Dillon's Last Day, Our Nightmare with the ER Vet

This post is a memorial post for our beloved Dillon, who died unexpectedly last week.

We loved this dog tremendously.

This is a long post, about his last day, as a service announcement in some ways.

We had the joy of living with Dillon for 8.5 years, he was the best dog of all.

Handsome Dillon recovering from Mast Cell Tumor surgery sitting with his Pa.

This post is to advise all pet owners to have an emergency plan in place. Now. 

While your pet is ok.  Not later. Do this research now.  We wished we had.

If something suddenly occurs, you will have researched emergency animal hospitals, and picked the best one. The one with good Yelp reviews, the one that is highly recommended by friends,  the one that your everyday vet says is the best.  Find the hospital that has the experience, the expertise and emergency facilities to manage your critically ill pet when time is of the essence.

You don't want to go through what happened to us with Dillon.

A typical day with Dillon, he was so happy to just be wherever we were. 

 Dillon's last day began just like all of his other 3,100 plus days with us did.  We woke up with him that morning, and he followed us downstairs.  Dillon was a quiet dog with a patient and loving personality. He was our shadow....If we went upstairs, he would follow. If we went in the TV room, he would too.  So this morning was like any other, he waited for us to have our coffee then began wagging his tail to remind us it was his turn to eat and to go outside to do his business.  As our routine is, I fed him and then hubs took him out for a short walk until mission was accomplished.  

A regular start to another day for us all, it appeared.  

But that was not going to be the way things would go. 

Dillon could be found most often on our sofa snoozing or looking out the window

As he usually did, after a bit of hanging out downstairs, he went back up to our bed.  He loved laying in bed and looking out the window soaking up the rays of sun that hit the bed in just the perfect spot.  Pitbulls love laying in the sun.  I was always pulling blankets over him, to warm him from the air conditioning in summer, and the chilly air in the winter.  He loved to be warm. Hubs came back home for lunch, and as I prepared it, I did note and mention to Dave that it was odd that Dillon wasn't coming down to see what we were having for lunch. His sense of smell was as sharp as hearing.  If I was cooking an egg, or cutting up some chicken, I could hear his plodding footsteps coming down from the third floor. He would always appear when I was cooking.  Our kitchen floor always had dried drool spots, as this was part of what he did.  But I just thought, well its tuna fish, maybe he doesn't care for fish....and Dave and I had lunch.  He went back to work, and I went to do some errands. It wasn't until 4:30 after Dave came back home and my stepson, Scott, noticed Dillon was laying up on our bed but breathing very oddly with heavy panting while Dave was showering.  Dave checked him and noticed his stomach was really distended and it felt hard.  I was summoned upstairs by Scott and we all realized Dillon was in trouble.  Dave said a condition called bloating could be very serious.  I googled it and yes, it could be "rapidly fatal".  It advised taking your dog to the nearest ER vet. So we took him to the closest Emergency Veterinary Hospital, without hesitation.  Did we check the Yelp reviews? Yes I briefly did, but thought that the bad ones were just isolated incidents.  I didn't realize that there are "hidden reviews" which are largely unflattering, but you can access them on Yelp by searching for them.  Make sure you do. Read them all. Then ask for references from area daytime veterinarian's about the best hospitals to go in an emergency.  I WISH we had done this, when we weren't thrown into crisis mode.  So that decision is something that I have to live with, and its made losing Dillon so much harder.  

Dillon's adoption photo on the Pitbull Rescue site. This was truly love at first sight.

As briefly as I can describe the events from that point on:

Before we put him in the car, he did have another normal movement and a pee. That was reassuring to see.  We worried about his bloating or GVD (medical term) condition and quickly debated taking him to the closest ER vet or to the one in Boston that was well known for the best animal care.  If he had GVD it was rapidly fatal, and he had been laying in bed since around 11 am with the condition.

So the closest place won out, and off we went.  Upon arrival at 5:30 pm, they whisked Dillon into a back area to examine him, and then put Dave, Scott and myself in a private exam room.  

