Sunday, March 19, 2023

Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

My husband and I ordered our first Saatva mattress nearly two years ago. This is the sixth in my series of detailed reviews of our customer experience as first-time Saatva mattress shoppers.

I have already explained our product research process and reasons for choosing the king Solaire mattress and Adjustable Base Plus, why we opted to try the upper-flex configuration and our first experience with Saatva’s white glove mattress delivery service, as well as my review of our Saatva organic cotton sheets and mattress pad.

In today's post I’m sharing my candid feedback on what my husband and I loved about our new Solaire mattress and Adjustable Base Plus, as well as a couple of things about the upper-flex (aka head split, split-head, top split or split-top) configuration that didn’t work for our needs and led us to exchange our upper-flex mattress for a solid, standard king Solaire, which we have been sleeping on for nearly two years and absolutely love.

Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus detailed, candid product reviews

Disclosure: I have joined the company’s affiliate program, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links in this post I may be eligible to receive a commission, at no cost to you. I highly recommend the Saatva company and its products for their excellent quality, performance, price and customer service. The opinions, product reviews and recommendations in this post are my own and are based on my personal experiences. The decision to click on those links to learn more about the company’s products or make a purchase is greatly appreciated, but entirely up to you.

Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress Product Review

As I explained in a couple of previous posts in this series, my husband and I aren’t always on the same sleeping schedule. I often read in bed after he has gone to sleep, and on the weekend, he often reads in bed while I sleep late. So, the upper-flex configuration of the king Saatva Solaire mattress and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (formerly called the Lineal adjustable base), which allows each sleeper to raise and lower the head of the bed on their side only, was very appealing.

Since we always gravitate to sleeping in the “spoon” position (even subconsciously, in our sleep), we had concerns about whether one of us would end up with our arm getting stuck in the center split along the top portion of the upper-flex mattress. However, since the mattress topper we purchased would fill in most of the split, we decided to give it a try, knowing that we could return it or exchange it for a solid king Solaire mattress, if we wished, thanks to the very generous Saatva in-home trial, warranty and return policies.

Saatva Solaire mattress in the split-top "upper-flex" configuration

The upper part of the upper-flex Saatva Solaire mattress is split to allow the head of each side of the bed to be raised and lowered independently


What We Loved About the Saatva Solaire Mattress

  • Very comfortable and supportive. Both my husband and I have back problems and joint issues, and we appreciate waking up with no aches and pains.
  • Individually customizable firmness for both sleeping partners. We love being able to set the mattress firmness for our respective sides to our individual preferences, and to quickly make it softer or firmer on the fly, if desired, when changing sleeping positions. Having 50 firmness settings that can be adjusted incrementally with the touch of a button on the remote gives us both true, precision customization!
  • Thoughtfully designed, six-layer construction. 
    1. The countouring 3-inch Euro pillow top with Lumbar Zone Quilting provides more support in the center. It is covered in a breathable, hypoallergenic organic cotton, treated with Saatva's exclusive Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment. Saatva uses a Paladin flame barrier made of a poly & rayon blend instead of fiberglass or toxic chemical flame retardants.
    2. Next is a 1-inch layer of ergonomic 5-zone natural latex that provides enhanced lumbar support and pressure-point relief. This natural latex is naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to mold, mildew and dust mites and doesn't off-gas.
    3. Under that, a CertiPUR-US certified 2-inch gel-infused memory foam helps disperse body heat away for cooler sleep and contours to your body to relieve pressure points.
    4. Moisture barrier layers protect internal mechanical components to prevent bacterial growth.
    5. No-sink vulcanized air chanbers with multi-directional box baffle design provides consistent, edge-to-edge comfort by maintaining even firmness and support throughout the mattress, from side to side and from head to toe.
    6. Underlying it all, a reinforced power edge enclosure provides a stable base and houses the quiet air inflator and hoses out of sight.
Exploded diagram view of Saatva Solaire mattress layers
Each layer of the Saatva Solaire adjustable firmness mattress contributes significant benefits to the sleeping experience.
  • Doesn't feel like sleeping on an air mattress. The adjustable firmness layer with its inflatable vulcanized air chambers is the fifth layer down from the sleep surface. And, unlike an air mattress, the Saatva Solaire has firm, supportive edges.
  • No center dip.  Even with each side of our king Solaire adjusted to different firmness levels, the center of the sleeping surface is level all the way across.
  • Remote controls with large, easy-to-read buttons. We love being able to adjust the firmness without having to put on our glasses or accidentally pressing the wrong button.
Saatva Solaire remote control diagram and instructions card
Solaire mattress remote control instruction card
  • Surprisingly quiet firmness adjustments. The firmness adjustments on the Solaire mattress are made by inflating or deflating the reinforced, vulcanized air chambers via the remote control. The air inflator and hoses are enclosed in the bottom layer of the mattress, which not only keeps them out of sight but also muffles the noise of the motor, making the process of adjusting the Solaire’s firmness surprisingly (and delightfully) quiet.
  • Made in the U.S.A. from eco-friendly materials. This straightforward statement about the company’s values (from the Specifications/FAQ section of the product page) is one of the things that make us proud Saatva supporters: “Every Saatva mattress is made to order and handcrafted in America with care and pride, using only the highest quality, consciously sourced materials. We could have settled on cheaper materials and produced our products elsewhere for higher profits, but we've never wavered in our commitment to quality. We believe it's the right thing to do for our customers, our American workers, and our economy.”
  • Generous in-home trial period, pressure-free sales support and customer service, and hassle-free returns or exchanges. Here’s what the company promises: “At Saatva, we never pressure you to make up your mind quickly. All of our mattresses come with a 365-night home trial, so you have plenty of time to decide whether it’s right for you. If at any point during your home trial you’re not satisfied, just give us a call and we’ll come pick up the mattress and refund your money, less a $99 processing fee to cover our cost of gas and labor for the pickup. That’s it.” 
Based on my personal experience when my husband and I decided to exchange our upper-flex king Solaire mattress for a standard king, I found that promise to be sincere. In fact, the customer service representative who helped me arrange our mattress exchange and schedule the new pickup and delivery was terrific. (More about that in my next post.)

