This Banana Republic Home Bedding Set Makes Me Feel Like I'm In A Luxury Hotel

Ashley Furniture

Ashley Furniture started their sale on January 23, lasting until February 27:

• Up to $800 off Purple Mattress accessories
• Up to $800 off select Purple adjustable mattress sets
• Up to $1,000 off select mattresses

Avocado Mattress

Avocado Mattress will offer 20% off mattresses sitewide for Presidents’ Day. Save on their top-rated Green Mattress, plush Luxury Organic Mattress, and even their Organic Kids Mattress.

BEDGEAR

Now until February 19, take up to $800 off BEDGEAR mattresses like the completely customizable M3 Performance Mattress and the breathable H6 Hybrid Performance Mattress this Presidents' Day. In addition to their mattresses, BEDGEAR sheet sets are shoppable for 20% off, and comforters are 30% off.

Brentwood Home

Brentwood Home will offer 10% off sitewide for Presidents’ Day, which also includes kids’ bedding, pillows, yoga mats and dog beds. This includes their high-quality Cypress Affordable Memory Foam Mattress, Crystal Cove Flippable Mattress, and Oceano Luxury Hybrid Mattress.

Casper

Casper’s Presidents’ Day sale includes up to 30% off everything throughout the holiday weekend. Choose from mattresses, pillows, bedding, and more. For mattresses, we recommend their top-rated Original Mattress and Wave Hybrid Snow Mattress, both available in a range of sizes.

Essentia

Essentia will run their Presidents’ Day sale from February 15-22, with 20% off sitewide, plus free gifts with a mattress purchase. Their REM9 mattress will be 25% off only when paired with a Rize adjustable base.

Helix Sleep

Helix’s Presidents’ Day mattress sale entails 25% off everything until February 20 with code ‘PDS25’. Plus, get a free bedroom bundle (2 pillows, a mattress protector, and a sheet set) when you buy a mattress.

Mattress Firm

Mattress Firm’s Presidents' Day mattress sale began on January 31, and lasts through March 5. Shoppers can upgrade to a king mattress for the price of a queen, or upgrade to a queen mattress for the price of a twin – that means up to $700 in savings! Additional deals include:

• With any qualifying purchases, shoppers can get a free adjustable bed base.
• With any qualifying purchases shoppers can get 3% cash back with 12-month financing.
• Take $400 off any Purple Restore Cool Touch Mattress
• Buy 1 Sleepy’s Cooling Knit Mattress Protector, Sleepy’s Ultimate Allergy Bamboo Mattress Protector or Sleepy’s Total Encasement Mattress Protector, and get 1 free with code ‘BOGOMIX’.
• Military, teachers, students, nurses, doctors, and first responders can save an extra 10-20% off select mattresses, bedding and more.

Naturepedic

From February 14-28, take 20% off sitewide with code 'PRESDAY20' from Naturepedic. In addition to their top-selling, award-winning Serenade Organic Hybrid Mattress, EOS Organic Pillow Top Mattress, and Concerto Organic Pillow Top Mattress, you can also save on bedtime goods like their Organic Side Sleeper Pillow and Organic Cotton Sheets & Pillowcases!

Nectar Sleep

Nectar Sleep is offering up to 40% off mattresses during their Presidents’ Day sale. Prices start as low as $349!

Parachute Home

This year, Parachute Home is offering 20% off on their Eco Mattress, (save $440 on a full size, save $480 on a queen size, etc.) from February 15-19 only. You can take advantage of the deal online or in US stores.

Purple Mattress

Purple has several deals running for Presidents’ Day:

• $500 off their Rejuvenate Luxe Collection Mattresses, including the Purple Rejuvenate, RejuvenatePlus, and RejuvenatePremier styles.
• $400 off their Restore Hybrid Collection Mattresses, including the Purple Plus, Purple Restore, Purple RestorePlus, and Purple RestorePremier styles.
• $300 off the Purple Premium Plus Smart Base.
• $200 off the Purple Premium Smart Base.
• PurpleFlex mattresses are $200 Off twin sizes, $400 off full sizes, $300 off queen sizes, and $250 off king sizes.
• Their classic Purple Mattress will be $200 off twin, twin XL, and $400 off full, queen, king, Cal king, and split king sizes.

Tempur-Pedic

Tempur-Pedic is offering up to $500 off select adjustable mattresses sets, and up to $300 in free mattress accessories with the purchase of their Breeze or Adapt mattresses (use code ‘300FREE’) for Presidents’ Day.

Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle’s sale offers 20% off on all mattresses, bedding, and bed accessories. This includes their best-selling cooling Mint mattress(save $219), breathable Original mattress(save $149), and even acozy 15lb weighted blanket(save $110).

What is the best material for your bed sheets?

