Bamboo Bedding Plus Now Sells Clothes!

Bamboo Bedding Plus is pleased to announce the expansion of their offerings to include clothing for men and women, bringing quality bamboo shirts, dresses and scarves to the environmentally conscious consumer.

October 1, 2013

Chicago, IL

Bamboo Bedding Plus (http:www.bamboobeddingplus.com) is thrilled to announce the addition of bamboo clothing - bamboo t-shirts, golf shirts, dresses and scarves – to its site.  The vendor, Casualmere’s mission is similar to their own, committed to sustainability, social responsibility and quality.

Casualmere is an environmentally minded company.    Their products are made from bamboo, which is quick growing, and needs no pesticides, no fertilizers, or no extra watering.  They are constantly looking for ways to improve the eco-responsible processes they use in the production of their clothes.  Additionally, Casualmere also donates a percentage of all sales to cancer research.

Casualmere’s clothes are made up of at least 95% bamboo.  The bamboo fabric is soft to the touch and feels great against the skin.  The bamboo material absorbs the dye well, creating vibrant colors that don’t fade.    The fabric breathes but also wicks away moisture and is machine washable.  Their products are contemporary and simple and the company is always looking for ways to improve them.  The product is well-constructed, they use double needle enforced stitching at the neck and shoulder seams.  The material drapes to flatter the wearer’s shape and all of Casualmere’s clothing is label free.  The logo and garment care is printed directly on each item. 

Bamboo Bedding Plus continues to quality bamboo products for the environmentally conscious consumer.  For more information and to view the selection Casualmere men’s and women’s available go to www.bamboobeddingplus.com.

Bamboobeddingplus.com is an eco-friendly company, providing bamboo sheets, towels and clothing as an alternative to cotton, cotton blend and synthetic fiber textiles.

Bamboo Bedding Plus

Diane Fifles, Owner

Info@bamboobeddingplus.com

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How do I Keep the Caramel from Sliding Off My Caramel Apples

Good Morning.  Just a quick post today.  I learned something new and wanted to share.  And surprise, surprise..it is food related and I got the tip from The Chew.  Carla Hall was making Crispy Peanut Butter Caramel Apples with peanut butter inside!  But, that was not the cool part.  When making caramel apples at home, most of the time, the caramel does not stay on the apple because of the wax coating on most store bought apples.  Her suggestion was to bring a small pot of water to a rolling boil, briefly submerge the apple in the water and then wipe off the wax with a paper towel. 

There was another site, www.simplykierste.com that recommends using fine grit wax paper to gently get off some of the wax, be careful not to take any of the apple skin.  She does not recommend rinsing and drying the apples again, but it seems like it might be a good idea.

Oh, and here is the link for Carla Hall's Crispy Peanut Butter Caramel Apples.  There is even a video to demonstrate how to make them.

Carla Hall's Crispy Peanut Butter Caramel Apples

More Wisdom from "The Chew"

From Getty by way of The Luxist

Good Afternoon All.  Once again, The Chew has provided some handy information I think is worth sharing.  The following three tips may seem random, but they all came from one episode of The Chew, which is sadly no longer up.

The first tip is only good for brunettes and other dark haired people, who make coffee at home in a traditional coffee maker.  Wow, that is specific, but you will see what I mean in a minute.  If you make coffee in the morning and you have some left over.  Let it cool and you can use it as a hair rinse.  It is supposed to make your hair shiny and lustrous.  I guess if you use it on other color haired you might get a little residual color. 

Next, you can make a compound using an egg shell and apple cider vinegar that can help with dry skin and muscle soreness.  Rinse out the egg shell and let it dry.  Then put it in a jar with enough apple cider vinegar to cover the shell about a third of the way and put it in the refrigerator for two days.  The resulting mixture can be applied directly to your skin and help with the above issues.

And, lastly, blasting the myth that coffee needs to be put into the freezer.  This was discussed on The Chew as a big no-no.  Interestingly, when I looked on the Internet for more information, there were many conflicting entries.  But, here is the gist of the point, coffee and coffee beans are sensitive to light, moisture and temperature extremes and the flavor of the coffee starts breaking down immediately after roasting.

The following was taken from  The Luxist Awards and it was written well enough that I didn't see any need to re-write it.

Although freezing whole beans can be okay in some cases (like if you have more beans than you can use up in a week or two) it only works if you seal them up and freeze them once -- not to be opened or removed from the freezer until you're ready to thaw the whole batch. 

Even then the quality will have taken a small hit. But opening the freezer and unsealing frozen beans every time you want a pot of coffee not only exposes the entire batch to unwanted temperature fluctuations but also damaging moisture from condensation and miscellaneous odors and flavors in the air that the coffee will absorb. The refrigerator is even worse because it's not cold enough to significantly slow deterioration but it still has all the negative effects of condensation and 'flavored' air. So the takeaway here is: Avoid the refrigerator at all costs and only freeze coffee beans you aren't planning to use anytime soon.

