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Eco-Tips Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Products & Sales

The LaNoodle Pillow Education

I consider myself a country boy with a broad, somewhat worldly perspective. I was born in Maryland. I grew up in North Carolina and Virginia. There are some things country folk are known for, but healthy lifestyles has never been one of them. That being said, I know that there is a certain amount of education that has to occur for someone like me, when it comes to organic products and healthy living. Add to that, I am an overweight, type 2 diabetic, which is a further indication that I do not have a great track record of making healthy choices.

But I’m still fighting to change all that. I’ve cut out fried foods as much as absolutely possible. I’m eating more kale than any ten human beings around me at any given moment these days. Hell, I even got a bike for Christmas … and I’m actually riding it. I’m getting healthier is my point.

TroyLaNoodle
I’m not much of a sleeper, but the LaNoodle pillow is teaching me that a healthy life begins with healthy sleep.

So, coming to work at CozyPure has been a huge step in the right direction and a graduation to another level of educating myself about healthier living. And let me just preface the rest of this by saying that listed on my chart of medical conditions is occasional bouts of insomnia. These bouts have been so frequent that I’ve sort of written off the notion of getting a lot of healthy sleep in my life. But as I’ve learned in a short period of time of working and researching sleep issues at CozyPure, it is definitely something I need to pay more attention to on my quest to healthier living. More sleep equals more energy. And more energy equals more weight loss. I’d clearly neglected a vital link in the chain to a healthier me. I need to solve this whole sleep conundrum.

Step one to solving this mystery has been sleeping on CozyPure’s bestselling LaNoodle pillow. While I can’t speak to the science of what tiny, little latex noodles masterfully stuffed in an organic casing should do for helping you sleep, but I feel tremendous after sleeping on one of these organic gems.

My neck pain has reduced greatly, as the LaNoodle cradles my rather bulbous head and shoulders in a way that makes drifting off to sleep a much less daunting task. With each passing night of sleeping on the LaNoodle pillow, I value sleep a bit more. And that is huge for me.
I don’t think any other product could’ve affected that change in me.

Sleeping on my new LaNoodle pillow, I begin to think maybe my sleep woes are more a case of I’ve been doing it, but I haven’t been doing it with the right tools. I guess it’s the equivalent of eating your farm fresh peas with a fork with only one tine. You can get it done but it probably could be done better with a spoon. So I’m thrilled I turned in my old pillow for a CozyPure LaNoodle pillow. It has opened the door to the school of healthy sleep. I can’t wait to see what CozyPure’s entire sleep system has to teach this country boy.

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom News Coverage Press Releases Products & Sales Retailers

Embracing National Cuddle Up Day on January 6

January 6 is National Cuddle Up Day and we’re embracing it at CozyPure. After all, who better to celebrate this nationwide day of cuddling than makers of organic mattresses and bedding? So it’s official, CozyPure declares National Cuddle Up Day as it’s holiday.

Some may wonder why the nation would adopt a holiday devoted to such a seemingly inconsequential activity like cuddling. But, there is so much more to a good cuddle than we realize. There are many physical and emotional benefits to cuddling. When cuddling, the body releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, endorphins, the chemical most experience after exercise, and dopamine, the hormone that enhances sexual desire. These chemical and hormonal releases have been shown to help lower blood pressure, chances of heart disease and aleviate anxiety. That’s right, you get all that from just cuddling up with a loved one.

To celebrate National Cuddle Up Day on Jan. 6, CozyPure is hosting contests on Facebook and Instagram.
To celebrate National Cuddle Up Day on Jan. 6, CozyPure is hosting contests on Facebook and Instagram.

Moreover, human contact makes us better communicators as well. We can communicate soothing thoughts and comforting wishes through cuddling, hugging and kissing.

Of course, there’s no better place to engage in these comforting and sensual activities than on CozyPure Organic Mattresses and Bedding. Knowing that your cuddle time is free of harmful chemicals and fillers will add peace of mind to your warm snuggle. And since all CozyPure bedding is made with organic and sustainable ingredients, you can cuddle knowing that you’ll have pure organic comfort to cuddle on for years to come.

