Thursday, February 17, 2011

Do You Bar Stool? Plus a NEW GIVEAWAY!

The past two weeks have been filled house hunting with my BFF all over town, searching high and low for the perfect place for her to call home. Although we're not close to finding her dream house or condo yet, it has been interesting to see what's on the market and, well, frankly, how other people live.

The word "nasty" has come to mind a lot during our hunt. "Shocking" too, in that so many people have no clue how to present a house for sale-- Like cleaning the cat box, picking dirty laundry up off the floor or using a little elbow grease to clean the bathtub. But, as they say, to each his own.

And speaking of owning-- It seems every condo on the market has adjustable bar stools in every size, shape and color to go with the standard-issue counter seating adjacent to the kitchen. The thing that struck me about the stools is they looked to be the furniture in the best shape in the units we saw which means the owners are clearly not doing this with their stools......

Seriously? And this made the local news, by the way.

And I'm guessing they're not dragging their bar stools around to do this either....


So what's all this talk about bar stools? It's my way of announcing a $100 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate Giveaway. Yes, CSN has nice bar stools, in case you're interested.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below and on any of my new posts between now and February 28, 2011-- The more you comment the more chances you have to win!

Bonus entry: Blog about this giveaway and leave an additional comment below with your post link.

Usual CSNStores.com Giveaway terms and conditions apply: US and Canada only (sorry). YOU pay the shipping. One time use only. No exchanges or returns. Must have a blog to enter. I draw winner randomly. Entries close Midnight, February 28, 2011.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © pisotskii - Fotolia.com

48 comments:

  1. I happen to know a Snuggie condo on the market! :)

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  2. What a unique way to introduce a giveaway. Great use of the keyword. ;)

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  3. Gorgeous stools...videos a hoot! Hope all is well with you...

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  4. I've been on both sides of the transaction. When we first got to town here, we were horrified at some of the places we saw. One of the houses had a bad smell and we found empty scotch bottles in the downstairs closet. Nice. One of the houses here also had black mold all over it. No thank you.

    On the flip side, when we first moved from our house in Salt Lake City, we received complaints about how dirty the counters looked and the screen door on the sliding glass door being unhinged. OK. A)I left those counters spotless. B)The screen door was still attached. Many renters later, I dare not contemplate what that place looks like. Sigh.

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  5. hmm I wonder if the Hooter girls near me know that one. Looks like research time.
    The bowling trick was amazing.

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  6. That bowling trick was great! Those bar stools look so uncomfortable though.

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  7. Wow! I'm afraid I can't use a bar stool at my house, but these videos were so much fun to watch.

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  8. I've got to find a place to live myself. My van does not sound appealing...maybe in my young hippie days but, at 66, I think I need more creature comfort. My move date from my home of 13 years is set for the end of March, I think, and I'm so sad. My poem on my blog today was one of my lowest!

    At least I come here and am immensely cheered...a giveaway! Count me in - even if I don't win.

    I dread looking for a place to live. I stayed at my former rented house for ten years, this one now for thirteen. Change of this sort really gets harder, I think, with the passing years.

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  9. Yes, I remember way way back looking at houses, it's amazing to see the different ways that people live.

    I could use this gift certificate, so I'm wishing myself luck! lol

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  10. What a great giveaway! And I love the clips you included.
    Don't enter me since I won the last one though - I'd feel pretty guilty if I won again, though that's not likely!

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  11. oh put me in...so i can get some bar stools...it might improve my bowling...

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  12. Wow, she really knows how to get a head on her beer! I live 1/2 mile from a Hooters. Never been there. HA!

    What a generous giveaway, Joanna. I have no need of a bar stool, but a counter stool I could use.

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  13. My apartment, which has two bedrooms so you'd THINK there would be some sort of dining space, only has a small breakfast bar for the family to eat at. Right now we're standing at it, but a $100 gift cert to CNN stores could remedy that!

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  14. Who in the world had time to think up THAT trick stool ride??? It had to have been a man!

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  15. Having sold 3 homes and bought 3 homes, I have been surprised too, that some some people don't even do the dishes or make a bed. I know I treatened my children within an inch of their lives to keep things clean at that time.

    On the Hooters barstool trick. I think you summed it up poretty well. Really? And this was on the news? What news producer that that was a good idea?

    Happy Home hunting. You're a good friend.

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  16. ...and then he got banned from those lanes, right?

    I think he should try it with my boss sitting in the chair. He's tall lol.

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  17. Good luck on finding that perfect place. I'm so surprised by the way people show their homes, too. I am definitely interested in your giveaway, but I think I would skip the bar stools. :-)

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  18. How funny!
    I love sitting on a stool, but we only own chairs.

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  19. I used to have bar stools when I lived in the US. It was common there to have a bar table.;) Here in Europe people prefer a regular table, thus my bar stools (simple, wooden ones) are now currently in storage.;)
    As for messy houses, I recall my current house was in total disarray when I was looking at it - it was also for sale forever because of that.;) But i guess I had a good imagination and could see the potentials to the place and got it cheap too.;)
    Please exclude me from your giveaway as I do not qualify.;)
    Have a lovely weekend,
    xo

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  20. My daughter is a realtor and has some great stories about what she has seen in houses she has shown. All I can say is "ugh". I hope your friend finds her dream home without seeing too many more nightmares.

