Simmons Mattress Gallery

Regular season hockey is just over a month away and Vancouver sports fans couldn’t be any happier. It has been a dreadful summer for the 1-7 B.C. Lions, as Wally Buono continues to tinker with a team that just can’t seem to get it done.

Mike Gillis Addressing the Media

Across town, Mike Gillis is assembling his crack squad of sports professionals for another successful regular season run (we won’t talk about the playoffs).  Part of that mix includes a specialist, whose job it is to analyze the schedule and make important decisions regarding the team’s movement.

This specialist, whose name we cannot print, is known as the ‘sleep doctor.’

The sleep doctor is a Gillis addition to the player management team. His/Her job is to determine whether it is better for the players to leave a city the night of the game or fly out the morning after.

These decisions are made using data collected from previous games. The Canuck players are asked to wear ’sleep bands’ which monitor the wearer’s sleep patterns, the length of their rest and the quality. The science behind the monitoring is referred to as ‘actigraphy.’

Cross-referencing the individual player data helps the sleep doctor determine the team’s optimal resting time.

It is then the sleep doctor who decides what time the team boards the jet for the next game.

Simmons Mattress Gallery hasn’t been able to reach the mystery man or woman, but we are sure the boys’ sleep could only be improved with a restful night on a Simmons mattress.

Buono, if you are reading this, the same applies for the Lions.

Beatirce had to think fast on her feet. The Gatekeeper was demanding a reason why he should let her enter, even though the torrential rain seemed to be the obvious answer.

“I’m a princess,” she said coldly, mustering a stare that demanded attention.

Half an hour later, her ruse had her inside the gates and heading to the castle. The king had apparently set aside a special room for her to sleep in.

Once inside, she was lead to a tower and asked politely to climb a long staircase. After five minutes of climbing, she reached a stone platform with a single door. A servant swung it open and motioned her in. The room was well lit with candles and from their glow Beatrice could see that the only piece of furniture was a towering four-post bed.

The canopy of the bed was close to the ceiling and stacked, almost to the same height, was a huge pile of mattresses and feather beds.

Staring aghast, she counted twenty of each.

“This, your lady, will be your sleeping quarters.”

“You mean I am supposed to sleep on that? I don’t think so. How would I even get up there?”

“There’s a ladder my lady,” the servant explained, ” on the far side of the bed.”

“Is this any way to treat a princess,” she said, remembering her character.

“It is by the Queen’s orders,” replied the servant, shutting the door.

Beatrice stared back at the mattress stack and whispered under her breath, “Are they serious?”

Mattress Stack

Early the next morning there was a loud banging at the door. Beatrice climbed down from the mountain of beds and opened it, still half asleep.

As she did, a small crowd of royal dignitaries burst into the room, staring intently at her.

The Queen pushed to the front of the pack and addressed Beatrice: “So young lady, how was your sleep?” The others in the room leaned closer, as if Beatrice’s answer would change their lives forever.

“Not so great, now that you ask,” replied Beatrice.

A cheer erupted from the crowd at the back of the room, but was quickly hushed by the Queen. “And why would that be.”

Beatrice stared at the tower she had slept on and thought for moment. “Well, you may have stacked twenty mattresses and twenty feather beds on top of one another, but I don’t see a single Simmons in the bunch.”

If you are a dance enthusiast, who is staying in-town over the long weekend, you will not want to miss out on the annual Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival.

The festival runs from September 3rd to the 5th and features such talented international stars as Jason Samuels Smith, Dianne Walker and Harold Cromer.

Jason Samuels Smith

The Vancouver portion of the festival will open with a three hour Harbour Cruise on the Queen of Diamonds. The cruise will feature a tap jam and a buffet dinner. One lucky table will also be given the privilege of dining with a surprise ‘tap master.’

Saturday, the VITDF will host a collaborative performance by leading tap artists at the Norman Rothstein Theatre. Harold Cromer will showcase his talents along with Jeff Hyslop, who will perform a portion of his original presentation “On Tap.”

The festival will wrap up on Sunday with the Hot-Feet Showcase and Cutting Contest. The cutting contest will feature a battle of the feet, where young dancers will face-off and compete in front of a panel of judges. The final night will be hosted by Jason Samuels Smith.

There will also be a number of workshops held throughout the weekend for a variety of skill levels.

For more information and ticket info, check out the online brochure.

When mattresses stories surface, we are all ears, and this week we heard a doozie.

Our tale takes place in Edmonton, at the apartment of Timmy DeJordy.

DeJordy was sick of her old mattress and ordered a new one from a local mattress dealer. Being 69 years old, DeJordy arranged for the company to deliver her new mattress and kindly donate her old one to charity.

The movers arrived and went to work. They first removed DeJordy’s old twin and then setup the new bed. The process seemed to be painless and DeJordy felt the instant satisfaction of being a new mattress owner.

But things changed the next morning, when DeJordy’s cat, Precious, failed to show up for breakfast. Precious was a lover of the indoors and it was hard to believe she had fled the apartment. But there was no sign of her. DeJordy was crushed.

Later that day, while she was talking with her sister Gwen, DeJordy was reminded of the time Precious hid inside the boxspring. Instantly the thought occurred to her that maybe Precious was hiding in the mattress foundation when the movers came to take it away.

She called the distribution center immediately and told them the story.

The company sympathized with the woman and sent two supervisors to check on all the new donations. After a dozen mattresses they finally found the frightened feline.

In good health, Precious was returned to her owner the following Monday. The only visible symptom from the ordeal was an increase in shedding, due to the shock of being trapped for so long.

With her friend back at home, DeJordy could finally enjoy her purchase.

Always Check For Stowaways

As mattress professionals, we get asked a lot of random questions. Last week we posted some of the most bizarre examples of questions related to our specialty. This week, we would like to look at one question in a little more depth.

The question is this: “Can spicy foods affect my sleep potential?”

The answer: “Yes, both negatively and positively.”

Spices: Combatting Bland for Centuries

Spices are often added to foods that are high in protein and fat. These foods can be difficult for your body to digest, often requiring more than the standard four hours for full digestion. If you try and fall asleep to early after eating any large meal, your brain will focus on your body’s struggle to breakdown the food you have added to it, instead of calmly slipping into a state of restfulness.

Spicy foods can also irritate your upper esophagus, which can lead to pain and acid reflex. Falling asleep is hard enough as it is some nights, but add heartburn to the mix and you’re in for a few hours of staring painfully at the ceiling – wishing you hadn’t ordered that third round of suicide wings.

On the flip side, there are a few spices, like cinnamon, that aid digestion. These spices can reduce the time needed before bed.

There are also many other spices that lower blood sugar. And still others that contain essential antioxidants that our body needs to combat disease.

Spices that promote sleep directly are nutmeg, turmeric and the always tasty, garlic.

The best advice we can give you is, “know your own body.” If certain spices give you heartburn, try to avoid them, especially when you’re behind on your sleep. If you feel you need a natural aid to dose off before a big day, go heavy on the garlic.

Vancouverites Preparing To Sleep

On an average night in Greater Vancouver, how many people do you think are sleeping on uncomfortable mattresses?

With an estimated population of 2.1 million, Simmons Mattress Gallery would guess that about 10% of Vancouverites, that’s over 200,000 people, are not receiving the comfort they deserve from their bed. Seems like a large number to us.

But why? Is it apathy? Do they know their mattress is not up to par, but choose not to do anything about it?

Possibly.

Maybe they believe there aren’t any alternatives – that all mattresses are lumpy and sagging.

Friends, there are better mattresses out there. And you need to try them.

Simmons Mattress Gallery has a showroom full of mattresses that will make you wonder why you ever slept on anything else. From the top-of-the-line Beautyrest Black, to the economically priced DeepSleep, Simmons mattresses provide an unparalleled level of comfort.

If you are one of the 200,000 people sleeping on a less than adequate bed, make the short trip to the nearest Simmons Mattress Gallery to experience horizontal heaven. Don’t settle for mediocrity, when you can have the best in the business. Let the mattress professionals find the ideal bed for you.

As summer winds down and the days slowly become shorter, the family focus shifts from summer activities, to prepping for back-to-school. The kids maybe dreading it, but your countdown to Labour Day has probably already begun.

One important part of getting your children ready to start school is establishing formal sleep routines.

Back-To-School Sleep Patterns

Here are a few tips from Simmons Mattress Gallery:

1. Start putting the kids to bed at a set time each night. Try for 8:00. It will probably still be light out, but if you model the behaviour yourself, the kids will mimic your habits. Once they’ve fallen asleep, you can enjoy the last light of summer with a nice glass of wine on the patio.

2. Begin to limit television and video game use, at least before bed. Start a regular pattern of reading before bedtime. This will get them back into school mode and excited for new literature.

3. Remove distracting elements from their bedrooms. Slowly start moving their toys to another area of the house and away from their sleeping sanctuary.

4. Prepare dinner earlier so that their stomachs have more time to digest their food before the earlier bedtime. Also limit their junk food intake, especially the amount of pop and candy they are eating. It is suggested that children should not be given caffeine within six hours of their bedtime.

5. Establish weekday patterns. Let them stay up a few hours later on Friday and Saturday, but return to the scheduled bedtime on Sunday.

Good Luck and Goodnight!

At Simmons Mattress Gallery, we talk with conscientious consumers every day who are interested in finding the perfect mattress for their unique lifestyle. With the entire Simmons catalogue available to us, we are able to match every customer with a bed that will meet his or her comfort, quality and price expectations.

But there are those few moments when we are caught off guard by a random question.

This week we thought we would post a few questions that made us smile:

1. I love the mattress set and the price is in my range, but does it come in hot pink?

2. I rode my bike over. Do you have any rope I could use to tie my new mattress to my handlebars?

3. Can the ‘pocket’ coils be used for storage?

4. Does the Beautyrest line come with a complimentary makeover?

5. What if I sleep too soundly? Will I constantly be late for work?

6. My great dane sometimes likes to share my bed. Will the motion separation provided by your patented pocket coils ensure me an undisturbed sleep if he starts to move in the middle of the night?

(The answer is yes! The coils will ensure his movements do not disturb you. So long as he doesn’t kick you or lick your face.)

7. I’m building a trapeze set in the backyard. How many mattresses would it take to support a 10 foot fall?

8. What if my kids become jealous of my new bed?

(This is actually a common problem. The only solution: new mattresses for the entire family)

The Pacific National Exhibition is celebrating a 100 years of West Coast fun and entertainment. The party begins this Friday with the PNE parade at English Bay. The fair will officially open the following day, Saturday, August 21st. It will run for two weeks, concluding on the Labour Day holiday.

This year’s concert series includes Bryan Adams, Spirit of the West, Cyndi Lauper, Trooper, Little River Band and a can’t miss performance by the punk priestess herself, Joan Jett. Admission to the evening’s musical performances is free with your PNE day ticket.

The classics will be back as well, including the 4-H agricultural festival, the West Coast Lumberjack Show and of course, the Superdogs!

Nightly fireworks will be supplied by KABOOM!: A Pyro Musical Spectacular. The music selected for the ariel bombardment includes a wide spectrum of artists from the last century. The sky will be set ablaze each night at 10:15.

The PNE gate pass will be sold for $20.00 on site or $16.80 online. For a combination Fair/Playland Ride Pass, the price is $42.75.

For more information check out the PNE website: http://www.pne.ca/index.html.

Stay For the Nightly Concerts

The Perseid Meteor Shower

While normally Simmons Mattress Gallery is keenly interested in securing the rest you deserve, this Wednesday and Thursday Simmons would like to suggest leaving the sanctuary of your Beautyrest to enjoy the celestial offerings being displayed in the night sky.

The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is at its peak on August 12th and 13th. There will be approximately 80 visible meteors (shooting stars) per hour. The show will begin after sunset and will continue to dawn. Luckily, Environment Canada is predicting clear skies on both nights.

The best viewing spots will be away from the light pollution given off by the city. For astronomy enthusiast, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be holding a function in the Aldergrove Bowl. Tickets are a mere $2, with the event running from 8pm to 6am.

There are no plans for a gathering at the Planetarium, due to the previously mentioned problem of viewing the night sky from within the city limits.

The meteors themselves are a by product of the passing comet Swift-Tuttle.

The annual meteor shower has been given the name Perseid because of the visible concentration of shooting stars around the northern hemisphere constellation Perseus.

If you are living an ample distance from the bright lights of the big city, you may want to lay a tarp down in your backyard and place your mattress on top. This way you can fall asleep to the heavens falling down around you.*

*Great idea for a romantic date.

Here’s a little test for you. Simmons Mattress Gallery would like you to tell a friend everything you know about yawning for one minute. If you’re lacking a friend, try and think of three times you were caught yawning in public.

We’ll wait……….

Woman Yawning

Now how many times did you yawn talking to your friend or thinking about your experiences? We bet it was at least once. Did your friend yawn as well? Probably. But why?

The answer lies in our ability to empathize with others. When we talk about yawning or see another person yawning our brain triggers our body to act out the action. This helps us connect and identify with others, an evolutionary survival skill that we perform subconsciously. Individuals who have trouble empathizing with others, like those suffering from autism or schizophrenia, are much less likely to be affected by the contagious yawn.

There is also a common myth that yawning is the bodies attempt to take in more oxygen. This has been proven completely false; mainly on the basis that entirely different body processes control yawning and breathing.

Some scientists believe the yawning phenomenon has to do with regulating our brains body temperature. When we are fatigued our brain’s temperature spikes. When we yawn, our heart rate speeds up, increasing blood flow, which cools our brain.

But is this theory the definitive answer? No. The simple truth is we still haven’t figured out the exact reason why we yawn. All we really know is it feels good, it usually occurs when we’re tired and if we see someone else doing it, chances are we’re going to perform the same act ourselves.

Consumers choose to purchase mattresses from Simmons Mattress Gallery for three major reasons: the comfort a Simmons can provide, the unparalleled motion separation offered by our unique pocket coil design and the professional help Simmons Mattress Gallery staff deliver to their customers.

This week we would like to look at these three features in a little more detail.

1. The Comfort Factor

-Many mattress makers promise a comfortable night’s sleep, but very few can provide the sustained level of comfort that a Simmons offers night after night. A Simmons mattress is essentially comprised of three layers. There is the foundation layer, which is specific to each mattress, the support layer, which cushions the weight of your body and the comfort layer, the top layer that provides you with a surface on which to spread your body. The Simmons comfort layer is made of plush fabrics that yield a soft but strong immediate sleeping surface. The option for visco memory foam adds another dimension of comfort to an already perfect design.

2. Motion Separation

-Each Simmons mattress is made with 800 individual pocket coils to provide the least amount of motion transfer between you and your partner. If you made the poor choice of having three day-old chinese food less than half-an-hour before bed, your partner won’t have to feel the effects of your indigestion as you toss and turn.

3. Professional Advice

-Simmons Mattress Gallery staff are trained to provide the absolute best customer service possible. Their knowledge of the Simmons brand helps them recommend beds that are perfectly suited to the comfort and support levels you describe. In a non-rushed atmosphere they will happily explain the benefits of every mattress in the showroom. Take advantage of their expertise; come with questions and leave with answers.

Visit one of our two Simmons Mattress Gallery locations in either Coquitlam or Vancouver.

Man viewed Woman

When: July 31st

Where: The Number 22 Bus heading into Downtown

You got on at MacDonald and Broadway, heading for the fireworks. You were with your friends, I think one was named Olive. You wore a purple dress with white embroidery. I sat across from you pretending to listen to my iPod. You look tired, well beyond tired. Your friend was talking about her trip to India. I was listening, but you seemed to be having trouble. I saw your head bob more than once as you fought back sleep. It was only 7:30, but for you it looked like 3:00 in the morning. Your friends continued to talk with each other and you continued to bob. Then you looked up and saw me watching you and smiled…

I wanted to say something witty, to comment on your shoes, or make a joke about narcolepsy. But my tongue was tied, pasted to my mouth with the ease of your smile.

