When I first head the term "organic mattress," I immediately envisioned a big burlap sack stuffed to the brim with grass clippings. Call me crazy, but I couldn't picture how the place where I head at night could really be considered organic - until I had a chat with Doug Bellveille.

Doug and his father, Doug, have been running The Water Works Sleep Center Inc. right here in St. Louis for almost 23 years now. According to Doug, an organic mattress is very different from what I had originally thought. The mattresses are organic because they come from renewable resources like a rubber tree (a renewable resource when grown solely for this purpose), organic cotton and organic wool, rather than polyurethane foam. At the very least, rubber tree is a lot easier to say. Organic mattresses are also supposed to be better at blocking dust, old skin, pollen and dust mites that are commonly associated with mattress and box springs.And while they tend to be a bit more expensive, they're rumored to last longer, so it should come out about even. Plus it's Eco-friendly.

My only question is - would a water bed be even more organic than these sweet sleepers?

First, I thought I might try to learn basket weaving. I'm kind of a pack rat, so I can always use more storage to hold the numerous odds and ends that I have lying around my house. And if I'm looking for a nearby place to stock up on supplies, St. Louis Basketry sounds like it's fully stocked. The store even offers classes on how to make specific basket designs.

And if I get really good at weaving those baskets, I might need to learn how to arrange some flowers to go in those baskets. Some of my grandma's friends are really into this hobby, and if it adds a bit of color to the otherwise dreary day, why not? The St. Louis Academy of Floral Arts and Sciences sounds like it would be a good option if I became very serious about my peonies. For an at-home lesson, click on [tab:video] to see one of the many great flower arranging lessons available online.

When I think of needlepoint, I typically think of stuffy floral scenes and declarations of "Home Sweet Home." But there's no reason why you couldn't stitch a really cool pattern like this Super Mario one. The Needlepoint Clubhouse on New Ballas offers needlepoint classes, and their selection of thread would make even my Memaw proud.

I'm not sure if this one is more of a child's pastime than that of everyone's grandmothers, but making potholders can be practical and fun. I had a loom like this one when I was little, and my poor relatives were guilted into using them whenever I was in their vicinity.

Worst case scenario, if I fail horribly at all of the above activities, at least I could go birding with my Memaw or play indoor croquet (don't ask).

Cherokee Street, in the heart of south city, is a great place to head if you are looking for pieces with history and flair. Located between Lemp and Jefferson, Cherokee Street'sAntique Row houses shops like The Purple Cow, which specializes in vintage graphic art, Ruth's Vintage Clothing, which offers amazing hats and accessories, and tons of shops packed with antique furniture and home accessories. Dotted along the path are cafes and coffee houses to warm you up and keep you full. Thus far, Cherokee Street is my number one pick for antique excursions.

While you can walk the entire path on a treasure hunt on Cherokee, Eureka, MO has a mixture of foot path and destination stores for treasure hunters to explore. Located about 25 minutes from St. Louis, Eureka's antiquing district is a little more spread out. There are a number of shops dotted along the strip in Old Town and the highway outer roads in addition to an antique mall in the town. Here you can find anything from truly antique clothing to wooden milk storage chests at reasonable prices. I picked up an elbow length pair of gloves for under $12 and a few antique hats to add to my collection last time I was down there, but there were also a beautiful antique dressing table at a reasonable I would love to make room for.

Eureka and Cherokee Street are my two favorite antiquing haunts in the city thus far, but antiquing is a hobby of recent vintage for me. Leaving aside the streets cluttered with craft fair items and tea houses, I am interested in discovering more antiquing districts in our city that might be flying under my radar. Any spots I may have missed?

A couple of years ago, I was dating a real loser that I will call "Imbecile Idiot Cheapskate." He's long gone, and I've been dating my amazing and handsome current beau for over a year, but I have one lasting problem with my ex: he owes me money. It's not thousands of dollars, but it's more than a few tanks of gas. When I lent it to him at the time, it was with the understanding that he would pay me right back. But when we went our separate ways, I still had a big hole in my wallet. I want him to pay me back, and have suggested that he pay up or else. He says "sure," then never actually does.