The doctor came in about 20 minutes later and said she didn't notice him having an extended belly

and said she did a quick ultrasound, and everything looked normal. He only had a raised temperature which she said she wasn't sure why.  Perhaps he had Lyme Disease she suggested.  She advised an xray to make sure the tummy was ok. Yes, we agreed.  She asked for his history. We explained he had Mast Cell Tumors that were  successfully removed last fall , with  clean margins and no lymph nodes involved.  Dillon was considered cancer free.  

No other issues, other than a knee replacement several years prior.

Our 2014 Christmas card with Dillon, front and center! 

We were breathing a sigh of relief as it was not a bloated gut, just a strange fever.  

She returned and told us that the xrays on tummy showed everything to be fine. However she noticed his lungs in the corner of the xray showed some spots, or nodules.  She thought they could be cancer, and asked if we wanted her to xray those.  YES, please check him for cancer, of course!

She returned to say that the xrays of the lungs showed what the radiologist on staff considered to be signs of older damage from perhaps chronic bronchitis.  So he didn't have cancer, just this "fever of unknown origins".  That is technical term, when they don't know what is causing a fever.

Wow, we were so relieved.  He was just sick, and it may have been from a tick bite.  The doctor gave us a prescription and told us to cook up some white rice and feed him a bland diet for the next few days.  We prepared to take him home.  We had been in the exam room for 4 hours as Dillon was in the ER kennel cage.   During the course of the 4 hours as we waited for the doctor to come in and update us, we chatted together to while away the time. Our mood was good as we were no longer worried about Dillon being in a crisis.  Every now and then, we heard a thumping of a tail against the wall.  It was a loud and hard thumping, like one his tail could deliver.  We started to wonder if it could be Dillon's tail?  His hearing is out of this world amazing, and indeed, when we asked the Doctor where he was kept, she pointed to the wall of our room, and said, "right behind that wall".  When he heard us, he would thump his tail!  I am so grateful he realized we had not left him, and that he knew we were there waiting for him those 4 long hours. But it made me question why they sequestered Dillon in the back.  Our other vets would examine him right in front of you in the private exam room, and we would discuss symptoms with transparency. This felt all wrong having Dillon in another room.   We realized in hindsight that the ER was slammed with other pets, and this doctor was running from room to room, with little time to properly notice his symptoms. Ordering xrays and the like, it was clear she never gave his breathing troubles a second thought as there was no note in his discharge papers about it, which was troublesome and the smoking gun of her missing his ailment.

A portrait event at Pioneer Goods.  Of course our family portrait included Dillon. 

When we got home it was 10 pm.  Dave carried Dillon inside and put him in our family room.  Dillon walked over to a corner and laid down with his head to the walls.  I went in the kitchen and started the white rice.  I took chicken out of the freezer so I could boil some up for him for tomorrow.

When I went back to check on him, his stomach was still sticking out and he was still panting heavily. The doctor didn't mention his labored breathing at all.   I took photos and videos of him.  He was panting and wheezing with a rattling noise.  Then he started having mucus slobber, which he never ever had in his life.  Tears or fluid dripped from his eye, so I wiped it all back and had a thought~maybe he had the rare canine flu! I called the ER Vet place and was told someone would call me back.  I asked for the doctor who had examined him to give me her opinion, is this something that maybe no one thought of?  He clearly was feeling very sick.  Dave took Scott upstairs to get ready for bed, and I stayed with Dillon. We brought in his large kennel, as he loved to go in it for peace and comfort, like he did after his surgeries.  Dillon immediately crawled inside.  He would sit up then lay down, trying to get comfortable, panting harder all the time.  I laid down on the floor next to him and stroked his head to give him comfort.  I wished it was tomorrow and we could give him his antibiotic and he would start to improve.  The rice was all cooked and in the fridge for his first bland meal, per Doctors orders. 

Our end of summer pose, 2011, New Hampshire

 Another half hour passed and now Dillon's breathing started getting more labored.

All of sudden he coughed up a bright red spot of blood the size of a nickel.  

