Veterans Day

Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941 and made a huge impact on the world, including a tall, thin salesman, 25 years old living in a small community in western Pennsylvania. Little did he know the actions of the Japanese would forever change his life path. The following day he enlisted in the United States Army, much to his parents' concern. Undaunted he forged forward like many of his peers who became know as "The Greatest Generation". He ended up becoming a pilot of the B24's and flew in the European and African fronts. He used to enjoy telling stories about how he ran out of gas flying over the Mediterranean sea and glided to a stop on the beach, or how they landed and crossed a farm field to discover once on the other side it was filled with land mines.... The real trick, he'd say, was how they got back across it. He'd reminisce about the girl he had met at the USO concert in December and how she had followed him to Phoenix the following May for their wedding. (Then they had 4 children one of them being me and the other Pierre).

He was a Veteran and this week we celebrate all veterans...We thank you all for your service to our country and the enormous sacrifices you have made on our behalf. We ask the Good Lord for keep and protect all of you currently serving and those who have done so. God bless you.

-Claire Wiegand

Ready for candy corn and plastic rats???

Halloween is right around the corner. Good thing UFS has a great selection of items to help us celebrate. There are assorted costumes for the kiddies, enough for the whole crew...

...and all kinds of bizarre decorations. The most disturbing one is the "Rat in a Trap" a huge rat that moves as if dying when you press the button. There's a witch waterfall, cobwebs, (that you don't want to get rid of), pumpkins, scarecrows, witches of all shapes and sizes AND CANDY. I don't know what I like better, the Hershey's Crunch or the Three Musketeers, or M&Ms....I miss those days when the kids would come home after Trick or Treating and put their candy away .....and only I would know their secret spots....and when they were fast asleep I'd slip into one of their bags and steal my favorites. (True confessions of a chocolate addicted mother). Good thing the candy is so affordable at UFS I'll just go buy my favorites myself.

You missed it!!

Last night fifty people attended a fabulous 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon wine tasting at our store. We tasted some of the great "Cabs" for this year: Charles Krug, Beringer Knights, Frogs Leap, Groth, Routestock, BV Tapestry, Honig, Justin Isosceles... plus 30 more exciting choices!If you weren't there... well, you missed a golden opportunity- BUT, don't worry, we'll do it again. Make sure you sign up on our email list. Don't miss your chance to enjoy the world of fine wines at UFS- you'll see the difference in you're life.

Yes, it's my favorite time of year!!!!

THE RETURN OF FOOTBALL. Just into week two and I'm already excited about my beloved team....no it's not the New Orleans Saints, or the New England Patriots, or the Indianapolis Colts, It's the GREEN BAY PACKERS, the team where men are warriors even if they have long flowing blond hair. ( I guess you can have that hair if you lead the NFL in quarterback sacks.) It's the team where cold, snow, and ice are a way of life. It's the team that rides their youngest fans' bicycles from the club house to the field as the tykes run alongside (even if their knees are bumping their chins).

Well, before we can really enjoy the season we need SUPPLIES...You got it, beer (my favorite is Land shark), chips, sausage, cheese, pizza, etc. These are all available at UFS and come look at the prices!!!!

My husband decided he needed a new recliner for the season???? Now women live in circles and guys live in boxes so it's ok I don't understand. It's all about geometry....who knew.

Anyway we bought him a new recliner. It's a Franklin big man's recliner that's on sale this week for $299....It's a chocolate, faux leather and it's amazing. So we're ready....BRING ON THE GAMES!!!!

How Are You Sleeping?

A recent study by Stanford University reported that among 9,000 U.S. adults, 20% reported that they have fallen asleep or have been seriously drowsy in situations requiring a high degree of concentration (like driving a car, attending a sales meeting, etc.). OMG!These folks are out there- driving on 116 or 74- scary! These people need better sleep. Better sleep starts with a better mattress. UFS carries Sealy and Englander bedding at very affordable prices. Let us help you get better sleep; you'll be happier and safer (and so will the rest of us).

Time for School

I can't believe the summer is almost over! It seems like it barely started, yet when I'm driving down Central Illinois roads and I see all the beautiful ripening crops, I know that fall is coming. The corn is probably 6-8 feet tall and the soybeans are lush and full. Another dead give-a-way is when I come to UFS and see all the "Back to School" supplies on the shelves- everything from paper, pencils, lunch boxes, back packs, etc. It's hard to believe just how many little things kids need for school- they can really pile up.Poor kids! They're really going to miss swimming, fishing, hiking, playing video games, sleeping in, no homework, and summer ice cream and Popsicles. :) But, oh well... let's bring on the FOOTBALL!

The Splendor of Our New Vendors

So you know how UFS is always looking for new sources for DEALS...Well, the furniture store has found three new vendors of furniture. The first is ROWE FURNITURE which is made in North Carolina and is exquisitely tailored. The ROWE furniture that UFS carries can be ordered in many fabric options. Now you can customize your furniture so that it's just right for your taste.

Another source for furniture is a company out of New Albany, Mississippi called Starmont. They specialize in producing quality products at an affordable cost. We have two cushioned sofas in a patterned microfiber in three colors at an affordable $299.00.

