Bedtime Stories

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Reading books before bed can be one of the best habits. It’s a great way to wind down from the day for kids and adults alike. Kids love to climb into their pajamas and snuggle in for a bedtime story!

Once you start the habit, they’ll look forward to it each night and it’ll become a great routine. Not only is it great bonding time but it’s also known to boost brain development in kids too.

Here are some of our favorite kid’s books:

It’s Too Soon by Nigel McMullen

It’s too soon for bedtime! After all, Anna hasn’t taken a bath, or brushed her teeth, or listened to a bedtime story. Good thing Anna knows just what she needs to do to get ready for bed.

Bear Snores On

Tuck kids of all ages into bed with this charming tale. Some animals stop by the bear cave to warm up, but even after tea is brewed and corn is popped, the bear snores on! What will Bear do when he wakes up to find his cave full of uninvited guests having a party without him? Karma Wilson’s lyrical text and Jane Chapman’s warm illustrations make Bear Snores On a perfect read-aloud to be enjoyed over and over again. (A children’s Book-of-the-month club featured selection.)

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams & William Nicholson

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs  by Judi & Ronald Barrett

What were your favorite bedtime stories? What do your kids love to read? Share with us below!

Photo Credit: The Real Estreya via Compfight cc

Suffering from the Mondays? Here are 15 Cures!

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

“Monday is great if I can spend it in bed. I’m a man of simple pleasures, really.”

– Arthur Darvill

Mondays can be well, let’s face it…tough.

Especially in the height of the summer, when the sun is shining and all you want to do is play hooky! Monday might even make you might think of this scene from Office Space.

So just in case you’re suffering from a case of the Mondays, here are some little things you can to do to beat out those blues…

1. Wear your favorite outfit. The one you feel awesome in!

2. Bring in breakfast for you’re co-workers. Doing something nice for others will feel good!

3. Take a dance break!

4. Another meeting? Declare it a walking one and get outside.

5. Meet a friend at a fancy restaurant for lunch.

6. Work somewhere different. Escape the cubicle and head to the coffee shop!

7. Plan a Monday night Happy Hour. Why not?!

8. Wear your PJs to work! Add some heels and makeup and you’ll look fabulous.

9. Sleep in and go into the office late. You deserve it!

10. Take a lunch time yoga class.

11. Treat yourself to a colorful bouquet of flowers.

12. Take a Pajama Day!

13. Sneak out early and go to the movies.

14. Turn on some fun and uplifting music. Pick something you don’t normally listen to.

15. Take a break and treat yourself to something sweet! A decadent truffle? Gourmet cupcake?

Do at least one of these things and we’re betting your day will turn around. Oh, and you should know that you’re not alone on this Monday thing. Here are 18 Dogs Who Have a Case of the Mondays!

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Where is your happy place?

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

– Dalai Lama XIV

Where is your happy place?  For some people it’s a relaxing and peaceful place. For others it may be when they’re feeling creative or connected to other people. And yet, doing something exhilarating and thrilling brings on the happy for someone else.  The possibilities are endless!

Maybe it’s…

Petting your dog

On a roller coaster

Hiking a mountain

Lounging in your PJs

Playing with your kids

On top of the Eiffel Tower

Lying on a beach

Hanging out in your garden

Taking a nap

On a sailboat

Up in a tree house

Soaking in a hot lavender filled bath

Everyday stuff can get to us, stress us out, and make us wish we were “anywhere but here”. Know the feeling?!  The cool thing is that you can connect with your happy place anytime you want to.

Connecting with your happy place

When you’re in a less than happy frame of mind, channeling that joyful time can be just the medicine you need.  You probably have several happy places, I know I do.  The key is to focus in on one, close your eyes and think about it.  Conjure the feelings and senses of being there: the beach breeze blowing your hair, the softness of your pajamas, or the smell of lavender.  Hold the thought for several minutes, exploring your happy place in your mind.

I’m willing to bet you’ll return to “real life” feeling refreshed.

Be in your happy place regularly

As the Dalai Lama says, you have to create your happiness. So while its awesome to channel your happy place when you need to, you also have to actually go there in real life too!

Whatever it is that brings you joy – make the time and go do it!  Go bungee jumping.  Stop and pet the cat. Plan a sailing vacation or a Paris trip. Call in a Pajama Day!

 

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Cheers to Friday!

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Happy Friday!

There’s something about Fridays during the summer…they’re just a little sweeter. The weather is warm and sitting back with a nice cool cocktail is the perfect way to cap off the week!

Whip up a round of this delicious summer cocktail, add some Island music and great company, and head outdoors!

