HOW TO GET BACK ON TRACK AFTER SUMMER

Is it just me or can we all agree that summer 2015 came and went in a blink of an eye? Then again I always feel like that at the end of every season. This year I made a commitment to myself to spend a lot more time outdoors and less time attached to my gadgets than I have in previous years. I am happy to report that I definitely spent more time outside this summer soaking up the sun and the warm breeze! However, I do have to admit that I have not been very successful in maintaining my fitness regimen, my healthy eating or my (somewhat) good sleeping habits in check. Typically, I feel re-energized to get back into my healthier lifestyle routine in the fall. Below, I am going to share the ways I have been able to get back into gear in past years. 

Sleep is important every season of the year (but, we all knew that!). But adjusting back to a healthy sleeping schedule after the summertime can sometimes feel like an unfeasible goal. Lately, I’ve been getting between 6-7 hours of sleep at night - I know that in order for me to feel energized in the morning I need at least 8 hours of quality sleep. The thing to note here is that everyone is a little different – some people do not require more than 7 hours while others need a solid 9 hours of sleep. Pay attention to how long your sleep is and how your body reacts in the morning.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. As I mentioned above, I tend to always fall of this band wagon during the summer months. But every fall for the past 3 years I always participate in the Tone It Up fall challenge (this year’s theme is Fit for Fall). This is a community I found almost by accident and boy I am happy I did! Karena and Katrena never fail to put a smile on my face and always encourage me to be the best version of myself I can be. Their workouts may not look intense but, trust me, they are! At the end of the day you do not have to follow a challenge to get back into shape, it works for me but if you are into yoga, running, swimming, biking – whatever it is  - the main thing here is that you get moving for at least 30 minutes each day. Believe me, your body, mind and soul will thank you for it.

Healthy Eating usually takes a back seat during all of the summer BBQs and that is totally fine! At least it is in my book! But just know that eating healthy at least 80% of the time will have a much more positive effect than the negative effect the 20% of unhealthy eating could have on your body. Think lots of veggies, fruits and whole grains. My overall eating habits have gotten much, much, MUCH better over the past few years and much of that came from educating myself about the foods I was eating. I now avoid as much fast food and processed foods as possible (meaning I very rarely eat fast food and pre-packaged frozen meals). I also read the ingredient labels on the food I do buy and if it contains any questionable ingredients I simply do not buy it. Instead I look for a brand that has a “cleaner” ingredient list, if you look hard enough there are almost always better alternatives!

And last but not least…

Hydration is the common denominator in order to succeed with the points above. Your body needs to be adequately hydrated to sleep well, to exercise at your optimal capacity and for your body not to confuse hunger with thirst. My rule of thumb when it comes to drinking water is to drink 50% of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs you should drink 75 oz's of water which equates to about 5 bottle or 9 glasses of water a day. I carry around a 17 oz bottle and make sure to refill it about 5 times throughout the day (some days I am better at this than others!)

How do you get back into your healthy lifestyle routine? Do you have any tips and tricks that work for you?

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FABRICS

In our blog post a few weeks ago, Natural vs. Synthetic Fabrics, we looked at the differences between them and discussed their pros and cons. This week we are going to go into detail and look at how natural and synthetic fibers are made along with their characteristics.

In our About page we talk about our process and the materials we use for our pillows. A lot of research and experimentation happened as we were deciding which fabric to use for our pillows. We decided on linen and as you read the below you will see why!

NATURAL FABRICS

Linen comes from the flax plant (yes, we eat this!). The use of linen goes way back to the Grecian, Egyptian and Roman civilizations which make it the oldest domestically produced fabric.  Items made of linen are valued for their coolness and freshness (especially in hot climates). This is why you tend to see linen clothing pop up in clothing stores during the summer time. With that point in mind, you might also notice that items made of linen are pricier. There is a good reason for this, linen is derived from the flax seed and it requires a lot of manual work to get from the flax seed to the luxurious feel of the linen fabric. Another couple of pros for linen are that it does a good job at resisting pilling and fading and it is the best fabric to use with dyes.

Cotton is by far one of the most used fabrics in the textile industry and understandably so. It comes from the cotton plant which makes is a seed fiber. You will find this plant in the tropical areas of the Americas, Africa and Asia. Cotton is durable and affordable which is why it is the most popular fiber used for clothing and home furnishings.  

