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Caught up in Cotton

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Yesterday, I was walking out of my house and realized my entire outfit was made out of cotton. It got me thinking about the fact that it wasn’t made out of organic cotton, but conventional cotton. I thought I would do a little bit of research as to why one would choose organic instead. Here’s what I found…

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  • ·Approximately14.1% of global insecticide sales in 2009 were used to grow cotton.
  • ·Worldwide, annual cotton pesticide sales increased approximately 18.5% in the decade between 1999 -2009, from $2.564 billion to $3.038 billion.
  • ·Of the $3.038 billion, 28% was for herbicide sales, 58% for insecticides, 3.5% for fungicides, and 10% for “other” pesticides such as defoliants.
  • ·In 2008, global cotton production used almost 7% of all pesticides (including defoliants, herbicides, and insecticides), 5% of the world’s herbicides, and 16% of the world’s insecticides in terms of sales.
  • ·In the United States, 2009 sales of pesticides for use on domestic cotton amounted to $687 million, representing 23% of total global cotton pesticide use.
  • ·On average, 90% of U.S. cotton is genetically engineered.
  • ·Eight of the top 10 insecticides most commonly used on U.S. cotton in 2010 are classified as moderately to highly acutely hazardous by the World Health Organization.
  • ·Approximately 45 million pounds of pesticides were used on approximately 11 million acres of cotton planted in the United States in 2010.
  • ·The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2010 in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens.
  • ·The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2010 in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens.
  • ·Eight of the top 10 insecticides most commonly used on U.S. cotton in 2010 are classified as moderately to highly acutely hazardous by the World Health Organization.
  • ·Over 2.03 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers were applied to conventional cotton in 2000 (142 pounds/acre), making cotton the fourth most heavily fertilized crop, behind corn, winter wheat, and soybeans (USDA).
  • ·It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt.

Information provided by Organic Trade Association, http://www.ota.com

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Save the Planet! Buy Organic!

Water, only better

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Staying cool in the summer months is hard to do sometimes, especially when trying to stay hydrated. Rather than reaching for those sugary drinks or just plain old water, here are a few recipes to spice up your drinking options in a healthy way!

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Nectarine and Thyme Sun-Brewed Iced Tea

What you will need:

Large beverage dispenser or pitcher

Organic loose leaf tea or 6 black tea bags, more or less depending on how strong you like your tea

1 gallon water

Sun

4 organic nectarines, sliced

5 medium sprigs fresh organic thyme

Ice

Put the water, tea bags, and thyme in the beverage dispenser and place in direct sunlight for 3 hours. Add nectarines and ice for a cold, refreshing drink.

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Fruit and Herbal-Infused Water

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One of the best things about infused water is that you can take just about any form of fruit, and herbs from your garden or local farmers market and give your water a boost in flavor.

Feeling simple? Drop a few raspberries and a sprig of rosemary in a glass of iced water.

Feeling adventurous? Toss mint, strawberries, lemons, limes, cucumbers, and raspberries in a pitcher of iced water for your next outdoor BBQ.

My personal favorite is orange water! Just slice up an orange and place it in a mason jar full iced water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes so the flavors of the orange with your water, and ta-da! A delicious cold, not-so-boring beverage!

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Another great way to add a bit of color and flavor to iced beverages is to take an ice-cube tray, fill it with water (I have even seen them filled with tea!!!), and add some organic blueberries, lemons, or mint sprigs!

What’s great about these recipes is that they are not just “two cups of this or that.” You can experiment with different fruits and flavors to get your own unique delicious drink!

Meet the Classic

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We know that not everyone likes the feel of latex mattresses. Did you know OMI has a 100% certified organic innerspring mattress? For those who love the feel of an innerspring mattress but don’t want to sleep on a conventional mattress. Our Classic mattress is made using organic wool, virgin steel innersprings, and a luxurious organic woven cotton cover.

The OrganicPedic® Classic is an 8”, two-sided traditional innerspring mattress made in a variety of coil counts. The innerspring is covered on both sides with certified organic cotton canvas and several layers of our sanitized certified organic cotton padding. The padding is covered with another layer of cotton canvas, then internally hand-tufted to keep the padding from shifting and to minimize body impressions. The edges are reinforced with extra-heavy-duty side support springs. This two-sided mattress is covered with our Signature OrganicPedic® quilting.

