Our Kitties lingered near. Little Violets bloomed all over the grass and the fresh laundry I had hung up earlier flapped in the wind.

I was grateful just to be, to smell the fresh air, be delighted by nature around me. I got to read a bit, write a bit, did unfortunately way to little housework. But, hey, one does need a break every so often, yes?

And today I feel refreshed and focused again, ready to tackle a new week.

The small things in life can be so meaningful!

What was it that made you happy this weekend?

Wishing you a beautiful new week!

As some of you may know my main focus here at the store is a healthy/organic/non-toxic sleep environment. We spend a third of our life sleeping – a crucial time when our bodies rest, repair, rejuvenate. Why would we want to do that on a mattress that is laden with all sort of nasty toxins? I won’t go into detail here as to what you will all find in your mattress but if you google “toxic substances in mattresses” you will find not shortage of information to make up your own mind.

Instead let me tell you the benefits and reasons of why to sleep on those beautiful organic mattresses that I carry – I feel very passionate about them, so I have not shortage of arguments as to why one should sleep on these!

For one the materials of these mattresses are of a very high quality and are very pure. The rubber foam that is used is 95 to 97% pure rubber milk, with 3 to 5% zinc added to help in the baking/setting process. The natural flame retardant in these mattresses are layers of organic wool and the outer encasing is certified organic cotton. That’s it! Pure and simple, nothing superfluous, just ingredients that work well together and will last a long time – these organic mattresses last up to 40 years!

When you lay on these mattresses you will find that you will feel suddenly very peaceful. Your spine will re-aligne itself, your body temperature will adjust, your sleep becomes more restful. I am not saying that you will experience miracles over night. Your body needs to get acquainted with this new way of sleeping, but your body will thank you in the long run. I am still looking forward to going to bed every night, although I have had my organic bed now for 4 years now. Just feels sooo good stretching out on my organic mattress!!!

But I would suggest you try that out for yourself! I have all the different elements of this organic sleep system as floor models here at my store. Come and visit, lounge, rest and form your own opinion. Look forward to seeing you!

But that one day in between was precious! I got to sleep in a bit, have a leisurely breakfast with my daughters and just be for a change!

 Later in the day we went to my dear friend Tineke’s for Christmas dinner. And what a scrumptious dinner it was! We had a Swedish Smorgasbord style dinner: oven baked salmon, swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce, various vegetable dishes – among them my favorite: curried, mashed parsnips. Everything was absolutely delicious and I only wished to hold the time to savor every bite more.

And then the deserts: Tineke had made Tart Tatin (french Apple Tart), an almost flour less, delicious, dark Chocolate cake, as well as a cashew/praline whipped creme to be savored with either the tart or the cake. What’s the word for pleasure even bigger than delicious? Well, that’s what this meal was from start to finish.

 Maybe it is that I have had so few breaks and so little time with my friend and her family but I was ever so grateful to spend these precious hours with them, and I think my daughters enjoyed themselves equally. That is what Christmas is about for me: being with loved ones and sharing a beautiful meal, enjoying each others company, sharing stories…..

I hope you had as lovely a Christmas!

And I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful 2012!!!

Here is her story:

Teresa was a fashion designer who after a bad boating accident and a lengthy healing period travelled to India to further her healing with Ayurvedic medicine. She was struck by the poverty of the many orphaned children in India and went on a search to find an orphanage that she could support.

Upon realizing how much help is needed she decided to design a line of scarves and shawls of which 50% of the proceeds would go to these, by now two different orphanages.

So by wrapping yourself or a loved one in one of her beautiful creations you also wrap your arms lovingly around these little orphans.

The colours are muted and soft, as are the materials.

See for yourself below!

It was a sunny afternoon, the grass still nice and green, and milk weed pod seeds were scattered all over the grass, shimmering like fairy wings in the afternoon sun. The leaves of the surrounding trees had changes colour and were shades of red and gold. I made may way up the trails, which are cut into the wild grasses,  with a dear friend and thought how fortunate I am to be able to have such precious moments out in nature in the company of loved ones. 

Having returned to Toronto I now feel refreshed and renewed and ready to tackle my ever increasing work load again.

I hope you will find time as well to spend outside in this lovely Fall weather, take deep breaths of the cold air filled with Fall scents and take a moment to contemplate all you are grateful for.

Have a beautiful Fall!