What We Didn’t Love

While we loved most aspects of our new king Saatva Solaire mattress, there were two issues with upper-flex option that turned out to be deal-breakers for us.

  • Top-split mattress issue for couples who like snuggling or sleeping in the “spoon” position. Our concerns about one of us ending up with a shoulder in the gap while snuggling together in the spoon position turned out to be justified.
  • Top-split bedding challenges. My husband and I found that it took both of us to successfully wrestle the mattress and bedding into submission when we wanted to put on or take off the split-top mattress pad and sheets. In addition, there are far fewer options on the market for split-top vs. standard, solid fitted sheets and sheet sets, and we weren’t able to find any high-quality flannel split-top sheets, which we prefer during our cold New England winters. 

For those reasons, after sleeping on our upper-flex Solaire for more than a month to give it a fair in-home trial, at the end of August 2021 we decided to exchange it for a standard (solid) king Solaire mattress.

Saatva Adjustable Base Plus Product Review

Most standard queen or king Saatva mattresses, including the Saatva Classic Luxury Hybrid Innerspring (11.5-inch height only), Loom & Leaf Ultra-Premium Memory Foam, Saatva Latex Hybrid, Zenhaven Latex, Memory Foam Hybrid and Solaire Adjustable Firmness mattresses, are compatible with any standard queen or king adjustable base.

If you don’t already own one, the company now offers two models. 
  • The Saatva Adjustable Base allows you to raise and lower the head and foot of the bed. The simple wireless remote has a built-in flashlight (handy for nocturnal trips to the bathroom or kitchen). The zero-clearance design and removable legs allow it to be used on most platform bases, if desired. However, it is not available in the upper-flex option.
  • The Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (formerly Lineal Adjustable Base) adds more advanced features, including full-body wave, leg and head massage with three speed options, an anti-snore preset that elevates the sleeper’s head to open up airway passages, a Zero-G preset for “weightless support” and under-bed lighting. It is available in a full range of sizes, including the upper-flex option for queen and king sizes. It also features a wall-hugging design in the standard configuration (but not upper-flex king or queen).
Side by Side remote controls for the Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus
The wireless remotes for the Saatva Adjustable Base (left) and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (right)

An upper-flex queen or king Solaire mattress with a top split needs to be paired with an adjustable base that allows the head of each side of the bed to be raised and lowered independently. For an upper-flex king Saatva Solaire mattress like ours, two twin XL adjustable bases (each with its own wireless remote) are joined side-by-side, sync’d with a special cable and configured to make the lower part of both bases respond in unison to either remote control, while the head of the bed on each side responds only to the remote assigned to that twin XL base. (The upper-flex queen base is configured the same way with two narrower adjustable bases.) 

If you purchase a compatible Saatva mattress and adjustable base at the same time, you also get a nice discount on the base.

Saatva Adjustable Base Plus upper-flex king configuration
If you buy a Saatva Adjustable Base Plus to go with an upper-flex (split-top) queen or king Solaire mattress, you get two twin XL adjustable bases (king) or two narrower bases (queen)—without the wall hugger feature—that are connected and sync’d with a cable so the head of each base operates independently while the lower parts move in unison

What We Loved About the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus

  • User-friendly remote controls with large, easy-to-read buttons. The buttons are also spaced far enough apart so we rarely press the wrong button by accident, as often happens on remote controls with small, hard-to-read buttons that are crowded together.
  • Ability to raise the head or foot of the bed to the desired angle. The Head button on the remote lets us raise or lower the head of the bed to whichever angle we find most comfortable for different activities, such as reading, watching TV or working on a laptop. When we had the upper-flex Solaire, we also really liked being able to raise or lower the head of the bed on our side without disturbing our peacefully sleeping partner (which is why it took us more than a month to decide whether to keep it or exchange it for the standard king Solaire).

