The ABC’s of Catching Zzz’s

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Schools here in Texas started back this last week.

And the beginning of a new school year often means the end to nightly Netflix binges and my midnight rendezvous with my brother…I mean Brother…sewing machine. Looking ahead to the holidays, I have so many Christmas quilts and decorations that I want to get made between now and Christmas…the most wonderful time of the year.

So how do I convince myself and my family that going to bed before midnight is actually an attainable goal…we’ve had so many marvelous midnight matinees lately.

Especially when as a mother, I know that sleep is too important of a part of a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being to simply be ignored.

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One priority that I’ve set for this back-to-school transition is to create sleep-friendly environments for both my son and myself.

Supposedly sleep-friendly environments help you fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep more soundly…(at least until you’re about 50 and have to join in with the other “older adults” enjoying the nightly potty parade)…

A good sleep environment is built on a foundation that we more commonly refer to as a “mattress.” Mattresses are one household purchase that I would never recommend that you skimp on.

Kinda like skimping on shoes or chairs…

There is no “perfect” mattress that would be perfect for everyone. There are too many factors to consider – sleep position, age, activity level, body mechanics, body type and sleep position.

In addition to the mattress itself, there are plenty of marvelous mattress toppers available that can help further the comfort of your “chosen frozen” mattress.

Also don’t skimp on bedding. Find the bedding fabric – cotton, linen, bamboo – that you like best.

As for the pillows, take sleeping position into consideration. People who sleep on their stomachs typically prefer thinner pillows than those who sleep on their sides.

It would be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the different pillows that you could consider purchasing – body pillows, contoured pillows that eliminate neck strain wedge pillows that help with sleep apnea and basic snoring.

Just don’t have so many pillows that there’s no longer room for the family dog…

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I’ve heard it said that the messiest children typically turn into the neatest and tidiest adults. If that were true, then my whole house would be immaculate.

Don’t worry…I’m not going to check to see how much stuff is hiding beneath your bed.

But do try to keep your sleep environment neat and distraction free.

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Otherwise, you may feel obligated to get back up and clean your room first.

We’ve all heard about the damages of blue light from electronics and been told countless times to avoid screens – TV, phone, tablet, computer – for at least 30 minutes before going to bed.

But my one big word of advice is…

Never set up a TV in your bedroom. Save the bedroom for sleep and…well, never mind…Essential oils: Just as a house without a piano and KitchenAid mixer is simply not a home, a bedroom without a Pura with a vanilla refill is simply not a retreat.

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Essential oils: Just as a house without a piano and KitchenAid mixer is simply not a home, a bedroom without a Pura with a vanilla refill is simply not a retreat.

A meticulously arranged still life of antique cat-themed artifacts on a dark, polished mahogany writing desk, captured in rich photographic realism. At the center rests an ornate brass cat figurine with emerald-glass eyes, its surface softly worn with age. Around it, a slightly yellowed Art Deco theater program titled “The Cat’s Pajamas,” a 1920s silk bow tie with subtle paisley, and a cracked leather-bound history book opened to an engraved illustration of a grand ballroom. Warm lamplight from an unseen green-glass banker’s lamp casts a golden glow, creating gentle reflections on the desk and deep, refined shadows. Shot at eye level with a shallow depth of field, the background fades into velvety darkness, evoking a sophisticated, nostalgic mood, like a historian’s private study at midnight.

LED lights, just like the blue light from electronics, can work against melatonin production and make falling asleep harder. Opt to dimmer, warmer-color bulbs. Keep wattage low.

Also, many people find that they sleep better in a pitch black dark room.

I haven’t reached the point where I’ve adult-ed so much that I’m no longer afraid of the dark or no longer reliant on my teddy bear.

But even scaredy-cats like me can opt for black-out curtains and consider wearing a sleep mask.

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Noise: Do whatever it takes to keep noise levels down. This could mean anything from earplugs to soundproofing tiles and thicker doors and windows…and possibly even turning off that TV that you said that you weren’t going to let back in the room to begin with.