That sounded a whole lot like an episode of Maury, but bear with me. My question is this; should I take more drastic measures to make Imbecile Idiot Cheapskate pay me back, or should I chalk it up to a lesson learned about why not to let friends borrow money? Friends have suggested that I take legal action, but I'm not exactly a sue-happy type of girl.

And what exactly are the etiquette rules that one is supposed to follow in regards to exes? Hopefully you each return personal items to your ex-significant other, but what about gifts? Does it matter how recent the gift was, or should you just keep it no matter what?

This may or may not be my ex on the left. Don't judge me.

The 'Winter Blues' or 'Seasonal Sadness' is also known as SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Wikipedia describes SAD as the following:

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer, repeatedly, year after year. The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up." The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder, and can also include heightened anxiety.

There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapies with bright lights, anti-depression medication, ionized-air administration, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.

Personally, I don't like to think of it as a disorder, but a natural phenomenon that constitutes adaption and behavioral awareness. Every year the seasons change and I pump myself up to make the winter better than the year before. This time of year holds many things for us to look forward to like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year...but what happens after that?

Here are a few tips (that I am using) to make this winter different:

1. Get together with friends and family frequently. Outings, dinner parties, and game nights are a great way to combat that nagging lonely feeling.

2. Make occasions out of ordinary activities. Make movie night a production by inviting friends, making movie themed food, or get a trivia game going to spice it up.

3. Pick up a good book. Reading stimulates the mind and can leave you feeling refreshed and accomplished as apposed to watching endless tv shows. Pick up a best seller or a book that allows you to escape the drearies.

4. Take up new projects. Invest in creative outlets whether it's writing, art, music, community service...whatever! You'll feel achieved and involved in making a difference and it will boost that feel good feeling.

5. Get daily exercise. Take a stand against the cold and go for brisk walks to re-engergize. Exercising the body is excellent for the mind as well.

6. Try a solar lamp. Our natural sunlight is limited as the days are shorter and we don't get the regular supply of Vitamin D we are used to. Sitting by a sunlamp (not a tanning lamp) a few minutes a day can leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling despite the freezing temperatures.

7. Visit ToastedRav everyday.  Explore the internets and learn something new and useful.

8. Talk to your doctor. In some cases, adjusting daily routines is not enough to battle SAD. If you think you may need further assistance overcoming the winter blues, talk to your regular physician.

I suffer from SAD as a lot of people do, but I am willing to fight "Winter Margo" and keep her at bay by keeping myself busy and changing things up. What will you do this winter?

I'll start with one that almost everyone in the Show-Me state should be familiar with - deer. If a doe runs in front of your car and you have to swerve to avoid it, you might tell your friend that you "almost hit a deer." If you have a near-miss with a doe and her spotted little fawn, you cannot say that you "almost hit some deers." There are no deers, only deer. It is said and spelled the same whether you see one or one hundred, so please, for the love of all things toasted, remove the word "deers" from your vocabulary this instant. (On a side not, this deer is very different from the dear that you sign a letter with.)

The same principle applies to several other words in the English language, many of which also happen to be animals. Moose and sheep are also pronounced and written the same in both their singular and plural forms. You don't see several "mooses" in Yellowstone, and a shepherd doesn't tend to his "sheeps."

And then there are a couple of tricky ones. Fish and buffalo can be applied to one or ten of their respective species, but it is argued that many fish can be "fishes" and several buffalo can be "buffaloes." I guess those two are more about preference, but I'm sure you can guess what my own is in this case.

Like many other rules and regulation within the English language, there are even more exceptions to the rules of plural words. Words that are plural to begin with, such as scissors, pants, clothes and pliers, don't have a single form at all.

Any more plural vs. singular slip-ups that really get on your nerves?