    After a long, active day, it’s so nice to be able to lie down and put our tired, swollen feet up just by pressing the up arrow on the Foot button. There’s also a button for raising the head and foot of the bed simultaneously.
  • Customizable Snore and Zero-G presets. The Saatva Adjustable Base Plus remote has dedicated Snore (anti-snore) and ZG (zero-gravity) buttons with preset adjustments. Both buttons can also be reprogrammed to your personal preferences (and then reset to the original factory defaults, if you wish).
    • Pressing the Snore button elevates the sleeper’s head above their chest to reduce pressure on the airway and help increase airflow. Since my husband snores loudly (according to him, my snoring is much more “ladylike”), we find this preset comes in quite handy. (Elevating your head may also help mitigate acid reflux-related sleep disruptions.)
    • The Zero-G preset slightly elevates both the knees and the head while raising the feet to the same level as the heart. According to Saatva’s website, this preset “mimics the position astronauts take during liftoff, which eases the stress on their bodies as they escape Earth's gravity.” Both my husband and I have old back injuries that act up from time to time and the zero-gravity preset helps relieve the pressure on our spines. It’s also good for just relaxing and unwinding at the end of a stressful day or taking a quick, restorative break in the middle of one.
  • Return the bed to the Flat position at the touch of a button. Whether you have made manual adjustments to the head and/or foot of the bed or used one of the presets, you can use the Flat button to return the bed to its default, level position and shut off the massage (if it’s on).
  • Surprisingly quiet motor. The motor for raising and lowering the head and foot of the bed is much quieter than we had expected, which was a very welcome surprise! While not as quiet as the motor that inflates and deflates the air chambers in our Solaire mattress, we especially appreciated being able to raise or lower the head of the bed on our side (when we had the upper-flex Solaire) without the motor’s noise rudely awakening our sleeping “better half.” The constant hum of the motor when using the vibrating massage options can be a bit annoying, but since we rarely use those features, it isn’t a problem for us.
  • Under-bed lighting and remote controls with a built-in flashlight. The top left button on the remote control turns on (or off) an array of LED lights on the underside of the base that are bright enough to illuminate the few steps to our bathroom in the middle of the night, but not bright enough to awaken whichever of us is still asleep. If I decide to make a cup of herbal tea to help me get back to sleep, I can press the top middle button on my remote to turn on the built-in flashlight to light my way to the kitchen and back.
  • Designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. Choosing a Saatva adjustable bed base, like choosing a Saatva mattress, supports American workers, jobs and companies.
  • Sturdy materials and construction. It was obvious at first glance that our new adjustable bed base was made of robust, high-quality materials and was built to last. 
  • Excellent manufacturer’s warranty. Since the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus is a final sale, it’s reassuring to have such a good full 5-year/limited 25-year warranty [https://www.saatva.com/warranty/saatva-adjustable-base-plus/] in case anything ever goes wrong. 
  • Compatible with most bed frames. Both of Saatva’s adjustable bed frames are compatible with most bed frames that are designed to accommodate an adjustable base. This includes all but one of the bed frames Saatva offers, which come in a wide variety of elegant styles that would look great in our bedroom. We’re hoping to purchase one in the future.

What We Didn’t Love

  • Vibrating massage. The remote control on the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus lets you select a full-body wave, head, or leg massage. Although my husband and I both love getting a massage, neither of us is a fan of the vibrating base “massage” features. However, many people love them and find that the vibrations relax their muscles, especially after a workout.
  • No wall-hugger technology in the upper-flex configuration. When we made our decision to try the upper-flex Solaire mattress and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (then called Lineal), we understood that we would be giving up the convenient wall hugger-technology, which simultaneously lifts the head of the bed and glides it back toward the wall, so that your nightstands remain within easy reach. That technology wouldn’t work for the upper-flex setup, where the joined Twin XL bases operate independently at the head but in unison at the foot, so it isn’t included in the upper-flex configuration.
Since all Saatva adjustable bases are final sale, when we exchanged our upper-flex Solaire for a standard king we couldn’t do the same with our Saatva adjustable base. We knew that when we decided to try the upper-flex, so it was a calculated risk and the only thing we regret about that decision.

Next Up: Exchanging Our Saatva Mattress

In my next post I'll share our experience with exchanging our upper-flex king Solaire for the standard king Solaire.

Be sure to subscribe* to Review This Reviews to be notified when new posts in this Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper series (and my popular keto diet success series) are published!

*See the email subscription box in the sidebar; if you are viewing on a mobile device and don't see the sidebar in your browser, click on "View web version" at the bottom of the page.

Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews by Margaret Schindel

Posts in This Series

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 1: The Journey Begins

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 2: How to Choose the Best Saatva Mattress for Your Needs

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 3: Ordering a Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Bed Online — A Candid Review

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 4: Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 5: Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 6: Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 7: Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 8: Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

Read more product reviews from our Contributors at ReviewThisProductReviews.com.





