How much sleep do kids really need?

While a small percentage of children have disrupted sleep because of sleep apnea, a far greater percentage are exhausted, irritable, and distracted throughout the day because of poor sleep habits. Dr. Dennis Rosen, associate medical director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital, blames the digital age. “It’s always tempting to send one more text or check one more thing on Facebook but that distracts kids from relaxing and keeps them from going to sleep.” Compounding the problem: teens’ growing reliance on caffeinated energy drinks and Starbucks, which often keeps them wired into the wee hours.

Here are some rules Rosen sets for his own children to improve the quantity and quality of their sleep.

No bright light for two hours before bedtime. “It has a direct effect on the body’s internal clock,” explained Rosen, “and tends to push back falling asleep time” by fooling the body into thinking it’s still daytime. Blue light backgrounds on computer screens tend to pose the biggest problem, he added.

Disengage from electronic media at least hour before bedtime. Rosen shuts off the wireless router in his house so his kids can’t use the Internet after a certain time each night. Parents can also confiscate smartphones so they’ll be fully charged in the morning (if they need an excuse).

Keep temperatures moderate and pets out of bed. Rosen recommends keeping the thermostat set at 65 to 74 degrees F. “Pets also shouldn’t be jumping in and out bed when a child is trying to sleep.”

Ban caffeinated beverages after noon. Drinking these later in the day can interfere with a child’s ability to fall asleep at night.

Set a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends. Kids should wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, which is especially tough for sleep-deprived high schoolers who want to sleep in on Saturday. At the very least, get them back on schedule on Sunday.

Get bright light in the morning. A dose of sunlight helps reduce morning drowsiness and improve sleep at night, said Rosen. No, morning cartoons are not bright enough to shut off sleep-inducing hormones. Getting them to the bus stop a few minutes early is a better idea.

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THIS STORY APPEARED IN  THE BOSTON MAIL - JUNE 4, 2012

To Grey or not to Gray

A mix between black and white, gray is by definition a neutral. But its varying shades, from light dove to dark charcoal, make gray versatile as any color. According to some Grey and Gray are the same thing just spelled differently, according to others it’s a completely different color swatch, and to others it’s not a color at all. For the simplicity of this post, I will refer to this color as G.R.A.Y as Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says so.

Gray is still hot and one of the most popular colors clients request for all their upholstery needs. 

Some hints and tips with decorating with Gray

• Add plenty of texture, or pattern
• Add different shades of grey together
• Add variety of light sources, gray is already the color of a shadow. Position lights throughout the space at different heights by using a mixture of table lamps, floor lamps, scones and pendants.
• Add a punch of color in the room.

As for different color combinations that include gray, purple is always a good choice. Red, blue, brown or yellow are also nice options. Since gray a black and white combined, you can also use it with the classical black and white and maybe with some subtle touches of red.

Gray no longer needs to be saved for stuffy offices and come off as drab; it has become the new tan and is proving to be stylish in both modern and traditional decorating schemes. Enjoy using this versatile color in your room; just remember to identify the right gray color scheme for your space. Pair cool gray with blue for a crisp, classic look or coordinate warmer gray walls with purples and plums for a rich, cozy feel.

Enjoy…..send us your pictures and tell us how you have decorated with this new neutral!

Check out our website for all your upholstery needs. 

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Wedding Disaster!

Your wedding is meant to be the happiest day of your life it’s supposed to be a day to remember and hopefully for the right reasons.

Our family was invited to my cousins wedding Saturday May 12, 2012 and it’s a story that needs to be told!

My cousin Kevin and his beautiful bride to be Jodi have been together for 12 years and like many young couples have gone through so much and have fought for their love and strength of their relationship. When a wedding date was set we all celebrated in this union as whenever you were in a room with these two you could see the love and admiration they had for each other. The sheer shock and disappointment started Friday night May 11th with the arrival of the wedding party to the venu1008 in Inglewood for the wedding rehearsal. The excitement was apparent with everyone involved as there were two families coming together to support and celebrate this union. However, there was another wedding party there with the same excitement and joy in their eyes. How could this be two wedding parties, two brides, two grooms, and one venue, there must be some mistake…..yes there was a mistake two contracts signed and the venu1008oblivious to this development. Soon it became apparent that only one family was going to be celebrating at the venu1008, contracts were pulled out and scrutinized and the bride and groom that signed first would be granted the venue. Kevin and Jodi at 6:00pm Friday night were told they would have to find another venue for the wedding that was scheduled for the following day! The wedding party and families came together with cell phones in hand calling every place they could think of that might be able to help out! Another venue was found that evening and all invited guests were called with the changes.  PHEW, the next morning at 9:00am the NEW venue called and said they made a mistake and would not be able to accommodate the wedding…..SIX hours prior to Jodi walking down the aisle to marry her best friend and the man of her dreams she is being told once again, “we are sorry” how can something like this happen, how cruel and unfair! 11:30am another venue was found. Port O’Call Calgary Airport Hotel http://www.bwportocallhotel.com/first thought was how sorry we felt for Jodi, and how hard this is on her,Kevin and the families. Second thought was how are they going to pull this off,ceremony and reception with limited time? 

