Eight weeks. That’s how long we have till my baby sister gets hitched at our house.
Eight weeks. That’s how long we have to fix…well…everything and make it look decently presentable for all of our family and friends.
Eight weeks. That’s precious little time when you factor in a complete basement overhaul and very little money in the renovation fund.
And that my friends is why I was royally ticked off when the newly planted holly bushes that flanked our front steps went from this:
Green and full of life…kinda like a Leonardo DiCaprio of shrubs…
to this:
Now it resembles a different celebrity….I’ll give you two guesses…her drink of choice is eyeliner, tatoos and music and her name starts with AmyWinehouse. Bless her little heart.
Royally bummed. And so before I made Jeremy dig the two shrubs outta the ground so that I could hurl them into the faces of the nursery people, I decided that I should wait till they really die…not just partially die. Name that movie.
Enter Superman.
Well, not Superman but close to it – Black&Decker. They offered me a freebie to review and let me tell ya…it couldn’t have come at a better time for this black-thumber.
It’s called PlantSmart. And it’s for the Plant-not-so-smart. It’s really very easy…you can use this little fakeroonie flower tool to collect data the about how you are slowly killing your expensive shrubbery. They like to say it’s for choosing the right plants for that specific area…but for me I like to know what kinda assault I have on plants.
In my case, I chose to monitor a specific plant. I plugged the bad boy right there next to my holly and let her rip.
About a week later, I de-planted the tool & plugged it into my computer. I found out exactly what to do (and what not to do). The read-outs were my favorite part…
You can see everything from water, sunlight, temperature…
And I learned that I am not watering the holly enough. Why do I say that when the Soil Moisture Data clearly shows that my holly is mostly moist? Well…basically I watered the plant everyday while I monitered the sucker…and you can see that it was just getting the amount desired. Whereas before it was monitored, I failed to water it at all.
My bad holly. My bad.
I also learned that my holly bush will especially need extra water – since it is okay in my zone (but just barely – I’m in a 7b zone) so water will really help it resucitate to it’s former glory.
I also got to see some other recommendations for my zone…and I can narrow it down to be super-specific.
Basically it takes all the brain-work out of gardening. I love it…especially since I have precious little time to decide what goes where in my yard. EIGHT WEEKS!
Oh and just to be official about it…I highly recommend this little PlantSmart tool…and I am very grateful to Black & Decker for letting a little country stay at home mom give it a whirl.
UPDATE: Just got the bad news about Amy Winehouse. Thanks to you who filled this ill-timed jokester in on the news of her passing. I like teasing those whom I loved…and Amy was definitely one of my favs. And my deepest condolences to her friends and family…I’m sure you knew a different Amy than the general public did.
I think your Amy Winehouse comment is really unneccesary since she just passed away a few days go. Have a little respect.
What kind of holly are your shrubs? You might try a Dwarf Buford Holly or Dwarf Chinese Holly. They survive really well here in Dallas (in fact, they’re taking over parts of my not-so-manicured front gardens), so I’m guessing they’d do just as well in Hotlanta.
On another note, I can’t wait to see the results of the Pinterest Challenge! You girls cracked me up so much I snorted my morning coffee watching your video yesterday. This drew lots of looks since I’m 1) not supposed to be watching videos, 2) not supposed to be reading blogs, 3) I lol’ed, snorted, and spilt a little coffee in my keyboard. Oops. What fun to be the only 20-something/woman in the office.
Ok. That’s enough. Chill Jess.
Long story short, your video made my day!
That. Is. Awesome. I am slowly learning how to DIY my way through decorating and furnishing my house, but I have totally given up on the outside of my house. I have finally come to the realization that I was simply born with two really sucky black thumbs (as opposed to green thumbs? No, I’m actually very very pasty pale white in real life!) and have very little hope of keeping anything alive. In fact, I’ve been sold plants before that the nursery people all but guaranteed that I couldn’t kill. Yep, dead within a year. I might have to give this handy gadget a try to see if maybe, just MAYBE I can fudge my way through keeping something alive.
Holy Moley! That is the coolest thing ever! I need one! How much are those puppies?
By freakin’ George, I’ve never seen such a thing. Grandma gardeners everywhere are wetting their Depends over this.
That is awesome! Imagine all of the plants that won’t be accidentally killed. It’s always so tricky trying to buy the plants with their sunshine guides on them. Plus, based on that last picture, it looks like it’ll help with a garden too (ie the acorn squash). I may invest in this when I have my own place!
COOLEST INVENTION EVER! I was getting ready to pay someone a few hundred bucks to come out to my house and tell me what to plant where. Now I can do it myself for WAY less!
Yikes – Amy Winehouse jokes already? 🙁
Ahh I need this! Just a few weeks ago I put a hydrangea in the ground and it instantly withered away and is not looking well at all. Maybe I’m not supposed to plant things in the summer (although its only 70-ish degrees here most of the time). I’m new to this and that little planter helper would be a total lifesaver! Thanks for sharing.
WHAT?! This is so cool! I think Amazon had it for $40. xo
Best idea ever! I’m pretty new to lawn/plant/flower maintenance and so far have proved to have the most un-green thumb ever so plantsmart is exactly what I need!
I’ve seen these before (even years back because I frequent gardening shops a lot), but didn’t realize it was black & decker. A tip for those looking to buy: if you search for “Easy bloom” on Amazon, there’s apparently some available for $31.99 instead of the other higher prices. Maybe an older model?
Love it! I’m definitely looking for something like this to “mend” my lack or no lack of green thumb. I’ve planted azalecs and half are alive, the other half are not… in the same area of the yard!
That is pretty freaking cool.
Wow, I really want one of these tools! I’ll have to look into getting one, they seem reasonably priced as well, especially when you consider the cost of plants, shrubs, trees, etc.
Thanks for sharing!
I need it I need it I need it! Oh my!
If only I had inherited my dad’s green thumb. I swear, he can grow anything. He also talks to plants in his greenhouse. Dude’s a little crazy, but hey, he used to be overly fond of a certain green plant in particular (it was the 70’s, man). Now all his love has moved on to making yards beautiful.
Meanwhile, I’m killing things right and left. Sigh.
Your new house is so beautiful! (even pending all the awesome projects you have in-store!)
I would have LOVED to have a home that was fit to host a wedding at when i got married, I know it will be lovely.
Oh, and by the way… Amy Winehouse just died. So I’m not sure if you know that or not, but just giving you a head’s up in case anyone gets all offended at your (incredibly true, but maybe not well-timed) joke!
Keep up the good work, can’t wait to see what the next 8 weeks has in store for the Bower house 🙂
i think black and decker needs to do a giveaway!
OMG I NEED one of these! Seriously. We have a roof deck in the city and I was thinking full sun, high wind…. cactus! Nope, I killed a cactus. Didn’t even know you could do that!
hahaha.. I tend to look at pictures / videos first then read the dets.
I thought the PlantSmart was a prego test. lol.
I’m off to check it out.
annnnd. I’ve already bought it via Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation.
Hi Katie
Not a fan of Amy Winehouse at all, but your reference in this post was a more than a little offensive and insensitive.
Paula.
Amy is one of my favoritest people to joke about – she’s up there with Britbrit, Madonna and LiLo…so she’s in good company 🙂
xo – kb
WHAT?! I gotta google more about Amy…that’s crazy. What happened to her? Anyone know?
xo – kb
That plant tool is awesome but just a little too soon for dead Amy Winehouse jokes?
Why was that offensive? Honestly. I just found out she passed away – thanks to Kelly for cluing this country girl in….but Amy did always look a little sickly, didn’t she? And didn’t my plant look sickly? I’m seriously wondering if it was the ill-timing that you thought was offensive or the reference itself.
Thanks for helping a clueless girl out Paula.
xo – kb
wow- that is one cool tool!
Didn’t know Michelle…
and not to spur a internet battle – but how come it’s okay to tease about people’s appearances when they are alive but not when they are dead? Seriously – this might be food for thought.
xo – kb
Just read that she died on Saturday in her bed (had been dead 6 hours before she was found). They are performing tests to see the cause and it is rumored she was drinking heavily and doing drugs the day before , so we may find out that is the cause. (I didn’t even know who she was- I am a little pop culture stupid :-/)
Holy crap. That’s super cool.
FYI I actually laughed at the Amy Winehouse joke and I knew she was dead. My Bad. But, in my defense I thought it was because your bush was dead too.
AND in your defense, (even though I’m probably not the authority on Political Correctness) lots of people are dead. I mean, I’d laugh just as hard at a Helen Keller, Michael Jackson or Hitler joke. All dead and all still have plenty of potential for hilarity. Maybe you should try some of them next time! What could go wrong!?
Anyway, I’m just sayin’ I laughed.
Ditto on all those who have already mentioned the poor timing of the Amy Winehouse comment.
That being said, thanks to your post I have already ordered one of these. I have a Japanese Pieris that has started fading over the last few weeks, and I’m hoping this might clue me in on how to save it.
oh dear, the offended comments have begun! the joys of being a blogger I guess?
And while they don’t know how she died yet, my guess is overdose. Unfortunately you can’t build a name for yourself by bragging about that kind of lifestyle and expect no one to mention it.
Man!! That is an awesome tool! I too, am a fellow black thumb “gardener.” The people at Lowe’s were getting really impatient with me when I was returning a different shrub every other week. True story.
I may have to check this out!!
BTW- You can’t catch any slack, can ya? If you didn’t have the Amy Winehouse comment in there, someone would have found something to torment you about. So, I am going to be offended that you didn’t water your holly bush enough. Ugh. The nerve.
You do know she JUST passed away, right? Seriously?
I love reading your blog, and I’ve never commented before but felt the need this time… I have to agree with some of your other readers that the Amy Winehouse joke was offensive. It definitely hit me the wrong way more than it might have otherwise because of her recent death. Regardless of whether you knew that she had died or not when you wrote this post, I do think it’s sad that you would make a joke about anyone (celebrity or not) with a sickly appearance that is the obvious result of an addiction. Individuals in these types of situations need help and support to heal, not taunting.
I certainly do not judge you for this (as I have been guilty of making jokes at others’ expenses at times), but I simply had a strong urge to let you know that perhaps you might want to be more careful about these types of jokes despite the fact that you feel a sense of distance from the individuals because they are famous.
I would want someone to call me out on this if it were my joke . . .
I laughed at the Amy Winehouse reference too. You’re going to offend people, they’ll get over or they can stop reading your blog…
Great post by the way =D
Katie, I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 years now. I find you funny and very talented. Your bacon love cracks me up as do the cracks about your head size and Will not having sideburns. Good stuff that keeps me smiling when I read along with your amazing DIY projects. But I also notice that at times, it seems like you say things on purpose to see what kind of reaction you will get so can then have a platform to defend them. This Amy Winehouse example, the “here is what I do to contribute to being green but I’m not really being green” post and the “McMansion” post. It seems as if you almost enjoy poking fun at things that most “relatively oridinary” people know not to poke fun at, but then hide behind the guise of humor. I don’t know. I could be, and might be, 100% wrong. But as a long time reader, these are the things that I have noticed that don’t seem to fall in line with the person you are trying to put across on this blog. So in the end, I guess what prompted me is you saying it’s okay to tease people when they are alive, but not when they are dead? And my answer? Of course not because it’s disrespectful. I prayed for her because she appeared to need it. Now, that being said, it won’t deter me from reading. That would be ridiculous. Because ultimately, I support what you are doing here and you have helped me immensely in my own home DIY projects. But it is my opinion, which I of course know is totally subjective.