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, March 18, 2023

Book Review of 'Love You More'

Who do you love and how far would you go to save her?


A D.D. Warren novel by Lisa Gardner


Image of a mother & daughter walking in the woods


Synopsis


'Love You More' book cover
The Massachusetts State Police are called to the residence of Tessa Leoni, a young State Trooper from their barracks. Her husband lies dead on their kitchen floor and Tessa claims she has shot him in self-defense. Her bruises and injuries appear to back up her tale. But the worst part is that her six-year-old daughter, Sophie, is missing.


Because the state police cannot investigate one of their own, Detective D.D. Warren of the Boston Police Department is called in to handle the homicide investigation. Bobby Dodge, investigator for the State Police (and D.D.'s former lover) is assigned as liaison to work with Detective Warren. Bobby's input is helpful in seeking to understand the inner workings of a trooper's mind.  Would a trained police officer shoot her own husband and would a mother harm her own child?  


Tessa is hospitalized for her injuries and is represented by her Union Rep and a lawyer and is not immediately available for questioning. The investigation into how and why Tessa's husband, Brian Darby, was shot three times mid-torso with Tessa's own police revolver is nearly stalled while they wait for Tessa to be able to answer their questions.


Image of an Amber Alert sign


An Amber Alert is put out state-wide for Sophie while D.D. And Bobby try to sort out the crime scene.


Meanwhile, for Tessa Leoni, the worst has yet to happen. She has nowhere to turn and trusts no one even as the clock ticks down to a terrifying deadline. Tessa has one goal in sight and uses her training  to do what must be done. Because ~ a mother knows who she loves!


Summary


Love You More is Book 5 of 11 in Lisa Gardner's D.D. Warren suspense novels series. 


This story features two very believable female protagonists. Trooper Leoni tells us her own story in the first person while Warren's investigation is narrated in the third-person. Tessa Leoni's motives are discovered as the story continues, but her passion and conviction draw us in even before we know whether she is guilty or innocent. The reader roots for Warren and Dodge to make sure justice is done, but we cannot argue with Tessa's absolute drive to find her daughter.


Fans of Gardner's D.D. Warren series will definitely enjoy reading Love You More.


*Love You More Book Review is written by Wednesday Elf.


'Love You More' book cover
Available on Amazon






Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Friday, March 17, 2023

Reviewing How the Printing on Zazzle Mugs Stand the Test of Time

Review of Zazzle Mugs
Photo by Lou16, image created via Canva

I was making a coffee the other day and I looked at one of my favourite coffee mugs and was struck by how vibrant it still is as I feel like I've had it forever.  That mug was one that was created on Zazzle and I won it in a competition on a content site that closed down in June 2015.

I can't remember if I received the mug in March of 2013 or 2014, but either way, as you can see from the photo it really is as vibrant today as it was then.   I couldn't tell you how many mugs of coffee or hot chocolate I have enjoyed in this mug during that time (I use a different mug or cup for my tea).  It also survived the year of the mug cake which was delicious, but my waistline didn't appreciate it!

I should note that although the mugs are dishwasher friendly I actually don't have a dishwasher so it has always been hand-washed, even so, many other graphic mugs that we've had over the years don't look nearly as bright and vibrant a decade later.

Zazzle's mugs are available in a number of different designs so whether you need a new mug for yourself or whether you're looking for a gift idea, mugs make great gifts.  Whether you're after a mug for the holidays or another occasion why not check Zazzle out?  You can either go straight to the site and search or you can share the love and check out some of our contributor's stores.


Have you ever brought a Zazzle mug before?  I'd love to hear about your purchase in the comments.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, March 16, 2023

Easter Window Clings Recommended and Reviewed

Window Clings for windows to help avoid having birds fly into windows
Window clings with Easter designs are an awesome way to protect your backyard birds while also adding a touch of holiday decor to your home.

Last March, my mom lamented that her Easter clings were fading.  Since I am always looking for little gifts for my mom, I promptly went home and searched for some replacements.  I was thrilled with the Easter designs I found online for window clings.  I was seeking a set that included bunnies and Easter eggs.  As it turns out, the set I selected also had chicks and flowers included. She loved them! 

Both of my parents feed their huge variety of backyard birds.  They enjoy watching the birds and looking up a new visitor for identification.  We have all learned a lot about birds thanks to their care and hobby.  

They have a large bay window in their kitchen with the kitchen table placed in the inside area.  The whole family loves sitting there and watching the constant activity.  What we don't love, is having a little bird strike one of the windows when trying to join us inside.  Mom started using the window clings to avoid bird strikes decades ago.  She likes to change them periodically with appropriate holiday or seasonal designs.

I know we are not alone in our desire to protect our backyard birds.  A fellow contributor here on Review This Reviews, Dawn Rae, previously reviewed her Experiences with Bird Strikes and how she started using window clings to help avoid them.  I know you will want to read her thoughts too by clicking here.

