Category: Made in the USA

Sleep Your Way to the Top

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date May 15, 2014
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Ever wonder why your teenager is always moping around the house, lazy as ever, and seemingly distant? Maybe its because they are staying up all night texting and talking and crying and writing bad poetry instead of getting the sleep that they need. Not to discourage the social order of children and teens in this day and age – because lets face it, there will always be the social hierarchy no matter where you go – and not to discourage the making of the next Sylvia Plath – because lets face it, Lorde can’t take her place forever – but teens do need the most sleep out of all ages. Teen-hood is when our bodies are struggling through puberty and our brains are trying their damnedest to push past the constant pain of wishy-washy hormones. The fact that school begins before the break of dawn in most places does not help out the cause of our reckless youth at all – in fact, it could be making them more anxious, more reckless, more defiant.

Parents – except not just parents because as a teen you are old enough to call some shots yourself – should be assuring, or at least recommending that their child get the proper amount of rest each night in order to perform their best the next day. Teens should be getting at least 8 1/2 hours of sleep each night (although 9 is ideal) but many don’t go to bed until one and wake up by six in the morning. Sure, I’m not saying that school schedules should be adjusted for those who do go to bed at one because they’re up all night socializing, that’s their own choice; however, a little slack granted upon those who try their hardest to sleep at least 7 hours a night should be rewarded, perhaps school can be adjusted to start a half an hour later, that’s a whole extra half an hour of sleep.

Also, it’s a treacherous thing to set that alarm clock for the earliest possible time and then press the snooze button five times after it has gone off. I used to think that this was a good idea, I would set my alarm for six and then press snooze until it was six thirty, I thought it would be the perfect way to ease me into my waking state. I was wrong. Doing this screws with your sleep cycle in odd ways. It makes one more groggy because in those five to ten minutes before your alarm rings again you might tread the thin line between sleep and consciousness, which is hurtful to a persons sleep-wake cycle when they are so rudely awakened once more by that more-than-annoying alarm clock (because even the radio can be a nuisance in the AM.) I now set my alarm for six thirty and press snooze only once before I force myself out from underneath the impeccable, insatiable, immaculate comfort that lies in the arms of my wool comforter. I’m melting just thinking about it, if there is one thing that the stiff morning hours bring is the grief of waking up only to be thrust into the wild hallways of my high school (#thankGodforGraduation), which in turn reminds me to be thankful for all the small luxuries in my life (i.e. my wool comforter!)

What a refreshing experience that a good nights sleep actually is. When I wake up after getting at least seven hours of sleep (because yes, with our busy schedules in this day and age, even I can’t be expected to always get the recommended eight hours of sleep – unless its a weekend.) And why do you have to go and make things so complicated by running yourself insane with sleep deprivation? Just turn off the lights and shut your eyes! Sure, I know you want to get caught up on your favorite TV show, and you will, in time. But watching TV before bed can be just as damaging to our sleep as anything else. The light that radiates from the TV screen/computer screen/smartphone/tablet/PSP screen is detrimental to our bodies natural production of melatonin, which aids in the process of falling asleep when necessary. My best advice is – if you’re tired, and it’s past eight, then it’s time for bed. And who can honestly resist the warm comfort that an organic mattress entails? Who can escape the sweet seduction of a cuddle-ready mattress and other various natural bedding? Who needs a cuddle buddy when you have your La’Noodle pillow (because they don’t steal your blankets from you, and they won’t kick you in their sleep.)

So once again, I stress the fact that one must attain the proper rest in order to perform at their peak and take the world by storm.

As Arianna Huffington quotes that she “slept her way to the top,” quite literally, and there may not be any other way to get there.

Studies show that sleeping helps our brain process information quicker so that we can spend more quality time doing the things that need to be done. Even taking a short nap mid-day can help one think clearer. Instead of giving up sleep how about we give up other vices, such as that midnight margarita. I’m not trying to preach about giving up your social life and locking your doors every night at eight-o-clock because its bedtime. If its a weekend and your friends want you to go out, carpe diem, but when its time to work the best thing that you can do to get the best results is to clock in some quality sleep.