I thought your comment was offensive because it seemed to be saying “my plant is as dead as Amy Winehouse” in a very cavalier and morbid manner considering her recent passing. Obviously, you didn’t know Amy just died, so it is a case of seriously bad timing.
I liked your Amy Winehouse joke, and I knew she was dead. It might have been offensive had she been a role model but dude, I would never want my unborn child to look up to someone like that. Oh well, may she rest in peace.
In other news, love the gadget! What don’t they think of these days?
WOW that thing is so cool. I am so bad with plants though I bet it would flash a big YOU HAVE A BLACK THUMB on my computer screen when I plugged it in. If my current plants (try #3 at getting something to grow in direct sunlight) fail I might have to check it out though.
Equally big WOW at how fast everyone is to jump on you with the negative comments… maybe they don’t know about the red X box in the top right hand corner of their screens… don’t like, don’t read!
XO 🙂
Wow, I really need this, first time I hear abouth that, I live in south florida and everything I plant its fried one week after, need convince hubby this is going to be a good investiment LOL.
Urm… I’m really wondering what you saw as the issue with the green and McMansion posts, Elena. I went back and read them, along with most of the comments, and completely don’t see what you’re talking about going on there. There’s nothing there, that *I* see, that Katie somehow shouldn’t dare poke fun at. Maybe I’m not “relatively ordinary”? XD I just don’t see Katie’s posts as being passive aggressive like that. I suspect this is somehow a personality or culture matter. We don’t all see the same things as being except from mockery, and I really think that’s more the case here, personally. 🙂
Okay, I can get why people might find it offensive but seriously, it’s a blog, she was referencing a plant and It’s not like she called up the Winehouse family and told them the reference.
Also, this is a really cool tool that I now wish to own. Although, for like five seconds, I thought you put a pregnancy test in your lawn… good way to find out if your plants are reproducing 😉
Thanks for the post!
Just found out. Literally minutes ago.
xo – kb
I think the moral of this story is that Black and Decker should make a PlantSmart for people, especially celebrities. Then we could plug it in and get them what they need (water? therapy? miracle-gro?) before it’s too late.
I also think instead of stressing out about getting the house perfect for the wedding you should just use the entire rest of the budget for twinkle lights. It will look like a fairy land in pictures, and also no one will be able to look directly at masses of them, so imperfections will disappear! Plus, then you have them for Christmas. PROBLEM SOLVED.
“I think the moral of this story is that Black and Decker should make a PlantSmart for people, especially celebrities. Then we could plug it in and get them what they need (water? therapy? miracle-gro?) before it’s too late.”
Perfect response. Might I add, Totally agree 🙂
Love the blog. I really do.
Question for those that are upset that people were disturbed by/commented on the Whinehouse remark. Why is it okay for Katie to make a remark like that and yet not okay for people to politely share their dislike of it?
I don’t see anyone being rude. I just see people sharing their opinions, just like Katie did. I like reading the blog. Occasionally I might dislike something on here. It doesn’t mean I’m going to stop reading. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be a jerk and make some rude remark. Isn’t it okay to sometimes get a comment that isn’t all Mary Sunshine-y with rainbows and unicorns? I think so…although I really like unicorns.
What a super cool find!
I need the lil gadget! I have no green thumb at all! Oh and this is my first comment and i wanted to let you know i love your blog! we have the same humor!!
I think I’m floored only because she died days ago, they’ve already buried her, and you didn’t know? Only because you just described yourself in a post as a TV junkie. Yes, the reality is most people are going to be offended by making fun of someone dead as opposed to someone alive. Might not make sense, but that’s just the way it is. And some people won’t care. I think your blog is great, although sometimes you try too hard to be funny, or perhaps it’s just too much “making fun” in each and every single post. You can be funny without that so much. I think moderation in everything always works. With that said, you provide a lot of good info, this post is a perfect example. I would’ve never learned about this gadget otherwise!
I think it’s okay to tease about people’s personal appearances… but perhaps not just a few days after her passing, and certainly not on the day of her funeral.
Never mind, just seen that you didn’t know what had happened when you posted the comment. Might be worth editing to remove it? I know that you didn’t know, but it isn’t best-timed and is still very raw for fans.
I have to say, I found the joke (along with the title “Put er in the Ground”) pretty shocking to say the least. I’ve never read your blog before so I was completely thrown off guard by the cavalier attitude towards a human life. Even after reading the update and learning that this was all a hugeeee coincidence (really?), it still didn’t feel right.
Addiction is disease that many are grappling with, and it’s not only the addicts themselves who are affected. So for me it’s not about Amy Winehouse at all. It’s about the millions of other people out there who deal with addiction, and agony it causes families affected by it every day.
i laughed at the joke as well and i knew she was dead.
i understand its sad that she died especially at a young age.
she was very talented but its like people forget who these stars were before they died. she wasnt a saint, she was a junky and sadly that is what happens to drug abusers. it’s not like it was super tragic and no one saw it coming. she basically did it to herself. remember ya’ll she said no, no, no to getting any help.
Allison, love your comment. You definitely had me laughing!
Good Morning katie, I need one of those little suckers! Do you know if Black and Decker plan to sell in Australia? I have the worst gardening skills of all time. At the moment most gardening jobs are on hold as we are in the middle of winter, and at the moment it is -3 degrees here,probably not as cold as your winters but still cold enough for us aussies!! Love your blog and can’t wait to see what you come up with in the next eight weeks for the wedding. As to the Amy issue, some people are a little too thin skinned. I had a good ol belly laugh at that one, and boy did I need it after the morning I had getting three teenagers out the door to school!!! Gotta love Ya. Have a great day !!!
However, Amy actually had talent!
I think an “awkwardddd” from the Pintrest video could be inserted here into the drama that has come from a silly statement…but enough of that and a real (but dumb) question about the PlantSmart–is it reusable for a looooong time? Or once you’ve had it do a garden reading, can you only use it for that one? Thanks!
Sorry about your holly 🙁 Do you know what the flowering bushes on either side of the hollies are called? They’re beautiful and add a great touch of color!
I agree with the comment on people being too thin-skinned. “Too soon?” jokes are funny whether or not Katie meant it as a “too soon” kinda thing or not.
Seriously people?!?! You dont have anything better to do with your time than to rag on Katie about one little comment. Get over yourselves!! Its called humor. Get the stick outta your @$$ and laugh a little. (Sorry Katie but i had to say something :))
Katie, I completely HEART this object!!! We get a ton of sun in the front of our house and my poor plants don’t stand a chance. This cool tool would be great for finding out what would do best in our heated fronted yard.
Thanks for sharing!!
I laughed too. And I did think it was a joke about your plant being dead. Honestly, lighten up people. And I never comment on blogs (just lazy, sorry!), but in light of all the crazy comments about people being offended, I feel compelled to say that I love this blog. Katie, I’m sure it must be hard to have people sniping at you like this, so I hope you don’t let it get you down. There is are a lot of cranky people in the world — it’s their problem, not yours!! Keep up the good work, the positive energy, and can’t wait to see what you get accomplished in the next EIGHT WEEKS!
The Winehouse comment struck me as odd until I got to the part that you didn’t know. Then I was like, oh, she didn’t know. And then I was over it. The End.
Cool product, I need a couple of those to figure out why the plant I bought doesn’t grow and why the plant I dug out and threw away didn’t survive.
Unlike Amy Winehouse your shrubs ARE going to rehab.
Funny funny funny.
yah…that joke kind of stopped me in my path. I know a joke is a joke…but i think people are bothered because she died a few days ago…and death isn’t the sweetest subject. right?
Heidi, people don’t have sticks up their butts. I think most people feel the need to mourn…even if they never met the person…and some people don’t. It’s pretty simple.
i pray her soul resting in peace…she was depressed. 🙁 its sad that such a talented singer is gone.
I hope young teens look at her as an example of what drug addiction/mental illness/depression can do to a person. it’s sad.
Katie, maybe stick with boxwood…it’s such a low maintenance shrub. Can never go wrong with boxwoods!!
I love you Katie! You are such a sweet girl that I truly can tell loves God and others. I think your readers that really can see your heart and humor through your blog are not offended by what we read today or any other day. Thank you for what you do!
Col. 3:23
Seriously cool gadget!
One more thing – as a blogger, who is online every day, a tv-owner, etc….how in the hell did you miss Amy Winehouse’s death? I mean, they were broadcasting it on every website, every news channel, every radio station, everywhere! Anywho, it’s very sad…maybe stick to making fun of Brit’s weave when talking about crispy plants going forward! HA
The little plants directly next to the hollies are azaleas…white ones 🙂
xo – kb
Oh no – you can use it over and over again!
xo – kb
I have no idea – you might want to just go to the site and see if you can order and ship online!
xo – kb
That tool is SO awesome. I showed my husband and we are definitely on board with it! We live in Texas and we haven’t seen rain since… oh, March? It’s SO DRY here! And all of our plants are dead. So this tool will be so helpful!
And to all the drama. It’s Katie’s blog, she can say what she wants. If people want to vent about it, they can vent on their blogs. Simple as that! 🙂
OH NO NO – just another crazy coincidence. Eek eek eek….that title was supposed to just be in regards to the tool…I see how you took it but believe me, it was just about the tool.
xo – kb
Geez, people. Calm down. I agree with the commenter who said that there are plenty of other dead people who everyone still pokes fun at. Why shouldn’t we be able to laugh about people who are dead? Its not like we can do anything for her now…
Katie.. I feel for you girlfriend. You are being all out body slammed on your blog for your Winehouse comment. I read everyday and was half expecting a “too soon?” after the comment. When I didn’t stumble upon one.. I KNEW you had no clue that she had passed away. You just don’t seem like the type to say something to intentionally cause drama and angst. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, these things happen. The End.
In other news, cant wait to see how you nest your home pregnancy style in the next 8 weeks!!
haha- now that made me laugh!
Yup – a tv junkie as in I watch Netflix…like right now I am in the middle of season 2 of Prison Break. And I will definitely keep that in mind about trying too hard 🙂
xo – kb
I may have commented once in all the time I’ve read your blog Katie. I’m a Charleston (South Carolina) girl and enjoy the way you bring humor to all our lovely southern idiosyncrasies.
But to all those haggling you regarding joking or poking fun at celebrities….guess what….they put themselves out there in the limelight for the world. Go on and poke fun, this is – well was- a grown woman who made her choices. She had family and friends, and yet she ended up where she ended up. I do hope that she was able to find peace in the last days of her life.