Temperature: Doctors repeatedly recommend having the thermostat set between 60 and 67 degrees. This temperature reinforces the natural core body temperature.

Dare to Hug Your Bear

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Teddy bears can be your best companion while you are growing up…

But once you start adulting, are you supposed to simply toss your precious Theodore aside and handle life totally on your own?!

Well, obviously, that’s up to you…

But as for myself, I’m hanging on tight to my beloved BlueBonnet and will continue sleeping with her just as long as I want…with no feelings of guilt or shame.

Actually, there are several benefits to cuddling up with your favorite plush friend for just as long as possible.

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Companionship: Teddy bears can help alleviate feelings of loneliness, Teddy bears offer a sense of companionship that can help you feel more comfortable around other people also.

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Relaxation: Teddy bears are one option in creating a more comfortable and positive sleeping environment. After all, aren’t we all looking for anything and everything to help us fall asleep faster and more easily…

Nightly bedtime routines can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep. Stuffed animals can often be a perfectly normal and healthy part of that all-important, calming nightly bedtime routine (more on this later)…

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Stress Management: Just having a stuffed animal that is a familiar presence can be a source of comfort and security in this crazy, stressful world…. especially if you’ve had that stuffed animal for a while (or like me, since birth)…

Stuffed animals can help your body hormones – serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin – that promote relaxation and help reduce stress.

Stuffed animals are often used as a resource for working with individuals suffering from autism or insomnia. They have the ability to provide a soothing presence during challenging moments.

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Transition: Finally, teddy bears and other stuffed animals can bring back positive childhood emotions and memories…and help bridge that gap between childhood memories and adult life.

So don’t leave your favorite stuffed animals at your mom’s house for the next 40 years…or allow it to hibernate in your attic forever.

It needs a good hug…

And most likely you do too…

How Mississippi Inspired the Teddy Bear Phenomenon – Then(1903)

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Being from Mississippi, it seems like we hardly ever receive the credit for anything positive.

But many great people and great things have come from the Hospitality State…

Foods like Mississippi Pot Roast and Mississippi Mud Pie.

People like Norman Freeman and Oprah Winfrey…

But there is one thing that hardly anyone associates with Mississippi.

Yet this one thing has become one of the most popular gifts ever for children…a cherished symbol of affection, congratulations or even sympathy…a source of inspiration for film, story and song…and often a collector’s item worthy of being adored and appreciated for generations.

The teddy bear.

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So what does the teddy bear have to do with Mississippi?

In 1902, Andrew H. Longino, the 35th governor of Mississippi, , invited Roosevelt and some of his staff members to go bear hunting in Mississippi.

Interesting, because who really even dares to hunt bears? Seems dangerous to me.

Even more interesting, because I have lived in Mississippi for over 50 years and have never seen a bear other than in the zoo…

Although Ole Miss did supposedly change its mascot from the Rebel to the Mississippi Brown Bear a few years back in an attempt to be politically correct…(Lord, help us all)…

Anyway…

Most of the hunting party were able to scare and snare a bear…

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Except for Roosevelt.

So, some of the members of the group set their hunting dogs on a long and exhausting chase to find a poor American black bear…without telling Roosevelt, of course.

The hunters cornered and clubbed a bear. Then they tied it to a willow tree, summoned Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot the bear.

However, Roosevelt refused to shoot the tethered bear…saying that this was unsportsmanlike.

Sounds like a pleasant hunting trip…but not necessarily a historic even that would impact society even 100 years later.

Also sounds like another American President perhaps as honest as Abraham Lincoln.

But remember, this decade was the heyday of political cartoons.

On November 16, 1902, a cartoon depicting this incident was published in The Washington Post.

The cartoon, published by Clifford Berryman, showed an adult black bear being lassoed two people – one an unidentified man, the other a disgusted American President.

This cartoon inspired Morris Michtom, a New York candy shop owner, to create a small soft bear cub toy.

He set this toy in his store window, along with a sign reading “Teddy’s bear.”

Surprisingly to him, “Teddy’s bear” went viral.

So viral in fact, that Michtom eventually was able to found the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co…(more on this later)

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And also popular enough to spark social controversy.

