Memory Foam

Check out these money-saving tricks to give your pet the loving care they deserve and help you keep money in your pocket.

1. When you schedule a visit to the veterinarian, ask if they have any promotions coming up.  Often special awareness events will trigger discounts on vaccinations or even dental work.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian to match on-line prices you may have seen.  The worst they can say is “no”!  If they say “yes”, you’ll save on shipping fees -Bonus!
3. Generic versions of the medications your pet needs can be purchased at your local pharmacy.  You simply need to ask for the prescription in writing and if it is similar to what a human uses, you are in luck!
4. Buying in bulk can save you money on your own groceries as well as for your pet - as much as 60% or more!
5. Routine shots at another clinic is a possibility for rabies or other vaccine updates.  Pet stores and humane societies are a couple of places to begin your search.
6. Providing a comfortable bed for your pet after a visit to the veterinarian is an affordable item.  A memory foam pet bed, is just the answer!   A one time investment in a higher quality item can provide your pet with a few years of comfort, particularly if they are injured or older. 

Have fun comparing notes with your friends as to how much you saved  caring for your pet!

No one can take away the pleasure of finding a flight for that vacation to a distant country.  While you pack and anticipate the fun you will have on your journey, you are likely to forget to plan for the possibility of the effects that jet lag may have on you.  There is no fun in arriving at your destination only to be so tired that you lose one or two days away to sleeping.  No one travels to see the inside of a hotel room, do they?  Let’s take a closer look at why we experience jet lag.

 Our bodies follow persistent patterns of behaviour over a 24 hour period, known as circadian rhythms and these rhythms become imbalanced by travelling to different time zones. Environmental changes such as the rise and fall of body temperature, plasma levels of certain hormones, exposure to sunlight, are a few of the changes which can alter when our bodies tell us we need to sleep and when we should awake.  When we enter a new time zone, our circadian rhythms take a longer time to adjust.

It is important to consider the following tips to help minimize the effects of jet lag:

• When possible select a flight which allows for an early evening arrival and then try to remain awake until 10:00 p.m. local time
• Several days prior to departure, go to bed earlier or later,  depending whether you are taking an eastward or westward trip
• Change your watch to the time zone of your destination as soon as you board
• Bring earplugs and blindfolds to minimize sound and light issues
• Consider taking along a memory foam travel pillow for comfort while travelling and staying in a hotel
• Get outside in the sunlight whenever possible as it is a powerful stimulant to regulate the biological clock

We all want to enjoy every day of our vacation, so don’t let jet-lag take your sleep away from you, robbing you of your full energy to maximize each day of your holiday!

Research is producing some disturbing news about Americans and the condition of severe excessive daytime sleepiness.  It is estimated that 19.5% of American adults suffer from moderate to severe sleepiness during the daytime.  A higher percentage of women are affected than men by this.  We can understand the potential for workplace injuries and driving accidents to increase as people are functioning at less than their full alertness while at work and driving to and from their place of employment.

What is keeping America awake?  There can be specific health issues, such as snoring or sleep apnea.  Sometimes we can choose to become sleep-deprived in an effort to “stay on top of things”.  The advancements in technology, certainly make that an easier possibility as we are able to do our banking or research on the computer 24/7!  Staying up after the children are in bed to catch up on household chores or planning for the next day’s activities, is a common and understandable choice, but at what cost to your own health?  Work can bring us home late or a family who has an activity packed calendar may prevent a regular routine for sleep.  Then we have those people who may go to bed at an early enough time only to toss and turn as they are stressed over work or responsibilities or upcoming events.  For those that are shift-workers, the irregular hours make it hard for the body to know when is the right time to sleep.

Sleepiness is underestimated in its daily life consequences for the general population but it is never a good idea to curtail your sleep.

Up to 10% of the U.S. population suffers from either a mild to moderate form of RLS, the Restless Leg Syndrome.  It seems this syndrome is hard to explain to a family doctor or friends.  Perhaps you are someone suffering from RLS but as of yet have not been able to have it diagnosed.  A description often used by sufferers is “ants crawling through my legs” or soda running through my veins”.  Ask yourself the questions below and see if you fall into the RLS Syndrome.

Here are  a few quick questions which may be indicators of a need to talk to a health care professional:

• When sitting or lying down, is there a strong urge to move your legs that is difficult to resist?
• Do the words “creepy-crawly, itching or pulling” describe your symptoms?
• Does moving your legs slow down the symptoms?
• Do these symptoms occur at night generally?
• Do you have involuntary leg movements while awake?
• Are you tired or lacking concentration during the day?
• Is anyone else in your family plagued with this?

