Tag: spa

Bedroom Sanctuary

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Have you ever spent a night at a motel or hotel and found it was a restful night? You actually felt more rested than if you were in your own bedroom.   If you have, then it is time for a bedroom revamp. First notice what was it about the motel room that made it more restful. You will want to reinvent this mood in your own bedroom.

I love a cozy bedroom. I love lots of pillows, Egyptian  sheets and fluffy coverlets. I love subdued lighting and a touch of white noise to block out the world. And I love a healthy bedroom.

love a cozy bedroom. I love lots of pillows, Egyptian  sheets and fluffy coverlets. I love subdued lighting and a touch of white noise to block out the world. And I love a healthy bedroom.
What is a healthy bedroom? It is when you walk into the room and it feels and smells fresh. Here are ways to keep your bedroom healthy and cozy.

Replace your mattress every 5 to 7 years. Quality counts. Choose the best quality you can afford. You want your spine to be properly aligned. And the size of the mattress matters. A bed too small is a big mistake. You need to be able to stretch out and feel free in bed. Use high quality thread count linens. They breathe easily and feel cool to be skin.

Stay away from the memory form pillows. They often emit dangerous Volotile Organic Compounds or VOC’s that can cause headaches, nausea, and eye irritation. You don’t want your face, mouth, or nose anywhere near them. Use instead pillows filled with organic materials, like wool or feathers, or at least safer foam like natural latex foam.

A quiet air filterer is an efficient way to purify your bedroom of dangerous pollutants and agitating allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. It also can be used for white noise to block out sporadic noises.

My favorite thing is to have house plants in my bedroom. Not only will a potted plant or two beautify your bedroom, but they will also release oxygen and help filter out harmful compounds emitted by everyday cleaners, detergents, and fragrances. They are several houseplants that thrive in low light and are perfect in a bedroom.

The décor of your bedroom needs to invoke peacefulness to yourself when you enter the room. We all have that special color hue that we gravitate to for restfulness. Use this palette for your wall and accents. I love the colors of beiges and blues in my bedroom.

I personally don’t have a TV in my bedroom. It detracts me and I can not relax with its chatter. I prefer to be quiet and mediate before sleeping. Ease your anxious mind. Wind down before bed. Take a bath, meditate, or do whatever it takes to relax and wipe away the day’s stress.  I like an oversize chair with a rug underneath to sit in before retiring to bed. A soft light with low wattage sits on a side table beside the stair. I can read or use my ipad and enjoy some evening tea or milk. This helps me wind down for bedtime. Your bed should never be a desk, dining room table or a couch. A radio or sound system of soft music playing the background while reading tends to relax the body, but before I get into bed, I turned it off.

Always, always have scented oils or candles in your bedroom. Lavender and lemongrass are two of my favorites in the bedroom. Another scent is peony and rose. Studies show the sense of smell of calming aromas helps to reduce your stress levels.

I read a study on sleep patterns and what helps in sleep. I was surprised it suggested having a dark red night light. If you wake during the night, this color doesn’t cause you to feel wide awake. It gives a glow of contentment and helps you fall back to sleep. I use a red glow infuser in my bedroom. It cast its glow as well as the smell of lavender fills the room.

I find that keeping it simple in décor is best. If a picture of a sunset makes you feel rested, hang one in your room. I personally like water scenes and flowers. So my room has cottage cozy written on it. Keep it clean and simple. Remember to keep your sleep environment uncluttered, dark, quiet and cool.

 For the best sleep, avoid exercising or eating near bedtime. Eliminate alcohol and nicotine intake, especially before sleeping. And treat your body right during the day. Eating right and exercise during the day. Bedtime is the body’s time to rejuvenate for another day.

Take it day by day. Changing your schedule and attitude about sleep isn’t going to happen overnight. It requires lifestyle changes, dedication and practice. Just like improving any aspects of our lives, making sleep a priority takes time.

Remember your bedroom is your getaway room. It is like that motel/hotel away from home. Close the door and unwind and call it a day.

