Peter Pan Party

This was a "Peter Pan" themed party I threw for my daughters 4th birthday. I bought white poster board & drew the word "Neverland" & an arrow & then had it laminated & hung it on the fence.

When party guests arrived, they were greeted by Captain Hook (my husband) & Mrs. Smee (me). N was a little Peter Pan & C was Wendy. Each guest got a treasure box (for the boys) or a Tinkerbell fairy box (for the girls).

The treasure box had an eye patch, gold coins, a telescope & some Peter Pan themed stickers. 

The fairy box had little jewelry, Tinkerbell stickers & some face glitter.

 I got most of these items from http://www.birthdayexpress.com/

Food: Pirate's Booty, Fruit kabobs in sand (raw sugar)...etc. It was all named according to the theme.

 I had my husband go around & ring the doorbell & leave a box that had a note written on a map that was from Peter Pan that said, "Dear friends, I am off on another adventure & I need your help! I have left you clues to locate where I have hidden my most valuable treasures. Please find it before Captain Hook does! 

~Your friend,

Peter Pan " 

My daughter, C, is holding the map up in this picture.

I had more maps just like this one with clues hidden around the yard. Each one would have a clue to the next one & when they finally found the treasure box, it was full of jewels, gold coins..etc. 

I bought a Tinkerbell doll & had this bakery http://www.cakecastlebakery.com/index.html    make the cake & put her in it. Then C got to keep the doll as a gift (after she was cleaned of course:)

They did an amazing job! This was such a beautiful cake & it was delicious! I am not usually a fan of fondant, but theirs was SO good!

 Definately a great party!

Vintage Baby Shower

This is a baby shower I did for my cousin. It was a vintage / shabby chic / Martha Stewart inspired theme. We set the tables with pretty lace linens & used my tea cups & decorated the tables with wooden blocks that were decoupaged with vintage cards. I also added little bears here & there because their last name is "Barrett" & my cousins husband is a vet. To honor the grandfather who was a fireman, but had passed away, I placed little vintage fireman bears around. We placed the mom & dad's baby pictures on each table with a fun little fact about each one. Then we hung our Gpa's old vintage baby clothes & some vintage baby clothes I had found at an antique store & dyed with tea onto clothes pins.

When the guests arrived, they were given an option of buying a raffle ticket (with the proceeds going to the baby's college fund) for a gift basket of pampering goodies.
Then they could guess how many marbles were in a jar & win a prize if they were the closest.
Then they went over to the "Create the Baby Face" game that I had set up. I enlarged baby pictures of the mom & dad & laminated them, then cut the eyes, nose, mouth & chin out in strips. The guests could go & rearrange the faces to create a new face of what the baby might look like. This one had no prize, it was just for fun. It was funny to see all of the combinations people came up with.

Then we played Baby Pictionary with cards I created that had words on them related to baby. I think the funniest one was epidural. :)


I wanted to personalize the cake so instead of the traditional cake I had the bakery make it look like wooden blocks with letters, pictures & symbols that were meaningful to the mom & dad.

One of the dishes I made was "Blueberry Stuffed French Toast" which seemed to be a big hit. It was such a beautiful day & a beautiful party.

Blueberry Stuffed French Toast
Ingredients:
12 slices of French bread or sourdough bread thin sliced (6 slices cut up into cubes)
2 8 oz pkg of cream cheese
1 cup of blueberries
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk
1 Tbsp of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg For the sauce
1 cup of sugar
2 Tbsps of cornstarch
1 cup of water
1 cup of blueberries
1 Tbsp butter
Arrange the bread in a buttered 13" x 9" pan
cut the cream cheese into squares and place over bread
sprinkle the blueberries over the cheese
arrange the bread cubes over the top of the blueberries
In a large bowl mix the eggs, syrup, milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg whisk well
pour the mixture over the bread mixture
chill the mixture overnight
Bake the mixture at 350 degrees for about an hour or till it is puffed and golden brown
Sauce
In a small sauce pan mix the water, sugar, cornstarch over moderately high heat until it is thickened, then add the blueberries. Simmer for about ten minutes or till blueberries burst then pour over French toast.
Serves 6 - 8

A Miracle Worker!