If after reading these questions, you feel you may have RLS, take these points into consideration.  This is a treatable condition where you need to concentrate on managing the symptoms.  Small lifestyle changes you can take include limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake, taking iron supplements, enjoying a hot bath, exercising regularly, follow good sleep habits.

With RLS raising its ugly head usually during the evening or night, a solid sleep may be hard to achieve and we can appreciate how that can negatively impact our day.  Work towards a better night’s sleep by:

• maintaining a regular sleep schedule
• have in place a bed-time routine
• sleep in a dark, quiet, cool room
• purchase a quality mattress and pillows
• stop food intake around 8:00 p.m.
• exercise regularly
• avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine

There is no need to suffer alone.  Talk to family, friends, health-care specialists or seek out support groups.   Learn about new information on the subject and how others cope with RLS.

The joy and anticipation of awaiting for your newborn child can seem to quickly fade as the hours of sleep become less and less for a soon to-be-mom!  The first trimester a mom will tend to sleep more than usual as her body is working to protect and nurture the developing baby.  It’s usually later in the pregnancy that finding that deep uninterrupted sleep seems to become that illusive dream!

The biggest reason this occurs is the increasing size of the fetus which makes finding a comfortable sleeping position a challenge.  For those who love sleeping on their backs or stomachs, the adjustment to sleeping on their side can take awhile.  Basic movements in bed become slightly more difficult as a women’s body size changes!

Here are a few other common causes to interrupted sleep:

• Bathroom breaks - the increased pressure on the bladder and the ’stepped-up’ work of the kidneys contributes to this as well.
• Blood pumping - increased heart activity to send sufficient blood to the body increases the heart rate.
• Difficulty breathing - the diaphragm is pushed against by the growing uterus.
• Leg cramps and backaches - extra weight being carried can induce this plus the hormone, relaxin which develops during this time causes instability leading to injuries.
• Constipation and heartburn - the digestive system slows down and food remains in the stomach longer causing these symptoms.

Understanding the whys of sleep deprivation may help you to hang in there mom!  There are some helps out there, such as the memory foam adjustable leg support which can alleviate leg cramps and back ache, which may make this time a bit easier.  Remember, the wait will be worth it all when you look into your new born’s face!

There are so many concerns today over allergies - whether they be from food, insect bites and stings, airborne particles, medicines, or chemicals.  In generations passed, little was known about these conditions nor was much study done on individuals who displayed discomfort or reactions under certain situations or conditions.  It was thought that you must just “tough it out”.

Thankfully today, studies have been done and research continues to help us understand the hows and whys.  The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through your genes.  This doesn’t mean you will inherit a particular allergy, just the likelihood of having allergies is present.

How can we avoid allergies?  In cases of food allergies, complete avoidance becomes a life-saving necessity.  With airborne allergens you may need to:

• Remove the family pet from certain rooms and regularly bathe them
• Remove the carpet or rugs from the bedroom
• Remove heavy drapes or other items where dust can accumulate
• Clean frequently
• Use special covers to seal pillows and mattresses such as allergy free pillow protectors
• Keep windows closed during pollen season and change clothes after being outdoors and no lawn mowing
• Avoid damp areas where mold has greater opportunity to develop

Depending upon the individual, medications or shots may need to be used to treat allergies.

We’ve come a long way baby in our knowledge and treatment of allergies!  Doctors and scientists continue to work to better understand allergies, improve treatment methods and possibly one day prevent allergies altogether for the more than 50 million Americans affected.

Everyone has more fun traveling with their pet; after all, they really are a part of the family, right?!  Taking a hike, enjoying the lake or sitting by the campfire, make your pet part of the memories.  A few steps taken in advance of the vacation will make the experience enjoyable for you and your pet.

 1.  Car Trips – When your pet is young, begin taking them on small little trips with you in your vehicle.  This will allow them to get use to traveling and avoid carsickness – no one wants to be on clean-up duty! 

2.  Pack and Prepare – Ensure your pet is up to date on all his/her vaccinations and it wouldn’t hurt to bring along the immunization papers if you are traveling out of country.    A stop at your veterinarian for a health check will alleviate any concerns for traveling.  You would be wise to take along your own brush, first-aid kit for animals, identification tag, photo of pet and cleaning supplies in case there is an accident.

3. Secure Your Pet – While traveling in the vehicle, ensure your pet is secure whether by a car seat or harness for the safety of yourselves and your pet. 

4.  The Kennel – If you are at a campground or hotel allowing pets, it is wise to have along a kennel in the event you want to leave your animal for an evening out at a restaurant or whatever.  You’ll be confident he/she is not roaming and causing mischief in their new surroundings.

