Bed, Bath & Beyond: Using the Right 20% Coupon

Ever since Linen-N-Things went out of business (I'm disregarding the "new" LNT website because the prices aren't that great), it's a scramble to get a 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath & Beyond.  LNT used to freely offer 20% off printable coupons that you could bring to BBB.  BBB would honor it without question.  Sigh.  It was an easy life back then.

These days, you have to either wait for a 20% off flyer in the mail or a click-through e-mail for a 20% off printable coupon.  And it's a long wait.  If I find a BBB coupon, it's usually a $5 off $15 coupon, if anything.  So it was a big surprise to me this weekend when I received one 20% off flyer AND one 20% off printable coupon.

Let me say this: 20% off BBB coupons are not created equal. 

There are two fantastic brands that are excluded from the 20% printable coupon but are NOT excluded from the 20% off flyer:

• All-Clad
• Tempur-Pedic

If you're in possession of both coupons and are looking to make an All-Clad or Tempur-Pedic purchase, get 20% off by using the right coupon: the 20% off flyer coupon!!

If I Owned This Sheet Set, I Would Never Leave My Bed...

I was in Home Goods the other day and I found this microplush sheet set:

What a brilliant idea!!  I am a HUGE fan of plushy material.  My collection of plushy items includes a plushy robe, a plushy comforter, a plushy pajamas set and a plushy throw.  I was very tempted to buy this sheet set but I would never leave my bed if I owned it.  So I passed.   :(   It was soooo tempting but I can't live in my bed...can I?

Maybe it could be my weekend sheet set.  Just think: plushy sheet set and breakfast in bed!  That sounds like a winning combo in my book.  :)

I May Iron Like Crap, But I Steam Like A Pro!

I suck at ironing.  I iron wrinkles in rather than iron them out.  In addition, I have singed not only my clothes but also myself.  What's a gal to do with a closet full of wrinkled clothes?  Buy a garment steamer (on sale, of course).

I was able to snag Conair's Deluxe Compact Fabric Steamer for about $20 (from Kohl's) and I can now steam clothes like a pro!

This garment steamer is indeed compact compared to the "pro" versions that have built-in racks.  In lieu of a built-in rack, the Deluxe Compact Fabric Steamer comes with an over-the-door hook that will hold hangers and the hose head:

The hose wraps around the tank for easy (and compact) storage.  Two attachments are included: crease and lint.  I'm pretty sure that I will never use the former and may occasionally use the latter.

Unless you're going to consistently steam your entire wardrobe, don't shell out the big bucks for a pro version.  This compact version works quite well.  I steamed about 8 items and it took me about less than 15 minutes, probably even less than 10 minutes.  (I will keep you posted as to durability. I'm hoping that this is a quality garment steamer and won't conk out on me after several uses.)

There was a slight learning curve but if you keep the following in mind (aka "my mistakes"), you'll be a steaming like pro as well:

• Steam your clothes from the bottom up.  Heat rises up...and that means steam rises up.  Steaming yourself is not fun.
• Steam goes through fabric.  Hold your item taut from the bottom only.  If you hold it taut in other areas, you may accidently steam yourself.  Again, steaming yourself is not fun.
• It take longer than the stated 5 minutes for the steamer to be ready.  If you're in a rush, forget steaming.
• You clothes may be slightly damp after steaming so let them hang dry for 2-3 mintues.  Again, if you're in a rush, forget steaming.
• Do not put your freshly steamed clothes in a pile...especially if they're still a little damp.  They'll just get wrinkled again.  Make sure you hang them up.  If you have the hangers ready, it'll lessen the urge to pile the clothes up.

My Summer Project: Kitchen Renovation!!

I spent the summer gut-renovating the kitchen and the thing I missed most about not having a functional kitchen?  Ice.  And now (now that winter is here and I have a less pressing need for cold drinks), I will never want for ice again!!  Yes...the kitchen renovation is done!!

The renovation took longer than expected and I went slightly over budget but the resulting kitchen is fabulous!!  I wanted a light, airy, easy-to-maintain kitchen with clean lines and that's what I got!

