If you are waking up with neck or back pain or having trouble staying asleep at night, your pillow might be to blame. Although a good mattress is necessary to support the whole body, a pillow is just as important because it makes sure that your neck and head are aligned correctly with your spine. When shopping for your next pillow, these are the factors you should consider so that you can find the pillow that will work best for you.

Sleeping Position

Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Remember that your pillow should support your head so that you spine is straight all the way through your neck, just like it is when you are standing up straight. If you sleep on your back, go for a pillow that is more firm but isn’t too high. Side sleepers need a pillow that wraps around the shape of their neck without pushing their head out of alignment. If you sleep on your stomach, you may not even need to use a pillow all the time, but if you want a little more support go with something very thin and soft to avoid lower back problems associated with stomach sleeping. Women in mid-late pregnancy should consider a full body pillow shaped like a C or U to increase support and aid in blood flow by helping them sleep comfortably on their side.

Material

Selecting the right material is mostly a matter of personal preference, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If you suffer from allergies, a synthetic material that is hypoallergenic might be a better option than a down feather pillow. Memory foam, polyester fibers, and latex are good options, and some pillows are made from natural buckwheat hulls that are also hypoallergenic. If you are prone to sweating while you sleep, a pillow that is very breathable such as down or polyester fibers might help you stay cool at night. Memory foam will perfectly mold to the shape of your head and neck as you move during the night, but it is a denser material that might overheat for some people.

If you aren’t sure whether you need a new pillow or not, you can check your pillow by folding it in half for 30 seconds. If it doesn’t return to its original shape when you let go, it is not giving your head the support it needs. In the end, remember that the best way to choose from all of the different pillow options is to feel them for yourself and decide which one you like best and which one will keep your head in line with your spine. That way you can sleep better and wake up ache-free!

The kitchen is a space that is used often and consistently. If it isn’t organized, it could be hard to make meals efficiently and you could be wasting your time. Luckily, there are many things you can do to improve the organization and efficiency of your kitchen.

First of all, keeping open, packaged foods in glass jars not only puts them on an aesthetically pleasing display, but also keeps them fresh for longer. Just use stickers to write important things like cook times and expiration dates on the inside of the lids.

Second, use a shelf and pegs to hang aprons and oven mitts on the wall. It’s decorative and it can clear up any essential drawer space.

Organize cabinets and drawers to make sense to you. For example, cups can be near the faucet, mugs near the coffee pot, plates and silverware are in the same general area. The kitchen shouldn’t be a maze; it should be a place where tasks can be completed easily.

Another thing you can do to make the kitchen more efficient is to place spices and ingredients in which you use them. Bring what you use the most to the bottom shelf in front and use high storage for things you don’t use quite so often.

You shouldn’t have to run around the kitchen to complete one task. If you are a coffee drinker, a cart can come in handy to keep the pot, filters, grounds and condiments all in one place. Putting some things on display is a good idea, but don’t overdo it. Too many things out in the open can create unwanted clutter.

It seems that kitchens can always use more storage. Use a hutch to store less frequently used dishes, liquor or cookbooks. Cookbooks are great to put on display as cooking inspiration.

If you are low on counter space, you can use a mobile cart and cutting board as a makeshift island that you can use for meal preparation. It can also double as extra storage for pots and pans.

Lastly, cleaning supplies like countertop cleaner, dish soap and extra trash bags should be stored under the sink. This is the best place for anything nonfood related. Keeping them out of the way will keep harsh chemicals all in one place, away from your food.

Choosing the right colors for your bedroom is important because different colors can actually have an effect on your mood and how you perceive the world around you. Since you want your bedroom to be a private oasis in which you can unwind and sleep, you should consider using a color palette that creates the right atmosphere.

One trick designers use to create a sense of calm in the bedroom is to start with a soft, muted lighting. Dimmable lamps throughout the room are better than one harsh overhead light, and you can add some personality as well by using paper lanterns or a string of lights above your vanity or bed.

When you start choosing colors, consider cool tones like blues, greens, greys, and other earth tones that will naturally put your mind at ease. These colors are all considered passive tones (as opposed to active tones like red and orange), and blue is said to even have the ability to help reduce your blood pressure and achieve a clam state. You can avoid creating a space that feels cold and uninviting by combining blues with warm greens and rich browns.

Another thing important to consider when decorating your bedroom is the use of electronics. Electronics can contribute to stress and should kept to a minimum when possible. Just like bright lights near bedtime, electronics stimulate the brain and make you more alert, which doesn’t help much when trying to get some shuteye. Also, plugging in your cell phone on the other side of the room will prevent you from spending hours scanning social media and checking emails instead of getting rest.

Finally, remove clutter to cut down on unnecessary distractions. The bedroom should be a sanctuary that makes you feel rejuvenated and prepared for the day’s challenges. Using the colors that make you feel most relaxed, keeping the electronics at bay, and clearing unnecessary objects from the room can help clear the mind so you can make the most of your time to sleep.

It’s that time of year again. The annual deep-cleansing of your home can be a daunting, but necessary, task. To keep the worries at bay, there are many things you can do to make it a less intimidating project.

First, it can be wise to make a checklist. Making a list of everything you’d like to accomplish will keep your brain from being scattered. It will also allow you to really focus on just one task at a time. Keep it realistic, of course. Completing small goals will make you feel like you are actually getting something done and being able to physically check things off of a list might give you the gratification you need to keep going.

