Monthly Archives: January 2017

Finding the Right Mattress for Your Sleeping Style

Double sided mattress

Choosing a mattress can be a very important decision. How well you sleep also affects how well you deal with your waking day. Lack of sleep or disturbed or broken sleep makes people irritable, unable to focus and tired. Not a good way to face life and all the challenges and opportunities it brings. With the vast variety of mattresses offered by manufacturers, it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you. Foam or coil, firm or soft, warm or cool, and one sided or double sided mattresses try and match individual sleeping styles and preferences with the right type of mattress for a good night’s sleep.

Why choosing the right mattress is important
When buying a new mattress, it’s worthwhile to take a little time to find the one that’s right for you. This takes a little effort on your part, but keep in mind that the average life of a mattress is about seven years. Add to that the fact that we spend one third of our lives in bed. So it’s best to find a mattress that’s comfortable for you.
A quality mattress may cost more, but it’s a sound investment. That’s because the quality of your sleep matters, and it’s directly affected by the comfort of your mattress. In fact 92% of people believe that for a good night’s sleep, you need a good mattress.

Why the quality of sleep matters
We all know that when you’ve had a bad night, the next day isn’t going to go too well either. You’ll be tired, irritable and unable to focus on work. You might even find yourself nodding off to sleep during the day. Depending on where you are and what you’re doing at the time, the consequences can range from merely embarrassing to potentially disastrous.
A surprisingly large number of people feel that they aren’t getting enough sleep. More than half or 53% of women feel that they don’t get enough sleep and 44% of men report the same. Most of the time, the basic culprit behind lack of sleep is an unsuitable mattress, which may be old, lumpy or just the wrong style for you.

What’s your style?
Sleeping styles are very individual, and people may prefer soft beds, or more support from a firm mattress. For people who prefer a soft bed, foam top mattresses may be the answer. For those suffering from chronic pain, there is a mattress for a bad back. Such pressure relieving mattresses are the best mattress for a bad back, since they allow people suffering from arthritis and similar conditions to sleep well.
There’s also a choice to be made between single sided and double sided mattresses. Double sided mattresses are in fact the more traditional design, and many people prefer them for that reason. They do need to be turned frequently, so that they wear evenly instead of developing lumps even depressions in some areas.

Whatever your individual preferences, for foam or double sided mattresses, or a luxury mattress, it helps to take the time to do your homework before making the purchase. You are investing in your comfort and well being.

Nautical Decor Setting Sail With A Brand New Look For Your Home

Executive nautical gifts

Home decorating. While seemingly benign, this activity can turn into little more than an argument, with one party fighting for what they want and the other desperate to have a say somewhere. Yes, it may seem silly — but when you think about it, it’s no wonder that people care so much about what their homes look like. Your house is your oasis; it’s where you’re supposed to come home and relax. For that matter, many people find that their homes are creative outlets, in a sense. You can express your personality through decor, as well as make a great first impression to incoming visitors. This is why many are willing to spend a good bit of money on interior decorating, though they don’t necessarily have to. That’s right — while you should expect to spend some kind of money on decorating, in reality you don’t have to break the bank to get what you want. Of course, knowing what you want is really the first step. A popular trend in recent years is anchor decor and nautical decorations. Nautical home decor is rustic, while at the same time being a little on the quirky side. But if you want to go for this trend, you need to really commit to it — that’s the selling point. So, how can you do that?

Furniture: Going Nautical

Many people are getting tired of traditional decorations. Right now, only 44% of Americans say that they prefer a traditional look. The rest of them prefer modern at 22%, eclectic at 13%, country at 10%, and global at 2%. In total, though, 47% of Americans haven’t updated their home’s look within the past five years. The issue with this is that people get bored, and can even become a bit gloomy in their homes. Indeed, only 20% of Americans report feeling happy with their home decor, and 14% say they feel outright gloomy about the way their home is decorated. Simply by switching to a nautical theme and incorporating furniture reminiscent of the seaside can change that in a big way. Some nautical home decorations are fairly subtle. You could choose a sofa with a certain print and color scheme, or perhaps an entire furniture set with this look. Some furniture sets come with patterns that fit into anchor decor, while others are more obvious. Yes, you can really go “there” with nautical home decorations.

Out Of The Box: Nautical Decor

So, when we say anchor decor, you probably don’t think that you can actually buy an anchor for your home, can you? You actually can. Some people use anchor decor as conversation pieces. They certainly liven up the room and get people talking. If you want to go all out with nautical decorations, however, there are plenty of other options. Some people like the idea of an armillary globe; not only does this fit into the theme, but it also suggests travel and globalism. Others like to seek out antiques. Antique diving helmets can be bought and incorporated into decor, as can Navy diving helmets and even ship figureheads. Others tend to move towards the “kitsch” side of decor. You could have a life preserver as a part of your decor, as well as a wall mounted bell or even a mermaid barometer.