My 2 favorite things about the new kitchen?  The white marble-like granite countertop and the glass backsplash.  We wanted to use white marble for our countertop but apparently that was a big no-no.  It took many trips to the granite fabricator and then the granite wholesaler, but the perseverance paid off!  We found our white marble-like granite slabs!!  As to the glass backsplash, I always cringe when I think of tiles and grouting and the cleaning involved to keep everything look new.  So I went with full sheets of frosted glass as the kitchen backsplash.  Spray with Windex and wipe...and you're done cleaning!!

Here's the before:  A very old 20+ year old kitchen.

Here's the after:  A new kitchen that's ready to bake cakes, cookies and brownies!!  I will eventually get around to cooking other items...

Bed Bath & Beyond Clearance Sale Score: Plushy Throw!

When it comes to winter robes, pajamas and bedding, I focus on the tactile experience of the fabric.  When it's cold outside, I like items that are warm, fuzzy and cozy.  As a result, I am huge sucker for anything made from plushy material.  Usually, I prefer to buy items made from natural fibers (mostly, silk cotton, merino wool, and cashmere).  But I love plushy material so much that in this DISCRETE instance, I'm totally advocating polyester!

My old plushy throw needed to be retired, so I headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond in hopes of finding a new one in the clearance section.   And...I scored!!

My old plushy throw was a plushy blanket but this new plushy throw (Think Mink Down Alternative Throw by Berkshire Blanket) is a like a plushy throw/super-light comforter in one.  I used a 20% off coupon, so the final price was only $15.99!!!  I'm thinking about getting another one just in case Sunshine decides to permanently "borrow" this one.

Note:  I don't see this particular plushy blanket available on BBB's online clearance section, but two other plushy blankets are available:

• Indulgence Throws by Berkshire Blanket for $14.99
• Anywhere Blanket from Berkshire Blanket for $19.99

Home Goods: Looking For Lamps?

If you're looking for lamps and you live near a Home Goods, go to HG first.  I found this beautiful lamp for only $39.97 (I ended up buying two!):

It's similar to the Stacked Crystal Block Lamp from Restoration Hardware but it doesn't have the $259 price tag!  I'm okay with the base being acrylic rather than crystal given the price difference!

Walgreens.com: 22% Off Method/Green Works/Better Life!

In celebration of Earth Day (4/22/10), Walgreens.com is discounting its "earth friendly" brands by 22% through 4/30/10.  This is an on-line sale only.  It's time to stock up on your household cleaning products from Method, Green Works and Better Life!  Get free shipping with a $25+purchase.

Bonus:  Seventh Generation products are up to 40% off at Drugstore.com through 4/23/10.

Cleaning Up: Hide Your Stuff With Consoles

I am a huge proponent of consoles.  Not only do consoles look nice, but they also make your foyer and rooms look nice because they HIDE YOUR STUFF!  Plus, it's an additional horizontal surface for you to put more stuff on.  ;)  

When I moved into my last apartment, I purchased 2 consoles:  a smaller one for my foyer (okay, okay..."entrance space") and a large one for my living room.  With my 2 consoles, I instantly had extra storage space for the little but important things in life:  toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc.  I could buy things in bulk (within reason)!

I've been trying to convince Big Buddha to purchase a console for forever (trust me, he really needs one...or two), but he's been resisting because consoles can be costly.  So I was pleased to find these affordable ones at Home Goods:

• Console in wenge with mirror doors ($149.99):  There is a shelf inside this console.

• Console in wenge with drawers ($399.99):  The handles are inside the drawers (waiting to be screwed to the outside of the drawers) except for the one pictured below.

• Console in wenge with leaf design ($249.99):  I know...the pictures make this console look cheesy but it looks better IRL.

Note:  You can find other affordable consoles at Ikea and Overstock.com but I can't vouch for the quality.

