Pillows – What is the best pillow for you ?

Archive for December, 2009

I did. I told my mom that all I really wanted was a bath pillow, an iPod nano and this old gameboy game but she got me lots of other stuff anyway, as did my boyfriend, so I got so much more than I wanted this Christmas! Im so happy with all my stuff. Overall I had an amazing Christmas – and not just because of the presents. It was me and my boyfriends first Christmas living together

Merry Christmas

Hehe, not really, but I don’t mind.

It was nice to see my family happy for once. Sounds cheesy, but we don’t get that often around here.

I got:
MJ DVD/CD
Money
A pretty necklace from my mom
Harry Potter 6 DVD
A puppy
And a book all about Chicago from my sister ♥

Ahaha Sweet November: he really wasn’t even meant for me. He was supposed to be for my mom, but I guess he liked me more. My mom just smiled and said "Merry Christmas." lol.

If you have pet allergies, you’re not alone.  According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), approximately 10 percent of Americans may be allergic to animals.   Of these allergy sufferers, many may have asthma and 20 to 30 percent of asthma sufferers have pet allergies.  These asthma sufferers include kids with childhood asthma.  The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) explains that allergic asthma (caused by allergens such as dust mites, cat and dog dander and other environmental allergens) is the most common form of asthma in children.   What can you do if you, your child or someone in your family has pet allergies?  This edition of the Allergy Control Products series on “The Secret to Living with Allergies” covers top allergy relief action steps for help with pet allergies. 

Step 1:  Understand where Pet Allergens are found and the Hurdles in Tackling Pet Allergies
Pet allergen, the allergy-causing material from dogs and cats that triggers allergic reactions, is not actually the pet hair but instead a protein present in the animal dander (made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva).  Pet allergens are particularly small and ‘sticky’.  These allergens are found to the greatest extent in homes with pets, however, their sticky nature means that they often travel on clothes or in other ways to places where pets have never been allowed (such as offices, schools, and other public places). 

Depending on individual factors including the severity of the pet allergy, you may face the very difficult decision of finding a new home for your pet.  If this happens, removing pet dander will require thorough cleaning as pet dander is difficult to eliminate throughout the home, and it can take as long as 20 weeks for pet dander to no longer cause allergies.  If you keep your pet, it is important to take the action steps outlined in Steps 2 – 9 to help reduce your exposure to pet allergens.

Step 2:  Don’t Allow the Pet in the Allergic Individual’s Bedroom
To reduce exposure to pet allergens, keep the pet out of the bedroom.  This room is where we spend much of our day while sleeping and is where the greatest levels of allergens can be found.  Hands and clothing should be washed after any contact with your pet.

Step 3:  Cover Pillows, Mattresses and Box Spring with Allergy Encasings
Protect yourself from pet allergens that have built up in the bed by covering pillow, mattress, box spring and even the comforter with allergy encasings.  Choose an encasing with a small pore size (under 5-6 microns) that will effectively block the small pet dander particle and keep allergens contained within the bed.

Step 4:  Wash Linens and Any Un-Encased Bedding Every Week in Hot Water
Any linens, Pillows, blankets or comforters that aren’t encased should be washed weekly in hot water (130-degrees F) to remove allergens.  If you have had to remove your pet, consider replacing bedding items with new purchases that are free from pet allergen build-up. 

Step 5:  Remove or Treat Carpets to Eliminate a Large Allergen Source
Allergens fall into the weave of the carpet, accumulating to create a large allergen source.  Remove the carpet to prevent continued exposure, or treat carpets to denature allergens and vacuum thoroughly.

Step 6:  Clean Your Carpet with a HEPA Filtration Vacuum, Designed to Contain the Small Pet Dander Particle
The tiny pet dander particle can pass through the standard bag of many vacuum cleaners and exhaust back into the air.  HEPA vacuums, with high filtration bags and superior containment of allergen particles, should be used. 

Step 7:  Use HEPA Air Cleaners and Purifiers to Capture Airborne Allergens
Although large dust and mold allergens can settle to the ground more quickly, small pet allergens remain airborne longer.  HEPA air cleaners and air purifiers are particularly good for these allergens. 

