Yearly Archives: 2017
5 Bedtime Beverages to Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Having trouble sleeping again? You’re not alone. Per the National Institutes of Health, about 30 percent of people have sleep issues, including some degree of insomnia. Not only does the amount and quality of sleep affect your mood and productivity, but a lack of sleep is downright dangerous for your health, especially if you’re sleep deprived for weeks or months.
While there are plenty of natural remedies that can help you get to sleep and stay asleep, you need to find one that works for you. The next time you’re wide awake at midnight, try one of these bedtime beverages.
Cherry Juice
It’s not an old wives’ tale that tart cherry juice can help you sleep better. As a matter of fact, drinking two 8-ounce servings daily (one in the morning and one in the evening) reduces the likelihood of insomnia because cherries are an excellent source of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythm.
Sleepytime Tea from Celestial Seasonings
This herbal tea’s name says it all. A blend of chamomile, spearmint, lemongrass, and orange blossoms will surely have you snoozing like a baby.
Warm milk
Because it’s high in the amino acid, Tryptophan (known to promote restful sleep), sipping a glass of warm milk about two hours before bedtime should make drifting off a no-brainer. Add a teaspoon of honey for flavor.
Coconut water
Because it contains potassium and magnesium, this energy drink will help your muscles relax, which in turn, will help you relax.
Valerian tea
Valerian is a herb that’s commonly used to treat sleep disorders. Doctors often recommend Get Some Zzz’s from the Republic of Tea. Brew yourself a cup about an hour before you hit the hay.
Bedroom Design: 5 Ways to Tell Your Story in the Bedroom
Post by Tracy Kaler.
The most interesting rooms are well thought-out and tell a story. Bedrooms, more so than other rooms, are the most personal spaces and can communicate a lot about us as individuals. Adore the arts? Is cooking your favorite pastime? Allow the interior design on your bedroom to tell more about who you are and what you love. These are five ways in which you can do just that.
The color scheme…
Incorporating your favorite color or colors in the decor of your room remains an excellent way to show your personality. If you’re a fan of bold colors, why go with a neutral scheme? Be careful in choosing colors that allow your character and passions to shine through.
A portrait gallery…
Art is essential in any space, but a portrait gallery in a bedroom can be incredibly successful. Not only will you have the chance to appreciate your fondest memories, but you’ll be surrounded (in pictures) by family and friends daily.
Your travels…
Displaying items that you’ve picked up along the way while traveling will tell the story of where you’ve been as well as your once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If you’re an avid traveler, hanging a world map of the destinations you’ve visited can be a nice touch, as can installing map wall covering.
The books you’ve read….
If you’re literary buff, celebrate the books you’ve read by lining a wall or section of the room with bookshelves. Display your favorites on a desk or side table. Rotate the most recent reads and feature those books in a special spot.
A memory wall…
Select one wall, and through photos, letters, and other memorabilia, you can display the most prominent moments of your life. Use this wall as a reminder of all that you’ve accomplished and the challenges conquered along the way.
Bedtime Stories: We Are the Ants
Post by Mark T. Locker.
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson.
If you were abducted by a race of aliens and offered the choice to press a big red button and save the world from annihilation, would you press the button and save mankind? For many, the answer would be a simple yes. But if you are Henry Denton, the answer isn’t all that simple. Henry has been getting abducted by the Sluggers for years. He calls them sluggers because he doesn’t know what they call themselves; they don’t talk to him but they sure look sluglike. But ever since he made the mistake of telling his big brother about the Sluggers, his life has been a wreck. Quickly, his brother proceeded to tell everyone and Henry became branded Space Boy.
Henry’s life has been hard. With an absent dad, a bully for a brother, things were bad. But when the love of his life took his own life, Henry was spiraling hard. His grandmother, who he loved more than anyone, is fading due to Alzheimer’s. When the guys in his high school began ruthlessly attacking him, things got worse. So when the Sluggers kept taking him and kept presenting him with the choice to save the world, he had no intention of saving all the monsters who have made his life so terrible. But then something begins to change. It seems there are people out there who refuse to let Henry destroy himself, much less the world. Suddenly things aren’t as cut and dried as he’d thought.
We Are the Ants is a difficult book to read. It’s brutal and heartbreaking in only the way real life can be. It’s also a sweet, funny, and at times hopeful story. When you get to see the Earth from miles above, and you see the vastness of the universe, you can’t help but gain a new perspective. This is not a book for children, to be sure. But teens and adults will laugh and cry reading this story of growing up, of love and loss and trust.
Bedroom Design: Window Treatment Inspiration for the Bedroom
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Windows should never be ignored, as they are fundamental in the design scheme of any room. They provide pattern, allow light, enlarge a space, and once treated, can greatly affect both the aesthetic and mood of an interior. From single treatments to layers, these six window treatments inspire us to appreciate and embrace window coverings, particularly in our own bedrooms.
A hotel-inspired Los Angeles bedroom boasts woven shades and billowy drapes. These window treatments soften the neutral yet elegant space.
Photo by Talianko Design Group, LLC
A custom-pleated window valance in a traditional floral pattern layers well over the Roman shade, creating a soft backdrop for the bed in what appears to be an attic bedroom.
Photo by Kingsley Belcher Knauss, ASID
Plantation shutters, tiebacks, and a balloon shade set the stage for this darling little girl’s room in San Francisco.
These outside mount Roman shades contribute to the sophisticated yet rustic elegance of this room. The delicate curve celebrates these tall, slender windows.
Photo by DeLeers Construction, Inc.
The designer selected simple side panels to frame windows in this log-cabin-lined ranch home. This creamy beige color is the perfect companion to the muted brown walls in the Wyoming bedroom.
Sheers allow wonderful light to seep into this Tel Aviv bedroom while still providing much-needed privacy.
Bedroom Design: Celebrating Scandinavian Style
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Originating in 1950s Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, the Scandinavian design movement is characterized by simple, modern furnishings and accessories, often using form-pressed wood, steel, and plastic. Rooms tend to be minimalist, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.
Today, you’ll find contemporary and transitional interiors that use Scandinavian elements, as well as complete spaces that pay tribute to the movement. These four bedrooms celebrate the beauty of Scandinavian Design.
A coastal bedroom in London uses more pattern than we typically see in a Scandinavian space. The blue and white scheme is a good fit for a beach house. This room is a fine example of balance, texture, and harmony.
The designer of this Amsterdam bedroom kept things white and minimal. The only visible pattern is the bed’s backdrop, and the hand-written art adds whimsy that this room needs.
A smart room divider splits the space and creates a seating group in this Scandinavian-style studio apartment. Organization is key in the small flat, and as you’ll notice, there’s not a hair out of place.
As minimalist as this well-planned Scandinavian guest room is, there’s still plenty to take in. From the area rug to the throw pillows and books, each item is carefully placed and seems like it’s part of the bigger picture.
