Saturday, July 31, 2010
Blog Slump
Yes, I realize it's been a while since I've updated my blog. I hope to have new posts available soon. I've just been in a slump when it comes to blogging. We all need a break now and again. xo
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
PetSmart Releases New Martha Stewart Pets Commercial
Yes, that is Martha and a PetSmart employee resting comfortably on two of the new Martha Stewart Pets dog beds, now available at PetSmart. This is a still photo from the upcoming PetSmart commercial featuring Martha Stewart Pets.
PetSmart released the commercial today on their Facebook page. "Like" PetSmart on Facebook and you can see the entire commercial, which will begin airing on July 26.
The 30 second spot is delightful as Martha and her PetSmart employee pal test out some of the new products found in the collection.
Martha Stewart Pets, began showing up on PetSmart store shelves the first of this month. With a wide range of useful, and well designed products, dog owners are sure to find the perfect toy, grooming tool, or accessory for their pet.
While not a dog owner, I also found several of the products to be perfect for cats! The small bowls and feeding mat shown above are the perfect size for our adult cats. The bowls are shallow enough to hold a perfect amount of food for our felines to enjoy. The mat, made of silicone, is great for keeping their feeding area neat and tidy. Clean up is a snap too, with a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
The training mat shown above serves a new purpose for our cats.. it keeps the cats from tracking litter everywhere! The large square mat holds the litter box and catches any litter that may fall.
The Grooming tote is great for storing all the essential tools needed to keep your pet clean and looking beautiful. I think it also makes an excellent tote for cleaning supplies as you move from room to room. Duo purpose, one great bag!
If you've yet to see the collection in person, stop by your local PetSmart. See what all the barking is about!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Martha Stewart Debuts New Craft Items on HSN July 19
During her appearance, Martha will also introduce the Cricut Cake® Martha Stewart Crafts™ Edition, an easy-to-use, cake decorating machine and electronic cutter that precisely cuts gum paste, frosting sheets, and much more. Developed by the creative innovators at Provo Craft, the new machine, which is co-branded with Cricut Cake and Martha Stewart Crafts brands and comes with unique Martha Stewart-designed cartridges, will launch exclusively on HSN.
“Our Martha Stewart Crafts line is so innovative, that we have decided to partner with HSN to provide consumers with a new set of tools that will forever change the way they craft and create,” said Martha Stewart, founder, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. “In addition, our new Martha Stewart Crafts Edition Cricut Cake machine will enable home cooks to transform the things they bake into works of art and wonder. I look forward to July 19 when we will present our unique products on HSN.”
“We are thrilled to develop a long-term partnership with a lifestyle icon like Martha Stewart who is an inspiration to fans everywhere,” said Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc. “We are confident Martha’s innovative products will resonate with a growing number of HSN customers who look to us as a crafting destination.”
“We’re very happy to be partnering with Martha Stewart,” said Jim Thornton, CEO of Provo Craft. “Together, we’ve paired the successful Cricut Cake technology with Martha Stewart’s revered style and design. Our goal is to remove the challenges that keep people from being creative, and we’ve done just that with our Cricut Cake Martha Stewart Crafts Edition. We can’t wait to see what people will make once they have it in their hands.”
Joining Martha on-air on HSN will be Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia crafting expert Alex Perruzzi, who will help demonstrate the many creative items being presented throughout the day. Key items from the Martha Stewart Crafts line include the Martha Stewart Crafts Punch and Stamp Kit, Large Circle Cutter, a 24-pk Iridescent Glitter Kit, the Scoreboard Kit, Essential Tool Kit, Essential Glitter Kit, and the Essential Punch Kit. Following Ms. Stewart’s debut in July, HSN will continue to offer customers valuable crafting tips and new innovations from her popular Martha Stewart Crafts line throughout the fall.
The new Cricut Cake Martha Stewart Crafts Edition gives everyday decorators, as well as professionals, the ability to create edible masterpieces such as elegant wedding cakes, charming birthday cakes, and themed cookies or cupcakes for any occasion. The machine saves time cutting unique shapes, designs, and fonts from sheets of gum paste, fondant, cookie dough and other edible materials that would otherwise take hours with various individual cutters. Cricut cartridges with creative new designs from Martha and her team are available exclusively for purchase during the launch on HSN.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Stressed Out Gardening
At this point, my gardens are testing my ability to tolerate the 'less than perfect' appearance they have taken on. I hate it.
This year, we had the warmest spring on record, with average temperatures in the month of May in the upper 70s and temperatures in June in the 80s. July is shaping up to be a scorcher as well, with 6 days over the 90 degree mark and more to come this week (and I feel it safe to say, we'll have more in the remaining weeks of this month and August as well).
Because of the record warmth and a wet/stormy June, the gardens are about 4 weeks ahead of schedule. While the early part of July is normally the time my gardens peak in their beauty, and the grass is lush and golf course green, things are looking rather worn out, stressed, and ready to call it a season. It's too early!