From that moment on, I knew he was in danger of dying.  How do I describe the 

horror?  It wasn't a tick bite, or a fever of "unknown origins" at all. 

All the white rice and antibiotics in the world were not going to help our boy. 

I called the ER place again and told the phone answerer, that our dog had now

coughed up blood. I needed to have that doctor call us back! I hung up and ran upstairs to get Dave and we both came back downstairs and gathered around Dillon.  We knew he was in grave danger.

The doctor had missed the mark by a mile.  Dillon was in respiratory distress, and given his

mast cell tumor disease and his lung xrays and his heavy breathing, well wouldn't any competent veterinarian be able to tell something was horribly wrong?  And wouldn't there have even been a mention of his labored breathing on his two pages of discharge notes?  Instead it was all guessing that maybe he had an infection from a tick bite and that the antibiotic should be given.

We were in  a frantic mode now.  Dave and I decided to throw on our jeans and get him back in the car and take him to the Boston ER, Angel Memorial.  I was kicking myself we didn't take him there in the first place,  but second guessing our decisions weren't of any help now.  Still no call back from the ER Vet place.  We were clearly on our own.  Dillon stayed quietly panting in his large plastic kennel.  I had his soft white blanket cradled around his head, the same one he slept on at the foot of our bed.  Anything I could do to give him comfort and take away his suffering would be done to the best of our ability.  I ran upstairs to throw back on my jeans as did Dave.  When I ran back down

to Dillon I found him bleeding heavily from his mouth.  His big brown eyes looked at me, and my heart was breaking with despair.  Dave and I lifted him up in his big kennel and carried it out as quickly as we could to my SUV.  We pushed it all the way in so his face could be near us.  I jumped in the back seat and Dave took off for Boston.  It was about a 20 minute drive, maybe 15 if we could hurry.  We called Angel Memorial to tell them we were bringing in our critically ill 10 year old Pitbull.  We told them he had chest xrays 3 hours earlier at a ER Vet place and could they call and take a look at them as it was clear his lungs were failing.  They said they would wait for our arrival.

My face next to Dillons, I rubbed his soft white head and told him what a good boy he was, too many times to count.  He locked his eyes onto mine, and he never looked away.  We were frantic and desperate for help, our poor dog was suffering and was dying before our eyes.  Dave blew threw a light as he sped for help.  Blue lights came up behind us, and we had to pull over, loosing precious time.  Dave explained the situation and we were motioned onward.  Tears were flowing softly as I continued to offer as much comfort as I could.  He really was such a great dog, even in this horrible situation, he was nothing if not graceful and noble.  At this point my cell phone rang.  I was finally getting a call back from the ER Vet place doctor.  Her call back to us was only because Angel Memorial had called for his records.  She was trying to cover her ass.  She told me she thought I should bring him back in to which I replied that we were taking him to Angel Memorial. I told her she misdiagnosed him, that he was in respiratory failure and that we would be lucky if he wasn't dead on arrival.  I told her I couldn't talk as I had to be with Dillon.  I knew in my heart of hearts he was dying, but I couldn't face it.  It was too much of a shock.  We were told he had a fever. That was all.  And then we were left to watch him suffer and spiral towards death while the clock ticked towards midnight with no additional call backs, despite our frantic pleas.  

Our handsome Dillon and adorable Tobey, who both died a few months apart this year.

We were only two minutes away from Angel Memorial when Dillon's chest heaved about 5 or 6 times.  His eyes never stopped looking at me.  He was gone.  Our boy, who we adored more than anything was suddenly gone.  Once in the driveway of Angel, Dave and I cried our hearts out over him, in a state of utter shock and heartbreak.  Did this really just happen? 

In the driveway at Angel Memorial, a gal with a gurney came out for Dillon.  I waved her away and managed to say through my tears, he's gone.  

  I couldn't believe he was gone.  Then I  thought I felt a pulse, but Dave said he didn't feel anything. I had him try again, but no, he couldn't feel it. Maybe Dillon was in a coma?? I ran back inside...

  I had run inside to ask could someone please check him with a stethoscope? 

