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!

How gross is that hotel's bed?

Inevitably you will be staying at a hotel and sleeping in that bed that isn't your own. Some people might jump for joy, excited for a good night of sleep. Some will cringe at the sight of a bed that you are not sure was properly cleaned. Hotel beds are not the most pleasant.

Sheets are changed in between every visitor, right? Although many hotels really do change the sheets every time, there is always the question of whether or not those sheets really are clean. How can you tell? Sometimes it could be obvious with a stain or the bed doesn't seem to be properly made. Your best bet is to ditch the sheets and provide your own if you're worried about dirty sheets.

You can also forget about the bed spread and use your own blankets. Yes, it is not fun to travel with blankets and sheets but if you are someone that will lose a perfectly good night of sleep because you are worried about dirty sheets and bed spreads, you might as well bring your own.

Bed bugs are commonly spread through hotel beds. Bed bugs are so tiny that they can easily go unnoticed. Don't put any of your baggage or belongings on the bed to reduce the chance of getting bed bugs. You might be able to see bed bug waste or dander if you look close enough around the baseboards and the creases of the mattress. If you suspect bed bugs, tell the hotel and when you get home wash everything that you brought with you including your suitcase.

Let's face it, it is not always the cleaning person's fault if your bed is not up to par with your standards. They are only given a set time for every room they have to clean and can become rushed. And just because that hotel is a four-star doesn't mean that it is any cleaner than a one-star hotel.

You're better off assuming that the bed you are going to be sleeping in still has the remnants of the person that was in the bed before you. Nothing will ever be as good as your own bed. Have you had any terrible experiences with a hotel bed?

Do you suffer from a sleep disorder?

Are you one of the 40 million Americans who suffer from a sleep disorder? If you think you might be suffering from a sleep disorder but are not sure it is always best to schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss your problems. Here are some of the most common sleeping disorders.

1. Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder. This disorder makes it hard for you to wake up at normal times for activities. When you do fall asleep, it is restful and uninterrupted, but when you try waking up at a normal time it is extremely hard. Only about 2% of people suffering from a sleep disorder is diagnosed with this disorder.

2. Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder. This condition involves falling asleep before 9 p.m. and waking earlier in the morning without being able to fall asleep. It is most common in older people, with some doctors saying it is more of an aging process than a disorder.

3. Shift Work. If you are someone who works different shifts at your job, you could be suffering from shift work disorder. With the constant changing of sleep patterns you can experience an increase in alcohol and tranquilizer use as well as chronic sleep disorders. About 22% of U.S. workers are shift workers and suffer from shift work disorder.

4. Obstructive Sleep Apnea. When you have a temporary blockage of the upper airways during sleep, your breathing stops and interrupts your sleep. You most likely don't remember these short awakenings but you will notice that it affects the quality of your sleep. Loud, consistent snoring is a major sign of obstructive sleep apnea and about 4% of men and 2% of women suffer from this disorder.

5. Narcolepsy. This is one of the most extreme sleep disorders as it involves an incredible amount of sleepiness during the day. You could be falling asleep mid-sentence, at work or while driving. Sudden loss of muscle tone and vivid hallucinations while you are falling asleep are some other signs of narcolepsy. This is not a very common sleep disorder with only about 1 in 100,000 Americans suffer from narcolepsy.

These five sleep disorders are not the only ones that people suffer from, but they are the ones that doctors will rule out when they suspect a common sleep disorder. Make sure you are getting the sleep that you need and making your bedroom as comfortable as possible.

Why does my bed cause a rash?

Have you been waking up lately and felt the insane urge to scratch your skin off it was so itchy? Or many not so extreme, but you've woken up with a rash on your body and you're asking yourself, 'Why does my bed cause a rash?"

There can be many reasons why you wake up with a rash. The number one concern is always bed bugs. Bed bugs feed on human blood and are most active at night when you are sleeping. Anybody can get bed bugs because they infest in luggage, backpacks, bedding, shoes, clothing and they can hide anywhere.

Some ways you can tell if you have bed bugs are if you have itchy skin welts, small blood smears on your bedding from crushed bugs, tiny dark spots on your sheets, or dried remains of shed bed bug skins.  If you have any of these and suspect bed bugs, you will need to hire a pest control company to ensure you kill all of the bugs.

If you have another form of welt or something that looks like a bite it could be a spider or other insect bite. Keeping your bedroom and your bed clean is going to help reduce the number of insects that could be crawling around your bed.

Unlike bed bugs and insect bites, another cause for a bed rash is hives. Hives can be anywhere on your body and are typically due to an allergic reaction. This allergic reaction could be from your sheets if your skin is sensitive to different materials. It could also be from the detergent used to clean your sheets or any lotion you might apply to your skin before bed. To find out the cause, eliminate one of the culprits and determine if that is what is causing the hives. Find organic, all natural bedding to help reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Figure out why your bed is causing a rash by taking simple steps to solve the problem. By changing one thing at a time you will find the cause and be able to control any rashes you currently have. If you have any questions about your bedding please contact us at info@americandownandfeather.com.