take a few minutes and you are in and out of the office with no wait or appointment. I will keep you all posted on her progress.

If anyone has had the allergy shot please feel free to share anything you think we might need to know. So far we have only heard positive things.
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