New Year, New Home Decor Trends

With fashion trends, a new color here or there, a different cut of denim…it’s all fairly easy and (usually) inexpensive to adopt. Home trends, however, can be quite spendy. Where white leather was all the rage two years ago, boldly-patterned fabric is now the “it” style. Where does that leave you if you spent thousands on a white leather couch only to see that it’s “out” a few seasons later? If you’re tackling this question, or if you are just sick and tired of your home decor and want to update a bit, we have some answers for you today. After all, it is white sale month. If you’re going to stock up on trends or basics, there’s no time like the present.

Late last fall, Pantone proclaimed Emerald Green as the color of the year for 2013. Coming off a year (2012) in which Tangerine Tango (bright orange) was the trend, green seems easily adoptable. Especially in the bedroom, this gorgeous, rich jewel tone is just right and very conducive to rest and relaxation. If you already have a graphic scheme going on (chevron, Ikat, stripes), toss in emerald throw pillows or bedding to get a fresh new pop of color. If you are looking to completely make over your room, think about investing in neutral decor (beige, grey, white), then add the texture, color, and prints you love.

American Mills Moire Pillow Set, $25.04, walmart.com

Another (slightly more shocking) color trend for home in 2013 is all-black. Just days after the calendar turned over, Houzz.com–a Pinterest-style site for home decor–proclaimed all-black exterior and interior color as a major look for the new year. What was once reserved for the hipster set has now trickled down to the rest of us. And before you scoff at all-black as only for Emo kids, take a look. The homes featured in this Houzz.com article are extremely striking without feeling “haunted house-like.” The interior you see via this pin on Pinterest is ultra-chic thanks to the pops of turquoise and white. Therein lies the key: color and white trim. Every adoptee of this dark color trend is choosing to pair it with white and brights. Especially in the bedroom, these pairings help bring necessary light to what could out very much like a cave.

Finally, if you have or love graphic prints, this is not the time to get rid of them! The black-on-white chevron that has popped up everywhere for the last year or so is still going strong. The newest way to adopt this look is with color. Go with an emerald and white striped duvet, or place a colorful patterned rug on the floor. The trend for 2013 is practically anything goes as long as there is visual interest or texture. An expensive example, for sure, the bedding from Anthropologie shown below demonstrates the capabilities of texture. Pintucks and ruffles can create a look similar to a bold print.

Quilla Bedding, $78-$268, anthropologie.com

With pops of color, texture, and prints, it’s hard to go wrong if you choose this year to update your home. We do, however, recommend one money-saving tip: outfit the room or the whole home in neutrals, then add the trendy pieces as accents. That chevron-upholstered headboard that is so on-trend now will make you feel like a million bucks…until it’s totally out in a year or two. Be smart, have fun…isn’t that always the best motto?

Changing Seasons, Changing Sleep Patterns: Autumn

 

As much as we hate to say it: summer is over. Sure, by the calendar it’s still officially summer, but the long, lazy weekends by the pool, the vacation weeks, the sun and sand…it’s just past its prime for the year. If you’re a die-hard summer person, you may be a little sad to see it go, but we actually have some good news. In terms of sleep, autumn is one of the best seasons to catch some ZZZZs. Don’t believe us? There is actually quite a bit of scientific research that proves our natural sleep patterns change according to seasons. Because we are on the cusp of fall, we’re going to discuss the good and the bad when it comes to sleep in September, October, November, early December.