5.  Take Along Favorites – Allow your pet to feel secure by packing a few of their favorites.  Perhaps it is the memory foam pet bed, a stuffed animal, water dish, etc.  They will settle quite quickly into the traveling routine with something familiar beside them.

  6. Keep Their Head – Always ensure that your pet stays inside the moving vehicle.  If you require opening the windows for air movement, just have the one closest to your pet slightly open so their head does not wander outside of the vehicle.   

7.  Never Leave Your Pet in the Vehicle – summertime, of course, is the warmest time of the year and under no circumstances should you ever leave your pet unattended in a closed vehicle.

8.  Air Travel – If you are planning to include your pet on a flight, you will need to plan early.  Phoning the airline can assist you in knowing their rules and regulations. If there is any paperwork that is necessary, you should allow plenty of time to prepare for that. 

9. Risk Factors – Traveling with your pet by air does require thorough preparation.  You will need to consider the breed of animal, the age of animal, best time to travel with your pet, allowing exercise time, etc.

 10.  Enjoy – Having your pet with you should allow greater enjoyment on your vacation.  If you are feeling stressed or unprepared to take them with, don’t take the fun out of your vacation. 

Often those with allergies are told to stay indoors but we need to realize that our homes can be dangerous areas for allergy sufferers as well.  Our homes are prime targets for dust mites and pet dander.  A few steps can help everyone breathe easier and provide that safe environment for them.

A first step would be choosing an air cleaning machine or air filter which filters out dust, pollen and other allergens.  It would be wise to have one in each room if the allergy sufferer is quite sensitive.  Special filters can also be fitted on your heating or air conditioning system depending on how your particular units are setup. 

Carpets, unfortunately, while comfy on our feet, are also big targets to harbor those allergens.  An alternative is hardwood flooring or something similar but if you are not prepared to do that major of renovations, steam cleaning can help, but realize it is not a long term solution.    Perhaps you could start with removing carpet from one or two rooms and as money and time permits, continue on throughout the whole house.  If you are building or purchasing a new home, consider going with bare floors as much as possible.

The next target is bedding for allergens.  All pillows and mattresses can be covered with allergy proof protectors which can be zipped on and off, allowing easy wash and maintenance.  It is best to begin with new pillows if your present ones are more than a few years old and begin with a fresh clean allergen free pillow!

Before you tell that allergy sufferer to come indoors, make sure your indoors is safe for them!

Its summer time and that generally means more travel is done than any other time of the year.  Children are out of school, the weather is pleasant and families love to plan reunions, weddings, etc. at this great time of year.  While many may choose to travel by their own transportation, due to distance and time, many vacationers choose the airlines as a quicker and easier method of transportation.  We know that of late, many passengers have begun to grumble about the service of budget carriers but the low fare seems to continue to lure them in. 

While the flight appears to be a great price when you book your ticket on the internet or by the travel agent, once you get to the ticket counter of the airline, there seems to be a never ending list of items they are charging you for.  Too much weight in the luggage, too many pieces of luggage and then once you are on the flight, there is a charge for meals, beverages, perhaps pillows, blankets and basic comfort items.  Have the carriers gone too far?

In an effort to save on a few of these costs, we need to be savvy packers when travelling!  Only take the clothes you will absolutely wear, try to mix and match items and remember, worse case scenario, you can always find a laundromat and wash a few of your items.  It s okay to wear an item more than once!    Ensure you have grabbed some food at home or at the airport itself, in case you are traveling over mealtime and when it comes to beverages, water is better for you anyways, so why pay for the soda? 

Here is the one item you should not leave home without that the airlines cannot provide for you at any cost –the memory foam neck roll pillow.   This easy to carry pillow will provide the comfort you need for your neck while you enjoy your flight knowing that you have saved money in as many ways as possible!  You will be relaxed and pain free by tucking this pillow behind your neck, aligning your body and relieving pressure points. 

Buying this pillow will allow you the comfort of starting out on the right foot for your holidays - taking care of your own health.  No airline will care that much for you!

During pregnancy, most women have plenty on their minds. Planning when to take maternity leave from work, how to decorate the nursery and the logistics of taking care of a child - all of these considerations take time. The last thing a woman needs is to worry about getting a good night’s sleep. Still, for many expecting mothers the body’s elevated hormone levels wreak havoc on a normal sleep schedule.

In addition, the weight gain - in some cases as much as 50 pounds - can put excess strain on back muscles. Needless to say, sleeping on one’s stomach is not practical during pregnancy, and this can lead to trouble sleeping. That’s where a body pillows comes into play; these pillows provide the support necessary for an expecting mom.