A doctor came out in her green uniform and climbed into our tailgate to listen to Dillon's heart.

Then she told us he was gone.  And so he was.

 We drove home slowly with Dillon and brought him inside the house.  We would plan for his burial the next day, where we buried all our dogs, up at our friend's farm in New Hampshire.  He came to us in this very kennel when we rescued him from an Oklahoma facility 8 years ago.  Oh how Dillon hated this kennel back then. He had tried to chew his way out of it and the marred plastic still bears the marks.  But after his first surgery for a new knee, he found refuge and peace inside it, as he did in his final hours.  

 In the early morning, after only 3 hours of sleep, hubs said he wanted to make Dillon a casket and he said I should paint Dillon's name on it.  It was a wonderful idea, and gave us something to do.  They say that funerals are for the living, and its the same for a very special pet.  Scott and his dad built Dillon a final bed, and picked out hardware for the pall bearers to hold.  I found some stencils and used them to put his name and dates on the top of this simple pine box. Dave bathed Dillon and placed him in his last bed. We said goodbye to him that day too many times to remember, a hundred last pattings of his soft fur and gentle kisses on his check and head before we could let him go. 

A final gesture of love and affection, a forever bed for Dillon.

 We drove to New Hampshire and met other family members who all came to say their goodbyes.

 He is buried along a stone wall under a stand of tall pines, next to our other dogs.  We gave him the most dignified burial we could.  Our sadness over his sudden passing and all his suffering on his last day was just beginning.  We were all still in shock, and the burial process helped us tremendously. We read poems for our boy after he was lowered into the earth.

 We will hold him forever close.  And hope that the good memories come back and trump the awful ones we have in our minds from his last day.  He could have been spared the pain and suffering.  We could have given him a gentler way out if the vet had recognized that he was in critical condition and not guessed it was from a tic bite. We could have eased him out of our world, and although it would still be shocking,  it wouldn't have been terrifying and filled with pain for Dillon. 

Dillon brought us so much joy.  I loved this dog immensely.

Please have a plan in place if you have a dear pet, so if you find yourself

in need of good emergency care you know what to do immediately.

We were refunded the $1000 we spent that night by the ER Vet place.

That is another story that will never be told, than what you can read between the lines here.

But please.  Get a plan in place.  Now. You never know what is going to be your pet's last day.

And then drive the few extra minutes to a place with a great reputation, 

you won't regret that decision, I promise.

In closing, this poem was edited to reflect the life that our 13 year old

  (my stepson) had with his dog.

Dillon came into Scott's life when he was 4, and now Scott at 13 1/2,

 read this to Dillon at his grave.  

Me and Matthew Mead turn Hollywood!

Its been a whirlwind week!  Matthew Mead, legendary "Style Guy Guru", asked me to be in several videos for Wagner Spray Tech Company introducing their new Home Decor Sprayer.  OK, maybe not so Hollywood, but for this girl, its pretty close!  We will be in the LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION world!! He's been putting together their visual campaign for all their new sprayers and rollers.  And since we are buddies and I am a designer who loves to paint stuff, it was a natural fit.  So, up at 4:30 in the morning and on the road to New Hampshire to get to the shoot for the 7 am start.

 The first day of shooting would be in Matthew's 8000 square foot warehouse.  A 4 man video production team from TriGlass,  as well as the Wagner Marketing and Development Group had flown in from their Minnesota HQs to create a series of professional How-to videos for their website.  It was exciting stuff!! They would be shooting 6 videos, and I would be in 3.  It also happened to be one of those hot humid dog days of summer, and the warehouse was without air conditioning. Upon my arrival the video guys were setting up the lights and the cameras.  We would begin shooting momentarily.

The video team set up their shot and finally it was time to join Matthew "on set" to do the Introductory video for Wagner. How cool is this!?

I snapped a quick pic and then joined Matthew while the Wagner team sat on the upper level of the open warehouse floor. They would  watch and advise us after each take.  This was going to be fun!