Autumn: The Good
Researchers and sleep specialists agree that autumn is the season most conducive to good sleep for a number of reasons. For one, temperatures are typically lower. The extreme heat of the summer forces us to either crank up with air conditioning or muddle through each night with a fan. Once the nighttime temperatures reach into the 50s and 60s, the bedroom becomes cooler (but not cold) naturally. Light is also a major contributor to healthy sleep in the fall. Prior to the winter equinox, days are still quite long, meaning that there is enough natural light during the day to ward off the symptoms of Season Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder that often leads to depression and insomnia. That being said, the days begin to shorten, offering the best of both worlds: light for mood but dark for melatonin production. Allergy sufferers also tend to experience fewer problems as a whole during the fall months. The pollen counts of spring and summer lessen. As harvest season comes to an end, there are also fewer allergens to affect those who are sensitive. In terms of overall sleepiness, autumn ushers in a strange phenomena: most of us just feel sleepier. While it’s probably a combination of coming out of a busy summer and entering into a period of time in which days slowly shorten, it’s a point in the year where it seems oddly human nature to want to sleep.

Autumn: The Bad
In spite of everything good related to sleep and the fall, autumn can often vary widely in terms of temperature, allergens, light, and weather. Especially with global warming figured into the equation, the traditional fall months are trending toward summerlike temperatures. What was once termed “Indian Summer” is now commonplace (and brutally hot) despite what the calendar says. With a target bedroom temperature somewhere between 65 and 72 degrees, it can be difficult to create the perfect sleeping environment without air conditioning and/or fans. In many parts of the country, some allergens do rear their ugly heads particularly during the autumn. Ragweed can be extremely bothersome to those who are sensitive, as can mold since it often becomes airborne. If it’s cool enough to sleep with the windows open, some may find that ragweed and mold cause too much congestion upon waking.

Autumn: Tips for Great Sleep
Especially if you are new to geographical location, you may not know what to expect when fall arrives. Sleep specialists seem to all agree that airing out the house and the bedroom specifically can help create a calming mindset as soon as temperature cooperate. Many seem to suggest, too, getting out for a walk in the early evening to soak up natural light before bed. Mentally, this clears the head and helps one appreciate the beauty of the season. Physically, getting out before settling in for the night helps the body absorb that vital natural light and provides some aerobic activity. And, of course, if allergies or SAD plague, it’s important to find and work with your physician for great days and great nights.

Work Smarter: Five Chores You Should Be Doing While You Sleep

 

We’ve all heard the saying “work smarter, not harder,” but when it comes to mundane household cleaning, it seems that nothing replaces hard work and time. That may be one reason why we hate doing it so much. You can only put off cleaning the toilets or doing the laundry so long, which means that at some point your stuck inside on a sunny, beautiful day doing housework rather than heading out for a day of fun. Well, maybe the picture doesn’t have to be as bleak as it seems. In actuality, you can use a good night’s sleep to start the cleaning process. In fact, we would venture to say that there are major home chores that you should only do as you sleep. Interested? Read on for our top five.

Clean the toilet
Okay, so cleaning the toilet doesn’t always take that long, yet it’s one of those chores that adds time to your routine. On the other hand, if you have hard water, cleaning the ring around the toilet can take a fair amount of elbow grease and time–or some pretty high-powered chemicals. An eco-friendly and easy solution to this task is a little white vinegar or Borax. Before bed, add a couple of cups of vinegar or 3/4 of a cup of Borax to the toilet bowl. For tough hard water rings, use your toilet brush to make sure the solution is applied above the waterline. Then go to bed. That’s right…stop everything and let the vinegar or Borax do their job. When you wake up, swirl the toilet brush around the bowl and flush. Doing this once a week should be plenty.

Clean your (non-self-cleaning) oven
One word of caution: never turn on your oven to run while you sleep. That being said, “soaking” your oven overnight is the perfect way to soften and release baked-on and burned-on oven messes. Spray the oven’s interior with your choice of oven cleaner, then place old towels or paper towels just outside the door to catch any drips. When you wake up, don your rubber gloves and gently wipe away the softened dirt and leftover oven cleaner. It’s a trick that may just give you back an hour or two on oven cleaning day.

