An EPIC Gift for My Mummu | Nora Mattress Review

I am really, really excited to share today's post!  I know that this time of year you're inundated with gift guides and sponsored posts so you probably tune out a ton of them - but this one makes me SO happy!!!

I've nudged readers toward some practical gifts and that's from the heart because I had been saving up to purchase something big - and practical - for my Mummu.  My Mom, Mummu, and I had been playing Scrabble one night in the fall and our games always take so long because we talk and talk and talk.  Mummu casually mentioned that her decades old mattress had been really causing her some sleepless nights as well as aches and pains.  I'm not sure exactly how old that mattress is, but it's way older than me and that's old enough, so after that conversation I decided that I would surprise her with a new mattress.  After getting a foam mattress ourselves, I was thinking about getting her a foam mattress too because I thought it would be a crazy good surprise to have it shipped to her door!  The only problem was I wasn't sure if she would find ours soft enough, so I was going to do some comparison shopping online before committing. 

In a funny coincidence, Wayfair, a longtime collaborator, reached out to me about reviewing the Nora mattress!  I promptly ordered a double mattress for Mummu but I couldn't even wait for the package-on-the-doorstep surprise idea (I never could keep a secret) and immediately phoned her to spill the beans.

Her new Nora mattress arrived and my Mummu is SO thrilled!  Granted, her old mattress was terrible to sleep on so it probably isn't a fair comparison, but she is seriously smiling ear to ear.

We both tested it out and it's really cushy.  It's firm and offers great support, but you definitely sink into it a little, which feels amazing. 

The one thing Mummu noticed right away is that it's cool to the touch, thanks to a 3" thermo-regulating layer of gel-infused cooling foam.  There's also a 2" gel-infused memory foam (which gives it that cushy feel), plus two 3.5" layers of high density support foam (which keeps it from getting too cushy).  It really does feel quite different from our mattress, especially the cooling sensation and that memory foam - even the mattress cover is unique, crafted from a material derived from jade (!) which enhances the cooling effect.

I think my Mummu will enjoy the cooling properties because, being Finnish, she never seems cold.  Sure, she'll put on a cardigan but all summer long she keeps her house cool as an icebox and I have never, ever seen her don a hat in the winter - even if the rest of us are in toques and snow pants.  I wish I had inherited that gene because I am always cold.    

The Nora mattress is a really competitive price too.  The queen is $749 and the king is $949, but I've seen great sales, so watch for those.  There are nearly 500 reviews on Wayfair and the rating is almost 5 stars and because of that amazing return policy, it's a pretty safe bet!

There are a few small drawbacks though, which are worth mentioning.

1. For some reason, even though the mattress was allowed to relax for the 12 hours it requires after unrolling it (and then another 24 hours before I snapped the final photos) the mattress cover seems too large and that creates a sort of wrinkled effect.  But really, it's going to be covered with sheets anyway but I wanted to point it out, because it gives the illusion of the mattress not having expanded enough in the photos.

2. Like our foam mattress, the edges collapse when you sit on the edge of the bed.  The same thing happens with our mattress, but I honestly don't notice it anymore.  Even though this doesn't bother her, I did caution my Mummu to be careful when she sits on the edge of the bed.  If you're buying this for someone who isn't very mobile, or prone to falls, it might not be the right choice.

3. I didn't realize until we were ready to unroll it in a dramatic unveiling that the company doesn't recommend a typical boxspring for underneath, because it can cause the mattress to sag.  Oops!  That was definitely an oversight on my part.  Hubby and I will have to hack her bed to create a base that's suitable but that's okay - and it makes total sense, so that's not even a drawback, just a head's up.

Edited (Jan 14th, 2018): Yay! More testing has determined that you can use the Nora with any foundation or base.  I love that the company was so thorough and made sure this was possible.

Those are really my only concerns and they're so minor.  Otherwise we loved the convenience of having it shipped to the house - what a fun way to surprise someone, right?! (if you don't already spill the beans) - and it was a snap to unroll.  Once it puffed up, it was ready to sleep on and I didn't notice any off-gassing like with other brands, which was really nice.  I would have felt really terrible if the mattress had smelled bizarre, even if it was only for a few days.  Unlike ours, this mattress feels more plush and you sink into it more, without giving up support, so if you like a softer mattress that hugs you, this one might be a great fit.  And if you are someone who gets sweaty at night - or you sleep beside someone who does - the incredible cooling properties of the memory foam might be perfect for you.

After getting our foam mattress, I really thought all of these roll-up-and-ship mattresses would be the same but this one feels so different.  If you've been considering one, it will definitely help to comb through some reviews and find the one with features that suit your needs.

