Hi!


I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

Read more

Mix & Match Mama

Andrew, Shay ·

I’m a 25, he’s a 45.


After almost 13 years of marriage, we finally realized something.  I’m a 25 and he’s a 45…

…on our Sleep Number Bed 😉 .

Okay…by the time this post is over, you’re going to think it’s sponsored. Ha!  But it’s not!  We’re just excited that we’re finally happy with our new mattress and since you ladies have been on this journey with us from the beginning, I thought it was only fair to finish it out with a post.  Remember this…

…all six of us piled into our bed back on January 3 when I asked your opinion about our new Tempur-Pedic?   There were over 700 comments about mattresses.  About mattresses!  Because apparently, everyone has thoughts and opinions and believe me when I tell you…your thoughts and opinions were APPRECIATED!

So, here’s what I learned from all of those comments:

I went back and read through them and they’re just about split 50-50 over the Tempur-Pedic.  About half of you love yours and half of you didn’t.  That being said, out of the half that loved yours, almost every single one of you said you hated it at first and had to break it in.  And for me, that was the problem…I wasn’t patient enough to break it in.  We tried several of your suggestions: the kids walked on it, jumped on it, Andrew and I jumped on it, etc.  But after 30 days, it still felt hard as a rock to me, so I surrendered.

Here’s what I learned about mattresses in general:

A lot has changed over the last five to ten years.  We visited multiple stores and talked to a handful of sales professionals and they basically all said the same thing: You can no longer flip a mattress over (remember back in the day, your mattress could flip over?  Well, not any more.  They’re made to stay right side up.), instead of rotating a king-sized mattress half way (so that Andrew’s side is now on my side), they suggested rotating them a quarter way because it’s almost a perfect square (minus about 2 inches), so you can avoid that giant ridge that develops when one of you is much bigger than the other (he’s 6’5″ and I’m 5’3″), and we’re getting older and really have different mattress needs.  Sigh.  When we first got married at 22, I don’t think it mattered to us about mattress firmness as much but now…he has back problems and likes a firmer mattress and I have a hard time sleeping unless the mattress is soft…so that’s a problem.  We assumed we’d both have to compromise and meet in the middle…but then many, many, many of you ladies suggested we visit Sleep Number and honestly, it solved all of our problems (geez…they should really send me a check for this glowing endorsement 😉 ).

Here we are…in the Sleep Number store with our four kids.  I remember back in the day when my parents dragged me around town running their boring errands…yeah, this was us on that day.  Sleep Number was our third mattress store to visit…we stayed an hour and left with a whole new perspective and mattress. #praisetheLord

We found a very knowledgeable sales associate who helped us figure out our Sleep Numbers.  It’s no wonder we were having a hard time agreeing on a mattress…I’m a 25 (closer to 0 for very soft) and he’s a 45 (closer to 100 for very firm).  After that, we tried out the variety of beds and settled on this one…the i10 (except we got one whole bed and not two units…more on that in a minute).  This one has  pillow-top like quality about it (which I realized after sleeping on the Tempur-Pedic for a month, I missed a lot!), but they had many varieties that did not.  You could buy one whole bed unit, two split units or a whole bed unit where just the head portion is split (but the feet portion is the same).  We decided on the adjustable base (to make the head and/or feet go up and down) but in one whole unit (because it felt more like a traditional bed to us if there wasn’t a split).

When it arrived the first day, Andrew was snowboarding, so I let this guy sleep with me…

…and after a minute of playing with the remote, he decided he’s a 55 (which surprised me because I assumed as a kid, he would like it more soft than firm, but he wanted it even more firm than Andrew did).

So…this ends the mattress saga at the Shull house.

The funny thing is that I’ve had so many friends and even my mom text or call me this month and say “we need a new mattress, let me know what you pick” because apparently, everyone is in the market for a new one…but no one wants to go mess with actually getting one…BECAUSE THE PROCESS IS HARD!  Mattresses are expensive and you’re sleeping on them for years and years…so you don’t want to screw this process up.  Our Sleep Number has a 25 year warranty which is amazing…but it also tells me that I needed to like it because I should be sleeping on it until I’m 60.  Whoa.

Okay…thoughts, comments, suggestions?  I had several people comment about the sheets and we’re still using our normal sheets (as you can see…I have our flannel winter snowmen on 😉 ), but I hear that Sleep Number makes a great quality sheet too.  Thoughts?

This should be the last time I have to talk about my mattress.  #amen

And this just made me laugh!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

You’ll Also Love

Friday Favorites
Andrew Answers Part 1
Bloggers Fall Favorites Giveaway!