Since we’re so excited to celebrate National Cuddle Up Day on January 6, we’re holding two social media contests on Facebook and Instagram. On Facebook, you can enter the “Who Ya Wanna Cuddle?” Contest. Just comment on our “Who Ya Wanna Cuddle” post with who you’d like to cuddle with on National Cuddle Up Day and why. We’ll choose the comment we like most and that person will win a $100 gift certficate to CozyPure. You can also enter the “Cutest Cuddle” Contest on Instagram. Just post a photo of your cutest cuddle with #cozycutecuddle. The winning cuddle will also receive a $100 gift certificate. Winners for both contest will be announced on National Hugging Day, January 21, 2016. So enter now!

Also, because we want you to get closer to us on National Cuddle Up Day, we’re having an in-store only sale at our location at 2308 Granby Street, Norfolk, Va. Stop in and practice your cuddling skills in our showroom on January 6. And if you purchase a CozyPure mattress, you’ll be welcomed into our prestigious Cuddle-Up Club. Members of the Cuddle-Up Club get 20% off all future organic bedding purchases. You can enjoy healthy slumber and loads of cuddling for years to come.

So, celebrate National Cuddle Up Day by entering our social media contests and/or come by CozyPure on the big day to embrace some big savings. Happy National Cuddle Up Day!

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Miscellaneous

Every Day is Earth Day

We like to be mindful of our environment every day around here. But some things just can’t be avoided. As green as we are in our company practices we’re still occasionally confronted with some challenges that are very “un-green” while running the business. The difference, however, is how we choose to deal with those things. First a little background.

If you’re not familiar with our company, we started out back in 1990 as one of America’s first green-living stores originally under the name Tomorrow’s World. We offered everything from compact fluorescent light bulbs to shower heads and even low-flow toilets!

catalogs
Archived catalogs

Our mail order catalogs featured clothing and bedding made from organic, sustainable fibers such as hemp and organic cotton… in fact we were one of the first retailers in the country to ship mattresses and bedding direct to the consumer.

Early 1990’s. We sold mattresses with organic materials in our catalog way before the internet

In 2011, we invested in a solar system that generates 89,400 kWh of electricity yearly.

solar
Just a portion of our solar array system

 

CozyPure® is proud to be an EPA Green-Power-Partner

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The lighting in our recently renovated space features 4w LED bulbs throughout the offices and showroom. The entire area of 5,000 SF uses a total equivalent of having eight lamps with 75watt light bulbs. WOOP!

showroom
We have SIXTY dimmable LED bulbs in our showroom – the equivalent of four 60 watt light bulbs

 

We upgraded all the workshop bulbs from T12 to T2. Not only are they energy efficient, they also provide a beautiful bright light that looks very similar to the natural daylight we get from the skylights in our historic early 1900 building.

t2-lights
We converted sixty fixtures from T12 bulbs (75 watts each)   to T2 bulbs (11 watts each). YOWSA!

 

In our parking lot the recycling dumpster is 3x bigger than the trash dumpster. We encourage a no-waste policy and reuse or recycle mostly everything. Paper copies are converted for note-taking (no post-its here). We collect our raw material scraps and offer to crafters at an affordable price.

batting
Why waste scraps of beautiful organic batting when someone else can use them?

 

We’ve always had plants to not only provide aesthetics in our surroundings, but to also naturally filter the air around us. Our first plant, Aggie, has been with us now for over 20 years. OK so maybe she’s really a tree (over 7 feet with yearly clippings)

office-plants
No it’s not a greenhouse or nursery, we just love plants. Oh and BTW those cool glass-wood partition walls were demoed and upcycled from their original use circa 1930 – just part of the history in our beloved 1909 building that we wanted to preserve – so yup we did that too 🙂

 

Of course, ALL of our products are made from sustainable, renewable materials such as organic rubber, organic cotton, wool, buckwheat and kapok and made in the USA. We DO NOT make CozyPure bedding from non-renewable petroleum foams or synthetics – the most common materials in conventional bedding (yup – you probably have that yucky stuff in your pillows, blankets and mattress – sorry).

organic-bedding
Wool comforters – the kind great-grandma had, you know, the kind that lasted

 

Our warehouse shelving and workshop tables are custom-made and handcrafted from FSC-certified wood.