We arrived at the Port O’ Call in at2:30, and the hotel had the wedding posted on their event board and we went to find the ceremony room, WOW it was beautiful, chairs, alter, flowers, music,decorations. We must be in the wrong room; this wedding venue was just decided on a couple hours ago! As family started to flow in we knew we were in the right room and at 3:30 the guests stood as Kevin played his guitar and serenaded his bride down the aisle, there was not a dry eye! At 5:00 the reception doors opened and supper was too be served at 6:00, we found out throughout the evening what this venue did to accommodate this wedding on short notice and it was clear they are committed to customer service and going above and beyond. Port O Call, brought employees in by taxi to get the reception room set up and the meal prepared, and what an unbelievable job they did. The room was beautiful, the supper fantastic and the night was truly magical. I am not sure what would have happened if the Port O' Call wasn’t called, but what I do know is this is an establishment that really went above and beyond and showed that it is a first class wedding facility. 

Brides and Groom plan for months to pull the perfect wedding together and this one with the help of an army of people was planned and executed within hours and proved to be a wedding that will not ever be forgotten. 

Looking back Kevin and Jodi will see that this was one day in a long life together as husband and wife. It didn't go as planned, but it's a sign of the resilience they have as a couple. And they now have a story to tell that is unique and always memorable. 

As a family we are very proud of this couple how they showed that love will conquer all and once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale

This mother’s day I was fortunate enough to spend it with my mother, and there is no other present which is as beautiful as the presence of your mother.  I enjoyed watching my children interact and spend the day with my mom and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight. I remember being a young girl and my mom sharing this poem with me that she clipped from the newspaper. At first I was a bit offended by what she was trying to say but now being a mom of two teenagers I find myself on this mother’s day sharing the same poem with my children.

I HAD THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD

WHILE OTHER KIDS HAD CANDY FOR BREAKFAST, I HAD TO EAT CEREAL, EGGS, AND TOAST.

WHILE OTHER KIDS HAD CAKES AND CANDY FOR LUNCH, I HAD A SANDWICH. AS YOU CAN GUESS MY DINNER WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER KIDS DINNERS, TOO.

MY MOTHER INSISTED ON KNOWING WHERE WE WERE AT ALL TIMES. YOU'D THINK WE WERE ON A CHAIN GANG OR SOMETHING. SHE HAD TO KNOW WHO OUR FRIENDS WERE AND WHAT WE WERE DOING.

I AM ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT, BUT SHE ACTUALLY HAD THE NERVE TO BREAK THE CHILD LABOR LAW. SHE MADE US WORK! WE HAD TO DO THE DISHES, MAKE THE BEDS, AND LEARN HOW TO COOK. THAT WOMAN MUST HAVE STAYED AWAKE NIGHTS THINKING UP THINGS FOR US KIDS TO DO.

AND SHE INSISTED WE TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. BY THE TIME WE WERE TEENAGERS, SHE WAS MUCH WISER, AND OUR LIVES BECAME MORE UNBEARABLE. NONE OF THIS TOOTING THE CAR HORN FOR US TO COME RUNNING;

SHE  EMBARRESED US TO NO BY INSISTING THAT FRIENDS COME TO THE DOOR TO GET US. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF OUR FRIENDS WERE ALLOWED TO DATE AT THE MATURE AGE OF 12 OR 13, BUT OUR OLD-FASHIONED MOTHERREFUSED TO LET US DATE UNTIL WE WERE 16. SHE REALLY RAISED A BUNCH OF SQUARES. NONE OF US WERE EVER ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING OR BUSTED FOR DOPE.

AND WHO DO WE HAVE TO THANK FOR THIS? YOU'RE RIGHT OUR MEAN MOTHER. I AM TRYING TO RAISE MY CHILDREN TO STAND A LITTLE STRAIGHTER AND TALLER, AND I AM SECRETLY TICKLED TO PIECES WHEN MY CHILDREN CALL ME MEAN.

I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE MEANEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD. OUR COUNTRY DOESN'T NEED A GOOD FIVE- CENT CIGAR: IT NEEDS MORE MEAN MOTHERS LIKE MINE.

Author Unknown



As soon as the sun begins to shine and the BBQ is being used on a regular basis I get the urge to make a summer salsa! This is one of those recipes that the entire family looks forward to. We have incorporated it as part of a meal or an appy! I also love bringing this to a friends house. 