I saw these guys in concert the other night and thought that I might post this video (yes, I took my own videos but I also took them on my phone and the video is actually pretty good for the whole one pixle in it) because this song is so beautiful. Turn out all the lights, close your eyes, and drift away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYs_mEiquy8

And remember to get the best sleep that you can each night so that one day you might be as talented as these guys, or any one else that you might aspire to be like when you grow up – because your always going to be growing up, don’t ever let age stop you from following your dreams.

Eric is currently a student and part-time team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Tags adolescent, adult, creative, importance of sleep, portugal. the man, quality vs quantity, sleep, Sleep better, sleep forever, snooze forever, teenager

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When Choosing Your Latex Mattress

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date May 14, 2014
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Before buying your next mattress you must keep some very important things in mind on your search. First of all, you have to wonder whether or not you are going to want – or need – to buy a new mattress, once again, within the next ten years. If the answer is yes, and you think that buying a mattress every ten years is a good idea, then you have been sleeping on the wrong mattress’ for far too long. If your bed starts to wear down within a couple of years, overcome by dust-mites and destroyed by time and erosion, then you are either a.) having TOO much fun on your mattress, or b.) your mattress plain sucks. Durability is a sure sign of whether or not you have succeeded in purchasing a quality bed – or anything for that matter, and lets face it, they just aren’t making things these days like they used to. In fact, many mattress’ these days are made so that they can break down in only a matter of years, and therefore the company can sell more product once the customer once again goes into the market.

Believe me when I say that a mattress is not a product that you want to be looking for the cheapest version of. The thing about your bed is, that whether you like it or not, you are going to be spending up to one third of your entire life on it with your face pressed against the pillow, with your body matted to the cushion, so you are going to want to invest in something that is, I don’t know, worth the investment… Try looking for key words such as “quality” versus “cheap” and “organic” over “synthetic”. The reason you want to buy the best quality product is, of course, in case you didn’t see the word the first couple of times that I used it, because of the QUALITY! You don’t want to spend money on something that is going to break down because then you’ll just be spending money on money trying to find a product to replace it, so why not just bite the bullet and buy something that will last for years the first time around. Also, spending money on petroleum based products just sounds icky, especially in the case of your bedding which your face is pressed up on all night and your lungs inhaling the fibers around you.

There are many different mattress’ to choose from, and in those mattress’ there are many things that you yourself can do in order to make it fit your own needs. You can order a triple layered mattress or you can order a core, its your choice. Ordering a mattress with more layers gives you the option to remove them if necessary, and ordering a core foundation gives you the option to order pieces to place on top of your mattress. Its good to keep your options open, on the bed, off the bed, in the bed, its always good to have options no matter which way you might spin it. “Zoning works by providing more density (firmness) where you need it most (center of the bed). We created 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 third of the mattress acting as the most expansive zone. This allows easy rotation of your mattress keeping the more critical zones in-tact (shoulder area and mid-section).”

A flame retardant mattress is a good mattress. Nowadays mattress’ must be manufactured to meet federal guidelines, which ensure that one’s mattress won’t, you know, burst into flames at any given moment (not that mattress’ are particularly known to spontaneously com bust or anything, but there is always the odd cigarette fire and what not.) Many people resort to meeting these guidelines by adding more chemicals to cancel out the other chemicals that will aid in igniting the fire. A popular method among natural latex bedding that is used to combat flames is the use of wool batting either in the latex itself or in the mattress casing. Also, the great thing about the use of organic cottons and wools in one’s bedding is that these components are good for wicking away moisture, which you might find will keep you from waking up in a puddle of your own sweat at night. These materials also enable air flow, unlike synthetic fibers they ‘breathe’ with your body.