I love this comment Emily. I love debates like this and I think you expressed yourself wonderfully.
xo – kb
I know, right?! I feel really dumb. But I guess it’s because we only watch Netflix movies and tv, we have satellite radio in the car that is only on Kid’s Place Live, and I only read photography & design blogs online. So yeah…simply a case of I-don’t-get-out-much, I guess.
xo – kb
omg. i thought you were making the amy winehouse joke BECAUSE she died. holy crap, that’s funny in a sick way? but seriously, hope girl RIP’s.
people. it is a BLOG. move on. move on. i’ve heard lots of things like “amy crackhouse”.. etc. truthfully, it is terrible for her parents but when you make zillions and put yourself out in the public, what do you expect? i think katie’s humor is hilarious; whether she passed or not- she was KNOWN for her troubles. life is too short to be so serious.
We heard that boxwoods are slower growing and we wanted something that we could shape into smallish sized christmas trees. That narrowed the search results down to between dwarf spruces and the hollies – and I can’t keep dwarf spruces alive (we went through three rounds of them at the old house) so we decided to give hollies a try.
xo – kb
I really need one of those! My husband and I just bought our first house and I want to plant some stuff this fall/next spring, but we have a weird set-up (one side full sun, one side all shade) and this tool would be SO awesome!
On another note, I feel for ya with the whole Amy Winehouse thing, sorry that people are taking offense! I kinda snorted at the joke (thinking you knew), and then laughed really hard when I found out you didn’t know and had made that joke! I’m just glad I’m not the only one living under a rock! If it makes you feel better, about a year after 9/11 (I was 11) I asked my mom who Osama bin Laden was 🙂 I’m never gonna live that one down!
haha, definitely perfect response. “And that my friends, is how you take a post full circle.”
This has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I just saw this on etsy and thought of you:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76412091/keep-calm-and-eat-bacon-13×19-poster
Katie – I was dying laughing at your Amy joke…so much that I had to read the whole thing to my husband sitting next to me. And when I got to your update at the bottom? I about fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard! Maybe I have a sick sense of humor, but I just need to thank you for making my day! 🙂
“I think your blog is great, although sometimes you try too hard to be funny, or perhaps it’s just too much “making fun” in each and every single post. You can be funny without that so much. I think moderation in everything always works.”
I’m a little confused…so it’s ok to judge Katie and her opinions and her humor because she writes a blog and puts her life in writing for the internet to see…but it’s not ok for her to have a certain opinion about Amy Winehouse who was a celebrity and CHOSE to live the way she did, despite being in the public eye?
Katie, please. You are a blogger and judging by your post the other day, an avid television viewer. Please forgive your readers if they feel it’s a bit disingenuous to describe a dead shrub as Amy Winehouse-like and then claim that Lil ‘ole’ country- you from the swamps of New Jersey and Atlanta hadn’t heard that one of your favorite pop-stars had died. Yes folks, this is just a blog. But one that promotes products such as this garden tool product the name of which I failed to recall.
I thought about your food for thought comment above. It is never really nice to make fun of anyone. ever. Especially if they are suffering from addiction. If anyone deserves prayer it’s these folks.
/rant
I think you have a great sense of humor, but your Amy Winehouse comment came off a little pretentious like you are better than people that have problems and addictions. I understand that you are conservative and christian but I just don’t think it was in good taste or a very compassionate thing to say. I know it was just a joke, but it came off wrong and irked me.
I’m all for freedom of speech and kudos to Katie for not shying away from the critics, but really? The number one story across the US since mid day on Saturday and you didn’t know? The majority of the media online has been leading with this story or lamenting the fact that it’s getting way too much coverage given the tragedy in Norway, and you didn’t know? Her music suddenly cracks the top ten on iTunes, twitter was trending Amy Winehouse related subjects all weekend and if stepping into a grocery store in the last couple of days would have put you face to face with cover stories of her and you didn’t know? You certainly have the right to poke fun of anyone you’d like but please don’t think for one minute that you seriously expect us to believe that you sincerely had no clue. A tasteless joke is one thing but this ruse is insulting.
i’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now and i just wanna say i love your blog and your humor. you do NOT over do it on the jokes, don’t change a thing. 🙂
that is all. 🙂
The only thing I see is a lot of people impressing their own opinion while getting offended for Katie having her own. Not a huge deal….. There are honest good hearted ppl who are taken too soon from their family tragically. Amy Winehouse is a washed up singer who made A CHOICE…. No one made it for her especially not Katie, so move on. Weather it was a coincidence or a funny joke everyone is entitled to their own opinion. ESPECIALLY on ones own blog.
!!! I think I just found what to spen this pay checks ‘what ever’ money on! Your so sweet to gussy everything up for the wedding. 🙂 they are lucky to have a sister/ sister-inlaw like you!
Girl – virtual hug – next time a celeb passes I’ll e-mail you 😉
That stick thing is pretty cool- but it’s a little too high tech for me. Good luck with the wedding plans- I’m sure it’ll be beautiful! Are you the photographer too?
oh dear, you ‘guess’? that’s how rumours start, and a classic blame the victim stance. i also think bloggers have a responsibility, if ‘you’ put yourself out there, be prepared for the good and bad. the comment was inappropriate due to timing, enough said.
Katie, even if Amy hadn’t just died, clearly Amy Winehouse was struggling. It is as offensive and inappropriate to reference someone’s illness. Just because it is not physical doesn’t mean she is not suffering. I highly doubt anyone would make a comment about someone who was battling cancer, why is battling a mental health issue any different? I don’t think you can hide behind ‘country girl’ stance. As a blogger you are putting yourself out there and have a lot of readers, perhaps do a bit of research first.
Sara, no one chooses to be ill.
I have the Easy Bloom (it’s the same product, but B&D must have bought the company and put its own stamp on it in the last few months or so). I LOVE it, but haven’t used it as much recently as I should have. Namely for my yellow squash that just died… oops.
That may be true, Paula, but many people choose to STAY ill.
Love the plant monitor, would be very handy.
However, I have to agree with disappointed. The one thing I don’t care for with this blog, and the reason I don’t check in more often is the potty humor and things like this recent post. It really just lowers your credibility, respectability, and level of professionalism. This comment is only meant for constructive criticism as I am sure you want feedback since this blog is your full-time job.
omgosh…i LOVE prison break…..it definately keeps you hooked..i literally sat and watched it non-stop as long as i could..until my stupid job interfered, and kids, and you know – life. i just have a few episodes left..!!
I live and work in a capitol city and spend a lot of time online, but the only reason *I* knew was because a coworker – 1 coworker out of 120 – happened to mention it when I was nearby. THEN I Googled it. Like Katie, I only watch Netflix (no cable). I don’t look at what’s popular on iTunes, I never look at what’s trending on Twitter, and although I had been in the grocery store, I don’t pay much attention to anything at the checkout unless I have the slowest cashier in the world holding me up. Whether you specifically believe Katie or not, my point is just that we all have different focus and day to day lives. It may be unusual to miss news like this in our super plugged in world, but it’s not at all impossible.
Seriously? Give me a break lady. People make the choice to start drinking or doing drugs. Nobody made her be a junkie. I understand addiction IS a problem but people make the choice to start a bad habit I’m sure knowing that it COULD become a problem. So I’m calling BS on that comment.
Katie clearly doesn’t care about her Amy Winehouse comment, otherwise she would have edited her blog post. I’m a little disappointed in you, Katie, and I don’t believe for one second that you didn’t know she died.
really?? so if i have cancer or diabetes i choose to stay ill? do you actually think anyone can control a mental health issue any different than a physical one?
Well, you did say “bless her little heart.” That’s got to count for something, right? And for what it’s worth (I’d say about 2 cents), that part of the post made me chuckle. Just a little. More of a snort actually, but chuckle sounds better.
Just keep doing your thing, Katie.
This is the coolest thing ever! My black thumb thanks you for sharing this! I have to have me one. I can’t grow a thing!
katie, you’re a funny gal! i don’t think you try too hard to be funny, it seems pretty natural since your humor is the same in every post. i laughed when i read the amy comment and i knew she had passed…i almost spit coffee at my computer screen when i read the comment about “Put er in the Ground” (i didn’t pay much attention to the title of the post) i think i laughed harder at that! katie, keep being funny! i love reading your blog! love from kelly in canada!
My thoughts-
Keep doing what you do Katie. The Amy Winehouse joke would absolutely have been just that a really funny joke if she hadn’t just died. I was surprised to read it, but then I thought to myself, maybe she doesn’t know, and still chuckled a bit. People need to think a little bit more about you and your personality before they start slamming you.
Do you really believe KB hadn’t heard about Amy’s death when she posted this? I find that hard to believe…
yeah, i’m sure all alcoholics and addicts are loving the place they are in?! mental health is not a choice. it’s not just a bad habit, stephanie m, its an illness. sadly a lot of people don’t understand this which is why so many suffer alone. where is your compassion?
so assuming then alison, you would also find it funny to poke fun at a person who was looking ill due to cancer? or perhaps aids? i don’t think it’s ever funny to judge others. makes one look like they think they are above it all.
I knew when I saw the Amy Winehouse comment I had to come back to this post the next day to watch the “fireworks blow” so to speak!! I actually found the comment funny too!! I know she was ill but nevertheless shes not a role model in my eye!!! Sorry that’s just how I feel……my opinion……..blame it on the first amendment!!
Oh and BTW I cannot wait for all the wedding festivities to begin……….you will share won’t you??
I dont really get what all the fuss is about.
Anywho: i think i need that little plant device! I plant azaleas and they are dead little sticklies. Do garden centers really take them back? I know my garden place told em we could but I feel like its my fault? IDK because I have never done it.. any advice?
I don’t think you try too hard to be funny. I think your humor is definitely a Southern thing, and I read every word in your blog posts to make sure I don’t miss a joke.
Princess Bride BTW. Am I the first one to guess the reference? “He’s only MOSTLY dead.” Ha.
It’s not as easy as saying…”no more” for some people. Some people can’t even stop smoking cigarettes.
Addiction is not JUST a problem. It’s a disease. And the reason most people that have addictive personalities START these bad habits are because of other underlining issues in their lives. Do some research and learn some facts.
Drama
That is seriously one of the most cool garden gadgets I’ve ever seen. wow…
Jen, didn’t you see her update at the bottom of her post? Plus, this only happened on Saturday. Maybe Katie is a really busy mom/wife/woman and had a slam-packed weekend and missed the news. I’m sure there are lots of people that didn’t know about Amy’s passing. Frankly, I’m alittle disappointed that someone who sounds so self-righteous, would pass judgement on Katie and say that she is lying about knowing this news already. That, to me, is way worse than making an ill-timed joke about someone who just died. This is her blog, and if you don’t trust that she is telling the truth then why do you even bother reading?