Comments

  1. Erika Slaughter says

    I have no doubts that if you and Andrew mention to Tab just how great you’re sleeping only one more time he will be SOLD!! Now I’m off to quarter turn my mattress-we’ve been completely turning! Eek!!

  2. Kimm says

    We bought some comfort cool sheets from kohls and they are amazing. I’m not sure how they work, but they are super soft and they keep you cool while you sleep. They are the only sheets we use !

  5. Holly Hopkins says

    I slept on this type of mattress at a hotel in Orlando and it was amazing! We bought a memory foam in firm mattress from ikea and it took me a year until I could have it in my house…I was pregnant and it had a chemical smell. We did everything to air it out but I think with my pregnancy sense of smell I just couldnt handle it. 8months after having my son and a mattress cover later and I now love it. Mattress shopping is the pits!

  6. JAmie says

    I’m a 25 and he’s a 35!! Love this bed! We bought ours after my parents raved about theirs. Really an awesome mattress and totally worth the investment. My my has the sheets and likes them. I love Northern Nights sheets! great quality! Happy Sleeping!

  7. Lesley McFarland says

    Very interesting about the turning! I’m going to have to try that one.
    So glad you guys have found your mattress. They are a HUGE investment and have to last a loooong time.

  9. Stacy says

    HATE mattress shopping. We had a Sleep Number, but didn’t like it and now my 10yo has it in his room. He is a 30, btw…. 🙂
    As for sheets, we LOVE Boll and Branch. My husband is super duper picky about sheets. He travels ALL THE TIME and stays in super nice hotels all over the world. So we have sheets all kinds of hotel chains. But Boll and Branch (they are online) are by far our favorites. They aren’t cheap, but they FEEL like the money we spent. We just got our second set and I’m going to outfit the kids’ rooms in them as well. I’m also hoping they make them for the extra long twin beds at college since my oldest is graduating in May. Hope you have good luck and I can’t wait to read everyone’s suggestions.

    • Amanda P says

      I LOVE Boll & Branch Sheets. Their flannel sheets (which are currently sold out but will be available in the fall again this year) are INCREDIBLE. My husband is obsessed with the sheets. When we got them, for three weeks straight, he commented on how amazing they were every night when we got into bed. We only have Boll & Branch sheets for our twin’s cribs as well as their knit blankets and are about to buy their towels for our bathroom. The organic cotton is totally worth the splurge!!

  10. Lori Reggio says

    LOVE OUR SLEEP NUMBER!! My husband and I had the same experience with the temperpedic. We are using standard sheets. let me know how the sleep number sheets are!

  11. Sarah says

    Woot woot for a good night’s sleep!!! That’s priceless!!! We have a pillowtop mattress that I LOVE, but my husband definitely prefers a more firm mattress. Perhaps a sleep number is in our future!!!! (BTW I’m still using Christmas flannel sheets too LOL)

    -Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com

  13. Karen says

    We decided on a sleep number too- I love it!! The pillow top feature I love. The sheets are fantastic- you have to get some! They fit the bed like a glove and feel like butter. I have to say the nicest sheets I have ever owned!! Enjoy your new mattress:). Btw- just love your blog and your family❤

  14. Abby says

    We have the sleep number sheets and they are my absolute favorite! They are pricey but they don’t pill, soft, and they never come off the corners because they have straps to keep them from moving. We have had ours for about 3 years and they are in awesome condition (especially considering after I wash them I immediately put them back on the bed because I love them that much :))

  15. Laura Horton says

    We’ve had our Sleep Number bed for seven years and we love it! No going back to a regular mattress! Enjoy!

  16. Sheaffer Sims says

    We LOVE our sleep number. We got it because Chris’s back doctor told him his needs would continue to change..so this was the perfect solution!

  17. Alexandra M says

    Oh my goodness! I NEEEEEEED to send this to my fiancé. He’s dead set on a tempurpedic and I do not love them. I think they’re too hot and hard. I’m thinking a sleep number may save our marriage before it even starts!

  18. Catherine says

    I’m a 20, he’s a 65!
    It’s been a match made in mattress store heaven for 10 years now!
    My husband is 6′, I’m 5′ and we sleep so differently, this bad fits up perfectly. We’ve never had a problem, and moving was so easy with it. My mom and I took it apart and set it back up no problems. Our remote screens died on us but they were under warranty, so it was a quick and easy order (50% credit for the warranty) for the new, updated one. Seriously love our sleep number.
    *tip- when we travel for more than 1 night, we always pump our bed up to 100 on both sides. We feel like it helps keep the shape a little more, mostly on my side since I sleep so soft.*

  19. Lizzie @ This Happy Life says

    The process of mattress shopping is what has put us off doing it for so long but it’s coming time now where we need to just do it! I am going to tell my hubby all about the sleep number! So glad you found a mattress you both love!