Step 8:  Use Central Furnace Filters or Place Filter Media Over Vents in the Bedroom
Filter air with a central furnace permanent or disposable air filter.  Airborne allergen particles are captured by the air filter before circulating throughout the house.  Cover vents in the allergic person’s bedroom with filter media that further traps airborne particles before entering the room.

Step 9:  Reduce Dander by Giving Your Pet Frequent Baths
Although studies have demonstrated that washing pets with water removes some surface allergen, the effects are temporary and may not last long enough to reduce symptoms.  Specially-formulated pet shampoos can be used to help remove dander.

Colleen Finnegan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-secret-to-living-with-allergies-part-8-top-allergy-relief-steps-for-help-with-pet-allergies-721693.html

If your room has the same look over a long period of time, you obviously feel unhappy and bored. There are indeed simple ways to transform the entire look of your room without having to spend lavishly. This can be done by changing all the furniture and accessories in that room, or by certain other cost-effective means.

You can try introducing new color schemes with two or three color combinations. You can experiment by scattering assorted pieces that carry your color schemes randomly. For instance, throw Pillows, scarves, anything you have around the house that have the colors you are considering to enable you get a preview. This is an excellent way to find the color scheme that works best for you. This is to make absolutely sure of which color combination works best before you spend your money.

Use screens to cover any glaring defects on the wall. If the room is a very spacious one, you can use a beautiful screen between the living and the dining sections, creating a pleasant demarcation between those two functional areas. Adding a pair of lamps in keeping with any new style you have opted. This will not only increase the amount of light within the room, but will also be helpful to reinforce the room’s style and theme. The windows play an important role in the overall look of a room. If the windows look out to a brick wall, you might opt for a full-cover drapery that will add elegance in its own right.

You may be surprised but most times, a small re-arrangement of furniture can create a visual impact and an energizing effect. Assuming you have a standard rectangular room and your furniture is arranged so that the sofa and chairs are placed close to the walls, you can reposition the sofa and chairs so that they are diagonal to the walls. There is indeed a spot in every room that can be exploited into an eye-catching focal point. Identify where that spot is, and create a collection of furniture or accessories right in that spot that is in keeping with the style, theme and colors you have already selected for that room.

One of the best ways to change the look of a room in your home – although it may mean spending money – is to install a new floor. Some years ago laying a new floor called for quite a bit of skill and was best left to professionals. Today, there are countless do-it-yourself materials available, and in most cases you can transform your floor in as little as one weekend. You can choose a bamboo floor, which will make your room look refreshingly different and also less harmful to the environment. Another option is modular carpet tiles that can be used to make area rugs or wall-to-wall floor covering. It is available in several styles that can produce several different attractive arrangements in your room.

A roll of wallpaper may be all you need to transform the interior of your room. Wall decals are another affordable option. If you can afford, new painting can make a dramatic difference to your room. If you really want to save money, head to any home store or a local paint shop and ask where they keep for sale cans of paint that never sold well or returned by customers due to incorrect color choices. You can often walk away with an entire gallon of paint for a throwaway price. Merely because it was not the color combination for someone else, it does not mean it will not be perfect for you.

Sharon Samraj
http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/simple-ways-to-transform-a-room-on-a-budget-679113.html

First you should recognize the symptoms of puffy or swollen eyes. The upper and lower eyelids will experience puffiness or swelling typically during the morning. The swelling can occasionally be accompanied by itching and/or redness. You may not be able to fully open or close your eyes.

Next you need to know what some of the common causes are for puffy eyes. If the body is too dehydrated it will start storing up water which leads to puffy eyes. If you drink alcohol or eat salty foods before going to sleep this can also cause puffy eyes. Alcohol lowers your anti-diuretic hormones or ADH. However, the levels will normalize and the puffiness will then subside about the same time your hangover subsides. Insufficient sleep can cause puffy eyes.

Then there are allergies which will also cause redness and itching along with the swelling. Some contributing factors for your allergies can include feather Pillows, linen fabric, face-creams, dust, pollen and certain foods. Aging can also cause swollen eyes as the skin begins to lose its elasticity. Before or during menstruation the hormone levels can fluctuate which can result in water retention around the eyelids and puffiness.

Fluids can be pushed into the tissue around the eyes from high blood pressure resulting in swelling. There is eyelid dermatitis which is a skin condition that affects just the eyelids. It is typically caused by an allergic reaction to the make-up or skin-care products you are wearing. There are a few diseases of the eye that can cause puffiness including blepharitis, orbital cellulitis, chalazions, kidney infections and thyroid problems. Some drugs such as lithium can cause the thyroid to lose production which can result in puffy eyes. Lastly heredity can play a big role in puffy eyes.