 

Easter Design Window Clings

The Easter window clings I gave my mom last year included brightly colored spring flowers, colorful Easter eggs, chicks, bunnies and carrots.  They are all absolutely adorable!  However, mom did tell me that when the hummingbirds arrive, they do try to eat from the flowers, therefore, she takes the flowers down.


 CCINEE 500pc Easter Window Cling Stickers for Home DecorCheck Price

Facts about this set of Easter Window Clings
  • Images show on both sides (not true for all clings)
  • Brightly Colored & Fun Images
  • Pre-cut Images
  • Removable
  • Reusable  (Amazon states single use, but Mom has reused hers)
  • Hundreds of clings included with several designs
  • Clings to windows, glass or mirrors without additional products
  • Inexpensive
  • Size varies but all are at least 2½" (bunnies approximately are 6" - 8")




Easter Window Clings Recommended and Reviewed Written by:
House of Sylvestermouse





© 2023 Cynthia Sylvestermouse
 




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

In my previous post about in this series about my experience as a first-time Saatva mattress shopper, I reviewed the luxury organic cotton sheet set and mattress pad that my husband and I ordered for our upper-flex king Solaire mattress.

Today I’ll share our experiences with Saatva’s free white glove mattress delivery & setup service, which included setting up our new Solaire mattress and adjustable base and taking away our old bed foundation.

Saatva's free white glove mattress delivery & set-up - an in-depth personal review

Disclosure: I have joined the company’s affiliate program, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links in this post I may be eligible to receive a commission, at no cost to you. I highly recommend the Saatva company and its products for their excellent quality, performance, price and customer service. The opinions, product reviews and recommendations in this post are my own and are based on my personal experiences. The decision to click on those links to learn more about the company’s products or make a purchase is greatly appreciated, but entirely up to you.

Recap: The Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base We Chose

After conducting exhaustive product research on Saatva mattresses, my husband and I ultimately chose a king size Solaire adjustable firmness mattress that would allow us to adjust the firmness on our respective sides to our individual preferences.

Since I often sit up in bed reading after my husband falls asleep and he usually wakes up earlier than I do and enjoys reading in bed before starting his day, we decided to try the “upper-flex” option for our king Solaire, which has a center split along just the upper part of the mattress, and two joined, twin XL adjustable bases that would allow us to raise and lower our respective sides of the head of the bed independently when we paired it with a Saatva Adjustable Base Plus (previously called the Lineal adjustable base).

Scheduling the Delivery of our Mattress and Adjustable Base

We placed our online order for our mattress, adjustable base, quilted organic cotton mattress pad and organic cotton sateen sheet set on April 24, 2021. All Saatva mattresses are handcrafted to order, and thanks the pandemic-related major disruptions to the global supply chain at the time, it was June 29 when we finally got the eagerly awaited call notifying us that our mattress and adjustable base were ready and offering us a choice of dates for the delivery and set-up. We scheduled the delivery for Saturday, July 10, when both my husband and I could be home.

The young woman who called us was very nice, although she wasn't as proactive as we might have liked in providing information. I had to ask her exactly what the delivery team would be doing when they arrived, such as setting up and configuring the twin XL adjustable bases to work with our upper-flex mattress and removing our old mattress, and what type of preparation my husband and I needed to do, such as moving (or removing) large pieces of furniture from the room to give the delivery team easier access in and out. She also didn’t ask any questions about access in and out of the house, such as which doors to use, whether there were any stairs, narrow hallways, sharp turns, etc. that might make it difficult to get the king-size mattress from our front door into our bedroom, so I volunteered that information. 

When I asked what time to expect the delivery team, she explained that we would get a call from the delivery company the day before our scheduled date to give us a four-hour time window for the following day, and that the delivery team would also call to let us know when they were about an hour from our house.

Delivery and Set-Up of Our Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base

The delivery company called on July 9 as promised and gave us an early morning four-hour delivery window. The next day, however, the two-person delivery team did not call us when they were an hour away, so we were quite surprised when they rang the bell unannounced.

From that point forward, however, Saatva’s free white glove delivery and set-up not only met but exceeded my husband’s and my expectations! 

The delivery team consisted of a leader, who clearly had a lot of experience, and a rookie whom he appeared to be training. When my husband offered to help them carry our old mattress and frame to their delivery van, they explained that their instructions didn’t say anything about taking away our old bed. They had been instructed only to deliver and set up our new Saatva mattress and adjustable base.

I immediately pulled up Saatva’s Free Mattress White Glove Delivery & Set-Up page on the website, which clearly states “Free mattress & foundation removal.*” It was then that I noticed the asterisked note: "*Select free mattress & foundation removal option at checkout." I didn't recall seeing that option during checkout when I placed my mattress order online, so I realized the mistake might well have been mine, not that of the delivery company.

Free Mattress White Glove Delivery & Setup page on the Saatva website
The Free Mattress White Glove Delivery & Setup page on Saatva.com has an asterisked notation I must have overlooked while placing my order

Even so, the leader called them and got the go-ahead to remove and dispose of our old mattress and foundation after installing our new ones. You can imagine our relief at not having to find an alternative way to dispose of our old king size mattress and foundation, since there was no room in the house for them!