Nautical Decorations: Outside The House

Of course, this kind of decor isn’t just appropriate for the home. It can be used in certain places of business as well. Many seafood restaurants like to go for a nautical theme; this emphasizes the idea of fresh-caught, tasty food to potential diners. Most of the items that you could use as decor within the house could just easily be used in places like this. Whether you’re going for a residential or commercial look, you’ll definitely catch the eye with a nautical theme.

5 Tips for Planning a Great Outdoor Wedding

Banquet hall rentals

In the United States, there are about 2.4 million weddings every year. Nearly 35% of these are performed at outdoor wedding places. It can take a long time to make wedding plans. At least one third of all brides, for example, say they spend between seven and 12 months putting their wedding together. These tips can help you plan a great day.

  1. Set a budget. Before you embark on any big undertaking such as a wedding, you need to start the process by deciding how much you can spend and how much you want to spend on your wedding. It is very easy to spend more than you want when you do not lay out a budget. By going to outdoor wedding places, you may be able to save some money there but you should know how much cash you have to work with from the outset. Once you have set your budget, you need to stick to it. When you do your budget, you should also make a list of your priorities. You may end up going over on one part of your wedding but you will have to cut what you spend on another to make up for it.
  2. “To do” lists are your friends. When you are planning a wedding, there are tons of details that need your attention. From looking at catering for events, wedding venues and outdoor wedding places, you have a lot to juggle and a lot on your plate. By making and keeping these lists, you can keep yourself organized and make sure that none of the important details fall through the cracks. These are helpful both for planning the wedding and the wedding reception but also for your special day. Make a list of what you want your photographer get shots of to make sure they do not miss them.
  3. Do not expect everything to go perfectly. No wedding happens without hiccups or issues. That is ok. No one will most likely know, except for you. If you expect perfection on your wedding day, you will be disappointed and unhappy. Your wedding day should be a fun and joyous day. Let it be that by enjoying the things that go right and letting go (or laughing at) the things that do not. At the end of the day, people will remember how much fun they had at your wedding, not the small details that did not go as well as you would have hoped.
  4. Get your friends and family involved in the planning. You do not have to plan your entire wedding on your own. There are people in your life who will want to help out. From touring wedding venues with you to looking at outdoor places for weddings or sampling wedding catering, you can get your friends and family involved in the process. This does a few things for you. It will take the pressure off of you but it can also make the process more fun. Who does not like sampling cake? Everyone likes to do that. They can also help with guest lists and dealing with the many details that go into planning a great wedding. It can help to bounce your ideas off of other people. Your friends or family may even know about some unusual wedding venues that you may not know about. Be open to advice and suggestions from your friends.
  5. Approach the dress buying process with an open mind. You may have some ideas about what kind of dress you want before you hit the stores but be open to things the salespeople suggest. They are experts at this but also know better than you what their inventory looks like. There may be a dress that looks amazing on you that you never would have considered without some prodding or advice from the people at the bridal store.

There are some real benefits to going to outdoor wedding places. One thing you can do outdoors is use wedding sparklers, which can give you a dramatic and fun send off when your wedding reception is through. They can also be very versatile and give you some great options to make your special day unique and great.

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Methods to Deal with Terrible Twos Behavior

Newborn sleeping patterns

Many parents dread certain parts of their child’s development. Terrible twos behavior is particularly problematic for a number of parents. During this time, young children start to act out at what may seem to be the most inopportune times. It may even seem like they go from being perfectly happy to a total disaster in just a few seconds. There are ways you can cope with and manage this time in your child’s life.

The Cleveland Clinic has some advice for parents whose children are going through this rough period. The first thing to remember is this is not going to be a permanent fixture in your lives. At some point, which may not be when they turn three years old, the terrible twos behavior will come to and end and your life will get back to normal.

The first thing to do is get to understand what is happening during this stage of your child’s development. Not every child will exhibit or experience terrible twos behavior. Some will bypass this all together while for some children the phase will last for at least a few years. It has been estimated that the period of time when toddler screaming tantrums are at their worst can begin at 19 months of age and continue on until they reach the age of four.

It is also important to note that the fastest rate of brain development that is experienced by a person occurs between birth and the age of three. The brain in a newborn will triple in size during their first 12 months of life. More than 1,000 trillion neural connections are formed by the time a child reaches the age of three. Research has shown that toddlers who are three have brains that are twice as active as the average adult brain. There is a lot going on at this stage of life.