I have always had one problem with gift giving: the actual gift. Pinpointing the perfect present is always a feat; shopping is just not my thing and patience runs low amongst the masses. Trying to find a gift that expresses the correct sentiment is nearly impossible and I always seem to settle with something that is... not so exciting. Like socks. Lame-o!

Luckily, I came across solutions to all of my holiday gift problems for this season: simplify and give the gift of laughter! It comes in various shapes and sizes, and all purchases can be made in the comforts of your home office.

Humorous Gift #1: Pee and Poo

Hey, everybody poops. Therefore, potty humor can translate into the perfect gift. Originally designed to help encourage kids with their potty training, this plush set is a great gift for a co-worker or sibling. Hell, Grandpa may even wet his pants at the sight of these guys!

Humorous Gift #2: The Ex

Nothing screams laughter like a little play on hexing the ex. This voodoo-implying knife set is a great gift for a friend or loved one who has had a rough year and needs a good belly laugh to let out the stress of it all. 

Humorous Gift #3: USB Humping Dog 

For that great perverted Uncle and/or animal lover, these frisky pups will definitely get a rise out of your recipient! 

Humorous Gift #4: Answer Me Jesus

This is great for the family member or friend who constantly asks, "What Would Jesus Do?" Similar to a Magic 8-Ball, the Answer Me Jesus may not answer all of life's questions but his answers will spread some holiday cheer. 

By throwing out the ol' traditional thoughtful gifts and purchasing comical presents for loved ones, as an added bonus for you, the purchaser, you will save in the long run.

How?

Shopping online and laughing while browsing = lowering blood pressure, therefore reducing medical bills.

Not fighting traffic = more gas in your tank.

Not braving holiday crowds = spending less intoxicating yourself at the bar to calm down afterwards.

Happy (early) Holidays!

• The "Army Strong" is the largest and oldest of the armed forces, and they are primarily responsible for land-based military operations. The highest ranked officer in the army is a five-star general (the General of the Army), and the lowest ranked officer is a second lieutenant. The army currently dresses their men and women in the Army Combat Uniform, but by the year 2032, their uniforms will employ technologies like this powered armor system.
• "Accelerate Your Life" in the Navy, which operates 282 ships and more than 3,700 aircraft, and maintains, trains and equips combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars. They are responsible for maintaining the freedom of the seas. The Navy has nearly 500,000 sailors, who all have dress uniforms (the white ones usually depicted in the movies), service uniforms and working uniforms.
• "The few, the proud, the Marines" are responsible for providing protection from the sea using combined-arms task forces. And even though it is the smallest of the armed forces that serves under the Department of Defense, it's still bigger than the whole British Army. If you hear "oorah," it's coming from these "leathernecks." (As opposed to "hooah" in the Army and "hooyah" in the Navy.)
• The Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement agency in addition to being the only armed force that serves under the Department of Homeland Security. They have the most actual legal authority, but they sometimes operate as a service in the Navy. A Coast Guardsman is sometimes referred to as a "Coastie."
• "Above All" is the United States Air Force, which is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world - they protect our skies. It was the last armed force to emerge as an independent service. The vast majority of Air Force personal actually remain on the ground. They also engage in many humanitarian operations, their most recent of which was Operation Unified Assistance (a response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami).

Who are you honoring today?

The Humane Society's Featured Pet
Since 2006, our websites have found forever homes for over 20 adoptable pets. Updated regularly, you can find a cute and cuddly friend who needs a loving home. You can learn about the personality and habits of our featured pets as well as HSMO videos of their furry friends.

Pet Tips and Information
Find out how to winter you pet and make sure they are healthy during the long cold months. Also find fun facts, and useful tips to better every day life for your critter such as weather tips, common allergies, and everything concerning pets.

Hear what the cats and dogs have to say: check out the funny photos, articles, and videos! New content fresh daily.