The Wet-Stop3 enuresis alarm teaches nighttime dryness using an alarm attached to the pajamas near the ear and a moisture sensor held onto ordinary close-fitting cloth underwear. The alarm is attached using a magnet that holds the unit onto the neck of the shirt.
The moisture sensor is threaded under the child's shirt and is secured to tight fitting cotton underwear using the quick-clip jaw sensor. The sensor is attached to the outside of the child's underwear where they would first wet.
The Wet-Stop3 alarm reacts to moisture, teaching the child to stop the flow of urine. When the alarm senses wetness, it alternates on intermittent sound sequence and pulsed vibration when the sound/vibration mode is activated. Sound only or pulsed vibration only can also be selected.


I know this is a common issue that is rarely talked about. But I just had to share what this product has done for our family. Our daughter used to have to wear pull-ups every night & as some of you can relate, that can be very costly. Her pediatrician recommended this to us & said that it worked for his son. So we decided to give it a try, since nothing else we tried was working. In about a months time, she was trained to get up & go potty instead of wetting the bed & now she doesn't need to wear pullups! She has been dry now for a couple of months & doesn't even need the alarm anymore!  If this has been an issue for your child, I highly recommend giving this a try.

http://www.bedwettingstore.com/WET-STOP3-Bedwetting-Alarm-with-Sound-Vibration.html

You can also find it on Amazon

Medieval Lapbook

This is the lapbook that we did for our study of the Middle Ages. The components in this lapbook are a combination of activity books from Rainbow Resource , Homeschool Share , & the internet.

We also listened to The Story of the World (Vol 2) that covers the Middle Ages. It worked really well to listen to that while the kids worked on their lapbook.

 

A Young Historian's Introduction to Worldview, by Marcia Brim

Surprisingly, many children raised in Christian homes have a weak understanding of the character and nature of God, and the significance of man as His special creation. As a result, our children are growing up with a weak biblical worldview, and a lack of understanding as to why God matters in every aspect of life.

Marcia Brim of Brimwood Press presents biblical truths in a two-day, seven-hour class geared for the thoughtful young person who enjoys hands-on learning, discussion and interaction with other students. Students will listen to instruction, participate in small group activities, use 3-D glasses, build “Worldview Boxes”, listen to and discuss good literature, and create worldview bar graphs.
This class examines non-Christian ideas common in our culture. Then it gives students tools for comparing and contrasting these conflicting ideas to Christianity. This method not only has value in evangelism, but it sheds enormous clarity on Christian truth. 

I have attended this class myself & can tell you first hand how amazing it was & how it has deepened my faith in my beliefs & helped me to understand the differences between the worldviews. 

For those that are not able to take her class, you can purchase "A Young Historian's Introduction to Worldview" 

materials on her website & teach your children at home. She also has a variety of other products & curriculum for sale on her website.  I HIGHLY recommend checking out her products! Her weblink is below:

Marcia Brim is a wife and mother of three. Since 2004, Marcia Brim and her husband have owned and operated Brimwood Press providing worldview, history and theological resources to homeschool families across the country. Marcia has 13 years of homeschool experience and a degree in theology from Multnomah Bible College. Her passion is to equip parents and students to be salt and light in a lost world.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: http://www.brimwoodpress.com/

Bean & Black Quinoa Salad

Thank you to my friend L for introducing this to me!  I was a little hesitant at first with the black quinoa, but I like to try new things, so I gave it a shot. This is so yummy! I modified her recipe a little, this is how I made it:

1 cup of dried lentils
1 cup of dried black beans
1 cup of dried garbanzo beans

Put all dried beans in a crockpot. Fill with water & cook on high for about 3 hours. You can also do this the night before.


1/2 of chopped red onion
1/2 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper

Dressing:
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
1/3 cup of grapeseed oil
salt & pepper to taste
Wisk together & pour over cooked beans & veggies. Set in fridge so that flavors absorb together.