There are several things you can do to help prevent puffy eyes from happening. First you should stay hydrated. You will get thirsty when you start to become dehydrated. Your urine will be nearly clear when you are properly hydrated. Just remember that some drugs and foods can change the color of your urine as well. You should also lower your salt intake. Salt can only be stored in fluid suspension which gathers around your eyes. By lowering your salt consumption you can also improve your overall health.

You should never go to sleep while wearing eye make-up. No matter how tired you are always use a remover and continue to do so until you find no signs of make-up on the cotton ball. Use a cotton pad for your eye area since it is less irritating than a tissue. You can prevent make-up from entering the eyelid and causing irritation if you remove it before sleeping.

Tainted eye make-up can also cause puffy eyes so you should be careful of bacteria. Never use an eye product or make-up that is older than a few months. By now bacteria may have grown in the make-up and can cause your eyelids to swell. It is also a good idea not to share eye products with anyone else.

Try to get enough regular, quality sleep if possible. Have your head elevated when sleeping to allow better circulation and prevent fluid from gathering around your eyes. It is best to sleep on your back so gravity doesn’t route fluid directly to your eyes.

If you already have puffy eyes then there are many methods available to help you get rid of puffy eyes. However, some of these methods will require time and patience in order to get results. Consider some natural remedies for your puffy eyes.

Use a mask filled with cold water or gel for a few minutes when you first wake up in the morning. Take a paper towel to wrap a few pieces of ice and then place them on your eyelids for a few minutes to reduce the swelling. Keep eye creams refrigerated since it will help reduce puffy eyes when applied. You should gently tap cream onto your eyelids with your ring finger so you won’t stimulate fluid drainage.

Have two teaspoons in the refrigerator at all times and rest them on your eyelids for at least one minute or until they warm up should you have a puffy eye attack. Take a bowl of ice-cold milk and soak cotton-wool pads in it. Squeeze out most of the liquid and place on your eyes, repeating as they warm up for about fifteen minutes. This can not only reduce puffy eyes but also brighten the whites of your eye.

You can also dip cotton balls in ice water and squeeze out the water before applying to your eyes for five to ten minutes. Black or chamomile teabags soaked in cold water placed on your eyelids for fifteen minutes will work as well. The tannic acid in the tea helps constrict the blood vessels and reduce inflammation. To help drainage you should gently press from the inside corner to the outside corner of your swollen eye.

Cucumber, potato or apple slices placed on the puffy eyelid for ten to fifteen minutes will also help. Potatoes also help to reduce dark circles under the eyes while apply have pectin which can help with anti-oxidation. Use a sale bath for your eyes by soaking cotton pads in a saline solution or a solution of one teaspoon of salt in one pint of hot water. Placing these pads on your eyelids for a few minutes will help puffy eyes.

Over the counter diuretics can help reduce your fluid retention, especially for those experiencing bloating before a period. However, diuretics can lower your blood pressure so you should have yours checked before trying this solution. Hemorrhoid cream applied around the puffy eye can help, but be very careful not to get any in your eye. Ideally you should find a cream that has yeast and shark’s liver oil.

Puffiness related to allergies is a condition that can become permanent if not treated and eliminated. Damage can occur to the connective tissues in the eye after repeated swelling, stretching the skin and causing it to become looser. As a result pouches called blepharitis will develop under your eyes because the fat has bulged. These pouches can’t be treated with home remedies like the occasional puffiness. A minor surgery is required called blepharoplasty in which the surgeon makes a small incision under the lower eyelid in order to remove the excess skin and get rid of the pouches for good.

There is over the counter eye gels, but many wonder if these truly work. Some gels can have ingredients like chamomile or witch hazel which can reduce puffiness. When worn under make0up the gels can help because they work as a primer so that it is easier to apply make-up. The gel will also prevent your make-up from flaking off which reduces the risk of irritation to your eyes. Many eye gels are water-based rather than oil-based so they can moisten your skin and hide lines rather than add grease to your skin.

Larry Edwin
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/tips-for-getting-rid-of-puffy-eyes-729263.html