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:

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.

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.

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.)

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs held hearings on their proposed California Technical Bulletin 117- 2013 on March 26, 2013, and the DCA Advisory Board reviewed all public comments in late April.

Among the comments made by Board Member Bader was a suggestion that there be an exclusion written into the new legislation allowing a consumer to opt out of having to purchase any products incorporating flammability treatments by providing a medical exception.

Bureau Chief Tonya Blood advised the board that they had decided to include this language in the new regulations. Bader provided significant input regarding the 54 individual public comments that were suggested, and the legislation will go forward with the recommendations and comments of the board.

Bader stated that he felt it was a good standard and one that was created with excellent input from industry stakeholders.

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!

P.S. Don’t forget to check back in 3 weeks to see how my cleanse went.

This great info-graphic,  put together by our friends at Harmony Art, is a great visual aid for new parents, and puts the “how” and “why” of buying organic for your baby into an easy-to-digest graphic that takes away the guessing game:

To read about how this piece came together, be sure to check out Harmony Art’s blog.

In case you are wondering:  OMI’s innerspring crib mattresses are GOTS certified, and our latex crib mattresses are GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified.

Go ahead and share this graphic (download the pdf here) and help spread the word.

The Beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Earth Day from OMI!

1. Pack a picnic

   

Pack a delicious lunch of locally grown food and keep it natural by using biodegradable or reusable tableware.

2. Clean Up Litter

   

After your lunch spend an hour picking up trash around your favorite area to keep it clean and enjoyable for all.

3. Take A Walk

   

Enjoy a leisurely walk or hike to explore the wildlife.  Bring along a field guide so you can learn about the different plants, tree and animals in the area.

4. Make a list of Resolutions

   

Discuss ways you can lessen your impact on Earth and make a list of resolutions that you would like to incorporate into your everyday routine, such as recycling, energy use, volunteering, cleaning up litter, shopping locally, buying organic, and more.  For a list of possible green resolutions see our previous blog, “Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Green Year’s Resolutions.”

However you spend your Earth Day, be sure to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Earth.

Check out this article from the Organic Trade Association:

“U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products in a wide range of categories, with 81 percent now reporting they purchase organic at least sometimes. This finding is one of many contained in the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) newly released 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, conducted Jan. 18-24, 2013.

“More and more parents choose organic foods primarily because of their desire to provide healthful options for their children,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s CEO and Executive Director.

Not only are more consumers choosing organic products at least sometimes, but the majority of those buying organic foods are purchasing more items than a year earlier. New entrants to buying organic now represent 41 percent of all families – demonstrating interest in the benefits of organic food and farming is on the rise. Produce continues to be the leading category of organic purchases, with 97 percent of organic buyers saying they had purchased organic fruits or vegetables in the past six months. Breads and grains, dairy and packaged foods were also frequently cited (all scoring above 85 percent) among those who purchase organic. Families choosing organic foods are increasingly important to retailers of all types, with organic buyers reporting spending more per shopping trip, and shopping more frequently than those who never purchase organic food.

Consistent with findings from previous studies, nearly half (48 percent) of those who purchase organic foods said they do so because they are “healthier for me and my children.” Additionally, parents’ desire to avoid toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers (30 percent), antibiotics and growth hormones (29 percent), and genetically modified organisms (22 percent) ranked high among the reasons cited for buying organic products.

Awareness of the USDA Organic seal has also grown, with more consumers more likely to look for the seal when shopping for organic products. Moreover, over four in ten parents (42 percent) say their trust in organic products has increased, versus 32 percent who indicated this point of view a year ago. In fact, younger, new-to-organic parents are significantly more likely to report improved levels of trust in organic products.”

It is great to see the industry growing and more people becoming aware of the importance of organics.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), which is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America.  The OTA represents over 6,500 organic businesses across 49 states and has become the leading voice for organic trade in the United States.  For more news, articles and insight into the organics industry, visit the Organic Trade Association website HERE.

With so many great OMI mattress accessories available, how can you be sure you’re getting what’s right for you?

Here’s an overview of the mattress pads we offer here at OMI to help you choose the right product(s) for any situation.

Organic Cotton Flannel Mattress Pad

Our certified organic Flannel Mattress Pad makes a great first line of defense when protecting your mattress. Our flannel pad protects the mattress surface from perspiration and staining, keeping it pristine for years. It’s made of two layers of 8.5-oz. certified organic cotton flannel, quilted together and finished by hand with a certified organic cotton tape edge and natural-rubber elastic corner straps (crib size is fitted). It’s seamless and machine washable, making it the perfect complement for any organic mattress.

 Starting at $175

Premium Eco-Wool™ Moisture Pad

Our Eco-Wool™ Moisture Pad offers powerful moisture protection, preventing soiling due to heavy night sweats, incontinence, or other moisture-related concerns. It’s made from certified wool, which is naturally moisture resistant and easy to clean – simply rinse with warm water and air dry – along with natural-rubber elastic corner straps to hold it in place. An absolute must-have for anyone concerned about keeping a mattress dry and healthful.

Starting at $65

Premium Eco-Wool™ Underbed Pad

Place our Eco-Wool™ Underbed Pad under your mattress to protect it from airborne dust or premature wear-and-tear caused by the mattress rubbing against wooden bed slats. Made from dense, needle-punched certified wool, it’s supremely breathable.

Starting at $119

Certified Organic Cotton Bed-Bug and Dust-Mite Mattress Barrier Cover

Our mattress barrier covers are great for protecting your mattress from bed bugs and dust mites. They’re also the best way to protect the surface of your mattress from staining, and ultimately to extend the life of your mattress.  Our barrier covers are made from tightly woven 100% organic cotton, and close with a heavy-duty brass zipper.

Starting at $220

To learn how these accessories should be placed on your mattress, check out the OMI Blog “How Does Your Mattress Stack Up.”   For more information about the pure accessories we have available, click HERE

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.

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.

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!

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.”