Meanwhile cook 1 cup of black quinoa with 1 1/2 cups of water uncovered until all liquid absorbs. Serve bean salad on top of cooked quinoa with tortilla chips-so healthy & so yummy!

The Now I'm Reading!™ Books

N just learned how to read this year with an amazing program called SIPPS
Look at how excited she is!:)

We had tried the Bob reader books to supplement with, but I was noticing they were not holding her attention.
I found these supplemental readers at Barnes & Noble & she has just buzzed right through them! She loves them! Each book has 10 readers inside with reward stickers & parent/teacher manual.

The characters in these stories are colorful & fun! As you can see in the picture below, the cub sits in pink gum & it gets stuck to his hairy bum...On the next page he pulls it off & eats it! Ewwww! My daughter LOVED that part & read it (& giggled) over & over again:) heeheehee

 

For Ages 3-7 • $16.99

Each book includes 10 individual storybooks, 40 incentive stickers, and a Parent/Teacher Guide.

 What the Now I'm Reading!™ books offer:

A phonics approach to reading: Phonics is the use of letter sound relationships to help youngsters identify written words. The major purpose of learning phonics is to know how to translate a word's written form to its spoken form. The phonics approach helps children expand their vocabularies, which strengthens their reading comprehension.

A whole-language approach: Each separate book offers a complete plot line, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, which helps develop a child's understanding of "story". The humorous text and lovable characters encourage your child to retell the story in his or her own words. Reading aloud to your child is also recommended, and will help foster a love of language.

Ten engaging stories in each book: Stories about animals or high-interest topics, which allow kids to practice key skills while developing a love of reading.

Simple, repetitive text that uses the same words throughout a given story to provide the reading practice and the self-confidence your child needs to become a successful reader.

A building-block pattern, in which each story begins with a few words and progresses, a word or two at a time, to phrases, then to short sentences, and finally to longer sentences towards the end of each book.

An appropriate, organized sequence of skills, including consonants, short vowels, consonant blends, consonant digraphs, long vowels, long and short vowels together, word endings, and sight words. You will find the particular skills, blends, endings and sight words contained in the story listed on the inside back cover of that book.

Colorful, fun-filled, detailed illustrations. 

Click on link below for more info:

http://www.innovativekids.com/content/view/204/400/ 

If you crave this...This is what your body needs:

If you crave this…	What you really need is…	And here are healthy foods that have it:
Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, raisins, sweet potato, spinach, turkey
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, turkey, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt

Our Workboxes

This is how we have adapted Sue Patrick's Workbox concept to fit our needs. Since we do not have the space for her exact design, I decided to use these plastic file boxes. I put hanging file folders in them marked with the days of the week, & then in each file folder I put that days assignments, activities & a few surprises.

 
I really like this whole concept because the kids can work independently while I am working with the other. Also to avoid interruption, I printed these "Help Please" cards so that if they need help with something they just place the help card on top of their work & leave it stacked & I can go back & help them when I am done working with the other child.
I got these great exercise cards at Spell Outloud 

I interspersed these exercise cards throughout their workday folders & also added surprises like a fun game, or a yummy snack.

New Free Online Chore Chart!

We had been using Accountable Kids which is a great program. However, I stumbled upon this free chore website & it is AWESOME! You can sign up all your kids individually & assign them daily, weekly, monthly chores & it keeps them all organized for you! PLUS it keeps track of points they earn & the points can be used toward free things like tv time or an Amazon wish list that they can create & earn points toward prizes they would like. Then when they have reached the set amount of points you have set up for each reward item, it lets you know & then you can purchase a prize for them on Amazon. I think this will be a lot easier to use & more motivating for them, since they can see what they want to save their points for. Here is a picture of what it looks like online.