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  21. Lovely! Thanks for the chance.

    lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

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  22. Wishin' you and your friend the best of house huntin' and that she'll find the perfect place!

    Woohoo!!! What a wonderful way to welcome your giveaway. My blender is on it's last whirrrrr...and I'd love to replace it!! Crossin' my fingers and my toes here. :o)

    Both the videos cracked me up but it sure makes me think that some people have just too much time on their hands!!!

    God bless ya and have a fun giveaway and an awesome weekend!!!

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  23. that Hooter's video is wild, Joanna, I have to share it!

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  24. I am sooo with you on how people DON'T know how to sell a house. When we were selling ours, our agent was actually shocked at how clean it was, just for her inspection.

    Have you ever seen any of those HGTV shows where they KNOW the tv crews are coming and putting their house on NATIONAL TV, but they still have just horrid stuff and filth all over??!! Ugggghhhhhh.

    Okay, the bowling trick - that was pretty impressive, but the Hooters girl? There must have been NOTHING else news worthy that day. Oh, and I would bet that she could splatter half of that pitcher and not a man present would notice - they'd all be focusing on...other moving parts.

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  25. That bar stool trick was a good one. I'd love to be in your giveaway drawing!

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  26. I hope your friend finds a place to hang her "home sweet home" sign soon. It is interesting to see how people live. Thanks for the give away my friend. xo

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  27. I can't believe that if they're trying to sell they don't clean up. Well I can't believe they live like that actually. I know things get a tad messy in my house, but it's usually a stack of mail or new papers or just general easy to toss stuff at some point during the week. Nasty sounds like a good word, I can't imagine looking around much if you find it nasty. Good luck to your friend.

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  28. I could have so much fun with $100 from CSN!

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  29. no bar stools for me... but I am selling my house and need pointers so THANKS, I'll be sure to empty the cat box and clean the bathtub! Hooters...COME ON... blech. I'm giving the bowling guy a thumbs up on THAT one! thanks, so much to learn.

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  30. You are so creative!
    And throw my name in the mix for this one:)

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  31. those bar stools are lovely

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  32. Great post Joanna! Funny videos! I do not want to even think about moving. I have moved so much in my life. I have been in my current home longer than I have ever lived anywhere else. When I was looking for a home, I was appalled at the condition some people left their house. The realtor and I walked into one home and there was feces on the floor - fresh and old! Nasty! Needless to say, we turned around and left very quickly!

    I am in the process of remodeling my master bedroom and $100 from CSN would certainly be very helpful so I would love to be entered into your giveaway.

    Thanks! Have a fantastic weekend!

    ~ Tracy

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  33. oh, the funny way in which the world works!!! I have the perfect stool segue which I will post on my blog tonight!! Ck it out!

    BTW, bar stool are just about the most uncomfortable thing on the planet, aren't they?

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  34. Hahahaha...just a little bit of gratuitous titillation for the evening news there! The BBC is *never* so interesting! I'm wondering, at what point in the day do you suddenly think 'hey, I'm going to do *this* with a bar stool!?'

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  35. When we moved into this little place the landlord had placed two wooden stools under the kitchen bar so when I painted the kitchen cabinets I painted the stools too and recovered the cushioned seats. I just cannot leave things alone. Ha.

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  36. I love those bar stools!! And I hear you about how people show their house....outrageous!!! And so not clean!! Ha!
    Anyway...great giveaway!!
    Count me in
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  37. cool bar stools! I have two bar stools in my studio, they don't match of course!

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  38. I pay the shipping?? Thank God I'm excluded, then (wiping the sweat from my brow)!

    I love snooping over other peoples houses, it tends to stretch your version of "normal" at times!

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  39. Count me in!

    I want to put our house on the market--It's too big (and expensive) and before we know it our birds will have left the nest. I can't imagine keeping it clean all the time, though...not my strong suit!

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  40. The fact that this was news disturbs me to no end. Wow. And then they put "kids wings" ad at the end of it? So so wrong. BAD WGN!

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  41. Bonus entry. I mentioned your giveaway at http://hsfr.blogspot.com/ on Feb22 in entry titled Contest You Might Like.

    Thanks Joanna.

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  42. would love to win

    suzi

    suzifailing@att.net

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  43. Nearing sixty, and loving it. Hmm...how did I find you...took a wrong turn, or just kept clicking away and there you were. Glad to be here.

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  44. Those bar stools are awesome! How colorful! I also left a comment on your Taco Bell story
    Digicat {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  45. Great giveaway post.
    I cant' believe that hooters girl was on the news. Is there really nothing good going on in the world that they had to report on that of all things?? Irritating!!

    I'd love to win - I need a bench for my entryway. I think my guests are irritated that they have to take their shoes off when entering and have no place to sit to put them on and off.

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Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.