5 Tips for More Restful Sleep

    This time of year, we all make resolutions for the New Year.  One of the most popular good habits to form is getting enough sleep.  As a college student and new middle school teacher, Elizabeth and I have picked up a few tricks for making falling asleep easier.  We hope these tips will help you keep your New Year's Resolution of getting more sleep!

1. Sleepytime Tea

One of my favorite bedtime rituals is drinking Sleepy Time Tea before bed. It has calming chamomile and mildly sedative tilia flowers. My favorite is the vanilla version. It smells like a cupcake! 

2.  Lavender Epsom bath salts

There’s nothing better than a hot bath before bed. Adding lavender scented epsom salt to this bath will not only calm you with the soothing smell but possibly help with any aches or pains you may have. You can buy an expensive version of epsom salts, but inexpensive versions work just as well. Just look for the ingredient magnesium sulfate.

3.  Yankee Candles - Lavender Vanilla

A relaxing scent is another way to create a sleep inducing atmosphere. I’ve become addicted to Yankee Candle’s Tarts wax melts. They’re little disks of wax that you put into the bowl of your wax warmer. They’re like candles but without the flame or commitment. I love candles, but I like the ease of changing scents without paying a lot of money for a new candle. For bedtime I would suggest scents like Lavender Vanilla or Cozy Sweater. 

4.  Sleep Mask

Once you’re actually in bed using a sleeping mask is an effective way to block out any light that may keep you from falling asleep or disrupt your sleep cycle. If you’ve never used a sleep mask before you’ll be surprised in the difference in the quality of your sleep. Plus who doesn’t want to pretend that they’re Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

5.  Ear Plugs

Ear plugs can also improve the quality of your sleep. At first they may feel a little funny, but once you get used to wearing them they are wonderful. If you live in a noisy area or if everyone in your house doesn’t go to bed when you do, ear plugs will help you fall asleep more easily. I find that ear plugs do not block all the sound, so sometimes I like to wear earplugs and use a sound app that plays soothing sounds like rain. There is a free app called Relax and Sleep that will play your desired sound on a timer.

No Scrub Bathtub Cleaning

                  Graphic courtesy of polyvore.com

I came across this time saving trick when I bought the book All-New Hints from Heloise Updated at a library book sale. While it's not the 90's anymore, Heloise's hints are still very effective and simple, so if you come across a cheap copy, I'd highly recommend it. Here's what you'll need for her easy tub cleaner.

1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup clear ammonia
1 gallon warm water
a sponge mop

Simply mix the ingredients in a bucket. Dip your sponge mop in into the mixture and run it over the tub. Then, when you're done, rinse the tub with water. You should find that whatever residue is on your tub just runs off without scrubbing. You might also want to make sure that you leave the bathroom door open for ventilation. When I've used it, the smell has not been overpowering like with other cleaners, but it's always good to be on the safe side. Do you have any bathroom cleaning tips and tricks? Let us know! 

DIY Glitter Coasters

When I made the DIY Postcard Coasters, I also made two gold glitter coasters with the two extra coaster I had left.  I've got both the glitter and postcard ones on my coffee table, and I like the way they look together.

The process for making the Glitter Coasters is fairly simple.


 
For supplies you'll need: Modpodge, glitter, old coasters, and a paintbrush.


 
Step One:  Apply a coat of modpodge directly to the top of the coaster.


 
Step Two:  Cover the modpodge with glitter.  You'll want to have paper underneath to catch the excess glitter.  I'd also advise using another sheet of paper on top to press down the glitter.  Wait for the modpodge to dry.  Then, shake off the excess glitter.



 
Step Three:  Cover the glitter with a second layer of modpodge.  Don't worry, it will dry clear.  If there are any bare spots, you'll want to repeat the process in those areas.  Otherwise, you're finished once the modpodge dries.


 
Now you can enjoy your new sparkly coaster.