My friends at The Chew say it is never okay to put the coffee in the freezer, but the above reasoning sounds reasonable.  But this is not coming from a coffee drinker (me).

The way to store the beans, the original writer of this post had a very strong opinion against buying already ground coffee, is in an airtight container, ideally glass, in a cool, dark place.  He says that using tin or plastic can taint the flavor. He says the ground coffee should be stored the same way.

 

You Can't Tell if Your Breath is Fresh By Breathing on Your Hand

I think we all knew this but good to have that myth busted once and for all.  That little gem and other interesting info is dispensed on this video I stumbled across on why you should scrape your tongue.  Guess what?  Brushing doesn't get the putrefied gunk off your tongue.  My drug store didn't carry the kind of scraper that the dentist used in the video but I think the one I bought does the trick.

There is also some good information about keeping your breath fresh and how stress and anxiety can cause bad breath. 

Click on the pic for the video and article.

Sale On All Pure Fiber Products on www.bamboobeddingplus.com

Bed Sheets (Cal. King, King, Queen) Now 119.99-89.99

A little over a year ago, I let you know about a website I started www.bamboobeddingplus.com which sells  100% bamboo sheets and 100% bamboo towel sets for individuals interested in “greener” options for their household bed and bath linens. The site will be an online shop for people looking for alternatives to the traditional cotton, cotton blend, and polyester sheet and towel sets.

Bamboo is an extremely environmentally friendly plant, once planted, it does not need to be replanted, grows quickly, and does not require pesticides or fertilizer to help it grow. It grows faster than cotton and does not need reseeding to grow once it is cut.
Viscose from bamboo is exceptionally soft and less expensive than silk or cashmere. Additionally, bamboo sheets and towels are more durable then these two fabrics and can be conveniently washed at home in the washer and dryer.
The bamboo yarn also makes the bamboo sheets both insulating and breathable, making them perfect to sleep on in both the summer and the winter. It acts as a thermal regulator to one’s body temperature. Research suggests that the bamboo material stays about two to three degrees cooler then there is warm weather and a few degrees warmer when the nights turn cold.

I have good news!  My supplier of Pure Fiber products for www.bamboobeddingplus.com is have a sale through Sunday, August 11.  Bath and Bedding products are on sale for about 20% off so I am passing the deals on to all who are interested. 


Three Piece Towel Set (bath, hand and wash cloth) now $34.99



 

The 411 on Plastic Bottles and Containers

I don't know about you but I never know/remember what the numbers at the bottom of  plastic containers mean.  Here is a little primer from Earth911.com by way of The Green Guide, a website and magazine operated by the National Geographic Society .

"The safest plastics for.... storing food are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE, or plastic #2), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, or plastic #4) and polypropylene (PP, or plastic #5)."

Watch out for plastics with #3s, #6s and #7s.  These containers have the potential to leach toxins when repeatedly  reused.  You are better off using these containers and tubs for non-food item storage.

Plastics with a #1 (PET), like plastic water and soda bottles are not known to leach harmful toxins into contents when reused. It can be tricky to properly clean and dry the plastic bottles with the small opening.  As a result the bottles may begin harboring harmful bacteria. Make sure to clean the bottles, carefully, or re-purpose them for non-food uses.

So, here are some other interesting uses for your plastic containers:
Bird Feeders: Using 1 liter bottles and miscellaneous other containers.
Here is  one of the options--it is a little involved though. Here is the link for instructions if you are so inspired.  Here are a couple of other bird feeders you can make with plastic bottles.







http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/02

Is this not the coolest looking light? You need bottles made of HDPE plastic (#2), milk jugs, shampoo, soda and water bottles. Another complex project but imagine how cool this would look in your place.

Photo: 19bis.com/objectbis

 

This last one is a little easier and something for the kids and all those yogurt containers.  Great project for the kids on a rainy day.

 

 

On a final and unrelated note, Bamboo Bedding Plus is having a sale on blankets and throws now through Sunday, March 10.  A shameless plug but imagine curling up on a cold night with one of these.

New Bamboo Bedding Offerings at Bamboo Bedding Plus

Bamboo Bedding Plus is pleased to announce the addition of a new vendor of 100% bamboo bedding offerings, bringing more sustainable and quality bamboo sheets, duvet covers, shams and throws to the environmentally conscious consumer.

February 11, 2013

Chicago, IL

Bamboo Bedding Plus (http://www.bamboobeddingplus.com) is excited to announce the addition of a new supplier for more bamboo bedding offerings.  Bed Voyage’s focus is similar to our own.  They are committed to sustainability, social responsibility and quality.

Aside from using bamboo for their sheets, blankets, shams and duvet covers, Bed Voyage has an extremely eco-friendly process.  They hold Oeko-Tex Confidence Certification, a review process conducted by large national retailers.  Their fiber processing is a “closed loop” system, meaning the solvent employed to transform the bamboo stalks to fiber is continually recycled during production.  This lowers emissions significantly, notably less than the manufacture of other man-made fibers.