Deodorize your carpets
From pet odors to musty smells, baking soda is always a good choice when carpets and upholstery smell less than fresh. The biggest obstacle to using it is the time it takes to fully absorb the odors. Of course while it’s on your carpet, you tend to walk over it, tracking it all over the house and actually removing patches of the baking soda from where it really needs to be working. The solution is deodorizing overnight. Before bed, vacuum your carpet, then sprinkle baking soda liberally. If you have really stubborn odors, you may want to work it into the carpet or upholstery with a clean broom. Then go to bed and let it do its magic. When you wake up, run the vacuum back over the area to remove the baking soda.

Clean your shower
We’ve all seen the advertisements for automatic shower cleaning solutions. Just spray after a shower, then it cleans. The problem is often that you don’t get the greatest results unless you do it the right way. First, you are going to have to clean. Find time to get your shower sparkling. This step allows the shower cleaning solution to work at its maximum potential. Second–and a big reason to do it while you sleep–fresh water running over the cleaner weakens its effects. Spray the shower down after the family’s last shower for the night, then let the solution work while everyone sleeps. In the morning, there’s no need to wipe down or rinse away. Just complete this step every night and you’ll probably never clean the shower again.

Do the laundry or the dishes
Unless the sound will keep the family awake, doing the dishes and laundry at night is smart. First, you aren’t waiting for the cycles to finish. Second, energy costs can be lower at off-peak hours like bedtime (important for those of us who are surcharged for energy use during peak hours). Fill the dishwasher and let it cycle through during the early part of your sleep. The washer, on the other hand, should be set to start in the middle of the night, if possible. If your washer doesn’t have a delayed start cycle, you can still begin the wash at bedtime. Just keep in mind that laundered, wet clothing may not smell quite as fresh after sitting in a closed washer all night long if your home is hot and/or humid. In cooler months, or if you always use air conditioning, the potential for soured laundry is nearly non-existent, making bedtime the smartest time for starting a long cycle like towels or whites.

Massage Therapy: More Than A Frivolous Luxury

 

If you follow us on Facebook, you know that we have a lot of fun seeking out the silly unofficial holidays that seem to pop up every calendar day (hello, National Joke Day last Friday). One “awareness week” that recently hit our radar was Every Body Needs A Massage Week, which is observed this month. After a little research, it seems that there’s more substance to this than just the silly name we were bound to make light of.

No denying it, massage is expensive. With prices that range anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars for just a half-hour, historically massage has been viewed as a frivolous luxury that most of us just can’t justify. That being said, perceptions have changed over the past few years. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 90% of survey respondents in 2011 stated that they “perceive[d] massage therapy as effective in reducing pain….” This percentage has grown exponentially just since 2009. Despite this acceptance of massage therapy as a beneficial treatment, the tough economy appears to be keeping people from heading to their massage therapists for even occasional treatments. In fact, 2011 saw a 30% reduction in trips to massage therapists, according to the AMTA, despite the fact that a growing number expressed a need for massage.

Boasting results like a reduction in lower back pain, arthritis pain management, and help with insomnia, most of us would benefit from regular massage therapy. Because it can be hard to add regular massages into a tight budget, we decided to scour the web, finding easy at-home massage techniques to share. They’re safe, beneficial, and best of all…free!

WebMD.com’s “Massage Therapy for Stress Relief and Much More” is an all-encompassing, vital step-by-step guide that explains how to easily apply gentle pressure and massage techniques to relieve tired, strained eyes, ease headaches and tension, soothe tired feet, and more. For example, WebMD explains that you can lessen a headache often by placing your thumbs gently on your temples while moving them in a circular motion.

Another excellent home-massage compendium is LiveStrong.com’s “How to Do Self-Massage,” featuring massage tips to relax shoulders, soothe feet and relax hands–an important area to stretch if you spend a lot of time typing.

While the title is maybe a bit misleading (a facelift is impossible through massage alone), care2.com’s article “Massage Yourself a Face-Lift” takes you step-by-step through a facial massage. Using a great skin oil (no, that’s not an oxymoron) like extra virgin olive oil as a moisturizing slip agent, do-it-yourself massages like this one can help soothe, relax, and rejuvenate.

