Pillow[ology] by Select Comfort

Do you destroy pillows? Do you have a love/hate relationship with your pillow? I know I do. In our house there is a minimum of six pillows on our bed at any given time. Each of us has a favorite pillow for a while and then it ends up being tossed. Too often I buy pillows and really I have no clue what I am doing. When the Sleep Number Select Comfort people asked me if I wanted a lesson in pillow[ology] I jumped at the chance to learn more and try out a custom designed pillow all for myself.

In just three easy steps you can create a personalized pillow all your own. Seriously, it took me less than ten minutes. When I talked with the Sleep Number people they first asked me about what position I sleep in (stomach sleeper), what I don't like about my current pillow and what I do like about it. From there we did the three simple steps.

First, I chose my outer support - a Silver Outercore versus the memory foam or Eurogoose. The Silver Outercore ($79.99) comes with a 5-year limited warranty and can be machine washed. I liked the Silver option because not only is it shapeable and a down filler alternative (too soft for a stomach sleeper) but it is also Antimicrobial, which helps keep away odors and bacteria from occurring.

Next, I chose the heart of my pillow a.k.a. the Inner Support Core (six different options). I chose the Memory Foam Contour ($49.99) for its added neck support and pressure point relief. This also has a 5-year limited warranty and can be spot cleaned. When it arrived I found it easy to insert into the Outercore and it really makes a difference. While the Outercore has some squish to it the foam core holds strong and supports my head and neck very comfortably. Step three had me picking out a pillow protector. There are three options to choose from and again I went with the True Silver Pillow Protector ($29.99) that eliminates odor and static. It keeps your temperature comfy and helps the pillow stay fresh and fungi free. Who can say no to that?

When it was all said and done my 'perfect pillow' came to $159. Price points typically range from $80-170 according the the Select Comfort people but parts can be changed and replaced separately over time making the pillow last longer than your standard one. When the pillow finally arrived I put it together in less than thirty seconds and immediately noticed its fluffy firmness. Can this be possible? Would it actually be too firm? No. I can say without a doubt that this pillow is the best pillow I have ever used. It is the first time I have had a pillow that I want to travel with and miss when I am away from it. I don't wake up with neck aches anymore and each night when I lay my head down on it I feel a sigh of contentment escape me. It really is the perfect pillow. It's worth every penny!

MPR Rating: Five Stars.

SkinGlow Copper-Infused Bedding

You have probably heard of copper-infused facial products but how about copper-infused bedding? London Luxury, a leading manufacturer in home bedding and technology, has joined with Cupron, Inc. to create a set of copper-infused fibers into textiles that penetrate the skin to improve its appearance. It leaves your skin looking healthier and glowing while reducing your fine lines and wrinkles.

The copper-infused ions are woven into the fabric and become activated by the moisture that occurs in your skin during sleep. It leaves your skin looking smoother and younger. Used over a four weeks wrinkles like crows feet and fine lines appear smaller and lessen. The ions are so deeply embedded into the fabric that they last over a lifetime and never wash out. Copper is also known to defuse odor and bacteria which is a great plus for bedding.

I decided to try the SkinGlow pillowcase out for a few weeks to see if any of this was true. The pillowcase is 55% cotton/30% polyester/15% Cupron and machine washable on normal settings. The first thing I noticed is that it is a bit stiffer than your normal cotton pillowcase. I typically use sateen sheets and they are very soft. This was quite a change for me. I didn't like the zipper on the case either. It made the case bulky and stuck out a bit. However, I did notice that over time the SkinGlow pillowcase never did possess any sort of odor. I also had a cold while using it and my skin never took on that deathly pale pallor. I still looked healthy despite being congested. Now, I have another cold and my skin looks sick, pale and tired. Guess what? I'm using my old sateen pillowcases. So while I may not have been able to see a difference in my wrinkles, which I don't really possess a lot of at the age of 32, I do believe in this product.

Prices for SkinGlow range from $19.99 to 249.99 and all SkinGlow products can be found at BedBathandBeyond.

MPR Rating: Three Stars.

An Ocean of Fun with Olive Kids

Recently, it has come to my attention that my sweet little babe of a daughter is not exactly a babe anymore. In fact, she is a toddler who has outgrown her crib and is in serious need of a big girl bed. Combine that with the impending birth of our second child and we needed to transition from bumble bees to something a bit more grown up.



Enter Olive Kids and their fabulously fun and colorful Mermaid bedding. The 100% cotton percale bedding comes in a variety of kid-friendly styles and sizes. There is even a cool outlet store chocked full of products ranging from comforters to pillows and more.

