Summer Issues of the Past - My Favorite Covers

Recently, I spent some time looking through my near two decades of Martha Stewart Living magazine.  It's hard to believe that the magazine will be turning 20 in December of this year!  Here are a few of my favorite summertime covers from previous June, July, and August issues (2000-2010)

June 2009

August 2004

July 2005

July 2001

July 2002

June 2005

June 2002

Hydrangea From the Garden

One of my favorite summertime flowers is the hydrangea.  I picked these this afternoon for a very 'Martha-esque' arrangement.

I'm inspired by this great cover from a past August issue of Living:

Martha Stewart Pets

Martha Stewart Pets, available exclusively at Petsmart, has shown up on the Petsmart website. Local stores are currently being reset to inlcude the new Martha Stewart pets line.

The Martha Stewart Pets line is focused on dog owners. Being a cat owner, this disappoints me a bit. However, I can only hope future product releases will include care items for cats as well.

Priced on the higher end of moderate, the line is attractive and useful. Here is a glimpse into some of the items that are available:

Don't let your dog 'waste' your time!  Brightly colored waste bags for your long walks when Fido has taken a bathroom break.

Fleece toys for dogs.  There are several styles to select from.

Quilted waste pads.. if Fido isn't quite yet house broken, these may come in handy to keep your floors clean and dry.  These coordinate with the waste pad liners.

A large waste pan liner to hold the quilted waste pads. Now THIS, I may use, since it could easily house a litterbox.

Tennis anyone?  A classic dog toy, the tennis ball takes on a bright new look!  Available in three colors!

Doesn't every pet need a microfiber bath mat? 

I love the bag.  This Grooming tool bag holds all the necessary tools to keep your dog well groomed.

I can't help myself... it's in Martha blue; one of my favorite colors.  A feeding station.. it's a must have.  Bowls and mat are sold indvidually.

Don't let your dog treats get stale!  Keep them in one of these handy melamine treat storage cans. 

Keep your dogs kibble fresher, longer!  These clips will help you do so!

The three part feeding dish comes with base, stainless steel bowl and a tight fitting lid to match. 

These and other items in the Martha Stewart Pets collection can be found by viewing the Petsmart Martha Stewart Pets page here. 

No Need to Miss Fabulous Beekman Boys

For those that do not have Planet Green in their channel line up, the first two episodes of "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" is available on iTunes.  The first episode is free, and the second episode is only $1.99.  Download and catch the fabulous fever!

Celebrating Fabulous

On Wednesday, June 16th, television will experience something fresh, new, cutting edge, and fabulous; the debut of "The Fabulous Beekman Boys," on Planet Green. 
In our home, we're celebrating the fabulous.  We're celebrating not only the premiere of the new show; but we're celebrating fabulous friendships. 

In April of 2008, I was watching the Martha Stewart Show when "Dr. Brent" demonstrated with Martha the fine art of making goat milk soap.  It was then that I learned of Dr. Brent's new venture, "Beekman 1802."  I logged in to their website and was instantly impressed with the "expirement in seasonal living" at the farm.

A day or two later, my dear friend John sent me an email:  "check this out... it's from Dr. Brent's partner.."  Partner??  As in what our community calls a "partner??"  What John had forwarded me was a link to the website of Josh Kilmer Purcell and his blog post that introduced the world to "B."  B of course, was for Brent.   I decided to shoot a comment to Josh on his blog:

That started my association with Brent and Josh.  A single blog comment led to product orders, commenting on Brent's blog, and eventual email exchanges. 

Since that Saturday in April of 2008,  I've been an enthusiastic supporter of Beekman 1802, and what Josh and Brent are wanting to achieve with their work.  I've made it a point to learn all I can learn about the mansion and the man who built it. I've watched with curiosity and great satisfaction as the guys built their brand.  Through this blog, Twitter, Facebook, word of mouth, and sharing product with friends and family, I've taken it upon myself to spread the word of Beekman 1802.  I've had the pleasure of sharing with you interviews with Brent and Josh here on House Blend. As Brent once said, I was "Beekman by proxy."  I'm kind of proud of that.

Last year, David and I were invited to the farm for a visit and we finally met the guys behind the soap, the blog, the website, and the numerous emails.  It was a visit I'll never forget and it was a turning point in the development of several great friendships that are so important to me.

