You joined not only because you wanted to win, but because you wanted the best for your mom or (if you’re a mom), your kids. We appreciate all the contestants – moms and sons and daughters alike. Your examples as a loving family will always be the foundation of each and every community. To you, we give our sincerest thanks!

So without further ado, here are the winners of the Alagang Mommy, Alagang Uratex Contest:

1st place: Rizza Clarito-Antonio

Prize: Samsung Galaxy Note

2nd place: Mac Cube

Prize: iPad 16gb wifi

3rd Place: Michelle Talaboc

Prize: P 5,000 Plains & Prints worth of GC

Voters Raffle

These are the randomly chosen voters who are entitled to win either a Siesta Mattress or a Moulded Pillow:

1. Ahmed Ramdan
2. Mumun Kadarsih
3. Lot Cordero
4. Alina San
5. Riana Antilino
6. Subhi Ahmad
7. Emily Swan
8. Robin Jena
9. Fabricio Enc
10. Argie Gloria

To all the winners: Please email sean@uratexblog.com and send your contact details. Celnumber, landline and present address.

Special Thanks to Plains & Prints for Sponsoring our Alagang Mommy, Alagang Uratex Contest! Make sure to visit their Facebook Page and drop them a ‘thank you’ or two.

How to claim your Prize:

You can claim your prizes at Uratex Philippines

Address : KM. 23 East Service Road SSHW Bo. Cupang Muntinlupa City

The winners must personally go to the given address to formally award their prizes. You are required to present two valid ID’s.

We assume that the person appears to the entry pictures are the owners of the account and the winners of the said contest.

Prizes can be claimed any day from Monday to Friday 9 to 5pm. Proceed to marketing department. Please look for Marvey Alcantara or Melanie Castillo.

Again, to all winners, congratulations! And to all sons and daughters: make everyday mother’s day for your beloved moms!

We’ve all experienced back pain — whether caused by playing sports, sitting too long at work, or unknown causes, all of us can agree that back pains are certainly a pain! Back pains may be concentrated on a particular area such as the lower back, but may also radiate to other parts of your body like your shoulders and nape. Some back pains are dull, blunt aches, while others may make you feel like you’re being pierced. The most frequent cause of back pain is the inflammation of the muscles or joints, but it may also originate from our nerves, bones, or any other structure in our dorsal area.

Backaches make even the simplest of activities hard, and we can’t focus and function as well as we’d like to. The good news is that most back pains are not severe, and may be treated at home. The usual remedies include a back massage, stretching exercises, or the use of painkillers. Sometimes even your choice of bed mattress will help relieve and more importantly, prevent your back pains.

Uratex offers a wide variety of mattress styles from which you could choose one that suits your taste and needs. You could opt for innerspring, polyfoam, latex, or specialty mattresses, each of which has different characteristics—you just have to find out which one suits you perfectly.

If you’re looking for durability and sturdiness, or if your back needs immovable but comfortable support, innerspring mattresses are for you. The sturdy springs are more than enough to sustain your weight while giving you comfortable security. The only drawback of innerspring mattresses is that the metal springs are prone to wear and tear, and the mattress needs flipping over every once in a while in order to even out the distortions.

The great news is that Uratex has the Premium Touch Viscoluxe Memory Mattress. It combines the sturdy support of a pocket spring system with comfy, body-molding memory foam.

Uratex also offers durable, highly resilient and long-lasting latex foam mattresses . These mattresses offer rigid cushions, but aren’t as sturdy as innerspring mattresses. Their exteriors are made of latex, making them durable albeit soft. This is perfect if you want full support without sacrificing coziness. Uratex’s rubber mattresses have a general “bouncy” feeling.

Comfort Zone Latex Plus is made of highly resilient 5-zone latex foam. It's highly recommended for people who suffer from back pains, asthma and other allergies.