What I noticed immediately upon opening the sheet set was how soft they were without having been washed. The attention to detail is good too. The sheets have a double row of ribbon as trim and the quilted stitching on the comforter and scalloped pillow sham provide an added depth that you don't see in sometimes even department store bedding. The colors are vibrant and color-fast. Each set is available in toddler, twin, full/queen sizes and Olive Kids gives you the option to add bed boxes, huggers, bed skirts and more to complete your child's room. All the bedding is super soft and my daughter instantly fell in love with it online and once we set it up. She could not wait to get it out of the packages and just lay across the sheets. She is now excited instead of nervous about her new 'big girl' room and it has a whole lot to do with Olive Kids and their outstanding bedding sets. I only wish they had more styles to choose from in both the girl and boy department.

Olive Kids also offers personalized products and items to outfit your child's room. From clocks to placemats there is something to personalize for every child. Prices are reasonable and the quality is good. A personalized item makes a great gift item or as a keepsake for your own child.

I am giving away one personalized framed print to a lucky winner. If you can tell me what anniversary Olive Kids is celebrating this year first- you win! Just email me at veamason AT gmail DOT com.

Congratulations to Caitlin on winning the framed print!

Friday Fun Find- Inmod Designs

If you are like me you don't like settling for just your average, well anything! inmod designs doesn't either. They not only have oodles of Eco-friendly furniture but they let you design your own bedding.

There are tons of fabrics and designs to choose from and you have total freedom to create your own luxurious bedding. It is not only gorgeous with a modern twist but fun too! Once you have created the duvet cover through inmod's own design studio you can go on to the accessories such as pillows and more. It's a great concept and the prices on the duvets run you about the same as any other designer bedding option. The only thing? No one else will ever have your set. inmod has never sold the same set twice! Check out the studio here and find out for yourself today.

Blissliving Home- Linens and More!

Now available in the US it is Blissliving Home linens. These beautifully made linens formally only known in Asia are now gracing homes here bringing its gorgeous modern designs stateside. Mei Xu, a University of Maryland grad like me, has combined fine cotton from the Orient, jacquard from Italy, and tantalizing silks from India bringing them all together to create this truly ‘blissful’ array of textures, designs and colors in gorgeous bedding.

I received my queen-sized duvet set from the company promptly and immediately noticed how soft it was despite not having been washed. The deep cobalt blue background of the Mallory set went incredibly well with the delicate cream flowers. I was in love despite the style being more modern than my usual Toile tastes. I decided to put this duvet set with standard size pillow shams to the test. Many of my cotton sets while of a high quality and price tag have shrunk over time and no longer fit my bed properly. I end up buying yet another set only to have it happen all over again. I washed and dried the Blissliving set on a high heat setting a minimum of six times. Each time it emerged from the dryer the same size! The duvet cover and shams alike both fit well after each washing with no shrinkage in evidence. It didn’t wrinkle or pucker at the seams leaving the set looking tired and old like many other sets have done. The dark colors did not fade or run either. I was impressed. Not only did the Blissliving set become softer it beautifully retained its crispness and color.


I liked the change of look to my room too. The designs are fresh and not like anything that is on the market and categorized as modern. The styles are not cold and uninviting but calming and stylish. Adding the silken sheets or a new duvet set by Blissliving immediately spruces up a tired room and makes it an oasis once again. I was sad to send mine back even if the colors did not go with my cocoa colored walls. I’m much more of a Camilla girl truthfully. The Mallory set was a welcome change of pace though and I would buy from Blissliving in a heartbeat. The quality is easy to see and feel in each piece.

Whether you are looking for the luxe look of 100% silk or a more casual approach with cotton Blissliving has something for everyone. They are even featuring holiday inspired bedding right now that is understated yet festive. The autumnal inspired Corina set just won New York’s Home Textiles Market Weeks award for Best New Product! When it comes to getting your bedroom just right Blissliving is the place to go. They not only carry fine linens in an array of styles and colors but accessories such as candles, vases, bath accessories, frames and trays that are all simply elegant with a modern twist. I highly advise giving their website a look. You just may find a great gift for that special friend or relative and great bedding for yourself as well.

Gift certificates are available and sales are ongoing so check back often as there is always something new and fresh happening at Blissliving. The tip sheet alone is worth a look! READERS will get FREE SHIPPING by typing in the code MUMMY at checkout! This code is good until December 31.