Tags bedding, latex, mattress, organic, organic comfort zone, sleep, sleep forever, wool

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Comforter Vs. Bedspread

When trying to determine whether you would like to buy a bedspread or a comforter, it might be a good decision to leave style out of the question. If you don’t like how a comforter looks compared to a bedspread, choose a duvet cover that you can slip over the comforter so that you can enjoy how it looks and how it feels. Bedspreads can end up being scratchy and uncomfortable, and typically do not provide the same kind of insulation as a comforter will.

Also, just because you live in a warmer climate, this does not mean that a comforter is not a worthy asset – after all, we never know when the next ice age could happen… Anyways, wool comforters tend to breathe with ones body, allowing for you to enjoy your rest in no matter what climate you are in. Sure, if its 100 degrees and unimaginably humid and your air conditioning just HAD to break that night, a wool comfortable might not be the best idea. But there is no harm in having a comforter handy for those chilly nights. The best part about natural wool comforters made with organic cotton is that they aren’t scratchy or uncomfortable on one’s skin. You can sleep in the nude and it will still be oh-so soft on you. Personally, I myself still use my comforter in the hot summer months, but hey, that could be just me!

Some people worry about their blankets not being able to cover their entire mattress and then some. Some people want their bedspread or comforter to flow all the way down to the floor. I wonder why people want this, though. When your sheets and such touch the floor they most likely will pick up dust and other debris from your floor. Nobody should want to sleep in a mess of dust and dirt, this is the twenty-first century. And again, if it comes back to being a style thing, why not purchase a bed skirt. That way you can use the bed skirt to cover up whatever ungodly mess that you might be trying to hide underneath of your mattress, while also being able to use whatever blanket that you choose, no matter what length it may be.

In conclusion, bedspreads typically are strictly for the use of aesthetics; however, some people do enjoy the use of these items as blankets. There are other options, though, if you definitely DO NOT want to purchase a comforter. Sheets and other various cotton and sateen blankets can be made to fit your style. Typically, sheets won’t have a person suffering through the night in a hot sweat no matter how hot it is and they provide that layer of safety that some people need to feel in order to fall asleep. If you’re still sweating through the night perhaps you need to see a specialist.

Tags bedspread, cold, comfortable, comforter, green sleep, hot, organic comfort, sleep, warm

Go Green For Spring

Ever wonder what might be considered fashionable in the world of being ‘Green’? Well, first of all, if you are buying all of your clothes from Walmart or Target, chances are that those products were produces overseas in dirty factories by people who receive a penny an hour. So, if you’re wondering whether or not Walmart and other stores of the sort are lined with ‘Green’, or even good, fashion then you are probably searching through the wrong stores.

As spring approaches we look back to the year of 2013, when green was widely used by fashion designers both literally and figuratively. Green on the runway symbolized both a fashion statement and an Eco-statement, teaching the fashionistas of today how to sport organic clothing. Designer Stella McCartney once took home Britain’s Designer of the Year award, and, get this, without the use of leather. This should prove to people all over the world that fashion, even the high class/fur coat/leather belt kind, does not always have to be harmful to be hot. Animal furs and skins do not always need to be used in order to make a great article of clothing, and in this day and age, they shouldn’t be. We are not living in tribes along the coastline, hunting for our own food anymore. It’s time to make a change, no only in fashion but in every department that has not already gone green!

(Here is an example of a great thrift store find, found at mckenzierenae.tumblr.com)

The first place that you can shop for clothing that was not necessarily made with the intent to be ‘Green’ but can still definitely be considered Eco-friendly is the Thrift Store. Because the clothes and other items that are sold in these stores are not technically ‘Green’ many people do not see it as an Eco-friendly store, but the thing about thrift stores is that they recycle old clothing, which reduces landfill waste while also putting the clothing to good use. Also, thrift stores are chock full of trendy clothing, boasting an array of all kinds of fashion-friendly tops, pants, and accessories. Always keep in mind that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so don’t completely block out the thought of shopping at a thrift store the next time you are looking for cute clothes. Be sure to go through your closet and find old clothes that you do not wear any more and donate them to your local thrift shop too. Not only is it better for the Earth than throwing them away, but also because what goes around comes around and when you put out a pair of jeans that once might have looked good on you, perhaps you’ll find yourself a new pair of jeans.

