Happy Mail from Etsy!

I confess, until a couple of months ago, I didn't even really understand what the crap Etsy was.  I thought it was some weird Mormon lady term that I was unaware of.

And then, my BFC's daughter started a shop making homemade PONIES!!

Chloee has been requesting a pony.  A pink pony to be exact, and well, if Chloee wants it,  Chloee gets it.

So I contacted Cass, gave her the specs that I wanted, took some recommendations on the bridle and harness, arranged shipping and payment and......voila!

I came home from an appointment Tuesday to a note in the mailbox that a package in Chloee's name was waiting for her at the post office.  So as soon as I picked her up from school, straight to the post office we went.

She carried in her tag, and after I lifted her to the counter, she told the man "I have a package".  Who says postal workers are crabby? Not this one!  He was so cute with her.  Checking to make sure she was really indeed Chloee and then handed her the large package.  When she saw the size of the box, she squealed and the postal worker said, "It's taller than you are", to which she replied " It's my same age!"

She literally vibrated all the way home until we could get into the kitchen, get Splenda's assistance and get that 'present' opened!



It took a little bit to really figure out what she was supposed to do with it, but once she got it, she loves it.

The beautiful Pony came with a card written directly to Chloee:

"Dear Chloee,
Someone who loves you very much found this pony for you and just knew you'd love her : )   Take good care of her!  She loves apples & she loves to run & she's so excited to have fun with you!
Enjoy,
Cassie"

How cute is that?  A personal note to the new owner! 

We discussed names and she first dubbed the pony Zaboo - it has now changed and is Sam.  Just plain ole Sam.  Love it!

Sam has been out to eat with us, riding in the car, backyard runs, and in bed.  Sam is a hit!

(just realized as I posted the pictures that the bridle and harness that you see in the video are missing from Sam - I think Chloee wanted to give her free rein for a bit)

And now, if you think you might have someone in your life who would love a Pony - hit my BFC's daughter Cassie at her Etsy site and order yours!  Use the coupon code GIDDYUP10 for a discount!

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

You call the PROFESSIONALS!

You remember my lamenting here right?  Well, we've been battling them.  Freezing, heating, reading everything on the internets we could get our hands on but just couldn't do it on our own.  And trust me, we had no major infestation, but some nonetheless.

Splenda, as always, was doing his researching, trying the techniques (see above) that he could come across when we finally threw in the towel and found this company.

Spider Spray.

They were even featured on the local news

Go ahead and click the links and check them out.   Not now of course, but when you're done reading my sad little saga - THEN go click the links and check them out.

Splenda finds them, calls one of the owners Kevin Thorne and sets up a time for Kevin and his bug sniffing dog to come out and do a check.  Yeah, that's right a BUG SNIFFING DOG!

(yes that is Radar - no that is not my bed - image swiped from their website)

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Kevin came, did a visual inspection, found a few and then let Radar loose to confirm.  The verdict?  Yes, we have bed bugs.  Major infestation?  No.  But you wait long enough and you will.

They came within a couple of days, and completely pulled my house apart.  We had a list of things to remove to avoid damage, and we planned to actually not be living here for a couple of days, but these guys were good enough to get the job done without us having to spend a night away from home.

One day to do the entire upstairs, another day to do the entire downstairs.  As you learn from their website, heat treating is the only proven effective way to eradicate the buggers, so I enjoyed some unusually warm temps while Splenda worked on trying to cool the treated places down. 

Props to Kevin's staff.  Great young men who were courteous, professional and laughed at my jokes.  What more can I ask for?

Kevin himself is a rockstar.  The first night he spent 2 and half hours with us, going through the rooms, discussing the bugs, how they live, how they feed, how they travel, how you get them etc...... NGL - I was a little skeeved out and ready to just toss a match and walk away from my house.
He, however, ensured us that we could get rid of them and then discussed how we can avoid them in the future.

He was a good sport to video with me and we are super pleased with their work.  So pleased that we made a deal about some advertising for him.  I really didn't realize what a problem it was, not just everywhere across the USA, but right here in my own state.  With all the traveling that I do, I am now skeered to death of a hotel room!.  I figured if I didn't know, there has to be others out there that no idea either.  In fact, Kevin shared some stories of how he had gone into homes and the owner had no idea that they were infested with bed bugs. They never saw bites (no reaction to them) so therefore had no clue.

Maybe not a bad idea to give your bedrooms a good check and then call these guys if you are in doubt, find them, or just plain have questions.  They are your go-to-guys.

And for some extra incentive on getting the word out for their company, I'm doing a little give away.  But there most definitely has to be some rules.

1.  Link to this page on your blog with a small advertisement yourself - one entry - come back and let me know with a link.
2.  Facebook about them and link to their website - another entry - come back and let me know with a link

Contest will be up until Friday February 25th.  At that time, a winner will be randomly selected and prizey will be mailed.  What is prizey?  That announcement will be forthcoming. 

Once this giveaway is over, I will be taking this blog private.  More details on that coming as well.

So, go to - click the links, educate yourselves on the bed bugs, get the word out and if necessary - call them for your exterminating needs. 
PS - If you do end up calling them, tell them M-Cat sent ya - if for no other reason than Kevin will prolly remember the crazy lady and laugh.
PSS - the video is out on youtube - hit so it gets a lot of attention
PSSS - Kevin's wife is due any minute - send some good vibes their way for a safe delivery of their new little one!