You were beautiful, but I could see the bags under your eyes and a secret behind your pupils.

“Why were you so tired? What had you been doing the night before? Why hadn’t you slept?” These were all questions that raced through my head until your friends dragged you off the bus, just after Pacific.

It’s been four days, but I can’t get you off my mind. You haunt my thoughts.

If I could rewind time, use the playback option on my PVR, I would offer one comment. One simple sentence. One piece of advice from a man across the aisle:

“You owe it to yourself to buy a new mattress, preferably a Simmons.” With that simple phrase I would stand up and move to the doors.

You would stand to thank me, but this time you would be speechless. All you would be able to do is smile. A thank you, with the lifted corners of your mouth. That’s all I would need. Content I would exit at the next stop, looking back only once to meet your tired eyes through the window. My gaze: A simple, you’re welcome.

Just before dozing off on your Simmons, you may have noticed an odd sight on the skyline, these last couple of nights. A giant orange-red ball has replaced the sinking sun in the westward sky.

Red Sky at Night

No, smog levels have not risen to apocalyptic proportions. And no, it’s not a harvest moon (wrong side of the horizon).

The reason for the burning ball: the forest fires in B.C. are sending so much ash into the atmosphere that they are affecting the way we view the fading sun.

There are now over 400 active forest fires blazing in our province.

This may be a staggering number, but in reality, the figure is close to par for this time of the year.

What is concerning is the rate at which these fires have sprung up. The average number of new fires per day is currently about 55.

Fire crews are working around the clock to contain the blazes, but with so many fresh burns, its a wonder the whole province isn’t a sea of flames.

And while Lower Mainland residents may not see the fires firsthand, we are experiencing the effects.

The sun’s peculiar disguise is a sign that air quality has deteriorated to a dangerous level. Metro Vancouver posted an advisory warning residents to avoid strenuous activity and to limit outdoor exposure for infants and the elderly.

Showers could come as early as Saturday, but till then, enjoy the new occupant of the evening sky and remember to take care of your lungs. If you’re feeling any new discomfort you should definitely contact your doctor immediately.

Looking for a late night read? Something light, but not drivel, engrossing, but not a Stieg Larson page-turner? What about a light read on a topic many North Americans suffer from; A condition that has created a $24-billion dollar industry. The condition: insomnia. The book: Wide Awake: A Memoir of Insomnia. The author: Patricia Morrisroe.

A Review of the Remedies Offered To Those Suffering From Insomnia

Morrisroe is one of the many who lie awake at night praying for a miracle cure. A pill, or treatment, or piece of furniture that would offer a guaranteed eight hours of doctor recommended sleep.

Morrisroe’s book is her own personal quest to conquer her condition.

As part of her research, Morrisroe attempted to try a number of different proposed insomnia remedies. She travelled to Sweden to stay at the Ice Hotel and talked with the Sami people about their coping mechanisms for the midnight sun. She went on a variety of prescription drugs, including Doxepin, Ambien and Lunesta. She was hypnotized, attended brain music therapy and was told by one doctor that she needed braces to correct her small jaw, which would somehow fix her insomnia.

She also purchased a deluxe mattress, which, she did claim made a difference, something we at Simmons Mattress Gallery have always known.

But in the end, it was a spiritual, meditative release that affected her sleep the most. We won’t give you the details. You’ll have to read the book.

-Feel free to message us with your review.

“We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. “

-Mr. Miyagi

The Karate Kid

For all those children of the 80s who were brought up on adventure classics like the Goonies and Star Wars, rejoice. FreshAirCinema is bringing classic popcorn films back to the big screen; well, back to a big blow up screen.

FreshAirCinema is hosting free outdoor movie nights around the province for the next month and a half. Locations and times can be found on the company’s Facebook page titled: Free Outdoor Movie Events in BC.

This week’s can’t-miss-feature is the ‘original’ Karate Kid, starring a young Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Pat Morita as the zen master, Mr. Miyagi. The movie will be screened at Ceperley Field, the large grassy area just behind Second Beach, in Stanley Park. The start time will be 9:30.

Last year’s performance of The Princess Bride brought out huge crowds to the same setting. So get there early, bring a blanket and spread out.

Other outdoor free shows around the Lower Mainland this summer are:

August 7th: Wizard of Oz at Holland Park in Surrey (9:00)

August 8th: Back to the Future at David Lam Park in Yaletown (9:00)

August 9th: The Never Ending Story at McSpadden Park in East Van

August 13th: E.T. at Harbour Green Park in Coal Harbour

In the twenty-first century, brand recognition is often seen as a negative stigma for a company’s marketing dominance.

This line of thinking was made popular with Naomi Klein’s book, No Logo. No Logo examined the globalization trends of mass produced consumer goods.

Since its publication, periodicals like AdBusters have focused multiple articles on the negative aspects of branding.

But while many of the ideas about the effects of branding and globalization are absolutely true, branding does serve a purpose.

The first branded items were produced with a similar symbol to inform consumers of the origins of the product. If a consumer purchased an item and was happy with the results, they could buy the same item again from the same producer if they remembered the brand symbol.

An early branded item still visible today, are the bricks used to build St. Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican. The church trusted the producer and only purchased bricks with the Antiche Fornaci Giorgi sign on them.

Branding today serves the same purpose. Companies build up a reputation for a product and then consumers grow to depend on the standard that company is known for.

Simmons: A Brand You Can Count On

Simmons mattresses are part of an excellence standard that comes from producing quality mattresses for over 120 years. Our designs continue to improve, our prices stay competitive and customers receive the rest they need.

When you see the Simmons brand on a mattress, you know your buying a quality product.

Visit one of the two Simmons Mattress Gallery showrooms in the Lower Mainland to experience the exceptional comfort levels offered by the Simmons brand.

Vancouver Pride Parade

All the colours of the rainbow will be on display this week as the Pride Festival in Vancouver kicks off its 32nd annual celebration of sexual freedom.

The rainbow flag is already flying high at Vancouver City Hall. Local businesses around town are also showing their support by displaying their own rainbows as a symbol of inclusiveness for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

The parade itself will take place on August 1st, in Downtown Vancouver. The parade will start at Bute and Robson. It will head west to Denman, then South to English Bay, continuing East along Beach Avenue and finally ending at Bute and Pacific.

The festivities will continue all through the week with a beer garden at English Bay, a street party on Davie and a youth dance.

After all that colourful fun you will need a comfortable mattress to collapse on.

No matter what your sexual orientation, Simmons Mattress Gallery has the mattress for you.

Come visit our showroom and let us help you find the perfect bed.

For more information on the Pride Festival visit: vancouverpride.ca.

This week, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to thank all the faithful mattress lovers out there in cyberspace who have been enjoying our weekly blog. This is our 116th entry. We have tried to keep our articles fresh and current, while still emphasizing the need for a comfortable sleep. The focus has been on our products, sleeping issues and fun activities to get involved in around the Lower Mainland. Our readership has grown and our blog has even attracted the attention of local sports star Brent Seabrook.

Seabrook plays for the Chicago Blackhawks and is one of the major factors behind Vancouver’s early exit from the playoffs. So even though we hate him for his shutdown performance against the Canucks, we love the fact he reads our blogs and was inspired to come buy a mattress.

Seabrook Celebrates Goal With Teammate Versteeg

Here is a list of some of our most popular articles:

1. Creepy Crawlies Invade the West End.

-This article talks about the terrible bed bug epidemic affecting Vancouver’s West End residents. It offers preventive measures and coping techniques.

2. Mattress Disposal

-Getting rid of your old mattress once you have purchased a new one is always difficult. This article offers four easy ways to dispose of your old bed.

3. Johnny Depp’s Pajamas

-This is a celebrity siting article about our favourite swashbuckling pirate, Johnny Depp.

4. A Lesson in Mattress Shopping

-A lot of our customers are looking to buy a new mattress, but don’t know how to begin the process. This simple article lists six easy steps to start you on the road to comfort.

5. WordPress Crashes On Mattress

-This article created quite a stir when it was posted for April Fools Day.

6. Idzikowski’s Six Personality Sleep Positions

-Your personality may be linked to the way you sleep. This article examines six different sleeping positions and the personality that they are connected with.

7. The Sweet Sounds of “Mattress Music”

-This was Inspired by Marques Houston’s album entitled “Mattress Music.”

8. Rain City Gallery

-Although you wouldn’t think it these days, we do get a fair number of rainy days here in Vancouver. This article provides a number of gallery locations to spend your time during the wet months. The top gallery on the list: Simmons Mattress Gallery.

9. Mattress Guilt

-Sexsomnia is a serious condition where afflicted individuals engage in sexual acts while they sleep.

10. From the Moon to Your Room

-The history of memory foam. It was actually a product invented by NASA to add a shock layer on the seats of the shuttle. Who knew that the comfort of an astronaut’s posterior would change the mattress world forever.

So for all those reading our weekly blogs, thank you. And for those just joining us, welcome. We promise to continue to provide you with entertaining and educational articles. Thanks for reading.

Your Persistent Blogger,

Simmons Mattress Gallery

Sleep Apnea is One of the Most Common Sleep Disorders

Are you consistently waking up in the morning feeling unrested? Do you suffer from unwarranted fatigue issues during the course of the day? Do you wake up more than five times a night?

If you have answered yes to all three of these questions you may be suffering from the chronic sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a disorder where the patient has short pauses in their breath during periods of sleep.

These pauses in breath cause oxygen levels to drop and slow blood circulation. Sufferers usually return to a normal breathing pattern after a loud snort or choking sound.

Because of this interruption, patients move from a deep sleep into a lighter sleep. During this light sleep they can be easily awakened. This decreases the quality of sleep received.

While the daily symptom of fatigue may not be overly troubling, chronic sleep apnea can cause serious problems such as brain injury, premature aging, a narrowed airway and reduced muscle tone.

People suffering from weight problems may be more likely to be affected by sleep apnea.

Simple solutions to minor sleep apnea include changing your sleeping position, using nasal strips and for those of you willing, singing therapy.

There is also a device known as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP, which acts as a splint to open the patient’s airway during sleep. This device includes a facial mask and an electric bedside breathing machine.

More drastic measures include nasal or throat surgery.

If you believe you may be suffering from this disorder, you should contact your family doctor.

“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air

Gave proof thro’ the night” that Van City was still there

The Celebration of Light, formerly the Symphony of Fire, returns to Vancouver tonight for four nights of spectacular ariel visuals.

This year there will be four countries competing: United States, Spain, Mexico and China.

The United States will open the fireworks festival tonight with a tribute to the Big Band Era. The theme of their routine, put together by the Rozzi’s Famous Firework team, is ‘In the Mood.’

The shows will then run every Wednesday and Saturday till July 31st, when China will close out the festival.

The countries will be competing against each other under the categories of geneal concept, colour, originality, quality of production and correlation of music.

Last years festival was not judged, but the 2008 winner was Canada’s Archangel Fireworks Inc., with their theme of ‘Attack.’

This year the fireworks will be shot from two separate barges setup in English Bay.

Here is a list of some of the top viewing spots:

English Bay Beach

-You can hear the music from the loudspeakers, the waterfalls from the barge are all visible and the ariel explosions are directly overhead.

Burrard Bridge

-Spots fill up fast and you have to stand the whole time, but the bridge is an awesome elevated location.

From a boat in English Bay

-If you or a friend is lucky enough to have a boat, find a spot in the bay and enjoy the show from the water. If there is any extra room on your vessel make sure to call us.

(Safety note: Make sure your boat is equipped with a spotlight to find your way back through the maze of other ships once the show has wrapped)

Vanier Park

-Not as close as English Bay, but the crowds are more bearable and the sight lines are excellent.

(Musical note: If you are watching the fireworks from a distance, make sure to bring aportable radio and tune into Shore 104fm to listen to the corresponding music.)

Celebration of Light

If you have any opinions about the performances, feel free to share them with us as comments on our blog.

Enjoy!

With the hot days of summer finally here, Simmons Mattress Gallery has put together a list of the top three outdoor pools in Vancouver. So pick your favourite and make some time to cool off.

1. Kitsilano Pool

-Kits Pool, as it is referred to by the locals, is located adjacent to Kits Beach on the West Side. It is Vancouver’s only heated saltwater pool and is the longest outdoor pool in Canada. With a breathtaking view of the mountains in the background, Kits Pool is also one of the most scenic settings to take a dip. It has lanes for length swimming and a shallow area for the kids. Adult entry is $5.15 and children below 12 are $2.60 each. After a swim, you may want to take in a free performance at the Kitsilano Showboat, located directly behind the pool.

2. Second Beach Pool

-Once a cold salt water pool, Second Beach is now a heated fresh water pool on the southeast corner of Stanley Park. It is 5 feet deep at its maximum. There are lanes for swimming, but they are not nearly as long as the lanes at Kits. This pool is mostly for families and those looking to splash around on a hot summer day. There is also a great concession stand located just behind the pool that serves sinfully greasy fish and chips. (Always remember to wait half an hour after eating before returning to the water to avoid cramps)

3. Maple Grove Park Pool

-Located in Kerrisdale, on Vancouver’s West Side, Maple Grove Pool is strictly for families with small children. It is essentially a wading pool, but after a well needed renovation a few years back, Maple Grove Pool is one of the most stylish pools in the city. After your done playing in the water, take the kids to the park for some bocce ball or hit the giant swings for some high flying fun in the sun.

Maple Grove Park Swimming Pool

A new study is being put forward by the University of British Columbia to gather data on the patterns and solutions of living with a sleepless infant. The intent of the study is to help parents cope with babies who have trouble sleeping through the night.

Offering Canadians tips for keeping their youngsters asleep, can improve the sleep patterns of the entire family. This can eliminate large amounts of stress that accumulate when family members are unable to acquire eight hours of uninterrupted rest.

240 families are being recruited for the 2 1/2 year program titled, ‘Rocky Sleep Study.’

The lead researcher is Wendy Hall, a nursing professor at UBC. Hall has studied similar programs in Australia that attempted to educate parents on the 24-hour cycle of baby care. She also did a pilot study in 2004 with 40 families in Vancouver.

With her new plan, Hall will be able to accumulate much more data for finding similarities in the successful patterns of parents who are able to deal with restless infants.

Simmons Mattress Gallery is always in favour of improving sleep patterns. We wish Wendy all the best in her efforts.

For more information on this study visit their website:

http://www.rockysleepstudy.com/index.html

If you are interested in participating, open the involvement page to read up on what the study demands of each family.

Commercial Drive? The Clutch Theatre? The Foundation? Trout Lake? Strathcona Park? The Main Street Hipsters? Vancouver Specials?

What do you think embodies East Vancouver?

Is it the people who live between Main and Boundary and the Fraser and Burrard Inlet? Is it the hippie gardens and the multi suite character homes? Is it simply a feeling or a colour?

Now is your chance to share it with the world.

This is East Van: A Community Photography Project, is looking for submissions for any photographic work that highlights what it means to live in East Vancouver.

The photographs that are chosen will be published in a book. The publishers are hoping to showcase a broad scope of what life is like in East Vancouver right NOW!

Contributors will not be paid for their submissions, but they will be credited and each photo that is chosen will receive a full page spread. There will also be the option for up and coming photographers to include their contact information at the back index.

So pull out your old SLR or charge up your digital equivalent and hit the streets.

All entries can be sent to: submissions@thisiseastvan.com.

The deadline for submissions is August 15^th.

No Words Needed

Orange is the colour of summer 2010; it denotes the Netherlands bold advancement towards the World Cup Final.

The colour, with no rhyming equal, represents the Dutch Royal Family and not the national flag, which is red, white and blue.

You see it everywhere on the streets of Vancouver, as everyone under the west coast sun, who has even the slightest percent of Dutch heritage, is expressing their pride in Holland’s soccer achievement.

To celebrate the Netherlands’ accomplishment, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to discuss another proud product of Holland, the Dutch oven.