Take a minute to go through your whole house and decide what you are actually going to be focusing on. Walk through your home room by room and just write down everything you see that could use some attention.

Spring cleaning should have a couple different steps involved. You should be deep cleaning things that don’t always get cleaned, but you should also be organizing and de-cluttering. Getting rid of unnecessary objects will add value to your home.

Oftentimes, places like air vents, behind appliances, the tops of ceiling fans and window blinds remain neglected or untouched throughout the year. Also, don’t forget to clean things like coffee pots, garbage disposals and the inside of the dishwasher.

Don’t rush. You don’t have a deadline. It’s better to accomplish things properly than quickly. But do remember how long it takes you to complete a chore so you can gauge how much time you need. Just think of it this way; if you do it right, you’ll likely not have to do it again for a while. But don’t be too lenient, give yourself a timeline to work with so you know when you are behind schedule.

If you aren’t sure what cleaning supplies to use, there are plenty of common household products that can do the trick. Hydrogen Peroxide can be used to clean windows, tubs and toilets. Vinegar is another product that can be great to clean windows, since it leaves minimal streaks. Vinegar can be used as a disinfectant and can be run through a coffee pot to get rid of any mold.

Although spring cleaning is a choice, it can be a great excuse to start fresh and de-clutter your home. After all, you’ll want your house to look as nice as your new furniture.

Think you have the ugliest TV? Is your TV is so old, it belongs on display in the Smithsonian? If so, our Ugly TV Contest is here, and you could win a new one from R&Q!

Here’s how to enter: Take a picture of you on your ugly TV and email it to facebook@randq.com. You’ve got until Sunday, March 24th  to submit your picture. We’ll post the photos on our Facebook page Monday, March 25th. You’ll have until Saturday, March 29th to vote for the ugliest one.

Win a brand new 50″ HDTV – First Place

Win a brand new 40″ HDTV – Second Place

If you’re not already a fan of R&Q on Facebook, “Like” our page so you can vote and help decide who deserves to win.

To Enter:

1.) Email a picture of yourself sitting on or standing by your ugly TV to facebook@randq.com.  You need to be in the picture with your TV in order for the entry to be valid.

2.) Entries will be accepted through Sunday, March, 23rd.

3.) The R&Q team will select the top 10 ugly TV’s.

4.) The top 10 TV’s will be placed on Facebook in a photo album for fans to vote on the ugliest TV on Monday, March 24th.

5.) Voting will be until Saturday, March 29th at 3:00pm.

To Vote:

1.) Go to our Facebook page

2.)If you are not already a fan, click the ‘Like’ button at the top of the page.

3.) Go to the photos tab and click on the Ugly TV Contest album

4.) Vote for your favorite ugly TV by clicking the ‘Like’ button under the photo

5.) Invite all your friends and family to our Facebook page to vote for their favorite

6.) The photo with the most likes at 3pm on Saturday, March 29th wins at 50″ HDTV.  And for the first time, the photo with the 2nd most likes wins a 40″ HDTV!

Good luck, and may the ugliest TVs win!

Think you have the ugliest recliner?  Our Ugly Recliner Contest is here, and you could win a new one from R&Q!

Here’s how to enter: Take a picture of you on your ugly recliner and email it to facebook@randq.com. You’ve got until January 24th to submit your picture. We’ll post the photos on our Facebook page January 27th. You’ll have until Monday, February 3rd  to vote for the ugliest one.

Win a brand new recliner!

The winner will receive a new recliner from La-Z-Boy. See our full selection of home furnishings here.

If you’re not already a fan of R&Q on Facebook, “Like” our page so you can vote and help decide who deserves to win.

To Enter:

1.) Email a picture of yourself sitting on or standing by your ugly recliner to facebook@randq.com.  You need to be in the picture with your recliner in order for the entry to be valid.

2.) Entries will be accepted through January 24th

3.) The R&Q team will select the top 10 ugly recliners

4.) The top 10 recliners will be placed on Facebook in a photo album for fans to vote on the ugliest recliner on January 27th

5.) Voting will be from January 27th – February 3rd at 3pm.

To Vote:

1.) Go to our Facebook page

2.)If you are not already a fan, click the ‘Like’ button at the top of the page.

3.) Go to the photos tab and click on the Ugly Recliner Contest album

4.) Vote for your favorite ugly recliner by clicking the ‘Like’ button under the photo

5.) Invite all your friends and family to our Facebook page to vote for their favorite

6.) The photo with the most likes at 3pm on February 3rd wins!

Good luck, and may the ugliest recliner win!

After four years and 209 Freebie Fridays prizes totaling $59,924 – we are bringing our Freebie Fridays program to a close.

Instead, we are going to focus on more frequent contests with larger prizes!

We truly appreciate all of our Facebook fans and look forward to your participating in our future contests – the first one of which will start later THIS WEEK!

For our FINAL Freebie Fridays giveaway, everyone is a winner!

Just print the $25 coupon above and bring it into the store. You can use it toward anything you like!

Thank you, and have a great day!

Stay Connected!

• Just log onto www.facebook.com/RubyandQuiri to stay up to date on R&Q news and to be entered in our contests!