Also on the rise is an increase of products being produced in the United States. America depends on it’s economy and with American made products we would not thrive. Still, not nearly as many products are being made and sold in America as there are being outsourced and then sold in America. With celebrities endorsing the idea of the American dream, waving flags about in their videos, oh-so patriotically. The sad fact of the matter is that many clothing lines produce flag printed Tees and other ‘patriotic’ items that are made in China. Next time you’re shopping at Urban outfitters check the tags and see for yourself just how many of the overly priced items are actually made in America. Stepping up and finding clothes that are made in the USA can help largely in both the economy and the ecology of our nation, and our Earth as a whole.

Remember to sleep on an Eco-friendly bed from the Organic Comfort Zone when all of the hustle and bustle from the day is said and done. Nothing is better than curling up underneath a warm blanket and letting the soft whisper of sleep call you into it’s clutches, and with an organic CozyPure mattress you’ll wake up more refreshed than ever. Bringing Eco-friendly products into your daily life can not only help the environment, but it could also help with personal issues. Eco clothing and bedding materials have less chemicals in them, which means that they are easier on the skin and other body parts. Using these products can truly change yours, and every one else’ world, for the better. So think ‘Green’, think ‘Organic’!

Tags eco-friendly, fashion, fur, leather

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Which Pillow Is Right For You?

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date January 27, 2014
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Waking up with a stiff neck can be a pain; it can set your hole day up to be a struggle. It is very unpleasant to sit at a desk massaging your neck and shoulders to no avail. You wake up feeling worse than when you fell asleep all because your neck and shoulders have become stiff overnight. This can all be fixed with the right pillow, though.

While choosing the right pillow for you there are many factors that should go into your decision, and at the Organic Comfort Zone, there is a bundle of options for you to choose from.

First of all, you should consider the fill of your pillow. Here there are a few different fill choices for you to choose from. For someone with a neck that should be elevated during sleep (snoring or apnea problems), perhaps an extra fill would do you justice to help open the airways – keeping the head and neck elevated can help with one’s breathing. If you are a stomach sleeper, like myself, you might want to try using a pillow with a lite fill so that your body isn’t being stretched backwards. And for those who are ambivalent to either choice, perhaps you might enjoy the regular fill which suits most side and back sleepers. Choosing the wrong fill can be uncomfortable and, of course, it can make one’s neck very stiff by the time that the morning hours roll around.

Next you should consider the softness of a pillow. In a lot of downy-feather pillows the fluff begins to fade within a year or two and usually the feathers disperse every night so the pillow goes flat (we don’t offer down pillows).

With a wool pillow the fluff is batting that provides a slight softness with support. The wool compresses and will become flatter with use so if you like that type of pillow, choose wool. However, if you prefer a pillow that sinks and forms to your head, you might enjoy the La’Noodle pillow, because while it conforms to your head and neck, its fluff factor does not fade for ten or more years. You can sleep on the pillow every night and it will bounce right back to natural plumpness once fluffed. It offers both contouring support that is soft and squishy. Other pillow options at the Organic Comfort Zone include organic pure Kapok, Cotton, and Buckwheat.

Tags cotton, Kapok, latex, organic, pillow, sleep, wool

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Sri Lanka

Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” because of it’s natural beauty, and because of it’s friendly hosts, it is also referred to as the “Nation of Smiling People.” Sri Lanka has much to offer with a diverse range of religions and languages and ethnicities. The island is also a large importer of tea, cinnamon, coconuts, and rubber. If you could take a guess as to why the Organic Comfort Zone imports its latex from Sri Lanka it is because of the Sri Lankan rubber trees. From these trees a milk sap can be extracted in order to produce what is known as natural latex rubber.