Pediatrician Mary Wong, says, “The toddler years are a time of rapid growth andmdash; physically, mentally and socially. When a toddlerandrsquo;s desire to do something doesnandrsquo;t align with her ability, frustration is often the result. To further compound things, toddlers typically donandrsquo;t have the language skills to ask for help if things donandrsquo;t go smoothly.”

When toddlers want to do something but are unable to, they become frustrated. It is this frustration that is at the heart of the terrible twos behavior and the terrible twos tantrums.

Here are some ways you can better manage the terrible twos behavior your child may be experiencing:

  • Make sure your child gets enough rest. No one is at their best when they are tired and toddlers are no different. It is important to schedule any errands or outings accordingly. These should never be done at the time you normally give them a nap. When your child is rested, they will be less irritable.
  • Make a meal schedule. You can reduce your child’s irritability by making sure you do not take them out when they are hungry. Bring snacks with you if you will be away from the home for an extended period.
  • Talk to your child before you set out. You should try to work through any triggers before you head out the door.
  • Do not give in to their demands. If your child gets what they want due to a tantrum, this reinforces the idea that terrible twos behavior will be rewarded.
  • Keep them occupied. Boredom leads to frustration. Frustration leads to terrible twos behavior. Keeping them occupied can help prevent tantrums.
  • Stay calm. You need to treat terrible twos behavior the same when you are at home and in public. It is easier to let them go through a tantrum at home but if you are out and about, you may just have to remove both of you from the area.
  • Distract them. If something is upsetting your child, try to distract them. If they cannot play with something, try to bring their focus to something else. They may forget about what they were so upset about.

Dr. Wong says, “Your child won?t still be going through this phase when they go off to college.”

You are not the first parent to have to deal with terrible twos behavior and you are not the last. The good news is that it will not last forever.

5 Benefits of Installing a Water Filtration System in Your Home

Whole home water filtration

Drinking water is incredibly important. If you don’t have a water softener or water treatment system in your home that uses reverse osmosis to clean out the water, this might be something that you should consider investing in. Having clean, filtered water coming straight from your taps is such a great investment. There are different kinds of water systems that can be used to purify your water but almost all of them work with reverse osmosis to get out chlorine and other toxins from your drinking and bathing water. You’ll notice such a difference the first time you drink your freshly cleaned water. Here are just a few things that will change.

Your Hair and Skin
Hard water is so rough on your hair and skin. If your skin is dry and your hair feels brittle, this might have to do with the quality of your water. Once you switch over your water systems and let reverse osmosis do its thing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and how much better your hair and skin will feel. You probably will feel like you don’t even need body lotion. And your hair- well, the silkiness and smoothness of the commercials will be back with a vengeance. You will probably need to use less shampoo and conditioner because the water will carry it through your hair better so you’ll save money there to.

Your Hydration Levels
If you buy bottled water or have one of those five gallon water dispensers at your home, that’s great. At least you aren’t drinking the tap water. However, if you run out and forget to buy more, there might be a few days that go by without you drinking any water at all. That is so bad for your body and you should not let that happen. Having purified, filtered water coming straight from your faucet will guarantee that you and your family don’t have to ever go without drinking water.

Your Immune System
With all of the elements in regular faucet water, your immune system is being broken down little by little. You don’t even have to drink a lot of it for this to happen. If you have clean water coming from your taps, you’ll notice that you get sick a lot less often. Part of this has to do with the increased amount of water that you’ll likely be drinking. The other part has to do with how your immune system will literally begin to rebuild it self without having the harmful chemicals in the faucet water to tear it down.

Your Risk for Disease
Part of the reason they started putting chlorine into the water is because they were afraid of waterborne diseases. Well, that might have helped out for those things but the amount of chemicals and elements that are now in the water to make it “safe” for drinking are completely working against us. Even chlorine has been showed to have links to cancer and other conditions.

Your Plumbing Repairs
Without the problem of all of those chemicals, you will be at less risk for rusk and needing various repairs in your plumbing. There also won’t be chemical build up on the sides of the pipes, causing them to crack or even burst. If you stop using chemicals to clean your sinks and toilets, tubs and showers then you’ll be even less likely to have so many repairs done so often anymore.

Reverse osmosis and all of the ins and outs of water filtration might not be a big deal to you but the above differences that you will notice are something that everyone could benefit from. If you have children in the house, they are particularly susceptible to the toxins and hazards of tap water. Maybe you would never let your children drink from the tap. Even so, if they bathe in it they are definitely getting some of it in to their system. This can happen by straight up drinking the bath water if they are young. Or, it could happen even by just letting the water drops fall on their face in the shower. It’s not worth the risk.