Literally speaking, a Dutch oven is a cast iron pot with a thick lid.  It can be placed on or over coals to produce a casserole-like effect for cooking. Modern Dutch ovens are also designed to be used in conventional ovens and on stovetops.

While there may be a plethora of varieties, the main feature that is unique to this type of cookware is the pot’s ability to trap the moisture of the food inside. In doing so, it also contains and traps the smell of the items.

This is where the urban definition for the term ‘giving a Dutch oven,’ arises from.

In slang, the expression, ‘performing a Dutch oven,’ refers to a rather vile act where a pocket of flatulence is created and shared with a partner.

Specifically, it is when an individual passes wind underneath the sheets and then pulls the bedding over another person who is sharing the same bed. The recipient is trapped in a virtual chamber of gas.

While not recommended for some couples, performing this practice correctly can lead to more laughs than Mike Myers’ Dutch villain, Goldmember.

You may want to test out your partner’s comfort level with your own gas before performing this feat.

If you are successful and both you and your partner are able to share a laugh, give a quick thank you to Holland for their inspiring cookware design.

The Dutch Oven: A Cast Iron Miracle

This just in from Simmons Mattress Gallery: Teenagers need more sleep.

Not really newsworthy? Well a study being published this month in” Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine,” has found that delaying the start of the school day by as little as half an hour can increase motivation and decrease depression in teens.

The study was conducted at St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island. 201 students were surveyed when the school made the bold decision to push back their start time by thirty minutes.

The lost time was not added to the end of the day, but skimmed off of classroom time and assembly functions.

Both students and teachers were skeptical at first, but the survey found that 55 per cent of the students were able to secure eight hours of sleep or more. This was up from just 16 per cent before the delayed start day.

Another interesting finding, was that the number of students who felt depressed decreased by nearly 20 per cent.

But wouldn’t students be better off going to bed half an hour earlier?

Dr. Judith Owens, one of the specialists involved in the survey, claims that children fall asleep naturally later and later as they grow older.

Starting school later counteracts this natural phenomenon and helps adolescents move towards the optimal time of nine hours of sleep a night.

St. George’s has now made the late start time a permanent fixture.

Former Champ: Takeru Kobayashi

This weeks, ‘wow-that-can’t-be-real’ story, comes from Coney Island, where on the Fourth of July, the world of Major League Eating was shocked by scandal.

Takeru ‘Tsunami’ Kobayashi, a previous champion and star of the competitive eating circuit, stormed the stage of Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest to protest his exclusion from the event.

Kobayashi had been barred from the competition after refusing to sign an exclusive contract that would forbid him from entering competing eating events.

Wearing a t-shirt that read ‘Free Kobi,’ the Japanese star was taken down by security and local police, as fans chanted,”Let him eat! Let him eat!”

He was later charged with trespassing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

After the ruckus, the event did continue and Joey “Jaws” Chestnut went on to win his fourth consecutive title.

Kobayashi spent one night in jail and was released on Monday.

When asked about his actions by reporters, Kobayashi gave the simple remark: “I wanted to eat hot dogs.”

He also admitted to being really hungry.

The lesson in this tale: Don’t stand in the way of a man and his pork links. Especially if he’s really hungry.

With Canada Day just a day away, Simmons Mattress Gallery thought it would be fun to put together a small quiz to test your knowledge of the land and country you hold so dear. So without further ado, here are the questions:

1. What native artist designed the sculptures on the $20 dollar bill?
2. What is the highest mountain in Canada?
3. What is the capital city of Nunavut?
4. What year was “O Canada” proclaimed as Canada’s national anthem?
5. Who was the first team to win the Stanley Cup?
6. How many yards is a CFL field?
7. How many time zones are there in Canada?
8. Which province in Canada is officially declared bilingual?
9. Who was the longest serving Canadian Prime Minister?
10. What is the longest river in Canada?
11. Who is the author of Anne of Green Gables
12. What was Fredrick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod credited for creating?
13. What organization has the motto “maintien le droit” (uphold the right)?
14. What is the name of the schooner on the ten-cent coin?
15. What sport did James Naismith invent?

Answers

1. Bill Reid
2. Mount Logan
3. Iqaluit
4. 1980
5. Montreal Hockey Club
6. 110 yards
7. Six time zones
8. New Brunswick
9. Mackenzie King
10. Mackenzie River (coincidence???)
11. Lucy Maud Montgomery
12. Creating insulin
13. RCMP
14. Bluenose
15. Basketball

“All we are saying is give peace a chance.”

With all the violence that took place this past weekend at the G20 summit, it’s a shame more demonstrations don’t go the way of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 bed-in. Held in the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel and again at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, the bed-in demonstrations brought attention to the anti-war movement that was growing around the world for America’s involvement in Vietnam.

The issues may have changed over the years, but non-violent protests still hold weight. Done in the right manner, they can garnish the same amount of attention as an angry mob, without incurring violence, damaging public property, or interfering with the daily lives of average citizens.

And with the mattress innovations at Simmons, the whole experience can take place on a pocket coil cloud of comfort with no chance of tear gas, attack dogs or water cannons.

To size up the setting for your next demonstration, swing by one of the Simmons Mattress Gallery locations near you.

No one wants to be locked in a temporary holding cell for protesting. Create your own environment for change and invite the world to your bed.

Completing the Grouse Grind is a Vancouver merit badge that is mandatory for every active citizen living in our beautiful city.

It is 3 kms of hard, stair climbing cardio that rewards every finisher with a spectacular view of the city.

For some, the Grind is an annual tradition, for others, a weekly activity and still others do the Grind almost daily (during the months it’s open).

The last two groups are more likely to be registered for the timer program, an electronic database that keeps track of your performance and posts it on screens in the gondola chalet at the top of Grouse. These are the keeners who look to improve their performance on every outing.

Then there are the fanatics.

Sebastian Albrecht belongs to this group.

On Monday, Albrecht accomplished a feat that no other grinder has ever managed to do; he climbed the Grind 14 times in one day!

He began at 6:30 in the morning and finished his last trek up at 11:12 at night.

Albrecht and another climber, Vicki Mann, shared the previous record, of 13 assents in one day.

Albrecht was raising money and awareness for the charity, The Royal Le Page Shelter Foundation.

After the climb, Albrecht admitted to being “pretty exhausted. I mean, it just takes every ounce of mental and physical strength that you have, so I’m in need of recovery.”

Simmons Mattress Gallery hopes, for Albrecht’s sake, that the grinder was able to come home and pass out on a mattress worthy of his accomplishment. The only mattress that we could think of that even comes close is the Simmons Beautyrest Black; a rectangular layer cake of comfort and luxury.

“Indulge Sebastian. You deserve it.”

There are hundreds of places to hide unwanted items around the house, but somehow, under the bed always seems like the most logical option.

This week, it’s time to pull out your sleeping platform and discover all the random treasures buried beneath your mattress.

Take a log, send it in and receive two pillows with your next mattress purchase at Simmons Mattress Gallery.

Just to get you in the mood, here is a list of possible items you might discover:

1. The popcorn bowl from that movie night three weeks ago.

-You and your girlfriends had decided to watch the first “Sex in the City” to get you in the mood for the sequel. It was late, so you piled on top of your bed and indulged in some heavily buttered corn. Somehow the bowl got kicked under the bed.

2. Yearbooks.

-All five years of high school. Don’t open them up, unless you plan to spend the rest of the day laughing at that ridiculous haircut you had in Grade 9.

3. The pirate eye patch from Halloween 2008.

-Your date thought it was sexy.

4. Christmas wrapping paper.

-A classic under-the-bed find. You always end up buying more paper the following year, but somehow you still think you will use the leftover ends next year. (Tip: You never do)

5. Disreputable magazines.

-Enough said.

6. The “Bush X” concert shirt.

-Why did they need the ‘X?’

7. The box of letters from your last boyfriend/girlfriend?

-Throw them out!  It was three years ago. Sorry to be so direct, but you need to move on and focus on the now. Saving them isn’t helping anyone. If it was meant to be, you two will find your way back to each other. A saved letter from 2007 will not help the situation.

8. Dust

-Vacuum!

9. Socks

-A whole collection of singles. And you thought the wash machine just ate them…

10. A tired box spring that matches the worn out coils in your mattress.

-Get rid of them both. Simmons Mattress Gallery will set you up with all your sleeping needs. Come into one of our three convenient locations. And don’t forget to bring your own list of under-the-bed treasures.

Secrets Under the Mattress

Canadians are finding less and less time to relax and enjoy all the small things that make life so precious.

This is in accordance to the findings published by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing, last Tuesday.

The report, entitled, “Caught in the Time Crunch: Time Use, Leisure and Culture in Canada,” claims that non-standard work hours, increased caregiving for the elderly and technology’s firm grasp on our personal lives has diminished the idle time available to Canadians.

An increase in non-standard work hours, means Canadians are more likely to have small blocks of idle time that are less likely to coincide with the free time of friends and family. Evening work hours are especially damaging to the family dynamic.

With the baby-boomers in full retirement mode, more and more middle-aged adults are having to care for their aging parents. This too, is taking away from the time professionals could be spending with their children or relaxing on their own.

But the real killer affecting society is the technological umbilical chord connecting us 24 hours a day to our jobs; thank you Blackberry, for the subtle reminder that in today’s world, data sharing is much more important than simple experiences like exploring nature.

So what do we do to stop the trend?

Here are Simmons Mattress Gallery’s top 5:

1.  Have a time every evening when you turn off your work phone; not for an hour or two, but for the rest of the night. Make this time as early as possible.

2. Consider a job-share program with a co-worker. This would allow you to spend more time with your family or your own, quietly enjoying a book or a glass of wine. It would also mean a less extravagant yearly vacation and maybe a budget tweak.

3. Look into retirement homes. Yes, they cost a fortune, but it’s money you can spare and hopefully your parents are lucky enough to have a pension. It doesn’t mean you love them any less. They will understand.

4. Petition the government to upgrade employment standards. The message will be heard if the volume is there. Feel free to quote this article or the report itself.

5. Buy a new bed. It will help you secure the rest you need to operate during your busy day. Simmons Mattress Gallery is a great place to start your search. Find a little bit of time between the crunch and come check out our stock. And bring the kids. And maybe the parents too.

The Simple Pleasures

This summer, Vancouver will be treated to a beautiful collection of French paintings focusing on ‘The Modern Woman.’

The Vancouver Art Gallery is proud to display some of the finest drawings, from the 19^th Century, contained in the Musée d’Orsay.

Featured artists will be: Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Édouard Manet.

The exhibition focuses on the changing role of women in society, during the 19^th Century. This change is expressed in the forms, roles and portrayal of the female character by some of the most famous artists of that time period.

One of the common themes that arises from viewing these works is ‘independence.’ The modern woman is not bound to a domestic environment. She is not a figure to be romanticized or idealized. She is the central character in her own world. She is free to gaze on her audience, to enjoy her own pursuits and to occupy the canvas without a male companion.

This independence is a huge departure from the saintly, maternal figures portrayed in European art before the 19^th Century. The significance of this artistic shift is a direct reflection of the modernization of social thought.

To view all of the works offered at the exhibition, plan a trip to the Vancouver Art Gallery before September 6^th.

The lineups will be long, so plan to wait.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with an extended closing of 9 pm on Tuesdays.

The adult charge is $19.50, while students are $13.

One of Degas' Ballerinas

“When I get older / I will be stronger / They’ll call me freedom /

Just like a Waving Flag” – K’naan

The colours of the world’s flags are on display in the Lower Mainland this month, as the World Cup kicks off in South Africa.

Not since the Olympics, has Vancouver seen this much national pride featured on the streets.

The two predominant jerseys are the yellow and green of Brazil and the white and red of England. (No, sadly those aren’t Canadian colours, as our national team, once again, failed to qualify)

The matches will be played out in cities around South Africa until the final game on June 11th.

As in previous years, the place to celebrate will be Commercial Drive, Vancouver’s unofficial Mecca of world culture. This is where the rainbow of colour starts and finishes.

To pick up your own jersey, try Soccer Express in North Vancouver, Coquitlam and Kelowna. Or to grab something to wave, try The Flag Shop at 1615 Powell Street.

If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at a pride quilt. Nothing else shows your support quite like a colourful bed covering. Your friends will be impressed, your family will love your enthusiasm for your homeland and best of all, it’s a great excuse to bring dates back to your bedroom.

Just make sure the mattress underneath is up to par.

If you’re worried, make a trip to Simmons Mattress Gallery between games. We’ll give you two free pillows, with your purchase of a new mattress, if you bring in a homemade quilt featuring the colours of your team.

1. The smell of your old mattress.

-You don’t really know what that funky scent is from but it’s not good. Maybe it’s from the cereal you spilt, while watching the NFL in bed one Sunday. Maybe the smell from your forgotten gym shoes, the ones you stored under your bed for eight months, has seeped into the fabric. Or maybe it’s from that sweaty uncle who housesitted for you while you were in Europe. Whatever the case, no amount of Febreeze is going to hide it.

2. The size of your current mattress.

They say size doesn’t matter, but we all know they’re lying. Of course it does and sleeping on a mattress built for a vertically challenged 10 year-old is not healthy. You need room.

3. There are skid marks on the underside of your bed.

True story – there are people out there who use mattresses for surfing. (Many of these individuals tend to have a rosy tinge on their neck.) The act is preformed by towing a mattress from the back of a moving vehicle, while a rider kneels. The setting is usually a field or driveway. Don’t believe us? Watch this video.

*Simmons Mattress Gallery does not condone this activity.

4. Your significant other burned your last mattress on the front lawn.

-Was that really necessary? Breaking the Petro-Canada glasses you had since you were six was one thing… but the mattress? That’s just cruel. But then again, it was the scene of the crime.

5. That hole you cut to hide your baseball card collection

-First of all, are they really the most prized possession you own? And why the mattress? Well, we guess you found out the hard way (literally) that removing a section of coils from the inner lying would translate into a comfortless sleep. Try using the closet next time. Or if you feel like tearing something apart to build a secret compartment, go with the floorboards.

Priceless...

Whatever the case may be, Simmons Mattress Gallery has your new mattress ready and waiting.

Always in search of the bizarre, Simmons Mattress Gallery has uncovered a rather racy sleep disorder: Sexsomnia. Sexsomnia is the act of engaging in sexual activity while sleeping. It is a form of parasomnia, unintended behaviour while sleeping. The most common parasomnia activity is sleepwalking.

People afflicted with sexsomnia might engage in a range of actions, with different degrees of severity. Actions include moaning, masturbation, groping of a partner or full intercourse. Individuals suffering from this disorder may also become violent in their sleep. This poses a serious danger for their partners.

When the individuals awake, they have no recollection of their actions, or only a blurry idea, as if recalling a dream.

Their partners provide the only conscious record of the event.

Sufferers might often feel emotions of anger, confusion, denial, frustration and or guilt.

There is also the very real possibility of legality issues ensuing from the sufferer’s actions. One case in Britain found the defendant guilty of rape, when the disorder was used as a defense in court.

Treatments include regular therapy, changes in lifestyle and the drug clonazepam. Alcohol before sleep has also been found to induce the disorder. It should be avoided when sufferers plan to share a bed with a new partner.

Scientists believe sexsomnia to be a genetic disorder.

Ambition, Desire, Temptation...

“That time? O times / I laughed him out of patience; and that night / I laugh’d him into patience; and next morn, / Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed.”

-Cleopatra (Anthony and Cleopatra Act II, Scene 5)

This summer, under the peppermint tents, Ancient Egypt will come alive through the words of the world’s most famous playwright; William Shakespeare. Vancouverites will bare witness to Julius Ceasar’s greatest soldier falling from grace and Egypt’s last Pharaoh surrendering her once mighty kingdom to Roman rule. The tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra runs from June 17th to September 24th, at the annual Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vanier Park.

