Sleep Healthy

An eco-friendly bedroom without breaking the bank?

Guest blogger: Jennifer Thibodeau 08/31/09

We think it's possible! With our affordable line of organic mattresses, organic blankets, all-natural pillows and more, we believe it's fairly simple to start going green in your bedroom. Without sacrificing the green in your wallet!

Our picks:

• Naturepedic Organic Cotton Mattress - starting at $699
• The Clean Bedroom Organic Sheet Set - starting at $72
• Organic Cotton Jacquard Blanket - starting at $80
• Coyuchi Organic Cotton Quilt - starting at $166
• Zafu Designs Kapok Pillow - starting at $68

Now, could you spend more? Absolutely. Do you need to in order to get started? We don't think so.

Start small. Start simple. Start smart.

Before you know it, you'll be sleeping easier, breathing better and feeling more relaxed than you probably have in years. All without the added stress of taking out a second mortgage to get you started!

Better yet - set a bedroom "go green" budget! Then call one of our customer service reps and have them walk you through what to choose in order to get the most bang from your buck. 1 (866) 380-5892.

Looking for organic linens or towels? Here's your primer

Author: Chris Chamberlin, Co-owner, The Clean Bedroom organic mattresses, bedding & information 

If you're in the market for organic sheets or towels, you're probably like a lot of our customers: confused by all the jargon. You'll find labels on linens that say: organic, natural, green, eco-friendly. What should you buy? Why are they so expensive? If they say organic, why are they so cheap?

I found an article to help you get a little more educated.

Organic Linens
A primer on selecting organic bedding and towels
Contributed by Kayleen Hanna of Sew Eco-Logical 

The article was published on the Organic Trade Association's O'Mama Report. You'll find helpful definitions, care of organic sheets and towels, explanations of various types of sheets: percale, sateen, damask, flannel, jersey. Very helpful.

Let me know what you think.

This ain't your '80s dorm room

Guest blogger: Jennifer Thibodeau 08/07/09

If you were lucky enough to attend college in the 1980's, like me, you very likely outfitted your dorm in typical 80's style. My style included posters of big-haired rock bands, a cheap rocking chair bought at Zayre and pink-painted walls with yellow trim. Oh, and on one wall, I even featherdusted the yellow over the pink. It actually looked better than it might sound. Really. 

The words "eco-friendly," "sustainable," "organic," and "recycle" weren't in my dictionary - nor were they known or practiced by anyone I knew, for that matter. We were all about Aqua-Net hairspray, cheap and colorful plastic jewelry, and throwing our cans and bottles directly into our garbage cans!

My, how times have changed. Today's college students are leading the way in the "green" movement and at the forefront are the kids at Teens Turning Green, a national coalition of teens educating peers and community members about healthy lifestyle choices. Recently, Teens Turning Green launched Project Green Dorm, a multi-faceted effort to encourage teens around the country to make eco-informed purchases around the age-old tradition of back-to-school. Included on Project Green Dorm are tips for greening up your space,  a glossary of green terms, and even a Lookbook where you can view specific products and find out where to buy them. 

Really, with the number of "green" choices out there these days, it will be super-easy for your teen to do what I (and many others of my generation) didn't do and that is, to cozy up in a dorm room that is full of environmentally conscious products.

Saving the planet - one teen and one dorm room at a time. 

For more eco-friendly dorm room options, check out our Healthy Dorm Room. 

Comfy in my alpaca comforter but wait it's August

Author: Chris Chamberlin, Co-owner The Clean Bedroom - 8/5/09

As I woke up this morning, I realized I was sleeping under my organic alpaca wool comforter last night, today is August 5, and this is not Alaska.

Usually the temp is around 80 degrees at night here in Maine. Instead night after night, temps have been in the 60s, delightful for sleeping. And, since I'm addicted to my cozy comforter, this is my kind of weather.

What a weird summer we've had in New England with record-breaking days of rain and unseasonably cool days. The tomatoes are still the size of golf balls, even the Early Girls. My roses did a smashing intro for a week then rotted. Even the Japanese beetles have left for warmer climes.

Most of us join in the conversation of not remembering a summer with such lousy weather, ever, but secretly we love it. No oppressive heat. No need to lock ourselves indoors, windows closed, air conditoning spinning our electric meters into budget deficit. I personally only experienced one night so far where an air conditioner was considered then dismissed on grounds the heat was only temporary, rain would certainly come, and did.

Complain about the weather? Not me, I get to snuggle under my alpaca comforter again tonight. Best summer ever.