Katie is certainly entitled to express her own opinions in her blog. Folks leaving comments are also be entitled to express their various opinions — good, bad, and indifferent. Here’s my opinion: Katie, you.are.an.idiot. (and not funny). I don’t believe for one hot second that you didn’t know about Amy Winehouse. Why didn’t you edit this post to take out the offensive “joke” when you found out that she had died? Your “update” was equally as stupid, insincere, and offensive. It just seems rather odd that you would make a tasteless “joke” about one of your “favs” in a post about dead bushes. You are human. You made a mistake. Just own it and apologize instead of defending your stupid “humor.”
oh my gosh, paula! Are you just trolling all these comments and trying to start/perpetuate the drama?! Seriously I don’t even completely disagree with you on the topic but it is ridiculous how you keep commenting and won’t JUST DROP IT.
And ironically you ended one comment with ‘enough said’… however you obviously didn’t mean it…
What a great idea, I kill all my plants (def. have the opposite of a green thumb).
When I saw the Amy joke I kind of chuckled but then thought “crap, it might be a bit soon for that, I hope no one posts rude comments!” Then I saw your update and realized how harsh some people can be.
I usually don’t read the comments because I feel they’re mostly all the same, and mostly only beneficial for Katie–praise, etc. However, when I read this last post, I just knew that these comments would be worth it to read.
I’m not offended by the Winehouse comment. To everyone who is…I have a suggestion. Go make your own blog, and then you can write whatever you want in the posts. Get hundreds of readers, and then see if you never, ever write something that someone, somewhere takes the wrong way. If this happens…well, congratulations. You’re probably the owner of the world’s most boring blog.
I got a million problems but pretentious ain’t one 🙂 I’m not better than anyone…well, except Osama…oh snap, he’s dead too, huh? Seriously though…I’m not and I don’t pretend to be. The joke was ill-timed…plain and simple.
xo – kb
Thanks – I’ll need a weekly update 🙂
And no…unfortunately my sister thought it would be weird to have the matron of honor standing there with a giant lens in her face…
xo – kb
It’s a personal policy that I don’t edit posts. Ever. It’s simply a matter of time management that could get seriously out of hand. I will however post an update at the bottom of the post if I feel it’s necessary – like I did in this case.
As for your personal feelings about me….I never claim to be right or perfect but I am honest…and this blog is truly a reflection of me and that imperfection. Sorry you are disappointed…
xo – kb
I was reading this thread of comments for entertainment and I was planning on staying out of the debate, but I finally have to put in my two cents- I believe that there is a huge difference between someone who has cancer or AIDS or any other physical chronic disorder or disability and someone who has chosen to begin drinking or getting high. They made a choice to begin that lifestyle in the first place.
I understand that addiction is a disease, but how this disease comes into fruition is a CHOICE that an individual has made for themselves. This has nothing to do with judging anyone or making fun of anyone, but Paula, you should acknowledge that the first time someone chooses to get drunk or high, they are making a decision. If the same person leads a relatively healthy life then happens to find a cancerous lump in their breast, they have not chosen to have cancer. Do you see the difference?
I’ve never been an Amy Winehouse fan in particular, but she was surrounded by people who cared for her and tried to help her and she DECIDED not to accept their help. Her most popular song was about NOT GOING TO REHAB- a poor message to people who are dealing with her same affliction.
I actually think it was irresponsible on Amy’s part to allow her own fame and fortune to grow in a way that sets a bad example to her fans.
And her’s some food for thought for you, Paula, as well as everyone else who shares Paula’s sentiments: Most celebrities that are diagnosed with cancer (Christina Applegate), HIV (Magic Johnson), Parkinsons’s Disease (Michale J. Fox), and other disorders and disabilities (Christopher Reeve) have gone out of their way to encourage and help others learn more and improve their health. Nobody ever wants to be sick, but if you are unfortunate enough to become afflicted with a health problem, wouldn’t the more responsible thing to do be to first, help yourself, and second, help to educate and inform others?
In as tactful a way as I can possibly say right now, Amy Winehouse seemed to have less respect for herself than even you, a complete stranger, has for her. If you don’t respect yourself, it’s hard to earn respect from others.
Absolutely – I am planning on divulging my upcoming plans for the bridal shower soon!
xo – kb
Absolutely they take them back…I am an avid plant returner….much to Jeremy’s chagrin. He’s the one that does all the planting…and then unplanting…and then replanting.
xo – kb
Can’t wait to hear about the wedding prep, Katie! Love that your house will now forever hold the memories of your sister’s wedding. You are putting that lovely place to such good use!
Keep on keeping on! 🙂
Sarah
Wow Amy. Just wow.
xo – kb
The post itself was definitely in poor taste, as I see many people agree. There’s a lot of ignorance flying around here in the comments section though. Addiction is among the most misunderstood diseases out there. Who of you are perfect, who of you haven’t made ONE mistake that’s impacted your life forever? This has nothing to do with praising a celebrity now that she’s passed, or protecting her image in death. Amy Winehouse was a real person, not a character. She suffered from a disease that impacts millions of people. Every person who has a loved one suffering from addiction saw their child’s/spouse’s/parent’s/boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s etc.. face when they heard that she had succumbed to her illness. Her death hits home for a lot of people. And for all of you writing her off as “just a junky” or “not getting what the fuss is about” or who hold the “screw her attitude she did it to herself”…I hope addiction NEVER touches your family as it’s touched mine and so many others. But hell, it wouldn’t hurt to educate yourselves people..there’s a whole wide world out there and it may just come at you when you least expect.
Bless your little heart.
Her dad tried to put her on heab, but she said no, no,no…..
I don’t even know what to say…I’ll try to find the words. Your comment about Amy Winehouse just hit too close to home for me. My sister is in her fourth treatment center for an eating disorder (an addiction), and if she did happen to pass away from her disease, someone making any type of joke about it would be beyond hurtful. I guess I’m just hurt by the comment, that’s all. Any type of making fun of any mental health issue really, really hits close to home. If you haven’t dealt with any mental health illnesses in your family (and i’m assuming everyone who laughed at the comment have not), you are very lucky. It is indescribably painful and hard. I took that comment personally, and I would do so if she was still alive. Unfortunately am thinking about taking a break from this blog. Just hit too close to home for me, I guess.
Just curious, by your comment, since her illness began by a choice, it would be okay to make fun of a dying/deceased person who died from cancer due to smoking? Or make fun of a person with AIDS for having an affair with a person who was infected? Or to make fun of say Farrah Faucet for the choices she made in life?
Or do you just think this because her illness had to do with drugs and alcohol?
Many illnesses and diseases can be attributed to lifestyle choices, however, I doubt anyone poking fun of a cancer patient, who contracted lung cancer directly attributed to smoking, would be found funny.
Thank you Kristen! Both of my parents died from cancer and to have them equated to someone who chose a life of drugs (and yes, like her song, she had the option to go to Rehab) made me very frustrated and confused. I thought I missed something… but ya know.. I didn’t ever see my parents consume too much cancer after repeatedly being told not to.
This whole thing has gotten extremely out of hand. This is why comments should be moderated. At least to a degree.
Hey Katie, I didn’t want to add any more comments, but after reading the zinger above, I just wanted to say I LUHOVE your blog, your positive energetic attitude, and your honesty with wife/mom/life stuff. I think you are great and I am sending you a big fat virtual hug.
Hey Katie, Keep your head up, girl. I knew she was dead and I chuckled. The impression I’ve gotten is that you are a sweet, genuine person so I’m sure you’re felling all kinds of shitty because these folks are being so sensitive and snotty. It’s called humor, peeps; it’s ok to chuckle and shake your head and say “Poor Amy.” And besides…the beehive hairdo and the shrub…come on….you see the resemblance…admit it.
wasted talent apparently.
your belief Kristin, good for you. you must feel incredibly blessed that you have not had to deal with a loved one or friend who suffers from mental illness. if you had, undoubtedly your comments wouldn’t come off as so self serving. in response to your comments about saying ‘enough said’ or trolling for comments, i’m simply trying to enlighten others on the effects of struggling, physically or mentally. i have not seen a lot of compassion on the blog comments with regards to this. i can only assume that as katie has made it know that she is a conservative christian that a lot of others with similar beliefs would also read katie’s blog. i guess i must not be a good person if i feel compassion for others because they are struggling or hurting. clearly, if you think about it, no one would want to hurt or struggle.
on this note, i think it’s awesome that people can begin to think about how others feel and empathise with others and perhaps even give some thought to it. imagine your brother, siser, best friend, spouse with this type of illness and then tell me that they chose it?? please take off your rose coloured glasses, this is someone struggling, just because you don’t know Amy Winehouse or anyone with her afflictions doesn’t mean they are less of a person and open to such disrespect. wow, have a heart.
My goodness! I’m sending you a virtual hug to help overcome some of the negative people on here! I love your blog and check it daily 🙂
WHOO-EE!! Its getting hot in here! Lets all just take a chill pill and get back to our jobs shall we? Katie, dont mind them. How about just posting a picture of Hot Tim..you dont even have to write anything…that should calm em down! 🙂
that thing is magical! i might just have to try this out…and maybe my fiance will finally recind his “dont touch anything in the yard!” order!
i hope you dont let these negative comments affect you. i actually find it hysterical that you made a comment about someone’s drug habits and that is not okay – yet there are so many on here making disgusting jabs at your character. actually, it makes me sad that so many people cant put things into perspective. oh, and honestly, i didn’t hear about her death until a friend texted me about it on monday – i guess people like us have better things to do besides idolize these celebs and obsess over every hollywood update/scandal! 😉
good luck with the wedding prep!
I think Allison is definitely on to something with the lights idea…the idea of you having 8 weeks to “perfect” the house and yard (and that humongo basement–gaa!) is giving ME an ulcer! How ’bout taking a leaf out of your girl Sherry’s book and keeping it simple and simple! And btw, enlist as many helping hands as you can! I want blogging about all this prettiness, and you can’t do that if you are too busy doing it all yourself, or because you’re sitting in a corner somewhere (in the basement?) drooling because you’re so stressed out. Is that selfish, or what?
So Amy, have you deleted Katies blog from your reader or will you continue to read?? My bet, you continue to be a reader and someday you’ll find your comment as rude as I did when I read it just now!! Were you (and everyone else who posted negatively about this) never taught the rule “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”?? I was….in THIRD grade:)
Wow, indeed. Super mean-spirited there, Amy. At least Katie’s words, even if you consider them tasteless or offensive, were unintentionally so. Katie, YOU know what your intent was, so don’t let those who refuse to consider your perspective ruin your day. By NOT deleting the initial comment and adding your update, you fully owned the situation instead of hiding it and trying to pretend it never happened. Good for you.
Amy W? I thought you were dead! Bless YOUR little heart for coming back and sharing such kind words.
Seriously, get over it!
amy w if you think katie is an idiot…why do you read her blog?? there was a whole lot of hate in that comment! and katie did apologize…you just didn’t like it.
there are far bigger things to worry about in the world. if people put all their passion towards being nice instead of mean the world be a much better place!