Of course you don’t have to complete a structured series to feel the benefits of massage therapy. For those who wear high heels often, simply lacing the fingers of one hand through the toes and spreading them gently can reduce foot fatigue and that “pinched” feeling. For those with back pain, place three (or more) tennis balls on a carpeted floor, then lie down on them making sure the tennis balls are arranged near the source of the back pain. The rubbery balls give just enough so that they don’t hurt, yet the rigidity allows the back to stretch and relax.

With simple at-home, do-it-yourself massage techniques like these, you may find that you can stretch your dollar by seeking professional massage therapy less frequently. Why celebrate Every Body Deserves a Massage Week just one week out of the year? With a little practice, you can celebrate relaxation and comfort every single day.

How to Keep Calm and Rested throughout Vacation Season

From September through May, most of us dream of vacation season. No work, no school, no worries…all relaxation. It’s a great idealized notion to get us through the long winter months but when vacation becomes reality, it often comes with a fair amount of frustration, stress and exhaustion. By the time you pack a week’s worth of clothing for the kids and yourself, schedule flights and hotels, and schedule pet and/or home sitting, you may find that you need a vacation from vacation. While planning a trip and traveling will always come with some degree of stress, it doesn’t have to become something to dread. We’ve contacted veteran travelers and compiled our own vacation best practices to help this year’s summer vacation feel restful and relaxing. We can’t help you with long layovers and lumpy hotel mattresses (don’t you wish you could take your Spa Sensations mattress everywhere?), but we can help you make some smart choices that will put the vacation back in your…well…vacation.

Kids and Vacation Schedules
We’ve said it many times but it bears repeating: if the kids aren’t sleeping, you aren’t sleeping. With all the anticipation compounded by major routine changes, vacations and travel can wreak havoc on kids’ sleep and rest habits. Once they’re exhausted, they often begin to act out during waking moments, all leading to more frustration for tired, vacationing parents. Especially if you are traveling to other time zones, parents should expect some degree of behavior changes but there are ways to help. For example, work with the new time instead of with your home time zone. If naptime comes at 1:00 p.m. each day, schedule some family rest at 1:00 wherever you are. If the kids aren’t sleepy, just do a quiet time; however, if they can’t stay awake until 1:00, let them sleep. Vacation is about loosening the rules a bit, after all. Just don’t make the all-too-common vacation mistake of scheduling activities over naps and snack times unless you want to face a little rebellion.

Packing for Kids
One of the first pre-vacation steps you probably take is packing the kids’ clothes and toiletries. What many parents often forget is lovies, blanets and nightlights. Every savvy, travel-wise parent knows that a family vacation is no time to forget the stuffed animal or security blanket that their little one requires to fall asleep. Especially if routines are up-in-the-air, kids need something homelike. Trust us…make room for whatever your child needs to fall asleep or soothe. Also plan to let kids scope out their vacation beds and bedrooms. Bedtime is no time to find that your children need to peek under beds and look in drawers.

Build in a Day of Rest
Many of us head out of town the day our vacation starts and come home the day it ends. While this type of schedule does max out the vacation time, it doesn’t build any rest into the equation. In fact, you may head back to work more burnt out than when you left. It may be hard but take one day off your trip and schedule a day at home before heading back to the office. This extra time gives you the chance to do laundry, head to the grocery store and catch up on whatever was missed during the trip. It may be mundane stuff but it will prepare you to get back to the daily grind.

Don’t Over-schedule
If you’re headed to an interesting locale with tons of activities, your first inclination may be to pack as much as possible into every hour you spend there. Take this avenue and there’s a good chance you won’t enjoy a single thing, plus you’ll come home a bit dazed. Do your homework and decide what activities or events are the very most important to you, then add those to your vacation schedule. Make sure to build chunks of activity-free time in just to wander or relax on the beach or zone out. It will do wonders for your mental state.