Picking bed sheets begins with understanding the pros and cons of different materials and fabrics. Before you settle on a color or a pattern, consider how much you’re willing to spend, how durable you need the sheets to be, and how you want your bed to feel. Soft, silky, thick, stretchy, breathable, and moisture-wicking are all commonly-used terms to describe how you might want your sheets to feel when you slip into bed at night. Consider these options:

• Cotton: A popular choice, cotton is natural and breathable, known for its comfort and variety of colors and patterns. Within the cotton family, there is a closely-woven version called percale cotton, which tends to be crisp, lightweight and cooling. Another option within cotton is sateen cotton, a silky-smooth option with a bit of a sheen.
• Linen: A super breathable option is linen, which only gets softer over time. It’s made from flax fibers, making it a natural fabric. If wrinkles aren’t your vibe, steer clear, but the relaxed, lived-in look is perfect for warm, beachy environments or warm sleepers.
• Microfiber: Synthetic fibers get a bad rep, but there’s a reason microfiber sheets are so popular. Whether they’re polyester or a blend of some kind, these low-maintenacne sheets are comfortable and easy on your wallet, plus they wash and wear easily.
• Flannel: A type of cotton that provides extra warmth, flannel is a perfect seasonable option or pick for anyone who’s always cold at night. It’s extra durable thanks to to teased cotton fibers that insulate you and your bed.
• Silk: This ultra smooth fabric is high-end-feeling and ideal for a variety of seasons. Silk is a natural fiber with a shiny finish. It’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and can be a perfect option for anyone with sensitive skin thanks to its hypoallergenic properties.
• Jersey: You may have seen them called “t-shirt sheets” because they feel soft, stretchy and as comfy as your most-loved tee. The knit fabric is relaxed and cozy, not quite as breathable as cotton, but undeniably soft.
• Alternative Fabrics: Often lumped together, bamboo, rayon, and tencel or lyocell, are known for their moisture-wicking properties. Each made from plant fibers, they’re the most eco-friendly choice and stay soft and breathable over time.

What is the best thread count for bed sheets?

Odds are you’ve been standing in the bedding aisle contemplating the exact thread count to purchase, only to realize you’re not entirely sure what thread count is. So here’s a little breakdown: Thread count is the number of threads, horizontally and vertically, per square inch of the fabric. You may have heard that a higher thread count means better the quality and softer sheets, but this isn’t necessarily true. Thread count only applies to cotton sheets and there are ways to inflate these numbers without actually improving quality. A thread count between 300 and 600 is going to be the best bang for your buck.

Picking Sheets for Each Season (& Type of Sleeper)

Besides softness and look, your top priority when picking sheets is most likely temperature. Lighter, more breathable fabrics will always be preferred in the summer or year-round for anyone who tends to run hot at night. When temperatures drop, a warmer, thicker fabric will keep you comfortable and even save you from having the crank the heat. Anyone who spends their nights cold will appreciate these warmer fabrics.

• Warm Weather or Warm Sleepers: Opt for something light like linen or percale cotton, or a fabric that stays dry like bamboo or tencel.
• Cold Weather or Cold Sleepers: For extra warmth, flannel or jersey sheets will keep body heat in and ensure you stay cozy and comfortable all night.

Other Considerations When Picking Bed Sheets

Besides overall feel, you want to keep price and durability in mind. Higher priced bed sheets should last you a longer time, however, it’s often true that the more expensive, luxurious options actually require more maintenance.

For example, silk sheets, while elegant and opulent, can be a lot of work to maintain. They also tend to be more expensive than most bed sheet options. Silk is a delicate material that often requires hand-washing, gentle detergents, and mild temperatures. Not to mention, it’s prone to wrinkling and won’t stand up to things like pets. However, on the flip side, many people swear by the hypoallergenic and beauty benefits of silk for keeping your skin and hair clean and glowy. Linen and Egyptian cotton (a premium version of cotton known for its extra-long fibers) are other high-maintenance options that tend to be more expensive.

Alternatively, microfiber sheets are the most affordable option of the bunch, and because of how low maintenance they are, they’ve become one of the most popular options. They wash well in a machine and come out of the dryer wrinkle-free; not to mention they are stain resistant and thanks to their close weave, they’re hypoallergenic. Jersey and percale cotton are other affordable options that hold up well over time and with moderate maintenance.

How To Care for Your Bed Sheets

Regardless of the fabric you choose, proper care can make your bed sheets last longer and sleep cozier. Beyond the effects on the sheets themselves, caring your bed sheets can improve your overall health and sleep. Each fabric may vary a little when it comes to care, but keep these general guidelines in mind:

Bed Sheet Washing Instructions

• It’s best to wash your sheets every 1-2 weeks to remove dander, stains, crumbs, and more. If you have sensitive skin, consider washing them more frequently.
• Wash colored sheets on lower temperatures to prevent fading or bleeding, but wash whites on warmer temperatures to sanitize and remove stains.
• When it comes to drying, consider tumble drying or even hanging them to dry. If you do use the dryer, remove them quickly to avoid wrinkles.
• Wash sheets on their own, or with other linens like towels, to avoid snags.
• Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, which can damage the fibers over time.

When to Replace Bed Sheets

• If you notice thinning or holes, it’s time to buy new sheets
• If the fitted sheet’s elastic no longer fits snugly over your mattress, consider new sheets.
• With proper care, most sheets only last for 2-3 years before needing to be replace for hygiene and softness.

Other Bed Sheet Tips

• Consider swapping your sheets throughout the seasons for better comfort and longevity of your sets.
• When you’re not using the sheets, store them properly in a cool, dry place.

Picking the right bed sheets are a lot like picking the right mate. You need support, comfort, softness, and it shouldn’t be too much more to keep the magic alive. Before you invest in your next set, consider your sleeping habits, preferences, and budget, beyond just the patterns you like. You’ll be happier with your purchase and sleep soundly knowing you made the best decision for yourself.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!