Watch this video for more:

My Job Chart Video

To sign-up for a free account go here:

http://www.myjobchart.com/

My girls are doing their chores as we speak! This is totally awesome! :)

Laundry Organization

I love sharing solutions that have helped me to organize better! I used to have piles in my laundry room & it was never organized. I would walk into the garage overwhelmed by the enormous task in front of me, until... my helpful hubby came up with a way to organize it all! He went to Home Depot & bought a shelving unit & baskets. Then, I found these PERFECT labels for the baskets & it has not only changed the look of the laundry area, but how I feel when I walk in there & how I do laundry. I printed these labels BHG laundry labels 
cut them out & then put clear contact paper on them. Aren't they cute?
Happy Laundering:)

N's first 2-wheel ride!:)

Look-no training wheels! I am SO excited for my girl!:)

Fresh Shrimp & Vegetable Spring Rolls with Thai style dipping sauce

Ingredients

• 1 cup shredded green cabbage
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup finely sliced green onion
• 1 avocado diced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 package thin rice paper wrappers
• shrimp

Cook shrimp (I used coconut oil to cook mine in & it gave it a really great flavor).
After chopping all veggies, make Thai sauce.


Thai Sauce:

• 1/2 cup soyaki
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon hot sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp agave nectar
• dash of red pepper
• salt to taste
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, finely chopped

Wisk together. Then, wet rice paper wrapper with water, fill with desired veggies & wrap. Dip in sauce & eat! Yum!:)

The Artistic Side-on a budget!

 This is a necklace/scarf I made out of a t-shirt. You take your shirt, lay it flat down (front facing you). Starting at the bottom of the shirt you cut strips (they will look like circles when you hold them up). I cut about 10-15, but you can do as many as you want to get the look you want. Then once you have cut out all your strips, take your flat hand & roll the material to make it curl up (see picture above). Then tie off the back & strut your cute new look:)

I bought this canvas & it had just the background squares painted on it. I always felt like there was something missing, so I decided to add to it after I was inspired by an amazing speaker at a women's retreat. Since red is one of the colors in my dining/living room, I thought painting this huge heart would be perfect. It symbolizes God's love for the world. Then I painted the world & the scripture verse John 3:16.
Taking a painting that you already own & just adding to it with some of the colors in your house is a great way to decorate your space on a budget:)

Easter 2011

This Easter we wanted to do more things that symbolized the reason for the holiday. We decided to visit The Stations of the Cross & I made Resurrection Eggs. Stations of the Cross was very powerful! Definately going to be added as a yearly tradition for Good Friday! Also, (thanks to my sweet friend A) I made Resurrection Eggs! It was a fun project. Although, it did take longer than I had anticipated because finding all of the things without spending any money was a little challenging, but the end result turned out good. This will also be added as a yearly tradition. Here are how they turned out & what I put with them:

Command Central Binder! I am so excited about this:)

After a super busy weekend of planting our garden (will post pics at a later time), I came across this website by accident-(I just love when that happens:)  http://www.simplify101.com/

It is an organizing website & if you sign-up they will send you instructions on how to make a "Command Central Binder".  "What is that?" you might ask. It is a genius way to organize all of that paper we have lying on our table, or counters. It is brilliant, yet, when I think about it, the concept is simple. I don't know about you, but I have had a hard time figuring out what to do with all the paper. Whether it was mail, brochures, calendars...etc. I have a bulletin board & magazine holders & the trusty fridge, but it just wasn't helping with the paper clutter. Thanks to this wonderful website, I was inspired to make my own binder today & got all of the paper clutter up off of the surfaces!:) Yay:)
Here's how it turned out

I love this because it is one central place the whole family can go to get all the info they need.
You can customize it to fit your families needs & add to it & update it when needed. I printed off a monthly calendar for 2011 & filled in appointments, holidays, fieldtrips, & anything else I know is coming up. My categories are Calendar/Events (which includes the monthly calendars I printed & any brochures on upcoming plays, or events which I put in page protectors), Health (which includes karate stuff, health tips, doctor info...etc.), Financial (which includes money management articles or websites & budget worksheets, Homeschool (which includes fieldtrip info/brochures, classes & activities related to homeschool), Christian (which includes family devotions, inspiring articles, favorite local charities...etc.)