Eat (and Drink) Smart
Your idealized version of vacation may include unlimited tropical beverages and multiple desserts. A steady stream of Key Lime Pie and Mai Tais can absolutely ruin vacation. Eat, drink and enjoy the local flavors, but don’t go overboard. Gaining weight may be the least of your worries. Too much sugar, alcohol and heavy fare can cause indigestion and gastro problems that will not lead to a happy vacation. Absolutely indulge but keep your body healthy and your head clear with moderation and light meals when you aren’t allowing yourself to feast on a local delicacy.

Set Realistic Expectations
Things are going to go wrong. Don’t get down if an event is rained out or if your toddler melts down in the middle of a wonderful family outing. Unrealistic expectations are public enemy number one when it comes to relaxation on vacation. Mentally prepare yourself to laugh off these little obstacles and view the vacation as the sum of its parts. One bad experience shouldn’t ruin the entire trip.

Pollen Report: Simple Ways to Look Your Best Throughout Allergy Season

Red-rimmed eyes, tissues strategically tucked in every pocket, a nose that puts Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shame…it’s spring allergy season. Most of us enjoyed a warmer-than-usual winter but we’re paying the price now with ultra-high pollen and mold spores in the atmosphere. Of course we all know there is no shortage of allergy medications on the market but they only alleviate the symptoms. You still wake up with the telltale signs–puffy eyes, purple under-eye circles and skin ruddiness. Let’s be honest, we all want to look better than we feel at times like these.

When it comes to allergy season beauty, the approach is three-pronged: prevent, treat and correct. Sound difficult? Never fear…we’re here to offer up easy tips and tricks to downplay the allergy/sinus look while you await fall (or the first freeze).

Step 1: Prevent
There are easy steps to prevent allergens, and many of these steps begin in the bedroom. Simply vacuuming your mattress and your carpeting is a perfect first line of defense against pollen spores. Washing your sheets regularly also helps to rid trapped allergens. If you’re still waking up puffy, sleep on two pillows instead of one. The slight elevation will help fluids drain from your face, meaning you’ll wake up less puffy.

Step 2: Treat
Allergy medication has come a long way in terms of treating symptoms with very few side effects (like medicine head). Talk to your doctor about allergy medications. As for treating the effects of allergies, moisturizing your face is vital. The friction created by using a tissue so often creates red, dry, painful chafing. Use a gentle oil-free (and preferably fragrance-free) moisturizer all over your face, then dab something extra emollient like Aquafor on irritated skin. Since lips also become chapped, Eos lip balms are excellent for both treating and preventing irritation. Red, itchy eyes can also be alleviated with an inexpensive over-the-counter eye drop. And do not forget to drink water. It helps to flush your body, ultimately keeping you hydrated one the inside and out.

Eos Lip Balm

Step 3: Correct
Despite all your best attempts to prevent and treat them, signs of allergies may still show themselves, especially in terms of beauty. For most men, this step is more difficult because it does require some camouflage by way of make-up but cosmetic products are very effective. While you might think those yellow concealers at the store look scary, they actually make a lot of sense. Yellow counteracts red, so a light application of a yellow cream or powder can actually neutralize that red nose. If eyes are red but not itchy or tearing, a nude-colored eyeliner can brighten eyes and conceal the telltale signs of allergies (skip this step if your eyes are watering or if you find yourself touching them often). Don’t do a full-on contoured eye, even if you’re headed to the office. Opt for a beige wash across the lid and a slightly shimmery (not glittery) shadow on the browbone. This visually opens your eye, making you look more awake and lifted. As for actual color cosmetics, choose nude or pink-ish tones. A pale pink or even coppery-pink shade of blush and lipstick can help enliven your face. For men, a lightly tinted moisturizer can be beneficial. Many of the latest forms of these moisturizers go on sheer, meaning men (and women) won’t have to worry about looking “made up.”