Share & Upload Photos
It's easy to add your pets photo to our gallery. Just visit the Pet Guide and submit a photo of a furry loved one. We would love to grow our online pet community! Click here to get started!

Anything you would like to see added? Email me at margo@toastedrav.com. I would love to hear your ideas. Enjoy!

Where is the Pet Guide?
You can always find cool stuff like our Pet Pages in the bottom navigation of ToastedRav.com. Check our Sponsored Content such the Pet Pages, Bridal Blog, and Go Green sections. Also check out Deals & Offers from our partners.

Thanks to Audrey, we all know what animal you think you would be. Most of your answers were something fierce and attention commanding, and if that is your opinion of yourself, power to ya!

But what about finding the exact animal whose personality is a reflection of your own?  

Reason number 500 trillion why the Internet is awesome: You can skip the co-pay, play Dr. Psychologist and analyze yourself full circle with just a few short questions! (There’s nothing quite like bypassing your own beliefs and letting an Internet survey pinpoint you.)

See, you think you know, but you have no idea. I found out today that I’m a Dolphin. Not a ferocious kitty. 

In the Animal Modes Test, each animal’s description brings light to your nature, strengths, weaknesses, traits and learning styles. After 14 prodding, invasive (hardly) questions, you will be categorized as one of the following:

The Bee- In nature they are gregarious; they gather pollen flower by flower to produce honey. They are highly productive and capable of looking for the best flowers, with the best pollen to produce the best honey. We are not speaking not about the drone, not of the bee queen.

The Owl- This animal in its world projects the image of wisdom. Owls are excellent observers, although they don’t fly high enough to see the “whole panorama”. They only take action after examining carefully a determined situation or problem and always when the need is present.

The Chameleon- In nature they are gregarious; they gather pollen flower by flower to produce honey. They are highly productive and capable of looking for the best flowers, with the best pollen to produce the best honey. We are not speaking not about the drone, not of the bee queen.

The Beaver- In nature they are hard working animals, vigorous, even stoical. They are highly technical that work without tiring. Their lairs are big works of engineering built above and below water, made sequentially step-by-step. They plan their tasks on the base of goals and terms that they try to fulfill under any circumstance. They still do not give up in the worst situations.

The Dolphin- In nature they are very happy, social animals, which look for adventure and like to maintain stable relations. Those who have identified with the dolphin are in general artistic, sensitive and sociable persons who worry for people.

What’s Your Animal Mode? Take the quiz!

P.S. This test is probably crap. If you thought you were a Stallion and the quiz tells you bee, go with your initial answer. 

That being said, there are three plants that I've managed to keep alive for quite awhile. Collectively, they add enough green indoors during the winter to keep me in a good mood (added with the - ahem - fake greenery that I also decorate with).

Christmas Cactus (the photo above) is super pretty and doesn't seem to die off easily. Maybe the fact that it's a cactus makes it more hearty, but either way, it's alive and well on my coffee table.

My favorite plant that I haven't accidentally let die is my Schefflera (left). Apparently, you're supposed to keep them in full sunlight so that they grow straight up, but mine has grown all spread out, which I think looks cool. I got the plant in college, and it has survived four different locations and being dropped a couple of times. That is what I call a hearty plant.

The last one that seems to keep coming back again and again is my Calla Lily plant. I am reminded to water it when it starts looking wilted and droopy, but minutes after pouring a bit of water in, it's back to its perky self.

For more helpful information on how to grow some green in the winter, go here.

So you might be sitting there right now thinking that I'm a strange pyromaniac, but I don't think I'm the only one out there who enjoys typically unpleasant odors.

Case in point: I had a friend growing up who loved the smell of farts. Gross, I know, but she really did like the smell of the air down there. She wasn't biased either - she loved sniffing her own, but she didn't mind a whiff of other people's butt gas either. And I have another friend who loves the smell of cigarettes. She doesn't smoke and never has, but she encourages people to smoke around her to that she can inhale the scent of their sticks.

