 Congratulations! You just bought a new bed! You know what they say: new mattress, new you. Nobody says that? Okay. Well, it still sounds true. When you bring your new mattress into your home, whether it came from a local store or an online one, it will likely be covered in plastic to keep it from being damaged in the process. If you bought a bed-in-a-box from a company like Casper or Purple, the mattress will need to be unfurled and allowed to expand into its full form. When it does that, you may notice a distinctly chemical smell. That is called off-gassing - when chemicals are released into the air. Off-gassing happens when volatile organic compounds break down and are emitted as gases or vapors. That might sound terrifying, but volatile organic compounds are found in thousands of manufactured household products. Since the mid-1960s, most mattresses have been made out of polyurethane foam, which emits chemicals such as formaldehyde, chlorofluorocarbons, benzene, methylene chloride, toluene, trichloroethane, naphthalene, perfluorocarbons, according to Mother Jones. If you buy an organic mattress, you may have less of those chemicals, but there is still going to be some off-gassing. Experts say that in general, it’s okay to breathe in the low levels of volatile organic compounds that a mattress releases every day. However, when you’re just getting your mattress out of the plastic, you’re going to get a face full of those chemicals. If you know you have chemical sensitivities, then you should find a way to let your mattress air out somewhere where you don’t have to be. Even if you don’t, you might want to air it out anyway.  If you can, put the mattress somewhere outdoors to allow those chemicals to release themselves into the atmosphere, rather than in your home. Somewhere with a cross-breeze and ventilation is best. If you can’t put it outdoors due to weather, not having space, or needing to actually use it, pop open your doors and windows, and put the fan on high. Air it out for as long as you can before you need to spend the night on it to avoid as much of the chemical off-gassing as you can.  Something you can do in the long term to counteract the chemicals escaping from your mattress is to bring the garden indoors. A 1989 NASA study found that having plants in your bedroom will help to improve the air quality. They’re like small air filters on their own! Adding a few plants, like Snake Plant, Spider Plant, Gerbera Daisies or Potted Mums, can be a beautiful addition to your space, as well as a healthy one. Plants like Jasmine and Lavender emit calming scents that can help reduce anxiety and might help to cover the chemical smell that comes from a new mattress, so they would be a great addition as well.
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By Devin Almonte  For some, cleaning is an obsession and dare I say a joy – from spotless hardwood floors to sanitized door handles and no-shoe policies. For others, it’s just something that has to be done. No matter which side of the fence you are on, cleaning is something that affects your daily life, just like your need to eat and use the bathroom. To make your cleaning life easier and your home spotless, I would argue that the most important cleaning appliance you need to own is the vacuum. Now, which vacuum should you own and do you need more than one type? And did you know that there are five main types of vacuums on the market today? There's the handheld, the canister, the upright, the stick, and most recently, the robot. Dyson knows that cleaning is one of life’s necessities and they do everything to make it easier for us with their stylish and superior quality products. The Cordless Handheld VacuumToday, we are going to talk about the cordless, handheld vacuum. The cordless, handheld vacuum brought convenience to the consumer world. What’s hard to believe, is that this household appliance hasn’t seen many improvements since Black and Decker launched the revolutionary Dustbuster back in 1979: Handheld Vacuum OverhaulOur friends at Dyson took note of this lack of improvement and knew something had to be done. After all, they're problem solvers. James Dyson, the founder and inventor of Dyson technology tells us: “Like everyone we get frustrated by products that don’t work properly. As design engineers we do something about it. We’re all about invention and improvement.” Clearly, Dyson wasn't satisfied with the current handhelds out in the market. Neither were consumers. From lackluster battery life and little suction power, households were not finding this convenience tool, well, convenient. Here’s the problem. Kids are messy. Pets are messy. Entire households are messy. Our homes need to be cleaned on a daily basis and we have little time and little patience to do so. That has not changed. What has changed is our ability to tolerate handhelds that aren’t easy to use, that don’t have powerful suction, that have horrible battery life and only last a few minutes when in use.  