Wool comes from the fleece of sheep. The creation of wool goes through a several step process – the first step is to have the sheep sheared which generally happens once a year during the spring time. Once the fair has been collected it is sent to be grated and sorted. As you can see creating wool is quite complex, due to that, wool is considered a luxury fabric. Some advantages to wool are that it is sturdy and durable. You are likely to see wool being worn in cooler weather because the fiber holds natural air pockets which create a layer of warmth and insulation.  wool and wool blends offer good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling, and soil.

Silk comes from the cocoon of a silk worm. There are two main types of silk – cultivated and wild silk. Cultivated silk comes from silk worms that have been raised in a controlled environment.  Wild silk (as the term suggests) comes from silk worms that exist in the wild. Like all other natural fabrics, silk also goes through a process to get it to the final stage. Silk goes through a process called “degumming” which removes a sticky substance named sericin. As you may already know, silk is a delicate and luxurious fabric which translates to their higher price tag.    

SYNTHETIC FABRICS

Nylon is made from petroleum and it is rarely used alone. Meaning that it is almost always blended with other fibers when used in clothing or other items (think carpets, luggage). Nylon is very resilient and lightweight, it doesn’t readily soil or wrinkle, but it does tend to fade and pill.

Polyester comes from a combination of coal, water, the petroleum. And like nylon it is rarely used alone and often blended with natural fabrics to increase its durability and minimize its maintenance. Polyester can be found in clothing, upholstery, and insulation.

Rayon has been developed as an imitation to silk, linen, and cotton through a regeneration of natural materials. Rayon is durable and has a silky texture to it; however, it may wrinkle easily. Rayon is greatly found in clothing and many times blended with either natural or synthetic fabrics.

Spandex (Lycra): Spandex thread is lighter and more durable than conventional elastic threads. Spandex has the ability to return to the original shape after stretching faster than other types of fabrics. It is usually mixed with cotton or polyester and it is very comfortable to wear (think leggings and yoga pants).

At Ninel Studio we strive to create beautifully hand crafted pillows that are both luxurious and durable and linen fit that bill to the T. On the personal end, there are many reasons to pick items whether its clothing or home furnishings that are made of natural fabrics instead of synthetic fabrics. Making the switch will not happen overnight but small steps over time will make a big change in the long term.

Do you have a favorite type of natural fabric and know of any additional advantages to that specific fabric?

HOW TO START YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT

Starting your day off on a positive note can have an incredible impact on your daily outlook.  Even your long-term health will benefit from a few small things you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. Just one point of caution, do not overwhelm yourself by trying to completely change your morning routine all at once! Be patient and try to add positivity to your morning routine slowly by adding one thing at a time. I am sure you have heard before that you can create a healthy habit in as little as 21 days as long as you stay consistent. Yes, consistency is the main ingredient here.

Also, you do not have to incorporate each one on the list below to start your day off on a positive note. The last thing you want is to wake up to yet another to-do list before you even start your day. But, I do recommend you give each of the methods below a try. Overtime you will see which ones work for you and become second nature and which ones feel more like a task.

Meditate Regularly 

Did you know that morning meditation is more fruitful than at any other time of the day? Contrary to popular belief, all you really need is between 10 and 15 minutes of meditation a day and the morning time is the best time of day to squeeze this in. While you are still in bed take 10-15 minutes to meditate, you can close your eyes as you lay in bed or you can sit up on your bed. Whichever way you find it easier to focus on your breathing is the way to go.

Exercise

I know this is a tough one - but exercise is one of the best ways to feel energized and get ready to conquer you day. Morning exercise is one thing I struggle with. I get into these health kicks where I will be on a roll and workout 3-4 times a week and then there are times when I cannot get myself to work out even if I was paid to do so. Nonetheless, I know how important it is to get your body moving first thing in the morning. For example, it does wonders to your metabolism, you will feel energized right away and overtime as your body gets used to the routine you may not even need an alarm to wake up in the morning!

Alarm Choice

Believe it or not the sounds you wake up to will have an impact on your mood. If you live in the city (like me) you may be used to waking up to trucks driving by, people talking loudly, cars honking and the list goes on - truth be told - growing up in the city has conditioned me to sleep through pretty much any sound. One way I have tried to combat waking up to busy and obnoxious sounds is by picking a soothing musical tone as opposed to the traditional (and annoying) alarm beep. Believe it or not, this has made a huge difference for me in the past several months.

