Friday, May 22, 2009


When I was first married, my mother and mother-in-law showered me with beautiful nightwear. I felt lovely in them but really took them for granted. At that time, I didn’t give a great deal of thought to the importance of feeling good about myself. Those wise, older women understood too well.

As the years went on, nightwear spending was at the bottom of the list as children’s clothes, work clothes and household stuff became the priority. I began wearing t-shirts to bed with long johns bought for cross country skiing. While I wouldn’t say I completely stopped worrying about how I felt about myself, it definitely became secondary to everything else in my life. I didn’t feel lovely but feeling lovely was not a priority during those years. Daily life was all about managing schedules, trying to get enough sleep to keep going and putting our children first.

As my husband and I are once again playing house alone together, the true joy of “dressing up” for bed has emerged. Of course, dressing up now means breathable fabrics and styles a little less revealing to flatter my more mature figure. The great discovery I’ve made is that nightwear can be both attractive and a pleasure to sleep in.

I’ve had great fun sourcing the nightwear lines I carry in The Linen Cupboard. Each line has different features providing something for everyone.

Whether you like the classic look of egyptian cotton nightshirts and nightgowns; bright colours and tailoring in cotton pajamas; the silky feel of bamboo and silk or the breathable comfort and feminine look of woven cotton, I encourage you to treat yourself.

And, if there’s a young woman in your family, treat her to something special to wear to bed. We even have nursing nightwear that will make all new moms feel lovely.

Remember, feeling good about yourself is for you.

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Pleasures of Scent

Customers entering The Cupboard usually comment on the lovely scent in the store. They almost seem to pause and take an “aaahh” moment.

The funny thing is, I didn’t set out to create a special scent when I opened the shop. It’s simply the result of the combined testers and samples open. The triple milled soaps, lavender filled items, drawer liners, scented candles and diffusers in the store all join together in a very pleasing way.

This continual comment from customers has convinced me that we need to do more to have the same feeling in our own homes. What better place to bring scent in to your home than in the rooms where you let the day slide away; your bedroom and bath.

Begin as I did – leave a few bars of your favourite soap on the counter in the bath and let their delicious scent greet you when you open the door. A few bath tablets or bath salts left open in a dish by your tub will contribute their own delicate scent. A scented candle lit during bath time will have you well on your way to your own “aaahh” moment as you ease into a hot tub.

Create an overall scent for your bedroom with a diffuser or direct your pleasure in specific ways. Lavender pillow spray or a pajama wrap filled with lavender under your pillow will ease you to sleep. Ancient Romans understood the healing properties of lavender. Its ability to calm seems even more important in the 21st century.

It’s not difficult to have a similar ‘scentual’ experience to that in the store, whether it occurs accidentally or you are deliberate in your efforts.