Accompanying this play will be three other productions all penned by the Immortal Bard: Much Ado About Nothing, Falstaff and Henry V. Falstaff, named after the clowning companion of Prince Hal, is a combination of Henry IV Part I and II, a definite bang for your buck.

The season begins with Much Ado About Nothing, on June 10th.

Included in this year’s program are the traditional Bard-B-Q (clever) & Fireworks night, Chatterbox Tuesdays and a Lecture Series.

Tickets can be purchased on line through the Bard on the Beach website:

http://www.bardonthebeach.org/

Simmons Mattress Gallery suggests reading the plays before hand, or at least studying the short synopsis supplied on-line. You will take away much more of Shakespeare’s beautiful imagery and cunning word play if you already have a conceptual analysis of how the events will unfold. Just a tip.

So enjoy this summer’s offering of historical drama in one of the most beautiful theatrical settings in the world. And remember to bring your blanket.

Vancouver's First UFC Event

There may be a few more tired bodies hitting the mattresses in Vancouver this month, as the UFC makes it’s inaugural debut in Western Canada on June 12th.

Already cited in town, Chuck Liddell has been training for his bout with Rich Franklin. The two veteran warriors will be the main event next Saturday. Liddell’s original opponent was Tito Ortiz. Unfortunately, Ortiz was forced to back out after undergoing surgery on his neck.

Ortiz and Liddell were the coaches for the latest installment of the “Ultimate Fighter” reality show.

The undercard will feature Mirko Cro Cop vs. Pat Barry, Paul Thiago vs. Martin Kamomann and eight other bouts.

The athletes competing will need to get all the rest they possibly can before heading into the Octagon.

Let’s hope they’re getting their rest on a Simmons Beautyrest.

They will certainly appreciate all the individual pocket coils the night after their fight.

Putting your body through that kind of punishment deserves a reward and no other mattress can supply the comfort levels offered by a Simmons.

Try one for yourself at a Simmons Mattress Gallery.

You may not have the muscle tone or grappling skills to compete in the UFC, but you can still enjoy a Simmons.

Well it looks like summer may finally be coming to the west coast.

After a wet spring, that we would all probably like to forget, the sun is finally starting to poke through. The beaches around Vancouver are starting to fill, the tennis courts have line-ups until dusk and with June being ‘Bike Month,’ more and more people are hitting the road with two wheels rather than four.

But with all this activity comes a price: fatigue. Our bodies are still on winter time. We may have only hit the gym once a week in the last eight months, but now, with the extra daylight and activities to enjoy, our bodies are seeing a lot more action.

So how do we compensate? Well, the correct answer would be to get more rest.

With the longer summer nights, we tend to forget that our bodies need a minimum of eight hours of sleep. This is especially true for an active lifestyle, which most of us are lucky enough to enjoy through the summer months.

Going to bed at a reasonable hour is essential.

If you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep with the added hours of daylight, maybe it’s time you looked into a mattress upgrade.

Simmons Mattress Gallery has a huge selection of mattresses to choose from. Come in and lay around our showroom. We want you to be comfortable enough to fall asleep in any condition, at any hour. A Beautyrest will provide that.

Pick yours out today and start prepping for a summer full of fun!

English Bay

Simmons Mattress Gallery is obsessed with mattresses. We admit it. It’s what we live for and we’re not ashamed.

If we’re out at party and anyone in the room mentions the ‘m’ word – we swarm.

If we’re staying at a hotel and the front desk clerk asks us what size mattresses we’d like, well that’s an hour and a half conversation.

If we pass movers on the street discussing how they should stack the mattresses in their truck, we have a thousand suggestions.

This week we heard about a new album from the artist Marques Houston that sent us into hysterics: “Mattress Music.”

Marques Houston Lounging

Yes, a whole album dedicated to mattresses.

We haven’t seen a track list yet, but these are a few possible titles that we hope make the final cut:

1. Sleeping Around the Showroom

2. First Night Bliss

3. Memory Foam of You

4. Undisturbed

5. Never Flip

6. Beauty-needs-a-rest

7. Wound Up Like a Pocket Coil

8. Go To Sleep (Roxette Cover)

9. E-Motion-All Separation

10. Stairway to Mattress Heaven

Look for Houston’s album in stores this July.

For the real thing, visit a Simmons Mattress Gallery near you.

Vancouver – 1001 West Broadway

Coquitlam – 101 Schoolhouse St.

Victoria – 3510 Blanshard St.

Orders from the top: ‘Access to girlfriends and wives will be limited to one day after each game during the World Cup.’

These are the restrictions being imposed by Fabio Capello, manager for the U.K.’s 2010 World Cup squad.

Without saying it directly, Capello has sided with an old belief that sex before sport can drain a male’s natural urge to compete. This was the position held by athletic managers back in the time of Ancient Greece.

But maybe Capello needs to get with the times. New research shows that sex before sport has no effect on performance. In fact, sex often encourages and improves sleep quality. So having sex the night before a big game might help Capello’s squad get the rest they need.

Alain Vigneault was asked about the topic during Vancouver’s short-lived playoff run last month.

A health reporter asked if players would be advised to alter or maintain their routine of training, recovery, diet, sex and other daily activities.

Vigneault’s response: “We do sex every day? I’m missing out on something!”

While Vigneault may not be interfering with the personal lives of his players on a level similar to Capello, he did go to great lengths this season to ensure that his team was receiving adequate rest. This included staying behind in away cities for an additional night, at the conclusion of a road trip. This way his players weren’t flying home on a red-eye flight and then playing a day later.

Respect your body’s natural urge to rest for eight hours every night.

And if you’re having trouble falling asleep, maybe whisper a soft message in your partner’s ear; even if you do have racquetball the next morning.

Fabio Capello - UK Football Manager

Wondering about how much time you spend tossing and turning at night?

Need to monitor and track your sleeping hours?

Are you tired of your alarm clock jolting you from your dream of winning a Nobel Prize?

Well, as the saying goes: “There’s an app for that.”

The Sleep Cycle Graph

LexWare Labs has developed an app for Apple’s iPhone that tracks your body’s nighttime movements.

The app is entitled The Sleep Cycle. It uses the iPhones accelerometer to monitor the motion on your mattress.

Accelerometers are often found in video game controllers, such as the ones available for the Wii.  They measure an object’s experienced acceleration relative to freefall.

The instructions for sleep monitoring include tucking your phone into your fitted sleep before you head to bed. As you move in the night, Sleep Cycle records and graphs your activity. The graph shows when you are dreaming, when you are in a deep sleep state and when you are awake. It provides daily statistics that can be added together over a week to produce a readout of your average sleep pattern.

The developers suggest using the app to monitor changes in your bedtime schedule. If you read a book before bed one night, compare your readout to another night when you watch a movie just before sleeping.

The Sleep Cycle also comes with an alarm clock that is custom designed to wake you gently during a period when your body is naturally moving. This will remove the jolting experience and will lessen the likelihood of having a dream interrupted.

The price of the Sleep Cycle app is $0.99.

Although the Sleep Cycle does sound amazing, it can’t promise you a better nights sleep.  That can only be provided with a new mattress.

Simmons Mattress Gallery has an app for that.

Come in, bring your phone and try out a new mattress today.

This week Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to pass on six tips for the potential mattress buyer. We know mattress shopping isn’t something you do every weekend and it’s not as easy as buying groceries, so here are a few pointers:

1. The question is often asked of us: “How do I know when I should buy a new mattress.” Well if your mattress is five years or older, it’s probably time to consider evaluating your sleep. You should ask yourself the following questions; do you wake up with stiffness; do you sleep better when you’re not at home; is your mattress sagging or does it contain knotted lumps that are distracting when you sleep. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it is definitely time to visit Simmons Mattress Gallery.

2. Before you come, view the mattresses online at simmonscanada.com. Get a rough idea of what mattresses you would be interested in.

3. If you sleep with a partner, shop together! We cannot stress this enough. You will be spending a third of your day on your new purchase. Make sure you are both happy with your choice.

4. When you arrive at Simmons Mattress Gallery, consult one of the staff and discuss your sleep preferences. These individuals are more than salespeople, they are trained sleep professionals. They know their mattresses inside and out – literally.

5. Test sleep the mattress you are considering. This does not mean lying down for 30 sec. Take your time. Spend 15 or 20 minutes on each one. Sit up in the position you read in. Lie on your back, your side and your stomach. Snuggle with your partner. Are you comfortable in each position?

6. Finally, spend to the maximum amount that your budget can handle. Price is a reflection of quality. The more you spend, the more your body will thank you.

Good luck with your shopping and we will see you soon.

Simmons Mattress Gallery is always on the lookout for bizarre tales of a sleep related nature. This week we found the Holy Grail.

It has been reported, that an exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, that features former possessions of the late pop star Michael Jackson, will be hosting a one-time sleepover event where fans will get to spend the night with various Michael Jackson memorabilia.

The exhibition is on display at the Tokyo Tower, where it has already had 300,000 visitors.

Titled the Neverland Collection, the exhibition contains costumes from Michael’s “Thriller” video, a 1967 Rolls Royce, an antique piano and many other artifacts owned by the ‘King of Pop.’

The sleepover will be held on June 25th, the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death.

Apparently, in Japanese culture, spending time with the possessions of a loved one on the one-year anniversary of their death is an important ritual.

The sleepover will commence at 10:30 and will conclude at 8:00 in the morning the following day.

Fans will be able to purchase tickets for a lottery that will be held to determine the lucky few who will be given the privilege to spend the night amongst Michael’s . . . stuff.

It is not known where or what the ‘winners’ will be sleeping on.

We hope they are supplied with mattresses worthy of the former pop star; something from the Simmons Beautyrest NXG series would be appropriate.

Stanley Park is the royal crown that sits above the City of Vancouver. Mounted in that crown is the Malkin Bowl, the jewel that dazzles from its brim.

The 1,000 acre park was established at Vancouver’s first city council meeting in 1886. It is larger than New York’s Central Park and contains over half a million trees.

Along with the forested areas are 350 acres of recreational space.

Included in these 350 acres is the legendary Malkin Bowl, an outdoor theatre built to resemble the famed Hollywood Bowl in California.

Surrounded by cedars, douglas firs, hemlocks and maple trees, the amphitheatre is the perfect setting for an outdoor concert or summer musical production.

This year’s summer concert series begins this weekend with the U.K’s Massive Attack playing Saturday night.

Other concerts to follow are:

May 31st – LCD Soundsystem

June 4th – Xavier Rudd

June 11th – Metric

June 13th – Metric

August 28th – Vampire Weekend

September 10th – The National

The theater is also home to Theatre Under The Stars or TUTS, as it is known.  This production company has been entertaining audiences since 1940, using local, up-and-coming stars, to headline their musicals.

Last year saw the success of both “Annie” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

This year the company will be presenting “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Singin in the Rain.”

Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to encourage residents of the Lower Mainland and visitors to our beautiful province to get out and experience the thrill of watching live entertainment in a stellar summer setting. We know your bed can be a strong draw, but listening to one of Canada’s hottest indie acts, in the company of raccoons, Canada geese, herons and distant beluga whales, is an opportunity not to be passed up lightly. So bring a blanket and your loved one and take in a show this summer.

You can purchase your tickets through Live Nation.

The Victoria Day long weekend is coming up and across our lovely country, Canadians will be celebrating the late Queen’s birthday by rekindling their enthusiasm for our beloved monarchy.

Well, that is probably not entirely correct, but is a public holiday and the unofficial first camping weekend of the year.

Mixed in with the tents, tarps and campfires will undoubtedly be the usual beer drinking.

Beer is the inspiration behind the affectionate alternative label for the last weekend before the 25th, May 2-4; this refers to the standard number of cans sold in a flat of barley pops.

So if tea and crumpets isn’t your thing, grab your friends, your camping gear and all the hotdogs you can fit in your cooler and head off for a semi-wilderness adventure.

The Queen looking noble and surly.

We at Simmons Mattress Gallery may not condone the beer consumption, but we would like to recommend a few ideal camping destinations inside the lovely province of British Columbia.

Here are a few:

Manning Provincial Park (North of Hope)

-Just far enough away from the city, Manning Park has four campgrounds to choose from. There may still be snow in the higher regions of the park.

Ruckle Provincial Park (Salt Spring Island)

-It’s a quick ferry ride to the most beautiful campground on the Gulf Islands. Located right along the shoreline, Ruckle has 78 sites and is perfect for cyclists who want a medium distance ride from the ferry terminal.

Golden Ears

-This is a great alternative for campers with limited travel time. Golden Ears is just outside of Maple Ridge and hosts three separate campgrounds. Canoes, kayaks and pedal boats are available for rent.

Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to take a closer look at sleep disorders affecting Canadians. This week’s topic: restless leg syndrome.

Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes abnormal sensations in the limbs of the people it affects. These sensations can cause individuals to feel like their limbs are burning or being tugged on. Individuals diagnosed with this disorder tend to need to move around and are often labeled restless.

Sufferers are most affected by the disorder when they are attempting to relax their body. Symptoms may include insomnia and daytime exhaustion.

The disorder occurs in both genders and usually worsens with age.

Restless leg syndrome is also commonly diagnosed with periodic limb movement disorder. This disorder is specific to involuntary limb movement while asleep. If you suffer from both of these ailments, it might be your sleeping partner who is the most disturbed by your condition. In severe cases, separate beds may be the only option for saving the relationship.

Lifestyle may be a contributing factor to the severity of this disorder. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake and eliminating tobacco can help.

For treatment, doctors may prescribe dopaminergic agents (often prescribed to Parkinson patients), benzodiazepines, opioids or anticonvulsants.

The 63rd Cannes Film Festival is underway in the south of France, as celebrities, industry workers and filmgoers from all over the world are treated to a week and a half of the finest celluloid offerings from around the globe.

This year’s festival opened with Ridley Scott’s historical fiction blockbuster, Robin Hood.

Scott was unable to make it to the premiere, an unprecedented occurrence for the opening-night film, but understandable, in wake of the director’s recent knee-replacement surgery.

One of the films receiving media buzz, is British director Mike Leigh’s new film, Another Year. The movie is an understated look at two content, future retirees, who despite their normalcy attract a handful of dysfunctional friends and colleagues.

Another film that is receiving excellent reviews is Sabina Guzzanti’s Michael Mooresque documentary, Draquila – Italy Trembles. This film covers the Berlusconi government’s mismanagement and personal profit of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake.

The awards will be handed out at the conclusion of the festival, ultimately affecting the box office intake of a handful of lucky recipients. Tim Burton is this year’s President of the Jury.

Unfortunately, it may be a while before the international films reach our Canadian screens. Even then, some of the films might only receive a limited screening, so catching them on DVD or Blue-Ray might be you best option.

An excellent source for world cinema in Vancouver is Videomatica, on West Fourth.

You might have to wait months before they are available, but enjoying truly inspirational movies from the comfort of your bed is a wonderful luxury.

Why not prepare for this years award recipients with the purchase of a new mattress form Simmons Mattress Gallery?

Set the stage for entertainment.

Running out of activities for the kids on the weekends? Rejoice! The Vancouver International Children’s Festival is returning to Vanier Park from May 17th to the 24th.

The white and red tents will be flying high once again; filled with music, comedy and all the face paint you can fit on your little one’s canvas.

With a focus on the performing arts, the Children’s Festival is a wonderful arena to get your kids off their X-Boxes and into live theatre.

Operating since 1978, the festival also offers employment to dozens and dozens of local artists and performers like Aché Brasil, a martial arts, dance, music mash-up. Accompanying them are international artists such as the National Acrobats of Taiwan.

For a balloon blast of every colour, check out the Variety Show running on Saturday, May 22nd.

For a French immersion experience, look into purchasing tickets to Jamie Adkins Circus Incognitus.

Circus Incognitus

Tickets for individual shows can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Site admission on its own is $10.

And after, when the kids are worn out, you and your loved one can relax on your Simmons mattress in peace.