The leader did a fantastic job of both directing and working with his assistant. He gave directions to his junior teammate (who appeared not to speak or understand much English) in a foreign language. He also conversed with us in accented but extremely fluent and easy to undertand English.

We were delighted by how quickly, efficiently and smoothly he ran the entire delivery, setup and removal operation.

Two delivery people unrolling a mattress onto an adjustable bed base
A Saatva white glove delivery team unrolling an upper-flex king Solaire mattress like ours onto a pair of twin XL adjustable bases

After the men set up and connected our two twin XL adjustable bases, they placed our Solaire mattress on top and used the remote controls to start filling the air chambers. As they waited for both sides of the mattress to reach the maximum firmness setting to ensure there were no issues, we chatted with the team lead and offered both men both glasses of cold water.

During this lull, we chatted with the team lead, who gave helpful answers to our questions about the features and functions of the remote controls for the mattress and the twin XL adjustable bases. At our request, he also configured the joined twin XL bases to work properly with our top-split, upper-flex mattress configuration, even though it wasn’t part of the delivery and set-up instructions he had been given.

Our Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base Were Consistently Handled With Care

Even though both men on our delivery team members worked very quickly and efficiently, they also were very careful not to nick or damage the mattress or any of the adjustable base parts as they were cutting open and removing the shipping cartons and protective materials. They continued to treat our purchases with care throughout the assembly and set-up process.

We also appreciated their neat, organized way of working and their removal of not just our old bed but also every scrap of packaging detritus from our new Solaire mattress and adjustable bases.

The fact that they were able to remove the old mattress and foundation; bring in, unwrap, set up and synchronize the two adjustable bases; carry in, unwrap, unroll and inflate the mattress; test the operation of the bases and the mattress controls; exp!ain to us how to use the remotes to customize the mattress firmness on each side and raise and lower the head and foot of the bed; answer all our questions; and remove all traces of the wrapping and packaging, in addition to calling the delivery company and resolving our issue about removing our old bed, in roughly an hour was impressive.

All in all, we were extremely pleased with Saatva’s free white glove delivery and set-up, which lived up to its “white glove” name. After the team left, all that was left for us to do was to put on the quilted mattress pad and organic cotton sateen sheets that had been shipped to us earlier and try out our new bed!

Next Time: My In-Depth Product Reviews of the Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus

In my next post in this series, I’ll share my in-depth product review of the Saatva Solaire upper-flex king mattress (and ultimately exchanged for a solid Solaire) and Adjustable Base Plus we ordered.

Be sure to subscribe* to Review This Reviews to be notified when new posts in this Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper series (and my popular keto diet success series) are published!

*See the email subscription box in the sidebar; if you are viewing on a mobile device and don't see the sidebar in your browser, click on "View web version" at the bottom of the page.

Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup by Margaret Schindel

Posts in This Series

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 1: The Journey Begins

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 2: How to Choose the Best Saatva Mattress for Your Needs

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 3: Ordering a Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Bed Online — A Candid Review

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 4: Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 5: Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 6: Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 7: Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 8: Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

Read more product reviews from our Contributors at ReviewThisProductReviews.com.





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Aprons For Cooking and Entertaining: A Resource Page

Aprons For Cooking and Entertaining: An resource page for finding the perfect apron for you.
Welcome to our resource page for aprons where we will review a few resources to help you find the apron that you are looking for. Whether you are looking for one for cooking or for entertaining, you are sure to find a link here to an apron that suits you perfectly. You'll find everything from pretty aprons to practical aprons; from adult aprons for both men and women to children's aprons; and, of course, fun holiday-themed aprons. You'll even find a link to some great resources for making your own apron. I know you are going to love all these aprons!

(Find the practical and sturdy apron shown above on Amazon by clicking right here.)

SIX APRON-THEMED REASONS YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS PAGE 


On this page you will find links to pages dedicated to the following apron topics:

Aprons for Everyday
Celebrity Aprons
How to Make an Apron
Children's Aprons
Aprons for Holidays
Aprons for Men
And More!

APRONS FOR EVERYDAY

Julia Child shown here in a vintage photograph with her kitchen apron.

Crazy About Cupcakes? Tie on a Cupcake Apron!
If you love cupcakes, you will love this cupcake-themed aprons.

Looking for an apron that you can slip on over your head rather than messing with apron ties? Check out this crossover apron.

If you prefer an apron that resembles a lightweight vest with pockets, you should consider a cobbler apron. 

CELEBRITY APRONS


There are many styles of aprons but, if you want to follow the lead of Julia Child, the famous American chef, cooking teacher, author, and television personality, you should check out her preferred apron.

HOW TO MAKE AN APRON


How to Make an Apron: A Resource Page
If you are looking for resources to make an apron, you'll enjoy looking through the ideas and links on this page. 

