"Bugs Be Gone: Product Review"

You guys already know I've been loving my patio this year.  Even though it's been a steamy summer, it's been a little more bearable with the addition of two new products I was recently asked to review.

 

 

The first is a lantern insect zapper.  Now, you know I'm all about form and not just function, so first off I appreciate its streamlined design. 

 

 

According to the maker, the Stinger^® Insect Zapper Lantern is a portable, cordless and rechargeable bug zapper. It is designed for both indoor and outdoor use and covers up to 625 sq. ft. – approximately the size of a 25x25 sq. ft deck or patio space.  That's pretty much my entire patio.

 

Call me crazy but I sort of like the fact that I can hear the bugs getting zapped.  Perhaps it's the fact that I know it's working.  I think this is great for evenings out on the patio as the UV light seems to lure bugs in.  And when it's not in use, it looks pretty nice too. 

 

 

 

 

The second is a mosquito repellent lantern and trust me I needed this one more than anything. I am a mosquito magnet!  I like to think it's because I'm so sweet.  : )

   Again, what I like most about the mosquito lantern, other than the fact it repels mosquitoes, is its decorative design.  It fits in perfectly in with my décor.   

 

 

According to Stinger^®, the mosquito repellent is made with ALL NATURAL active ingredients, the lantern lets you enjoy your time outside with powerful mosquito protection that’s DEET-free and safe around family and pets. The blue lantern can be used hanging or on the tabletop, making it perfect for the patio and deck, or any outdoor space. The lantern uses a fan-dispersion technology to repel mosquitoes within a 15-foot radius.

It's the perfect barrier between me and that fountain I love that seems to like to bread mosquitoes this time of year.  It operates like a citronella fan and I can attest to the fact that this one really works.  I sat outside for an hour and fifteen minutes without a single bite and, trust me, THIS does not happen. 

You can find more info on both products HERE. 

Don't let bugs stop you from enjoying your outdoor living space.  I know I'm not.  The heat?  Well, that's another story.

Until next time...

"Front Door Paint" for the Back Door

I'm back.....

 

To say I’m excited about this blog post would be an understatement.  I couldn’t wait to share my latest diy project with you guys. 

 

A few months ago I was contacted by Modern Masters, Inc. about doing a product review of one of their new products called, Front Door Paint.  I immediately dismissed it knowing the major issues I had previously with my “Front Door Paint” and the Homeowner’s Association (read about that HERE).  However, a few weeks later, it dawned on me that my back door might actually be a good candidate for their product.  Go figure. 

I have a detached garage that had a door that needed a little oomph,  perhaps it was the perfect solution.  I reached out to them and they agreed and sent over a full size sample of their product in the color of my choice.  The product actually comes in 24 glorious colors that correspond to various emotions.  I love that part.  I chose “Cheerful”.  There's even a free app (for both iPhone and Android) to help you choose.  I'll tell you a little more about that in my next post.     

 

Pretty fitting for me I suppose. It really is a cheerful color.  I chose it because this door is the door you see from my kitchen and my drapery is almost an identical match to “Cheerful”. 

 

 

What I loved about the paint is that I could immediately see the true color.

 

 
Sometimes typical paint goes on in such a manner that it takes several coats to get to the color you’re looking to achieve.  With Modern Master's paint, it seemed that with every single stroke of the brush, the intensity of the color was present.  It motivated me to keep going. 

 

 

After just one coat....

It also didn’t hurt that I only needed two coats for full coverage. This was the easiest paint project I’ve done in a long time.  That’s saying quite a bit given the fact that this is the third door I’ve painted this year.     

The best part is the paint is water based so it dries quickly and NEVER fades.  Yep, NEVER fades.  I know!  That's what I said! 

I cannot tell you how much I love this door.  I can see it from my front door, when I'm in the living room, bedroom and when I'm in my kitchen and it makes me happy (I mean cheerful) every time I catch a glimpse of it. 

 

 
Thanks to a birthday party guest and a Target gift card, I decided to pick up this Threshold key mat.  I mean, if you're going to paint a door it warrants a new mat. Right?

 

Such a great color and a great finish. 

 

 

 

I put my handygirl skills to work and switched out the lighting too.  Go me! Go me!

 

  

 
BIG difference (let me know what you think)!  For those of you in the Charlotte market, our Lowe's are now Front Door Paint retailers. 

Lowe's of S. Charlotte, NC

Lowe's of S.E. Charlotte, NC

Lowe's of Huntersville, NC

If you're not in Charlotte, you can check for locations near you HERE.  Thankfully it's available online too!

 

So, there's even better news.  Modern Masters has agreed to give away a quart of their awesome Front Door Paint to one of my lucky readers. Check back later this week to enter.  Until then....

Friday Find: "Designing My Days"

Being a year older, I decided that it was time to get serious about being organized and being a good steward over my time.  You may be surprised to find that I'm not all that organized, or at least I don't feel like I am.  Ok, I am sort of, but I could do much better.   

 

As I've mentioned recently, I think the secret to getting and staying organized for me is in the "pretty".  Whether it's a medicine cabinet, a pantry or a day planner, if it's pretty, I'm in.  So, I decided that my birthday present to myself would be a highly coveted Whitney English Day Designer™.   

via



Whitney English

 Yes, I love my "i" products but there is something so very convenient and effective about good ol' pen/pencil and paper.  Plus, when a package arrives at your door and the contents look like this...

 



 

 

...you can't help but be excited about what's inside.  After reading the beautifully presented care instructions, I immediately opened it to see what wonders awaited.





To my delight Whitney had outlined an entire personal strategic plan, perfect for setting goals and really getting focused on what needs to be accomplished over the next twelve months.  After all, failing to plan is indeed planning to fail. 

The Day Designer™ features eight different worksheets, each designed to start with a broad focus and help you narrow down your purpose and passions into key areas for you to then apply to a daily executable plan. It is bound with brass-finished spiral binding and finished with a hardcover and hardback. via

As is tradition with Day Designer owners, I quickly styled a photo shoot for my new baby.

 

I could hardly wait to start planning my week. Needless to say, I was all smiles on Monday when it was time to put my day's plan into action.  Seriously, this thing is so nice, it's like an accessory.

After perusing the #daydesigner on Instagram, I noticed that a lot of owners were using washi tape.  Well, let's just say I couldn't be left out of the fun, so I ordered four print rolls in peachy pink and gold.

 Etsy

 

I can't wait until they arrive.  After a couple of days of use, it became glaringly apparent that I needed tabs for each month.  Not just any tabs though, this is a Whitney English Day Designer.  So I scoured the Internet one evening and found this hand-stamped set on Etsy. 

Love them!  I opted for the Art Deco set.  I'm just awaiting their arrival.

 

I cannot say enough good things about this planner.  It's already helping me to stay on task and get more done.  It sure beats having 17,000 things floating around in my head to remember.

 

You can find other options on Whitney's site HERE.  Are you a day planner user?  Do you make to do list?  How do you stay organized?  Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear your methods. 

 

FYI: Dwell by Cheryl has a BIG day on Saturday.  Prayers accepted. More to come....

 

Have a great weekend.