 Since I was in front of the camera, these shots were provided by Matthew's assistant Tory.  These pics give a good depiction of behind the scenes making of the videos.  Matthew and I would shoot about 4 takes in a row without a script.  We had the idea of what information we were providing but it was all ad-libbed which made it exciting and nerve wracking.  Each take was a little different as you can imagine, and there is sure to be an entertaining blooper reel. The new HomeDecor Sprayer is sitting on the table and the old flea market chair is one we will be transforming live on video.

 After the introduction about the Home Decor Sprayer, it was time to spray.  Mind you, I had never used this sprayer before.  The Wagner team handed it to me filled with paint, and then it was time to point, shoot and spray.  After spraying an area of the chair, they would yell CUT and then we would get ready to spray the next part of the chair.  Sometimes they wanted to be in nice and tight for closeups and other times it would be from a distance so you could see all the action.  

 At this point, all that is left to shoot is the vinyl seat on the chair.  I was totally floored and amazed by how darn easy this sprayer was to use, and how awesome it was covering the chair!  If you have ever painted a chair, you know that they are the most tedious pieces of furniture to paint.  But with the sprayer it was done in about two minutes total spray time.  And check out the drop cloth for the lack of overspray.  It was tight and controlled with great coverage.  No paint clothes, no apron either...just a drop cloth underneath and we were good to go!  This sprayer is a game changer for indoor painting for those pieces you want to knock out quickly without a fuss. 

Look at how amazing the chair looks after the paint job!  Only three more to go, and you know that with the sprayer you don't get the feeling of dread when you have to paint another chair.  When we did custom painting at Maison Decor, we charged a minimum of $100 per chair because they are so difficult to paint without globbing and dripping.  Every time your brush meets a joint you have to pay attention to the excess of paint that naturally gathers in those spots.  With the sprayer this was a non issue. 

Two videos down, one more to go!  The day was heating up and we had to cool down by putting iced down cloths around our necks for relief. The team had a large bucket filled with ice water and all these cotton cloths soaking at the ready, which was a life saver.

 In between shots, Matthew and I would sit on the upper level waiting for the next video to get set up.  I was having a blast even if it was 90 degrees!  It was so fun being part of this creative project and working with Matthew.  After ten hours we finally wrapped up.  I would return the next day to do one more video all about spraying smalls with the Home Decor sprayer.  This would show the versatility of the sprayer. Smalls and furniture are all fair game with this sprayer.  

 As a designer, I had input on how to create a stylish room out of found objects.  Accessorizing in a monochromatic scheme using different shades of one color on a paint strip is an easy way to get great results.  This grouping shows off a mismatched collection, but after spraying with shades of one color you have a total WOW factor! 

 Can you imagine trying to paint this sunburst with a brush?  It's a one minute spray job with the sprayer.  Embellished with a bit of gold and its a scene stealer for sure.  On day two we did a video all about spraying the smaller things.  This time we filmed in Matthew's studio.  At one point I found myself cracking up because we had to do so many takes on one section.  Each time Matthew would start off by saying "SO AMY! " in a very excited voice.  It just got funnier and funnier every time we shot it until I finally had to stop to compose myself.  You know that laughing that turns to crying thing that happens sometimes when you least expect it? A case of the sillies?  OMG it was happening in front of the crew.  How unprofessional.  Hahahah .  Oh well....I got it under control and we finally got it done.  Like I said, I would love to see these bloopers. 

This shot is the only one I have showing what the Wagner Home Decor Sprayer looks like.  It will be in stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby next year, but at the end of September they are going to sell on the Wagner website with a limited amount to see how the public receives it. They are going to be in for a surprise because most people I know that paint, will find this the ideal sprayer and its going to sell out in a flash.  How about this?  I will be doing a giveaway on my blog for my readers, so stay tuned for that! I might even giveaway two if they let me!!

This was a week I will never forget.  Doing something like this, as part of a professional creative team was new and exciting!  Matthew is a dream to work with, his creative abilities continue to shock and surprise me. We will be collaborating on more things, like a book (yup) and more videos, and maybe even some television!! We will be hosting an event in November too,  how to shop flea markets and antique shops to find those special vintage items at great prices. You will spend the day with us  "Hitting the Holiday Antique Trail" to pick up gifts and special finds, on a guided tour to our favorite haunts.  Sound good?  So lots ahead for us as we team up with Wagner as well as each other creating Lifestyle Events and publications that are all geared to finding beauty and bringing it home.  

