The average person spends around 25 years of their life sleeping, although some people spend less and others more. However, looking back over my life to date, I would say that is probably a fair guestimate.

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Like many people, I love my bed. By the time I collapse on to my comfortable memory foam mattress, I am so shattered from the demands of a hectic life being mom to five kids, and a constant mountain of laundry to fold, that I am usually asleep before my head touches the pillow. I can sometimes stay awake for a bit longer, but only if there is a good book with my name on it.

A Nice, Comfy Bed

Most mornings I have to be up and out of bed at the crack of dawn. My kids would never get to school if I didn’t get them out of bed in good time. Not that thhe would care of course. At the weekend, I can enjoy a some sleeping in, so it is good to have a nice comfortable bed to relax in while I catch up on my shows and drink a nice cup of hot coffee.

The Lifespan of the Average Mattress

Most mattresses are only designed to last between seven and ten years. My last one was 15 years old by the time I replaced it, and although I had treated it pretty well – the kids were never allowed to treat it as a trampoline – it was well past its best. In the last few years of ownership, my back ached in the mornings and my husband and I usually ended up in the dip in the middle of the mattress. Not good really, so one Saturday, we went mattress shopping with a view to replacing ‘old faithful’.

Mattress Shopping

When mattress shopping, the best approach is to try before you buy. Until you lie on a mattress, you really don’t know whether it is the right fit for you. There are also hundreds of different mattresses to choose from, which makes the choice even more difficult.

Try Before You Buy

So, the day came when we decided to go mattress shopping. We headed out to a bed store to test some mattresses. The sales person gave us a quick run-through of the different types: pocket springs, memory foam, and all kinds of other fancy designs. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, so we immediately ruled out the cheaper mattresses on the basis I didn’t work all that overtime for nothing.

Lying down on store mattresses is a bit weird, but it makes a lot of sense. No matter how comfy a mattress looks, until you actually lie down on it, you can’t be sure it suits you. I preferred the pocket sprung mattresses whereas hubby liked the memory foam ones. In the end, we compromised. We bought a pocket sprung king mattress and a memory foam topper. Everyone was happy. Especially the kids, who definitely rate the comfort level of their new bed as a 10/10.

With the end of the school year fast approaching, I have decided that the kids need to continue to learn something new each and everyday. 

For there challenge this summer, they each need to learn one new fact about the state in which we live. The internet and books are both filled with fun facts so it shouldn’t be that hard for them to find one each day.  Since we also tend to travel around our state a lot in the summer I told them they will need to learn something new on those trips as well.

I feel it is important for the kids to continue to learn, even when school is not in session and I love to find fun ways for them to do so. 

What do you do to encourage your children to continuously learn when school is out for the summer?

If you can fry an egg on your cement patio during the summer, chances are you’re not doing much entertaining. It’s hard to enjoy your yard with family and friends in that type of heat.

Warm climates invite outdoor living, but the sun’s heat often makes patios, decks, pool areas and outdoor kitchens unusable for part of the day. Pergolas, arbors and trellises are popular shade solutions, but they are expensive and require a contractor – and sometimes a building permit.

Most people don’t consider the easy and affordable option of custom, retractable awnings. By installing these long-lasting awnings, you can reclaim that wasted outdoor space and increase the usable square footage of your home.

With motorized, retractable patio awnings from European Rolling Shutters (ERS), you get sun protection and shade coverage that goes beyond clunky umbrellas or canopies. Retractable awnings are the perfect solution to transform scorching backyards into cool, relaxing, happy places. The temperature can actually drop 15 degrees in the 15 seconds it takes to extend an electric awning.

Why You’ll Like ERS Retractable Awnings for Your Deck or Patio:

• Single awnings can be built up to 23 feet wide by 13.5 feet deep
• Custom designed and manufactured to suit your home’s style and decor
• Can be added to existing metal awnings and pergolas for additional shading in the early morning and late afternoon
• Easy operation via remote control or app for iPhone, iPad or Android- also available with a manual crank

• Freestanding arms (instead of poles) won’t obstruct your view, barely noticeable when retracted 

• Made with the beautiful and virtually indestructible Sunbrella outdoor fabric and comes with a 10-year limited fabric warranty

We offer 150+ colors and patterns including solids, stripes, tweeds and textured fabrics.
Here are just a few of our favorites:

But wait! There’s more….

If the sun’s heat is a problem in your backyard, it’s probably a problem inside your home as well. You might find your energy bills skyrocket in the summer due to constantly air conditioning in an attempt to keep your home cool.

Window solar screens can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south- facing windows and 77% on west- facing windows. Conversely, you can roll them up in the winter to let solar heat warm your home’s interior.

 (If you want more information on the energy saving value of solar screens, check out the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association, PAMA ENERGY STUDY. It shows how solar shades reduced annual cooling costs up to 86% for homes in San Francisco. Solar shades are also recommended by the US Department of Energy, which reports they can reduce solar heat gains by 65- 77% – Source: Energy.gov.)

Retractable solar screens for doors and windows are another excellent option to keep the inside of your home cool and shaded. Our retractable solar screens can be applied to any glass window or door to block the sun’s glare and excessive heat, which reduces the amount of heat entering your home; thus, cutting back on the need for air conditioning and lowering your energy bill.

Although thin, ERS’ solar screens are durable, corrosion-resistant and very long-lasting. And unlike our aluminum rolling shutters and retractable awnings, solar screens are semi-transparent, which lets you enjoy the sunset without getting sunburned.

Speaking of age spots, ERS’ motorized solar screens block 90% of the sun’s UV rays, limiting sun damage to your skin, furniture and floors. You’ll reclaim living areas lost to bright light and too much heat – and maybe prevent a few wrinkles.

European Rolling Shutters has been the Bay Area’s exterior shading expert since 1983. We are a family owned and operated business with a manufacturing facility and showroom located in South San Jose. We offer a range of energy saving products in addition to patio awnings and solar screens, including rolling shutters and retractable pergola covers.

Call us for a free in-home consultation and estimate! Phone: 408-629-3740