Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Interview with HGTV's Star of Design David Bromstad


An all-new season of HGTV's Design Star premiers on Monday, July 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and design guru David Bromstad will mentor the show's finalists as they compete for a chance to win their own show on HGTV. Bromstad was the winner of the first season of Design Star and now hosts his own show, Color Splash. He also appears in the new series HGTV'D.

Check out this sneak-peek from the new season of Design Star:



I already have my DVR programmed to record the show and can't wait for the first episode! I had the privilege of participating in a conference call with Bromstad and I can tell you that he exudes the same energy and friendliness off-screen as he does on. He was an absolute delight to speak to and he gave me some personal tips for making my temporary living space feel like home.

Here's a transcript of our conversation:

Blonde Blogger: "I have moved from a home into a rental townhome, and I’m finding it challenging to make it feel like a home—with such a smaller space, not being able to paint. I’m wondering what your advice...would be to someone like me who wants to make it feel like home."

Bromstad: "Well, I’m probably going to give horrible advice right now because I’m sure everyone out there is going to be like, what? But, I think in every lease, every rental agreement that I was in before I bought my place, it always says don’t paint, but I always did. It was the first thing I did before I even moved in just because that is one way that you can just put your stamp on it and make it feel cozy. And all they want to do is have it look nice and have it be painted white when you leave.

"So, if you’re willing to paint it white when you leave, that’s just fine. So, I was always willing and you know what? Every time that I did paint it, the landlord would come in and would be like, 'You’re not supposed to paint, but it looks really great.' And I’m like, 'well do you want me to paint it back?' And they’re like, 'no.'"

Blonde Blogger: "Yes. That’s what I was thinking too..."



Bromstad: "And if you don’t want to take the time to paint, just bringing in personal effects and just hang things on the wall—hang pieces of art, hang mirrors, make sure that it looks lived in.

"My house, honestly, is all white...and it’s very comfortable and it’s very cozy, and I’ve done a lot of homes that are all white with all white walls. You can still make it look sheik and still make it look amazing. Don’t let the white walls fool you."

Blonde Blogger: "So would you say that paint though, is the most important?"

Bromstad: "Yes. I think it’s the easiest and the fastest and the cheapest way to transform your house for sure."

Great advice, wouldn't you say?



Tune into the new season of Design Star on July 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT to watch Bromstad in action as he uses his talent and energy to mentor contestants and give them the guidance he wishes he had when he was a contestant himself. You can check out the show's page here for more information.
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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tree Hut Summer Skin Care Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Rachel R. who was selected at random via Random.org as the winner of the Tree Hut Summer Skin Care Giveaway!

Thanks to all who entered and to Tree Hut for sponsoring this great giveaway. Stay tuned for more contests to come!
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Eating Fresh with Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner



You may remember my previous post about Frigidaire's wonderful Kids' Cooking Academy with actress Jennifer Garner. Now that summer's here, Frigidaire has kicked off their Kids' Cooking Academy Summer Session!

In an effort to teach the importance of eating fresh, Garner and Frigidaire joined parents and kids on June 9 for a day on the farm at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, NY. Garner and a group of children picked fresh vegetables from the farm and discussed ways to prepare meals with their hand-picked ingredients.



Now, Frigidaire and Garner are inviting families everywhere to commit to eating fresh by visiting the Kids' Cooking Academy Summer session online. There, you will find great tips, videos and recipes for enjoying farm to table meals.

You can also learn more about Frigidaire's continued effort to support Save the Children's U.S. Programs. To help give more children access to fresh foods, Frigidaire has teamed up with the popular check-in app Gowalla. Simply check in at your local farmer's market via Gowalla and Frigidaire will make a $1 donation to Save the Children as part of their $500,000 commitment to the cause.

Frigidaire will also donate $1 to Save the Children when you commit to eat fresh on the MakeTimeForChange.com website. Entering is free and everyone who registers will automatically be entered to win a brand-new Frigidaire Gallery French Door Refrigerator! The new refrigerator is packed with features that make it easier than ever to preserve your farm-fresh produce, such as the Effortless Glide Crisper Drawers.



Head on over to the Kids' Cooking Academy Summer Session for more information and to make your commitment to eating fresh!

Disclosure: I received a $25 gift card and tote as part of the Frigidaire Test Drive program.
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Tree Hut Summer Skin Care Giveaway

If you read my previous post about the wonderfully luxurious skin care products by Tree Hut, then you already know how much I love them! Now, thanks to Tree Hut, you have the chance to try them for yourself!

One lucky ready of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review will win a full line of summer skin care products from Tree Hut, including:



~Shea Moisturizing Shower Wash
~Shea Sugar Scrub
~Shea Extra Rich Lotion
~Shea Body Butter

The winner will be able to choose whichever scent they prefer and can even mix and match scents if they wish. Scents include Coconut Lime, Brazilian Nut, Almond and Honey, and Hawaiin Kukui.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post with the scent you'd most like to try (you can always change your mind if you win). Be sure that there is an email address that can be found with your entry or your entry will have to be disqualified.

By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here. Please also see my disclosure policy here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry, one time, for each step):

~Tweet with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link. Feel free to use the Twitter share button at the bottom of this site.

~Follow BlondeBlogger on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment on this post with your Twitter name.

~Follow Tree Hut on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment on this post with your Twitter name.

~Become a Facebook fan of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review. Simply click here and like the page, then leave a separate comment on this post letting me know your Facebook name.

~Become a Facebook fan of Tree Hut. Simply click here and like the page, then leave a separate comment on this post letting me know your Facebook name.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review




Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received complimentary Tree Hut products to facilitate this giveaway
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Monday, June 13, 2011

Summer-Ready Skin With Tree Hut



It's swimsuit season and that means it's more important than ever to take care of our skin. Nothing worse than that dry, alligator look on our legs, ladies...right?

I recently tried a new product that is perfect for moisturizing my skin and keeping it beach-worthy. Tree Hut is an amazing skin care and lotion line that includes lotions, shower washes, body butters and sugar scrubs.

And all of their scents are from the tropics! I tried the new Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Shower Wash in Coconut Lime:



It definitely smells tropical! Every time I shower, the smell conjures up that beachy, fun, summery feeling. And it is so nourishing to my skin. No alligator skin for my legs at the pool!



I also tried their matching Shea Body Butter in the same scent and it makes my skin even more silky-smooth. It's not too heavy like some body butters can be, which is a huge plus.

All Tree Hut products are made with 100% certified organic shea butter and they also include other natural extracts and oils. New mothers use Tree Hut products to combat stretch marks, another important benefit to consider.

Find out more about Tree Hut's wonderful line of products here. You can also find them on Facebook here and Twitter here.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products from Tree Hut to facilitate this review.
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