“Put er in the Ground”
I think they were gonna cremate her, not bury her. Oh, you weren’t talking about Amy W? Yeah, right!
This post confirms what I suspect. You, ma’am, are an idiot. And, you know it. Bless your little heart!
Maybe you should start your own blog and leave Katie’s alone then?!? Just sayin’!
Katie – you’re awesome… ’nuff said!! Oh and I’m getting this handy little tool for my green-thumbed hubby! Thanks for the post
Thank you for the great info on a new gardening tool! I like to try to have a green thumb…but it turns out black either due to my own efforts (I think I love on my plants too much) or due to the efforts of forces beyond my control (living in Houston during a record drought, hurricanes, blah). I love the idea of this gadget to give me data on my lack of gardening ability!!! Thank you!!! Must go out now and get one. 🙂
I guess you could say the same about Katie – “guess what….they put themselves out there in the limelight for the world” Katie puts herself out there. She writes a blog to be read. “a grown woman who made her choices” to make the comment, intentionally offensive or not. You contradict yourself. If you suggest that Amy is subject to jokes/comments than surely Katie must be, too? Both are/were grown women, putting themselves out there.
I see more hate and rudeness being spewed from those defending Katie than those who are politely saying that they are offended.
Katie,
I love you blog and never comment on internet-y things typically, but I read the previous hatefull post and it broke my heart for you. I sincerly hope that you don’t let mean spirited, non-constructive comments affect you, although I know that must be hard. Especially when they are directed at you in such a rude manner. That is not criticism, that is just un productive ranting, and Im sure that all of your regular followers, friends, and family know that you are most definitaly intelligent, humble, funny, and come across always as a fun-loving lighthearted and sweet soul. These are the people that read you posts and enjoy the tips, pictures, and laughs that you bring us everyday 🙂 There is no need to feel bad about something that you did not know. It would definitaly be embarrassing for a moment (head-in-hands) but you dont know what you dont know! Keep on doing what you do, and being the goofy sweet person and blogger that we all love to read!
Maybe you should start your own blog and leave Katie’s alone then?!? Just sayin’!
Katie – you’re awesome… ’nuff said!! Oh and I’m getting this handy little tool for my green-thumbed hubby! Thanks for the post
xo
So true. Just received my first “hate mail” on my blog last night and have been posting for a year…was beginning to think my blog was not read or was too soft…guess I was wrong. Don’t let anyone stop you from speaking your mind.
You know, didn’t love the comment but I admire you sticking to your no editing policy.
Bob sounds like Amy W from up above, no? Mean for the sake of being mean. Sigh.
If Mrs. Bowers can’t take the heat, well, you know the rest. If she’s truly sorry for the insensitivity of this post, she would remove the questionable jokes. Clearly she’s not sorry since they remain in place for future readers to see. She knows they are in poor taste (much like her house) and yet they remain. Explain that!
Thank you! Perfectly said, Kristen and Iomay. My father is battling cancer right now; cancer that he got despite living a healthy life, and I really don’t like hearing people compare his disease to drug addiction. Yes, they are both considered diseases, but they are not the same. My dad’s father was an alcoholic and my dad CHOSE NOT to go down that path. Unfortunately, he has another battle to fight. When he found out he had cancer, he started fighting to recover, he didn’t go out looking for more cancer.
Cancer patients put themselves through hell to save their lives: chemo, surgery, amputations, radiation. They try to get better, they seek recovery. And if they are blessed with remission, they do everything they can to stay healthy.
So all of you that are comparing cancer to drug addiction in an attempt to point out how offensive KB was with her comment, just know that you are offending many cancer patients and their families by making that comparison.
you dont deserve an explanation. She explained it above a ways tho, if you are really interested. you leave rude comments everywhere it looks like, yhl bob, im assuming, is you also. nice….
Nicole,
Thanks for knowing me. I appreciate that. If you were paying attention, though, you would know I am not rude to Sherry any more. I’ve grown to respect her. Katie, on the other hand, is a poor woman’s Sherry. She has a long way to go to earn my respect.
I saw her “explanation.” The no-editing policy is stupider than stupid though. But, if she wants to keep it that way, her “update” should at least go at the front of the post. Seems like common sense, no?
Wow, eye for an eye huh? Great idea people….leave an offensive comment to show that offensive posts are wrong. I didn’t care for the joke and still wouldn’t be that harsh. Stay classy Katie and kill them with kindness. Pun wholeheartedly intended.
@Nicole, I also was curious if this was the Bob who doesn’t like Sherry’s art/”not-art.”
I also was shocked by the Amy Winehouse comment that I thought was in poor taste. I also make mistakes. I also internet-love Katie.
Is anyone else familiar with Jill Zarin from the RHNYC and how she’ll post controversial comments and then delete them like she never made a mistake? I hate that. At least Katie is addressing this. I think the whole thing’s quite unfortunate and hope we can move on soon.
xo
So Bob, you stalk Sherry too! and used to leave her rude comments also. Awesome. I wana be you someday.
Tim, I think you have a good point. I think lifestyle choice is a better way of categorizing the differences in the ailments that all of these comments have discussed. I don’t think it’s okay to poke fun of anyone suffering from anything, I just don’t think something that can be prevented or aided should be equated with something that is out of one’s hands.
Oh yeah, Katie clearly addressed her foot-in-mouth syndrome:
“and not to spur a internet battle – but how come it’s okay to tease about people’s appearances when they are alive but not when they are dead? Seriously – this might be food for thought.”
Clearly, she doesn’t think what she said/did was wrong. That bothers me more than anything else. Here’s some food for thought: Katie, what you said was insenstive and WRONG for so many reasons. Why are people defending her? (Oh yeah, you are sheep. Baaaa Baaaa.)
Reply
Get a life, Bob.
Why are you reading her blog if she’s such an idiot? Lol. Some people.
Paula, I never said I have never had to deal with a loved one or friend that has had to deal with a mental illness. My own mother has been dealing with clinical depression for a good chunk of my life. But that’s the key- she’s been DEALING with it. She saw a therapist, was on medication for a couple of years, and weened herself off. For the last 4 years or so, she has been extremely happy and successful, medication free. So yes, I do feel blessed that she respected herself and us (her family) enough to take care of herself without turning to other forms of dealing. I also teach high school and I have students coming to me everyday, who are struggling with their own demons, or those of their parents. I’m not turning a blind eye, nor do I have on rose colored glasses. I’m also not a conservative Christian- or conservative in any other way for that matter. I just understand that there is a huge difference between working on a problem and letting a problem fester until it’s out of control. Read Tim’s comment above about lifestyle choices. I think he nailed it on the head.
Hmm interesting suggestion about the update – I’ll definitely take that into consideration! And about being a poor woman’s Sherry – I take that as a compliment 100% for sure.
xo – kb
I think what it comes down to is this: people make bad choices in life, celebrities, bloggers, all of us reading and commenting. Do I believe that Katie, when writing this post, thought to herself, “Let’s see, how can I offend someone?” No. I think she made a joke at another person’s expense. When that choice is made, there will be some people who laugh, and some who don’t. I enjoy this blog and Katie and her writing style. I didn’t care for the joke.
That being said, I’m not out to make rude comments, or a joke at Katie’s expense. My opinion, and it’s only an opinion, is that there could’ve been a better comparison. Even if Ms. Winehouse had not recently passed due to her own personal lifestyle choices, it still wasn’t the kindest of comments to make. There’s a difference between poking fun of a bad haircut and poking fun of something that is causing harm and in some cases death to a person. There is also a difference in making a joke to those who are our closest friends and relatives (who get “us”) and to an internet community, who let’s face it, even if we are daily readers really don’t “know” Katie.
Katie has put up her edit to the end of her post. If she feels she has sufficiently handled the comment, the context it was taken in, that is her choice. Some may think it was an apology, case closed. Others may not see it that way. Calling each other names, calling Katie names, or being rude in general will not bring any strength to either side of the argument. If nothing else, I think the real lesson to be learned is, we ALL need to be careful what we say, where we say it, and keep in mind that things we say can be interpreted in different ways.
I’ve read over this a few times, and I’m hoping it comes out the way I intend it to. If not, I apologize if I’m being offensive, because that is truly not my intent. Please, all of you, hug a loved one or tell them how important they are to you today. We never know when that loved one will no longer be there with us.
Tim, whoever you are, you are a wise and well-spoken person. I tip my hat to you, sir.
I actually find Katie’s handling of the matter at hand more reprehensible than the ill-timed joke itself. Claiming not to know the person was deceased (especially when the title of the post is “Put ‘er (sic) in the ground”) was bad enough, but then to reply with “Why is it ok to make fun of people when they are alive but not when they are dead”? Wow. Do you believe that it is ok to make fun of people when they are alive? I’m no fan of Amy Winehouse, but she was someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s somebody. Would you be okay with reading a blog that made a joke about your sister getting “knocked up” as a teenager? Or that called her any assortment of names that people use to describe a girl who gets pregnant out of wedloock? Would you find it humorous read a blog that called you a college drop-out? If not, then perhaps you should imagine how somebody else’s parents or siblings might react to reading your post, and keep that in mind the next time you decide to make fun of a person in any public context, no matter how small.
@disappointed
Agree with your comment about the ruse being insulting. As a reader of this blog, I can’t help but somewhat offended when other readers are antagonized for saying anything to the contrary. I’d take the higher route and just ignore a comment then to lambast a reader (referring to the food for thought comment). I’m sure that some people find this ‘southern’ ‘country’ humor / naïveté amusing, however I fear antagonizing readers and making tasteless jokes may lead to lost readership which is too bad because people are obviously here for a reason. This combined with the recent “it needs to be big and it needs to be black. just like how I like my babies” comment has left me scratching my head. At least we YHL keeping it positive.
Hi Katie,
I love reading your blog.
Thought I might pass on some tips for your flower/shrub search.
This was the first year I was able to live in a spot where I could put together some flower beds/boxes…I’ve always wanted to try and find my green thumb despite my limited plant knowledge. I figured out pretty quick that my budget wasn’t going to go far by buying plants from nurseries, etc., so I needed a new plan. In the end, I was able to get most of my plants (mainly perennials and shrubs) in the free-$5 range by….
-asking around family and friends that garden for the plants they divide/toss while keeping the size of their gardens in check.
– I scored a bunch through ads on kijiji by browsing their home and garden section (I think it’s like your Craigslist??)
– checking out local farmers markets… some gardeners bring their extras along to sell (I usually find the smaller veggie vendors bring along plants too)
– some folks in this area also put out little signs/tables offering plants for sale at the end of their driveways.
– lately, since it’s more end-of-season our local Walmarts, grocery stores, etc. are marking their plants down 50-75% off to get rid of stock.
At first, I was worried about how I would figure out where to put my plants (light, soil, moisture) since I have no clue….I quickly realized that most folks selling/giving the plants will be keen enough to advise you…just ask them! I also had my camera along to snap pics along the way to remind myself where others had planted the items in their gardens.