Three Benefits of Hiring a Maid for Easier Housecleaning

Custom cleaning service

There are many benefits of hiring a maid when it comes to ensuring a clean home. Some people might feel that cleaning on their own is cheaper and easier. Others might think that there are not enough cleaning people out there and those that do exist are booked up. However, there are over 890,000 maids in the United States alone. Finding a maid service is not as difficult as people may think, and there are many cleaning services experienced in different types of work. Some individuals might feel trapped in a messy house, or feel guilt. They may feel that how their house looks is a reflection of who they are as individuals. Over 85% of women feel that their house (clean or dirty) reflects who they are. Here are three reasons why hiring a maid service is the way to go to save time and money.

Maids Can Provide or Use Cleaning Products That Meet Customer Specifications

Some customers may not choose a maid because they think the maid would only use certain cleaning products. This is not always true, and in fact, many custom cleaning service professionals allow customers to supply their own cleaning products that they would prefer to have used. For example, some individuals would rather use green products with less chemical additives, or vegan products that are not tested on animals and do not contain animal by-products. This is an easier way for customers to have the results they want and use products they prefer. It saves them the time from having to do the cleaning themselves, without using products that they believe to be harmful. Many services are providing green alternatives, since cleaning products alone contribute to over 30,000 tons of dangerous waste each year. There are many benefits of hiring a maid service, with the choice of products the customer would like to have used being one of them.

Maid Services Can Offer Assistance in Cleaning Out Apartments Before Moving

Many people who live in apartments often do not consider how they can benefit from maid service. This may be due to the fact that apartments are generally smaller than homes, and do not need as much time devoted to cleaning as a house does. However, apartment cleaning can be stressful when a person is trying to move out. They may be trying to clean the walls, oven, and other forgotten nooks and crannies they normally would not think of in day-to-day cleaning. This is one of the benefits of hiring a maid service. An experienced maid cleaning service can assess an apartment, and see what areas need to be reached the most. They can then assist individuals by taking care of the cleaning, while they focus on their move. This allows for a more stress-free experience in moving out. Because cleaning has been left to the professionals, individuals can also negotiate with their apartment complex, since they will not need to use their own in-house maid service or hire a cleaner-all the work has been done for them.

A Professional Maid Service Can Offer Carpet Cleaning

Many individuals do not look forward to cleaning their carpet. Since carpets can hold dirt and debris, they get dirty without much effort, and can be tiresome to clean. Over 20% of individuals believe their carpet is just as bad as their toilet, and over 80% believe that a clean carpet is a crucial component of having a clean home. A maid service can come equipped with a carpet cleaner, and ensure that difficult spots and other problems customers may be having with carpets and rugs are removed.

There are many benefits of hiring a maid service. Professional cleaners can ensure that the only house cleaning solutions used are ones that the customer prefers, including green cleaners. They can also make life easier for those moving out of apartments, by giving the unit a deep cleaning. This can make it easier for customers leaving their apartment complex to negotiate their security deposit with management. Finally, many maid services offer carpet cleaning, since they know carpets get dirty quickly, and many customers would rather not clean carpets themselves. Custom cleaning services can provide many different options for individuals.

Amid National Blood Shortage, Red Cross Calls for Donations

Red cross clothing donations

The American Red Cross has been one of the leading organizations in assisting struggling families and individuals for over a century. Along with the Red Cross clothes donations they handle, they also are well known for their blood donation program.

According to NWI Times, the Red Cross is currently experiencing a major blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood donors to schedule an appointment, donate now, and help save a struggling patient’s life.

“Blood and platelet donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on,” said Rodney Wilson, the communications maker for the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. “We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

The Red Cross stated that because of busy holiday schedules and intense winter weather conditions, there was a shortage of roughly 37,000 donations in November and December across the United States. More than 90 blood drives also were forced to cancel during that time because of snowstorms.

The organization is in most need of Type O-positive.

Whether or not you’re donating blood this winter, Red Cross clothes donations can truly change a person’s life for the better as well. There are Red Cross clothing donation centers that will accept your new or used clothing donations. Once you’ve made your donation, you can rest assure knowing that those items of clothing will be properly handled, cleaned, and distributed to struggling families who might otherwise not even have clothes on their backs.

Unfortunately, there are so many poor families and homeless people in the world. As government officials and politicians look toward solutions to these poverty issues, it’s up to individuals on a grass roots level to donate clothing and help out in any way they possibly can.

Rather than letting all your extra clothing pile up in your home, and especially rather than throwing out those items and harming the environment, make a Red Cross clothes donation this year and begin making a difference.