Polyfoam mattresses provide undeniable comfort and softness. Foam mattresses create an “enveloping” effect, wherein the material is so soft it practically follows the contours of your whole body. This mattress is the right one for you if you’re searching for unparalleled comfort and coziness. This is also perfect for some types of back pains, where the soft and fluffy material soothes and relaxes tight muscles. Uratex also offers a range of memory foam beds, which make use of materials that practically flow back to their original shape when you ease the pressure on it.

Nuovoluxe® Foam provides up to 25% more support than conventional foams so it helps in achieving proper spinal alignment.

Uratex also has mattresses specially designed for orthopedic use. These mattresses are made of specialty foam and are designed to help people with back pain problems. The Uratex Permahard Mattress is made of foam that is 20% harder than Uratex Foam. Permahard is what many doctors recommend for people with back problems.

The medical-grade Orthocare mattress has different firmness levels for different parts of the body - this helps ensure proper spine alignment and support.

Go check out the full range of Uratex mattresses to see which one suits your needs. Rest assured that these mattresses will help relieve your back pains and aches. Just remember to pair your Uratex mattress with a healthy lifestyle as well – that means having a balanced diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a proper posture, and using ergonomic desks and chairs at work/school. And if you are still experiencing extreme or chronic back pains in spite of this, it’s best to consult a professional health practitioner.

1.       Your body is not yet ready for sleep

Your body should be in the perfect condition for you to fall asleep. Here are some things you must consider:

• Sleep preparation – Don’t exercise and tire yourself before you lie on your bed. Also, don’t eat too much or splurge on a heavy dinner before going to bed. Most especially, don’t take caffeinated drinks that may keep you awake.
• Sleep environment – Set the right room temperature, choose a Comfortable Bed Mattress, pillows, blankets, lighting and sleeping position.

2.       You’re stressed

When you’re stressed with upsetting matters, your brain sends a message to the body to release hormones that heighten alertness and prepare it for action. So don’t agonize over these events. When your emotions are in rage, unburden by writing them down or talk to a trusted person to boil over. Unwind your tangled emotions before retreating to bed. You can’t fall asleep when you think too much (e.g. about finances, plans for the day or week ahead, work, etc.). Remember that sleep has its prerequisites; a sound mind is to a sound body.

3.       You don’t have a sleep schedule

Busy individuals keep such odd schedules that their bodies and brains often don’t slow down even when they’re supposed to. Having a consistent sleep time and schedule is important to remind your body when to doze off.

Invite yourself to sleep in a regular pattern. However, do not exaggerate and look at the clock every second it ticks. Doing so will only bring you more frustration and aggravate your problem in sleeping.

Also, our biological clocks reacts differently according to our body’s response to light. Studies show that sunlight and regular indoor lighting are interpreted by our bodies as active signals, while very little or no light at all means preparing to slow down and rest. To help your body’s rhythm to remain in a natural and undisturbed state, it’s advisable to incorporate lighting with time.

4.       You’re distracted by your gadgets

Make it a point to use your bed for just one reason: sleeping. Don’t watch television, listen to music, play with smartphone applications, work, or do anything in bed that requires moderate or deep thinking when you’re about to sleep. These activities stimulate the brain, hence affecting how quickly you will be able to fall asleep.

Moreover, nuisances from the news feed or TV programs may possibly serve as obstacles to your sleep process. Keep in mind that graphic and disturbing materials could spawn nightmares, and these could in turn impact the stages in your sleep. As such, you must really discipline yourself and teach your mind and body that going to bed means sleeping alone.

5.       Your medication keeps you awake

Sometimes the medicine you take may have side effects that hinder you from an easy slumber. Read the labels carefully and make sure that the medicine doesn’t have those side effects that may keep you from the sleep you rightfully deserve.

Conclusion

When sleeping problems persist despite your efforts to change your lifestyle as suggested above, get up and do something relaxing for a bit and try again. Do not teach your body to turn to sleeping pills which mask rather than solve the problem and can lead to addiction. If sleeping problems are recurring, maybe it’s time to consult a doctor. Do not suffer with sleeping problems in silence, else other problems like restlessness and irritability will crop up.

Good luck and sweet dreams!