Happy planting!
Kim
Agreed! Well done, Tim.
So who likes Hostess Twinkies?
Sam, I agree with your comment about Katie’s handling of the matter. It’s hard, I am a daily reader, and feel like I know Katie (so freaking weird how these blogs work!), even though I don’t. I totally took that comment personally and have found myself thinking about it as I’ve gone through my day and talking to my friends about it to see what they think.
I grew up as an evangelical Christian but have strayed from the faith because I really can’t figure out a way to believe in a God who at the end of the day will send so many people to hell just because they didn’t possess a “personal relationship” with Him. I have a problem with the evangelical church and their focus on God as the “ultimate judge”, and one who will damn people to hell for the rest of their lives.
Enter Katie’s comment. It brought to the surface all the reasons I don’t want to be associated with the evangelical Christian “born-again” faith. Judgmental “we are better than them” types of comments that lack any type of compassion or love are so freaking hard for me to hear. If I can figure out a way to reconcile my faith, it will only be by believing in a God (and a Jesus) who is an incredibly loving, compassionate being who must be weeping at Amy Winehouse’s troubles and ultimate death up in Heaven.
That said, Katie is human. So am I. I get it. But I’m just not sure why an actual apology hasn’t been issued by Katie? I guess it just makes me sad. And I can’t get past the “put ‘er in the ground” title. In my opinion that should definitely be changed. But it is just my opinion, and of course I can decide whether I will continue reading or not. I just feel like the internet Katie I’ve come to know might not be the actual Katie and that is hard for me to admit/accept/think about. Ha I should stop getting so caught up in these blogs!
Hope this makes some sort of sense.
“Food for thought,” Katie: If your beloved “baby sister” (or beloved “boyfriend”/son/brother/mother/father, etc.) just died (regardless of the reason – losing a loved one is devastating & horrifically painful no matter the circumstances) & a blogger (or anyone) made fun of their death with a comparison to a shriveled landscape shrub, would you think THAT was okay & funny?? Let’s say the joke wasn’t about Amy W’s death, but about her obvious decline, consider this: If your loved one was suffering from a terrible condition (physical or emotional or a combination) that threatened their life – regardless of whether you thought it was preventable (it’s your loved one, right? – you love them unconditionally with all your heart & soul), how would it strike you if others callously laughed about your loved one’s deteriorating health during their tortured lifetime?
How about the “sheeple” (sheep-people with herd mentality) that commented here who thought the Amy W jab was “funny”…would you all have collectively laughed if it was YOUR loved one?? Unreal. Would anorexia or bulimia have been a more acceptable death worthy of no laughs vs. drugs or alcohol death that is somehow unworthy & open to laughs? How about a cigarette smoker’s death? Anybody out there lose a mother/father/grandma/grandpa, etc. due to cigarette smoking? Was that funny?? How about other “preventable” deaths – perhaps by legal drug (prescription) abuse? Was that funny, too??
me too, jess. me too. just because she died doesn’t mean you have to act like you were her friend and you didn’t talk about her when she was alive.
Meghan…dear sweet Meghan…I’m sorry I didn’t know about her death. Really – you have no idea how dumb I feel. I’m sorry I had horribly bad luck about the title (the post title was honestly JUST about the tool…and I was gonna put the new front bushes and the fence in this post too – hence the putting stuff in the ground reference but didn’t have time to fit it all in with a screaming toddler so I shortened it to just the review)…and I am sorry that you feel evangelical Christians are judgmental. I can understand that…I have felt my share of judgement too and it saddens me. There is nothing that I can say or do at this point to make the joke go away…but I do feel led to say this….I hope you don’t let me or other Christians get in the way of your view of Jesus…because we are crazy flawed…completely imperfect…and I don’t know alot but I know He loves you. That’s it.
xo – kb
Thanks, Katie. Your words mean a lot. 🙂
Hi Sam,
Honestly – didn’t know and I had just really bad luck when it came to that title. And yup – I shook my head and said no no no while I slapped my hand to my forehead the first time someone brought it up. As for the reply – I honestly am asking a question there – really. I want to know….because maybe I am that dumb…but it doesn’t change the fact that people made fun of her NONSTOP when she was alive…I’ll be the first to admit that I make my fair share of celebrity jabs. But my question is pretty straightforward – I want people to respectfully articulate when it’s okay and when it’s not to tease, joke or jab…I have my opinions and I would like to hear others.
xo – kb
Last time I checked, this blog was called ‘Bower Power’ and was written by Katie Bower. Regardless of whether the content is offensive or funny (which is subjective anyway) isn’t it her’s to write? It’s amazing what the power of internet anonymity will cause people to comment on.
Katie… keep writing in YOUR blog, I happen to like it 🙂
So since its hers to write, people aren’t allowed to call her out for offensive comments?
xo — Not a sheeple
First of all – the word sheeple is hilarious.
Secondly – absolutely people are allowed to call me out…I don’t mind, really I don’t. I think it all comes down to HOW they call me out, if that makes any sense.
xo – kb
It’s NOT ok to tease someone about their personal apperance. I’m sure that is the kind of canned response that gets thrown around all of the time…”I was just TEASING… don’t take it so PERSONALLY…..”
Well. as someone who was relentlessly teased in her childhood – I absolutely do not think it’s ok. Or in good fun, or jest…or, whatever.
Dear Amy or Karen or Footinmouth (I’m confused on what your name is exactly so forgive me),
I have always ragged on celebrities…and more than likely it’s not gonna change. I had bad luck in this case. Yup…foot, ankle and leg all up in my mouth…and didn’t even know it. When it comes down to it, I likened my sick bush to a sick girl. Then I found out she passed away…and people assumed wrongly that I knew. I am sorry for not knowing she died…I wish she didn’t…I wish I had used a different analogy and avoided all this drama. My question is a serious question…one that I have my own thoughts on…and I wanted to challenge people to think about it and to hear other people’s opinions. Is that wrong?
My humor might not jive with you and if not, that’s okay…please feel free to skip it altogether.
Love that you aren’t a sheeple. I consider myself not one too 🙂
xo – kb
I didn’t find the joke particularly funny, but I didn’t find it offensive either. But I understand why others were offended, and respect their right to feel that way. That said, I would like to make a few observations:
1) It never occurred to me until I read the comments that people might think the post title also refers to Amy Winehouse. I understand that when someone is offended, it is human nature to put the worst possible spin on everything else, but I think it is highly unlikely the post title was intended to refer to Amy Winehouse. First of all, it was a small joke within a much longer post — no matter how offensive you find the joke, it seems clear that Katie did not intend the entire post to be about Ms. Winehouse or about an extended metaphor comparing a particular bush to Ms. Winehouse. Secondly, she was not talking about putting the Amy bush in the ground, she talked about putting the B&D gadget in the ground — if she were referring to the Amy bush, she would have titled it “Rip it out of the ground — wait, not so fast!”
2) I think it would be unethical to remove the joke entirely. I would find that tantamount to sweeping the whole thing under the rug and pretending it didn’t happen. I understand that those who are offended might prefer that the update be at the top of the post rather than the bottom, or perhaps added right after the joke as well. But removing it altogether just seems dishonest — if she said something people find distasteful, she should take the heat for it (and she is!), not avoid the consequences of her words.
3) I’m not sure why people find it so difficult to believe that Katie didn’t know about Amy Winehouse’s death. People get busy with life and don’t necessarily make an effort to keep up with the latest pop culture news. Believe her or not, but when you write angry, vicious posts about how you don’t believe her, you are diluting what I would assume is your primary message, that you think her joke was offensive.
4) Some people have written respectful, thoughtful comments about why they were offended. Some have written nasty, hateful snipes. Guess whose comments are more likely to make readers re-examine their own attitudes toward others struggling with addictions?
Katie,
Here’s what you should already know at your age but should definitely know as you begin to teach your son about how to treat other people, how to speak with kindness, AND how to make a joke.
It’s not funny to laugh at people who:
are hurting
are weaker than you
are victims
are struggling
are frail in spirit
And if you are going to laugh at people less fortunate than yourself realize that it’s going to make you look small and mean.
If you need further explanation you should listen to Craig Ferguson’s (host of the Late, Late Show) comments about why he doesn’t make fun of people like Britney Spears or Charlie Sheen. He’s a class act that shows how you can be humorous while still maintaining your compassion and dignity. You could learn something from him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZVWIELHQQY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WigGPO6EJ20
I hope you can learn from this but I won’t be sticking around to find out. It’s never been my style to hang with snarky bitches.
There is no way that you did not know about the passing of Amy Winehouse when you wrote this post! You spend a good portion of your day, every day on the internet and the news of her death was EVERYWHERE and there was no way to avoid it. To hide behind your “country girl” title when it is convenient to you is offensive in itself and you would be more respected if you simply agreed that the post was in poor taste with incredibly bad timing.
Katie,
Just wanted to let you know that I read your blog because of your humor. After 8+ hours a day of professionalism your blog is a refreshing change, so please don’t stop doing what you do! 🙂
Hey Katie,
I’ve been thinking about this whole debate all day. Tonight I was talking to some of my friends and I brought some of these various topics up to them. I didn’t preface our discussion with your post or any of the opinions posted here, so to them it was completely random. One of my friends said something that I think is absolutely true- THERE IS NO ILL TIMING WHEN IT COMES TO COMEDY.
When you think about it, all comedy is based out of something tragic. Sometimes it is comedians making fun of their own misfortunes or big noses or weight or disease. It’s usually something they’ve had to overcome. Websites like Perez Hilton have been successful strictly by bashing on celebrities. The public really seems to enjoy being entertained by others’ misfortunes.
If you’re looking at a situation straight from a comedic standpoint, when you put yourself in the limelight, all bets are off. I didn’t watch these shows, so I can’t say for certain, but I’m sure Jay Leno, or Jimmy Fallon, or Jimmy Kimmel had some kind of pun for this particular circumstance. If they haven’t yet, they will.
Some people cope with tragedy by keeping things lighthearted, others feel the need to overcompensate (guilt, maybe) for ill feelings they had while the person was living. **This isn’t to say that some jokes aren’t distasteful or even disrespectful.
The same thing happened with Michael Jackson. Before he passed away at an untimely age, people hated him, made fun of him to NO end, and accused him of horrible acts against children. But then as soon as he died, everyone was singing his praises and he could do no wrong. His popularity blew up back to where it was at his peak.
Please note that I am NOT condoning making fun of anyone.
When Britney Spears flipped out a couple of years ago and shaved her head and was clearly having some kind of mental breakdown, people were not being respectful of her “illness.” Had she past away from her excessive partying/breakdown, I’m sure all of that teasing and crap-talking would have immediately ceased.
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, I guess.
I too enjoy hearing the opinions of others and I think it’s great that you have such an open mind to listen to others speak what’s on theirs. 🙂 Keep up the good work!