So I sit here at my computer, writing this post while an energy of excitement goes through me for my friends Josh and Brent.  I'm so happy that the show is about to make television history.  I'm happy for Angela Rae Berg, and the entire creative team at World of Wonder Productions for putting together a great show.  I had the pleasure of meeting many of the film crew and they are nothing less than fabulous, themselves!

So, Wednesday at 9pm, I'll raise my glass and salute my friends.  I may just do a 'model walk' through my living room.  Congratulations, Josh.  Congratulations, Brent.  Happy premiere day!

Be Pretty... Like You Mean It.

Salsa Verde With Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Looking for a fabulous yet simple salsa verde recipe?  Josh Kilmer-Purcell demonstrates a Beekman favorite:

Fabulous Beekman Boys - The Musical

Just in case you've not seen the musical commercial for "The Fabulous Beekman Boys," you no longer have to feel like an outsider.  Now is your chance.  I wouldn't be surprised to see this appear as a dance remix one day. 

Brentzilla

When I first saw this video, I laughed hysterically.  I then thought I would defend Brent's perfectionistic side.  Then, I thought... nah. 

Don't forget the season premiere of "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" on Wednesday, June 16 at 9 p.m. on Planet Green. 

Hallmark Channel Unveils Robust Slate of New Programming from MSLO

On the heels of the multi-year strategic partnership announced earlier this year, executives from Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia today revealed the original "how-to" programming block set to launch exclusively on the cable network this fall. The slate of new programming is anchored by the debut of the Emmy(R) Award-winning series "The Martha Stewart Show" on Hallmark Channel beginning September 13th at 10:00-11:00 a.m., ET/PT, weekdays.

"The Martha Stewart Show," nominated for two Daytime Emmy(R) Awards last month in the categories of Best Lifestyle Show and Best Lifestyle Host, will continue to air from New York City with a live studio audience. Named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the best food shows on television, Martha Stewart will continue covering subjects near and dear to her heart encompassing all aspects of living.

"Everyone at Hallmark Channel is thrilled to be welcoming Martha Stewart to our family this September," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Hallmark Channel. "It is a watershed time for us. Not only are we working with the acknowledged leader in cooking, decor, design and gardening, but we also have the opportunity to develop a fully integrated lifestyle block of programming on multiple platforms which speaks to the strengths of both Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart. We believe it will speak to our viewers, distributors and advertisers."

Martha Stewart said: "With Hallmark Channel we have found a perfect home for our programming, and I'm excited that we will be able to offer audiences even more of the informative, entertaining and inspiring content they want and expect from us."

Charles Koppelman, MSLO's Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer, stated: "For some time, it has been a strategic goal to expand our broadcasting presence and further cultivate the deep pool of talent we have at our company. With Hallmark Channel, a brand that is compatible with our mission and values, all the pieces have come together. We now have an on-air destination for Martha Stewart followers and are better positioned than ever to serve the women who identify with our brand on a network that reaches 90 million households."

New Programming

Following "The Martha Stewart Show," Hallmark Channel will air two new series: Between 11:00 a.m. -- 12:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, the network will air an hour-long topical talk show, executive-produced by Emmy Award-winning writer and director David Steinberg and hosted by Sirius XM's "Whatever" hosts Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt. The show will have an intimate studio audience and provide a unique platform for the humorous duet to explore the daily headlines and everyday issues on the minds of viewers across the country. The home audience will be engaged through call-in and Skype-ing opportunities throughout the hour.

From 12:00 -- 12:30 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark Channel will premiere "Mad Hungry with Lucinda." Lucinda Scala Quinn is the ubiquitous Executive Food Editor at MSLO, host of the radio show "EatDrink" on Sirius XM and author of popular cookbooks including her most recent title, Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys. Lucinda's goal with the show is to bring family back to the dinner table. Lucinda will reveal her tips on how she has conquered the challenge of whetting the appetite of her husband and three sons.

Everyday Food Series

Following Lucinda, from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark will air seasons one through four of the critically acclaimed series "Everyday Food," offering quick, easy and practical cooking solutions. The series brings to life MSLO's award-winning Everyday Food magazine and is complemented by the popular iPhone app, Martha's Everyday Food.