Hydrate

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I cannot stress this one enough. When you sleep for 7-8 hours at a time your body becomes dehydrated, just imagine how thirsty you would be if you did not drink anything throughout the day. Not only does your body need the hydration, water first thing in the morning will flush toxins out and it will boost your metabolism. Drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning before you have your coffee and/or breakfast. You will instantly feel a positive difference.

Make Your Bed

Making your bed in the morning matters much more than you may think. Aside from that fact that it only takes two minutes, you will feel a sense of accomplishment right away. This is a very easy way to begin your day on a positive note and it is something you will thank yourself for doing once you come home at night to a freshly made bed.

There you have it! Those are five quite simple actions you can choose from to incorporate to your morning routine. My mornings consist of a soothing alarm sound, a glass of water and making my bed. It took me a while to nail down the actions I can take that are quick and effective for me because I do not give myself much time in the morning. If I have not mentioned it before, I am not much of a morning person!

Do you have any morning routines that instantly make you feel better? Is there anything you have been meaning to incorporate to your morning routine but have not gotten around to doing so yet?

A 5 STEP GUIDE TO FIND YOUR DECORATING STYLE

In last week’s blog post, 6 Different Types of Decorating Styles, we explored 6 common types of decorating styles. This week we will look at few tips and tricks that can help you define your decorating style.

Finding your decorating style is not as easy as it seems. It has taken me years to start honing into my own decorating style and trust me there has been a lot of trial and error! But like I said, creating a space that truly defines your style does not come so naturally and effortlessly all the time. Sure, you can drool over all of the beautiful pictures in home magazines, in Pinterest, on HGTV - then you get inspired, then you want to re-decorate your entire living area then you go shopping for gorgeous new pieces and … crickets! Re-decorating is easier said than done and before we go crazy buying pieces that we will not be 100% satisfied with in the long run I invite you to take a few minutes to really think about your decorating style is.

Why is Home Décor important anyway?

The majority of us spend a lot of time at home, especially in this digital age, many of us have the option of working from home either once a week or (if your one of the lucky ones!) every day. This is one of the reasons I believe it is so important to have a space that is not only inviting but also relaxing and stress free. That is where I see the need and benefit to decorating your home in a way that compliments your personality.

First we have the need (the practicality of it) -  well this is the obvious , you need a couch (or two), a television (maybe), a rug, a coffee table, side tables, a couple of lamps and so on. Then there is also the benefit (the psychological aspect of it) – this is how you feel when you are in your house. For me, I find it extremely important to have a relaxing, organized comfortable and inviting home environment.  So, here we go:

1.       Take inventory of what you already own

Make note of pieces in your home and list them in one of two categories “Love it” or “What was I thinking”. In order to truly define your decorating style, you need to be brutally honest here, if you do not love a piece of furniture or art, ITS OK, it does not mean you need to get rid of it maybe you can make a DIY out of it by refinishing it or painting it – if it’s a piece of furniture, for example.

2.       Take a good look at your closet

Your fashion style will provide great insight to your decorating style since your fashion style is really an extension of your personality and your home is a reflection of your personality. So look in your closet - do you have a lot of classic and timeless pieces? This is a nod to a more traditional decorating style. Or do you have a lot of chic and trendy pieces? This could mean you are more into the contemporary decorating style.

3.       Think about your travels

Where have you traveled to a place that really inspired you, for example, did you really love that rustic little town in Italy or are you more of a beach lover and enjoy the openness and colors of a tropical beach. When you do this, really try to hone in to how it made you feel. That is the key.

4.       Create a Mood Board

Go through some home magazines and cut out any and all pictures that speak to you. When doing this exercise it is imperative that you do not think too hard about it. For example, if there is a picture of a living room that you like but there is a lamp in that same picture that you absolutely love, cut the whole picture out and circle the lamp, this way when you look back you will quickly be able to see what it was about that space that drew you in. Once you have a solid amount of cut outs (I had 40-50 cut outs when I created my mood board) lay it all out on the ground, take a picture of it on your phone and keep the picture handy for when you are shopping for new home décor pieces.  You can just as easily do this on Pinterest; however, I find that you can just as easily become distracted by pinning other things there too!

5.       Take a walk

Walk around your neighborhood and pay attention to what piques your interest. Are there any particular types of homes you like – modern or traditional? Maybe rustic? Also look at the color palettes are you more drawn to. Maybe you like cool light neutrals which is a nod to transitional décor. Or maybe you like a very vibrant mix of color which would likely mean you like eclectic décor.

Do you already know what your decorating style is? What methods did you use to pinpoint your style?