Physician's Formula Mineral Concealer in Yellow

Beauty Tips to Make You Wake Up Looking Beautiful Every Day

If Sleeping Beauty had a sister named Waking Beauty, it’s a sure bet there would be some sibling rivalry. It’s all well and good to look lovely while sleeping but it’s something altogether more magical when we awake looking good. Between the hair knots, facial creases and puffy eyes, most of us spend the greater part of our morning routine battling the effects of how we’ve slept. It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Truly, a few easy steps before bed can have you looking your best the moment you finally submit to the alarm’s call. Ready to look better tomorrow morning? Read on because we’re here to help.

Bad Breath: Our mothers always told us to brush our teeth before bed, and you have probably heeded that advice throughout your lifetime. As it turns out, it’s probably not enough. A bedtime routine should include a three-pronged approach: flossing, brushing and mouthwash. Not one of the three steps can adequately remove and kill bacteria alone, and this bacteria causes both bad breath and cavities. Take that brushing  a step further and you’ll have better breath in the a.m.

Lysterine Total Care Zero, under $6

Facial Creases: When it comes to the ideal position for sleeping, your back is the best way to go. Between the weight of your head (7 to 9 pounds) and the friction caused by your pillowcase as you move during sleep, creases and wrinkles are bound to happen. Of course the creases go away within a few hours but the cumulative effect can lead to deep wrinkles. Your best bet is to try to train yourself to sleep on your back every single night. If you still find that you’re migrating onto your side or stomach, try a satin pillowcase. The slip factor of satin means less friction.
Shop affordable satin pillowcases at walmart.com.

Puffy Eyes and/or Face: Like facial creases, puffiness and bloating can be caused by sleep position. A bit of gravity helps fluids drain. Sleeping slightly elevated on your back is the best position. Try doubling your pillows, one on top of the other, for a good angle. A second culprit is diet. Dehydration, salt and carbohydrates can cause whole-body bloating. The MSN Living article “10 Ways to Wake Up Beautiful” explains that a dinner of rice, pasta or potatoes can lead to “carb face,” that pasty, bloated look the next morning. Of course salt causes the body to retain water, while drinking plenty of water helps flush your system for that coveted svelte look.


Breakouts: No matter what time you go to bed, wash your face before you turn in. You may be tempted to skip this step when you’re exhausted but that’s always a bad idea. With or without makeup, dirt, oil and toxins build up on your face throughout the day. Failing to remove this dirt leads to clogged pores. For a deep, relaxing clean, choose a cleansing brush. The Clarisonic is ideal but expensive. An effective but more economical choice is the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System. Use your favorite cleanser and brush away the poor-clogging dirt and debris.

Dull Skin: Night is the perfect time to work a skincare treatment into your beauty regimen. If you’re feeling a little lackluster, try a sunless tanning cream. A gradual tanner like Coppertone Sunless Tanning Lotion goes on clear and builds gradually, which means you won’t stain your sheets with the formula and you won’t have to worry about fast-forming splotches. An AHA skin moisturizer like St. Ives Naturally Smooth Fruit AHA Complex Body Lotion also does wonders for uneven skin tone, light sun damage and breakouts.

Knotted, Dull Hair: Our mothers and grandmothers slept in soup cans and curlers to wake up with gorgeous hair. Thankfully hair tool technology has changed a bit; however, it’s still a good idea to take some beautifying steps before bed. Night is a great time to apply a deep moisturizing hair conditioner. You’ll have to wash it out the next morning, but your tresses will look silky and shiny. When you aren’t deep conditioning, make sure your hair is pulled up while you sleep. Buns and high ponytails keep locks knot-free. If you’re hoping for beachy waves, try braiding your hair in three or more plaits. Upon awaking, just shake out the braids and spritz some texturizing spray.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

Rough Heels: Especially during warmer months, a nighttime foot treatment will lead to perfect sandal-ready feet the next morning. For a head start, slough dry skin and callouses with pumice stone or foot file immediately after an evening bath or shower. Apply an ultra-moisturizing foot cream like Sally Hansen Intensive Overnight Heel Repair Cream, then slip moisturized feet into lightweight cotton socks. By morning, feet will be soft and smooth.