Walls in an Austin, Texas, master bedroom are painted Pratt & Lambert

Here are several inspirations of  a cozy bedroom.

Cosy bedroom with caramel floor, vanilla wooden wall panels and metal bed

Cozy Bedroom       

Desk as Nightstand

 

Little Girl’s Room       

 

Pinterest is full of ideas to create the Cozy Bedroom

 

Love and Valentines

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Valentine’s Day! Such a special day. It is the time the florist phone is ringing , right up to closing. Extended hours could go to 11:59 pm and there will be the one who just needs a few rose petals to layer the bath by midnight. It is a fun celebration and love is in the air. The many ways we love someone gives us ideas to be unique in how we really show it. I have seen tickets to concerts, spa gift cards, weekend getaways and yes, it is the best time to ask, will you marry me. What always accompanies the special idea is  flowersIr?t=msbeebeeinnc 20&l=ur2&o=1 . I enjoy creating floral designs for sweethearts. It is much like a wedding. A young man comes in to order flowers for a new girlfriend. He tells how special she is, her beauty, her smile,and her love . You know as a designer your design reflects his love. You personalized it  with her in mind. Valentine svg fileMoments later, you look up and an older gentleman is ordering his flowers. He has been with his wife who he calls his sweetheart for fifty years. He talks of her smile, her beauty and her love for him. And you know his love must shine through the design. You personalized it with his love for her in your thoughts. A favorite story I must share happened 15 years ago. I was busy working on arrangements . I finished most of my orders and one of the coworkers gave me a message. A customer had requested for me to design an arrangement for his wife. He didn’t care about the cost. He said she was the puzzle piece he had looked for. He felt like the day he meet her he had come home. I asked , what is her age, how long have they been married, what are her favorite colors and flowers. He hadn’t given that information and he hadn’t left a number to call back. He just said he would pick them up at five. I was nervous. He had said the cost wasn’t an issue. I started creating and then hesitated, wishing, I knew more about this lady. I took a deep breath and thought, what would I want for Valentines flowers. I started again and thought of my husband, and created the design of my dreams. Finished, it sat on the case all afternoon. Customers ooh and aah for it. Five o clock and we are closing and still no man shows to pick up the arrangement. I’m worried. I know it is closing time. It had been a very long day and yet, I couldn’t leave without delivering this arrangement. I called my husband and told him I would be late. He said, I’ll come down and wait with you and later we can celebrate with dinner. Thirty minutes later, still no customer pickup. I opened the shop door to my husband and he said Happy Valentine’s Day Sweetheart. And he smiled with his eyes. And then I realized the man who made the call had been my husband.

Relax .. Massage.. Spa

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What better than to begin this new year but to pamper myself. One way of slowing the pace is a massage and spa moment. I found while traveling abroad to include this moment. One of my favorite spas is Jean Louis David  in Doha, Qatar. The spa offers many ways to relax and de-stress after an 18 hour flight. I tried the  Swedish Massage first and later Thai and aromatherapy. The essentials oils are amazing. I fell in love with the scents. jeanlouis

While traveling abroad , I had the opportunity to enjoy their many luxuries. It is amazing what you see and read  in a travel magazine, is nothing like the personal experience of allowing the locals to share their world with you. Doha, Qatar was my first stop . As the plane hit the runway, I saw lights, sea and sand. Lots of sand. Being an American and not knowing their language, I was afraid it would be a barrier. It was unfounded. The people of Qatar pride themselves in knowing several languages. Their English is excellent. I soon found out they are proud their country and heritage and enjoy sharing their culture.

I settled into a luxury room, complete with fruits, beverages, chocolates, and hot foods that were waiting on a table by a window . After enjoying their special made mango juice and chocolates, I relaxed just watching the city’s movement. This is a city of movement even when you reach the sands of the desert . Once in the desert, you feel the wind. You look upward and see the starry sky at night. And then you look beyond and the magical Arabian Sea reflects the moon . It is calming. If you ever put Qatar on your travel bucket list, the souq is the visit worth taking. And plan to attend a falcon flight . Be prepared for beauty in flight.