PS~I was lucky enough to take one of the Home Decor sprayers home with me after last day of shooting.  I have some stuff that I plan to paint (starting with my new French Doors for the dining room that will be arriving soon).  This sprayer really rocks! Oh did I already say that? 

Dining Room Centerpiece and a Magical Book

We have been really getting our house straightened out since I have been home.  Our dining room used to have tons of mail and bills on it as we never had time. Time to sort, time to file, time to organize...but now with setting up TWO home offices (one for hubs and one for me) its all working beautifully.  That means my dining room looks pretty most of the time, and that makes me pretty happy.  Our french doors for the back of the house (behind the camera angle) are on order and I imagine they will be in place within a few weeks. Super excited for that day!  In the meantime we do use our table for dining, instead of bill paying...which has been lovely.  In the center I continue to use the big metal and rope tray I got at HomeGoods as a service station of silverware and napkins.  It makes setting a table a breeze.  

 The kitchen is the next room over.  We have a coffee bar station set up along the hallway wall and that may have been one of the best things we created.  When you have small spaces, making them function is a challenge.  We were always bumping into one another in the morning, trying to get our coffee, but no longer.  I highly recommend figuring out where you can put a coffee station if you have the same issues with a small kitchen.  There is only so much space!! 

Speaking of space, I will need to move this bonnet top secretary to another location once the French doors get installed. 

 Although I have gotten fond of my silverware and napkin caddy as a centerpiece, I did pick up this enormous zinc dough trough from England at one of my favorite antique shops in New Hampshire.  I am dying to use it, and although I imagined it being repurposed into a garden sink, I wanted to try it as a centerpiece.  Filled with mums or ornamental cabbage would be amazing, don't you think?  I might try and pop two Boston ferns in it to add some life to the room until its really fall.  I don't like to jump the guns on the seasons....I will not forget that brutal never ending winter. 

Its been wonderful to enjoy meals in the dining room without having to clear off mail and papers to make space.  And speaking of making space and getting things straightened out I happened upon a fantastic and affordable book that is a NY Times bestseller.  Its a Japanese method of getting rid of clutter and getting organized.  Its called "the life changing magic of tidying up".  I read half of it yesterday and promptly went upstairs to my closets and was able to magically tidy them, resulting in five large black trash bags of "discards".  It was pretty easy when you apply the Japanese way of thinking to your "tidying" method.  Its more about what you want to KEEP than what you want to GET RID OF.   I am hopeful I will get my entire house magically tidied!! It felt amazing to just get to my closets.  

 Here is the little book that will do big things for you, if you let it.  I have been buying a lot of books and here is the rest of what I am reading this summer.

This is a tribute book to Charles Faudree, the legendary designer whose middle name is Country French. It was written by his favorite photographer who compiled this beauty of a book.  He recently passed away and the book is filled with his best designs and I found it totally gorgeous and inspiring! 

 Speaking of French, this is a new one written by Sharon Santoni.  I follow her on instagram and saw that she had written this interesting book about her stylish French girlfriends.  Its a closeup look into the lives of a bunch of French ladies, and its more about real life and a day in a life of....kind of like stepping into their shoes.  I found it a great read, as I want to see the real side of France, not a postcard.  Their homes were both in the country and the city and I found many decorating ideas just by seeing how they really live.  So if you love French decor, this one is for you too.