Dyson V7 Trigger Cordless Handheld Vacuum Meet the Dyson V7 Trigger. This is a state-of-art, welcome-to-the-21st-century, modern appliance. Gone are the days of ordinary handhelds because Dyson doesn’t do ordinary. They tackle the biggest problems and look for a solution. Here are just a few things that make this handheld stand out from the crowd: BEST BATTERIES Dyson uses lithium ion batteries. Lithium batteries are really the best rechargeable battery. According to Groom and Style, they’re much smaller and lighter than NiMH batteries, they recharge about 75% faster and their self-discharge rate (phenomenon in batteries in which internal chemical reactions reduce the stored charge of the battery without any connection between the electrodes) is much lower, they are less sensitive to high and low temperatures, and they deliver twice the voltage as any other common type of rechargeable battery. They’re also the least prone to the so-called “memory effect.” That’s the supposed tendency of a battery to lose capacity when it’s not completely discharged before being recharged – the battery supposedly “remembers” the shorter charge cycle and will no longer charge all the way.  BATTERIESBEST SUCTION POWER The Dyson V7 Trigger has 100 Air Watts of Suction Power. So what does this mean? Suction power is measured in air watts and air watts is another type of measurement for suction power. This refers to the amount of watts used by the machine to carry a unit of air through an opening. It’s important to note that suction power is different from motor power, which is often measured in watts. Both suction power and motor power are important, but when it comes to vacuum performance, the best measurement quantifier is Suction Power. Jason Roberts tells us, “Watt measurement is probably the most common value provided the manufacturer. However, Watts refer solely to the motor power consumption, not to its performance (Suction Power). The general rule of thumb has been that units with higher Watts have more powerful motors and thus, suck better. However, this is not always accurate, and there’s is even a public debate running at the moment precisely on this matter."  SUCTION POWER30 MINUTE RUN TIME Thirty minutes! This is Dyson’s longest running handheld in terms of active use time, which clearly gives it the lead over most if not all brands. Not only that, but it has two speeds, standard and one that gives a speed boost when you need it for those tougher cleanups.  RUN TIMESo, when it comes to cleaning up those under-the-table kitchen crumbs, car seat cracker catastrophes, and hard-to-reach places, the Dyson V7 Trigger cordless handheld vacuum is your solution. WHERE TO PURCHASE As an On-Air Guest Host for QVC, I highly encourage you to shop everything QVC! It's the place for great products, great deals, and great fun! Check it out here. Disclosure: All comments written above are my own opinion and thoughts related to products and companies that I love and enjoy. I have not received payment for any type of product promotion, nor have I received commission from any of the above mentioned companies, products, or websites related to this article. For more information:
Luminaries are a fantastic and beautiful way to bring your neighborhood and community together during the winter and holiday season. Check out my video to learn how to create a luminary event for your neighborhood! I've included some great resources to save yourself some time or help you get started in your own neighborhood. Check out the below for some great tips, tricks, and templates to get you started. www.lightupwarren.weebly.comBy Devin Almonte  You may have heard that it’s better to air-dry your clothes than to machine-dry them because it’s gentler on your clothing. But what about your hair? Surely, we can assume that it’s better to let your hair air-dry instead of blow-dry after a rinse because it’s gentler on your hair, right? Not necessarily. And our friends at Dyson have found a great solution. Problem with the Air-Dry MethodThe Air-Dry Method can leave your hair in quite a frizz, not to mention tangled, knotted, and unstyled. Now, if that is the organic look you are going for, then don’t let me stop you! But do beware that your minimalistic attempt at au naturel could actually be costing you the health of your hair, not to mention your time.  