Still haven’t purchased your new Simmons? Make the next weekend yours, with a little shopping at Simmons Mattress Gallery.

The 2010 Vancouver Sun Run

The 26th annual Sun Run was held last Sunday, with 51, 419 runners, walkers and wheelers taking part in the 10km race from Burrard and Georgia to B.C. Place.

The weather was perfect, the crowds were great and the organization was, as always, impeccable.

And like any mass event, everyone who took part had a story.

One of these stories involved an elderly man who had the unfortunate luck of falling face first into the pavement.

The participant, Gerry DaSilva, was running with his daughter and three grandchildren.

The fall occurred at the last leg of the race, before B.C. place.

DaSilva had been running ahead of his daughter when he tripped and caught his face on the curb.

To DaSilva’s good fortune, one of the first runners to come upon the scene was an off-duty paramedic. Another woman, who also stopped, accompanied the first runner. While the paramedic, a male, checked for serious damage, the woman removed her shirt to help address the bleeding.

The two stayed with DaSilva until the race paramedics arrived.

Scenes like these are just another example of the kindness so often shown by Vancouverites to random strangers.

We all sleep easier at night when we take the time to help our fellow citizens. This seems to be a trend on the west coast. We must be receiving the most sleep of any Canadians!

But I guess that also has to do with having the number one mattress store, Simmons Mattress Gallery, at our backdoor.

Your conscience is free and clear. Enjoy your well-earned sleep on a Simmons.

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in North America and a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology has it linked to a lack of sleep in overworked, undernourished adults.

The findings, produced by the Leiden University Medical Center, show that the loss of a single night’s sleep has a large impact on the bodies ability to use insulin to process sugar.

The scientists involved in the study examined nine seemingly healthy test subjects and evaluated their insulin sensitivity after a full nights rest and again after only four hours of sleep. The latter resulted in a sensitivity loss of 19 to 25 per cent.

Insulin resistance is the direct cause of diabetes, a condition that affects over 180 million people worldwide.

While a healthy diet, regular physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption and not smoking has always been the recommended lifestyle for avoiding diabetes, doctors can now suggest an adequate amount of sleep, preferably 8 hours.

Securing a healthy dose of rest can come down to one single factor, your mattress.

If your mattress is not the most comfortable piece of furniture you own, maybe it’s time you invested in a new one.

Simmons Mattress Gallery has all your mattress needs.

We want you to live the healthiest life possible. Start that trend with a new mattress and put yourself in the running to reduce your risk of living with diabetes.

Parents everywhere look forward to those many ‘firsts’ that all children experience as they grow from drooling infants to self-empowered teenagers.

One of the big ones, that shows up on most parent’s top ten, is the first time their child rides a two-wheeled bicycle.

Letting go of that back seat and watching your child balance their way down the alley is a moment of both exhilaration, at their step towards independence and sadness, at the thought of their diminishing need for support.

Lately, however, parents have been handing over that precious moment to young professionals, in the form of bike lessons.

Local companies like the upstart Pedalheads Bike Camp, are teaching children as young as three how to ride a bicycle in a safe and controlled manner.

The company offers lessons at eight different levels, so children can continue to improve their riding and build on their awareness of safety issues.

The Pedalheads camps have been so successful that founder, Claudia Sjöberg, has now opened camps in Victoria, Calgary and Edmonton.

Sadly, this success means that more and more parents will miss one of those important firsts.

The reasons for outsourcing this moment are probably time, or lack there of. With less leisure time to spend with their kids, parents are concerned that their children might miss important life skills. The Pedalheads camps provide a friendly, non-rushed atmosphere that a single parent might not have the time to afford.

With this and other firsts lost to third parties, parents should try and make the most of the precious small moments that they spend with their young ones.

Reading before bed is an excellent activity to reclaim some of that lost time.

Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to offer our support figuratively and literally to this nighttime activity.

All children love to be read to and we would like to make that experience as comfortable as possible.

Stop by a Simmons Mattress Gallery to view some of the finest beds available. We want you and your child to share some quality time on a bed that echoes the care and love you provide everyday for your children.

Do not miss out. Make time and enjoy these earlier years and all the firsts that come with it.

One of the hottest gadgets on the market right now is Apple’s iPad. We all have a friend who has made the trek across the border to buy one of the devices before they go on sale in Canada. The buzz is huge and it seems Apple’s new gizmo is living up to the hype.

With web, email, photo, video abilities and a multi-touch screen, the iPad is the, all in one, portable device.

And, unlike your iPod, where the text is more suitable for squinting at than reading, the iPad has a 9.7 inch LED-backlit screen for browsing and indulging in e-books.

This has inspired many owners to replace their bedside ritual of reading a book before bed with scrolling through pages of the latest best seller on their new iPad.

The lamp may be off, your partner may be asleep, but you’re still able to enjoy “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” without a flashlight.

But this medium switch has some sleep scientists worried.

If we were reading a book the light from a lamp would be from behind us onto a page. With the iPad, the light is intensely direct. This light can disrupt the natural melatonin levels produced by the pineal gland. This gland regulates the sleep-wake cycle in our bodies. Artificial light delays the production of melatonin and makes it harder for our bodies to begin a restful state.

Reading a book before bed has also been considered a passive activity, suitable for winding down the day. The iPad experience is much more engaging, especially when you consider the options for surfing the net, checking your email and playing music.

All these extra activities have the potential to increase our anxiety, the last thing we want before sleeping.

Simmons Mattress Gallery knows that sleep is essential for our well-being and that is why we would like to suggest users of the iPad to stick with bound paper before bed.

You’re body may be cradled by a Beautyrest, but your mind needs to be given a rest as well.

Turn off the screen, turn on the lamp and ease into your sleep.

Are you looking to take that special someone out to a three-course meal, but you don’t feel like applying for a second mortgage? The Dine Out program is back on, with one week left to experience the fine culinary dishes offered at some of Vancouver’s top restaurants.

Usually landing sometime in February, the Dine Out program was put on hold until late April, so as not to affect businesses over the Olympics.

Some of the top eateries featured in this year’s participating restaurants are: Db Bistro, Provence Marinaside, Il Giardino and Kirin Seafood.

Diners are asked to vote on the Best Bite Awards. The categories include:

• Best Appetizer
• Best Entrée
• Best Dessert
• Best Overall Menu
• Best Service
• I Love My Server (Best Experience Award)

Most restaurants include a set menu with three choices for appetizer, main and dessert.

So shine up your dress shoes, brush up on your table manners and make your reservations early, because the white linen is waiting for you.

And when you and your partner have eaten your fill, come home to continue the luxury, as you fall asleep on a Simmons mattress from Simmons Mattress Gallery.

Finding it hard to get your head around a certain concept? Struggling to increase your memorizations skills for that Anatomy exam? Need a break from studying, but afraid you will lose the last three hours of cramming?

Simmons Mattress Gallery has news for you: napping can seriously increase your memory recall and cognitive understanding.

Go Ahead. Take a Nap. It Could Help Your Learning

This is the finding of a recent study published in Current Biology. The study found that students, who were given a complex map to study, were better equipped to find their way through the three-dimensional maze if they took a short nap and were able to dream about the material in question.

The students who were not given a nap, or who napped in a dreamless state, preformed at a lower standard then those who visualized the map in their slumber.

One of the head researchers, Robert Stickgold, claimed, “dreams are a marker that the brain is working on the same problem at many levels.”

During our waking life, it is highly possible that there may be too many distractions for our brain to focus on complex problems.

In our sleep, our brains are able to discard or put aside the material in our lives that is of little significance. Our subconscious is then able to grapple with the issues our conscious mind found to be vexing.

Stickgold also went as far as suggesting students to study hard just before they go to sleep at night or before a quick afternoon nap.

So the next time your mother or roommate gives you grief for napping with your books open, tell them you are just trying to get some help from your subconscious.

You might also want to recommend, that to improve your overall learning, they may want to help you purchase a new mattress. This will provide the most suitable setting for undisturbed forays into the educational dream realm.

Good luck with the last week of exams!

The last dinner trays are being collected and the lights in coach are being dimmed. The plane is packed, well coach at least. There is no chance of getting any sleep with this many people sardined together in a giant flying tin cylinder.

You look over at the middle-aged lady beside you and quietly try to stifle a laugh. She’s wearing a maroon sleeping mask with white lace edging. In her ears are matching maroon earplugs; they must have come as a set. You silently pull out your iphone and take a picture to send to your friends once you land.

Three hours later, you’re wide-awake and the middle aged ‘kook’ beside you has been sleeping for hours.

Lesson learned?

We hope so. If not, here’s a little more to sleep on:

Researchers in China studying ICU patients found that the use of physical sleeping aids like earplugs and eye masks resulted in longer periods of REM, less accidental arousal and increased amounts of melatonin produced by the pineal gland.

What does this add up to: A better sleep.

And really, isn’t that what we are all after?

So if you are looking for a deeper sleep, why not invest in a satiny eye mask. We’re sure they sell them without the lace.

Without the Lace Trim

Still not satisfied with your resting hours?

Try a new mattress from Simmons Mattress Gallery.

If you can’t stand the hype around the NHL playoffs and you are looking to inject a little more culture into your life, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to suggest a trip to the Vancouver Opera’s performance of The Marriage of Figaro.

Poster by Edel Rodriguez

The Vancouver Opera is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year with four different operas. The third cultural sight and sound spectacle is now running at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

There are three performances left for The Marriage of Figaro, with the last showing on May 4th.

This opera is one of Mozart’s classics. It involves a court love triangle that turns into a twisted heptagon of lust and heartache.

The performance will include English subtitles for the Italian dialogue.

The final Opera this season will be Madama Butterfly. It will open on May 29^th and run until June 10^th.

For the hockey fans…well lets hope the Canucks will still be around in June. And if your loved one insists you visit the Queen E on game night, there are always pocket radios with earpieces.

But try not to fall asleep. Wait till your home. Your partner will appreciate your respect and your body will appreciate the comfort of your Simmons mattress.

For a little taste of the music featured in The Marriage of Figaro click on the link below.

http://www.vancouveropera.ca/operalive/index.html#podcast3

Are the recent earthquakes felt around the world a message from the planet we all share? Are the volcanic explosions in Iceland the result of the anguish felt by the earth’s displeasure?

We may not have the answers to these questions, but it does seem an odd coincidence that the frequency of devastating natural disasters is increasing as we increase our damage to the Earth.

April 22 is Earth Day, a day to reflect on the importance of nurturing the environment which we so often take for granted.

Simmons Mattresses Gallery would like to remind you of a few ways you can help the planet, not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year.

1. Leave the car at home.

-Walk or bike as much as possible when traveling in your local community. Your heart will thank you as well.

2. Monitor your water use.

-Try not to prolong your showers and when at all possible share. Also try and collect rain water for your garden instead of using the hose.

3. Use re-useable containers

-You may need coffee in the morning, but you don’t need that white and green paper cup from Starbucks each day. Buy a thermos cup and enjoy your java warm throughout the day.

4. Turn off your computer and other devices when not in use.

-This will ultimately help your savings as well.

5. Take an interest in your local environment.

-Look into volunteering at the local community garden. See if you can name every tree on your block; that doesn’t mean give them names like Barnaby or Jolene. Look them up.

6. Take a half hour before bed to think about the larger world we live in.

-Turn out the light and have a conversation with your loved one about the state of the earth. It doesn’t have to be depressing or overly sentimental, just a conversation about the planet we all share.

Watching movies from the comfort of your Simmons mattress is an evening luxury that few can abandon.

But spring is ushering in a whole host of new Hollywood films that have the potential to be mattress-leaving-worthy.

Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to recommend a few films that may be worth leaving the bedroom for:

1. “Robin Hood” (starring Russell Crowe)

Otherwise known as ‘Gladiator in the forest,’ Robin Hood looks to be another Ridley Scott mammoth blockbuster. It is intended as a prequel to the Robin Hood story that we are accustomed to. It follows an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who eventually becomes the hero of Nottingham. For the men, the movie has the action we expect from a Ridley Scott film and for the ladies, well Russel Crowe is pretty easy on the eyes. Cate Blanchett will be playing the role of Maid Marian.

2. “Hot Tub Time Machine”

Already in theaters, this movie is for all those thirty some-things who thought the eighties were the pinnacle of high culture. You were mistaken good sir. The film has lots of laughs and a few ‘American Pie’ moments that remind you that men, as mature as we appear, are still teenage juveniles at heart.

3. “Sex in the City 2”e

If you liked the first one, and that’s probably half the population in North America, chances are you’ve already booked a date for this one. This series sells itself. Enjoy with friends.

So indulge in some popcorn, pay the extra 50 cents for butter and take in a few films on the big screen. Your mattress will be waiting for you when the credits roll.

The evening is coming to a close and you and your significant other are heading for the bedroom. If you carry a Y sex chromosome, chances are your mind is turning to thoughts of physical pleasure. If your sex chromosomes contain a double X, you’re probably more likely to be concerned with the actual act of sleeping. This is according to a survey done of 2,000 Canadians by Better Sleep Council Canada.

The survey was conducted with the question of ‘how will you spend the extra hour you receive with the fall daylight savings time.’

55% of the women surveyed said they would rather spend that hour on sleep as compared to 31% of the men surveyed.

When asked about sex, 57% of the men felt that this would be an appropriate time expenditure, while only 32% of the women agreed with them.

Women, when tired, have their minds on the mattress, while men are looking to turn up the heat.

The architects behind Simmons mattresses are aware of the differences between sleeping partners. They have gone to great lengths to design beds that limit motion transfer through individual pocket coil construction.

If your husband is in one of his naughty moods again and you’re tired from the meeting that ran late, give him the look, turn off the light, and be confident that his frustrated tossing and turning will not be felt on your side of the bed.

To pick up your Simmons mattress, visit Simmons Mattress Gallery in Vancouver, Coquitlam and Victoria.

The NHL playoffs begin this week, with the Vancouver Canucks taking on the young Los Angeles Kings.

The Canucks went 3 and 1 against the Kings this season and are looking to continue their winning ways.

Many Vancouver fans had been secretly hoping for this match-up, as an alternative to the surging Detroit Red Wings or the burly Nashville Predators.

The Kings have not made an appearance in the postseason since 2002 and the hockey world is predicting a quick exit.

But there are many reasons why Vancouver should be concerned.

The first is goaltending. Luongo has looked shaky since the Olympics, being pulled more than once for Andrew Raycroft. He will have to remind Vancouver fans why he was given the captaincy if the Canucks want to get past the first round.

There are also the injuries to the defense core. There is no date set for the return of key defender Willie Mitchell, the delicate body of Sami Salo is again in question and now Shane O’Brien, fresh from the doghouse, is struggling with a foot injury sustained from a Mikael Samuelsson slap shot.

The kings are reporting no injuries.

The action will begin this Thursday at the Garage with a 7 p.m. puck drop.

Can’t handle the wait?

Plan a little trip to your local Simmons Mattress Gallery. Located in Coquitlam on Schoolhouse St. and in Vancouver on West Broadway, Simmons Mattress Gallery has the perfect mattress for managing postseason anticipation.

The battle of the NBC late night super heavyweights concluded with a controversial decision that saw the arm of Jay Leno raised over the lanky Irishman, Conan O’Brien.

The NBC entanglement began when Jay Leno left “The Tonight Show” to start his own variety program last September.

This prompted the in-house promotion of Conan O’Brien to the iconic role of “Tonight Show” host.

Leno, after failing with his 10 o’clock timeslot, was handed back his late night position that he had inherited from Johnny Carson.

Conan was granted a settlement package and left the network with little fuss.

But this week, Leno announced that his bandleader, Kevin Eubanks, would be stepping down and leaving “The Tonight Show.” This is a serious blow to the longtime fans of Leno who saw Eubanks as a hipper, Ed McMahon type, character.

Apart from being Leno’s sidekick and bandleader, Eubanks was also the musical director for the show.