Watermelon Vodka Cooler

3 pounds watermelon, rind and seeds discarded and the flesh cut into pieces, plus thin slices of watermelon for garnish
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup Triple Sec
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

In a blender purée the watermelon pieces and strain the purée through a very fine sieve set over a pitcher, discarding the solids. (There should be about 2-1/3 cups juice). Stir in the vodka, the Triple Sec, and the lime juice, pour the cooler into long-stemmed glasses filled with ice cubes, and garnish each drink with a watermelon slice.

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Oh, and we have some really fun Happy Hour inspired pajamas that we think are just the cutest! We can’t help but share our picks!

The Cat’s Pajamas “Happy Hour”

Be As You Are “Martini Girl”

Be As You Are “Peace, Love & Happy Hour”

Photo Credit: sweetbeetandgreenbean via Compfightcc

Recipe Credit: Epicurious

How to Create a Cozy Bedroom Retreat

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

I like to think of my bedroom as a mini sanctuary. It’s the one place I can go to be cozy and at ease, and forget about the stress of the day.

Your bedroom should feel luxurious and comfortable, and be your very own haven to unwind and recharge.

Here are some things to consider in creating a bedroom retreat you’ll love to relax in:

Decorate with Intention

Be thoughtful about your space. Choose calming and soothing colors over bold bright ones. It’s okay to have some colorful accents, but going for over all neutral colors will create a much more peaceful atmosphere.

Decorate with artwork and other objects that you find inspiring. Add a scented candle. If you have wood or tile floors, consider putting a rug beside or under your bed as a soft place for your feet to land.

Cozy Bedding

Buy the best bedding and pillows that you can. Choose sheets and blankets that are super soft and will wash well. It’s always a good idea to have an extra blanket or two around, just in case you get chilled during the night. A nap blanket at the end of the bed is my personal must-have!

Ditch the Technology

Reserve your bedroom as the place to settle down and chill out. As tempting as it is to bring them along, leave the laptop, cell phone, and TV for the other rooms of the house. Instead, keep stacks of your favorite books and magazines to read while you wind down for the night. If you insist on having a TV, find a place for it where it can be tucked aside so that its not the centerpiece of the room.

Keep the Chaos at Bay

Are you the type of person who ends up with half of your closet strewn about your bedroom by the end of the week? Or maybe you have baskets of clean clothes that just sit there for days, waiting for someone to put them away.

If you’re not in the habit of putting things away regularly, make a promise to yourself to spend just five minutes picking up each day. It will go a long way in keeping your bedroom clutter-free and feeling like a peaceful and relaxing space you intended it to be.

Pajamas

A cozy bedroom calls for some equally cozy PJs, of course!  Having just the right pajamas, a soft robe, and some comfy slippers will add just the perfect finishing touch!

Relax…unwind…and enjoy…

What’s your secret to a cozy bedroom space?

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Pancake Saturdays

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Don’t you just love Saturday mornings? There’s nothing better than hanging out with family or friends on a Saturday morning and eating some delicious pancakes!  In your pajamas, of course!

When I was a kid I loved weekends when we would lounge around and my Mom would make pancakes and bacon on the griddle or my Dad would fire up his waffle iron.

Traditions like this are really fun.  They give you something to look forward to during the week and can help you feel more connected with your family.  Its a nice feeling to know that no matter how busy your week is, if nothing else, you’re all going to gather around the table on Saturday morning and have a meal together.

If you’re single or an empty-nester and don’t necessarily have family in the house, you can totally still enjoy Pancake Saturday with people that to you love.  Offer a standing invitation for friends, family, and neighbors to come over and join you for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Just tell them to stay in their pajamas, grab the mimosas, and head on over!

Here are some yummy pancake recipes to get you inspired to start your Saturday morning tradition!

We’ve shared it before, but here is a favorite Classic Buttermilk Pancake recipe again.

Red Velvet Pancakes with coconut syrup and blueberries.  Yum!

Oooooh, Pumpkin Pancakes.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Oreo Cookie Pancakes. Oh my!

Milk Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes

Blueberry-Flax Pancakes. Less guilt? Maybe.

Pancake Lasagna. This is on my must-try list!

So tell us, do you have any special traditions with family or friends?  Share with us in the comments below!

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Vintage Pajamas

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Have you ever wondered how pajamas came about?

According to Wikipedia, pajamas were first introduced back in the 17th century and were around for a brief time, and then went out of style. Around 1870 they were brought back into fashion by British colonials, and men began wearing them as sleeping attire.