Sally Hansen Overnight Foot Cream

All Heart: Thoroughly Indulgent Heart-Healthy Tips

Ah, February. While many of us tend to think of the shortest month of the year as the season of love and romance, it’s also a month devoted to the heart in a very different way. February is American Heart Month. Bearing very sobering statistics, heart disease claims the lives of many every year and is the number 1 killer of women in the U.S. It’s also a disease that is largely preventable with diet, exercise, stress management, and physical rest. Not to minimize the diet and exercise part, we do know a thing or two about the latter. And, really, our heart-healthy tips are absolutely affordably-indulgent. (No tofu and carrot sticks here!)

For a healthier lifestyle, treat yourself to…

Have a Cup of (Green) Tea: With its powerful antioxidants, green tea is widely recommended by healthcare professionals for a number of health benefits. And, in fact, a recent study from the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation found that human blood vessels functioned better within 30 minutes of drinking a single cup. (Source: WebMD.) Besides being so relaxing, green tea is also an affordable luxury.

For about $10, pick up Keurig K-Cups featuring Bigelow Green Tea at Walmart.com or at your local store.

A Yoga Session: Yes, time is hard to come by but in as little as 12 weeks after incorporating yoga into your day, many see a reduction in cholesterol and lower blood pressure. (Source: American Heart Association.) As a bonus, you may experience a greater feeling of relaxation, leading to better sleep and rest.

Whether for cardio or relaxation benefits, you should always consult your own doctor before beginning an exercise regimen. When you are ready, the yoga set featured above garners rave reviews.

Read a Good Book or Begin a Journal: No matter your favorite book or magazine genre, simply taking a few minutes to read each day can reduce your stress level and, therefore, benefit your heart. The American Heart Association recommends finding just 15 minutes in your day to do something enjoyable, whether reading, having a cup of tea with friends, or writing in a journal.

Recording the day’s events or special memories in a journal like the one featured above both beats stress and creates a lasting memory to share with others or just yourself.

Enjoy Aromatherapy During a Relaxing Bath: When it comes to rest, relaxation, and better sleep, aromatherapy and a warm soak each evening can be the ultimate indulgence. Even for just a few minutes between the kids’ bedtime and your own, there’s plenty of time to reap the benefits of this lavish, beneficial stress management technique.

For the ultimate multi-tasker, try this lavender-scented bath product (less than $5!) to calm and relax for a better night’s sleep and, ultimately, greater stress management.

This year, instead of anticipating candy and chocolates for Valentine’s Day, celebrate good heart health with one or all of these feel-good ideas and products.

Welcome to Simple Luxuries

Welcome to Spa Sensations’ Simple Luxuries blog! As you may already know, Spa Sensations truly believes that comfort is a fundamental human need that should be available to everyone. For that reason, we are committed to designing and creating luxurious, feel-good sleep products that are affordable and therefore accessible to every single person. That’s what we do but our mission is much, much greater. To all of us at Spa Sensations, mattresses, pillows, and toppers are  just the beginning. Our goal–our true mission–is to see our customers living a life of health and great wellbeing, and feeling just a bit pampered at the same time.

This blog is one way we hope to accomplish this goal. If you’re looking for a hard sell, you won’t find it here (refreshing, isn’t it?). Simple Luxuries is your place to visit for tips, discussions, ideas, and suggestions to treat yourself and live well. Think of it as the ultimate non-guilty pleasure. Please come back and visit often. We also invite you to visit our Facebook page to share stories, offer feedback, and get the lowdown on new products.

Feel good!