Latex mattress’ are some of the most comfortable in the world. A large sum of the best latex comes from the island of Sri Lanka. Much of the process of creating natural latex contributes greatly to the employment of many locals whose job it is to tap the latex trees for their sap. Sri Lanka has many tree farms where the rubber trees are grown, and in no way is the extraction process harmful for the tree! The production of a latex mattress is environmentally friendly in every way. Even if the day comes, many years down the line, that you must get rid of your latex mattress, there is no need to worry because the latex is biodegradable.

Also, while the latex components are produced in Sri Lanka, every one of CozyPure’s products is created with the best of care in the USA. Everything from our Matelasse Organic Cotton blankets to our La’Noodle pillows and mattress toppers are manufactured in our very own warehouse, where we work hard to assure that our customers receive the best for their buck. Our products are comfortable and affordable, they will last a long time and will not wear and tear like the cheap products purchased from a discount department store, in which products are mostly outsourced to be made for a cent an hour.

Among other aspects of Sri Lanka, it is also one of the most beautiful islands in Asia, with an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. Its natives are friendly and inclined toward sports and adventures including rafting and surfing. A beautiful thing about Sri Lanka is that, being a small country with a wide variety of religions, it has managed to remain peaceful throughout the years, celebrating and appreciating everyone’s own beliefs and mythologies. There are many festivals to attend, including Easter celebrations and the Electric Peacock Festival, which is a relatively new music gala.

Tags asia, better sleep, natural latex, organic bedding, rubber, rubber tree, sri lanka

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Could You Live On $68 A Month?

Post author By Eric Hahn
Post date January 7, 2014
No Comments on Could You Live On $68 A Month?

Did you know that when you purchase a product that was made overseas, particularly one from WalMart or a number of other discount department stores, you are buying into a market that is basically sustained by slave labor. Technically these corporations do not actually use ‘slave’ labor, seeing as their factory employees do get paid, but at what cost?

bangladesh-will-raise-the-minimum-wage-for-garment-workers

A pair of jeans bought from WalMart will typically cost about eight dollars, and sure, that sounds great and all, but these jeans and other various articles of clothing were purchased for a total of TWO cents! How is one expected to make a living when manufacturing products that are sold for nothing more than two cents? These countries that America outsources to are poor and barren because most people do not understand what they are doing when they buy from these department stores. I am not trying to say that all discount department stores are terrible, its just that when you are buying jeans for eight dollars try to keep in mind how much it cost to actually make those clothes and how big of a profit the corporation is making off of you because of it.

Also, because these products are so cheap they do not usually last very long, so sure it seems fine and dandy to buy cheap merchandise but when it falls apart a couple of months later and you must rush back to the store to replace it it kind of makes you wonder how much money you are really saving. And at what cost are you saving this money at? The citizens in these third world countries work in very poor conditions and must fight diseases and other harmful bodily distresses through the course of a day, a week, a month, and a lifetime. When these people are subjected to these infections and injuries they hardly have the kind of money to help them see it through.

When living on $68 a month, how could one possibly expect to pay for any kind of treatment or care. In America, with our health care and job opportunities it might be easy to forget that there is a world out there full of suffering people who are not able to receive the kinds of luxuries that even some of the poorest citizens in the states might receive, like, for instance, a roof over their heads and a meal at night.

I understand that America’s homeless population is on the rise and that we should help our nation as much as we can before throwing money at other nations to get better, but that does not mean that we have to support these terrible working conditions that make up the third world. Let us look for healthier alternatives, and I’m not saying that everything that you buy should be made in America because God knows that that can be mighty pricey in some cases. However, sometimes spending that extra money not only benefits the American work force but American goods that are actually made in America are most of the times much more sturdy than a blouse that was made along with twenty others of the same kind within the hour.

We take time and effort to produce our goods here at the Organic Comfort Zone, each product is made with careful precision and lots of love for the customer. Why not support business’ like us and many other small, American business’ across the nation who actually care about their customers and their employees?