Author Bio:

Treisha is a portrait of a modern-day party girl. Nights of dancing and socializing are not uncommon in Treisha’s life, but she claims to know and respect her limits. When responsibilities and opportunities align themselves, she knows how to prioritize them and keep them in order. Treisha works part-time as a blog manager and writer for Uratex Blog.

Why is it good for parents to tell their children fantasy sleeping tales?

Children should be loved, and given comfort and protection. These fantasy sleeping tales help comfort children and relieve their worry or fear. Ever wondered why these stories have such colorful characters? Even their names are adorably cute and at times, funny. Because their main goal is to give children a sense of adventure, fun and security. At the end of the night, the story’s characters live happily ever after. Story telling is also an intimate bonding moment between parents and children. Why don’t you take a few minutes to tuck your children into bed and read them a fantasy sleeping tale tonight?

Be reminded that sleeping tales are not limited to stories found in storybooks or fantasy movies. You can be creative and start making up your own fantasy story. You can use your children’s names as the name of the characters. Your children will surely look forward to listening to these fantasy sleeping tales.

Bear in mind that creativity is contagious! The most common effect of fantasy sleeping tales is that children want to sleep with their siblings to connect and share their own stories and imagine that they are the characters in these fantasy sleeping tales. They can even come up with their own version of the story and share it with their friends.

Other effects of fantasy sleeping tales include dreaming about the characters in the stories. For example, whenever you tell your children a story like Cinderella, they often dream about Cinderella, the handsome prince, and her kind fairy godmother. Another effect is that children will look forward to bed time — because they want to hear more about different fantasy sleeping tales. Stories also help sharpen their listening skills, memory and imagination.

By telling your children fantasy sleeping tales, they will certainly be able to sleep more easily and comfortably

These few minutes of story-telling every night are certainly priceless

Parents and guardians can also choose fantasy sleeping tales that will not only stimulate children’s imagination, but also teach them important morals. Moreover, telling children these fantasy sleeping stories regularly will help them develop proper sleeping habits, encouraging them to sleep at a regular time. When they go to sleep, they will surely have a smile on their faces. And knowing this, I’m sure you will go to sleep with a smile on your face as well.

Burning fat doesn't have to be extremely difficult. Read on for smart ways to lose weight.

For conversion purposes, always remember that 3500 calories is equal to 1 pound. Simply put -  if you eat food with this amount of calories, you will notice an increase in your weight by 1 pound. If you exercise burning 3500 calories then you’ll definitely lose 1 pound. Sounds easy right?

Because of this, a lot of people have now started calorie counting – limiting their food intake and watching the calories they burn in every gym session.  But I bet you didn’t know that sleeping can actually help you lose weight! Here are some smart tips to help achieve a sexy you:

How can you burn fat when asleep?

This is one of the most intriguing questions ever asked. But there is definitely truth behind it — just by sleeping, you can burn a lot and save more calories. The rationale is that when you are sleeping, you will definitely not be eating for a long time (approximately 8 hours or more, depending on your sleeping habit). Also, a study shows that people who have longer sleeping time lose more weight than the ones who are sleep-deprived. This is because sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on hormones that control appetite and the metabolism of fat. Moreover, when you are sleep-deprived, you have the tendency to overeat because you feel that your body needs the extra food to function with so little sleep. This is definitely  something that a lot of people need to watch out for, so start fixing your sleeping habits now!

Having healthy sleep habits may be the smartest way to help you lose weight.

Include more of these nutritious, "negative calorie" foods in your daily meals

Negative calorie foods

You may have heard that if you eat these foods, you are definitely burning calories. While this is true, technically, these foods still have positive calories. It’s just that your body will take more energy to burn them, so the net calories is definitely a negative value. For example, a celery stick has 7 calories, but you need approximately 35 calories to burn it, so the net value, -28, is the negative calorie that is being referred to by most people. Try snacking on celery sticks instead of your usual sweets and chips for a healthy, weight-loss alternative.

They may be yummy, but think about your tummy before you reach for that big bag of chips!