From then on, pajamas stuck around and became the classic attire that they are today. Pajamas were worn for bed, lounging, daywear, and even at the beach. Pajamas come in a huge variety of styles today, and many vintage pajama styles were seen in old Hollywood movies from beautiful satin robes to classic two-piece pajama sets to silk nightgowns.

Here’s a look at some at the vintage old-Hollywood pajama style…

 

Sophia Loren in striped pajamas in the 1958 movie “The Key”.

 

Doris Day on the set of “The Pajama Game”. Image via

 

Ginger Rogers circa 1935 in a tailored pajama ensemble. Image via

 

Joan Crawford from 1929 in beautiful embroidered pajamas. Image via

 

Pretty flapper style pajamas. Image via

Check out our full collection of vintage pajamas through the ages on our Pinterest page!

6 Signs It’s Time for a Pajama Day

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by Becky Boyd, The Pajama Company Editor

Tomorrow is the start of a long holiday weekend for a lot of people! Yippee!

Time to have some fun and hopefully some relaxation too. But we know that sometimes holiday weekends can get away from us – booked up with family events, picnics, parties, etc. By the time you’re done running around, you wonder: what happened to my long weekend!?!

If you’re feeling overworked and exhausted, its the perfect time to consider taking an extra day off just to do nothing. We call it a Pajama Day. It can take a few days to un-plug and decompress, so tagging an extra day off onto a long weekend is a great idea.

Just in case you need a nudge to recognize when some down-time is called for, here are 6 tell-tale signs a Pajama Day needs to be in your immediate future!

1. Little things set you off.

You feel irritable and cranky. Little things annoy you that normally wouldn’t, a sure sign of anxiety. Time to get out of your head and into those PJs!

2. You feel really negative.

Its that niggly, critical voice in your head and its seems to have gotten louder lately! Its not saying very nice things and you can’t seem to shake it.  Your prescription? A little Pajama Perspective is in order, my friend!

3. Your productivity has taken a dive.

You feel like you’re spending more time staring at the computer screen than actually working. It’s taking you double the time to get something done than it normally would. The reality is that there’s only so much work you can do and creativity you can muster, before you just need a break.

3. You’re not sleeping well.

You’re exhausted, but you feel like you can never quite catch up on sleep. You toss and turn at night thinking about work projects and wake up feeling just as tired as when you went to bed. Yup, its time!

5. You’re not feeling well.

You’re starting to feel achy and your body’s just not right. Your shoulders are tense and your stomach may be tight. You might even feel a cold coming on. Chronic stress takes its toll on the body, and some rest is what you need.

6. You dread Sunday night.

Sunday evening rolls around and all you can think about is the fact that you’ve got to start the work week all over again.  Ugggggh. Yup, you’ve caught it…its the Sunday blues and its time to break the cycle…

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Why Its Good to Be Lazy

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“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along,

listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

-Winnie the Pooh

Have you noticed how much laziness really gets a bad rap?  As a culture, we place so much value on doing and striving and accomplishing, that resting or taking a break is looked down upon. But what about the proven benefits of slowing down?

As it turns out, laziness is not a bad thing at all and is something we all need to embrace.  Being a couch potato and allowing yourself to chill out is actually good for you!

Laziness helps you to renew your energy and motivation.

Its no secret we’re big fans of napping around here.  When you rest and sleep, you allow your brain time to rejuvenate.  You also enhance you memory function.  Letting your body rest gives you the chance to restore your energy, much like filling the gas tank of your car.

Being lazy sparks your creativity.

Lounging around allows our conscious mind to slow down, it calms our thoughts and helps to quiet the mental chatter.  Giving yourself time to daydream and veg out often actually sparks creativity.  This is because when you rest, it stops the process of over thinking – a loop that we often get caught in – which reduces our ability to come up with creative ideas.

Laziness leads to good heath.

Being stressed out is obviously bad for your health.  It takes its toll on your heart, among other things.  Resting gives your body time to repair wear and tear that’s happened during the day.  Even the oldest man in Britain gives credit to his laziness for helping him to live so long!

Laziness helps you avoid burnout.

We all have our limits and there’s only so much we can do until we need to rest or else risk burnout.  I always thought burnout just meant you got really tired.  But as I’ve experienced first hand, not only is burnout really bad because of the level of exhaustion that comes with it, but most times it also includes losing interest in what burned you out in the first place.  Yikes!  So even if you’re doing something you’re passionate about, its still important to step away.

We say, embrace your love for rest.  Not only is it good for you, but you deserve it too!

Happy weekend!  Here’s to spending it sleeping  in, hibernating, and relaxing…

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