NBC’s late night audience, otherwise known as the mattress crowd, might very well have seen enough. This final tweak could swing viewers to the alternative, the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Simmons Mattress Gallery doesn’t mind which program you tune into. We’re just concerned with your comfortable viewing platform.

If you haven’t looked into purchasing a new Simmons Mattress, maybe it’s time you tuned into the luxury offered by a BeautyRest.

We promise not to change our timeslot or our fundamental promise to provide you with the most knowledgeable mattress service possible.

Simmons Mattress Gallery is always on the hunt for the most bizarre mattress story and this week we think we may have found a leading candidate.

Our real-life tale comes from the United States, in a small town called Marlborough, in the state of Massachusetts.

Like any city or town in the world today, Marlborough has its crime issues. And like Vancouver, a lot of these criminal acts are fueled by drug dependency. Our mattress tale deals with an individual suffering from an addiction to prescription pills.

Francis L. Davenport was arrested this week for breaking into a residence and stealing 53 clonazepam pills. He is also being charged with assaulting the owner of the house, who had an earlier restraining order filed against Davenport.

When the police were called to the scene of the crime, the victim gave them the assailant’s address. The victim also informed the police that Davenport would be hiding somewhere in his own bedroom.

Upon arriving at the house of the accused, the police found the bedroom empty. They then began a search of the premise. Their luck turned when they flipped Davenport’s mattress to discover a secret compartment.

Apparently the accused was prepared for a police search and had built a hideout using his bed frame.

Upon being discovered, Davenport leapt from his hiding spot, shouting the phrase: “I’m here.”

‘Quite the game of hide-and-seek.’

Erin Andrews

The harassment of Erin Andrews includes camera peepshows, sexual notes and now threatening letters.

The ESPN reporter and current contestant on “Dancing With the Stars,” was recently informed that some of the fan correspondence being received at the “Dan Patrick Show” was taking a violent turn. One specific letter read: “I hope [Andrews] gets shot in the face. I would love to see if she can dance away from a hail of gunfire.”

The show had been receiving other notes directed at Andrews, but they had never been overtly threatening.

This comes one month after Andrews spoke out against the lenient sentence received by Michael David Barrett, the man found guilty of filming peephole videos of her at three different hotels.

The current threatening letters, understandably, have shook up Andrews, who claims to be living in a state of fear. Fortunately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now involved and security around the star has been tightened.

Celebrity status might have its perks, but it sure is nice to sleep in your own bed at night without worrying about your personal safety.

Over twenty people, in the last decade, have died in Canadian plane crashes where fatigue was an issue. This alarming statistic was discovered by a CBC News investigation last week.

Most of these incidents involved smaller airlines where pilots worked longer hours, for less pay. Pilots of these aircrafts can work up to 14 hours a day consecutively, for two weeks straight.

One of the incentives that drive pilots to increase their workload is the draw to advance to captain status. 1,000 flight hours are needed to move up the aviation ladder and new pilots try to reach this mark as quickly as possible.

Many studies have shown that fatigue works in the same ways as alcohol impairment. When you receive less sleep or work a shift longer than 12 hours, your mental performance dips at a rate that is similar to moderate alcohol consumption.

If you would never consciously accept a ride from someone who had more than one drink, why is it ok for an individual to operate an aircraft at the same level of mental decline?

Transport Canada was alerted to the fatigue issue in 2001, but did little to curb the problem. Now, with the figures in the hands of the public, this issue will have to be dealt with properly.

Football in British Columbia will have a new, ‘old,’ venue this spring as the B.C. Lions will be leaving their den and moving back to Empire Field.

The stadium will be a temporary setting, while B.C. Place receives a much-needed renovation.

Lions Football debuted at Empire Field in 1954.

The club has not played at the PNE grounds since 1983, when the Lions moved to B.C. Place.

The budget for the temporary stadium is 14.4 million and will include seating for 27,500 enthusiastic fans.

Unlike their seasons at B.C. Place, the well-rested Lions will now play football exposed to the elements, while 20,000 fans will receive cover.

This exposure may not be a factor in the spring, but come fall, the boys will be out in the cold.

The Felions will also have to adapt, as plans are all ready in the works for a new uniform. The warmer games will see the cheerleaders in black short shorts and tight fitting tops and the colder games will find them in capri pants and jackets.

The turf on the new field will actually be the old artificial turf used at B.C. Place. With all the rain we receive in Vancouver, a natural grass field might turn into a weekly mud fest.

The site will also be the home of the Whitecaps for part of their 2011 season.

Empire Stadium

The open blog site WordPress unexpectedly crashed on Friday March 26th. The site experienced unprecedented traffic to one of its blog pages, swamping the server.

The blog that caused the Internet fury, was a relatively small weekly, article driven page, on mattresses.

Apparently, a submission written by the mattress author went viral at around 3:30 on Friday afternoon. The article in question concerned a recent sighting of Johnny Depp in his pajamas.

Depp was filming his new film “The Tourist,” in Venice Italy, when he was spotted running through the streets in his nightwear. The mattress author caught wind of the story and posted it on mattressvancouver.wordpress.com.

TMZ is now interested in purchasing the site and Perez Hilton has inquired about a guest editor position.

WordPress has requested the blog page be moved to a new location that is capable of handling the thousands of readers the page is currently attracting.

We are glad you found the new page.

This is just a friendly reminder that Thursday is April Fools.

Plan something big, film or document it and send your work in and we will include your story in next week’s posts.

Our thousands of readers are waiting patiently for your submission.

There have been confirmed reports that the UFC will not be coming to Vancouver in June for the scheduled event, UFC 115.

Sadly, it looks like the Vancouver organizers were unable to receive the licensing needed to host a UFC card.

Mixed martial arts fans in Vancouver have been praying each night before bed for a local event, but it now seems like they will have to wait a little while longer.

The news broke on the sports television channel, Sportsnet, when Joe Ferraro announced that he had spoken with Dana White, the UFC’s president and public face, and White had confirmed that the UFC was looking elsewhere.

Indications are that the event will now be held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The UFC’s bid to come to Vancouver was supported by Mayor Gregor Robertson, and received a majority vote by city council in January of this year.

While there is a slim possibility the show could go on, Dana White’s comments are not encouraging.

Two of the strongest opponents of the sport coming to Vancouver were councilors David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth.

Their opinions, however, were not the stumbling block.

It is believed that the main reason for the cancellation was the UFC’s inability to provide a security deposit, proof of insurance and an adequate security plan. For these reasons, the Vancouver Athletic Commission was unable to sanction the planned event on time.

The next confirmed Canadian date will take place in Montreal, on May 8^th.

UFC President: Dana White

The Madness of March has concluded.

Four teams remain in the NCAA college basketball tournament appropriately known as the Final Four.

With a total of three games to be played, the action will resume next Saturday, April 3rd. The final game will be played on Monday, April 5th.

The four teams remaining are the Butler Bulldogs, the Michigan State Spartans, the West Virginia Mountaineers and the three-time champions, the Duke Blue Devils.

Butler is the small town school that is on a fairy-tale run. They have won their last 24 games and only need two more wins to capture the national championship. One of the side stories of their impressive push is the facial hair of forward, Matt Howard. Howard was the only player on Butler able to grow a mustache when it was decided the team would attempt the trend as a bonding exercise at the start of the tournament. Howard’s mustache now has its own Facebook page.

Michigan State is exceeding expectations after losing their star point guard, Kalin Lucas, to an achilles injury. They are now riding the hot hand of Durrell Summers who seems to be flawless from the perimeter.

The physical play of West Virginia seems to be working, but they will have their hands full with Duke’s frontcourt offensive zone pressure. This will be a clash of two great superpowers, with the losers going home to their beds and the winners on to Monday’s main event in Indianapolis.

Enjoy the Final Four next weekend.

Please stay tuned as we renew our content for our brand new blog!

The White Stripes have released a new documentary chronicling their 2007 Canadian tour.

The film, entitled “Under Great White Northern Lights,” is a mixture of interviews and concert footage and is showing in limited release across Canada.

Meg and Jack White left the comfort of their own beds to travel to every province and territory in our great nation to play small intimate venues in areas where few rock acts venture. As a bonus to their fans, the Stripes played a short free show at each of the cities they stopped in. Locations ranged from a bowling alley to a fishing vessel.

These moments and more were all caught on camera by Emmett Malloy, back in 2007.

Malloy edited hours and hours of footage into an hour and a quarter length film.

The final product is a fusion of raw live material, candid commentary (mostly by Jack) and interactions with locals.

This is an absolute must if you are a fan of the White Stripes. If you are indifferent to there music, the film is still worthwhile as a showcase of Canadian culture and the landscape from which it sprung.

Enjoy with large helpings of peppermint candy.

Under Great White Northern Lights

A recent study, reported in “New Scientist,” is claiming that having too much or too little sleep can have a serious impact on your waistline.

Researchers at Wake Forest University conducted the study. The scientists monitored African American and Hispanic citizens, deemed to be at the highest risk for obesity, for five years.

The test groups that slept more than eight hours and less than five experienced the greatest weight gain.

In addition, after performing CAT scans, the researchers found the same individuals were more likely to have an increase in visceral fat. This is the most dangerous fat because of its attachment to internal organs.

These findings prove what many of us already knew: receiving eight hours of sleep at night is one of the most important things you can do for your body.

A good night’s sleep leaves you physically rested and mentally aware. Denying your body sleep or over indulging is a disservice to your health.

You may hit the gym more than three times a week, but if you’re not getting the rest you need, you may lose out on seeing the results.

So make the time and call it an early one. Your body will thank you.

What does the most stylish man in the world wear to work: the same thing he wears to bed – his blue striped pajamas.

Johnny Depp was recently spotted on the streets of Venice wearing nothing but his nightwear.

Known for his ultra-cool style, the 2009 “People” magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive,’ looked a little out of place in his pjs on the Venetian cobblestones.

Depp was shooting a scene for his new movie “The Tourist,” due out in 2011. The film stars Depp and Angelina Jolie and is directed by Florian Henckel-Donnersmarck, the German director responsible for the Academy Award winning film, “The Lives of Others.”

The scene involved Depp’s character leaping from a balcony onto a produce cart. A stuntman, in matching pajamas, was there to make the fall, but Depp quickly resumed the action once the character’s two feet were firmly on the ground.

The film is a thriller about an American tourist in Italy who has made the trip to divert his attention from a failed romance at home. Depp’s character becomes involved with an Interpol agent, Angelina, who takes an interest in the innocent American.

The two stars are rumoured to have more than one romantic scene in the film. The ladies are probably secretly hoping Depp will be revealing a little more skin than what’s visible under the full-length pajamas.

Vancouver's Famous Cherry Blossoms

How do we know spring is here in British Columbia?

The rain is incessant, the cherry blossoms are out and we are forced to lose an hour of sleep to daylight savings.

That hour missed could still be haunting you five days later and often it is a week before our body catches up with the lost time.

It is a similar experience to jet-lag, when we make the ‘unnatural’ motion to cross the globe in an airplane and touchdown in a different time zone. We often feel groggy and out of touch for at least two or three days.

There have actually been studies done that show a spike in traffic accidents the Monday after daylight savings.

So how do we get back on schedule?

The most direct way is to go to sleep an hour earlier, for at least the first two days.

Another method is to improve your sleeping conditions for the week after daylight savings. This could be as simple as limiting your morning sleep distractions. One way to accomplish this is by ensuring that the blinds or curtains in your bedroom block out the most amount of morning sunlight.

If you’re getting up before dawn, try to set your clock at the maximum snooze count, so you receive the most undisturbed rest possible.

Still not satisfied?

Maybe it’s time for a new mattress.

Spring is all about starting fresh. Rid yourself of your old bed and discover the comfort of a Simmons mattress.

A Simmons can’t give you your hour back, but it can offer you the finest in pocket-coil technology.

Try one today at Simmons Mattress Gallery and feel the ’spring’ return to your step.

I’m thinking of a number right now. Can you guess it?

Let me offer a few hints.

It’s between zero and a thousand.

Too large a range?

It’s a number that could change your morning disposition.

But it has nothing to do with coffee.

It’s a number that represents all that separates you from your tossing partner.

No, it’s not one.

It’s a number that you will never forget once you’ve come to feel its significance.

No, not that number either.

It’s the number that denotes the potential comfort you could be enjoying if you purchase a Simmons Beautyrest.

Give up?

The number is . . . (drum roll please)

800

For the 800 patented non-flip pocket coils that cradle you in each Simmons mattress. 800 individual coils that work to give you the most comfortable, undisturbed sleep possible. 800 coils that are specifically made so you will never have to flip your mattress again. 800 tiny metal hands wrapped in soft yet strong fabric to cradle you to sleep.

The way you sleep at night may speak volumes about your personality.

This is a theory put forward by Professor Chris Idzikowski, a sleep research specialist for both the US and the European Sleep Research Societies.

Of the many positions you assume in the night, Idzikowski has identified six common poses as being indicative of certain personality traits.

1. The Fetus Position (curled up with your knees towards your chest)

• Idzikowski found that individuals who would appear tough in public, but had a softer, gentler side beneath the surface normally adopted this position. His research showed that of all the positions available, this position was favoured most by his test subjects.

2. The Log (lying on your side with your arms and legs pointing towards the end of the bed)

• Individuals who were often easy-going assumed this position. Idzikowski also found that people who lie like logs are often successful in social settings.

3. The Soldier (lying on your back in a pose that looks like a soldier at attention)

• The ’soldier’ sleepers were generally found to be quiet and reserved. He also noted that many of these individuals had high standards of themselves and others.

4. The Yearner (lying on your side with your arms straight out and your legs pointed down)

• These individuals often had firm beliefs that were unlikely to change.

5. The Freefall (lying on your front, arms around your pillow, with your head to one side)

• Idzikowski found that his subjects who struck this pose would often object to criticism. They were also wary of extreme conditions.

6. Starfish (lying on your back with your arms back behind your head holding the pillow)

• This was the least common position adopted by Idzikowski’s volunteers. The traits that were similar with these individuals were compassionate listening and an avoidance of attention.

So take this little list and as you and your partner fall asleep on your new Simmons Beautyrest, take a second to see what position they assume. Does their personality it match their pose?

Share your answers with us and receive two free pillows with your next purchase of a Simmons mattress at Simmons Mattress Gallery.

If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a new mattress at up to 60% off, then you had better hurry, the final days are upon us.

Come on down to Simmons Mattress Gallery at our Broadway, Coquitlam or Victoria locations to take advantage of this fantastic offer.

Ends Sunday March 14th

After a four and a half year relationship, your man finally popped the question. It took you less than five seconds (he’ll say it was more like the longest minute of his life) to give him an answer.

Now you’ve set the date, you’ve widdled down the guest list, you’ve hired a wedding planner and you rented the hall.

Your next task is creating a gift list.

Our recommendation, “Suggest a new bed.” It will be the most useful gift you receive.

The truth is, you’ve slept on your tired out mattress for too many years. A new marriage is a fresh start to a relationship. Ditch the old has been and embrace a sleeping foundation that will provide years of comfort, fun, pain relief and hours, upon hours of undisturbed sleep.

Your intimate moments are poised to climb to new levels, so enjoy them in comfort. You also may be expecting a little one in the not-so-distant future. Finding significant rest will now become priority number one.

And finally, we probably don’t need to mention it, but just in case-choose the largest size mattress that fits comfortably into your bedroom. There is nothing romantic about squeezing onto a twin. You both need your space. Trust us.

So go with the mattress professionals and suggest Simmons Mattress Gallery. Feel free to visit us beforehand and test-drive the models you are considering. It will be a nice break from licking envelopes.

Since the beginning of time, human beings have always sought out a comfortable place to sleep. This may have been the dry area of a cave or a sheltered nook under a large tree. To increase their comfort, early humans would lie on a pile of leaves, grass or straw. They often covered these materials with a layer of animal skins.