work-tables
Oh it’s our lovely ladies who tuft, they’re pretty awesome

 

Our kitchenette was upgraded with an on-demand hot water heater. Our fridge is Euro-designed highly energy efficient. We have two antique buffets getting restored with quartz-recycled glass counter-top from Absolute Kitchen & Bath (a local kitchen contractor).  We had our floors restored to their natural finish by Hapax Concrete (another local yocal). You’ll also find temperature-control curtains we installed throughout our warehouse which retain heat and/or coolness, in addition to ceiling and exhaust fans. Heck, even our bathrooms have organic castile soap for washing our hands.

organic-soap
Soap made with certified organic oils makes hand-washing fun!

 

We don’t just say we’re green, we are green. After all actions speak much louder than words.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was waste from plastic. Many of our raw materials arrive wrapped in large plastic bags, for protection during shipping. We couldn’t recycle this type of plastic in our container, and we couldn’t find any practical way to reuse such a massive quantity of bags. Thankfully, Mr. John came to our rescue two years ago.

john-plastic
Studly Mr John gets a work out hauling all that plastic and we gals look forward to the eye candy when he comes to collect :)~

 

John volunteers his time to collect plastic bags for a local school. The bags are then recycled into plastic lumber for an assortment of furniture and decking. The school that collects the most tonnage wins and ever since we’ve been doing this “our” school (the smallest one in Norfolk) wins the contest and we suspect our contribution of plastic helps greatly, as well as Mr. John’s efforts 🙂

This Earth Day think about ways you can change your daily habits. Try small changes like taking your own bags to the market or using a refillable water bottle. You’ll be surprised how quickly it becomes a part of your daily lifestyle, not just something you do on Earth Day, after all…

GOOD PLANETS ARE HARD TO FIND

Happy Earth Day!

Are you ready to dispose of your chemical-laden, plastic-based bedding?

CozyPure offers a nice selection of everything from mattresses and toppers to comforters and linens all made from renewable, sustainable, natural and organic materials. And the annual Earth Day sale is going on through April 30th.
BE GREEN. SLEEP GREEN. SAVE GREEN.

cozypure_1

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living

Kermit Was Wrong: It Is Easy Being Green

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to ways I can live more sustainably.  With two young children, it’s really important for me to set a good example. We are primarily a vegetarian household, we recycle (my 3-year old is a “master” in her own right), don’t let the water run while brushing our teeth, shut off lights when not in use and, of course, sleep organically on our CozyPure® mattress.  But there must be other changes I can implement, right?

So, lately, I’ve been looking for a little inspiration. Who better to inspire than some of the dedicated, passionate individuals below who’ve made it their mission to share what they’ve learned along the way … when asked for some good, down-to-earth and easy-to-employ changes, here’s what they had to offer…


Cheryl Hahn is the founder and CEO of Environmental Resource Outlet, the corporate umbrella for CozyPure® organics, Organic Comfort Zone and Tomorrow’s World (one of America’s first green living retail stores). www.cozypure.com

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 “If you want a cleaner bedroom, make it naked. You spend one-third of your life in the bedroom, yet it’s often overlooked. Luckily it’s an easy space to make some simple green living changes and also one of the most effective considering we collectively spend about 4 FULL months out of the year sleeping!”

  • For window treatments choose natural fiber curtains, shades, wood blinds or shutters and stay away from heavy draperies which are usually treated with chemicals and also harbor dust mites.
  • New carpet and adhesives can outgas a vast array of toxic chemicals. Bare floors are best.
  • Introduce a few plants to naturally filter the air in your bedroom. Plants add beauty, produce oxygen and absorb chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. Good choices are English Ivy and Spider Plant; both species are hardy, easy to care for and rated the best for air filtration.
  • Select furniture crafted from real solid wood; avoid press-board and plywood which contain chemicals and offer low-quality durability.
  • Your mattress and bedding should be made from natural and organic materials which breathe to help keep your sleep system dry and clean. Avoid synthetic fabrics and foams made from petroleum-based elements which outgas chemicals and also have a tendency to harbor heat and moisture which is conducive for dust mites.