SURFACE: Medium-Firm
*DEPTH: 8″
PADDING: Inner Hand-Tufted Sanitized Certified Organic Cotton

MSRP (mattress only): twin $1895 • full $2395 • queen $2595 • king $3095

Natural Mosquito Repellants

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Summer is (almost) here, along with all of those pesky critters that seem to have been hibernating over the winter– including my least favorite, the mosquito.

This year, I went on a hunt for a natural remedy that is less toxic and harsh than store-bought bug spray that usually includes DEET (http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1006.asp). There are so many great remedies out there (some that I already knew about), and others that I am definitely going to try see which ones work for me.

Here are the top 9 ways I’ve found to keep from getting eaten this summer:

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1.  Know where they are.  You may notice that there are a lot more mosquitoes around water.  Lakes, pools, ponds, and any place there is standing water will attract the pests.  If you know you are going to be around water, be sure to plan ahead and carry your natural repellant with you.

2.  Don’t smell too good. Mosquitoes are attracted to floral and sweet smells, like perfume and body lotion. Reducing these as much as you can may help lessen your attractiveness to them.

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3. Spritz yourself with vanilla.  Simply dilute pure vanilla extract in water and spray it on.

4. Wear light clothing.  Mosquitoes are drawn to darker clothing and colors.  Wearing light colored clothing can be your first line of defense against these insects.

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5. Make a garlic paste. This is not something I can see people doing everyday, but it is definitely great for repelling those little critters. Make a paste with garlic powder and water and apply to pulse points, behind the knees, on shoes and ankles, and a bit on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and neck. (Keep it out of your eyes, it will sting!) You can also spray garlic powder and water around your yard and bushes for an extra preventative measure.  (Rumor has it it will also keep away unwanted vampires.)

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6. Dab on a little Eau de Vinegar: If you don’t mind the smell of vinegar (and neither do those around you),  dabbing on a little vinegar is a great way to repel mosquitoes. Put a little bit on exposed areas, or dilute with water and use as a spray.  Many people swear by this one!

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7.    Use essential oils. Citronella, lavender, catnip, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, tansy, basil, thyme, cedar, tea tree, peppermint, and lemongrass will all help keep the mosquitoes at bay. Mix with rubbing alcohol, witch hazel or water, (just one or any combination), shake well, and spritz on your body. You can also add a few drops to baby oil or olive oil and rub onto your skin, avoiding the mouth and eye areas.

8.    Eat up! Certain foods we eat are rumored to repel the bugs. B1 vitamins, brewers yeast, lemon and, of course, garlic have all been thought to  deter mosquitoes because of the smell that comes out of your pores after eating them.

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9. Exercise your green thumb. Potted plants, such as lemon thyme, citronella, lavender, basil, catnip, pennyroyal, tansy, and marigolds, will help keep mosquitoes out of your yard.  Place them around your porch or patio, and when you need a little more protection, break off a leaf and rub it on your clothes and skin.  You can also infuse the leaves in water and use as a spray.

Everyone has a different body chemistry that may make different methods work better than others. Try them out and let us know which of these natural remedies worked for you!

Aww Sheet

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As I threw my sheets in the washing machine last night, I caught myself wondering if I wash my sheets enough.  At once every two weeks it already feels like I am always changing my bedding, but I did a little research anyway on the recommended time between washing sheets anyway, to see what the world has to say on the subject.

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You wouldn’t think it would be a very hot topic, but everybody seems to have very different and (strong) views on washing sheets.  Some people are religious about washing them every week, while others don’t see the point in changing out bedding but once a month.  There are the fanatics out there that change their sheets several times a week, and studies have even found Western cultures in which changing the sheets only three times a year is the norm.

If you only wash your sheets once a month and you sleep an average of eight hours a night for 30 nights, that’s 240 hours on your sheets every month, or the equivalent of wearing the same clothes for 10 days straight (with fewer mustard stains, I would guess).

Your body, even straight out of the shower, will slough off dead skin cells (which attract dustmites), hair, dirt, oil, and sweat.  And when it comes off of you, that means it’s staying in your bed.  (Just writing that out makes me rethink my every-two-weeks sheet-changing regime.  A change to once a week is definitely in order!)