Creating More Closet Space: Use SlimLine Hangers

I don't know about you but closet space is always an issue for me.  I am always on the hunt to create more closet space.  When I moved into my first apartment, I wanted to have a "grown up" closet.  I went out to Ikea and purchased a whole bunch of wooden hangers.   Bad idea...wooden hangers are not only bulky (and take up lots of closet space), but are also slippery.  My dresses and tops kept on falling off the wooden hangers.   Hanging up my clothes was an exercise of frustration.  On top of all of this, wooden hangers (even those from Ikea) are not cheap.  What to do?  

Last year, I was pleased to discover Slimline hangers!  Not only do my dresses and tops now stay in place, but I also ended up creating more closet space.  AND...these hangers are super affordable!!  You can purchase a set of 50 for $29.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  If you sign-up for BBB's special offers, you'll periodically receive 20% off coupons via e-mail and snail mail.  That brings the price down to $23.99!    

You can purchase similar hangers at Home Goods, Overstock, and Target, but BBB currently has the best pricing.  Now that you have some extra closet space, it's time to go shopping!  Oh...and those wooden hangers?  I use them to hang coats in the foyer closet.  It looks impressive to my guests!  (And the rest are just sitting in a storage box.)

Bialetti Moka Express: Perfect Coffee For One (Or Two)

I need coffee.  A co-worker of mine would ask me whether or not I had my coffee before continuing a conversation with me in the mornings.  The problem is that I don't like watery coffee.  Really...what's the point if you're coffee isn't strong, thick and tasty?  As a result, I also don't like using a coffee machine.  The coffee tastes bland, bitter and/or watery.  Plus, it's a pain to clean a coffee machine.  I've tried using a Bodum French Press but I've come to the realization that I don't have the patience to wait the required time when using a french press.  I always jump the gun and the coffee ends up like water.  And I am NOT shelling out a few hundred dollars for an espresso machine that I know I will never use.  So I found the perfect little coffee/espresso maker from Bialetti.  It's called Moka Espress and looks like this:

It's easy to use and easy to clean.  The coffee/espresso always comes out perfect!  Plus, you only make a few cups at a time (it's a good way for me to regulate my coffee intake).  I purchased mine at Bed Bath & Beyond.  BBB has easy-to-find coupons.  I used the 20% off coupon but the $5 off coupon would work equally as well because the 3-cup model is only $24.99!!  (Note:  You can find similar discounted versions at Home Goods as well.)

Bialetti's Moka Espress is like a useful science experiment.  It comes in three parts:

• The top part where the coffee comes out:

• The middle part where you put your ground coffee:

• The bottom part where you put the water:

Put the middle piece into the bottom piece and the screw the top piece with the bottom piece!

Put Moka Espress on the stove over medium heat and wait for bubbling noise.  This will mean that water from the bottom is pushing its way through the coffee grind and is making it's way up to the top piece!!  When the bubbling noise finishes, your coffee/espresso is ready!  It's genius because it forces me to wait.  I can't cheat like I do with a french press.  Enjoy!!

Binchotan/Bamboo Charcoal: Freshen Up You Living Spaces Scent-Free!!

I've noticed that a good number of the bathrooms of the Japanese establishments that I go to (restaurants and a hair salon, NOT piano bars), have the cool-looking pieces of black bamboo.  What are they?  They're bamboo charcoal and they're there for a reason.  Bamboo charcoal does the following:

• absorb/regulate moisture
• absorb odor
• purify the air

Since I'm scent-sensitive, I'm not a fan of air freshners like Glade and Febreze.  They just mask bad odors with stronger scents...kinda like people who don't shower and wear lots of perfume/cologne.  Bamboo charcoal (and a higher-end wood charcoal called binchotan charcoal) create a scent free environment.  Bamboo charcoal and binchotan charcoal products are a little hard to find (and can be rather expensive) but I found this great website based out of Philly that carries both:  www.Rikumo.com.  Check-out (1) Chikuno Cube (made from compressed bamboo charcoal powder) which is great for refrigerators, closets and small bathrooms and (2) Sumi Charcoal (pieces of binchotan charcoal) which is great for rooms.  As an added bonus, both items can be used as zen-ish room decorations.