Since the FDA doesn’t regulate the chemicals in bedding, it’s important to choose organic materials, after all it’s one of the most intimate products we use on a daily basis.


Nancy Peplinsky, Founder and Executive Director of the Holistic Moms Network. She’s mom to two boys and three canine “children”, all of whom are regularly subjected to her passion for natural living. www.holisticmoms.org

“Children always learn best by example.  Try these simple ways to go green with your kids and to teach them valuable lessons about living more sustainably…

  • Hang your clothes.  During warmer seasons and sunny days, round up the kids and head outside to save energy by hanging your clothes to dry in the sun rather than running the dryer.  Even little kids can help or they can enjoy being outdoors while you set clothes on the line.
  • Wrap things up creatively.  Rather than spending money on wasteful wrapping paper for gifts, try being innovative and creative.  Wrap up a gift in fabric from old clothes or use brown paper grocery bags turned inside out.  Set the kids to work with crayons, markers, or stickers to decorate your gift with originality and flair!
  • Get growing!  Teach your kids sustainability by starting your own garden or even planting some windowsill herbs.  Let your kids pick some seeds to grow and give them a chance to experience gardening first hand, from seed to harvest.  Kids who participate in gardening are also more likely to try harvested foods, so you can teach them to eat healthier at the same time.”

kids-garden


Brian Clark Howard covers the environment for National Geographic. He has written for numerous publications and is the co-author of six books, including Green Lighting.

Lighting affects how we work, play, and even feel.

It also requires a great deal of energy and a significant amount of money every month. So reduce your footprint and simplify your life with these easy tips:
LED-bulbs

  • Use daylighting. Open up those curtains and let the free light in! If you are designing a space, include skylights, clerestory windows or “solar tubes” to bring the daylight indoors.
  • Use task lighting. Turn on targeted lights just where you need them, instead of flooding your whole space with light. You’ll save energy and set a more relaxed and attractive ambiance.
  • Use dimmers and timers. Dimmers also help you set the mood, while saving energy. Only designated LEDs (light emitting diodes) and CFLs (compact fluorescents) can be dimmed, but they are worth the extra upfront cost. Halogens also dim smoothly but use less energy than traditional incandescents. Timers help you save money and avoid waste.
  • Buy Energy Star. Lighting products certified by the EPA’s Energy Star program must meet efficiency and quality standards, reducing the chance that you’ll be disappointed by a product’s results.
  • Switch out high-use bulbs. When upgrading to the latest efficiency technology, such as CFLs or LEDs, start with the bulbs you use most. If you have time and budget, work down from there to lower-use fixtures.
  • Recycle spent bulbs. Don’t throw them in the trash! Fluorescents have a small amount of mercury in them, and even incandescents can be recycled by qualified facilities. Ask your local hardware store, call your town, or check an online resource like Earth911.com.”

Sharon Rowe, a nationally recognized thought leader in source reduction/reusable space, is the founder of ECOBAGS®. She has two grown children and lives in New York with her husband, Blake, who’s planted her front and back yard with edible gardens! www.ecobags.com

ecobags

 I decided to start bringing my own bags to the store when I got tired of seeing plastic bags stuck in trees and washed up at the beach.

Everyone has their own “ah ha” moment. When you make the switch, it’s hard to go back. The best part is that it’s about creating a healthier world for you and for your family. Find out what happens when …  you bring your own reusable bags.

  • You notice all the other people bringing their bags, too (you smile knowingly … yes, we’re all working towards the same goal here!)
  • You choose loose/unpackaged produce whenever possible. It bugs you that so much is sealed tight in wasteful, excessive packaging
  • You choose healthy foods (start enjoying nature’s bounty of colors)
  • You get into conversations with the check-out person as he/she weighs all your produce (go ahead, share tonight’s recipe … you know they’re curious).
  • You get home, unpack and put away what you purchased and notice there are NO single-use plastic bags in your kitchen, which means there’s nothing to throw away (‘ah ha’).
  • You put your reusable bags back in your car … ready to ‘clean up the planet, one bag at a time’.”