Finally, UFS has added another really affordable vendor called Higdon Furniture. We currently have several bedrooms here at UFS.

UFS prides itself on continual improvement. Come down and see our new furniture!

Are We There Yet???

We're going on vacation! Once a year, we let all the stress and drudgery of day-to-day life behind and escape to somewhere special-- somewhere therapeutic, restful, and calm. I'm SO ready to go, but unfortunately I'm in a big sweat (not because of the heat though). I've left lots of travel details until the last minute.Good thing UFS has suitcases of various sizes, plus totes, backpacks, and purses. I really like the American Jourester for $49.99.

I also purchased a new cosmetic bag, beach towel, small size toiletries and PLENTY of MUNCHIES for the road.

Ahhhh.... Affordable Air Conditioning.

Boy, it's HOT!!!

To be cool as a cucumber, you need to come to the appliance department and check out our window air-conditioners. My sister just bought one for her bedroom. Her bedroom is on the second floor and the central air conditioner doesn't have enough force to cool her room. She purchased the 8,000 BTU for $169.00!We also carry the 10,000 BTU for $239. After her purchase, she only leaves her room for meals. I really miss her.

Happy July Fourth!

Starting today UFS is boasting some really amazing July fourth holiday specials. Here are a few of my favorites. This sofa is on sale for just $459 until July 5th. I think this piece has such a stylish blend between traditional and contemporary, and that price is great!
Also, the Gibson Pillow-top mattress set by Englander is $299 on sale. This thing usually sells for $799.95 for the set. Crazy!

Ready for Father's Day?

Father's Day is going to be here very soon... are you ready? I know I'm still trying to decide what to get my father this weekend. I'm definitely going to find something here at UFS. Some dads might like the collectible neon novelty signs, with either sports teams or alcohol brands (or maybe just the real stuff, like a nice 12 pack of Leinenkugel!). Or other dads might dream big and hope for a new recliner or HDTV!
Apparently someone thought it would be nice to combine the beer and the recliner... oh my.Anyway, as for my dad, I know he prefers sporting goods or tools, and luckily the hardware department at UFS has great deals on everything from leather tool belts to power tools.

Roll Out the Red... (I Mean Berber) Carpet!

My fiance and I are still renovating our home, and we have made so much progress! We're now ready to start thinking about floor coverings, and with perfect timing! UFS actually has many types of laminate wood flooring, vinyl flooring, and carpet-- and carpet remnants are 50% off right now! I was pleasantly surprised by the low prices and wide selections.
Our house has hardwood floors in almost all rooms (which we plan on refinishing), but the bathrooms need new flooring. We'll probably put vinyl flooring in the bathrooms-- something similar to these.
There is another room where I think I'd like to have Berber carpet installed. UFS carries three brands of this tight loop carpet, and prices per sq. ft. start at $0.69! I think this carpet will give the room a softer, cozier feel than the hardwood floors, plus it's comfortable all year round, and best of all-- easy to clean!

Let's Go Fishing!

My mother always says that right around Mother's Day is the best time of the year for crappie fishing. As a child I remember fishing in the spring at our lake. For a few weeks, crappie fishing was really great and we could reel in several fish each hour. I love that feeling of excitement when you feel a fish bite, and the fight between you and the fish begins.

Everyday when I walk in the door at UFS I think about how much I want to go fishing when I see all the fishing equipment for sale. Look how nice this pole is-- it would be great for crappie fishing.


With all this quality fishing gear, all I need after I leave UFS is a good fishing place.... probably not this one!

Nice to meet you, UFS

Hi, it's Melissa! I am working on my degree in English, and I have been working at UFS for about two months. Right now I'm helping with the UFS website, and I have learned a lot already. Before I was hired, I had never really been to UFS; I had just heard these loud commercials telling me how much money I could save. Then on my first day, I couldn't believe the crazy deals! I love stores like T. J. Maxx and Marshalls, which have brand name merchandise at discounted prices, and yet UFS has more selection and lower prices. But how cool is this... I can shop for a cute pink bracelet, new cookware, garden tools, and curtains while my fiance can browse the HD TVs, the power tools, and these crazy-inexpensive authentic football jerseys (he was super pumped about finding those, and had to have two Chicago Bears jerseys!).

My fiance and I recently bought an old house which we're going to be remodeling and repairing this summer before moving in. Months ago we constructed a strict "house budget" of all the costs we were going to incur. Every day when I walk around UFS, I find more and more ways we can cut costs, and I just dream about all the ways we can put the extra money to use. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on about all the surprising things I've found at UFS for our house.

Isn't it lovely? ... at least from a distance. You can't see the stained walls from here! ;)

However, my favorite discovery has been this BEAUTIFUL bedroom set which I will buy this summer for our new home. With a rich dark brown finish and plenty of ornate detailing, it has artistic old world charm. The intricate designs all over furniture matches the crown molding in the house... I just love it! Now there's inspiration to get the repairs done!