Stay away from salty foods more than sweets

Salty foods, of course, have salt. Salt tends to cling to the water molecules in our body, thus being referred to as water weight. This water weight physically refers to your tummy bulges, or the bulges on the sides of your hips and stomach. An eyesore to most people and to most girls who definitely want to wear a bikini right? So better control eating chips, salty viands and the like, and start buying the low sodium version of your favorite food.

Being physically fit isn’t only about being able to fit into that skimpy bikini – it is about being healthy and being confident in your own skin. Remember that your lifestyle while you are young – the food that you eat, your physical activities (or lack thereof), and your sleeping habits – will take their toll on your body when you age. So be smart in your lifestyle choices — find convenient and practical ways to lose weight. Getting enough rest and having a regular sleeping pattern will help you burn fat while you are asleep — and this is definitely a smart first step to being healthy.

This incident is associated with a disorder called Somnabulism, which is commonly known as Sleepwalking. Sleepwalking occurs when we are in our deep sleep (also known as slow-wave sleep) and during our non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. According to Antonio Olivero, a neurologist in Spain, this disorder happens when our physiological systems commands our muscles to move.  It can occur to anyone of us, but it’s been said that this disorder is most common amongst children from ages 5-12 commonly.

Sleepwalking can be hereditary. If your parents or twin has a history of sleepwalking, there’s a bigger possibility that you’ll be subject to it also. Sleep deprivation, stressful work, excessive alcohol consumption, taking drugs such as sedatives and stimulants, will make you more prone to sleepwalking. Another factor is your medical condition. One is susceptible to sleepwalking when they experience night convulsion, high fever, and the lack of magnesium. Lastly, physiological factors like psychiatric disorder, seizures, and the likes can also constitute to sleepwalking.

Actions done by a sleepwalker is not only limited to well, walking. Sometimes, a sleepwalked can end up driving, calling, doing chores etc. If not disturbed, sleepwalkers often go back to their comfy beds and peacefully return to their “normal sleep”.  When awakened, they won’t have any memory of things they did during their state of sleepwalking.

It is important to take precautions especially when we are around people who sleepwalk. Like most people, our family makes sure that before we sleep, our door is locked from the inside in order to secure my youngest sister. We also sleep near the door just in case her sleepwalking body tries to wander off the room. People surrounded by a sleepwalker should ensure that there are no wires that could trip the sleepwalker. Sharp objects should be hidden while stairs should be blocked off to prevent any serious injuries.

Although sleepwalking is naturally not harmful, one should consider seeking medical help if they engage in violent behaviors as they sleepwalk.

Air mattresses are made out of PVC vinyl plastics, rubbers, or textile-reinforced urethane plastic. This air-filled type of mattress is known for its convenient and adjustable features. That it can be easily be brought to out-of-town trips makes it especially favorable to frequent travelers. Air mattresses’ materials are free from toxic compounds that can cause allergies to a person. Airbeds are also popular because of its feature that allows its firmness to be adjusted, which in effect lessens pressure on the body. This, however, doesn’t stay long enough, for it sometimes require “air refills” depending on the body weight of the person sleeping on it.

Developed by NASA during the 1970s, memory foam mattresses (also known as viscoelastic foams) are made of synthetic foam. It was designed to spread pressure not only to a specific point but to a wider surface. Its open cells are designed to give comfort as it contours the shape of the person’s body, which spreads the weight over a wider area.  This type of mattress is a good choice amongst individuals who have back issues. It is also said to be more efficient in eliminating focused pressure points on the back of a person. However, as it takes the shape of the body, it traps the heat inside the mattress, which could cause discomfort to the person using it. Memory foam mattresses are expensive as compared to airbeds. This is due to the materials used in order to spell comfort and durability to the owner.

Of course, the burden of choosing the right mattress lies to the one who will sleep on it. Let us not forget that it is the comfort and need that should serve us, not the other way around. Choose wisely!