Starre Vartan is the author of The Eco Chick Guide to Life and publisher and editor of Eco-Chick, a nine-year-old, award-winning site that focuses on sustainable living for women. Starre has written for New York, Audubon, Whole Living and Metropolis magazines, as well as online. www.eco-chick.com/

“Green Your Wardrobe – getting the most out of your clothes is the simplest way to minimize your impact. Bypass the fast fashion and invest in quality pieces that will last for years. Consider tailoring your existing clothing to make it work with current styles; take up skirts, turn long sleeve blouses into sleeveless tops, or cut your jeans off to make shorts you’ll actually wear. Check out the Tailor Project (www.facebook.com/thetailorproject) for inspiration.

eco-chick

Most of clothing’s impact comes during the wear phase—specifically cleaning. Wash clothes in cold water, and line dry when possible; if you regularly dry clean, consider switching to a cleaner that uses less toxic products—and instead of all that plastic covering each item, use a Green Garmento (www.thegreengarmento.com) reusable dry cleaning bag.

When shopping for new clothes, choose organic, made-in-USA, fairly made pieces. There are now plenty available, from casual, workout outfits to career clothing to evening out dresses and shoes. Check out the extensive list on Eco-Chick (www.eco-chick/ecofashion-and-natural-beauty-blogroll/).”


Daphne Dixon is the founder of Conscious Decisions. She left her native California and has been rooted in Connecticut for the past 14 years. She is involved in many local, statewide and national green initiatives. Through Conscious Decisions, Daphne has brought over 10,000 community members, leaders and businesses together at over 200 events. www.DaphneDixon.com

Start in Your Own Backyard – in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, most people find “going-green” challenging.

Very often, people want to take measures that protect natural resources, but are not sure how to incorporate those changes into their daily life. One way to get started is in your own backyard. After completing the Master Gardener program, at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford Connecticut, through the University of Connecticut extension program, I discovered many ways that I could make a difference. If we collectively make simple and easy changes in the way we manage our yards and gardens, collectively it will have a positive impact on the environment.

english-garden
I had always considered myself to be a good gardener with a ‘green thumb’ but discovered through the Master Gardener program, easy changes that I could make. I started by letting my grass grow a little longer, which helps develop stronger roots, which means less watering. When adding new plants to the garden, I started choosing only native plants. They require less water, less fertilizer and support native habitats.

I purchased an inexpensive leaf mulcher. Instead of racking leaves, bundling them and having them carted away, I now mulch them myself. The mulch I create from the colorful fall leaves is not only beautiful and beneficial to my yard, but I also save money by not buying processed mulch, which typically comes in plastic bags. Something to consider is that recycled waste wood used for making landscape mulch products is potentially contaminated with various chemicals, such as creosote and CCA (chromated copper arsenate). CCA is the chemical that was used in the manufacture of pressure-treated wood. Many times, the “greener” choice turns out to be easier and more economical than what we had been doing.”


Margaret Mead so eloquently said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

So, whether we choose to eat more locally grown, organic food, ride our bikes to work or take advice from one of our experts here, it all adds to the greater good of our planet.  Keep sharing your tips with friends and family, get the dialogue going, start a community program and, who knows? Maybe we’ll find out it really is easy being “green” after all.

mead-quote
Written by Karen Soucy
Karen has been involved extensively in environmental issues with over twenty years experience as Associate Publisher at “E” Magazine, she is also a Brand Advocate for CozyPure organic bedding, a division of Environmental Resource Outlet Inc.

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Natural Fibers Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding

Is Your Bedding Sustainable?

Earth Day is fast approaching and it’s the perfect time to evaluate how green you really are. Earth Day is the time that everyone thinks about the basic ways to conserve like recycling, buying local and using less energy. Why not consider changing what you rest your head on every night, your mattress?

Most conventional mattresses available today are made from synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals and a host of proprietary unregulated chemicals. Producing these materials contribute to generating more pollution in our environment, plus creates a dependency on our supply of nonrenewable resources. In addition  manufacturers use toxic chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), a class of synthetic chemicals as flame retardants. Disturbing concentrations of this chemical has been found in human blood and breast milk – a major human health concern.