The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort by EllynAnne Geisel, is a guide to old and new aprons. Learn more here.

There is no shortage of books to give you ideas for making your own apron whatever your preferred style.

CHILDREN'S APRONS


Eric Carle's My Apron, A Children's Book Review
If your child loves or would love to have an apron just like dad or mom, he or she will enjoy this children's picture book, My Apron, by Eric Carle.

APRONS FOR HOLIDAYS


Gingerbread Man Aprons
Do you love gingerbread, gingerbread men and Christmas? If you do, you are going to love these fun gingerbread aprons

Christmas aprons are a recipe for holiday fun! If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen at Christmastime, you should definitely own a Christmas apron!

Tucked in on this page dedicated to making a cookie-themed gift set, you will find a fun Christmas cookie-themed apron.

Do Your Haunting In A Halloween Apron
Looking for a Halloween apron? You might find just what you are looking for here on this page.

APRONS FOR MEN


Grilling something on the BBQ? Throw on one of these fun aprons first!

Real Men Don't Wear Aprons, Do They?
This page is dedicated to the issue of whether or not real men wear aprons and whether or not you wear one? Features a fun selection of fun men's aprons! 

For the barbecue master in your life who is also a grandpa!

The grill master needs a host of important pieces of equipment but maybe most importantly, a funny apron...

A Batman-Themed Apron
If you have a Batman fan, he is sure to love this Batman-themed apron.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well that's it. Our page of apron resources. Strap one on the next time you are in the kitchen, the art studio, the workshop...

You never know
what aprons I might have 
in store for you!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Link:













Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Monday, March 13, 2023

QVC Mum Garden Sphere Review

 QVC says garden sphere... I say Mum Balls! Last year I finally succumbed to the pressure (I say only in jest) of watching the garden shows on QVC and purchased the Mum Garden Sphere (aka as Mum Balls in this house).

mum garden spheres



Construction

The mums are well constructed. Each ball can either be used as is in a sphere or split apart to make two half balls. Instructions are included as to how to split the ball and once the proper opening is found, the ball splits easily. 

mum garden spheres package contents


Interior plastic hole/eye clasp are arranged around the ball and are simply unclasped to open up the ball. Easy!





frame for mum balls






Durability

So far the mum balls have lasted through summer, fall and winter with no problems except for a squirrel which seemed to find one of the mounds very interesting. 

Midwestern winters are long and I thought these mums could liven up the yard in the middle of winter which was mission accomplished. Snow in October and May is not unusual which makes for a very very short growing season and it is fun to have a bit of color throughout the year (even if the color is not natural!)

Do they Look Real?

From a distance yes. 

From across the deck yes, real enough!

Up close? No.

Of course the flowers look too perfect up close to be real. The color is on point for the the white mums, especially from a distance. I think these spheres fall into the of course they do not look like real mums, but I also don't believe that is the intent due to their sphere shape! Just something a little fun, little quirky and no maintenance.


mum garden spheres with lights
After mum season, I did a little diy with tea lights which was a festive little twist for Fall fire pit season in the back yard.


Nothing of course matches real flowers! However, trading the convenience of flowers that require no maintenance is not a bad trade off either for those who love flowers, but not the labor of growing flowers.




Colors

Throughout the year different colors are offered from the traditional mum colors to garden spheres of mixed colors. I chose white the traditional white mum color with the intent of also using the mum balls at Christmas.

mum garden spheres or balls


Which I did and added lights and a few red bows. The mum now lighted Christmas balls looked very pretty with a covering of snow for the season.

Sizes

The mum spheres and other garden balls are offered in diameters from 10 inches to 21 inches! The spheres are usually sold in sets of 2 which if split can equal 4 mounds of flowers. I ordered the 10 inch set as a try and evaluate set. 

Price Point

One of the best ways to save  money is to look for the free shipping days on QVC. Another way is to look for "AS IS" items. The package of 2 AS IS spheres are offered at a 20-25 percent savings.

I plan on adding a few mum balls/garden spheres to the collection this year when free shipping and AS IS mums are offered which makes for a much more affordable price point.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Sunday, March 12, 2023

Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Welcome to part four of my blog series on becoming a first-time Saatva mattress shopper and owner. In my previous post, I reviewed my husband’s and my experience with ordering a Saatva Solaire mattress, adjustable base and bedding online.

In today’s post, I’ll share our impressions of the Saatva organic cotton mattress pad and sheet set that arrived while our mattress was being made for us.

Silky smooth and breathable Saatva Organic Cotton Bedding Product Review

Disclosure: I have joined the company’s affiliate program, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links in this post I may be eligible to receive a commission, at no cost to you. I highly recommend the Saatva company and its products for their excellent quality, performance, price and customer service. The opinions, product reviews and recommendations in this post are my own and are based on my personal experiences. The decision to click on those links to learn more about the company’s products or make a purchase is greatly appreciated, but entirely up to you.