  20. Angie says

    Glad you got a mattress that you love! We tried the Sleep Number mattress and didn’t like it. We are Tempurpedic people! Have been for years. We just got a new one and there is no having to break it in for us. LOL Before we got the new mattress I was waking up every morning between 3:00 and 4:00 (our get up time is 4:50) and not going back to sleep. Since we got our new mattress (we had had the other one for 11+ years) I have slept until the alarm goes off. Different strokes for different folks! 🙂

  21. Angie says

    I am a 70! Yes, 70. Always thought I preferred softer but it was giving me back aches. Husband is a 45. We use sleep number sheets – they are soft and if you raise the head or foot, they don’t slip off because of the way they fit.

  22. Rebecca says

    So glad you guys found what you love! We got a Tempur-Pedic about 3 years ago, pillow top and split because we are OLD! No, we aren’t but we wanted to be able to raise and lower our own sides and it has worked out great. My bestie has the sleep number and I will say her bed is more heavenly so that is probably our next and last bed purchase. I do have one question, I can’t seem to find a duvet that covers the entire mattress sides and that bugs me no end. I’ve even gotten a second one (unfilled) to try and hide the gap. Any suggestions?

  23. Kay G says

    We got the basic sleep number bed over 10 years ago and still love it. Glad you found a bed you like! Now unto pillows… have you tried My Pillow?

  24. Tracy Doubts says

    We had a tempurpedic as well. It now resides in the guest bedroom and we replaced it with a Stearns and Foster. I would love to know if any of you ladies out there have suggestions for good pillows. Purchasing good pillows is almost as overwhelming a process as buying a mattress is to me. Thanks!!

  25. Wendy says

    I’m a huge fan of Thomas Lee sheets. They’re not cheap but are the perfect thickness and coolness. Only come in white, so maybe not festive enough for you though! 🙂

  26. Julie says

    Did you purchase a sleep number base? I was heading the sleep number direction, but have a bed I want to keep and not use their base. I suspended our mattress quest over a year ago and really need to make a purchase.

    • MeganKC says

      We have the Sleep Number adjustable base and it fit right inside our existing King bedframe. We just took out the old mattress support slats and it fits perfectly. We even got leg extenders to raise the Sleep Number base to the height of our existing frame.

  27. Lori Johnson says

    Hi Shay, love your blog, been reading for years, and I credit you for helping me to start liking to cook 🙂 This mattress post is great, we also had a memory foam and hated it! It was so hard and hot!! We now have a reg pillow top king, but would like a sleep number down the road, so this confirms we need to invest!!

  28. Darcy Sexson says

    My sister has a Sleep Number and I’m always jealous when I go to her house. 🙂 If you’re a Costco member, their Charisma sheets are the BEST, and so affordable – they’re a good mix of strong & soft. We have a Cal King, so I order online (free shipping) but you can buy King size sheets in the warehouse. 🙂

  29. Chelsea says

    Find a store with Cariloha sheets. Amazing. Life changing. Expensive but so worthwhile. In the winter we have flannel – but from March to October it’s all about those sheets. I usually wash them and put them right back on. Made of bamboo. Sometimes Costco has a traveling show and they sell their sister brand for a bit cheaper. Aloha Soft I think they’re called. Worth keeping your eyes out for a store in your travels and feel for yourself.

  30. AMANDA SHEROD says

    Thanks for posting this we need a new mattress, do you feel like the Sleep Number feels like a comfy air mattress, my husband said he has heard that?!

  31. Danielle Rigg says

    We loved our tempru- pedic but think it is time to change. The support is just not there anymore, the rotating is not working either 🙁 Lately, we are waking up all the time and not because the girls are waking up. Did you get a new headboard or can it fit in your old king?

  33. Morgan Chandler says

    We have had our sleep number (m7) bed for 5 years and still obsessed! Next,t you’ll have to get the SLEEP NUMBER® DualTemp™ layer!! It’s a life changer!

  36. Megan Butler says

    Oh gosh!!! Mattresses make me nervous!! Like you said it’s a huge investment and sleep is sooo important. We love ours but it has a huge ridge in the middle!!! Ha. Oooooppps.

  37. Allison says

    YES, YES, AND YES!!! My husband and I “bit the bullet” roughly 2 years ago, and purchased a Sleep Number bed. It was hands down one of the best decisions that we’ve made!! We have a king size bed that is split, but we don’t have the adjustment option. Now looking back, I wish we would have just got the adjustment option. Sigh!
    We also got the bed sheets, and the Sleep number pillows (which you can let air out of). I would HIGHLY recommend the sheets…AHHMAZING!! However, I’m not sold on the pillows and they were EXPENSIVE (like $250.00 each expensive). YIKES!!