The very hot and humid temperatures that ushered in the month of July REALLY took it's toll. Despite my best efforts at keeping things watered, I feel like I just can't keep up with the demand. It is at this point in the season when I want to throw in the cultivator and just give up. I wish I was one of those gardeners who 'appreciates the beauty' no matter what the stage; but I'm not. I get frustrated and I feel overwhelmed at trying to get things to look good once again.
It's time to take a deep breath and just do what I can do to salvage the rest of the season. I'll trim things a bit, and do my best to revive my stressed out lawn. Perhaps a Jerry Baker mixture of some odd household ingredients will work. Sigh. Too much to even consider for today.
Join me for a cocktail?
MSLO Unveils New Research on Consumer Cooking and Dining Trends
"These findings underscore a real change in consumer behavior as the family meal enjoys a resurgence. People are hungry for delicious, healthy meals that can be shared with loved ones around the kitchen table," said Lucinda Scala Quinn, Executive Editorial Director of Food at MSLO and host of the forthcoming cooking show Mad Hungry With Lucinda Scala Quinn, premiering on Hallmark Channel in September.
Key findings include:
More Families Sitting Down for Meals at Home
•65 percent of those surveyed enjoy a sit-down dinner at least five times per week.
•More than half the respondents sit down for breakfast at least five times per week.
Magazines, Websites, and TV Cooking Shows Primary Sources of Culinary Inspiration
•When it comes to recipes, media are more influential than word-of-mouth recommendations. Respondents cited cookbooks, recipe websites, food-focused magazines, and TV cooking shows as their resources for recipes--ahead of suggestions from friends and family.
•People are actively seeking mealtime ideas. More than one-third of respondents say they use recipes for inspiration more often than they used to.
•Over 60 percent of respondents say health and efficiency are the most important factors when considering a recipe.
Time-Starved Families Sharing More Mealtime Responsibilities
•Busy schedules have prompted families to divvy up everyday cooking responsibilities: 25 percent of women say cooking is shared among family members and that husbands are increasingly tying on the apron.
•Prep time is changing, too: 48 percent of those surveyed cook in larger batches to save time.
Consumers Are Savvier About Products They Buy
•Finding deals has become a source of satisfaction and even a passion: 81 percent of those surveyed say they are proud of budgeting.
•Although supermarkets are the leading source for groceries, 55 percent say they shop at multiple retailers to get better deals.
•Consumers are purchasing healthier products at the grocery store: 95 percent say they know what's healthy for them, while 87 percent say they read food labels.
Chef Rick Bayless To Host New Radio Program
On Fiesta at Rick’s, Bayless will take calls from listeners across the country and welcome a wide variety of guests to explore topics such as home cooking, eating responsibly, and throwing the perfect summer party. He will also share tips and recipes for authentic Mexican cuisine from his new cookbook, Fiesta at Rick's: Fabulous Food for Great Times with Friends (W.W. Norton, 2010), offering great ideas on everything from libations and savory nibbles to street food and live-fire grilled meat and fish.
Fiesta at Rick’s will launch July 14 at 7:00 pm ET with a live broadcast event at SIRIUS XM’s New York City studios and will air every Wednesday on Martha Stewart Living® Radio at 7:00 pm ET through August 11. For his debut show, Bayless will be joined in studio by Michael White, executive chef of Convivio in New York City, and three-time Tony-award nominated actress Kelli O’Hara, who recently starred in South Pacific.
Future guests include world-class chef Marcus Samuelsson, co-founder of The Marcus Samuelsson Group, chef/owner of New York City’s forthcoming Red Rooster Harlem restaurant, author of the award-winning New American Table cookbook, and winner of season 2 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters; and Peter Hoffman, chef/owner of Savoy Restaurant in New York City. Bayless will host three editions of Fiesta at Rick’s from his Chicago home base, including a live broadcast July 28 from his own private backyard book party fiesta celebrating the release of his Fiesta at Rick’s cookbook with special guests including fellow Chicago chef Art Smith. On August 4 and August 11 he will host Fiesta at Rick’s from his award-winning restaurant Frontera Grill (all show times 7:00 – 8:00 pm ET).
Renowned chefs Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert and designer Isaac Mizrahi have also hosted exclusive five-week series on SIRIUS XM’s Martha Stewart Living® Radio.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Martha Stewart Living Expands at Home Depot
The entire carpet collection is made of environmentally friendly Anso(r) nylon. The collection is constructed of recycled materials using a 'carpet to carpet' system, meaning less carpet in landfills and more carpet for the home.
The collection comes in a variety of textures and styles with a color palette that coordinates with the Martha Stewart Living paint line, introduced earlier this year.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia indicates that the relationship with The Home Depot provides them an opportunity for nearly endless growth within the chain. Currently, the Martha Stewart Living brand includes outdoor living, paint, paintable wall coverings, closet and storage organization, seeds, garden tools and now the carpet collection. Canadian shoppers can also find plants and bulbs, as well as home lighting under the brand.
The next expansion at Home Depot is planned for this fall, with kitchens designed by Martha (cabinets and counters), and a line of holiday decor for the Christmas holidays. Next spring will bring a significant expansion of the garden and outdoor living collections.
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