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Latex is Green, not Mean

“But latex isn’t natural!” Is the first thing that comes from my friends lips whenever I tell them that I make natural latex mattress’ as a part of my work. I simply smile and say “Yes it is,” and being the simple-minded yet stupefyingly deep teenagers that we are, that is usually where the conversation ends. However, while talking to customers, I receive that response more often. It is a common misconception that latex is not a natural material and that it can only be a synthetic fiber. This is not true.

The natural latex that goes into our bedding is one hundred percent natural. We live up to our reputation as tree-huggers, literally, because our latex rubber is extracted from the rubber trees in Sri Lanka. The product is then put into a mold and baked until it has been hardened to our liking, no harmful additives or environmentally unfriendly chemicals added, thus proving that latex, or rubber, is not always an unnatural material only to be found on the tips of pencils and to be worn over somebody’s sweaty crotch. No, latex can serve as a natural haven for those who choose to lie on it and indulge in all of its benefits.

When you decide to take home one of our natural latex products you are doing more than purchasing a new item of bedding material. You are supporting the environment by not having to throw out a mattress or a pillow that is unsafe every three years, you are supporting your local economy and giving the people in Sri Lanka a trade, thus supporting the larger, international picture. Do you see it now? Taking one small step can effect many other small things that have a big impact.

We are taking our part in protecting the environment by producing organic products that are safe for one’s own household as well as Eco-friendly. We make sure that our customers get only the best from us and that they know what to expect every step of the way. You can rest assured that all of our products are natural, even the latex ones. We wonder here, at the Organic Comfort Zone, why people don’t take the necessary steps to improve our natural world and instead, many show habits of regression that will bring us farther back than we’ve already come in cleaning up our Mother Earth.

With all the opportunities and choices that lie in front of us, all of the ways that we can be ‘Green’ – whatever that truly means – in this day and age, it stumps us as to why people choose to not do their part in cleaning up our world. It breaks our tiny hearts to see such a beautiful and vast land that once held so many wonders turn into a wasteland, so of coarse our latex is natural, we wouldn’t have it any other way! Our electricity is self-produced – or, in fact, I guess the sun should take the credit for that one, seeing as it is solar panels that light us up down here in Ocean View. We do our part daily to make sure that our customers receive the best products, and that Mother Earth, being our biggest supporter, gets treated with the best respect that we could possibly fathom. So do your part, make your decisions, become educated and cultured in every way possible, be ‘Green’, be wild and free. Do your part, make smart choices! It is the best that we can do, and sometimes it is the only thing that can be done, but it has to be done, in order for our planet to function correctly.

Tags cozy, latex, natural, organic, rubber, synthetic

Green is Good

I guess I’ve been on a health kick lately, but here is another food post. Eating organically will help boost the body’s immune system and other natural defenses, as well as keeping your complexion clear and your body trim. There are many ways to eat organically in this day and age and you should always be mindful of where your food is from, how fresh it is, whether or not pesticides and steroids were used in its production, and its nutrition level. Like many food posts I have compiled another list of things that can be bought with peace of mind whether or not they are from the farmers market or not:

-Avocado -Cauliflower -Watermelon

-Asparagus -Kiwi -Garlic

-Blackberries -Onions -Tomatoes

– Broccoli -Mangoes

-Cabbage -Pineapples

Now we can move on to a list of foods that are OK to buy non-organic, but still would be made better if bought fresh daily 🙂

-Bananas

-Green Onions

-Lemons

-Grapes

-Tangerines

OK. Now it is time to reveal the food that is safest to buy ORGANIC

-Almonds -Papaya -Celery -Cherries

-Apples -Carrots -Cucumbers -Kale

-Bell Peppers -Blueberries -Potatoes -Strawberries

-Peaches -Spinach -Raspberries

-Lettuce -Green Beans -Zucchini

-Pears -Plums -Corn

All our lives we will face tough choices about what we should be eating and why. We will be consumed with temptation when looking through the windows at Dairy Queen or maybe the bakery at your local supermarket. We can not let ourselves down, though. There are always healthier and safer options for everyone to enjoy no matter what your preference is. Just the other night I had a fresh, delicious, savory, spicy catfish sandwich from our local farmers market. The sandwich was rich with spices and subtle flavors and I enjoyed every bite of it. The dinner was healthy and it was also affordable.