In 1907,  Michael G. Esper began a campaign against the teddy bear.

Esper, a Catholic priest in Michigan, declared teddy bears to be “horrible monstrosities.”

He claimed that replacing the “good old dolls” with teddy bears would be a big mistake. Girls would lose the urge to nurture babies. This would result in declining birth rates among the white population and racial suicide.

This movement attracted widespread but short-lived attention.

Thank goodness that they were unable to stop production of the teddy bear.

I still proudly hold on to my Teddy Ruxpin…daring anyone to touch it.

The Now: Air Purifiers

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Even though almost all HVAC systems include filters, there are times when you desperately need to target fresh air into one particular room.

My one particular room was my husband’s home office…his man cave ever since the pandemic…the one room where he spends hours and hours surrounded by his two dogs and two cats.

Every time I walked in that room, I suddenly felt as if I was going to have an asthma attack.

So finding the perfect air purifier for his office suddenly became a top priority.

As I searched for that perfect air purifier, I came up with this list of questions that you might find helpful also…

When shopping for groceries, there are some foods that you know that you can skimp on and buy the cheaper or store brand…and other foods that are simply not the same if you really like a specific brand…like Duke’s mayo.

Appliances also come at all price points, but not all air purifiers work just as well.

There’s a reason that certain brands of air purifiers have been around for years and years…Stick to those brands that have been around for a while.

Cost:

How many of us hurried out and bought SodaStreams when they first were on the market.

And how many of us eventually donated them to Goodwill or re-gifted them  after finding that the cost of carbon cartridges needed to make drinks bubbly really added up quick.

Filters can cost anywhere from $25 to over $200. And filters also need to be changed regularly, depending on the filter that you get.  

So be warned…when shopping for an air purifier, also factor in the cost of filters.

Energy Efficiency: Air purifiers must run constantly to be effective. So you can expect your electricity bill to be higher. Look for an Energy Star-certified air purifier by checking for a blue-and-white sticker on the unit . These purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. 

Noise: Some air purifiers specify their noise levels, shown in decibels. The goal is to choose a device that’s relatively quiet even at higher speeds. But take these numbers with a grain of salt. This noise level is assumed to be at the unit’s lowest fan speed…

Options: Extras can add convenience to an air purifier, but they’re not necessarily worth the added expense. Before buying a pricey smart unit with app support and all sort of modes, take some time to decide if you will truly need all those extra features.

Portability: These air purifiers are light enough to sit on a desk or shelf in your home office during the day…and then can be easily taken to the TV room in the evenings…and then taken into the bedroom while you sleep.

But if you’re having to drag it all over the house, are you actually going to do this every day?

And are you gonna be able to transport a large enough air purifier to condition the size of each room?

Room: Think of an air purifiers as a single space “heater.” Just as you would not expect a space heat to heat the entire house, you cannot expect an air purifier to clean the air in your entire house.

Ultimately, you should have an air purifier in each room of your house. But if you only want to buy one (or one at a time), put it in the room where you spend the most time.

Energy Efficiency: Air purifiers must run constantly to be effective. So you can expect your electricity bill to be higher. Look for an Energy Star-certified air purifier by checking for a blue-and-white sticker on the unit . These purifiers are 40 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. 

Noise: Some air purifiers specify their noise levels, shown in decibels. The goal is to choose a device that’s relatively quiet even at higher speeds. But take these numbers with a grain of salt. This noise level is assumed to be at the unit’s lowest fan speed…

Options: Extras can add convenience to an air purifier, but they’re not necessarily worth the added expense. Before buying a pricey smart unit with app support and all sort of modes, take some time to decide if you will truly need all those extra features.

Portability: These air purifiers are light enough to sit on a desk or shelf in your home office during the day…and then can be easily taken to the TV room in the evenings…and then taken into the bedroom while you sleep.

But if you’re having to drag it all over the house, are you actually going to do this every day?

And are you gonna be able to transport a large enough air purifier to condition the size of each room?

