Product Placement

I admit it. 

I am a product junkie and a M.S. addict.  I can't help it. 

I see something super cool and I buy it.  At least it looks super cool.  Oh, you would like an example?  Okay, 20 years ago we bought a "real" wok from a TV ad.  It was so cool and we used it until it died about 3 years ago.  And any diet ad video, I have tried.  Seriously, Stop the Insanity?  Tony Little?  Billy Blanks?  Slim in 6?  Then there were the Turbie Twist towels, oh yes, we have about 6 of those and I got them for friends one year for Christmas.  And don't even get me started on Pampered Chef!  Or the bra hiding strappy thingies.  Then there was the Bare Essentials phase and the Wen hair products. 

Don't get me wrong,  not all my buys were poor purchases.  I love my Pampered Chef stuff!  And my turbie twist towels are fantastic for the hot tub or make up masks.  I am truly happy with a couple of my purchases.  I even like my Bare Essential make up, but it's pricey.  So back to the title of this post, product placement and my obsession with Martha. 

Last week, the product was Govino, go anywhere wine glasses, which Martha was promoting rather well I must say.  They were making these really neat cocktails and I thought, WOW, Vandy's birthday is coming up, we have a pool and hot tub and have broken enough glass along the way, this sounds like the perfect birthday gift to go along with his Crystal Bowersox tickets and the trip to the movies to see "Paul".  Okay, okay, none of it really mixes well, but it all fits Vandy.  Martha had me totally sold because she wanted some at her house too!!  Order them I did!  Just like that!!!!

This morning, Vandy opened his birthday card with the tickets and was pleasantly surprised.  We met at the movie theater were we ate corn dogs, milk dudes and watched his silly movie, Paul, the Alien.  Then, he had to make stop on the way home and I rushed to get his glasses wrapped before he got home because I had been tracking them online and KNEW they would be waiting for me after the movie.  And tada, they were waiting for me on the front porch!!

I thought I would get Vandy a couple boxes and then have two extra boxes
for gifts down the road.  $12.95 for a box of four with a bottle of wine
would be a perfect house warming or birthday gift!



Recycle them should have been the first warning.



Eventually recycle?  And not really dishwasher safe?  hmmm



The thumb dent is really cool and the "glasses" are very shiny. 
From a distance, they look just like real crystal wine glasses.





I WAS so excited about this awesome Martha purchase.  Three dollar a piece plastic wine glasses with a dent for your thumb.  Okay, perhaps I am overreacting.  The word "cheap" does come to mind.  My plastic milk carton is sturdier than these "glasses".  I could send them back I suppose.  Vandy used one tonight for a glass of birthday wine. 

I even saw on their site today that they came out with flute "glasses" this week.  I WAS a bit sad that I had already ordered the four boxes of just plain wine glasses.  However, I am okay with it this evening, truly I am.   Flimsy, plastic, recyclable wine glasses.  I hope they make it through one summer season AND I hope no one thinks they are "just" cool plastic wine cups and pitches them into the trash when they are finished "wining" it for the day or evening.

So, my personal opinion on the Govino glasses, we could all stand to be a bit more careful with our real crystal wine glasses and enjoy the clink!

Ready for backyard time

We enjoy our backyard so very much.  Not only does it have my wonderful gardener's cottage, and a hot tub and a pool .. it is our little corner of paradise.  It has come such a long way in such a short time.  I was going through my pictures today and stumbled on the backyard of days past.  Take a look, and this is AFTER we put the patio in and the path to the grill. 

When we first bought this house it had a 4x4 stoop out the back door.
So the concrete came in with our patio furniture and the grills.
Vandy built a "true" grilling patio off the concrete patio right
outside the backdoor in 2009.  It is so much nicer than the first attempt!



And then we added a hot tub with the stone walkway and more lilies!





Of course, Vandy coaxed me out of building my dream house by offering us a pool,

and the million dollar vinyl fence.



One of the many reasons to have a pool in Ohio.  Addie and her soccer team from high school.






Vandy completed his water feature.  It was a three year project.

It is wonderful in the morning with a cup of java, a book and the birds chirping.





The jungle, I am for sure going to have to do some splitting of plants!



So I ask you, would you like to come and stay awhile?  Lunch in the cottage, food from the "new" grilling patio and a dip in the pool?   Glass of wine and a soak in the hot tub to finish off the evening?!



Craigslist is the bomb!!!

Good day!  I just love craigslist.  I have had nothing but GREAT experiences.  Let me count the ways!

1.  I sold a few pieces of furniture.

2.  I bought Pete.

3.  I helped livelovescrap sell the remaining "things" from the store.

4.  I bought my newest project .... my new dining room chairs!!!

They are STINKING wonderful chairs.  And I don't use the word stinking lightly. 
"Smoker" chairs left in the rain over night, can you just imagine the smell? 
(gagging a bit)

Spray paint and sanding blocks!



Spray painting is so much easier than a brush!

I am so excited about the chairs!  Vandy set them up on this table so that the remnants of the black spray paint would cover the chipping black, as the green underlay started showing up.  He truly must think I am a terrible spray painter, however, now I have another spring project!  Yes, yes, I have been known to miss my target, but I will show you my "oops" another time! 

I got both these chairs for TEN dollars total!  Yep, TEN buckaroos!! 

$10 bucks!!! 

So as I said, Craigslist is the bomb!!!  Stay tuned for the big reveal after the new upholstering is done.  Ah, no, I am not keeping the stinking fabric.  lol

Not as I planned!

Dern it!  Dern it, dern it, dern it!!  Don't you hate it when you have the best idea in your head, you go to do it and then, not so happy with the turn out???!!!  It just doesn't turned out as you planned??!!

The thing is, I am going to share it with you because the concept is good.  Very good!!  Remember those little circle things I posted a few days ago?  I stamped on them and then I used that cool stuff called Diamond Glaze.  The stamping turned out neat and using Diamond Glaze was the icing on the cake.  The thing is, Diamond Glaze can go bad.  It can go brown.  UGHHH!  BUT, because I know you can look past bad DG, I am sharing it with you!  I am such a good friend.  lol  

Next time I will take off the string so I can get it over the entire circle.  When I saw the brown, and believe me, it was much darker when it came out, I just decided to do a "do-over'.  The air mail one turned out kinda cool.  Just saying.

Anyway, stay tuned because tomorrow's post is super neat.  Craigslist has been very very good to me!!!

Until then, sweet dreams!!!