Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Bounce Dryer Bar Review

 Have you guys seen the commercials for the Bounce Dryer Bar? Clearly, I have, and if I can swing it and feel like shaking things up, I'll pick up anything with an appealing commercial.


Currently we use Up & Up liquid fabric softener from Target (their house brand). Love the scent, totally effective, and no need to spend the dough on Downy. We have softener sheets on hand, too, but don't use them as much as we use the liquid softener.

Anyway, I picked it up on a lark the other day, and Michael installed it last night and ran a load of laundry. From first use, I have to say the clothes came out smelling fresh and non-staticky.

However, the proof will be in the pudding as we see how long it lasts...It is supposed to last about 4 months, and an indicator on the bar will let you know when to replace it. I'll update this post later as to the longevity of the product, but for effectiveness, I have to say it seems to do the job.

IKEA Tromso Bunk Bed Review


We're really tight on space here in our little 2 bedroom home. Our daughters share a room, and now that Ellie is ready for a bigger bed (currently in a toddler bed) we determined we would go with bunk beds.

Though I greatly prefer the look of a traditional or mission style wood bunk bed frame, I quickly realized that would eat up a lot of space in their little room and turned to IKEA for ideas.

Purchased the Tromso Bunk Bed a few weeks ago and have to say we are super pleased.

The metal frame is really streamlined, and the muted steel grey is far more attractive than the primary colored or white metal tubular bunk beds I'd seen. And the frame is really unobtrusive, doesn't look like a hulking bed in the corner of the room.

It is definitely a 2 person job to get it loaded up and home. Because it is not 2 separated beds, the pieces are huge. It comes in 2 packages. One ginormous one that is the bedframe itself (head and foot ends, and side rails) and a smaller one that is the base that you put down under the mattresses. I have a minivan, and if I had no kids with me, it would have been an easy fit with all the seats down (way back and middle). Ellie was with me, so it was precariously balanced between the captain seats in the middle row, which was less than ideal. Big package is also like 150 lbs., and - again - it is the full height of the bed so it is awkward and cumbersome.

It should be a 2 person set up job, as well, but it is manageable alone (Michael was working late so I tackled it myself) and I had it done within 2 hours.

Cons: The ladder is straight up and down and metal so not super comfy for Char as she clambers up every night. We end up carrying them to their room anyway, so not a huge issue, but definitely a consideration, especially if YOU will be clambering into the top bunk as an adult.

The beds are spacious - el has lots of room on the lower bunk to move about. It feels very sturdy, though I am not sure how it would hold up if it were disassembled and then reassembled multiple times, though we have had great luck with another IKEA bed that we bought on Craigslist and reassembled at home - it held up very well.

Price was about $179 - quite a great deal, and the girls love it. I'm giving it a big thumbs up, especially since we have tons of floor space in their bedroom now (and even picked up a cute green IKEA rug to fill the space!)

One year later...

That is in the voice of the narrator from Spongebob.
Been really neglecting this blog, but have lots of stuff to update with, so expect some reviews over the next week or so.