When I took this job, I had no idea I would be working at a place where I can save money on appliances, cabinets, flooring, furniture, hardware, decorations, yard supplies... practically EVERYTHING we're going to need to make the house better. Oh, and then of course all the Coronas we'll need to celebrate when we're done with all the work. :)

Time to get a little dirty...

The weather in Central Illinois the past week has been amazing. I've found myself searching for excuses to get outside. When I see those plants start to poke their little heads from beneath the dirt, I go into my GARDENING MODE. Well, this spring has found me lacking some crucial inventory for my quest. So I went to the store and purchased soil, pots, gloves, tools, etc.

Check out all of these cool vegetable seeds... only $0.25!!

Lots of pots too!!

I'm thinking about kicking it up a notch with some garden sculptures (gazing ball), bench, or wind chimes. Soon the patio pots will be filled with geraniums, and impatients providing all of us true natural beauty. Then as long as I don't get distracted by the consistently lousy Cubs my garden will be GREAT.

Did someone say rebate?

OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED WE ALL NEED NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES....STOVES, REFRIGERATORS, WASHERS AND DRIERS....(DO THEY MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOW AIR CONDITIONERS? OR CAN OPENERS? OR ELECTRIC KNIVES?) ALRIGHT SERIOUSLY, ON APRIL 16 AT 8AM THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 12 MILLION DOLLARS...THAT'S RIGHT 12 MILLION. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO GIVE A 15% DISCOUNT TO CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES. UFS IS GOING TO MATCH THE DISCOUNT SO OUR WONDERFUL CUSTOMERS WILL END UP GETTING ALMOST 30% OFF THEIR PURCHASE. BUT, (YOU KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A BUT) WHEN THE FUNDS RUN OUT THE DISCOUNTS ARE DONE. IN OHIO THE FUNDS LASTED FOR 4 HOURS. SO DON'T BE LAID BACK...YOU NEED TO BE HERE AT 8AM ON APRIL 16TH. BETTER YET COME IN SOMETIME THIS WEEK. MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS , GET A QUOTE, AND YOU'LL BE ALL READY FOR FRIDAY MORNING.

the remodel and my nervous breakdown continue

Imagine the ugliest wood paneling in the world.

Take that image and in your mind double it's hideous offensiveness. That is what was lurking besides the ugly, old lady wallpaper in my man friend's kitchen.

So after taking the terrible kitschy curtains down I began ripping and scraping off the wallpaper.

Only to be faced with this---

That my friends is the world's ugliest paneling. I didn't even know they MADE panelling like this! And, for the record, I don't think they do anymore. This is the finest, ugliest patterned wallpaper the 70's had to offer.

So, per my mother's suggestion, I washed the walls with TSP, a special cleaning agent, made for cleaning walls before painting. Such compounds as well as primer can be found in our paint department:

I then began priming. It felt so good to cover up the panel of death and make it all white and clean

However, I noticed that in certain places the primer was starting to crackle. I, like all good daughters, had just followed my mother's advice and NOT read the directions on the can of primer. Apparently I wasn't suppose to first wash the walls with TSP-- it reacts with the primer.


I thought about crying. Instead I took myself down to the store where Hardware Terri-- the Diva of the Hardware World told it wasn't the end of the world. Sandpaper was my salvation:

I bought myself some sandpaper and sanding down the cracks in the primer so they wouldn't show up in the paint. It was slightly annoying and my mother felt badly that she had given me some faulty advice, but such is life.


After the sanding I used that nifty blue painter's tape to tape around all the molding, the windows, and the cabinets. It was time consuming, but dare I say-- a little fun.


Then came the paint!


From here:

To here:

VOILA! (The color is called Copper Bangle and for the record, my father-- the illustrious Tom of Tom and Pierre-- thinks I should have painted it white.)


Anybody can undertake such a transformation. All you need is a little patience, some courage, and the UFS Hardware and Paint Department.

Knobs 2.0

As I promised!  The great reveal!

(Please disregard the in process tiling... Just look at the cabinets!)

Thanks to this awesome, new cabinet hardware, my manfriend's kitchen has joined us in the 21st Century.  

kitchen cabinet facelifts for less

My man friend (he turned 30 this month... boy he ain't) and I have been working on fixing up his house. He's lived there for a few years and while he's very bright about a lot of things, home improvement is not an area of strength for him.

The first room we're going to tackle is the kitchen. First up are the cabinets which aren't BAD, but they were a little dingy.  I gave them a hearty scrub and they already look much better.  Next up is an inexpensive facelift in the form of new knobs or cabinet pulls.  


The old ones were terrifyingly oldfashioned :

Good thing there is such a wide selection in our hardware department. There are brass, pewter and chrome pulls and knobs. The styles vary from being very traditional to FUNKY.

When I first started working on the kitchen I went to all the big home repair/remodel stores to get some inspiration.  I couldn't BELIEVE how expensive cabinet hardware was.  $4 for a single knob!  I have 27 drawers and cabinets that need new hardware so it really adds up.  Luckily at UFS we have a wide variety at affordable prices.  



I'm installing the new pulls next week.  Stay tuned for the exciting reveal!