Seattle Flower and Garden Show

Gina invited me to join her at the Seattle Flower and Garden Show today. I knew we would have a fun time together, but I wasn't prepared for the many, many laughs we shared today.

I oddly didn't take any photos while we were there! Lucky for me, Gina did! She's looking for ideas for ways to landscape her property.

All the funny stories revolve around the some of the items we did, or did not buy today.

But we couldn't pass up:

The Original Garden Broom
A broom?! Really?



Believe me, it was the last thing on my mind of things I would buy today! In fact, I was sure I wouldn't buy anything today! I'm moving in three weeks, and I don't even have a yard to sweep here in Bellevue.

But, you should have seen the demo of this broom. I totally pulled "an Opus". We were both sold immediately. According to Gina, I said to her, "You should buy one" in the same breath that I said, "I'm going to get one." :)

From their website:
The key features of the Original Garden Broom:

• New tool – Functions in-between a corn broom and a rake. Stays firm and strong even when wet. Does not disintegrate or fall apart during heavy use. Has the density to sweep fine debris.
  
• Very versatile — Works on any surface, wet or dry. Great for pine needles, leaves and light snow. Clean up your decks, sidewalks, patios, lawns, garden beds, doormats, cement floors, exposed aggregate and more.
  
• Durable — Long lasting, strong and made to the highest quality standard.
  
• 100% environmentally friendly — uses recycled materials from the coconut tree.
  

When we asked the price, we were told it sold on QVC for $45, but the show price was $20. But wait, there's more! We also got the smaller, mini broom for free!! It was hilarious - we walked the rest of the show carrying our brooms. We felt like we were witches from Harry Potter. Even funnier, these brooms were clearly the hit of the show - dozens of people were carrying them around! We had several people (12-15?) ask us about the brooms.

Back to why I bought one: I actually need a new broom for our backyard in San Francisco. This broom will help me sweep up fallen wet or dry leaves from the bark, the grass, and the patio. I can also use it during Plumpacolypse. It'll be good for both the wet and dry/sticky fruit. The broom can be cleaned by rinsing it with water. I'll be able to use the small brush to clean up the spider webs along my balcony glass wall.

(also available on amazon.com.)

But wait, there's MORE!! Apparently, I'm a sucker for trade-shows.... I also bought a tub of Hawaiian Moon Aloe Cream. It's an aloe-based cream designed to help dry skin, and various skin issues. (also available on amazon.com.)

I've had a problem with Keratosis Pilaris for a few years now. I went to a dermatologist a few years back and learned that it's fairly common among Asians. It is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of rough, brown bumps. It often appears on the outer sides of the upper arms, which is where I have it.

I have a prescription cream that I use on it, but frankly, it's really pricey, and since I generally wear long sleeves during the winter months, I haven't used it in a while so I could not go through it so fast.

This cream is pricey (although I got the 9 oz jar, usually $60 for $40, plus they threw in two .75oz travel sized jars), but it's cheaper than the prescription cream. I figured it was worth trying. Plus, it's 100% guaranteed. (I know, I know...)

Dick is never going to let me go to a trade-show event again.

But, the real question is what we didn't buy today!

The most tempting and amazing thing that we saw at the Flower and Garden Show today: Sugar Bears!

I had never seen/heard of a Sugar Bear until today. They are a species of of small and tree dwelling marsupials. Apparently, they have become popular pets in the US for the last decade or so.

They are small, pocket pets. The guy at the booth for the company Sugar Bears literally had a sugar bear in each of the five pockets in his pants and shirt!

Sugar Bears are not rodents, even though, to me, they look a lot like a chipmunk. Unlike the pet rats that I used to have, Sugar Bears average life spans are 12 to 15 years!

Anyhow, this company was there selling baby, 6-week old Sugar Bears, and had many adult-sized ones (not much larger than the babies) there to show and play with. The idea, like any pet, is the younger you can start bonding with them, as soon as they are ready to leave their Mother, the better.

No, I didn't buy one, but I admit, I was smitten. I'm pretty sure Dick and Noe would not appreciate me coming home with a Sugar Bear. Also, it occurred to me that ferrets are illegal to own in California, and I inquired about the Sugar Bear. Turns out, there are two states in The US where Sugar Bears are illegal: California and Hawaii. Of course.

Gina is still contemplating getting one. She was going to do a bunch of research on them (and the company) tonight. I would love it if she had a little Sugar Bear as part of her menagerie!!