Why should we stop where we eat though? We want to practice healthy choices in every aspect of our life, don’t we? We want to live to the fullest of our potential and we can only do that when we are thinking straight and clearly, but how can one think clearly after stuffing there body with greasy McDonald’s and wondering how long it might take for our body to digest the unnatural preservatives in our food. It is simple chemistry, the more organic the product, the easier it will be for your body to accept and also to make use of.

This is same for all the world around us, the more natural that the product is the safer it will be for the overall environment. So many landfills are just piles upon piles and stacks on stacks of waste that is not biodegradable. This is not safe for the ecosystem as these unnatural products release toxins and become and eyesore. Why not choose to be organic? In the end it won’t hurt a soul, but it can make millions of lives safer and thousands of places cleaner.

I remember taking a trip down to Puerto Rico over the summer and being struck in awe by the natural beauty that the country provided and then feeling like I had been slapped in the face when the juxtaposition of the filthy piles of waste that lined the shore appeared in my line of vision, and it was not only in one place, it was all over the place. If we all took simple, easy steps toward creating a healthier world we might not face the environmental issues that we are struggling with today.

Why not do your best to take part in cleaning up this world whenever possible. By buying Eco-friendly, organic products you are saving a whole crop from being poisoned by threatening chemicals. Even more, when you move from simply buying green foods to other green products than your role just became a whole lot more important. When buying organic bedding you are saving a landfill from having another filthy mattress being placed in it ten years down the road because natural bedding is just that good. Give it a try with your delicious new grocery list and then try to incorporate ‘green’ into other aspects of your life.

Tags Environment, green, healthy, natural, organic, pollution

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Why Wool Is Cool

A huge problem that people have with buying wool is that it is an animal product, and with the way that animals are treated in modern civilization people are skeptical on the matter. However, sheep are not killed when wool is attained, and while some people do bring harm to their sheep we make sure that where our products come from there is a safe environment for the animals. The wool is merely sheared off, so it is as if the animals are getting a haircut. No harm comes to these sheep, they enjoy their days long after the product has been taken, can you say the same about that burger that you ate last night?

Another concern with wool is the odor. So many people understand wool to retain a musty smell after being worn multiple times but this is true with all fibers, synthetic included! It is a fact that an article of clothing will get dirty and smelly if not washed for a prolonged period. All my wool sweaters and socks smell perfectly fine after being thrown into the washer, just as my spandex do. See, it can go either way in whatever you are wearing, no matter what your body will leave behind odors on your clothing and its up to you to make sure that it does not stay in such a smelly condition. Its either that or remove your sweat glands.

Wool is WARMER! Wool is capable of maintaining body heat, and while it dries slower than synthetic fibers it is still able to keep one’s body heat elevated without them burning up. Wool is a temperature regulator, meaning that in the cooler months it tends to retain body heat, while during the hot seasons it breathes with your body It is water resistant to a certain degree (lets not get too crazy here though, you can’t jump into a pool and stay dry) however, with smaller spills and messes there is a tendency for the liquid to drip down and simply spill off the fibers. Wool can also absorb up to 30% of its weight in water before beginning to feel wet.

Being the flame resistant fiber that it is wool will not melt into a persons skin when on fire. It is self-extinguishing, so when caught on fire it will typically only char (lets hope that fire gets contained though because you’d hate to ruin that polyester sweater of yours). Not only is it flame resistant but its super durable. Unlike other fibers that break and wear down over time, wool takes much longer to wear down.

Finally, wool is comfortable too! Every night I tuck myself away under my warm, cozy organic wool comforter and thank the stars that its available to me. In the morning I wake up just a little happier because of how cozy I am wrapped up underneath my blanket and my mood is destroyed when the realization that I actually have to see the world outside sinks in. Just another reason to sleep, I guess.

Tags green, natural, organic, wool