All of these factors contribute to our health and that of our environment. The materials we choose for use in our CozyPure bedding and mattress components are made from earth-friendly renewable resources that are better for you and better for our environment.

tufting-comforter
CozyPure Wool Comforter Hand Tufted in Norfolk, Virginia

Making useful green products from sustainable materials that will last for years is a great representation of what Earth Day is all about; investing in something that’s not designed to break down and get replaced is not only smart for your wallet, it’s smart for our planet.

Start thinking about your purchases. Do you need it? Is it practical? Will it last? What’s it made from? Where was it made? Are you buying something simply because it’s cheap? You’ll find that when you start asking these questions chances are pretty good that in many cases you’ll put the product back on the shelf.


If you looking to “sleep green”, visit www.cozypure.com for a full collection of organic bedding and mattresses.

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Renewable Energy Sleep Tips

You Are What You Sleep

They say you are what you eat but what does your favorite sleep position say about you? Most people have a “go to” sleep position each night … mine is on my left side, fetal position, curled up in my blankets nice and tight. Are you a log? A starfish? A soldier?

Research suggests that our beloved sleep position can provide clues to our personalities … and even a glimpse into our mental and physical state-of-being. According to The Better Sleep Council (www.bettersleep.org), there are six common sleep positions:

fetus     A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up “fetal” manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

logIf you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people “sleep like a log“.

yearnerA close third, or 13% of those polled, sleep in this side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

soldierThese sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. In the study, soldiers made up 8% and were said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night’s sleep.

freefallThose people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

starfishSleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night’s sleep more often.

Hmmm … so if I let my sleep position define me, I have a “tough exterior but am still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly”. This might not be so far off (at times, anyway). So, how do our sleep positions fit in to our finding the right mattress?

Did you know that CozyPure® natural latex mattresses have a unique 5-zone core for proper support? Even though some of our sleep positions are what comforts us, they may not be the best for our lower backs, necks and spines. What’s worse is that they could actually do more harm than good.

With CozyPures’s® 5-zone system, however, each “body zone” is given the correct amount of support. Zoning works by providing more density (firmness) where you need it most (center of the bed) since 70% of our body weight lies in the middle of the bed. CozyPure’s® lateral zones, which are symmetrical so the head and foot are the same, and the shoulder and lower-leg zones are the same, with the large middle section in the center of the mattress acting as the most expansive zone. This allows for easy rotation of your mattress keeping the more critical zones in-tact (shoulder area and mid-section). For more info, visit www.cozypure.com/natural-latex-5-zone-core?chapter=5

So, sleep comfortably, starfish. Rest easy, yearner. CozyPure’s® got your back. And, neck. And, spine. And, zzzzzz

 

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Products & Sales Renewable Energy Sleep Tips

You Want To Make A Difference?

Ever wonder what you could be doing to make the world a better place? Do you think that you probably won’t make a difference no matter what you do because you are just one person and how could you? Well, here is some news for you: YES, you CAN make a difference in the small things that you do everyday. Take small steps for humankind that one day might turn into leaps and bounds. For now, I can only do my best in making an impact on my local environment, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to reach out and make an even bigger difference in the lives around me.

1. Treat others as you would like to be treated. This saying is as old as the dirt beneath our feet and it rings true in most every aspect of our lives. If you aren’t treating someone the way that you would like to be treated then you’re just begging for karma to bite you in the butt.

2. Volunteering is something that can make a huge difference in your community. You can volunteer at an animal shelter, a homeless shelter, a woman’s shelter. You can volunteer at the library, it doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but it does have to count for something, even if it only counts for something in your own heart.

3. Donate your old clothes and toys or your kids old toys to local shelters and thrift shops. Everyone who shops at these places will appreciate your items, or at least someone will.

4. Consider buying free range meat if your not trying to become a vegetarian. Organic and whole foods are not only good for you but also for the environment from which they are grown. If you really want to make it count, shop at your local farmer’s market every once in a while and put your dollars into the local economy.

5. You can take shorter showers, wash full loads of dishes and laundry at once, assure your leaky faucets get fixed, and stray away from buying plastic bottles without the intention to reuse or recycle them. Purchase a water bottle that you can refill over and over again.

6. Sure conserving water is great, but why stop there? Go further in conserving your electricity by turning the lights out when leaving a room, recycle old bottle and cans, throw away your cigarette butts, reduce your waste output in general. Try composting.