On mornings when you don’t change your sheets, pull your covers back when you get up and let your bed air out while you shower or eat breakfast.  And even though it may feel like just another thing to do in the morning, taking a couple of minutes to make your bed will make it that much sweeter to climb back into it at night, plus it will help keep dust and pet hair out.

I keep extra sheet sets in my linen closet to make for an easier change on sheet day.  I can pull the old sheets off and put the new ones on right away, so if I don’t get to laundry that day, it’s not a big deal. Avoid storing sheets in plastic containers, which can trap moisture and help with the growth of mildew.

Frequent washing will break down even the highest quality sheets. Replace them when you see obvious signs of aging, such as stains, faded patterns or fraying hems.

OrganicSheets

When you decide it is time for a new pair of sheets, check out the new set that OMI has added to our bedding collection! The Pearl Organic Sheet Set is a 300-thread-count beautiful sateen weave in GOTS-certified organic cotton. They come in a creamy ivory color, and all sets include pillowcase(s), one fitted sheet and one flat sheet. (Twin and Twin XL include one standard pillowcase, Full and Queen sizes receive two standard/queen pillowcases, and Eastern and California King sets include two king-size pillowcases.) Check out our previous blog Introducing the Pearl Organic Sheet Set, and for more information on how to purchase a set of our beautiful sheets find your nearest retailer HERE.

Raw Food Cleanse

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When the springtime hits, I like to take on a challenge by doing a raw foods cleanse. With social gatherings and weddings surrounding me these days, I have shortened my usual 6 week cleanse to 3 weeks. I like to think of it as spring cleaning for my body. I thought it would be fun to share a delicious and easy raw food recipe.

If you aren’t into doing a full-on raw cleanse, this hearty, delicious green smoothie is a great way to supercharge your body with a bountiful amount of delicious nutrients. This wonderful recipe for one of my favorite green smoothies is from one of my favorite raw-food blogs: rawmazing.com

Good Morning Green Drink

Serves 2

2 cups organic spinach

1 1/2 cups organic grapes

2 organic carrots

1/2 organic cucumber

1/2″ piece of ginger

1 stalk organic celery

2 dates

handful ice

1/2 to 1 cups water

Combine all ingredients in a blender or Vitamix. Start with 1/2 cup water and add more to desired thickness. Blend until smooth.

I also like to add some raw protein powder and instead of water, add some coconut water for added flavor.  The best part about these smoothies is that you can easily change the ingredients to best suit what you prefer!

ENJOY!

Happy Earth Day!

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The Beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Earth Day from OMI!

Our 100% Organic Factory

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As the customer service rep here at OMI, I receive many calls in regards to our organic factory.

We created our dedicated 100%-organic factory (the first large-scale organic factory in North America) long before many of the current certifications were even available. As certifications come along, we make sure to grab them at the first opportunity so that we can continue to provide the purest product available. Being the first to have an entire factory GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, the first to have a mattress Greenguard certified, and the first to have our latex GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified show just this. We take our certifications very seriously. Our GOTS certification ensures that everything going in or out of the factory is certified organic, from the raw materials to the finished products. If there were any types of synthetics or added chemicals, we would lose our certifications, and we will not allow that to happen.

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When it comes to the cleanliness of our factory, we go above and beyond. An OrganicPedic mattress never touches the floor unless it’s covered in our food-grade plastic, hermetically sealed and ready to be shipped. Employees don’t wear perfume, smoke, or even use fabric softeners. We instituted a clean room sewing environment in the sewing room. Shoe booties are required so dirt and contaminants are not tracked in. We make sure it is “so clean if you dropped a peanut butter sandwich on the floor, you could still eat it.” Anything that could potentially contaminate mattresses, top-of-bed items, or raw materials is kept out so that your mattress is left just in the state you are buying it in: ORGANIC.

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OMI also goes a step further to ensure the purity of each and every product by ozone sanitizing our raw materials. We developed a method of ozone sanitization to naturally purify and prevent contamination of yeasts, molds, and bacteria. No chemicals or harsh bleaching treatments needed!