I was provided this Nora mattress through Wayfair but all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.  A HUGE thanks to my friends at Wayfair for letting me give my Mummu this amazing gift, especially at this time of year.  She is such an important person in my life and my connection to my Finnish roots, so I cherish the time we spend together.  Once a year , I sleep over and we have a gals weekend but I always sleep on a pullout sofa (that's also older than me), so I think that might be the next thing I'll need to replace...

DIY Holiday Tea Towel with Reindeer Embroidery Trim

My Mummu loves a good yard sale.  She loves going to them, she loves having them - she's even convinced my Mom and I to help schlep boxes of stuff to indoor community sales in the off season.  At our last yard sale, I noticed my Mummu was downsizing some craft supplies and I scooped up a ton of cute stuff: some beautiful lace appliques, a vintage clutch I have a plan for, and this gold embroidered reindeer trim, which I used to embellish a DIY linen tea towel for the holidays.

Supplies:

• Turquoise linen (this shade of linen is really pretty)
• Embroidered trim (not similar, but just as sparkly)
• Liquid stitch 

Because our local Fabricland was moving, they had some great deals on fabric and I bought some pale turquoise linen for 50% off.  Using our own tutorial for how to sew a mitered corner, my Mom and I quickly hemmed a simple rectangle tea towel - but you can always buy a plain tea towel to embellish.

I didn't want to fuss with sewing on the embroidered reindeer, so I decided to try Liquid Stitch instead.  

I had already washed and dried my linen, prior to sewing, so I was able to quickly get to the fun (and scary) part: gluing on the embroidery!  I hand-stitched the two lengths of embellishment together so they would line up and be easier to manage, then I placed my linen on a flat surface.  I put a plastic cutting board underneath, to protect my kitchen counter from any glue, but this adhesive is water soluble until dry so any drips washed off easily.

Following the directions, I shook the tub of Liquid Stitch well.  I spread the glue on the back of the embellishment, being careful not to bring it too close to the edges because I didn't want it to squish out.  Once I had glued everything, I went over all of the edges and anywhere it didn't seem stuck, I added a smidge more (that's the technical term) glue using a toothpick to carefully apply it.  I quickly pressed the reindeer down with my fingers and let it dry, undisturbed, for 30 minutes.  You can launder this fabric after 24 hours.  I will keep you posted on how well the glue holds over time - I am very curious about this Liquid Stitch.

I love how this turned DIY tea towel out! 

You know I'm not super festive over here, favoring "wintry" to "Christmassy" decor, but I do love the look of this glitzy tea towel in my turquoise kitchen.

If this seems like a heck of a lot of work (I hear ya), here are some cute BIY (buy-it-yourself) holiday tea towels that caught my eye: Black + White Deer Tea Towel | Gin Christmas Teal Towel | Illustrated Holiday Teal Towel  

I actually bought enough linen to make two tea towels - any ideas for the second one?

Read more »

DIY Mini Potted Plant Holiday Ornament

Even though I don't put up a Christmas tree, I am smitten with Anthropologie's ornaments this year - like this one that looks like my puppers and this very beachy jellyfish ornament.  One in particular caught my eye and even inspired a knock-off DIY: this little potted plant ornament.

Isn't it the cutest gift for someone with a green thumb?  Years ago I thrifted four mini terracotta planters for an abandoned dollhouse project, so I decided to make a set of little potted plant ornaments of my own!

It took a little bit of trial and error - and in the process I accidentally smashed my fourth potted plant (another leafy one, in an unpainted terracotta planter).  But they turned out so cute, it was definitely worth the effort!



Here's What I Needed:

• Mini planters - this version has saucers - or try these mini metal buckets as a non-breakable alternative
• Epoxy or resin
• Faux flowers/leaves
• Thin ribbon or cord
• Hot glue gun
• Black glitter
• Tooth pick

How to Make a Faux Mini Potted Plant:

The first step was easy: I decided to paint two of my terracotta pots with some pale blue chalk paint.

The next step was to try and replicate the look of soil.  I made a lot of failed attempts here, but I'll tell you what worked.  I had a massive bag of black glitter from when I painted my vinyl flooring because I ended up skipping the glittery topcoat I had schemed, so I was looking for an excuse to make a dent in my epic glitter stash and glitter really replicated soil so well.

To contain the glitter, I glued a small circle of cardboard inside my planter to block the hole and keep glitter from escaping.  For the painted planters, I added a dab of paint to hide the cardboard, but that's optional because no one will see the bottom.