  38. Jenny Null says

    We have had our Sleep Number mattress for over 12 years now and still love it as much as we did when we bought it. I am an 80 and DH is a 50. Several years ago we had an issue with the pump and they sent us a new one no questions asked. Happy sleeping!!

  39. Brooke says

    I’m a 80, he’s a 20. We have had our sleep number for twelve years & still love it. (Pretty sure that violates some mattress rule) What I love is that I can adjust it when I’m sore from the gym or sick, to my perfect comfort level. I would never buy anything else! As for sheets, we all use Comphy Sheets. I discovered them at a spa years ago & have been hooked since.

  40. Kathryn says

    Ok, please don’t laugh at this but I purchased sheets from Target because my friend swore to me they were sooo nice. (I’m a complete sheet snob and only sleep on high quality sheets) I bought the Supima Classic Hemstitch Sheet Set 700 Thread Count – Fieldcrest brand and they are wonderful. They wash well and have stayed soft.

  41. Marla says

    I agree with those who need help finding the perfect pillows. It’s a neverending quest for us.

  42. MelanieL says

    I never chimed in on your previous post but we have a Sleep Number and love it. We’ve had ours for 8 years. Our numbers are the same as yours except in reverse, I’m a 45 husband is a 25! It’s just nice to have firmness choices that will take you through all stages of life! 🙂

  43. Terry Pitzer says

    You might want to check out Boll and Branch sheets. They are supposed to be wonderful. They are sold exclusively online and cut out the middle man. They will be my next sheet purchase.
    Glad you found a mattress you like. We absolutely love our Tempurpedic. There are many different models. Just wondering if you chose one that was too firm.

  44. Shana says

    Obviously all the “bed experts” you talked to have not heard of bed’r mattress. They not only have flippable (is that a word) mattresses, but they even make a pillow top one that flips and has pillow tops on both sides! It’s seriously the BEST!! You can also sleep on them for 90 days and change them out 2 different times to decide for sure on the firmness you prefer. We LOVE it and in our 23 years of marriage we’ve had 7 mattresses. Yes, we even had a Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number. So far this one has been our favorite, but we’ve only had it since September so hopefully we continue to love it. Here’s the mattress we have, I know you are in love with yours, but others may be interested in checking out the “new” flippable mattress! http://bedrmattress.com/shop/gel/canaan-gpt/ (they have several different types, with and without pillow tops, etc.)

  45. Shana says

    Oh, and what makes the bed’r mattress even better 😉 is it’s MUCH cheaper than some of the well known brands! Of course, that was NOT our deciding factor because obviously we’ve wasted a fortune already in mattresses! But, it’d definitely a plus! The negative, after looking at their website, I’m not sure if the company is located in your (or readers) area.

  46. Kristina says

    They actually do still make double-sided mattresses. 🙂 I have three new mattresses being delivered this week, so I’ve researched A TON. There is a wealth of information on sites like The Mattress Underground and Sleepopolis if anyone else is looking – they were extremely helpful for me! 🙂

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We actually bought the Tempur-Pedic pillows when we bought the mattress and love those!

  48. Erin McGuire says

    So is it a glorified air mattress?? And 25 years!!!! What about that commercial that says you need to change your mattress every 8-10 years?!? Eek! I’m totally confused now, ha ha! And my mom looked into a sleep number and the salesman talked her out of it, not into – crazy!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I was so misinformed! That’s one of the biggest reasons it took us so long to actually consider one. You should go into a store. It’s life changing :).

  49. Patty says

    Sigh. We invested in a Tempur Pedic and I would LOVE to replace it with another Sleep Number bed. We had one ages ago and I much prefer it, but after investing in our current mattress I just can’t justify spending the money to replace it. (We’ve only had it 3 years.) It’s not like there’s a huge market for used Tempur Pedics…bummer. As I recall, my sleep number is 75!

  51. Lynn says

    Apologies if this has been asked or answered already, but with the sleep number bed – do you buy the box spring (or equivalent) or does it go on a certain frame?

  52. Kelly says

    I dug my heels in on a Sleep Number. Finally after going through two mattress in 1 year, I broke down and went with Hubby to check them out. I didn’t want to like them because I’ve heard that they are like sleeping on an air mattress. Those who said that couldn’t be more wrong. I’m a 60 and my hubby is a 45. I no longer wake up with back and hip pain. Definitely worth the cost.