 

Don't be afraid of the tequila, I dislike tequila immensely and have made this recipe with and without it and I must say it DOES add to the flavor and shouldn't be missed!

Please try it and let me know what you think! 

SUMMER SALSA

Ingredients

• 3 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
• 1 cup diced cantaloupe
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
• 1 cup peeled, seeded and diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup purple onion, finely diced
• 1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup  finely chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• 2 tbsp  tequila
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Combine watermelon, cantaloupe, pepper, cucumber, onion and jalapeño in a large bowl, leave in fridge for approx 1 hour. In the meantime in a separate bowl, combine cilantro, juice, tequila and oil, whisking to mix. Season with salt and pepper. After the hour pull the fruit mix out of the fridge and drain any of the liquid off. Pour sauce over watermelon mixture. Gently stir to mix. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving. Use as a dip with tortilla chips or serve on top of grilled chicken or white fish.

Makes 5 Cups

Personalize Your Mattress

Years ago we noticed in the market that many couples were sacrificing their personal sleep comfort for their partners and settling for "best case" for both people. We started doing some research and developed a concept that you can have two different sleep zones in one mattress. Mattresses best tailored to both individuals needs are those which have two sleep zones; one for each partner. You can choose one side firm and one side soft, and you can also choose different inserts for each side. One side could be latex and the other pocket coil. No more compromising your comfort for your partners, you both get what is right for you in one mattress. 

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Upholstered Tufted Sofa

I love this sofa, tufted roll arm upholstered pieces are so popular right now but with squaring up the arms instead of the roll gives it a totally new look!

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Custom Upholstered Sectional

A client came into the store this week with a picture of this sectional. She asked if this is something that we could make for her with a few changes. 

1. 100" x 100"
2. 39" Depth
3. Constructed in 3 pieces to fit into the house
4. Would like to keep the nail head around the base.
5. She likes the red but it doesn't match her decor so is going with the ever popular steel grey. 

I love the red too!

 

We are so fortunate as a custom manufacturer that we can make this for the client with all of her needs and requirements. 

Let technology help you choose your next mattress

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3-D Pressure Imaging

Halstead Sofa and Mattress Makers ergonomic pressure imaging systems identifies the optimal mattress design to meet YOUR unique body type and sleep positions. We have you relax on a variety of different mattress combinations and the pressure imaging software captures your different sleep preferences on each mattress and compares the results. Mattresses are compared and ranked based on peak pressures and contact area (mattress support) This will also show you and your partner how to alleviate your pressure points that can cause discomfort and ensure proper orthopedic support by measuring the mattress surface contact area. This technology will fit each person to a mattress based on their unique body profile. Again showing how two personalize sleep zones may be right for you.

MATTRESS PRESSURE IMAGING SYSTEM

How pressure imaging helps!

• A tool to help customers and patients get a better night sleep by selecting a better mattress for

Your unique body type and sleeping preference

• Provides tangible information to help make a decision with confidence.

• Helps ensure customers choose a comfortable mattress the first time.

• Take the results back to the health care provider to discuss the results.

• Exclusive to HALSTEAD Custom Adjust System. This enables you to change your comfort level

AFTER you take the mattress home without changing the entire mattress.

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Email us to book your appointment

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CUSTOM MADE NATURAL LATEX MATTRESS JUST FOR YOU

Made of 100% pure latex rubber, with no artificial additives to dilute its quality, our Eco-Friendly cores are naturally hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, and will not support mildew, mold or bacteria. They are also free of potentially harmful chemical flame-retardants.

Our pure latex rubber cores reduce body moisture while you're sleeping, as they allow for airflow through their design. They conform to the contour of your body, providing superior orthopedic support. Latex rubber cores will not sag or take on body impressions, therefore turning your mattress is unnecessary. Our cores provide pressure point relief, for a deeper and more restful sleep, with reduced tossing and turning. Enjoy!

Ask us about

• Custom Sizes
• Custom Comfort
• Certified Organic covers
• Personalized comfort on both sides of the mattress

Custom RV Mattresses

LIFE ON THE ROAD - It should be just as comfortable as life at home

Ready to replace your old, worn RV mattress. Maybe you’re just tired of tossing and turning on your standard RV mattress when you’re out on the road?

CUSTOM shapes and thickness. No limitations on shapes or sizes or thickness.

Halstead Sofa and Mattress offers a wide selection of CUSTOM RV mattresses, and has served owners of virtually every type of recreational vehicle.

All we need are the measurements of your bed foundation – from there, we will create and customize your RV mattress. Choose the layers, densities, and other options for the perfect mattress that is

 CUSTOM SUITED FOR YOU!

DIRECT FROM OUR FACTORY TO YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

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