Tuesday, October 27, 2009

It's Your Dollar - You Should Choose Who Deserves It

Hands On Women® approach life with a desire to fully participate in everything whenever possible.  There is no reason that women should have to choose between career, relationships, personal fulfillment, etc.  We are multi-task savvy enough to have it all - we just have to make the right choices in the tools tht we use to bake that cake and eat it too.  These tools come in many forms - attitude, people, experiences, products - you get the picture.

One of the impetuses of launching H.O.W.® TV was our knowledge that there are lots of products out there that make a myriad of tasks much less of a pain in the butt for women. Further, information about that stuff is not readily available, nor does it tend to be from a woman's point of view.  To add insult to injury, the information that is readily available is not designed to be evaluated from the perspective of weighing the options and making the choice that's best for each of us.  And you know what, since we aren't really given that abiity, it severely limits our voice in product development (with few exceptions like cosmetics and cleaning products).  This strikes me as very strange when women are responsible for so many of the dollars spent in this great capitalist society.  It annoys me when other people decide what's worth my money.  Let's face it ladies, the only way to affect anything in the US is the power of the dollar.  Now I full well realize that retailers or manufacturers who piss me off to the point that I no longer give them my money could care less about little ole me.  However, I care a great deal, and admit that I feel a little smug when I can stick to my guns on principal.  I absolutely refuse to spend my money with entities who don't appreciate my little piece of keeping them in business.  There is one major retailer, for example, into whose hallowed halls I haven't stepped foot in almost 10 years - no matter how  inconvenient that choice might be.  I've even been able to sway a few friends and loved ones over the years to shop elsewhere.  We encourage you to take active control of who gets your money - you work hard for it and you have to sometimes make hard choices on how you're going to spend it.  Don't spend it with retailers or on products that really don't deserve it, or you, for that matter.

This basic philosophy of being an active, productive participant in the health of the American way gave birth to our product reviews. We strive to fully put a product through real life - not just one trial.  Since we can update our reviews, any that are written after first use, will have their story unfold over time.  I'm not impressed with a product that works as intended a few times.  If we are to truly provide our audience with an evaluation of an item, it's imperative that enough information is given to judge the value of ownership when spending hard earned money.  It may not be worth the extra two bucks to some of us for a product with wheels that don't really roll well versus a comparable product that's lighter weight.  Don't you think we should at least know all of the pros and cons of both options?

Not every piece on a product is a review.  Product reviews are identified as such and the source of the product is specified.  If a product belongs to a sponsor, it is stated and differentiated from an endorsement.  We vow to be completely transparent, with no hidden agenda.  Check out the frist review - that is if you have any interest in easy ways to cook big meat, or know anyone who does (Christmas is right around the corner).

Friday, October 23, 2009

I Actually Killed a Pair of Gardening Gloves

We've been in our house for almost 20 years, and during that time, I've always wanted to have nice landscaping.  A total aversion to bugs, a lack of any horticultural knowledge, and an extremely hectic work life (not to mention household duties) led to very half-hearted efforts - and boy it showed.  I think our flower beds looked good for about a month a year (right around our big annual pig roast).

In my early gardening ignorance, I never really paid much attention to the gear, you know, gardening gloves, clogs, etc.  I figured one pair of gloves is pretty much like another and I really didn't get the whole gardening clog thing.  After spending a great deal of time on this project since March, I can honestly say I GET IT!  I don't know how many times I've wished I had a pair of garden clogs (they are on my Christmas list).  As to the gloves..I can't remember where the ones I have came from.  I was out today performing the last weeding of the most recent bed.  As a result, I'm now on a mission to find the best gardening gloves available.

I put mine on and found them to be stiff and crumbling on the inside.  Not a great feel, let me tell ya.  In addtion, there was a big ole hole in the pointer finger of the right glove.  I realize that I've worked them pretty hard this year - but I'm sorry, when I let go of my money on something, I'm looking to get more than a season out of whatever it is.  I'm on a mission now and taking all suggestions.