Next, I filled the pot with black glitter.

I would have liked to have used resin to secure the glitter and "plants," but it is so expensive!  Instead, I found a two-part epoxy at the dollar store.  It works and smells like the brand name epoxy we often use for projects, but a lot less expensive.  With my pots filled with glitter, I poured the epoxy on top and stirred it around using a toothpick.  While the epoxy was setting, I inserted some small stems clipped from some faux plants my Mummu had in her craft supply.  It required some patience to hold the stems upright while the epoxy dried but eventually the epoxy had thickened enough to keep the  plants upright.  With the epoxy still tacky, I sprinkled on another layer of glitter and set it aside to cure overnight.  In the morning, I poured off the excess glitter and was thrilled with the result!

Another idea could be to stuff the planter with a cork, or really anything you can firmly glue in there, and then just brush on some mod podge or exoxy and dust with black or brown glitter - or maybe stuff it with some air dry clay and paint it black.  There are lots of options but I used what I had on hand to save some $$$.  Plus I love the glitter, especially the way it settled just a bit with the epoxy the way soil does after you water a plant the first time after potting it.       

To hang the plants, I used a hot glue gun to secure some thin ribbon and make little slings.  If I was more patient, I might have made mini knotted macrame plant hangers - that would be really, really adorable.

And that's it!  There are lots of ways to personalize this DIY tree ornament, from painting a design on the pots, to making pots out of found objects.  It's the perfect project for using up craft scraps!

P.S. If you're looking for another easy DIY Christmas Tree ornament idea, take a look at my glittery spider ornaments and read the legend to find out why every tree needs a spider...

Read more »

Give the Gift of Sleep

When I was a kid, I loathed getting practical items as gifts.  If there were socks under the tree, or underwear in my stocking, I just wasn't enthused.  I wasn't even a super demanding kid - I'd have preferred no gift.  These days I'd love if someone would buy me some quality wool socks or comfy underwear.  I don't even want to admit how many of my Smartwool socks have holes on the bottom that my Mom has kindly darned.  As an adult, I am never moved by holiday commercials with expensive diamond gifts because as much as I love jewelry, for that kind of outlay of cash, I'd prefer a dishwasher that actually washes dishes or a lawn mower that mows...

If you're shopping for anyone who is old enough to vote, and lives on their own, I have the best recommendation: give the gift of sleep!

We've all read the stats: we sleep about 1/3 of our lives - or we should, anyway, if we're doing our best to get an adequate number of zzzzzz's in a night.  That's around 230,000 hours!  Way too many people I know are logging those long hours on 30 year old mattresses and flat, sad pillows.

Even though I'm loving sleep on a new mattress, I've realized that my pancake pillow is ruining the full experience.  Sometimes it's a hassle to pick out something new like that, though - I wish someone would do it for me (and wrap it with festive paper while they're at it).  But Hubby and I decided to do the adult thing and choosing brand new pillows - so we can start 2018 refreshed and rested - is high on our list of things to do.

Wouldn't you want to gift someone with that amazing feeling?

Unless you've recently won the lottery, I doubt you can buy everyone you love a new mattress (although you can score a queen for under $600 at Sleep Country Canada - and they sell their own brand of handy-dandy mattress-in-a-box with free shipping), but you might want to consider starting your year off with a dreamy mattress that will help your mind and body rest.  You can shop online by brand, by size, or construction - or you can try them out in store.

A cozy duvet is one of those expenses so many of us keep pushing off the list of things that we deem important to buy (guilty).  But it's so essential to a good night's rest!  There are some really high end ones that Sleep Country Canada carries, but I love the price and quality of this Australian wool and down one.  Show someone you love them by replacing their itchy, satin-trimmed blanket (you know the kind) with this:

For a smaller budget, I love the idea of giving a throw (like this neutral gingham print).  I have so many blankets in my house and I don't think I've ever complained that I have too many!  It's nice to keep one tucked in the bedroom closet, draped on the bed, a few in the living room, and of course the bunkie has some too.  I even keep one in my office in the winter, so I can bundle up on those blustery winter days when I'd rather stay in bed.

Another affordable gift that everyone can use is a new robe!  The perfect gift for winter time, when dashing from the warmth of the bathroom to anywhere else feels miserable.   

But I really advocate for new pillows!  It's such a practical gift but you can really find one for every budget and even get a really indulgent one for that special someone.  Plus, they wear out!  They get filled with creepy dust mites, flatten from the weight of our massive noggins, start to get all bunchy - it's seriously something most people need but probably haven't replaced.  And picture that massive box under the tree - points for size, right?