 For my gardening side, I couldn't resist Charlotte Moss' new tome Garden Inspirations. It is a lush publication filled with gorgeous gardens, both hers and other gardens, many historical and well known, like Versailles.  This is a filthy rich book! Great for a gift for any garden lover, or as a present to yourself.  
The latest updates around this house besides tidying up, and a french door installation coming, is that Mr. Maison Decor and I have decided to do the WHOLE 30 plan.  We were inspired by my son Justin who did this a year or so ago.  He looks amazing and feels great. We started yesterday and have 29 more days to follow. Its a regiment of getting back to the whole goodness of real food and cutting everything else out. That means no sugar, dairy, beans, wheat, alcohol etc.  But it does mean fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, chicken, fish and eggs.  Its a bit of a lifestyle change, and we are up to the challenge. I am hoping to drop weight, and hubs is hoping to get rid of his inflammation in his joints. He wouldn't mind dropping a few pounds too.  If you want to learn more, try googling WHOLE30.  

And if you want a knock your socks off delicious as it is easy HOME MADE WHOLE 30 MAYO recipe that is compliant, try this one. I did and it was simple and amazing! We use the blender stick from Kitchen Aid, which is the one I picked up from Costco before we began Whole30. We have been using it for everything since we started our diet (yesterday)!! Hubs whips us omelets with chopped veggies in a flash. Today I made the mayo. Buy this one tool, you will be glad you did. Then make home made dressings and mayonnaise that are so superior to store bought...oh, but I digress.

Lastly, I'm super excited to be heading up to Matthew Meads studio to make video for Wagner Spray Tech company.  I went up last week to practice being "live".  Its going to be interesting! We are going to be showing how to use a brand new small sprayer to be used for Home Decor!!! Its like the size of a dustbuster, and its going to be life changing (for peeps like me).

Perfect Linens for our Master Bedroom

 Perfect Linens. 

 It's really what makes or breaks a bedroom for the most part.  A beautiful bed is so inviting, and its also wonderful to climb into at the end of a long day, slipping in between those nice cool sheets!  So when I got the offer to review some sheets by the Perfect Linens company I was more than happy to take them for a test drive.  It's been awhile since I photographed my master bedroom, so this was also the perfect opportunity to show it again.  Its airy and romantic and it has that European vibe I love. 

 Like much of the rest of my home, my bedroom is done in soft colors. I tend to favor blues and greens as many of you know.  So I selected a sheet set called Second Skin, that had a pretty embroidered edge in green, called Fern.  It has the traditional touch that I love and it mixed in beautifully with the soft colors of the bedroom.  The Second Skin sheets are soft and supple, cool to the skin, yet light and cozy too.  They feel amazing! 

 And did you know, Perfect Linens is a company that sells only sheets.  No other home decor stuff or linens, just SHEETS! They are laser focused about selling the most comfortable and best quality sheets that last and don't end up becoming pilly, scratchy or stiff etc.  Because we all know that sheets can be a major disappointment.  I know that Justin and Madison (my son and daughter in law) received new bedding for their wedding, and after only two laundry cycles, the sheets were all pilly. YUCK.  That's not very romantic, and those sheets went right in the trash.  Perfect Linens has curated only the best of the best in sheets, so this will never happen when you get their Perfect Sheets! 

 My point is, we don't get to test out sheets, we buy them and then are stuck with them, hoping for the best.  It might have looked fabulous with that fancy "Hotel Sheets" label, or the "Egyptian Cotton" label or the high thread count, but it turned out to be a bummer.   Perfect Linens does all the testing and washes every sheet set ten times!  They advise on how to launder their special sheets so you have the perfect sleep experience each time they go back on the bed. The best part is that you take them out slightly damp and dress the bed, simply smooth it with your hands and it eliminates any wrinkles.
The other great thing about this sheet set, is that at this point in my life, I find I wake up feeling hot and have to pull back the sheets...well these sheets feel cool on my skin but I'm still cozy.   

I love my new sheets from PerfectLinens.  They are as elegant as they are soft and silky to the touch,

100% Egyptian cotton with a 400 thread count, made in Portugal (the place where amazing linens are produced) and they have been tested by the company to stand up over time.  

If you are interested in getting your own sheets, I am happy to offer all of my readers a $35 discount code for any sheet purchases at Perfect Linens. 

Simply Enter MaisonDecor35 in the coupon code promo when you purchase. 

Click HERE to visit PerfectLinens for your perfect night sleep! 

 Sweet Dreams!