Bed Voyage takes their commitment to social responsibility seriously.  In addition to keeping the emissions from their factories low, they only work with Asian factories that have passed a social responsibility audit: no children work at the factories that produce their linens; employees are paid fair wages and interviewed to make sure their working conditions are acceptable.

The quality of their bedding is exceptional.  Bed Voyage uses 100% bamboo in its line of bed bamboo bedding.  The bedding is constructed with a “twill weave”, making their extremely durable and exceptionally soft.  Their products are continually testing their products and conduct research to improve their products.  Knowing that what is on your bedding can seep into your pores while you sleep, Bed Voyage has omitted both Antimony Trioxide, a flame retardant, and formaldehyde, commonly used to make sheets wrinkle resistant.

Bamboo Bedding Plus is pleased to continue offering quality bamboo bedding and towels for the environmentally conscious consumer.  For more information and to view the selection Bed Voyage bedding and throws available go to www.bamboobeddingplus.com.

Bamboobeddingplus.com is an eco-friendly company, providing bamboo sheets and towels as an alternative to cotton, cotton blend and synthetic fiber bed and bath linens.

Bamboo Bedding Plus

Diane Fifles, Owner

Info@bamboobeddingplus.com

###

New Uses For the Dishwasher

Hello All.  Loved this article from RealSimple.com.  Surprising Uses For Your Dishwasher.  They do list baseball caps.  Put in dishwasher instead of washing machine which will bend them out of shape unless you use one of those contraptions advertised on Amazon. Do not wash with plates and silverware as food remnants can get caught in the cap. Here are a few other uses they recommend.

1.  Rain Boots.  They recommend taking the lining out and and laying them horizontally.  You can also wash flip flops by hooking them onto the tines in the washer.  FYI: Your Crocs are not dishwasher-safe.

2.  Fan grills, switch plates and vent coverings can go in if they are steel, aluminum or plastic.  If enameled, painted or plated, do not put them in.  I am not sure where the grates over the heating elements on the stove fit in but I have put them in the dishwasher and had good results getting sticky stuff off.


3.  Shin guards, knee pads and mouth guards can be thrown in the top shelf of the dishwasher for a cleaning.

4.  Garden can be washed in the machine as long as the handles are not wood.  Since they may have come in contact with fertilizer or pesticides, they should not be washed with a load of dishes.

5.  Potatoes.  This one is my favorite.  Can put potatoes through the rinse cycle.  Do not use any detergent.  The author comments that is makes mashed potatoes for 20 a lot quicker than the traditional way.  They also claim you can make salmon in the dishwasher.  If you are interested, here is the recipe.  It does leave a smell in you dishwasher, so be warned.

For their full list of items, you can consult the article.  If you would like some tips on the "proper" way to load a dishwasher, check out their article, The Secret Life of Your Dishwasher.

Christmas Gift Cards Still Lying Around the House

By now, you have settled back into your daily routines and Christmas is a distant memory. But, you still have a bunch of plastic cards you are not sure what to do with. You love gift cards but for some reason, this year, the givers missed the mark on what stores you actually shop at. Well there are a number of sites which can help you get rid of your cards and get some cash in your hands.

Giftcards.com will buy your unwanted gift cards for cash. If you have $25 to $200 on a gift card, they pay up to 95% of the face value, they will send you a check within 48 hours of receipt. Or, you can go to one of their many locations and get your cash or trade your gift card in person. There are over 50 locations in Illinois and over half are in the Chicago area. Click here to see the video on Fox 32 News Chicago.   They also sell cards and have a handy tab for a number of cities, including Chicago, that give you lists of restaurants, shopping, hotels, spas and other types of venues with opportunities to purchase gift cards for each of the venues.  And, they have an A rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Other sites to go to sell gift cards. 

 

Coupontrade.com-- for selling gift cards it is more like a forum.  It is free to sign up for the site and list your gift card at the price you choose.  For some of the more popular vendors it is reasonable to expect that listing a card at 90% of its value and getting it sold, is reasonable.  The site is a BBB accredited site and they promote secure listings and privacy of the members protected and no hidden fees.

 

Cardpool.com -- They buy the cards directly from sellers and send a free shipping label to you for your cards. And, you will be sent a check within 24 hours of their receipt of your gift card.  They will buy them for up to 92% of their face value.  They also guarantee any cards purchased from them for 100 days that it will be accepted at the vendor and for the amount you purchased it for.  If for any reason you are not satisfied, you can send back the care for a full refund.

 

Giftcardrescue.com -- This one doesn't have any BBB accreditation or grade. But they do buy and sell gift cards.  You can get up to 90% back in cash or if you do a gift card exchange, you will be 5% over the value of the gift card.

 

So, if you have random gift cards lying around that you won't be using, it might be worth it to check one of these sites out and get what you really want.

DO NOT CALL REMINDER

This reminder was sent to me through one of my many newsletter subscriptions.  Thought it was worth passing on.  Happy New Year!

     
Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.

All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.  .... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS.  To prevent  this, call the following number from your cell  phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only  take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from  the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.