I have a feeling this will make our lives so much easier:) I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me:)

Curriculum we are using, or that we love

Classical Conversations-Core curriculum for History, Geography, Science
(We are not doing a co-op, we have the songs & the memory cards & I made a binder with maps, pictures of historical characters & science diagrams to use with the program)

SIPPS-Core curriculum for Reading/phonics/polysyllabic decoding

Singapore & Right Start Math -Both good programs, however I am currently looking at some others to supplement with.

These are the main ones we use. Since I am an eclectic homeschooler, I like to try out different things to see which is a good fit for us. These are some other programs that we use or have used:

Explode the Code - We have never tried it online, although I would like to try it, but we do use the workbooks.


Story of the World- I felt it was a little too advanced for my kids ages. But I enjoyed the stories & will probably revisit it at a later time.

Our Father's World Science- (Different than My Father's World) I really like the song in the beginning. It really helped with learning the days of creation. I got creative & even made little foam cut-out puppets on popsicle sticks to hold up when we sing it, to give a visual.

Handwriting Without Tears-Simple enough that my 6 year old squiggler can do it, & consistent & challenging enough so my 2nd grader doesn't get bored.

Art in Action-An online art program that gives a little background on the artist & shows you step-by-step how to paint their masterpieces. We like this program:)

We have a lot more things we do. I try to switch it up everyday so that they don't get bored (& so I don't get bored:) We also read A LOT. We want to raise kids who love to read & love to learn & expose them to all kinds of different things so that they will be well-rounded & so that it can open doors for them in the future.

Accountable Kids

We have been implementing Accountable Kids now for about a year & I think it is a really good program. Before starting it, I would have to constantly "remind" my children to do each & every chore. Now all I have to say is, "Did you do your cards?"
I have adapted them a little to fit the needs of our family, but I was able to get them (just the cards) while at a homeschooling conference for around $10! The peg boards are pretty with each child's name engraved on it, but kind of pricey. I decided instead to make my own boards, so I went to Walmart's craft section & bought 2 wooden plaques like this

only they each had 3 hooks on them. They were around $5 each. I took them home & painted them with the girls names on them & voila!:) Perfectly good personalized peg boards without spending a fortune:)
Here's how the system works: They have yellow cards for morning chores, red for afternoon & blue for evening. They are also great for children who do not know how to read yet because they have pictures on them. Plus they are totally customizable. I not only put chores on their cards, but I also put schoolwork categories, devotions, & character traits I expect them to show during the day. As they do their chores they flip over that card so that the picture is flipped over (indicating they have completed that chore). After all the cards of that color are completed, they earn a ticket. They have an opportunity to earn 3 tickets a day with their daily chores. Then, anything fun they would like to do costs a ticket (or 2-whatever value you want to place on them).
In essence, they don't get to do fun things they want to do without earning it. It really teaches personal responsibility & natural consequences. So instead of me being the "bad guy" & saying, "No" when they ask if they can do something, I say," That will be 1 ticket". Which is usually followed by, " I forgot to do something, mom. I'll be right back!" Hehehehe:)

Visit: http://www.accountablekids.com/default.aspx

Lil' Samurais- HiYa!

The girls are LOVING their new karate class! As you can probably tell by the BIG smiles:) Everyday they talk about it & practice (NOT on eachother;) what they have learned. They are learning a lot of great life skills & physical skills:
Life Skills
Focus, teamwork, self discipline, self control, basic child safety concepts, respect,
confidence, and listening skills
Physical Skills
Balance, hand-eye coordination, foundational self defense concepts, stamina, flexibility

If you are at all interested in checking it out for your child I highly recommend trying it.
http://www.kovars.com/

The Anti-Allergy Diet

by Victoria Stein Mar 25th 2011 11:00AM

With allergy season right around the corner, we've sought out the foods that will help ward off those itchy eyes and runny noses. Plus, a list of foods you should skip if you want to stay congestion-free.