I suppose people can express their opinions when is something like ‘Katie I found your comment to be a bit offensive because of xyz…’
but when when it goes so far a ‘how would you feel if – insert personal attack here’ and by the way you are a idiot, then it crosses a line. Just because you aren’t saying it directly to her face (or any blogger for that matter) doesn’t mean you can’t show a a smidge of respect.
ps… since apparently liking the general content of this blog makes me a ‘sheeple’…bah ram ewe!
Love azaleas! Do you know what the larger pink ones are on the right side of the house?
Katie — I think you handled this whole dumb situation with extreme grace. I don’t have anything else to add, but I just wanted you to know that. Please keep being you!
I think that people are associating AW’s condition with conditions suffered by people they love, thus it conjures up real emotions, and that is completely understandable. I lost two grandparents prematurely because they could not kick the smoking habit (emphysema and lung cancer killed them). I lost a dearly loved uncle to alchoholism and almost lost a cousin the same way. So AW’s issues resonate with me.
That said, I am so glad that my grandfather (he of the lung cancer) was able to talk with humor about his addiction. It really broke the tension for everyone else in the family. We all wished that he could have broken the addiction. He did, too. And he did make some attempts; I’m not sure how serious they were. In the end, he took responsibility for himself and his actions, and, as I said, was even able to talk about his condition and impending death lightheartedly. He and his partner joked about it often, and you cannot imagine what a relief humor can be in cases like that one.
The “sheeple” comment was funny to me, because I see the whole American political-correctness mania as being extremely “sheeple.” I’m a public school teacher and am OVERWHELMED by the pressure to be constantly politically correct. My students are, too. I wish that everyone would lighten up and quit making such a huge drama about every comment that might have any overtone that could possibly be construed as a “slight” based on someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, age, weight, accent, socio-economic status, professional position, educational background, hairstyle, dress style, number of piercings, etc., etc., ad nauseaum. So to me, making Katie’s tiny AW aside into a huge issue of political correctness is a very “sheeple” reaction. One of the reasons I read Katie’s blog is to get a breath of fresh air from everyone walking on eggshells all the time.
😀 And I (about “sheeple” being hilarious…I want to keep that one).
Please see my comment above, you fearless lady, you.
They are some crazy overgrown rose bushes. I have no idea what specific color or species because they were here when we bought the house but I think they are knockouts.
xo – kb
Bob is a creepster who seems to take great relish in antagonising attractive young mommy-blogger type women…he’s ‘grown to respect’ Sherry? Nauseating.
Katie made a tactless joke. Oh God no someone pass me my smelling salts. And no, I don’t believe that she didn’t realise Amy Winehouse was dead either, but I don’t care – I’m not going to blame her for defending herself against the self righteous police who feel it’s their place to critique her content TO DEATH. Haa.
Also – re. the ‘poor man’s Sherry’ comment….firstly it smacks of misogyny (there can only be one acceptable, palatable female DIY blogger?), and secondly I really feel for Katie on this, because it’s utterly unfair to hold her blog and YHL alongside each other simply because her and Sherry are friends, when YHL is the full time professional job of TWO adults, and I don’t think this blog has any pretensions to be such. In a similar vein, you’d never read a joke like the Amy Winehouse one on YHL because it’s their full time job and they are clearly hyper aware of not offending the sensibilities of their readership – Katie doesn’t, or shouldn’t have to, have those concerns. Yes, I cringed when I read it, but in the same way I cringe when I personally or one of my friends makes a blunt joke. IT’S NOT A MORAL ISSUE!
Hey Belinda –
You are right – I do spend a good portion of my day on the computer – but the only sites I read are blogs in my reader. Other than that I am photo editing and running the blog, my photography business and answering the hundreds of emails I get everyday. Oh and I forgot, being a mom to a crazy toddler. Sorry I’m not as informed as you would like…believe me, I wish I had known.
xo – kb
I am seriously dying laughing at your comment, Danielle! I think it’s so sad when anyone dies, especially so young, not that I was a fan of hers-I wasn’t. But it’s still sad. Anyway, Katie, I think you are hilarious. I enjoy dry witty humor and that is what you have. And I love your house and projects! 🙂
Bwa-hahaha!!! Love it! Twinkies, not so much:)
Honestly, had it not been for a friend of mine (who ACTUALLY made an inappropriate joke knowing of her death) I would have never known. I’m a mostly stay at home mom of one and we do not watch Television and the only internet perusing I do is on decor blogs, my own blog and Facebook to check on my family/friends who aren’t nearby. Apparently out of the hundred plus people only one either knew about it or cared enough to comment.
I prefer to play with my 9 month old and watch her develop instead of following the lives of celebrities or pop culture in general.
The only reason I’ve even been on this blog so much is because I’m some how find myself very hurt by all the surprising negativity. It’s one thing to share a point of view and it’s another to completely harass. I hope the negative comments end soon and people start realizing what they’ve written could have been more appropriately stated.
Katie’s given you all an outlet to let her know how you feel and by all means take this opportunity to be heard, within reason.
Kelly–thank you so much for posting those videos from Craig Ferguson too. I used to make fun of people like Britney, etc until I saw those videos myself. See that, Katie? I can admit i was wrong. I love your blog, but would an apology to your readers been so difficult to you? This whole thing about ‘quit reading her blog if you don’t like it’ thing from your readers is ridiculous. Because here is the thing: i like your blog, Katie. I have been a follower for a few yrs now. You really disappointed many of us for a pretty callous way of handling the unintended hurtful remark about AW. And, I DO believe you genuinely had no idea she died. But the way you handled it (no apology, just excuses) is what is really sad for me. For everyone else who says the AW remark is no big deal: How sad is your life that you actually would sit in judgment of how Amy Winehouse’s life ended? Look. My brother’s life ended at age 45. Demons, he surely had. Not a day goes by when we don’t miss him, all of him, the good and the bad. Until you’ve had an addict in your family, you really don’t know what you’re talking about. Shut your mouths, have some respect, and let Amy Winehouse’s family mourn her.
and so many of you guys claim to be Christians, like me–but the difference is it’s not hard for me to pity self-destruction. There but for the grace of God go I–and a lot of other artists. Believe that. I have such a strong belief in God for a reason. This is a mean old world and I am blessed to have survived thus far. The older I get, the more I see that. I don’t want to sound self-righteous, just grateful. I am 39 today, over 10 yrs years older than Amy Winehouse and I remember myself at 27. We don’t know what that child went through to take her to that point. We don’t know her pain. Let’s extend her some kindness, if not understanding. She’s dead now. Ain’t no coming back from that, and when I go, I sure don’t want people picking the flesh and bones of my life apart not even 24 hours after I leave this earth. Think about that before you start saying nasty things. We don’t never know the hour or the day we will be called. Ok, sermon over. 🙂
Um Kelly, don’t look now, but you are a snarky bitch…
I think the point is Amy Whinehouse, correct? We all watched as she went in and out of rehab, in and out of jail, in and out of inebriation. This is what we were both referrring to, correct? She made the choice to continue down the road she was on all by herself and disregarded the help being offered over and over again. To now compare all of that to cancer and diabetes (which by the way IS reversable if it’s Type 2) is silly.
Kaite may have crossed the line, but in the end, I think we’ve all figured out her heart by now and need to extend some grace to her. Yep, the very same grace y’all are twisting about for the dearly departed Miss Whinehouse.
I love your blog, and I know you didn’t mean to offend. That being said, I never comment on blogs
and I was taken back by your comment about Amy Winehouse.
Empathy and compassion go a long way. It is your blog and you have every right to write and joke about any subject, even if it’s in bad taste.
In my opinion, Katie’s comment would have been offensive if she’d known that Amy Winehouse had just died. She says she didn’t and I believe her. I heard about it the day after it happened because a friend of mine made a vague post on facebook and then I googled it to see what happened. There’s no way to prove whether Katie knew about it so just get over it an move on. I doubt most people would have made such a fuss about it if the joke was made two weeks ago before Amy had passed away, but since the timing was so unfortunate, it caused an uproar. Katie, hopefully you’ll do a quick internet search before you poke fun at a celebrity in the future to make sure they haven’t just died. Or been caught with a hooker or something….you know, because they could be a sex addict…. and you wouldn’t want to make fun of someone with such a disease and risk offending anyone. On a different topic, I’d like to thank you for inspiring me to shop at Goodwill…I’ve found some great treasures and I usually spend around $5 every time I go there!
You mentioned that you have clearly read other reader’s comments about how Katie was “wrong”. Why must you point in out yet again? Are you her mother and must you lecture her? Everyone makes their own decisions. Amy Winehouse choose to be a public figure. There is stress that goes along with that and some people choose to make bad decisions in front of the whole world. No one forced her to partake in illegal actions. She maid millions off of her drug addiction and her song about not going to rehab. She was intentionally making fun of herself. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!
You have never commented until NOW? You thought you would get a shot in when everyone else was. Did it make you feel better about yourself?? How old is Katie? I think maybe middle adult-hood, which clearly allows her to make her own decisions. Get off your high horse and sit back and look at your own actions, as NO ONE is perfect!
Thanks 🙂
Well I agreed with this whole reply until that last line. Calling someone a snarky bitch after giving them a lecture about how to treat people with kindness? Ummm…that is a tad hypocritical, don’t you think? I enjoy reading your blog Katie but the AW joke left a bad taste in my mouth. I think the only thing that bothers me is the fact that you don’t see anything wrong with it. Teasing isn’t OK no matter if a person is alive or dead…it just plain hurts, whether the person being teased ever ends up hearing/reading it themselves.
In my opinion, and it is simply just that, the comment was poorly timed. Was it enough for me to feel compelled to comment on Katie’s blog? No. Was it deserving of rude comments in response to what readers thought was a rude comment by Katie? Absolutely not. What has compelled me to comment is the fact that people are forgetting Katie’s right to express whatever she likes – good, bad, or ugly- on her blog, as others have stated. Some people seem to think that Katie should have formally apologized or removed the comment – clearly she chose not to. Look, I don’t like Fox News because I don’t think it’s fair and balanced, and therefore, I do not watch it. If you do not like that Katie made the comment about AW or you do not like the fact that she has not apologized or removed it, please understand you do not HAVE to read this blog. While it is your right to express your opinion in regards to Katie’s lack of respect for AW, do not respond with the same disrespect – what lesson are you teaching?
As for the ‘Sheeple’ thing – wouldn’t removing/editing the AW comment or apologizing for it just because everyone here wants her to make her a Sheeple? I enjoy this blog for what it is – entertainment and place to get some home decor/DIY ideas and I enjoy reading her non-sheeple perspective, regardless if I always agree.
Katie – while I may disagree with how you have handled this situation, I do respect the fact that you made a choice and are sticking by it. Regardless of what others say.