Most of these early peoples were nomadic, so their beds needed to be portable.

When farming developed and families settled in one given area, humans began to create more permanent dwellings.

The word mattress itself is actually an Arabic word meaning ‘a mat that was thrown in a certain area.

As early as 3000 B.C. humans were forming beds made of stuffed sacs. These bags were filled with straw or wool.

In ancient Egypt, your bed actually defined your social ranking.

When the first bed frames were being made, their original design consisted of rope stretched tightly across a wooden frame.

By the early 18th Century, mattress covers were developed. These were made from either linen or cotten. The mattresses themselves were then filled with either straw or wool.

In the late 1800’s iron and steel replaced the initial wooden frames and in 1871 Heinrich Westphal developed the first spring mattress.

Today, Simmons Mattresses use another revolution, the pocket coil. These individual coils produce an undisturbed sleep that offers a comfort level far beyond the early spring prototypes.

We’ve certainly come along way from straw and animal skins.

The mighty Vancouver Canucks are now two games away from completing the longest road trip in NHL history. It all started with a 5-3 win over the dismal Toronto Maple Leafs on the 30th of January. Since then, the club has been able to hold on to an impressive road-trip record, slightly over 500.

The 14 games away have been spread out over 40 days and three different months. That’s more than 39 nights that the boys have been away from their beds. They have probably slept in over ten different hotels.

This Wednesday, they return to Vancouver after their final road game against Phoenix. They are leading their division and looked poised for a strong stretch run.

But come Wednesday night, I doubt the Canucks will be thinking about their impressive record or the resurgence of Kyle Wellwood. No, the boys will have one thing on their mind: sleep.

It’s what every athlete requires to perform at a top level and for over a month the Canucks have been asked to find their rest in foreign settings.

On Wednesday, each player will sink into his bed after arriving on the red-eye from Phoenix.  There may be a short physical moment with their significant other, but then it’s lights out.

“Congratulations team on an excellent road-trip. You don’t work again till Saturday, so enjoy your rest. Hopefully you’re finding it on a Simmons, the ultimate mattress for comfort and an undisturbed sleep.”

In an earlier post, we listed the ten most common sleeping settings, other than your own mattress. Our list outlined the deficiencies that each of these locations regrettably provided. Our conclusion was that nothing could replace the contentment provided by your own bed.

But that’s assuming your bed is a Simmons. . .

What if your bed is a less than superior brand, possibly a hand-me-down? Maybe you have been sleeping on a saggy, springy mattress for years. What if you were to spend a romantic night at a luxury hotel and were spoiled by Beautyrest NxG series mattress? How could you ever return to your old bed without an insistent longing for the comfort level that only a Simmons can provide?

It would be like traveling to a foreign city and driving a rented Lexus for a week. Upon your return, cruising in your Suzuki Swift might seem like a heinous punishment for some unknown crime.

Trust us, you don’t need to punish yourself, especially not with a tired, beat-up old mattress.

Stop into a Simmons Mattress Gallery and explore your options for a comfort-laden sleep. It won’t break your bank account and your body will be forever thankful.

We have three locations for your convenience:

• Vancouver: 1001 West Broadway
• Coquitlam: 101 Schoolhouse Street
• Victoria: 3510 Blanshard Street

Hope to see you soon.

For ridding yourself of your old sleeping partner, read our blog on mattress disposal.

Have you ever gotten up to use the washroom at five in the morning and looked across the street to see your elderly neighbours making breakfast? They are both retired, but there they are, at five in the morning, preparing for a new day.

From observations like these, many people hold the misconception that senior citizens require less sleep than younger people. Sean Drummond, a sleep researcher for the University of California, recently disproved this urban myth.

Mr. Drummond conducted tests with two groups; one had an average age of 67, the other 29. His tests involved memory recall and required his subjects to remember a list of random words. The subjects were tested with varying sleep lengths and quality.

Drummond found that both age groups performed better when they were allowed to sleep longer. Interestingly, the younger group was affected more by the quality of rest. Quality did not seem to play a part in the performance of the senior group. Individuals from the senior group could have a fitful sleep, but if it were of appropriate length, there performance would not be affected.

This means that senior citizens need just as much sleep as their younger counterparts, but they also have the unusual ability to break up their sleeping schedule into smaller parts. As a result, seniors are more suited for mid-day napping, while young people need their sleep in a substantial block.

So that elderly neighbour across the street may be up at five, but chances are, they’re also down and out sometime in the afternoon for a quick siesta.

Isn’t retirement grand!

Everyone enjoys the comfort of his or her own bed. It’s what you long for after you’ve been away traveling. It’s what you dream about at your job when the paperwork seems never-ending. It’s the bed you picked out for yourself, with the perfect firmness and the ideal dimensions. It’s home.

But then there are those other times, when you have to sleep where you can. It is those times when you appreciate what you have.

Here is a list of ten places that may be less than ideal for catching some shuteye:

10. At a park

-It’s a beautiful summer day and you’re lying on the grass watching the clouds. Your eyes begin to shut and soon you’re asleep. You wake up with ants crawling under your shirt and a twig lodged in your back.

9. On public transit

-You’ve finished a long day at work and you are catching the bus back home. You fall asleep and wake up five stops past your destination with an old man staring at you. His drool is worse then yours.

8. At the airport

-Your flight has been delayed for a second time, but the airport staff has insured you that the flight will depart sometime that night. You can’t leave the terminal, so you attempt to sleep on the benches left over from the Spanish Inquisition.

7. At school or the office

-The professor’s monotone voice has been carrying on about statistical probability for the last hour and 43 minutes. You lasted about 18 minutes. You wake up with the lecture hall empty and a note on your binder: “You will not be passing my course. I suggest you withdraw.”

6. The beach or a tanning bed

-Sand. In everything. You also have a terrible burn. In three weeks it may resemble a one-sided tan.

5. In your car

-You’ve been locked out and it’s late. There doesn’t seem to be another option. You sit in the back seat with your legs extended diagonally to the front passenger seat. You rest your head against the cold damp window; the essence of comfort.

4. Camping

-No one sleeps well in a tent; it doesn’t matter how thick your thermarest is. There is also a soggy dampness in the morning that makes your sleeping bag feel as comforting as a cold wet mitten.

3. On the couch

-House ended three hours ago, but you still can’t find the will to get up and walk to your bedroom. You settle for infomercials and 12 minute sleep cycles.

2. On a plane

-You are in the middle isle in the middle seat. To your left is a businessman who ate Mexican before he boarded. To your right is a mother with her newborn. Silent pockets of gas are mixed with a baby’s bawling. You look to the stewardess for sympathy and she raises eight fingers. Her devilish smile makes you wish you had never heard of Tokyo.

1. At a friends

-You were invited over for dinner and after two bottles of wine and three hours of deep conversation, you’ve made the choice to stay over. Things progress and soon it looks like you have moved beyond ‘just friends.’ The physical act takes less than ten minutes and afterwards, you both find yourselves staring at the ceiling, contemplating the consequences. Add to this awkwardness a mattress that belongs in a museum. Even with the wine, there will be no rest. You yearn for your Simmons Beautyrest Black mattress and all the guilt-free comfort it offers. In the words of Dorothy Gale, “there’s no place like home.”

You’ve been down to Simmons Mattress Gallery in Coquitlam and have picked out a perfect NxG series mattress from Beautyrest. You went with the ‘drop top‘ design. It’s been years since you’ve had a comfortable mattress and you can’t wait to try it out.

But now you are left with the dilemma of how to dispose of your lumpy old bed.

Here are a few options to consider:

1.You could donate your mattress to charity, but unfortunately most organizations, like the Salvation Army, are now refusing to accept used mattresses.

2. You could take the opportunity to clear out some other junk in your living space and package it all up for a junk removal company. 1-800-GOT-JUNK provides a free estimate and charges by volume, not by time.

3. For a greener option, you could look into the services of a mattress-recycling centre. Mattressrecycling.ca charges $14 per mattress for drop-off recycling, but adds a hefty fee for mattress pickup. They claim to repurpose 90% of the materials found in your retired mattress. These materials are then sent to local companies or secondary recyclers.

4. Lastly, you could use the ever-popular Craigslist. There are hundreds of foreign students looking for quick and cheap apartment furnishings in and around the Lower Mainland. Just make a short add describing the dimensions of your mattress, with a quick note that the offer is for pick-up only. You may also want to stress the cleanliness of the mattress and, because of the recent bed bug epidemic, you may want to quickly note that the mattress is free from creepers.

Good luck and enjoy your new bed from Simmons Mattress Gallery.

In an earlier blog, “From the Moon to Your Room,” we discussed the origins of memory foam. Memory foam was originally created by NASA to provide cushioning for high impact take-off and landings. Since then, it has been adopted by the mattress world, providing a top surface of comfort and heat dissipation.

Simmons Mattress Gallery is proud to offer memory foam as a topping layer on a number of its luxury mattress lines, passing on the innovations of NASA to the average citizen.

But you may wonder how memory foam works in a gravity free environment. Well, the foam only provides cushioning when the shuttles are entering or leaving the earth’s atmosphere.

Astronauts are not supplied with cozy Beautyrest mattresses for sleeping. Instead they use sleeping bags. Once inside the bag, the astronauts need to secure themselves to the shuttle or space station wall. If they didn’t, they could spend the night slowly bouncing around the cabin, which would result in no rest at all.

Dreaming of a Beautyrest

Increased sunlight is another factor that astronauts need to contend with while sleeping in space. The sun rises and sets approximately 16 times each day, as the shuttle or station orbits the earth. Blocking out this sunlight is important for the astronauts to receive a full eight hours of rest. This helps them maintain a 24-hour schedule.

With all the racket from the air filters and fans on board, astronauts tend to use earplugs to drown out the excessive noise. They also are encouraged to use chemical sleeping aids.

Administrators back on earth monitor the astronauts’ sleep. These individuals also wake the astronauts when their sleeping cycle is completed. They use either music, usually employed on the shuttles, or an alarm, used on the International Space Station.

And if you’re wondering if astronauts dream in space, the answer is yes.

(They probably dream of their beds back home)

So next time you are having trouble falling asleep, open the window, look up at the sky, and think of the astronauts strapping themselves in for a little shut-eye. We have it pretty good. Enjoy your sleep and be thankful for gravity.

“‘. . . and clover, over and over / Crimson and clover, over and over. . .’

The sweet melody of Tommy James and the Shondells suddenly fills my bedroom. It’s 6:45 and it’s time to rise and shine. Well, at least rise.

There will be no visible shine until after a shower and two cups of coffee. And even then it will be more of flicker than a shine.

My clock radio has been performing its duties since the mid 90’s, a solid timepiece with a speaker as scratchy as an apartment intercom. But it’s not the sound quality that saves it from the trash; it’s the little clock’s reliability.

It’s never failed me. Not once. I may have forgotten to set it and for that I take full responsibility. But when I have punched my desired digits, it’s executed its task beautifully.

Some of you may rely on a significant other for a morning nudge. But I warn you, be careful, human error is unavoidable. She may promise you that she’ll pull off the sheets right at 7:00, but if her sister calls from New York and they get chatting, you might become an afterthought. Try explaining to your boss how Liza’s new man made you miss the performance meeting.

Then there are those of you who sleep with the curtains open to the east, ready for the sunrise to wake you softly from your slumber. This method is fairly inefficient, especially in the cloud cave of Vancouver. But if your granola can wait, who am I to tell you to abandon your faith in Ra.

And then there are the ‘lucky’ few of you who are able to wake naturally, right at the desired time. To you, I offer my condolences. For you, my friend, are the product of unconscious stress. Your body releases a hormone called adrenocorticotropin, as a product of your anxiety. You may feel privileged to be free of an alarm, but your nervous nature has your internal clock in a full mount. Try releasing some of that stress to free you from subconscious submission.

No, the best way, I figure, is to partner with a simple bedside box. You set it and forget about it; confident it will perform its task in the morning.

Just remember to add a nine-volt battery in case the power fails.”

Old Faithful

“Expect an increased chance of showers.”

With relatives or friends in town, you may be looking for activities around the city to fill in time between Olympic events. Unfortunately, the standard Seawall walk, Grouse Grind and trip to Kits Beach are out of the question due to the weather. As local resident and tour guide, it is now your responsibility to find engaging activities at indoor locations.

Galleries are always interesting and the Vancouver Art Gallery is one of the best art museums in the country. From the west coast Emily Carr collection, to the anatomical sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, the VAG is a must see.

The Museum of Anthropology is another great option. Located out at UBC, the museum currently has a special exhibition highlighting cultural boundaries. The exhibit is entitled Border Zones: New Art Across Cultures, and features a dialogue through art between twelve different artists. The exhibition is being presented by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and is the inaugural expedition for the museum’s Audain Gallery.

If there are little ones in the crowd, you might consider the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre. The centre has numerous interactive booths that will have the kids entertained for hours. The planetarium theatre, which is located above the centre, is currently screening five different programs throughout the day: “Our Vanishing Sky,” “Galileo,” “Harold’s Solar System,”  “Nightwatch,” and “Sky Stories.”

These three sites are excellent time fillers, but there is one remaining gallery that trumps them all, the Simmons Mattress Gallery. With two locations in the Lower Mainland and one in Victoria, Simmons Mattress Galleries are easy to find. Inside you will discover a showcase of the finest mattresses you will ever set your eyes on. This is an interactive exhibit, so feel free to stretch out on any of the beds. The gallery staff is especially trained to handle all your mattress questions from motion separation to power foundations.

So bundle up and bring your guests down to a Simmons Mattress Gallery for a cultural sleeping experience you can enjoy for years.

• Simmons Mattress Gallery: www.simmonsmattressgallery.ca
• The Vancouver Art Gallery:  www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
• The Museum of Anthropology Cultural Exhibit:  www.BorderZones.ca/
• H.R. MacMillan Space Centre: www.hrmacmillanspacecentre.com/

The most romantic day of the year is upon us and Cupid has a message for you: “Flowers, candy and candles may set the mood, but it will be your mattress that supports the passion.”

When the wine is done and you’ve caught a cab back home, the action will inevitably move to the bedroom. Your bed will provide the setting for the evening’s physical activities.

We at Simmons Mattress Gallery want to make sure that you are properly equipped with a mattress suitable for fulfilling your desires.

If you intend to stage your exploits on an older mattress, you are probably neglecting you and your partner’s comfort. Worn coils make for lumpy mattresses. No one wants to lie on lumps and discomfort is an unneeded distraction. We want your head in the game, not focused on the bumps in the bed.

Buying a brand new Simmons mattress ensures comfort.  Our unique non-flip pocket coil design cradles your body’s weight. With an even surface of comfort, you will be able to roll seamlessly from one side of the bed to the other.

As well, old noisy springs are romance killers. They may seem amusing some nights, but really, besides being uncomfortable, they offer an unneeded soundtrack to your intimate moments. You want to be able to express yourself with your voice not a creak.

Finally, for the more advanced frolickers, our mattresses will supply the support needed for any position your imagination can conjure.

We may not be able to light the candles or write you a poetic verse, but we can outfit you with a mattress that will provide the comfort, silence and support needed for your bedroom adventures. Be safe and enjoy your nights on a Simmons from Simmons Mattress Gallery.

Helicopter fly-bys, intoxicated Russian super-fans, midnight sirens downtown, and a light show that shines right in your window; It’s hard to get a good night sleep these days. The Olympics have brought the world to our doorstep, but they have also brought a host of disruptions (we won’t even touch on the traffic).

A billion people will be watching from around the world, but here in Vancouver, life goes on as usual. You still need to be at work by eight, the dog needs to be walked at 6:30 in the morning and your boss still needs those numbers by Friday. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get some decent rest.  Add on the maelstrom that is the Olympics and those few precious hours become more valuable than any gold medallion.