Bunk beds are usually made of wood while the rest are composed of steel. Checking the construction standards of the bed is recommended before buying one. Indeed bunk beds are great for small rooms that are being shared. Other types of bunk beds include a pull-out bed, a study table, and a sofa bed. However, there are potential dangers of having bunk beds at home, especially when you have kids around.

A lot of accidents that involve bunk beds have been reported in the past. Such accidents are mostly composed of unwanted falls which lead to injuries that are not limited to cuts, bruises, scrapes, and fractures. Because we want to omit these accidents from happening again, we need to know some preventive tips that would somehow lessen it.

Safety Tips:

• Anyone should not lean on the upper bunk even if there are guardrails installed. To maximize safety for the sleeper, make sure that the guardrails are high and securely placed.

• Kids should always be reminded not to play on the ladder.

• Choose quality mattresses that are fitted to the frame so that there will be no dummy spaces that could trip anyone who steps on it.

• Bunk beds are best if placed against the wall. Do not place it near the window; you would not want to worry about further types of accidents anymore. It will be safest if only one side of the bed will be used for getting in and out.

• Never position a bunk bed near or under a ceiling fan.

You can also put safety rubber edges to the corners of the bed to help prevent head and leg injuries in case anyone might overlook the bed’s corner while passing by.

By human nature, closing our eyes when asleep is an instinctive function of our body. Studies tell us that we need about 7.5 hours of closed-eye rest to repair any eye damage caused by sunlight, wind, ultraviolet waves, etc. The closed eye replenishes the liquid that it needs to stay smooth and fluid. Also, whenever we dream, there are eye movements that occur for the dream cycles.

However, some people sleep naturally with the eyelids of one or both eyes slightly apart. This leads to the medical condition called Nocturnal Lagophthalmos. People with this disorder have a form of facial paralysis in a sense that they are not able to close their eyelids during sleep. When awake, they are unable to perform full blinks. Thus, a part of the eye does not receive enough lubrication from tears.

Probable causes of Nocturnal Lagophthalmos include the following: genetic inheritance, Bell’s Palsy, thyroid dysfunction, scarring of the eyelid, bacterial eye infection, hypnotic drugs, damage of the facial nerves, alcohol intoxication, stroke and trauma. In most cases, this disorder is outgrown. But this doesn’t solve the fact that the eyes become exposed to the open atmosphere. Eventually, they begin to dry out significantly. This could result to pain, redness of the eyes, blurry vision and increased light sensitivity.

People who suffer from this condition are advised to regularly use eye drops for additional lubrication which would encourage an increase in the production of tears. Patients should consult a physician for diagnosis or possible surgical procedures that would correct the eyelids.

Bed frames, or bedsteads, are precisely made to hold and support bed mattresses. Its complete package is composed of a head, foot, and side railings. Just like our mattresses, bed frames comes in different shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Wooden frames and metal (steel) bed frames are the two types of bed frames.

Since those two species of frames have a mutual purpose, what then is the difference between the two? Which is better to have our money invested on?

Obviously, the materials used to compose the two different bed frames make it easy for us to distinguish the two. Their names pretty tells us everything we need to know. Durability wise, both depends on the type of wood or steel used. A superb kind will yield to a durable frame. When speaking in terms of style, steel frames can be more aesthetic as compared to wooden ones. The unique bending and coloring of such frames could catch the attention of the buyers.

However, as time passes by, the aesthetic feature of steel frames will wear off, so if you don’t want to recoat paints on your frames, go for the wooden ones. Also, if you’re into carved designs, wooden frames would obviously be the best choice. Steel bed frames are mostly designed to hold queen/king sized mattresses. So if room space is an issue, better luck would be needed to find small steel bed frames. Casters or wheels are attached to steel bed frames while normal wooden legs are connected to the wooden bed frames.  This is a bonus if you have a lot of things to store since wooden legs are typically constructed to be long and high, which would create a better space for storage.

So before buying a bed frame, you should know your own preferences. Factors such as style, size, and durability should be carefully considered before a final decision is made. Choose the bed frame that would last a lifetime!