More recently, after I commented about the horrific stench of a dead skunk, the passenger in my car told me that they actually found it soothing. I'm still in disbelief about that one, because I think most people think that skunk is one of the worst smells out there.

Are there any strange smells that you enjoy getting a whiff of?

Many adults either hate taking pills or don't get enough of the vitamins and nutrients that their body needs on a daily basis. Personally, I fall into the so-bad-at-taking-pills-that-I-choke-and-pass-out category, so the gigantic horse pills that some people refer to as adult multivitamins are out of the question. Yes, I literally passed out from taking a pill a while back, so I'm supposed to refrain from operating heavy machinery when taking something as small as Claritin, and the doctors suggested that I don't take pills when I'm by myself either. So you can see why swallowing enormous vitamins every day is pretty much impossible for me.

Until recently, that meant that I just didn't take a daily vitamin. I drink milk, I love fruits and vegetables and like red meat, so I thought I had my bases covered. Still, I felt like my body might not be getting the full 100-percent of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and all the other alphabetically-named vitamins out there.

Melody, my co-worker here at ToastedRav, suggested that I get in touch with my childhood in the form of a Flintstone Vitamin. These sweet, chalky cartoon characters have been around since 1968, and I practically snacked on them as a child. I know they're for kids, but it couldn't hurt me to try them, right? This morning is officially the first time I have started out my day the way that nutritionists recommend. It wasn't as good as a Skittle, but it was better than gagging on my breakfast. That's right, I have found my "adult" multivitamin in the form of Wilma.

If you find yourself in a similar plight, Flintstones aren't the only tastier way to get nutrients. Another popular option is Vitaball; 10 essential vitamins in the form of a gum ball. It's fun and easy, and as long as you chew it for at least five minutes, gives your body most of what it needs.

Imitating candy seems to be the most popular way to get kids to get their vitamins, and Yummi Bears is no exception. Popping a gummy bear in your mouth each morning might not mix with your coffee very well, but I've tried them, and they taste great.

And speaking of using kids products as adults, I know several people who sip on Pedialyte every once in a while. The fruity beverage is intended to rehydrate children, but works well for adults, too. It replaces electrolytes without making you ingest as much sugar as most sports drinks, and it's not a bad idea to drink one after a long night out on the town either.

To see a map of where we rode, click on [tab:map]. There are lots of twists and turns, but it's a really cool route, I promise.

To see all of the pictures that I took while whizzing past some of the prettiest views that I've seen all fall (or ever for that matter), click on [tab:gallery]. I apologize if some of them are slightly blurry, but please keep in mind that I was taking them from the back of a moving motorcycle.

If you have any questions about where we went or what we saw, shoot me an e-mail. My dad or I would love to help you out.

Google told me that you were the first person to conceptualize and advocate daylight savings time. While I think it is great that we "get an extra hour of daylight" in the summer, I am fairly certain that would have happened even if we didn't change our clocks. Plus, being as the clocks don't actually control the length of time the sun is out, if the clocks didn't change we wouldn't we be at home during that "extra hour" during the summer?

Here's where I am coming from: daylight savings ended this weekend so my whole week has been in Twilight Zone mode. I am hungry at weird hours of the day (my stomach doesn't tell time so well), I am tired far too early in the evening, and today I was faced with the biggest kicker of all this fall back crap - it gets really dark before I leave work. After living through almost 56 of these time shifts (that's two for every year), I know that it will be a good month before my made-for-Rod-Serling days return to normal.

Willy, I am not the only one all screwed up by this neato, arbitrary time thing you came up with. I recently read that you are semi-responsible for increased heart attacks in the spring time. There is also evidence to suggest that your time warp scheme causes an increase in car accidents. So, here is what I am getting at: if we are so caddy-wampus with the whole sun out and clock thing, why didn't we just change the clock permanently and always "save the daylight?" Me and my constantly adjusting sleeping patterns think that might have been a better plan.

Sincerely,

Melody Meiners