7. Plant a tree, who knows, it could provide hope or at least shade.

8. Make your vote count, and by that I mean that if you can vote then you should. Voting is one way that everyone can make a difference in their community for the better. Remember that every vote counts, even yours.

9. Speak your mind. Expressing your opinion will get you respect so long as you stand by it, and it can make a serious impact on those around you.

10. Sleep organic. Remember, there is no better place to begin your quest in saving the world than in your own bedroom, so shop now and look for ways to improve your bedroom with natural latex bedding and various other forms of comfort for the mattress.

Now its your turn to make a change in yourself and in your community. You want a revolution? Get out and go and get it!

 

Categories
Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Sleep Tips

Dear Sleep Diary

For those of you who can not get to sleep at night, or who have an incredibly hard time doing it, a sleep diary might not be such a bad idea. You see, the pros of a sleep diary include getting to know when and how you are falling asleep each night, what you might be doing during the day that is keeping you from sleeping, and it can help you figure out what you could do in order to attain a good nights sleep.

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1. Buy a journal. You can pick one up anywhere – Walgreens, Target, anywhere…

2. Get your hands on a pen or a pencil. Again, you can get these items anywhere.

3. First, figure out what time you woke up, and jot it down in your journal. You might find that if you’re sleeping in too late then you might have a harder time getting to bed early.

4. Now think about what time you went to bed last night. If you have to wake up early, you might want to consider getting to bed earlier if you aren’t already.

5. What did you do before you went to bed. Do you have any specific routines? Perhaps reading a book or taking a bath will be able to put you to sleep for the night, and help to turn off your mind.

6. How long before your bedtime did you eat and what was it. Sometimes a glass of milk and a PB&J sandwich will help settle your stomach, sometimes a shot of Vodka can upset it. Remember, coffee before bed might not be the best idea.

7. How active is your lifestyle? Do you exercise often? If you do, how long before bed do you exercise? Remember that our bodies need exercise to keep us healthy, just try and make sure you aren’t doing it right before bed because it will get all your blood pumping and your heart racing and you’ll find yourself feeling as if you have just downed a cup of coffee.

8. Did you wake up during the night at all? If so, for how long? How many times? Perhaps you suffer from a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea that should be checked out by a doctor.

9. What kind of mattress are you sleeping on? Is it springy and broken down? Maybe its time to purchase a new one, one that will last for over ten years. Remember, you spend a good third of your life on your mattress, so you’re going to want to get a decent one to snuggle up with. Think of choosing your mattress and bedding like you are choosing your spouse, you want it to be reliable, and you want it to be there for you, ready to cuddle up with at the end of a long day.

Besides helping one figure out what they might be doing wrong in terms of falling asleep, a sleep diary is also efficient in helping reproduce one’s dreams. The first thing that you must do upon waking up in the morning is to jot down whatever comes to mind about the dreams that you had last night. As time goes on, you’ll find that it is getting easier and easier to remember your dreams, and as more and more time goes on you might find yourself able to control your dreams better.

So, there are multiple reasons to keep a sleep diary, and now you can go out and try it for yourself. Good luck and goodnight!

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Echoes of a Dream

Many of us have escapes that we use to get away from our day-to-day lives, and many of those escapes can be as simple as reading a book or watching a movie. Music, however, for the most part, seems to be universal in helping many people deal with their emotions. Music, and lyrics, and singing, and all kinds of different tunes can help a person either mentally prepare for a big event (like listening to your favorite jams before a big event) or to help you mellow out at the end of a long day. Music is great for break-ups as well as hook-ups. In fact, you could probably find a song to fit every occasion.

online-yoga

Studies have proven that when listening to music, the dopamine in peoples brains is activated, making us want to listen to more and more of it (unless, of coarse, the song is Friday.) However, no one has been able to figure out exactly why this is because while dopamine is activated during activities such as eating good food, or during exercise. If you are a gym rat, like myself, then you will understand how music can heighten one’s workout experience. As for myself, I will never understand those who are able to run on the treadmill or dead-lift without some awesome tunes ringing through their ear buds, but that might just be me.

