How to Cure the Winter Blues

Are you in the middle of trying to manage the winter blues? Hopefully you live somewhere where you can escape into an activity that can help you out of those winter blues. Here are some ways to cure the winter blues.

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Get outside. Even if it's cold, snowy, wet, miserable outside you can still try to get outdoors and active. Getting your body moving with during the daylight can extremely boost your mood and energy. Try a new sport, or something that you love just to get yourself doing something instead of sitting around.

Go somewhere new. Take a short weekend trip to a place you have not been to before. The excitement of a new place will keep you busy. You can find a new place to eat at, a new museum to spend a day at, and do many more entertaining activities in this new location to get your mind off of your daily tasks.

Do something to relax. This could be going to a spa, getting a massage, going to see a movie, or whatever it is that helps you to relax. Having a day to relax can not only get your body to relax but your mind will be put to ease as well. It's easy to get caught up in work every day and to find yourself with more stress in the winter. Relaxing will help you to cure the winter blues.

If you feel like you are stuck in the same routine and are experiencing the winter blues, find something to get yourself to relax, get outside and experience something new. Curing the winter blues will make the cold weather seem shorter and you will find that we are that much closer to spring!

Down and Feather: Do you know the difference?

Did you know that there IS a difference between down and feather? Many people assume it is the same, mostly because retailers will say "down and feather," even if they mean just "down" or "feather." It's an easy misconception and one that might not matter to you. However, if it means spending hundreds of dollars on a pillow versus spending 30-40 dollars, it can be a huge difference.

So, what is the difference? Let's talk about down. Down is the part of the bird that is underneath the exterior feathers. Young birds are covered in down until they grow in their exterior feathers. That really soft stuff that you see and feel on a bird is considered down. Down does not have a stem to it like the feathers do, making it really fluffy, soft and warm. Down insulates really well, which is why a lot of outdoor gear is made from down.

Feathers are springy and have a stem to them. They are what causes your pillow to stay springy instead of flat. Although some people prefer the really soft pillows that are made just with down, feathers add more to a pillow and make them more resistant.

Some feathers have down on them, which is where the term, "down and feather" comes from. However, if there is a stem it is still considered a feather and not down. This is what confuses people the most and why some manufacturers just use the term "down and feather" instead of separating the two. 

If your pillow is all down, that is going to be the expensive pillow. Down is more expensive than feathers, no matter the type of bird. This pillow will be flatter and soft. A feather pillow will have a springy-ness to it. Pillows made with down and feather will be soft but still springy.

Do you prefer a down pillow, feather pillow, or one that includes both? It depends on your sleep style, as every person's desire varies from the next.

What is Kapok?

Kapok is a popular material used in a lot of soft products. Here is all you need to know about kapok and kapok soft products.

Kapok comes from the seeds of kapok, or ceiba, trees which grow in tropical locations. The kapok is silky fibers within the seeds and are often used for mattresses, sleeping bags, insulation, life preservers and even as a cotton substitute in surgery. The trees are commonly found in Asia and Indonesia, frequently being called silk cotton or java cotton.

At American Down and Feather, we use kapok in a variety of our products. Why do we use it? We use kapok because it is moisture-resistant, quick-drying and resilient. Since man-made fibers, plastics and foam rubber have grown in popularity, kapok has not been as popular in soft products.

We love kapok because it has a naturally silky feel to it. It's great for a pillow as it will last longer than other materials and it looks great as well! Contact us to find out more about kapok and how it can enhance your soft products all around the house.

Making Valentine's Day Memorable

Valentine's Day is coming up, a day to make your loved one know how much you care whether it is with flowers and chocolates, a romantic evening out, or a unique way that shows them you appreciate them. Here are some ideas of gifts to give your loved one to make this Valentine's Day memorable.

1. Things from tickets to their favorite sporting event, concert, movie, musical, etc. are perfect for Valentine's Day. Nothing means more than a gift that was well thought out and meaningful.

2. Set up a scavenger hunt. Take that person back to all of the special places you have experienced in your relationship, or take them somewhere new that they have always wanted to go to. Pick things that go along with their hobbies and interests and you'll have a great scavenger hunt.

3. Go on a trip together. A road trip, a cruise, or something that you both will enjoy together is a great Valentine's Day gift. This year, Valentine's Day is on Friday which means you can take off early that day and spend the weekend together.

4. Personalize your gift. If you want to stick to basics, flowers, chocolates and dinner make it unique in some way. Get their favorite flowers, go to a new restaurant that you both have wanted to go to, figure out their favorite chocolate or candy. Personalizing the gifts will make them more moemorable rather than if you just do the basics.

These are just some ideas for a way to make Valentine's Day memorable for you and for your significant other. Be well prepared and start planning your day now!