This Responsive Down Pillow is the perfect mix between memory foam and down, for people who want the best of both worlds. 

This PolarTropic pillow boasts two sides that help satisfy changing temperatures: a cooling ice silk yarn and memory foam for when you're warm, and on the other side a room temperature material for when you get chilled - it's the pillow designed for people always flipping it over to get that coolness.

Myself, I'm eyeing up the Polar Tropic one - so clever!  I love that Sleep Country Canada organizes pillows by how you sleep so you can quickly find the right fit, but you can also shop by size.  And you can rest easy, knowing you're giving a gift that keeps giving.

Time for a poll: would you choose a new mattress or a sparkling diamond necklace...?

This post was sponsored by Sleep Country Canada but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Read more »

Unique Gift Ideas with UncommonGoods

I am so excited to be working with UncommonGoods, sharing some picks from their amazing gift guides (like the Bedside Smartphone Vase, above).  You might remember I collaborated with them a couple of years ago.  I still love and use both of my UncommonGoods finds, especially that turquoise woven basket with a handy lid!  You might have spotted it in my office makeover; it's where I stash paperwork with incriminating details that needs to be destroyed.  I love it so much that I even purchased the same style of basket without a lid for pet toys (you can spot it in this post about how I keep my house clean with two pups).  I feel good about supporting UncommonGoods because of their commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship.  As a company, they support a community of artisans, designers, and creative thinkers.  They share stories behind the products and makers.  Plus they carefully curate a beautiful selection of home accessories, jewelry, and just plain fun pieces - no need to wade through a million listings to find that one piece.  EVERYTHING carried by UncommonGoods will have you clicking "add to cart".  And for my Canadian friends - they ship to Canada with prices in CAD and duties/taxes calculated at checkout, which means no hidden costs.     

Online shopping can be overwhelming, so I appreciate the carefully chosen selection of beautiful, practical, and unique items that UncommonGoods offers.  From casual work buddies to BFFs, from gardening enthusiasts to style mavens, you'll literally find something for everyone - even those impossible to buy for loved ones!  You can even find a personalized or customized gift idea or shop by interest to really find that special gift.   

Here is a sampling of my favorite finds:

This Molten Sculptural Bowl tops my shortlist because of the modern, coastal vibe.

Speaking of beachy, I love the coastal vibe of this Beach Glass Marble Pendant. I love jewelry as a gift because you don't need to worry about sizes, it can easily be mailed - or tucked nicely into a stocking - and, if worse comes to worse, it's easily re-gifted (guilty).

For the reasons above, this Waterfall Stairway Pendant also caught my eye - look at that enticing rough cut of the stones.

If anyone has, ahem, me on their list this year, I'd love this Aquamarine Pendant!  So, so pretty and my favorite color.  I promise I wouldn't re-gift...

You're going to think UncommonGoods only carries jewelry with the way I'm drooling over their necklaces.  That is just the tip of the iceberg for small gifts you can tuck into a stocking.

For the knitter in your life, this Create Yarn Bowl is such a thoughtful gift that shows you care about their favorite hobby.

Whenever I am stuck on a gift idea for someone, I give tea!  I used to work in a local tea shop and now I'm a tea snob, so I like to treat anyone I can to some fancy loose leaf teas.  This Green Herbal Tea Kit is so perfect and has such a nice presentation.

Another gift idea that is beautiful without having to worry about sizes or fit: a dreamy Hand Dyed Scarf!  It has such soft, pretty colors.

This Stoneware Match Striker is so versatile because everyone keeps matches in their homes, whether they're lighting a fire at night or just a few candles, and I'm sure everyone on your list would like to upgrade from the grubby box in which their matches currently reside.

A BRASS Plant Mister for your friend with the greenest thumb on your list - so practical but pretty enough to leave out, it sure beats the $1 plastic water can so many of us hide under the sink... If your friends are plant killers like me, don't worry, there are so many unique ideas for gifts you can give your friends to show how much they mean to you all year long.

I need this waterproof Drifter Action Speaker in my life!  This is perfect for anyone who has a cottage or loves to spend time on the beach.



This White Sailing Ship Kite is so cute, you'll be tempted to keep it and hang it as a mobile in your home.

So clearly I just created a list of things I want, with my not-so-subtle beachy/modern/turquoise theme here...  If you're trying to track down that perfect, unique, meaningful, practical yet beautiful, can't-find-it-in-stores gift, take a peek at UncommonGoods.  Happy shopping!

Read more »