Allergies are the immune system's reaction to generally safe substances in the environment (like ragweed and pollen). When allergens interact with immune cells in the blood, histamine and other allergic intermediaries are released into the bloodstream, causing familiar allergic reactions -- namely sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, skin rashes and stuffy congestion. Although no diet can prevent allergies all together, certain foods can help alleviate symptoms.

Red Wine, Apples and Onions
Quercetin, a flavonoid that helps the body fight against allergic inflammation by inhibiting the release of histamine, is found red wine, apples and onions. You can also get a dose of this ant-allergy antioxidant in berries, red grapes, black tea, broccoli and citrus fruits.

Grapefruits and Red Peppers
Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and decreases the production of histamine. Oranges, cantaloupe, papaya, strawberries, dark leafy green vegetables, and sweet potatoes are also good sources.

Mustard Greens
Mustard greens are a great source of beta-carotene and vitamins E and C, which fight inflammation, scavenge for free radicals and help break down histamine. Sauté mustard greens with olive oil and garlic or use them as you would any other dark leafy green.

Flaxseed, Walnuts and Salmon
Eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help alleviate allergies by reducing inflammatory chemicals in the body. One German study showed that a high level of omega 3s in subjects' diet or red blood cells was associated with a decreased risk of hay fever. Other sources of this essential fatty acid include canola oil, pumpkin seeds, and cold-water fatty fish.

Brazil Nuts
Selenium is an essential mineral that is required in very small amounts. In the body it is incorporated into proteins to make important antioxidant enzymes that both strengthen the immune system and increase the effectiveness of vitamin C. Brazil nuts and tuna are among the best sources.

Green Tea
Green tea is rich in catechin, a polyphenol (antioxidant) that inhibits the enzyme that converts histidine to histamine. For maximum benefits, use loose tea leaves instead of tea bags and pair with fruit or vegetables high in vitamin C.

Cayenne Pepper
Hot, spicy foods thin mucous secretions which can help clear nasal passages. Try adding cayenne pepper, ginger, onion and garlic to your favorite dishes.

Garlic
Garlic inhibits certain enzymes that generate inflammatory compounds, has a kick just like cayenne, and is a good source of vitamin C.

Rosemary
Rosemary contains a substance called rosmarinic acid, a polyphenol that is believed to suppress allergic reactions and inflammation. Try adding rosemary to roast potatoes, marinades, and tomato sauces.

Tumeric
Tumeric, a member of the ginger family, boasts anti-inflammatory properties. A central ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes, tumeric can also be used as a flavor enhancer for fish, meat, vegetable and pasta recipes.

Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds help suppress allergic reactions thanks to high levels of vitamin E and selenium. Vitamin E fights inflammation and selenium stimulates immune function.

In addition to choosing a diet rich in the allergy-fighting foods above, try to avoid pro-inflammatory, cross-reacting, and sensitive foods.

Pro-inflammatory foods increase inflammation, which may aggravate existing allergy symptoms. High-fat meats, fast food and packaged, baked goods are high in unhealthy fats (trans fats and saturated fats) and processed meats (hot dogs, sausage, bacon) contain chemicals called nitrates -- both of which are associated with increased inflammation. Even naturally occurring saturated fats, such as those found in meats, dairy and eggs, contain fatty acids called arachidonic acid, which may exacerbate inflammation in large quantities. Lean meats and low fat dairy products will not promote inflammation.

In the case of oral allergy syndrome, our bodies mistake a plant protein for pollen triggering a cross-reaction. People who suffer from ragweed allergies may experience similar symptoms when they eat certain seeds (sunflower), fruits (bananas, melon) and vegetables (cucumbers, zucchini), take the herb Echinacea, or drink chamomile tea. Individuals with grass pollen allergies may have difficulty eating melons, oranges, peaches, tomatoes and celery. And pollen from alder trees can cross-react with apples, cherries, peaches, pears, parsley, celery, almonds and hazelnuts.

To prevent or reduce allergy symptoms, stick with fresh, unprocessed foods and steer clear of any personal triggers.