Room: Think of an air purifiers as a single space “heater.” Just as you would not expect a space heat to heat the entire house, you cannot expect an air purifier to clean the air in your entire house.

Ultimately, you should have an air purifier in each room of your house. But if you only want to buy one (or one at a time), put it in the room where you spend the most time.

The Birth of Modern Air Conditioning (1902): Willis Carrier’s Journey

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Once Lyle accepted this business proposition, he turned to another employee Buffalo Forge named Willis Carrier.

At the time neither Lyle nor Carrier realized what an adventure they were fixing to go on together.

But energized by the puzzle, Carrier immediately got to work.

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His first experiment was a suggestion from Timmis himself.

This experiment involved saturating a loosely woven burlap roller towel with solution of calcium chloride brine. This process did make the air less humid. However, this process also added heat, salt and odor to the air. This wasn’t going to work.

Then one day Carrier had a “lightbulb moment.”

This process relied heavily on the principle of condensation and laid the foundation for the development of climate control.

This process relied heavily on the principle of condensation andlaid the foundation for the development of climate control.

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On July 17, 1902, Carrier completed and initialed a set of mechanical drawings

Carrier then sent these drawings to Lyle to be installed at the Sackett & Wilhelms plant.

A year later after Carrier’s air conditioning design was installed at the printing press – on October 21, 1903 – Lyle reported in a letter to his home office that…

The cooling coils which we sold this company have given excellent results during the past summer.

His design with all of its fans, ducts, heaters, perforated steam pipes and temperature controls – had actually worked.

Modern air conditioning was born

So who was this extremely brilliant college graduate?

Willis Haviland Carrier was born November 26, 1876.

He was born at his family’s farm in Angelo, New York.

He graduated from Central High School in Buffalo, New York and earned a four-year scholarship to Cornell University.

After graduating from Cornell with a Master of Engineering degree in 1901, Carrier had joined the Buffalo Forge Company in Buffalo, New York,  as a research engineer.

His first assignment at this job was to design a heating system that could effectively dry lumber and coffee.

Carrier had already finished several designs – including designs for a heating plant, a lumber dry kiln and a coffee dryer.

But then…

The recent college grad completely changed the world…

It All Started with Paper

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Walter Timmis was a consulting engineer at a Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company oin Brooklyn, New York.

But this publishing company had a problem

Timmis turned to the Manhattan office of the Buffalo Forge Company, a company that designed and manufactured steam engines and pumps.

He explained this problem to J. Irvine Lyle, the head of Buffalo Forge’s sales activities in New York.

His printing paper was soaking up moisture because of the high temperatures and high levels of humidity in the printing press building. As a result, his paper expanded and contracted in size.

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At the time, printing was a tedious process that involved running the printing press over a single piece of paper…applying one color of ink to the paper at a time.

By the time four different colors of ink were applied, the colors would be misaligned.

The company was turning out low-quality work.

The company was also wasting its resources and losing production days.

The problem was so bad that several of his most important clients threatened to take their work elsewhere.

Timms needed the Buffalo Forge to figure out how he could control humidity at the printing press.

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Industrial Revolution

This was the middle of the Industrial Revolution.

Factories were being built by the dozen.

Yet nobody had yet figured out how to use “modern” technology to create a comfortable microclimate indoors. Previous attempts had not been efficient enough or had been too cumbersome for commercial use.

He recognized the importance of being able to control the humidity levels in a manufacturing environment.

He also thought he knew someone who could easily solve this dilemma.

So he accepted the proposal.

Hotter Than Hell

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For thousands of years, humankind attempted to do something about the slow torture of hot weather.

These attempts involved…

  • electric power
  • ice made from steam engines
  • professional air-sniffers
  • refrigerated beds
  • slave power
  • ventilation amateurs
  • water power

Thankfully, someone finally invented “modern air conditioning.”

Air conditioning allowed people to live in places that were previously considered inhabitable – like the desserts of New Mexico and Arizona.

Air conditioning led directly to the success of movie theaters, especially afternoon matinees. People were willing to spend money simply to enjoy a break from the summer heat.