So why is it that music gives us such a sensation that we feel the need to listen to it almost every day, at work, on the way to work on the way home from work, in the bath, in the bedroom, in the club. It’s almost like music was programmed into human DNA, and gives many of us a natural rhythm that can’t be defined by mere statistics of race or ethnicity (because some white boys can dance.) There are many different dynamics to music too, like sad, slow songs that you for some reason can’t get enough of and love to cry along to. There are fast tracks with pumping melodies and soaring chorus’ that make you feel like the universe is your oyster. Of course, there will always be that one boring song on an album that you skip every time that it comes on (OK, not always because sometimes an artist is that good.) I think it’s safe to say that for the most part, music gives us feelings.

These feelings can translate into our night lives too, because if you go to bed in a sour mood your probably not going to sleep very well, while going to bed in a neutral or happy state of mind can make for pleasant dreams. You might find that falling asleep to your favorite rock track can be a difficult feat, and that’s because its probably not designed to create delta waves in your brain which will help one fall into a deep slumber. White noise such as crashing waves and a ceiling fan can help to lull a person into the world of sleep, but classical music can also induce a person into this state. There are many things that you can find on the internet that will aid in helping a person sleep, and many musical compositions that can be found on YouTube and various other sites that can move this process along. Getting the proper support from your mattress and pillow and finding the necessary comfort are also factors that contribute to how fast one might fall asleep – besides the obvious how tired you are.

The Natural Transformation by Tomorrow's World

Some of these internet tracks are very interesting and might even carry over into dreamland. Listening to a song that remind you of the ocean could put you on a raft in the middle of the Pacific, while listening to some jungle oriented vibes could place you in a safari, among the beasties of the forest. Give it a try, listen to a soothing rhythm tonight that will help you drown out the world around you and escape into the realm of sleep.

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Swaddling Security

A baby Rhino was taken into custody at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center in South Africa, and now can not sleep without being attached to his female keeper at all times. The Rhino was found after poachers killed his mother. He was found lying down with his head crying on his mothers dead body, and now, can not escape the depression that swallows him. Why he needs someone there when he eats and sleeps and breathes, well maybe you would too if your mother was violently poached directly in front of your eyes for her horn.

rhino

Everyone takes comfort in knowing that somebody is there to protect them, or to watch over them. Think about it, it is in our nature, not just as humans but as animals, to need to feel protected or to protect, and when that feeling is threatened then we will obviously become restless. Have you ever tried to sleep at night without a blanket on top of you? Some of us do, and some of us sleep naked, but for the most part, even on hot nights, a blanket or a sheet will provide a person with a sense of security that will help to soothe them to sleep. In fact, depending on your self-esteem, this feeling might weigh you down throughout your day to day life.

I remember back to my middle school days when I would feel extremely uncomfortable or anxious if I was not wearing a jacket that zipped all the way up to my neck. Why? Because I was afraid of people seeing me, and hurting me because perhaps I wasn’t dressed right or what not. The fact of the matter is that in the end, humans are self-conscious beings who need to feel that they have some control over their lives at all times. This shines through in the animal kingdom, and in this case, the baby Rhinoceros who needs to feel protected at all times because his mama was butchered.

Why do babies especially feel this need to be protected? Because they are defenseless…

fitted sheet swaddle

For starters, babies do enjoy the feeling of being constricted, or hugged, or swaddled even. Many parents believe that swaddling is no good for their infants health, but in fact it promotes neuromuscular development, and reduces crying by 28%. Most of all, though, is that babies are found to sleep better when swaddled. This same theory applies to adults also, not that we need to be swaddled, but the feeling of security can be a welcome sensation in our lives, both day and night. Science says that cuddling provides us with the sense of security that we need in order to make us feel good and safe in our own bed, which will eventually translate into our real lives outside of the bedroom.

Now don’t get me wrong, cuddling does not always have to be done with a person. Sure, if you want that release of Oxytocin that the soft touch of another human can give to you, then yes, it should probably involve another, willing, person. However, snuggling up with one’s La’noodle pillow at night will not bring you any harm and can still help ease you into sleep with a better sense of security and comfort. Wrapping yourself up in a warm wool comforter on a comfy cozy bed can do wonders for you as you fall into a deep sleep.

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