Luxurious, Breathable, Organic Cotton Bedding

Unlike the mass-manufactured mattresses sold in retail stores, every Saatva mattress is individually handcrafted to order for the customer who purchased it. However, I assume Saatva bedding is manufactured in advance and ready to ship, since our mattress pad arrived just four days after I ordered it and our sheet set arrived soon thereafter.

Even before we had a chance to see and touch our new Saatva organic cotton sateen sheet set and quilted organic cotton mattress pad, we were struck by the packaging's elegance and attention to detail.

It started with the cardboard shipping boxes, which were custom printed with the Saatva logo and even had a convenient handle for carrying them into the house.

Saatva shipping box for bedding
Even the cardboard shipping boxes for our Saatva sheets and mattress pad were sturdy, well made and thoughtfully designed

The inside of the shipping box lid contained the printed message, “Quiet the hum of everyday life. Slip into luxurious, natural comfort. Welcome to Saatva.” A lot more upscale and luxury mood-inducing than the typical shipping boxes used for bedding!

The shipping box for the sheet set contained a large, white gift box tied with a gold satin ribbon.

Open shipping box containing Saatva organic cotton sateen sheet set
The message inside the shipping box lid was just one example of Saatva’s attention to detail

When we untied the ribbon and opened the gift box, the contents were neatly folded inside tissue paper, sealed with a brown paper seal embossed with a large “S” and topped with an elegant, printed card.

Tissue paper wrapping, embossed seal, tag and card insert inside shipping box
Every element of the packaging was simple, elegant and thoughtful

The card reinforced Saatva’s brand values and commitment to environmental and social responsibility as well as to its customers, using simple, straightforward language that made me believe in the message’s sincerity and authenticity.

Close up of printed card inside the Saatva organic sheet set packaging
The card inside was the perfect embodiment of Saatva's brand promise

When we opened the seal on the tissue paper, we were surprised to see a well-made, reusable canvas tote bag that enclosed and protected our new organic cotton sateen sheet set.

Canvas tote bag enclosing Saatva organic cotton sateen sheet set
The reusable canvas tote in which our sheet set was shipped was a lovely, surprise gift and far preferable to the single-use plastic in which most sheets are packaged!


The quality of the materials and workmanship for both the sheet set and the mattress pad were superb. The tightly woven, organic cotton fabric was extremely silky to the touch. I was even more impressed that this luxury sheet set, which sold for $225 at the time, was a free gift with the purchase of our upper-flex Saatva Solaire mattress.


Saatva organic cotton sheet set, unwrapped and removed from canvas tote
The free luxury sheet set was made of silky-smooth organic cotton and nicely finished

These upscale bedding products and their thoughtful packaging far exceeded even my very high expectations. I couldn’t wait to start sleeping on them as soon as our Solaire mattress and adjustable base were delivered.

A Very Generous (and Smart) Gift

The upper-flex Saatva Solaire mattress we had ordered has a split along the top part of the mattress, so that one person can raise the head of the bed just on their side without affecting their partner’s side, which requires a split-top fitted sheet. Saatva sells sheets only in sets, so we couldn’t order just upper-flex fitted sheets to use with the extremely nice standard king-size sheet sets we already owned. So, we had planned to purchase some top-split fitted sheets for our new mattress on Amazon. However, I discovered that the selection of sheets is much more limited for split-top mattresses than for standard (solid) ones.

Saatva’s strategy of giving customers who purchase an upper-flex mattress the generous gift of a free sheet set with a split-top fitted sheet is very smart. It allowed us not only to start sleeping on our new mattress as soon as it was delivered but also to experience the quality of Saatva’s sheet sets.

After trying out their deliciously silky, well-made organic cotton sheets, we would definitely have purchased additional upper-flex sheet sets from Saatva if we had decided to keep our upper-flex king Solaire instead of exchanging it for a standard (solid) version of the mattress (spoiler alert!).

In fact, we did purchase a standard king Saatva organic cotton sateen sheet set for our standard king Solaire after we decided to exchange our upper-flex mattress.

By transforming something as mundane as the delivery and unboxing of a mattress pad and sheet set into a surprising, delightful, luxurious and memorable event, Saatva delivered on their marketing promises and created an extraordinarily positive first impression on this first-time customer.

What's Next: Saatva White Glove Delivery Review

In my next post, I’ll share my experience with Saatva’s white glove delivery and set-up of my new Solaire mattress and Lineal adjustable base, now called the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus.

Be sure to subscribe* to Review This Reviews to be notified when new posts in this Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper series (and my popular keto diet success series) are published!

*See the email subscription box in the sidebar; if you are viewing on a mobile device and don't see the sidebar in your browser, click on "View web version" at the bottom of the page.

Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews by Margaret Schindel

Posts in This Series

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 1: The Journey Begins

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 2: How to Choose the Best Saatva Mattress for Your Needs

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 3: Ordering a Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Bed Online — A Candid Review

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 4: Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 5: Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 6: Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 7: Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 8: Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

Read more product reviews from our Contributors at ReviewThisProductReviews.com.





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


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