Air conditioning helped create better work environments for factory and office workers. Being able to work in an air-conditioned factory was an employee benefit right off the bat.

Not only that, air conditioning was great for the factories and businesses also. Workers were more productive working in a more comfortable environment.

Air-conditioning prevented millions of heat-related deaths.

Air conditioning is now seen as an expected necessity, not the luxury that our great-grandmothers thought that it was.

Even if we only seem to appreciate it when it’s 102 degrees in the shade.

So who are we to thank for finally creating the first modern air conditioner?

Probably some foreign guy whose name we could never pronounce even if we practiced all day?

No…

And obviously, modern air conditioning was invented to keep people comfortable hot, humid summer?

No again…

The answers may surprise you as much as they did me…

Boost Indoor Air Quality with Regular Vacuuming

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Anyone else remember watching Carl Sagan talk about “billions and billions” of planets out there…

Well, that could also be how much “gross” stuff – allergens, dirt, dust mites, food particles, mold spores, pet hair and dander, pollen, pollutants – could be lurking way down in the nooks and crannies of your carpet fibers…

Thankfully, we no longer have to depend on Puffing Billy to come embarrass by dragging out these demons and devils that have come to rest on our precious floors…

We no longer have to worry about all of our demons being seen…piped out of our windows and into the lawn for all of God’s creation to see and laugh at.

But there are probably things that each of us could do to improve our vacuuming…

And if you’re like me, one of those things that we could…and probably should…be doing is vacuuming on a regular basis, not only when the floor is disgusting or company (or your mom) is coming over.

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Regularly vacuuming, much like brushing your teeth, has too many benefits not to ignore…such as…

  • Better indoor air quality
  • Fewer pests, specifically ants and cockroaches
  • Healthier living environment
  • Improved air quality
  • Longer life enduranc of furnishings
  • More visually appealing home

To keep your floor looking their best year-round. Vacuum at least once a week. You may need to vacuum more frequently if you have pets.

You may need to vacuum high foot-traffic areas more frequently.

You might also want to vacuum more frequently in the spring or fall…when allergy season is at its peak. This will help improve indoor air quality

To keep your floor looking their best year-round. Vacuum at least once a week. You may need to vacuum more frequently if you have pets.

You may need to vacuum high foot-traffic areas more frequently.

You might also want to vacuum more frequently in the spring or fall…when allergy season is at its peak. This will help improve indoor air quality

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The Elephant in the Room

It’s kinda hard to vacuum, if you don’t have a vacuum.

But even if you do have a vacuum, it can still be rather hard.

First of all, you should not have just any vacuum…you need to have the right vacuum for your specific needs.

Having the right tool for the job makes all the difference.

The “Elephant in the Room” Vacuum Cleaner

There are basically two lines of thought as far as the “big” vacuum cleaner: the canister vacuum cleaner or the upright vacuum cleaner.

This choice should be based on what type of surface you will be vacuuming most.

  • Hardwood or tile: Canister: Weigh less than upright vacuum cleaners…better at cleaning stairs, high areas and hard-to-reach spots…typically have softer brushes than other types of vacuums. These softer brushes will keep your floor from getting scratched.
  • Carpets or large areas: Upright: Stronger “suction” power and rotating brushes make upright vacuum cleaners the best vacuum cleaners for deep cleaning carpets

In addition to the “front and center” vacuum cleaner, you may want to consider adding these three vacuum cleaners to your cleaning arsenal also:

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Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner:   Who in their right mind wants to drag out the “Big Bertha” every time they feel like vacuuming?

Especially when all you need to do is vacuum up a small mess or vacuum in a particular area – such as car floors and couch cushions.

Thank God for these smaller, lightweight sisters…the perfect answer for vacuuming under the kitchen table every time you try to feed your two year old.

However, smaller handheld vacuum cleaners are not as powerful as their bigger sisters.

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Robot Vacuum Cleaners:

I never was quick to jump in on this bandwagon.

I have heard too many people complain about their robot vacuum cleaners not meeting their expectations…

These tech-savvy creations may be smart enough to navigate their way throughout your home on their own…and do a light dusting along the way…

But will they ever be able to replace the thoroughness of traditional vacuum cleaner being used by a real person?

