The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. …

Tags: aches , cdc , cellulose fiber , chemical-free , colds , coughing , dehydration , EPA , flu , garlic , germs , handwashing , health , home remedies , natural , organic , prevention , recovery , recycle , sickness , sleep , stress , tea , thyme , Triclosan , vaccine , Vitamin C

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In light of the recent survey finding many of us secure a better night’s sleep in separate cocoons, it might pay to return to the days of twins. You know, lie back and watch a show, roll over for fun, head home to your crib for a snooze so you can get up for work. Just like dating!

Think of the fun of sneaking into the resting chamber of your better half for a “hello stranger” kinda session, while saving all kinds of bucks on the bedding ’cause twin …

Tags: bedding , budget , contemporary design , couples , custom , dating , decor , desing , eco , green , marriage , mattreses , rattan , retro , romance , sex , sleep , sleep disorders , Twin beds , upholstery , wood

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Sweet dreams – got “˜em? Many of us don’t. For some, bedtime is a nightly battle of tossing, turning and exhausted frustration; believe me, I’ve been there myself. As with any of life’s imbalances, there’s usually an underlying reason for insomnia and although stress and tension are usually the root cause, there are natural solutions to help you get the rest you deserve. Try some of these ideas and see which ones work for you.

Before going to bed, stretch out.…

Tags: can't get to sleep , diet , exercise , health , remedies , remedy , sleep , sleep problems , sleep solutions

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Yeah, I’d seen boxes of those ridiculous-looking nasal strips on drugstore shelves but never took them seriously. Then, one day last month my husband had a few guys over to watch a movie and one appeared wearing a strip across the bridge of his nose.

I thought he’d had some sort of accident – a fender-bender or maybe walked into a door – but it turned out he had been getting ready for bed when my husband called, had already applied the band-aid-looking adhesive, and didn’t want to waste it. He …

Tags: breathe right , nasal strips , sleep , sleep apnea , snoring , snoring remedy , tips to stop snoring

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Is the economy keeping you awake at night?

You are not alone. A recent National Sleep Foundation poll has found that one in four Americans say worries over personal finances, layoffs and the state of the economy at large are keeping them up at night.  These numbers are reflected in an increase in audiences for late night television shows.

But these aren’t the only numbers that are increasing.

Prescriptions for sleep medications have also grown, topping 56 million in 2008. Good news, I guess, for the pharmaceutical companies selling those GABA-enhancing  …

Tags: economy , increase in insomnia , insomnia , sleep , sleeping pills and the economy , sleepless , sleeplessness , worry

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You spent a month’s pay on a deluxe organic mattress and maintain that it is worth every last cent, even when your pals give you a hard time for such a splurge. But, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. After all, you sleep more soundly each night and awake every morning with an extra burst of energy. And you feel great knowing you’re not breathing in those nasty toxic chemicals. Plus, for a price so steep, it’s bound to last a lifetime, right?

Well, not …

Tags: bedding , eco , furniture , mattress , preservation , preserve , save , sleep

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Holly Golightly did everything with style, including covering her massive brown peepers with an adorable eye mask and muffling apartment noises with tasseled ear plugs.

In her case, muting the senses at night was crucial to functioning the next day. A consummate party animal, she got to bed quite late after drinking and collecting money from shady men in the lounges of Manhattan. For most of us living in the world not created by Truman Capote, eye masks serve other functions: Avoiding the blue light from the TV screen when …

Tags: eye masks , health , lifestyle , sleep , wellness

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