In the spirit of joking about the living, I’d like to call this little ditty “K.B.-hab”–sung to the tune of Amy Winehouse’s hit single, “Rehab”. All in good fun 🙂
KB tried to make a joke then claimed “I, don’t, know”
If you made a fuss, then this country huss, says you can just go, go, go
I ain’t got the time, and if my sheeple say I’m fine
They try to make me ‘pologize, but I won’t com, pro, mise
I’d rather be home with the Bowers
I ain’t got 70 followers
‘Cause there’s nothing, there’s nothing you can teach me
That I can’t learn from Jeremy
I didn’t get to speak at BlogHer
But I know it’s gonna affect my complex
KB tried to make a joke then claimed “I, don’t, know”
If you made a fuss, then this country huss, says you can just go, go, go
I ain’t got the time, and if my sheeple say I’m fine
They try to make me ‘pologize, but I won’t com, pro, mise
Anon said, “Why you think that’s rude?”
KB said, “I ain’t got no idea”
I’m gonna, I’m gonna lose my mind
So I keep excuses by my side
Commenters said, “I think you’re offensive”
This me, “Why can’t I make fun of the dead?”
KB tried to make a joke then claimed “I, don’t, know”
If I made a fuss, then this country huss, says you can go, go, go
I don’t ever wanna blog again,
I just need an IRL friend
I’m not gonna ‘pologize
Have everyone think I’m wise
And it’s not just my pride
it’s just when the comments subside
KB tried to make a joke then claimed “I, don’t, know”
If you made a fuss, then this country huss, says you can just go, go, go
I ain’t got the time, and if my sheeple say I’m fine
They try to make me ‘pologize, but I won’t com, pro, mise
Sarah,
Today is the July 29th and I had no idea Amy W. had passed. You know when and how I learned of it? 10 minutes ago reading this blog (going through my Google reader for the first time in a week). So I have NO PROBLEM believing than an unsuspecting blogger writing a plant-based post didn’t know either.
I do try to stay up on “current events” but I won’t apologize that celebrity exploits aren’t on my list of the top 10 things to keep tabs on in my life right now. I’m buying a house, an elderly woman I know is dying this week, I saw the ultrasound of my first baby yesterday, our country has a debt crisis. Though I am always saddened to hear of anyone’s death, and certainly her friends and family have my condolences and prayers, celebrity news cannot control my life. So, I don’t expect it to control anyone else’s.
Please have grace with people when they unknowingly speak a harsh word. The girl’s apologized. What more can you ask?
Respectfully,
Michelle G
katie- so so sorry for all this mess (bad timing is always an accident!). :o/ hang in there girl, you can’t win them all. love you and all you do!
agreed!
I get what you’re saying about political correctness mania. However, comprehending & applying the basic concept of human empathy & compassion (& respect?) towards another human being who’s obviously ailing & on a tragic, declining path (w/subsequent death) is the true key to grasp – no “political correctness” issue involved. See the difference? Here’s Katie’s words in the Comments Section: [“Why was that offensive? Honestly….but Amy did always look a little sickly, didn’t she? And didn’t my plant look sickly?”]
So, the understandable reactions from many people here (& part of the reason their emotions were stirred up – in addition to the fact that suffering & death hit close to home in their own families) was that this post lacked human empathy & compassion (& respect?) for a sickly, tormented person, not that “political correctness” had been violated. See the difference?
Making the “tiny AW aside [i.e. – the “tiny” aside of jokingly comparing a drug/alcohol ravaged person to a soul-less dead plant] into a huge issue of political correctness” had nothing at all to do with “political correctness,” but demonstrated people’s human GUT reaction of sadness/disappointment that the basic concept of human empathy & compassion (respect, also?) was absent. Nope, not a “sheeple” reaction at all (actually the polar opposite) – but an instinctive “human” reaction. See the difference? If someone chooses to joke about their OWN ailing condition & impending death in order to mentally handle their ordeal, that is their choice, of course. However, initiating & slinging a callous jab at another human being at their weakest point (or death) isn’t in the same realm. It’s a basic “human” issue (empathy/compassion/respect), not “political correctness.” See the difference?
Why not use this as a “teachable moment” and add a few news sites into your reader? Can’t hurt to stay informed, and you might even stop some embarassing future faux pas!
Absolutely great idea Alexis! I need to start knowing more details of this financial crisis anyway – didn’t even know about it until it interupted The Bachelorette the other day!
xo – kb
Katie –
Love your blog, I’ve been a silent stalker for months. Honestly you and Sherry are the best part of my (work) day. LOL. Don’t listen to the haters. Obviously you hadn’t heard yet about Amy when you did the post. Brush it off and move on.
I think you hit the nail on the head, Faith. Wise words.
#4 is a great point, Julianna. Well said.
B-Hab,
Why don’t you listen to your lyrics and just go, go, go. This is her blog, if you don’t like it then don’t read it. She apologized people, get over it. Katie, I commend you for leaving your post as is. It takes a much stronger person to leave up all the negative comments for everyone to see, I would have probably deleted them. You rock Katie, love your blog and your sense of humor.
I just stumbled across your blog from YHL afer stumbling across (young house love) from some other blog… dontcha just love how that happends??!?! Just wanted to say I have been enjoying your blog and totally digging both house tours… can not wait to someday have time for projects…thanks for the inspiration !
I have to say Katie, whether people find your jokes offensive or not, I’m sure most would agree it takes guts to publish every comment made about them, good and bad. You don’t have to do that, you could “take the heat” by reading negative comments but choosing not to share them with the world. That would be fine to! But maybe this is your way of “taking the heat.” I definitely think if you go as far as to publish a comment in which someone calls you an idiot you have the right to defend yourself.
People love sharing their opinions and whether they want to admit it or not, when you leave a comment on a blog you want it shared with everyone, otherwise you would just send an email. So good job respecting that as a blogger!
WOW. Katie I’m really sorry the commentary got postjacked by AW’s passing. Hope you have stopped reading them. Because I LOVE this little garden doohickey thing, and I thought your footnote was very sweet. Ugh, blogging. Keep doing you, I heart cha.
hehehehe awesome
Oh, wow, the title thing certainly didn’t even occur to me, since the post was about gardening. Sheesh, what an awful coincidence.
Awesome you have people taking the time to write entire ditties about Bower Power. 🙂
I am SO offended that you called your lively beautiful shrubs Leonardo DiCaprio. WTF. Why not a young Justin Bieber?!!!? ugh.
seriously. I think this posting wins the Home Blog Award for the most comments made on a posting that were not actually on subject. Most of the comments were like the comments you find on Yahoo news articles.
Regardless. Be yourself.. That’s why you have a personal blog.
If we want filtered news, we can go to one of the many corporate run websites or magazines who edit and re-edit and make sure they’re not offending any of their sponsors or key influencers. Mistakes happen and regardless of your political or religious beliefs, everyone makes a mistake.
It’s cool. You’re still on my g-reader.
First off, its a blog. Secondly, it was a joke. You can debate timing, intent, whatever. Get over yourselves. IT. IS. A. BLOG. Preaching about how people should be more sensitive makes my ears hurt. Like MJ(Dead) said”if you want to change the world, look in the mirror and make the change.” Or something like that. Dont know. Not a fan.
I like this blog. I like this girl that writes it. I think there is a special place in heaven reserved for those of you who call her out. You haven’t made a mistake by making a comment and then finding out something that, had you known, would have made you retract the earlier comment.
You guys should be out doing charity work instead of chastising her. Im going to go save some orphans now.
Katie-Just popped in over on this post bec of a thread I saw bashing your blog up and down over on TheNest.Com (I’m sure you know of it).
I like your blog. Some of your jokes make me squirm in my seat, laughing nervously and looking over my shoulder to make sure my mom isn’t looking at the inappropriateness that I’m reading. Hence, why I love your blog.
To everyone who is hounding you for your poorly timed joke, lighten up. You can choose to let a little joke from a little blog about a little celebrity bother you and ruin your day and make you lose faith in the human race and christians from here on out. OR. You can choose to brush it off, say I don’t like what I read, so I’m not going to read it and choose not to judge someone because they made a joke (of which they apologized for), and get the HECK over it.
Katie, you have many followers but this blog is truly insignificant (or should be) in the lives of your readers. Yes of course its fun to read and useful and pretty and any other adjective you might choose. But its yours. It should not be any more significant to anyone but you. Its a website. On the internet. About the way the chick decorates her digs, her cute little fam and her bacon. If you feel that you have nothing better to be concerned about in life besides what someone writes on their blog then you, my friends, need to start living life and get off the internet. Go enjoy the trees. Go enjoy the sky. Go decorate your own house and love on your own family and find better and happier and peaceful ways to enjoy your life and forget about the woes of the world (like an ironically timed dead celeb joke) instead of picking apart the character and integrity of someone you don’t personally know based on words that she typed. Go appreciate the fact that no one is holding a gun to your head and telling you to do ANYTHING, much less read this blog or like her choice of words.
I’ll wrap it up. If more people would spend less time criticizing every choice, word spoken or hair do/outfit choice of other human beings, we would all spend more time living your life the way you are happiest, doing YOU. No one is ever going to like everything you do or every decision you make. Don’t stop living how you want in order to make them.
Amy Winehouse unfortunately probably spent her final years drowning in her own pity and sorrows and never got the chance to experience what could have been a great life. Sad for her. But the world didn’t stop turning for her or anyone else. Death is a part of life. You SHOULD laugh about death sometimes. You should let the sun shine on the subject and stop dwelling, because that behavior leaves us in the darkest of places. Its a hard concept, I know. We are sad here on earth for our losses when loved ones die, but Amy should not have had to continue suffering and wallowing in self pity like she was. Now she can be free and find peace and she is probably laughing at something, looking down on the world from wherever she may be. I am devestated that I lost my father when I was 20 yrs old before I was ready to say goodbye, and many other dear friends I have had to watch be buried. But never will I let the sadness and formality of death take the life and spirit from me, bec I know my loved ones who have gone would not want that. I laugh that my dad would really be rolling his eyes at me from heaven. Or that he wants some peace and quiet so he keeps me safe on earth so he won’t have to deal with my antics in heaven. I make fun of the tee shirts I kept of his that he wore constantly that have holes in the armpits. I don’t think we can say I’m disrespecting his memory. I make fun of my dear friend who overdosed and say to the sky “Why did you have to go and be such a junky all the time, wasn’t our friendship enough?” She would have laughed.
Katie, don’t hold back. Just be you. Keep laughing, keep smiling, keep being the classy, ballsy and all out cool girl you are who doesn’t let life get her down and to those who can’t find the humor in life (including death), then I hope you can untwist your panties a little, sit back, relax and enjoy the world a little more while you’re still in it.
Alright people. Come at me if you will, I can take it. 🙂
Haha, you can clearly see the I.P. address of those posting under multiple aliases.
I agree!! YHL (and probably most other bloggers) only the post the good. while Katie takesgood & the bad.. Im just confused as to what the joke meant if you didnt know she had passed.. as the plant is obviously dead… Bad jokes aside. Love this blog!
I meant that the plant looked like it wasn’t thriving. Plus, it has a beehive shape. Obviously this whole tool is about keeping a plant alive…and the bush is doing just peachy now.
I’m really sad that it’s gone this far guys.
xo – kb