Natural Isn’t Always GoodWhen it comes to your hair, natural isn’t always good. In fact, it isn’t always the healthiest choice for your hair either. Jenny Jin, beauty writer for Pure Wow tells us, "When hair comes into contact with water, it swells. When it swells, it messes with the protein within each strand and leads to damage from the inside out. So the longer your hair is wet, the longer it swells and the greater the chance for damage." Further, a scientific study on hair suggested that it's not always best to let the hair dry itself, as the longer the scalp and hair are wet, the greater the opportunity for bacteria to accumulate, and that can generate fungus or weakening in the structure of the hair. This especially applies to those that go to bed with their hair wet. Time DilemmaAccording to a poll taken by longhaircommunity.com, most women found it took 2-3 hours to dry their hair naturally. And more than 15% said it took 5 hours or more to fully dry. Now who has the time and patience for that? You can fly from New York to L.A in less time! Problem with the Ordinary Blow-Dry MethodThere can also be problems associated with blow-drying your hair because heat can be damaging. Your hair can become too dry and brittle because the temperature can be too hot, leaving you with head full of fried strands. And just like air-drying your hair, it’s a time consuming process, costing the average woman about 30 minutes to an hour of their day.  However, according to a recent study from Korea, Prevention Magazine beauty editor, Nina Elias tells us: With the right technique, using a blow-dryer is actually better for your mane’s health than letting it air-dry. Yes, the heat of a dryer can cause more damage than not using one, but using a hair-dryer at the right distance and temperature can actually cause less damage than letting hair air-dry. And thanks to recent technology, we now have an even better solution than attempting to manipulate our way into drying our hair just right with outdated and subpar hair dryers.  Dyson. A Step Above the Rest. Our good friends at Dyson (yes, the must-have vacuum people) became aware of this blow- dryer dilemma and spent years of research seeking ways to modernize and revolutionize your blowout at home. And in late 2016, Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer made its debut in the US market. This is more than a hair-dryer. In fact, I’m not even sure if I would put this in the same category as a hair-dryer. It’s truly a modernized hair device engineered with ultra-fast drying power. It comes preloaded with superior technology that manages heat control to prevent heat damage to your hair. In other words, it’s like having your own personal stylist within the device because it will automatically know what level of heat your hair needs more than you do! In true Dyson fashion, this hair device includes all the fancy and easy-to-use magnetic attachments. Pop on the smoothing nozzle, styling concentrator, or diffuser with ease and style away. Why Dyson Supersonic Hair DryerGreat-looking Hair This is truly the DIY blowout device! Customers report that there hair looks and feels smoother, silkier, and healthier after using the Supersonic. Easier Hair Care No more boring 80s style L-shaped dryers. Get rid of that dreaded arm-ache, as the Supersonic is totally redesigned, lightweight and balanced with the motor in the handle. Computerized Hair Care It’s a smart dryer. The microprocessor measures air temperature 20 times every second, applying just the right amount of heat to keep you from damaging your hair and protecting its natural shine, leaving your hair soft and smooth. Fast and Efficient Hair Care Dyson knows airflow. That’s why it’s no surprise that the Supersonic has high-velocity airflow for ultra-fast drying power. Time to gain back lost time from inefficient hair dryers. Depending on your hair, you may even be able to cut your dry time in half! Because it’s a Dyson Quality. Quiet. Sleek and modern design. Thoughtfully designed and technologically reimagined. Worth ItThe Dyson Supersonic Hair-Dryer is expensive, but it's worth the investment. It's more than a hair-dryer. It's a smart drying device that takes a proactive approach to hair care. You might actually be saving yourself some money because you might even be able to cut down on those pricey, hair-smoothing, Keratin treatments! So, is beauty by Dyson worth it? Yes. It doesn't get any better than Dyson. Where to PurchaseAs an On-Air Guest Host for QVC, I highly encourage you to shop everything QVC! It's the place for great, products, great deals, and great fun. Check out the below airings to learn more about the Supersonic and to see it in action. Disclosure: All comments written above are my own opinion and thoughts related to products and companies that I love and enjoy. I have not received payment for any type of product promotion, nor have I received commission from any of the above mentioned companies, products, or websites related to this article.
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