  53. Leslie says

    You will LOVE your sleep number!!! You will miss it when you are on a trip or on a vacation away! No other bed will compare- even the fanciest hotel bed won’t compare to your sleep number! Also- when you come back from being away it makes it tens times better!! Sweet dreams!

  54. Tina says

    We have a sleep number bed and love it! Like you, I’m a lower number (30-35) and my husband is a higher number (50-55). We also have the adjustable base (one whole unit) and love the flexibility that provides. We tried the Sleep Number sheets and did not like them at all. We found that they “pilled” very easily after little use and washing which told me the quality wasn’t that great. We returned them and are sticking with the tried and true sheets we love. Congratulations on your new Sleep Number!

  55. Janet says

    We have a Leesa mattress and LOVE it! My husband also likes more firm because of back problems and I like softer. It’s also a fraction of the price of regular mattresses ($1K). There’s also a trial period of 100 nights. If you don’t like it, they’ll pick it up for you at no cost and give you a full refund. This is where the mattress industry is going now with all these online stores like Casper, Tuft and Needle, Purple, Leesa, etc.

  56. Christine says

    We’ve been sleeping on a Sleep Number for about 10 years now, and never going back to another mattress! Surprisingly, we are both about a 45, but sometimes I will lower it to 35 when I’m especially tired or sore. So awesome that with a Sleep Number, you can totally do that!

  57. Blaise says

    Mattress shopping is the worst!!! I went through a similar process a couple years ago! But… my mom & I actually found an amazing store that makes (& can custom make) mattresses that ARE double-sided & can be turned over. They basically said the same thing you found out, that mattress companies don’t make them like that anymore (because they want you to spend more money & have to buy a brand new mattress when the one side is worn out). Anywho, this mattress store makes them the traditional way & I actually had mine custom-made because I didn’t like any of the pre-made ones. All of that to say, if anyone is in Southern CA, Custom Comfort Mattress is the best! 🙂

  58. Trish says

    My husband and I love our sleep number bed. We’ve owned it for 3 years. When we purchased our bed we also purchased the Sleep Number’s lyocell ultimate sheet set. Oh, my, they are so luxurious and soft. I also like them because they’re made to fit the adjustable sleep number beds; the corners have deep pockets which keep them from popping off when the head/feet are raised. I don’t they you’d be disappointed with them. Glad you decided on Sleep Number. It sure has been the best choice for us!

  59. Angie says

    We have a sleep number bed and the sheets. I believe ours are the lyocell ones. They are super soft and comfy. The great thing is the fitted sheet has a sleep number tag at the bottom corner that you match up to they bottom corner of any mattress protector you bought and you never have to waste time trying to figure out which is the end and which is the side. I love that feature, it makes making a king bed a lot easier – I don’t have to,wrestle with the sheets…I line up the emblem and rock on.

  60. Lauren says

    I think beds are one of the best purchases you can make. Our mattress in 8 years old and super soft. I think as we age we will be getting a firmer one too! Or and a king size!

  61. Carley says

    The best sheets I have ever slept in are Pure Beach Sateen sheets from Bed Bath & Beyond. They are magnificent. You should try them!

  62. Jody says

    We have the same mattress! And two sets of their sheets as well – love them!
    One of my favorite things is the app & being able to see how well we are sleeping at night. Glad your sleep problems are solved ??

  63. Heather says

    We have a great pillowtop that I love but the game changer for us was going European with our bedding. We tried different twin comforters (i like to be cool he likes to be warmer) in our Airstream first after years of traveling in Europe. I suggested it because making a bed in a trailer is no bueno. We loved it so much we have seperate duvets at home now. I can’t believe it took us so long to realize why we slept so good in Germany! Lol.

  64. Catrina says

    My husband and I purchased a Sleep Number about five years ago. At that time, they offered discounts to health care professionals. I’m a Registered Nurse and only had to show them a copy of my license and photo ID. I do not remember the exact percentage off or know if they still offer this but it couldn’t hurt to ask. Just a little fyi…

  65. Amy says

    So thanks to you, my husband and I got a sitter and spent yesterday afternoon at the sleep number store and we placed an order! Turns out I’m a 20 and he’s a 45. Thank you Shay!

  66. Angela Banae says

    Just buying our sleep number bed tonight!!! So excited!! Thank you for the great review, Shay!!

Subscribe via Email

Copyright © 2024 Mix & Match Mama | Privacy Policy

svg{display:none !important}img{display:none !important}.pf-content img{display:block !important}.pf-size-full, img { max-width: 25% !important; } li svg.detail-icon{width:55px !important}svg{display:none !important} svg{width:55px !important}