I’ve never bought one, and probably never will.

But if you actually have one and are actually impressed, let me know.

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Stick Vacuum Cleaners: These lightweight vacuum cleaners are also great when you don’t want to bring out “Big Bertha,”

And at the same time, don’t want to have to get down on your hands and knees to clean up a mess…(believe me, this gets older with age)…

Woman vacuuming carpet with vintage Whiz-Bang 5000 electric vacuum cleaner
A joyful woman cleans her living room with a charming vintage vacuum cleaner

The Then(1908): William Henry Hoover

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Unfortunately, Spangler was unable to produce enough vacuum cleaners to stay out of debt.

He was also unable to find enough investors to keep his fledgling company afloat.

One of the first people to have bought one of Spangler’s sweepers had been very impressed. She was also his cousin.

After hearing of Spangler’s financial situation, she convinced her husband, William Henry “Boss” Hoover, and her son,  Herbert William Hoover Sr., into buying the patent for Spangler’s failing design.

Spangler sold the patent to William Henry Hoover in 1908,

Hoover had already started a successful leather goods business in the 1870s. The Hoover Company manufactured horse saddles.

However, his once booming business ran into financial trouble once the motor vehicles being produced by Henry Ford became more affordable to the general public.

Hoover realized the potential for Spangler’s simple design.

He upgraded Spangler’s original design by adding a steel casing, motor-driven brush rollers and disposable bags for the dirt and debris.

This model featured a wooden handle and a bag that still looked a lot like a pillowcase

This model was an initial success…a fact that is rather surprising.

At that time, only 10 percent of American households had electricity.

This model also was really expensive….retailing for $2,500 in today’s currency.

Sales of this 40-pound initial model were sluggish.

As initial excitement and sales of this expensive vacuum cleaner model began to decline, Hoover had to take action.

As a result, Hoover created a clever promotional campaign.

Hoover placed an ad in The Saturday Evening Post offering customers a 10-day free home trial of the vacuum cleaner to anyone who requested it.

He established a national network of local retailers to help facilitate the offer..and eventually sell the machines.

The company had sold 372 Model 0s by the end of 1908.

Eventually, there was a Hoover vacuum cleaner in nearly every home.

By 1912, sales had been made to Norway, France, Russia, Belgium, Holland and Scotland.

By the 1920s, Hoover became one of the most recognized home appliance brands worldwide..

As far as Spangler, he continued working as production supervisor for the company. He received royalties for his design.

He also received patents for numerous other designs before his death in 1915.

The Spangler family continued to receive royalties until 1925.

After Spangler’s death, Hoover changed the name of the company name to the Hoover Suction Sweeper Company.

Hoover’s initial investment of $36,000 ($1,290,000 today) eventually led to the creation of the Hoover Company, a company that dominated the vacuum cleaner industry for most of the 20th century.

Then(1907): Spangler’s Spangled Electric Suction Vacuum Cleaner

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James Murray Spangler brought about the next significant leap towards the vacuum cleaner as we know it today

His vacuum cleaner was created out of a necessity…the necessity of treating his own asthma.

Spangler worked as a janitor in a department store in Canton, Ohio.

Spangler developed a chronic cough. He assumed that this cough was the result of the airborne dust being stirred up by the carpet sweeper he was using to clean the store.

Being a tinkerer and amateur inventor, he decided to solve this dilemma.

His design consisted of an old electric ceiling fan motor, a broom handle and one of his wife’s pillowcases.

This device is said to be the first “portable, electric vacuum cleaner.”

This was also the first vacuum cleaner that was lightweight enough and practical enough for household use.

This vacuum cleaner was also the first vacuum cleaner powered by electricity instead of a gasoline-powered motor.

After improving this first design, Spangler obtained a patent for this design on June 2, 1908.

He soon formed the Electric Suction Sweeper Company.

This was a family business. His son helped him assemble the machines. His daughter assembled the dust bags.

However, they were only able to produce two or three vacuum cleaners each week.