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Little waste is produced at our factory. Latex scraps are turned into shredded rubber to make pillows and organic cotton pieces are put back into the quilting of our fabrics, etc. There are no trash cans on the factory floor. Everything is reused!

The OMI factory is one of the most impressive places I have personally ever seen, from the cleanliness to the certifications to the ozone sanitizing and recycling habits. This is just a small idea of what goes on in our factory. For more certification answers, check back in the future for a blog on “understanding our certifications.”

What to do with Easter Leftovers

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When I think of Easter, I think of a big delicious Easter ham. This year, however, we are having a much smaller family gathering, and we will have so many leftovers! What do we do with them?

OMI tip: Try a farm-to-table approach and buy your ham from a local farmer. Or see if your local grocery store carries (or can order) no-nitrate ham.

Perusing the internet, I have found a meal for every part of the day, from a ham cup with scrambled eggs to a delicious ham, broccoli, and cheese pocket to a light, savory ham and lentil soup. (Veggies, eggs and cheese can be found at local farmers markets and artisan shops, as well.)

Try out these tasty recipes for the week after Easter and let us know what you think.

Ham cups

(Photo Credit: http://www.recipebyphoto.com/breakfast-ham-cups/)

Ham and Cheese Egg Cups

Ingredients:

6 free-range brown eggs

2 cups grated cheddar cheese (or any kind of cheese you prefer)

2 young organic green onions

12 ham slices, cut a little thick

salt and pepper

Don’t feel limited by these ingredients! You can add just about anything, from mushrooms to tomatoes to spinach to onions, etc. and even top them off with avocado!

Cooking Directions:

Grease pan with non-stick cooking spray; line with ham slices.

Sprinkle cheese inside ham slices.

Pour in the egg mixture (ggs, salt and pepper) beat well with a fork.

Chop small green onion tops and divide among cups.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes

Broccoli Ham And Cheese Pockets 2

Ham, Broccoli And Cheese Pockets

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (enough to make 2 large pizzas)

6 tablespoons grainy mustard (optional)

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups organic broccoli florets, cut small

1/2 pound ham, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons italian seasoning

Cooking Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Lightly dust a cookie sheet with fine cornmeal or line with Silpat or parchment paper.

Combine mozzarella and cheddar cheese and set aside.

Divide pizza dough into 6 equal-size balls.

Roll each ball into a thin circle. Make sure to keep remaining dough covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel while working.

If using mustard, spread 1 tablespoon all over circle. Place 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese mixture on half the dough. Top cheese with 1/3 cup broccoli and 1/6th of the ham. Top with another 1/4 cup of cheese.

Fold dough over the top to form a pocket and press all the air out. Seal the edges using a fork.

Repeat with remaining dough.

Brush olive oil on the top of each pocket and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until light brown.

(A great option to freeze and eat later, or all week for lunches!)

(Original recipe courtesy of Serenabakes)

ham and lentil soup

 

Delicious Ham and Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

3 cups organic chicken broth

3 cups water

1 medium organic onion, cut into thin wedges

1 ½ cups chopped organic celery

1 ½ cups thinly sliced organic carrot

1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and drained

6 ounces cooked ham, diced

1 ½ teaspoons dried organic thyme, crushed

3 cups shredded fresh organic spinach

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shaved

Cooking Directions:

In a 4-quart slow cooker, combine broth, water, onion, celery, carrot, lentils, ham, and thyme.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

Stir in spinach. Ladle into bowls. Top each serving with Parmesan cheese.

(Original recipe courtesy of bhg.com)

Introducing the Pearl Organic Sheet Set

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OrganicSheets

OMI is proud to announce the newest member of our mattress accessory line: the Pearl Organic Sheet collection.

What better way to celebrate the spring equinox than with a fresh pair of sheets? Whether it’s for your brand-new OrganicPedic mattress or you are simply looking for a luxurious organic sheet set, OMI’s sheets are the perfect fit. Pearl Organic Sheet Sets are made of 300-thread-count, GOTS-certified organic cotton sateen in creamy ivory, and come in sizes from Twin to California King! (Starting at $165)

For other amazing OMI bedding accessories, check out our past blog “How Does Your Mattress Stack Up?”

Contact your local retailer for more information about purchasing your next favorite set of sheets! Click HERE to find a store near you.

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