From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, Hallmark Channel will put the spotlight on select episodes from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's extensive library of programming including "From Martha's Kitchen," "From Martha's Home" and "From Martha's Garden," among others.

There will be encore airings of "The Martha Stewart Show" at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., ET/PT, weekdays, enabling millions of viewers to have access to the program in the afternoon.

Prime-Time Specials with Martha Stewart

Martha is preparing two prime-time specials celebrating Halloween and Christmas. The hour-long programs will focus on the crafts, traditions and history of these two viewer-favorite holidays.

Martha is also preparing two prime-time in-depth interview specials featuring extremely fascinating innovators and doers in the fields of entertainment, politics and culture.

Martha Stewart Living Has Issues - 200 of Them!

The July issue of Martha Stewart Living marks a milestone for the iconic magazine:  The 200th issue! 

The "Amazing America" issue celebrates all 50 states.  Vanessa Holden, Editor-in-Chief of Living comments, "There is lots to love about America, especially in the summer, when the whole country starts living outdoors.  In our 200th issue, we celebrate all 50 states for the first time in a big, bold and breathtaking way." 

Throught this issue, follow the coast-to-coast quest for American originals, and discover the country's lesser-known treasures, like South Dakota's Corn Palace and West Virginia's thermal springs. You'll also find fun and festive decorating ideas from all 50 states. 

This July 4th, patriotism begins at home.  Show your state pride with vintage map textiles, or display your red, white and blue spirit in the kitchen with vibrant, collectible pot holders.  There are stars-and-stripes pies to make and patriotic paper centerpieces made from new downloadable clipart. 

Live New England style with a clambake right in your own kitchen, featuring the season's best ingredients - clams, lobsters, mussels, and corn.  You can also try one of nine states' corn specialties - such as Rhode Island Johnny Cakes and Texas Corn Dogs. 

Stars may be grand, but this season, Martha Stewart Living is loving stripes!  Cool, crisp, and classically American, this stripe trend makes a dashing motif for everything summer.  Try them on throw pillows, ice pops and even your kitchen shelves with eight easy craft and decorating projects. 

The July issue of Martha Stewart Living is now showing up in subscribers mailboxes and will hit the newsstand on June 14.  This issue is classic Martha and sure to be a favorite. 

Macy's Celebrates Pride + Joy

For everyone living out loud with Pride + Joy, Macy's celebrates you this Pride history month. As a committed corporate citizen and a proud supporter of diversity and inclusion both in their workforce and in support of all consumers, Macy's marks Pride month with a host of events, parade sponsorships/participation and celebrations nationwide.

Pride + Joy, Macy's Pride Month campaign features a multitude of in-store fashion events, advertising support, special tribute windows in select stores, Gift Registry booths for same-sex couples in key cities,
as well as sponsorship and employee participation in Pride parades across the country.

The highlight of Pride month celebrations will be Macy's employee participation in Pride parades in 16 markets nationwide including New York, Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Columbus, Houston, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Atlanta. The company has already participated in Pride celebrations in Phoenix, Miami and Melbourne, FL earlier this year. In keeping with Macy's signature brand, a number of these celebrations will feature employees flying a rainbow Macy's star balloon symbolizing the company's continued commitment to the LGBTQ community.

"We are proud to support our LGBTQ employees and consumers through initiatives that recognize and honor our commitment to diversity and inclusion," said Corliss Fong, Macy's vice president of diversity
strategies. "Macy's remains a steadfast supporter of inclusiveness in all aspects of our business and we join in celebration with millions across the nation who live with Pride + Joy this June."

For years, Macy's has acknowledged and celebrated the contributions of its LGBTQ workforce and consumers and demonstrated its commitment in a multitude of ways including in company policies, marketing, events, community partnerships and cause initiative support. Since 2007, for this commitment, Macy's has received 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, that recognizes companies for their record toward LGBTQ employees and customers. This June, The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth, will recognize Macy's with its "Trevor Commitment Award," given annually to a company or organization that through its policies, initiatives and other efforts, demonstrates a commitment to LGBTQ causes and is a prominent, public example of corporate acceptance of individuals regardless of orientation.

For more information on Macy's Pride + Joy annual campaign, please visit www.macys.com/pride
and for a listing of in-store Pride events, please visit www.macys.com/events.