When you finally get a chance to lie down, you need a mattress that will let you sleep soundly through the night. Simmons mattresses are specifically designed to offer you maximum comfort, while eliminating movement disturbances from your significant other. Our pocket coils react individually; cradling your body, while the rest of the mattress remains unaffected. With each move in the night, the coils respond, keeping you cushioned with comfort.

Sleeping on a Simmons is always the best option for securing your rest, but with the Olympics and the chaos that accompanies it, we would implore you to invest in a mattress intended for a disturbance free sleep.

Our city’s arms are open to the world and at Simmons Mattress Gallery our doors are open to you. Come in and choose your perfect Simmons mattress today.

The PVR changed the way we watch television. The I-pod changed the way we collected music. The slapchop changed the way we… cut up vegetables. And memory foam changed the possibilities for a comfortable sleep.

But like a number of inventions of its time, memory foam was not originally designed for the purpose we now use it for.

Memory foam was first produced by NASA, in 1966, under the label ‘Temper Foam.’ This foam was designed specifically for the seat cushions in space shuttles. The purpose of the foam was to add a shock layer for the astronaut’s posteriors during take-off and landing.

Since then, a number of companies have adopted the foam to add comfort and safety to their products. Originally too expensive for consumer use, the foam has now shown up in helmets, in veterinary clinics, in wheel chair padding and most importantly, on the top of our beds.

Two reasons for memory foam’s widespread use are its ability to eliminate pressure points and its ability to increase blood circulation. These two features make it an ideal surface for sleeping on.

The medical world was one of the first fields to use the foam on top of a mattress. Patients with mobility issues are supplied the foam to prevent issues that arise from sleeping on a firm mattress; like stiffness and pressure sores.

By reacting to body warmth and weight, the foam also offers a cushioning that dissipates heat. This is excellent for individuals who are easily disturbed by temperature increase.

With new improvements to the foam’s composition, recovery time has increased, resulting in quicker adjustments to your natural movements in the night. Your body’s contours are consistently supported with a comfort level that only the best astronauts are accustomed to.

With NASA’s technology, Simmons Mattress Gallery offers memory foam as a luxury feature for some of our finest mattresses. Using Visco and Latex foam, our Beautyrest line is enhanced beyond the comfort supplied by our innovative pocket coil design.

Come try our Beautyrest Black series or our Beautyrest NxG mattresses and experience all the benefits of memory foam with added support right to the edge of your bed.

We may not be able to take you to the moon, but we can top your bed with the finest foam in the business.

Visit a Simmons Mattress Gallery near you to feel the difference memory foam provides.

Ask your friends what their number one advice is for relationships. Half of them will tell you: “Don’t go to bed in the middle of a fight.”

It’s good advice, for a number of reasons.

First, going to bed without a resolution prolongs the argument. The problems are still there in the morning. Your bed, no matter the make, is not a magic pad that eliminates the issues of your disagreement.

Secondly, going to bed angry means neither of you will get the rest you deserve. Sleep is intended to give your body time to recuperate from the day’s activities and mental stimuli. If you are both upset about what has been said, your body and mind will not be able to relax. You will wake up just as tired as when your head hit the pillow. Tired people are cranky and are often unwilling to discuss issues in rational terms. The morning after a restless sleep is not an appropriate climate for discussion.

Thirdly, you are on a mattress. Why not resolve the argument so you can enjoy the other activity that mattresses supply the setting for.

At Simmons Mattress Gallery we want you to enjoy our product. There is no enjoyment in sharing a mattress with someone you are fighting with. So listen to the advice of your friends. Spend the extra time before you fall asleep resolving the issues of your argument. You will thank us.

Stress and exhaustion are a difficult cocktail mix to swallow. Turning off your brain for a full eight hours of sleep may at times seem nearly impossible. The easy answer to this problem may come in the form of a capsule or pill, a small, easily accessible drug to knock you out.

But before you start popping pills to induce sleep, you should be made aware of the possible problems with prescription and non-prescription sleeping aids.

The most serious concern is developing a dependency to an artificial stimulant. The more you use a drug to fall asleep, the more your body will crave that easy answer.

As well, over time, the effectiveness of any drug wears off. This will force you to increase the amount your body needs to achieve the initial results that the pill offered.

Another concern is having prescription or non-prescription drugs lying around your house. Sleep medication can be deadly for children who might mistake the pills for candy. Keeping your pills locked in a medicine cabinet is imperative. If you do not have a safe place to store the drugs then you should not be bringing them into your house.

If you are still planning on using a chemical stimulant to induce sleep there are a few guidelines you should remember:

1. Always follow the directions supplied by the manufacturer or pharmacist.

2. Make sure your doctor and a family member or partner is aware of the drugs you are taking.

3. Never mix sleeping pills with other pills or beverages such as alcohol that slow the nervous system.

4. Never operate machinery or drive a vehicle after taking a sleeping pill.

Finding alternatives to prescription and non-prescription drugs may be the best option for your body and your family. Simple products like chamomile tea have long been known to induce sleep. Reading before bed can also help your mind slow down to a pace that is ready for rest.

Another great option is a quick yoga stretch. Yoga works on both your mind and your body. Prolonged stretches help create a state of relaxation appropriate for sleeping.

But the best alternative is comfort. If you are not comfortable when you lie down after a hard day, then you will never receive the rest you need. A new mattress may be the key ingredient to fixing your sleep anxiety.

At Simmons Mattress Gallery, we will work with you to find a mattress that provides you with the most amount of natural comfort possible. This will put your body and mind in a state appropriate for extended sleep.

Don’t become dependent on a pill for your rest. Fall asleep on a Simmons with no added side effects and wake up refreshed.

Your sleep is our business and if you or your partner is not receiving adequate rest, we want to help.

We would like to think that a new mattress from Simmons Mattress Gallery would solve all your problems, but sometimes your lack of sleep can be linked to a sleeping disorder that you may or may not be aware of.

One of the most common sleep disorders is ‘bruxism,’ a term used to describe the practice of grinding one’s teeth during sleep. This often genetic disorder regularly goes undiagnosed. The two individuals most likely to inform you of your condition are your sleeping partner or your dentist.

There are many suspected causes for bruxism. The two major ones are stress and or a misaligned bite. Other contributing factors are smoking, heavy drinking and high caffeine intake.

Bruxim can cause morning headaches or earaches from your constant grinding during the night. It can also entice jaw, shoulder and back pain, as your muscles and bones react negatively to the stress.

Your partner may feel one of the most irritating side effects, as the sound of the disorder often acts as a disruption for the person sleeping next to you.

A visit to your family doctor or dentist is recommended.  If not yourself, for your sleep deprived significant other.

Treatments of bruxism may include wearing a mouth guard, but often simple acts like changing your sleeping position, altering your diet to softer foods, reducing the stress in your life or having your partner wake you during your gnashing bouts can help reduce the effects of this disorder.

Our doctors also recommend a possible mattress change. But they are on the payroll.

Your Semi-final Men’s Hockey tickets arrived in the mail and even with the excitement of the Olympics, you are still wondering if they will be worth the exuberant price you had to pay. But of course, you promised your two sons you would take them and it will be a night they will never forget – the stars of the NHL playing for national pride.

But now money is short and your youngest needs a new bed. You thought it could wait another month, but the other night, as you read him a bedtime story, you discovered just how uncomfortable his current mattress is.

It needs to be replaced, but you do not have the resources to purchase an expensive mattress?

At Simmons Mattress Gallery you have affordable options. The Deep Sleep line is intended for customers with a tighter budget, but who are still looking for a quality mattress.

One review, on the consumer website Viewpoints.com, stated: “I’ve had this mattress for a long time and it is still comfortable. I would recommend it to someone who doesn’t want to spend the extra money for one of the newer brand(s).”

The DeepSleep line utilizes Slim Flex coil technology over the Beautyrest Pocket Coils. SlimFlex coils are fastened together to form an interactive support system when compressed. Like the Beautyrest line, the Deep Sleep mattresses are non-flip.

The comfort on a DeepSleep is maintained with the SuperSoft Knit and Damask Fabric top. This silky cover is also incredibly lightweight, for easy transport.

If you are looking to add additional features to your DeepSleep, inquire about adding Bountyfill quilting or a SlimGard upholstery layer.

Tight budgets are hard to work with, but at Simmons Mattress Gallery we have solutions. Keep the tickets and buy a DeepSleep.

Go Canada Go

“There are three red bites on your neck and your sheets are spotted with copper marks.

During the day you quiver at the very thought of returning to your bed.

Your friends avoid you and your family stops calling.

The night brings no rest.

Eventually the stress consumes you.

You look for answers from the most unlikely sources.

You’ve heard stories of their carnivorous lifestyle, but doubt their existence.

Has Twilight become reality?

No. There is no denying, you, have bed bugs.”

Bed bugs are now considered an epidemic in Vancouver’s West End. A problem for years in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the bugs have migrated west, proving that expensive cluster living is just as at risk as the poorest housing project.

The bugs have three main methods of travel. The first, and most common method is through luggage or daypacks. The bag may be dropped for a few minutes or stored for a few days in an infected area. When the article moves, the bugs move with it. This is easily done at a hotel, where unsuspecting guests leave their luggage open. The bugs are attracted by the human scent and dead skin. They make their way into the bag and are eventually transported to another location.

The second method is through clothing and or bedding. The bugs do not live on humans like lice; they prefer to make their homes away from the host. They establish themselves in an area and then return to the body to feed.

The last method of travel is through wiring. The bugs can move through apartment complexes using the electrical wires that connect each unit. Shockingly, they can also follow the wires outside to a neighbouring complex.

While the bugs do feed on the blood of humans, they are not considered a health risk and are incapable of spreading disease. They do, however, propose a danger for people living with immune deficiency. Early detection is key. Here is what to look for:

1. Bed Bugs (the actual insect) – oval shaped, with a flattened red body the size of a lady bug

2. Dark Spots on your sheets

3. Copper Stains on your mattress or bedding

4. Bite marks that come in threes

Once infected, you can try and contain the problem yourself, but your best option is to hire a professional. Vancouver Bed Bug Control Inc. is one of the companies working in Vancouver that specializes in bed bug removal. In the past they used beagles to sniff out the unwanted insects for early detection, but they have now switched to a cimex case baited with human pheromone.

If you are set on doing the work yourself, make sure you have a powerful vacuum, the tools to dismantle your furniture, and the will to throw away infected items such as children’s toys and pillows. Start with the vacuuming, then wash all your clothes and bedding, then vacuum again, inspect all your furniture, vacuum again and then use a spray product on areas that you have discovered to be infected. Then vacuum again. Good luck.

If you are renting, the fees surrounding the treatment of these pests may be subsidized or paid in full by your landlord.

If you are merely concerned about infection, here are some preventative measures you can take:

1. Inspect your luggage after a trip abroad before bringing it into your house.

2. Do not drop your day bag on the floor or furniture of another residence.

3. Do not buy second hand furniture or mattresses.

4. Repair holes or cracks in your drywall.

5. Purchase a bed bug mattress cover package that includes a box spring cover, a mattress cover and multiple pillow covers.

Vampires may only exist in teenage-romance novels, but bed bugs are very real. Stay informed. Here are some helpful websites:

The Bed Bug Registry

http://bedbugregistry.com/location/BC/V6E/Vancouver/1100-Jervis-St/

Health Link BC

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile95.stm

Vancouver Bed Bug Control

http://www.vancouverbedbugcontrol.com/

For complete peace of mind, consider purchasing a brand new mattress set from Simmons Mattress Gallery. We can outfit you with all the components you need to start fresh. Come stop by our locations in Vancouver, Victoria, or Coquitlam. Or visit us online at simmonsmattressgallery.ca.

The mattress event of the year is taking place right now as Simmons Mattress Gallery hosts its first and last “Clearance Sale.” All mattresses are being reduced by 60%. Every design, every product, the entire store is being given a clearance price. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Our complete collection is available to you. Our entire Beautyrest line, our ComforPedic memory foam beds, our power foundations, it is all being sold at 60% off.

You could upgrade every bed in your house for next to nothing. The master bedroom, the kids’ rooms, the guest room, they can all be re-equipped with Simmons signature mattresses.

So take advantage of this amazing opportunity and head down to our Blanshard location today. This is a mattress sale like no other, and it won’t ever happen again.

In Victoria: 3510 Blanshard Street

Other Simmons Mattress Gallery locations:

1001 West Broadway, Vancouver

101 Schoolhouse Street, Coquitlam

Getting a decent amount of rest each night is important for everyone.

In the professional world, an 8-hour, undisturbed sleep, allows us to work to our full potential. It keeps us alert and focused. It also increases our ability to work longer hours. For some of us, coffee might have the same affect, but the healthy choice is obvious: more sleep equals better productivity.

The same principal applies to our children.

As competition grows for Post-Secondary entrance, more and more young people are neglecting healthy sleep over hours spent studying. It is important to remind our children that sleep deprivation is much more detrimental to their learning potential then they realize.

On average, teenagers need approximately 10 hours of sleep each night. Younger children need even more.

One way to help your child receive the rest they need is to encourage a sleep schedule.

If, once they are in bed, they have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, the problem could be the mattress they are lying on.

Often children are given mattresses that are passed down and have worn out springs. These mattresses might look like an easy way to save money, but they may be hurting your child’s potential. The money you spent on a tutor could be going to waste if your child is not able to maintain concentration, due to a lack of rest.

A smart investment would be a new mattress from Simmons Mattress Gallery. Simmons has a huge selection of mattresses for every person in your household. Come browse our store with the whole family. Your children will thank you.

Simmons Mattress Gallery in Victoria, is closing its doors for good. But before we board everything up, we are having a massive closeout sale. Every product in the store is being sold at 70% off. This is an unbelievable offer for anyone interested in purchasing a new mattress.

Products like our Beauty Rest, World Class mattress, are being sold at a huge reduction. These mattresses offer excellent motion separation with our patented evolution, Non-Flip® pocket coils. They are also built with a triple edge support system for the outer rim of your mattress. The World Class model is finished with a luxurious top of natural fibres to give you a plush sleeping surface.

Even our top Beauty Rest line, Exceptionale, is being reduced to clear. This line of mattresses includes two story, coil on coil construction, for unprecedented support. The Exceptionale line also has a 360° foam encasement, that heightens the sleeping comfort at the edge of your bed.

The Exceptionale Series

There is nothing comparable to an undisturbed, ultra-comfort sleep on a Simmons mattress. And with 70% off, this is the time to buy one. We are looking forward to showing you all of the Simmons possibilities when you visit us. So hurry, this sale won’t last long.

Simmons Mattress Gallery Locations near you:

Victoria: 3150 Blanshard Street

Vancouver: 1001 West Broadway

Coquitlam: 101 Schoolhouse Street

5. Noise from your neighbours

4. Sirens from passing Emergency Vehicles

3. The phone ringing at an ungodly hour

2. Your baby crying

1.Your partner

The first four disruptions are out of our control, but we can help with the final one. Sleeping with a partner on a Simmons is like having the comfort of two separate beds with the intimacy of one. Our patented pocket coil mattresses minimize motion transfer to your loved one. The coils also conform to the exact shape of your body, offering you unparalleled comfort levels.

Pocket Coils

To learn more about Simmons mattresses visit www.simmonscanada.com or head straight to the source and purchase a new mattress with us, Simmons Mattress Gallery. Your partner will thank us.

(For the first four disruptions, try earplugs)

How does Simmons build on its unique pocket coil technology? On top!

The NXG series combines pocket coil construction with advanced memory foam for a firm, yet responsive sleep. The coils ensure undisturbed rest and individual attention. The memory foam creates a smooth top layer that has an aesthetic appeal. The foam also dissipates heat and recovers quickly to your movements in the night. The combination of these two features supplies unparalleled comfort, style and responsiveness. Try it yourself today, at a Simmons Mattress Gallery.

The NXG Mattress

Locations:

Vancouver – 1001 West Broadway

Victoria – 110-3510 Blanshard Street

Coquitlam – 101 Schoolhouse Street